Retrofpeci of Domeftic Literature-—Mifeellanies. 
fence of mind peculiar to M. de Brunens. 
Fontaine was fubjeét to as extraordinary 
aberrations. He once attended the fune- 
ral of a friend, and the very nextday he 
called upon him as if he had been living.” 
«© A Venetian afked a Frenchman, in 
a railing tone of voice, what was the ori- 
gin of the Salique law, which his nation 
held fo much in awe. ‘It was found,’ 
replied the other, very coolly, ¢ on the 
back of that fame charter which gave to 
the Venetians the dominion of the Adri- 
atic. "—(vol. 1. p. 238.) 
Du Cange’s Dictionary of the. Latin 
Language, as ufed in the Lower Ages,— 
*¢ Father Vavafleur (whofe fiudies had 
been exclufively employed on authors of 
the moft acknowledged merit, and of the 
pureft antiquity), upon the publication 
of Du Cange’s Dixtionary, obierved, <I 
have been fixty years employed in learning . 
toavoid every word and phrafe of this in- 
duftrious compilation.”’~-(vel. ii. p. 184.) 
The Fate of Phidias, the Grecian Sta- 
tuary.—** It isin general true, that lovers 
of victue are themfelves beloved, and that 
men of merit gain efleeem by their excel- 
lence. The foilowing ttory is a melan- 
choly exception tothis remark. Phidias, 
who made the famous fatue of Jupiter, 
which was confecrated in the temple of 
Olympia, experienced the moft unfortu- 
Nate confeyuences of fuperior talents. 
The people of Elis, for whom Phidias 
had executed this admirable ftatue, be- 
came jealous of his fuzure exertions ; and 
when the Athenians demanded his return, 
the Eleans fuffered not the artift to go 
back, tili they had deprived him of both 
his hands.’’—-(vol. iit. p. 28.) 
By fome accident we fuppole, the fame 
anecdote, with a littl: variation, is repeat- 
ed in the 200 and 242d pages of the fer. 
cond volume. 
We have perufed with much fatisfac- 
tion Mr. MaLcoum's ‘* Compendium of 
Modern Hujbandry, principally written 
during a Survey of Surrey,” executed 
under the direction of the Board of Agri- 
culture.. To Surrey alone, however, Mr, 
Malcolm has not cenfined bimfelf, nor to 
the limifs of a.fingle volume. His work 
contains much information that wiil be 
generally uleful, and on a great variety of 
topics, 3 
Mr. Nicaouson’s ‘* Stenography’” 
lays claim to the {ame merits which have 
been propoted by every framer of a fhorr- 
hand fyftem—geneval legibility, fmplici- 
ty, -and fhortnels. 
The ‘* New Syfien of Cookery, formed 
upon Principles of Economy, and adapted Jobnionin the explanation of right, h. 
611 
to the Ufe of private Families,’ we refer: 
to the critics of the kitchen. Of the 
difhes mentioned, thereare feveral witch 
we were noi familiar with before, and very 
many are expeniive. ! 
The precife object aimed at in the two 
volumes of Dr, Aikin’s % Geographical 
Delineations’ 1s to afford, in a moderate 
compafs, and under an agreeable form, 
fuch a view of every thing moft important 
relative-to the natural and political ftate 
of the world which we ishabit, as may 
dwell upon the mind in vivid colours, and 
duly imprefs it with jult and initructive 
notions. It is a werk unqueltionably 
entitled to praife. . 
© The New Dunctad,’ or fats and 
anecdotes illuftrative of the iniquitous 
practices of anonymous reviewers, deferves 
the attention of the public, and records 
many facts, the expofurs of which in this 
way cannot fail to be ufeful to the interefts 
of literature. We aie of opinion that 
_the author deferves well of the public for 
the manly independence with which this 
fhort pamphlet is written. He promiies 
a fecond part, and we have no doubt the 
‘materials are abundant. 
Mr. Ferouson’s ‘* Leffures” have 
been fo long before the public, and fo 
univerfally admired, that we thall fay but 
very little of Mr. Brewlter’s edition of 
them. A fhort account of Mr, Fergu- 
fon’s life, written by himfelf, is prefixed. 
The no‘es and appendix, by the editor, 
are the principal of the new parts in this 
publication; many of them propery /ufe-, 
ful, and inftructive, but a few fand in 
need of alteration. ; 
Among the re-publications of old works, 
that of Fenraam’s * Refolves,” by Mr, 
CUMMING, is amufing ahd inftructive. 
Ax few liberties, however, have been taken 
~ with the author, which we do not altoge- 
ther approve. Some of the eflays are 
tranfpofed, and fome omitted. - 
Keecan’s * Commercial Phrafeology, 
in French and Englifh,” is well adapted to 
iis purpofe. 
Tne commendations which have been 
fo univerfally bellowed on the grammatical . 
part of the fir volume of the ‘4 Eqea 
mrecoevia, may {til be beltowed upon tie 
fecond. Politics, however, feéem yet to 
form a prominent feature. in the '* Diver- 
fions of Purley; and in the very title of 
the firtt chapter the Rights of Man are 
thraft upon our notice at a time when we 
cannot be anxious to confider them. Hav- 
ing complained of the deficiency of the 
lawyers, and in harfh terms of that o 
412 obfcry.s 
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