Retrofpeét of American Literature— Biography, Natural Hiftory. 647 
the eagernefs to trace the courfe by which 
it has rifen, and to be brought acquainted 
with the diftinguifhed characters by whofe 
infrumentality the great work has been 
chiefly accomplifhed. Among thefe none 
can be more interefting than the Com- 
mander in Chief of the American armies. 
Under the head of hiftory it ts alfopro- 
per to notice the. ** Collections of the 
Hiftorical Society of the State of Maffla- 
chufetts,”? whofe ninth volume has not 
long fince been laid before the public. 
This volume, like all the preceding 
ones of that enterprifing affociation, dif- 
plays much affiduity and judgment in col- 
Je&ting and arranging the materials which 
come under their notice. Asrefearches of 
this fort have ‘been fo much neglected, 
and are fo much wanted, in the Unied 
States, itis to be hoped this fociety of 
Maflachufetts will uot relax in their dili- 
gence. The field is wide, and the labour- 
ers fcarce. We truft the other ftates, 
where materials, no doubt, equally 
abound, and where individuals, who are 
equally qualified for inquiries of this kind, 
certainly refide, will make exertions to 
inititute aflociations which may hereafter 
vie with the Hiftorical Society of Mafia- 
chufetts. 
BIOGRAPHY. 
The death of General Hamilton excit- 
ed a ftrong fenfation in America. The 
folidity and brilliancy of his genius, his 
excellence as a writer and public f{peaker, 
his integrity, candour, and honour, were 
never denied by the warmeft of his politi- 
cal opponents. His untimely fate, with 
all its peculiar circumftances, are calcu- 
lated to awaken the public fenfibility to 
an uncommon degree. For the purpofe 
of eulogifing his talents and virtues, many 
orations and difcourfes have been deliver- 
~ ed in different parts of the United States, 
feveral of which are entitled to refpectful 
notice. 
Mr. Orts’s ** Oration on the Death of 
General HaMILTON” is an agreeable 
fpecimen of eloquence, and well fuited to 
the occafion for which it was prepared.— 
The fiyle is eafy, natural, and unaffected, 
the panegyric is judicious and appropri- 
ate, and the whole performance is fuited 
to infpire the reader not only with admi- 
ration of the chara¢ter of the deceafed, but 
alfo with refpeét and effeem for the au- 
thor. 
‘¢ An Oration commemorative of the 
Jate Major General ALEXaNDER Ha. 
MILTON, 
York State Society of the Cincinnati, &c. 
pronounced before the New: 
by Jonn M. Mason, D.D.” contains 
an impreffive delineation of the character 
of the illuitrious deceafed. 
Many of the attributes of good com- 
pofition, much vigour, and much anima- 
tion, are to be found in different parts of 
this oration. Mr. Mafon's principal 
faults feem to be a kind of harflinefs, vio- 
lence, and overitrained effort, in exprefling 
his thoughts, which fometimes betrays 
him into affectation, and an occafional de- 
parture from tafte and difcrimication ; ail 
which, however, may be readily excufed 
In a writer, who, in maoy other refpeéts, 
is entitied to high commendation. 
The Rev. Mr. Norr’s ‘* Difcourfe, 
occafioned by the Death of General Ha- 
MILTON’ :&c. has obtained an extenfive 
circulation, and beem received with a high 
degree of applaufe. 
With alittle more attention to fome 
of the fubordinate points of compofitions - 
which are rather formal than eflential, 
this gentleman might certainiy afpire to 
great diftinétion asa writer. He ts lelfs 
elaborate, and undouptedly much lefs 
correct, than Dr. Malon, but greatly fur- 
paffes him io that eafy, natural, unaffeék- 
ed, and pathetic, eloquence, which finds 
an avenue to every heart, and maintains in 
it a gentle ard lating dominion. 
A pamphlet has been fately prefented 
to the public, under the title of ** The 
Life and Military’ Achievements of 
ToussainT LOUVERTURE, late Gene- 
ral in Chief of the Ifland of St. Do- 
mingo.” 
The objeé of this performance feems 
to be to exhibit Touflaint in the beft pof- 
fible light, and to load the French co:n- 
manders oppofed to bim with all the: 
weight of infamy and execration. The 
narrative is immethodical, defultory, and 
rude; but ftill, with all its defects, it 
exhibits lively impreffions.of the horrors 
and atrocities of the campaigns of St. Do- 
mingo, and fketches fcenes of fer city 
and carnage which all the glowing colours 
of hitory and imagination have never yet 
been able to exceed. The writer, wlio 
feems to be a Frenchman, writes excet- 
fively bad Englifh. 
NATURAL HISTORY. . 
Dr. A. ANDERSON has offered an ac- 
ceptable fervice to the lovers of natutal 
knowledge, in his ‘* General Hiflory of 
Quadrupeds.”” 
The figures of this work are engraved 
on wood, and chiefly, copied from the cri- 
ginal of T. Bewick. The Appendix 
contains fome American animals not hi- - 
iherio 
