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The merits, or the defects, in the regulations of the French marine, are subjects which we wish not to discuss: but we shall notice some of the author's reflections, that are of a less hostile nature, and of more general concern to the interests of navigation.

He has given the following idea respecting the magnitude of ships: i.e. That the extreme limits of size should be determined by the relative proportion between the diameter of the main-yard, and the common standard height of a man of ordinary stature :-because, if the size of the main-yard be too much increased, the difficulty of furling the sail will be insurmountable, especially in cold, wet, or blowing weather; at which times, the number of men will not make amends for their want of size. The author's argument rests on the supposition that, to whatever magnitude the dimensions of ships shall be increased, they are to be masted and rigged in the same manner and according to the same proportions as at present. The principle of limitation appears to apply fully to the size of the yard: but new methods of rigging might be contrived. An additional length of keel would admit a greater number of masts; and increase of capacity might be deemed an object of sufficient importance to compensate for a diminution in the property of swift sailing.

The observations on the poop of a ship appear to be judicious. The author thinks that it is a matter of ornament, without any utility; and he argues that it obstructs the sailing and working of a ship, by the surface which it presents to the wind; that its elevation and weight, with the addition of the men and furniture necessarily placed there, must be hurtful to strength and stability; and that its suppression would enable a ship to carry larger guns on the quarter-deck. In these ideas, we believe, the opinions of many experienced seamen will coincide.

The wholesome practice of letting water into a ship's hold to cleanse it, and to purify the air, is too well known to need recommendation: but the author's observations on the subject may be of use. He advises that the water, as much as is necessary, should be let in at night, and allowed to remain till the morning; as it will thus prevent the rising of noxious exhalations during the time that the people are at rest.-It might be beneficial to extend this advice to keeping water constantly in the hold; pumping it out clear every morning and evening, and clean water being immediately substituted,

At the end of the tables, is a method pointed out by M. Borda, for ascertaining the degree of stability or stiffness of a

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ship,

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ship, before sailing. This he proposes to be done by placing a number of men (in a given proportion to the ship's breadth close to one side of the ship, and afterward to the other side; remarking, at each time, the effect which such disposition of their weight has in submerging or emerging the midship frame.

A set of plates concludes the volume. They contain representations of different sections of a ship, of the decks, the hold, powder-rooms, &c. and likewise representations of various parts of a ship's furniture. Those which shew the stationing of the hammocks might perhaps, without injury, have been spared.

The new standard of measures is used throughout. The angular measures are according to the new division of the circle, one hundred degrees to the quadrant. For the convenience of those who are not acquainted with the new measures, a small table of comparison with those which were formerly used is prefixed.

The plan of this work is useful; and in the execution of the first part, which is by far the most important, we see much intelligence and ability. To the tables which compose the latter portion, it may be objected that they are more copious than the purpose of explanation required, and that the same information might have been given in less space.

Capt. B....y.

ART. IV. Lettres Originales, &c. i. e. Original Letters of JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU, to Madame De.....; to Madame là Maréchale de Luxembourg; to M. de Malesherbes; to D'Alem bert, &c. Published by Charles Pougens. 12mo. pp. 206. Paris. 1798. Imported by Dulau and Co. London.

THE

"HE majority of these letters were communicated to the editor by a person for whom ROUSSEAU had a particular friendship and veneration, but the name of that friend is suppressed. The remainder were put into the hands of M. Pougens by the family of the virtuous Malesherbes, and by M. Camus. The originals are to be seen in the library of the Legislative body.-There are also some letters from the Corsican Butta Fuoco, from De Malesherbes, and from Hume. Those of ROUSSEAU's own composition will, as the editor judiciously thinks, throw light on the character of the writer; if any additional light be wanting.

Not attempting to trace and point out the several events to which these letters refer, we shall only give some extracts from them.

ROUSSEAU

ROUSSEAU to Madame

• Moitiers-Travers, 21st July, 1764.

You would never have anticipated me, Madam, had my situation permitted me to remind you of me: but, if in prosperity we should go before our friends, in adversity it is only permitted us to wait for them. Absence, and death, which is continually depriving me of some of my friends, render more dear those who remain. There was no need of so sorrowful a motive to confer value on your letter: but I confess, Madam, that the circumstances under which it comes add to the pleasure which at any time I should have received from it. All your past acts of goodness towards me, I recognize in the prayers which you offer for my conversion :-but, although I am too good a Christian ever to become a Catholic, I do not the less consider myself as of the same religion which you profess: for good religion consists much more in what we do, than in what we believe. Let us, therefore, Madam, remain as we are; and in spite of whatever you may say, we shall see each other again with much greater purity in another world than in this. It would have been a great honour to your government, that J. J. Rousseau had lived and died quietly under it but the narrow spirit of your petty parliaments prevented their seeing this truth; and, had they seen it, private interests would not have suffered them to consult the national honour at the expence of jesuitical vengeance, and of the pitiful measures which led to this scheme. I know the nature and extent of their discernment too well to expose them to the danger of a second oversight; the first has sufficed to make me wise. The air of this place I am sure will kill me but that is unimportant; I had rather die under the authority of the laws, than live the eternal sport of the little passions of men. Madam, Paris shall never see me more: on this you may depend. I regret extremely that this certainty deprives me of the hope of ever seeing you, except as a spirit: for I believe that, with all your devotion, you think that we shall no otherwise meet again in the world to come. Receive, Madam, my salutations and my respect; and be persuaded, I beseech you, that, dead or alive, I will never forget you.'

To Madame DE LUXEMBOURG,

Montmorency, 24th December, 1761. I feel very sensibly all my faults, and I wish to expiate them. Forget them, Madam, I intreat; it is most true that I cannot live under your displeasure:-but, if I do not deserve that this consideration should move you, let a greater regard to yourself than to me plead for my forgiveness. Remember that all that is noble and charming should give pleasure to your excellent heart, and that nothing is so noble and so charming as mercy. I at first thought of intreating M. the Marshal to exert his influence in obtaining pardon for me: but I have determined that the shortest and simplest way was to have recourse directly to you; and that I ought not to wrest from your compliance what I wish to owe to your generosity alone. If the history of my faults could plead in palliation of them, I would here resume the detail of those appearances which alarmed me, and which my disturbed imagination exaggerated into realities: but, Madam

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Madam, when I should have shewn to you how absurd I have been, I should not more deserve pardon for having been so; and I do not request forgiveness because it is due to me, but because it is worthy of you to grant it.'

The letters from Butta Fuoco are interesting. The mind contemplates with curiosity the circumstance of a Corsican officer, a lover of liberty, and anxious for the welfare of his country, soliciting the advice, in matters relative to government, not of the experienced and approved statesman, long hackneyed in the ways of men, but of a plain citizen of Geneva, the philosopher Rousseau. We translate part of the first letter.

BUTTA FUOCo to J. J. ROUSSEAU.

Ménières, 31st August, 1764.

Will you permit a Corsican, Sir, who is full of esteem for you, to break in upon the tranquillity of your retreat? As your labours have no other object than the good of mankind, this alone would give me confidence to address you, even if you detested not tyranny, and if you did not interest yourself for its unfortunate victims.

In your Social Contract, you have represented the Corsicans advantageously; such commendation is highly flattering, when proceeding from so sincere a pen; and nothing is more efficacious in rousing emulation and the desire of improvement: it has excited in the nation a wish that you would be to them that wise man, who can provide the means of preserving the liberty which has been acquired by so much blood. The Corsicans hope that you will call into action, in their behalf, your talents, your benevolence, your virtue, and your zeal for the good of man; especially of those men who have been the victims and sport of the most frightful tyranny.

Men of genius and of virtue, men who resemble you, Sir, disdain not to consecrate some part of their meditations to the happiness of a nation; and the more unfortunate it is, the greater is its claim to such a sacrifice. Corsica is but too well known by the cruel situation to which the culpable administration of Genoa had reduced her : it obliged our people to shake off an insupportable yoke, which daily became more heavy: the abuse of power, which had been limited by conventions, has produced this salutary revolution, and has wrought our deliverance.

Our progress has been very slow: yet our means were and are as yet so moderate, that it is matter of astonishment that we no longer doubt our freedom; but the love of liberty renders men capable of most extraordinary exertions. Would it not be grievous not to be able to avail ourselves of the fortunate situation in which Corsica is now placed, and to adopt a government most agreeable to reason and to humanity, and best adapted to make this island the habitation and abiding place of liberty?"

A nation ought not to flatter itself that it can become happy .and flourishing, except through the medium of a good political insti tution. Our isle, as you well say, Sir, is susceptible of good legis

lation:

Jation: but it needs a legislator, it needs a man of your principles,
whose welfare is independant of us; who, knowing human nature
profoundly, and forming for himself a future wreath of glory in the
progress
of events, is willing to labour in one age, and to enjoy the
fruit of his labours in another.

Will you deign, Sir, by tracing out the plan of a political system, to co-operate in forming the happiness of a whole nation? In the conclusion of his letter, he says:

I flatter myself, Sir, that you will not be offended at the liberty which I have taken in addressing you; if I knew a man more capable of fulfilling my hopes, I should not hesitate to solicit his assistance: persuaded that it cannot be unpleasing to men who love virtue and profess it, to give them an opportunity of exercising it in behalf of an unfortunate nation, which, impressed with all the horror of its past situation, and with the instability of its present state, wishes to erect for the future a rational edifice, on firm and ever durable foundations.

I have the honour of being, with the highest esteem and consideration, Sir, your most humble and obedient servant,

BUTTA Fuoco,

Capitaine-aide-major in the Royal Italian Regiment." The two letters from Mr. Hume relate to ROUSSEAU'S behaviour in England, and are written with much good In the first, speaking of ROUSSEAU, sense and humour.

he says,

He is a little tainted with the weakness of wishing to render himself interesting by complaints of poverty and wretched health: but I have accidentally discovered that he has some money-resources, not great indeed, but which he concealed from us when he gave us an account of his property. In regard to his health, it appears to me rather robust than infirm; except we take into the account the fits of melancholy and spleen to which he is subject. This is a great pity: his manners are very amiable; and he has an honest and feeling heart: but these paroxysms drive him from society, make him capricious, and sometimes give an air of whimsicalness and violence to his conduct; qualities which are by no means natural to him.'

This publication contains also a fac-simile of one of RousSEAU's letters; and some airs, of his own composing.

A few additional particulars respecting these volumes occur in the fth Article of this Appendix.

Wood....e.

IX.

'xx./p.537.

ART.

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