proper, or as a method of recommending the pamphlet to English readers, to alter the simple title of the original, and to be anxious not only to preserve, but to increase, the strength of the epithets bestowed by the author on the head of the French nation. We also wish that he had included in this selection M. Arndt's view of Great Britain. It is worth our attention to hear what a man of experience and knowlege, whose sentiments concerning our enemy coincide so fully with our own, thinks of our situation and our actions; and we may feel inclined to attach some value to the judgment of our fellow champion, though we are too proud to listen to our antagonist. We cannot omit on this occasion to advert to M. Arndt's opinion respecting the means by which, he thinks, Bonaparte may and will yet be conquered; because the same ideas seem to be not uncom mon in this country, and to be approved by some who have considerable influence in our national councils. Napoleon,' he says, ' will be conquered as soon as he shall be assailed with his own weapons. These weapons are a violation of all faith, disregard of bloodshed and human misery, &c. Independently of the horror which must be excited in every feeling mind, by the idea of such a contest between the worst principles of human action, it must evidently be attended with the utmost danger, when the horrid weapons are not wielded by very powerful and skilful hands. The case of nations will ever resemble that of individuals. Even weakness finds a strong shield in truth and justice: but the ruin of the feeble will be unavoidable, and they will fall unpitied, detested, and be made accountable for all the miseries which both they and their more powerful adversaries have occasioned, when they attempt to enter the lists in conjunction with injustice and cruelty. Even prudence, therefore, advises a most careful estimation of the powers which are to take up against Bonaparte his own weapons; and we fear that they have on some occasions been employed against him without sufficient consideration. When we reflect how apt human beings are to over-rate their abilities, and how little even the rulers of states are exempt from this weakness of our nature, we cannot help being anxious that at least Great Britain should not be made, in future, to sacrifice the prospects of certain advantages from an honest policy, to the vain expectations of greater or more speedy success in the adoption of the system, which, under the direction of our powerful enemy, has so greatly contributed to extend his sway. Art. 31. Ecclesiastical Topography. A Collection of one Hundred Views of Churches in the Environs of London. From Drawings expressly taken for this Work; accompanied with Descriptions from the best Sources, both MS. and printed. Vol. I. 4to. 21. 128 6d. Large Paper 41. 48. Boards. Cadell and Da vies, &c. In consequence of their public use, their antiquity, and the peculiarity of their architecture, Ecclesiastical Buildings are generally viewed with considerable interest: to accommodate, therefore, and gratify such persons as have not leisure and opportunities for visiting the Churches in the vicinity of the Metropolis, this work presents them Spaniards to wish to be revolutionized by Bonaparte, he assigns to them wishes and sentiments which exist only among an enlightened people. We are not sure, however, that the views of Sydney respect. ing the New World have not more sound policy in them, than those which this country has adopted in favour of Old Spain; and that the emancipation of Spanish America is not of more importance, than the preservation of the Mother Country from the grasp of Bonaparte. MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 29. Narrative of the Siege of Zaragoza. By Charles Richard Vaughan, M B. Fellow of All-Souls College, Oxford, and one of Dr. Radcliff's Travelling Fellows from that University. The sixth Edition. 8vo 2s. 6d. Ridgway. Though the modern Zaragoza has not displayed that unconquerable spirit which has rendered antient Numantia so celebrated in the page of history, the heroism and steady perseverance of the inhabitants of the capital of Arragon, in defending themselves against the French, are highly creditable to their military reputation. It is therefore a source of extreme lamentation to reflect, when we are perusing these interesting pages, that, after the instances of personal valour and patriotic enthusiasm in both sexes, which they record, this city should fall into the hands of the enemy, and that its smoaking ruins should be quoted by them with exultation and triumph. The population of Zaragoza is stated to have been about 60,coo when the siege commenced: but Mr. V. does not inform us of the multitude who perished during its continuance; nor does he extend his narrative to the melancholy catastrophe of its fall. From this evidence alone we should have been led to conclude that the in habitants of Zaragoza were successful in repelling their invaders. Alas! poor city! Art. 30. Arndt's Spirit of the Times. Translated from the German by the Rev. P. W, being the Work for the Publication of which the unfortunate Palm of Erlangen was sacrificed by Napoleon, the Destroyer; containing Historical and Political Sketches, with Prognostics, relative to Spain and Portugal, Sweden, Russia, Turkey, Austria, France, and Bonaparte. Svo. -Thiselton. 1808. PP. 116. M. Arndt's work on the Spirit of the Times was noticed in the Appendix to our 52d volume. The translator has given only selected passages from it; justly considering a great part of the original as too partial and local in its interest to deserve the labour of a version, which was rendered difficult by an intricate style, and by what he chuses to call the unintelligible jargon of the critical philosophy. We cannot doubt that the British public will thank him for having conveyed to them the sentiments of an intelligent, and, as far as we can conclude, sincere foreigner, on subjects with which he had possessed opportunities of becoming intimately acquainted: but we are convinced, that the Reverend gentleman was misinformed as to M. Arndt's work having occasioned the death of the bookseller Palm; and we much regret that he should have considered it as proper, proper, or as a method of recommending the pamphlet to English readers, to alter the simple title of the original, and to be anxious not only to preserve, but to increase, the strength of the epithets bestowed by the author on the head of the French nation. We also wish that he had included in this selection M. Arndt's view of Great Britain. It is worth our attention to hear what a man of experience and knowlege, whose sentiments concerning our enemy coincide so fully with our own, thinks of our situation and our actions; and we may feel inclined to attach some value to the judgment of our fellow champion, though we are too proud to listen to our antagonist. We cannot omit on this occasion to advert to M. Arndt's opinion respecting the means by which, he thinks, Bonaparte may and will yet be conquered; because the same ideas seem to be not uncom➡ mon in this country, and to be approved by some who have considerable influence in our national councils. Napoleon,' he says, 'will be conquered as soon as he shall be assailed with his own weapons. These weapons are a violation of all faith, disregard of bloodshed and human misery, &c. Independently of the horror which must be excited in every feeling mind, by the idea of such a contest between the worst principles of human action, it must evidently be attended with the utmost danger, when the horrid weapons are not wielded by very powerful and skilful hands. The case of nations will ever resemble that of individuals. Even weakness finds a strong shield in truth and justice: but the ruin of the feeble will be unavoidable, and they will fall unpitied, detested, and be made accountable for all the miseries which both they and their more powerful adversaries have occasioned, when they attempt to enter the lists in conjunction with injustice and cruelty. Even pru dence, therefore, advises a most careful estimation of the powers which are to take up against Bonaparte his own weapons; and we fear that they have on some occasions been employed against him without sufficient consideration. When we reflect how apt human beings are to over-rate their abilities, and how little even the rulers of states are exempt from this weakness of our nature, we cannot help being anxious that at least Great Britain should not be made, in future, to sacrifice the prospects of certain advantages from an honest policy, to the vain expectations of greater or more speedy success in the adoption of the system, which, under the direction of our powerful enemy, has so greatly contributed to extend his sway. Art. 31. Ecclesiastical Topography. A Collection of one Hundred Views of Churches in the Environs of London. From Drawings expressly taken for this Work; accompanied with Descriptions from the best Sources, both MS. and printed. Vol. I. 4to. 21. 12s 6d. Large Paper 41. 48. Boards. Cadell and Davies, &c. In consequence of their public use, their antiquity, and the pecubarity of their architecture, Ecclesiastical Buildings are generally viewed with considerable interest: to accommodate, therefore, and gratify such persons as have not leisure and opportunities for visiting the Churches in the vicinity of the Metropolis, this work presents them CORRESPONDENCE. W. M., who seems so partial to very long articles, that he even argues against the continuance of the Catalogue department of our Review, will perhaps be surprized at hearing us declare that we attach to it great importance. Without such a classification, a very slight view could be taken of the Literature of the age; and at least ninety out of a hundred of the numerous books which issue from the press must be consigned to total oblivion. By the mode, therefore, which we adopt in the Catalogue part of our Review, we bring many publications forwards, which would otherwise find no critic and though our notices are necessarily short, they are preferable to total silence. By this process, about 5co authors annually appear at our tribunal; whereas on the plan recommended by W. M. we should not be able to review more than 50 or 60. In the early part of our labours, we had no apprehension of being in arrears with the public: but, now, books and pamphlets are produced with such rapidity, that even with the contrivance of a catalogue we cannot make our vehicle large enough for those who apply for places. Habeo desires to have a review of his publication speedily in serted. He happens, for which it is impossible to account, to think better of his work than we can do; and when he sees the article now in our drawer which refers to it, we suspect that he will be angry with himself for being so impatient. Y. Y. inquires after a volume of Sermons. He has touched on a sore subject. What an unnoticed pile presents itself to our view!' O that this pile were a "false creation," and that we could wake and find it but a dream! TO THE READER. It has been determined to reprint all the Numbers of the MONTHLY REVIEW which have so long been desiderata; and as soon, therefore, as so large a quantity of matter can pass through the press, we shall be able to furnish our friends with such parts of the M. R. as they may want, to perfect their setts. A few complete copies of the whole work, also, with the General Indexes, will be thrown into the hands of the booksellers, for cafual sale; and an opportunity, which can never again cccur, will thus be presented to the public, of obtaining setts, bound in every variety of manner, and made up uniformly at once from sheets. The Appendix to Vol. LIX. of the M. R. is published with this Number, and contains various articles of interesting and important new FOREIGN PUBLICATIONS; with the General Tile, Index, &c. for the Volume. THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For OCTOBER, 1809. ART. I. Zoological Lectures, delivered at the Royal Institution in the Years 1806 and 1807, by George Shaw, M.D. F.R.S &c. &c. with Plates from the first Authorities and most select Specimens, engraved principally by Mrs. Griffith. 21. 125. 6d. Boards. Kearsley. 1809. FEW 2 Vols. Ew pursuits are more interesting, rational, and innocent than the cultivation of the different branches of natural science; and among them the study of Zoology, or of the habits, the characteristic differences, the powers, and the adaptations of the various animals by whom the chief animal Man is surrounded, may certainly be considered as holding a distinguished place. Yet, comparatively speaking, we seldom meet in society with individuals, male or female, who have directed a share of their attention to this object; and, excepting a superficial acquaintance with those domestic creatures who are constantly before our eyes, and administer to our daily wants and pleasures, zoographical acquirements are mostly confined to men who professedly devote themselves entirely to the science of Natural History, or to those who render this knowlege subservient to the purposes of trade. Chemistry and Botany have of late gained much ground among us, as polite accomplishments; and we see no reason that should prevent the contemplation of the animal world from becoming equally prevalent. To facilitate a diffusion of this taste, it is known to our readers that Dr. Shaw has already done much; and in the work now before us we have not only additional evidence of his labours, but, considering the place in which his discourses were delivered, additional cause for auguring well of their success! The lectures are only twelve in number, and are intended to illustrate, in a short and popular manner, the history of animated nature, according to the Linnéan mode of arrangement; with such occasional deviations, or transpositions, as the recent state of knowlege has suggested. The object of the introductory part of the first lecture is to recommend the VOL. LX. I study |