Art. XXIV. Instructeur François, in French and English, designed for Schools of both Sexes, and private Learners. Intended to simplify, by a progressive Series of easy and familiar Lessons, the Pronunciation, Spelling, Reading, and Construction of the French Language. By William Keegan. 8vo. pp. 155. Price 2s. 6d. sheep. Boosey, Longman and Co. 1808.

THIS spelling and reading book will doubtless be found useful to beginners in the study of the French language. The plan of the work is generally commendable; the rules for pronunciation are as satisfactory, perhaps, as the subject will admit. To assist the learner in attaining this difficult accomplishment, the silent letters in the words are distinguished by a different character: this design, however, is not executed with uniform accuracy. A regard to moral, as well as literary propriety, is evinced in the selection of the lessons. There are a few trivial appearances of affectation, which can do the student no harm except by disturbing his gravity.

Art. XXV. The Miniature; by Solomon Grildrig, of the College of Eton. Inscribed by Permission to the Rev. Dr. Goodall, 2 vols. 8vo. pp. 285. 253. Price 9s. bds. Murray.

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THE Microcosm" having preceded this work, which is avowedly an imitation, took possession of a station in the public esteem, which even an equal portion of talent in a subsequent production, would not be able either to seize or participate. But "the Miniature," unfortunately, is not the work to challenge competition even on equal terms. It is, at the same time, very far from being destitute of merit; the various papers which it includes, exhibit unquestionable marks of intellectual ability and cultivation; with moral principles generally correct, they unite an amusing display of humour, and a respectable portion of intelligent remark on life and literature. The papers are forty in number, of miscellaneous character, and unequal merit.

HINDOOSTANEE LITERATURE.

Art. XXII. The Rose-Garden of Hindoostan. Translated from Shykh Sadee's Original Nursery, or Persian Goolistan, of Sheeraz, by Meer sher Ulee Ufsos, for the Use of the Hindoostanee Students at the College of Fort William, under the Direction and Superintendance of John Gilchrist, Author of the Hindoostanee Dictionary, and many other Oriental Publications. 2 vols. 8vo. Price 17. 10s. Calcutta, printed at the Hindoostanee Press. 1802. Black, Parry, and Kingsbury, London.

ORIENTALISTS in general, and especially persons engaged in the East India Company's service, are much indebted to Dr. Gilchrist for his efforts to facilitate the attainment of the Hindoostanee language. A number of publications, adapted for this purpose, Hindee English, and polyglot, have issued, under his directions, from the Calcutta press. One of the most important is the Hindoostanee Translation of the Gulistan,

now before us; a short account of which may be acceptable to some of our readers.

This work, which, in the Hindoostanee, is intitled the Baghi Oordoo, is preceded by an Introduction in English, 17 pages in length, and is dedicated to Marquis Wellesley. After speaking of the hardships and embarrassments experienced in getting the work printed, the Editor observes, that "to the seasonable munificence of the most noble Marquis Wellesley's government alone, will the nations of India be indebted for the Baghi Oordoo, or Hindoostanee Goolistan," which he thinks may transmit the name of this spirited Patron of Literature to far distant ages, among the inhabitants of Hindoostan, when the sovereignty of that country shall have passed from the hands of Britain, and the monuments of her victories may be levelled with the dust.

The original Persian work, well known in Asia and Europe by its title, The Gulistan of Sadee, is one of the most entertaining and useful productions of the East. It is divided into eight Chapters, each of which is subdivided into a number of entertaining Tales, illustrative of the subjects of the eight principal Divisions.

Chap. I. On the Manners of the Kings, 42 Tales.

Chap. II. On the Manners of the Ecclesiastics, 49 Tales,
Chap. III. On the Excellence of Contentment, 29 Tales.
Chap. 1V. On the Advantages of Taciturnity, 14 Tales.
Chap. V. On Love and Youth, 21 Tales.

Chap. VI. On Infirmity and Old Age, 9 Tales.

Chap. VII. On the Effects of Education, 20 Tales.

Chap. VIII. On the Nature of Society, Admonition, and Philosophy. Dr. Gilchrist supposes, that, till Meer Sher Ulee Ufsos undertook this version, the Gulistan had been confined to the original Persian; and under this conviction, he says,

"A Hindoostanee version of the immortal Sadee's Goolistan, is one of the many Desiderata in the modern language of India, with which the Indian Moosulmans ought to have favoured their country, at least one or two centuries ago. To enumerate the various causes which have conspired, for some ages past, to prevent so honourable an exertion of their talents on a vernacular translation of a work so popular and esteemed as the Goolistan has been in the East, would rather be to commence a History of the Hindoostanee language, than to write a short Introduction to the present work.' p. 1.

It is very remarkable that our learned author should have been so imperfectly informed on this subject. That a Hindoostanee Version of the Gulistan has long been extant in India, we well know. In the very valuable collection of MSS. sent from Calcutta by Sir Wm. Jones, in 1792, to Sir Joseph Banks, to be deposited in the Library of the Royal Society, there was a Hindoostanee Version of the Gulistan, which is particularly mentioned in the sixth volume of his Works, p. 459, Lond. 1799. Another copy now lies on our table, in a MS. not less than a hundred years old. The translation, executed by Meer Sher Ulee Ufsos, and edited by Dr. Gilchrist, is consequently not the first, and we are inclined to think not the best; but our limits forbid us to enter into a comparison by no means interesting to the majority of our readers. In the first VOL. IV. Y.

volume of Dr. G.'s work, the Table of Errata, or Ghulut nameh, extends from p. 276 to p. 286. It argues great carelessness, in the first instance, to have permitted such a crowd of errors to pass through the press; it also evinces great accuracy in the revisal of the work, to detect and specify them. The Hindoostanee text is printed in the Taaleek character. Neither the ink nor the typographical execution can be much commended; yet the work itself will be of considerable use to those who are desirous of acquiring a language, which is daily gaining ground in India, and is the principal medium of communication in the transactions of commerce and diplomacy.

AMERICAN LITERATURE.

Art. XXVII. State of Literature in America. THE business of reprinting, we are informed by an intelligent friend at Philadelphia, "is carried on in the most extensive manner in every part of the United States." "The type-foundry of this city is a great assistance to this craft. Bradford of this place is now publishing Rees's Cyclopedia, with considerable additions by various persons in this city, to which it will do honour as a specimen of typography. The engravings are fully equal to the London edition "-" Gregory's Dictionary is to be reprinted in New York." A new edition of "The Wonders of Nature and Art," has also been completed at Philadelphia. It includes large additions, particularly to the article, United States, which in fact is almost entirely new. It is printed in 14 vols. 18mo. and sold for 14 dollars." "Our Philosophical Society," continues this gentleman, "has a volume in the press. Mr. Blodget of Washington City has published a Statistical Account of the United States, in one volume; and it will be continued.— An Annual Register will shortly be published in this City, and will likewise be continued; the plan is that of the British works of the same title.

"The Agricultural Society of this City, after a long sleep, was revived two years since, and is now in active operation We have a volume of Communications in the press. It will contain a long account of our grand bridge over the Schuylkill, about which Mr. Janson has published many errors. The plan is entirely American, and instead of 840,000, it cost 300,000 dollars -We abound in excellent bridges in the United States. In the N. E. States, they are of immense size; in this State we have also a few large ones, but they are numerous, and mostly of stone, over the creeks and small streams.

"Improvements of every kind," he adds, " are going on in this country in the most rapid manner. Scarcely a year passes without some new one being announced. Roads, and canals, are cutting through our immense wilds, which will connect the East and West waters, Shipbuilding is going on largely, and, to complete all, our agriculture is improving every year, owing to the diffusion of the red clover, aided by the magical effects of gypsum, which trebles the crop. This excellent plant has recovered thousands of acres of worn-out land, which now produce fine crops of grain, and has added greatly to the wealth of our farmers." We must refer to a future number for an account of some original productions of American literature.

ART. XXVIII. SELECT LITERARY INFORMATION.

GREAT BRITAIN.

The Rev. H. Pearson will shortly publish a Dissertation on the probable design of Divine Providence in subjecting so large a portion of Asia to the British Dominion, and on the Duty, Means, and Consequences, of translating the Scriptures into Oriental languages, and of promoting Christian Knowledge in Asia. To which will be prefixed a brief Historical View of the Progress of the Gospel in all nations, since its first promulgation, accompanied by a chart. Dr. Jarrold (Author of Dissertations in Answer to Mr. Malthus's Essay on the Principle of Population) will in a few days have ready for publication, the work we announced several months ago, under the title of " Anthropologia, or Dissertations on the Form and Colour of the Person of Man, with incidental remarks."

The Rev. John Fawcett,A. M. of Machpelah near Halifax, is preparing for the press, a Family Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, with notes, illustrations, and devotional exercises by way of improvement, for the use of families, as well as private persons; partly original, and partly selected from the most approved expositors, ancient and modern.

It is apprehended this work will be comprized in two quarto volumes; but for the convenience of Subscribers, it will be first published in numbers.

The Rev. Josiah Pratt has just completed his edition of the whole works of Bishop Hall, in ten volumes 8vo. and has also published separate editions of the Bishop's Contemplations, in 2 vols. Of h's Devotional Writings, in 1 vol. Of his Practical Works, in 2 vols. and of his Divine Right of Episcopacy, in 1

vol.
The same editor has now in the press, in
3 large vols, 8vo. the Works of Bishop Hop-
kins; including all the pieces contained in
the folio,with several scarce posthumous trea-
life of the author will be prefixed, and a
copious index be given at the end.

The Rev. Charles Franc's, rector of Mildenhall, is about to publish a Sermon preached in the parish church of St. Peter, Marlborough, in recommendation of the union of the dissenters with the church of England. A Series of Letters, by Mr. J. Gilbert, addressed to the Rev. William Bennet, in reply to his Remarks on a recent hypothesis respecting the origin of Moral Evil, is ready for publication.

In the press, A History of the Early Part of the Reign of James the Second, with an introductory chapter on the History of Eng

land, from the accession of the House of Tudor, to the death of Charles the Second By the late Right Hon. Charles James Fox, To which is added, an Appendix of valuable and original documents, collected by the author.

The edition will be superintended, and a preface prefixed, by Lord Holland.

This work will form a quarto volume, and will be published in the three following, sizes.

1st. Demy quarto, printed on a good common paper, and clear type, price thirty six shillings, boards.

2d. Royal quarto, printed elegantly on fine wove-paper with a large type, price two guineas and half, extra boards.

3d. Elephant quarto: the paper of the finest quality, and printing in the very best style, price five guineas, in extra boards.

Of this latter edition, only two hundred and fifty copies are printing.

Each edition will be embellished with a portrait of the Author, never before engraved, taken from the last bust executed by Mr. Nollekens.-The engraving for the royal and elephant quarto copies, will be of a larger size than that for the demy copies.

The copy-right of this work, we understand, has been purchased at the unprecedented sum of 4500%.

Mrs. Murray, the author of Mentoria, has in the press, Mentorial Lectures, coinprising remarks on the higher branches of female education.

Two more volumes of Espriella's Letters from England, and a new edition of the for mer volumes will appear in a few weeks.

Dr. Gregory has completed a course of Familiar Lectures on the various branches of Natural and Experimental Philosophy, containing the present state of knowledge on those subjects, adapted to the use of schools, and all persons who attend courses of lectures. The plates are very numerous, are newly drawn from the instruments, and are correctly engraved by Porter.

This day commences a Quarterly Review of Publications of Art; consisting of Critical animadversions on the most important modern productions, as they may appear, of the Arts of Painting, Engraving, Sculpture, Architecture, and Books on the subject of imitative Art.

Mr. Samuel Daniel proposes to publish twelve prints, from drawings made on the spot, representing, the native inhabitants, scenery, and animals of Ceylon.

The Rev. J. Grant will publish, in the course of the present month, the Pastoal Care, a didactic Poem, in three parts.