It must be obferved that M. D'Antoni has adapted his direc tions for the conduct of officers to the meridian of his own country. A comparison between the English and Sardinian artillery will fhew that there are many points in which the former is fuperior; but this can detract nothing from the justness of the author's general principles, nor in any degree invalidate his obfervations. In one refpect, the difference of the two fervices is remarkable. Amongst us, the engineers are accustomed to conftruct the batteries, the artillery-officer having little more to do than to prepare the stores and fight the guns. In the Sardinian, and in most other fervices on the continent, the artillery officer plans the batteries in conjunction with the engineer, and conftructs them himself.

The tranflator informs us that he had, at one time, an intention of fubjoining, by way of note, remarks on the several conclufions drawn by the author in the course of this work; and comparing them with the received opinions of the English and French artillerifts; but he afterwards relinquished the idea, from the confideration that an ample difcuffion of those several points would not only have greatly enlarged the work, but might have involved him in tedious and fruitless controverfies. We cannot but wish that so usefui a design had been carried into execution by a perfon fo well qualified for the undertaking as the present tranflator. He has, however, performed an effential fervice to British artillerifts and engineers, by the tranflation of M. D'Antoni's elaborate work; and we must add, that he has not only given the fenfe of his author with fidelity and accuracy, but with perfpicuity and concifenefs.

ART. IX. A Letter to a Nobleman; containing Confiderations on the Laws relative to Diffenters, and on the intended Application to Parliament for the Repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts. By a Layman. 8vo. 3s. Cadell. London, 1790.

IT has been obferved again and again, and it has been parti

cularly infifted on by Mr. Hume, that deifm, and all religions that imply an unity of faith and one object of worship, are in their natures intolerant; that polytheifm, on the contrary, with a diverfity of gods, admits a diverfity of religious ceremonies and opinions. The progrefs of knowledge, which is accompanied by progreffive moderation and doub, appears to have had a fimilar effect on the minds of men, with regard to religious toleration, to that of polytheifm, which is, no doubt, founded on ignorance. In the prefent enlightened age men fpeculate freely on the nature and ways of fate and providence; and

great indulgence is fhewn to that variety of opinions which are entertained on fubjects fo abftrufe and hard to be comprehended. In fuch times and circumstances it is not to be wondered that the new legislature of France, one of the most refined nations in the world, fhould fhew the moft perfect example that has been yet exhibited, of toleration and forbearance in matters of religion.

The political advantages that muft accrue to France from fuch enlarged views and liberal conduct are foreseen by the author of this treatise in favour of a repeal of the corporation and teft acts in England. My firm and confcientious opinion," fays he, is for a repeal; and fure I am that, unless something material fhall be done by the wisdom of the legislature to mitigate the intolerance of our laws, a neighbouring nation, whose government was the conftant fubject of our reproba⚫tion and abhorrence, will be foon found the trueft asylum for religious liberty.' The writer of the letter proceeds to vindicate, recommend, and affert religious toleration in general, and the exercise of juftice to the proteftant diffenters in particular, from topics drawn from hiftory, philofophy, political prudence, and from the pure fource of the Chriftian religion, uncontaminated by human paffion and the artifices of priestcraft. He is not only acquainted with the hiftory and prefent state of modern Europe, and particularly that of England, but is a confiderable proficient in general knowledge. He writes in an easy and perfpicuous ftyle, as might be expected from one fo thoroughly mafter of his fubject; and in that difpaffionate and liberal manner which becomes an advocate for toleration in matters of religious opinion. The political fentiments of this writer are highly independent, and favourable to the rights of

human nature,

ART. X. Bell's New Pantheon, or Hiftorical Dictionary of the Gods, Demi-gods, Heroes, and fabulous Perfonages of Antiquity; alfo of the Images and Idols adored in the Pagan World; together with their Temples, Priefs, Altars, Oracles, Fafts, Festivals, Games, &c. as well as Defcriptions of their Figures, Reprefentations, and Symbols, collected from Statues, Pictures, Coins, and other Remains of the Ancients. The whole defigned to facilitate the Study of Mythology, Hiftory, Poetry, Painting, Statuary, Medals, &c. and compiled from the beft Authorities. Richly embel lifhed with characteriflic Prints. 4to. 2 vols. 11. 11s. 6d. boards. Bell. London, 1790.

HE heathen mythology, hitherto little regarded but by claffical scholars, will no doubt, by the pleafing form in which it is here exhibited, become much more generally known,

The

The plan of a dictionary is also well calculated to convey this fpecies of knowledge. An account of fabulous perfonages, to illuftrate a paffage in poetry, or a scene in painting, derives merit from its brevity, and from the eafe with which it can be referred to. The matter of thefe volumes feems to be well felected, and arranged in a judicious manner; and the ftyle has as much claim to elegance as can be expected in a dictionary of heathen deities. That our readers may form a judgment of it themfelves, we fhall prefent them with the following account of the elyfium of the ancients :

EYSIUM, or elyfian fields; the happy abodes of the juft and good, and the contraft of Tartarus, the prifon of the wicked. It were endlefs to give all the variety of defcriptions which this subject has afforded to ancient and modern writers. Let us figure to ourfelves fcenes of enchantment abounding with every thing conducive to happiness; an eternal fpring of verdure and flowers, with fountains and ftreams gliding gently along; a fky always ferene, and fanned with fragrant breezes; an univerfal harmony and uninterrupted joy; a perpetual fpring, with other funs, and other ftars. Lucian has given a romantic defcription of these happy fields:

• We were conducted,' fays he, to the city of the island of the bleffed, to affist at their feasts: at our entrance we were ravished to behold a city of gold encompaffed by walls of emerald, whilft its pavement was inlaid with ebony and ivory. The temples were of rubies and diamonds, having large altars raifed upon one fingle precious ftone, on which hecatombs were feen to fmoke. Its feven gates were all of cinnamon, furrounded by a moat of fweet-fcented Juftral water, an hundred yards broad, and as deep as was neceflary to bathe at one's eafe. The public baths are of admirable artifice, which are heated by nothing but faggots of cinnamon. The edifice itfelf is of cryftal, and the bafons or lavacra large veffels of porcelaine, filled with dew. The bleffed are incorporeal and impalpable; yet they eat and drink, and perform the other natural functions; they never grow old, but enjoy perpetual youth and vigour. Of all the feafons they know none but the fpring, and feel no other wind but the zephyrs. The earth is covered with flowers and fruits all the year round, which are gathered every month. There are three hundred and fixty-five fountains of fresh water, as many of honey, and four hundred, but smaller than the others, of sweet unguents, with feveral rivers of milk and wine. They keep their feafts without the city in the elyfian fields, under the fhade of a wood which furrounds it, fitting upon beds of flowers, and have their refections brought by the winds. They are at no pains to make garlands, for the little birds which hop round them finging, fcatter flowers upon them, cropt from the neighbouring meadows. They never cease finging during the banquet, and rehearfing the most pleafing verfes, Their dances are performed by boys and virgins, and their musicians are Eunomus, Arion, Anacreon, and Stefichorus. When they have finished their fongs, a fecond choir of muficians appear, compofed

3

of

of fwans and nightingales, which, with the zephyrs, make up a delightful concert. But what contributes molt to the felicity of the bieffed is, that there are two fprings, the one of laughter, and the other of joy, of which each perfon drinking before he fits down, is filled with hilarity for the reft of the day.'

We have remarked that the typography of Mr. Bell is generally uncommonly elegant; nor will the public expectation be disappointed in these volumes, the value of which is doubly enhanced by beautiful engravings, which ferve not only to embel. lish the work, but to illuftrate the subject of which it treats.

FOREIGN

LITERATURE.

ART. XI. Journal Hiftorique du Voyage de M. de Leffeps, &c. ART. XI. Hiftorical Account of a Journey from Kamtfchatka to France, by M. de Leffeps, fent out by the King as Interpreter in the Expedition of the Count de la Peroufe. 8vo. 2 vols. Paris, 1790.

GRAND enterprifes, undertaken for the purpose of making discoveries and promoting the cause of fcience, generally aroufe the rivalship of furrounding nations, and one fovereign is fometimes incited, by the example of another, to pursue measures that are equally beneficial to mankind and honourable to himself. The voyages of our immortal navigator, whose unfortunate and untimely end will be lamented while the glory of his name furvives, feem to have diffused abroad a fpirit for fetting on foot expeditions of the like kind; and both France and Spain have turned their attention to the fame objects, particularly the former, which in 1785 fitted out two frigates, well equipped, under the command of the Count de la Perouse and M. de Langle, both able officers, in order to make researches refpecting geography, aftronomy, natural hiftory, and other branches of knowledge. Two aftronomers, M. Dagelet, of the Academy of Sciences, and M. Menge, junior, profeffor at the Military School, embarked in thefe veffels; but as the latter could not endure the naufea of a fea voyage, he was obliged to return some time after. Count de la Peroufe was attended also by the Chevalier de Lamanon and M. Monge, junior, canon of Sainte Genevieve, two gentlemen well acquainted with experimental philofophy, by three naturalifts, M. Martiniere, Father Recours, a cordelier, and M. du Frefne ; by M. Moneron, an engineer, and by feveral painters and draughtsmen. Thefe learned men were prefented to the king on the 18th of

June,

June, ample inftructions were given them, and no expence was fpared to provide them with fuch inftruments as they might have occafion for. A medal was ftruck to preferve the remembrance of this enterprise, undertaken in the tenth year of the reign of Louis XVI.

Thefe veffels, one of which was called La Bouffole and the other L'Aftrolabe, failed from Brest on the 1st of August, 1785. The former had on board one hundred and thirteen men, and the officers were selected from the most refolute and skilful in the French navy. Very fanguine hopes were formed of the information that would be procured by this voyage; and Mr. Dagelet was particularly ordered to make obfervations on the tides, and on the pendulum, in order to ascertain the variations of gravitation in feveral parts of the globe; on the difference it may have in the two hemifpheres, and on the exact figure of the earth. For this purpofe Mr. Dagelet carried with him the invariable pendulum of M, de la Condamine, which had been before used in America, Africa, and Lapland.

After making fome obfervations at Teneriffe, M. de la Peroufe purfued his voyage, about the end of August, and proceeded thence to Brazil, the coaft of Chili, the Eafter and Sandwich ifles, California, &c. and arrived at China in the beginning of the year 1787. After this he proceeded to the Manillas, and the harbour of St. Peter and St. Paul in Kamtschatka, where M. de Leffeps quitted the veffels in order to return to Europe.

In the month of June last year letters were received from thefe navigators, dated March 1788, at which time they were at Botany Bay, on the coaft of New Holland; and it appears that M. de Langle, who commanded the Aftrolabe, and who was one of the ableft officers in the French fervice, was killed at the ifle of Mohona, with thirteen of the crew, among whom were the Chevalier de Lamanon and Father Recours, a cordelier, both well verfed in natural hiftory. This ifland lies in the Archipelago, called by Bougainville, Navigator's Ifles, in long. 208 and lat. 14° fouth. After the death of M. de Langle, M. de Clonard took the command of the Aftrolabe, and the two veffels failed from Botany Bay about the middle of May 1788. Though above a year has now elapfed fince that period, no accounts have been yet received of the future progress of the Count de la Peroufe; and there is too much reafon to apprehend that fome misfortune has befallen the veffels, or that they are loft. If this be the cafe, fcience will undoubtedly fuffer by the mifcarriage of an enterprise undertaken by munificence, fupported by liberality, and entrusted to the management of men every way qualified, by their talents and experience,