portance." That he has succeeded in collecting materials of great value, evidently appears; and it only remains for us to wish that he had in every instance, been equally successful in arranging them, so as to place them in the clearest and most -effectual point of view.

The first chapter presents an interesting account of the early progress of commerce among the northern nations of Europe; and the author thinks that the tendency of recent events is to restore them to that commercial consequence which they formerly enjoyed, but which declined as soon as the great southern nations cultivated the arts of peace. There is, in this chapter, a considerable portion of historical matter; but we cannot think the author's information is always perfectly accurate. The borders of the Baltic, he says, were totally unknown in the time of the Romans. To the civilizing influence of Christianity he pays a just acknowledgement. May every benevolent effort to extend that blessing, be crowned with success!

Among the few good effects which followed those detestable expeditions, the Crusades, the revival of commerce among the northern nations was not the least.

All the princes, and all the nobles, knights, and gentlemen of Christendom, took an interest in that great enterprise. They returned more civilized, and better acquainted with the use of those luxuries which southern climates, and the commerce of the East, furnish. They had visited Constantinople and Italy, where alone there remained, in Europe, any vestiges of ancient manners and ancient grandeur; and though the Barons of those days had not the advantage of learning, they were not inferior in ambition or natural talents, to those of any other age.'

The southern shores of the Baltic and the Netherlands, owed chiefly their wealth and greatness to this change of manners; which introduced the luxuries of the South and of the East into countries to which they were till then unknown.' p. 13.

The celebrated Hanseatic league affords the writer an opportunity of conveying, together with much general information, many judicious reflections. As he justly observes, "in the history of the world there is not a more extraordinary example of what industry, and a strict union of interests for effecting a great purpose can do." The fall of this singular confederacy affords also a wholsesome lesson:" it began in their becoming warlike instead of commercial, and preferring political importance to wealth obtained by their original modes." The discovery of the passage to India, by the Cape of Good Hope, with that of America, and the consequent attention to commerce thereby excited in other nations, precipitated its dissolution. An account of the armed neutrality in 1780, and the rankling of that annosity which gave rise to it, until, after the victory of Copen

hagen

hagen by our lamented Nelson, it issued in the convention of 1801, including many sensible observations connected with that subject, close this very interesting chapter.

The second chapter introduces us more immediately to the principal intent of the work; in which, as might be expected, Russia takes the precedence, and occupies a considerable part of the volume. "Its extent, seas, lakes, rivers, canals; its produce," &c. &c. are distinctly and minutely examined in several subsequent chapters. After the ample communications of Mr. Tooke and others, it cannot be expected that our author should: be able to throw much additional light on what relates to the natural appearance of this rising empire. He views every thing, however, with a commercial eye, and among the numerous improvements for facilitating the operations of trade, he mentions with admiration the various and extensive canals, by which,

A great part of European Russia has a communication with one or other of the seas by which it is bounded; and, as the rivers are numerous, and a general plan is followed of constructing canals wherever they can. be useful, in a very short time, its internal communications will be such as to furnish it with the means of transporting all its produce into other parts, by means of water carriage.

As we have described a few of the principal rivers and canals, either completed, in execution, or in contemplation, of that part of the Russian empire in Europe; we shall give the communication from the frontiers of China, by which the trade from thence, and that of Siberia, is carried on to the city of Petersburg. This navigation first commences on the borders of China, passing by the Selenga to the Baikal Lake, from thence upon the Angara, into the Yenissey, as far down as Yenissey; there the merchandise is unloaded and carried over a short tract of land, and embarked on the river Ket; from thence down that river into the Oby; from which up the Irtish, the Tobol; and thence overland to the Tchussovaia, upon which river it is embarked again, and falls into the Kamą, and by the Kama into the great river Wolga. By this conveyance it was estimated, that Russia drew some years ago, merchandize to the value of no less than twelve millions of rubles.' p, 67.

The produce exported from Russia is, iron, hemp, flax, cordage of all kinds, tallow, hides, timber, grain of all sorts, particularly wheat, with a considerable number of manufactured articles of all of which particular statements are given, ascer taining the quantities shipped from the different ports, and the proportions purchased by Great Britain alone. The exportation of iron from Russia to England has been for some time on the decline; that of tallow has most astonishingly increased, insomuch that in the year 1803,

Russia exported to Great Britain alone, no less than 27,450 tons; the whole exportation that year, from Russia, on the side of the Baltic and Archangel, not including Courland, being 34,500 tons, and nearly equal

to 2,000,0001. sterling in value; a quantity and sum almost incredible, when we consider the produce of an ox for other useful purposes.' p. 89.

In the eighth chapter the author has given a minute detail of the route from England to Turkey, by way of Russia and the Black Sea; shewing the advantages of this mode, above the more tedious conveyance of goods through Germany, or even through the Dardanelles.

The British commerce with Turkey may, at a moderate expence and risk, and in a reasonable time, be carried on through Russia, when Great Britain and France are at war, when the premium of insurance is high, as well as freights, and when great delays often occur by waiting for convoys.'

Mr. O. enters into the consideration of a variety of details, to prove the position he has laid down, into which, we are sorry that our limits will not allow us fully to follow him. The route which he prefers to every other is, by way of Riga, up the Düna, and through the Beresinski canal to join the Dnieper.

Hitherto such articles of value, as would bear the expense by land, through Germany, have been defrayed by the premium which would have been paid for the sea risk. From the borders of Germany, overland to Constantinople, frequent robberies occur, from the nature of the government police; so that a new channel, which we shall point out, seems preferable to the more tedious conveyance through Germany, even supposing that the Elbe and the Rhine should be joined to the Danube : these are considerations worthy the notice of those in the British Turkey trade.

In time of war, the freight from London to Turkey has often been from 81. to 101. sometimes to 121. per ton, and even higher, according to the nature of the article. The premium of insurance, from 18 even to 35 guineas per cent. has been paid, but with returns for convoy; which has left from 10 to 20 per cent, net premium to pay upon the goods, exclusive of a detention of some months for convoy. The new channel to be here pointed out will save great expence as well as time, by the way of Riga, up the Düna, and through the Beresinski canal, which will be finished this year, to join the Dnieper: this channel is preferable to that by way of Konigsburg, Memel, Petersburg, or any other; because the goods by way of Riga will have to ascend a less distance against the current, and sooner get into a favourable one to descend the Dnieper to Odessa, from whence the frequent, nay, almost constant opportunities will cause great expedition. The spring and autumn would be particularly favourable to this new mode, not only in ascending the Düna, but descending the Dnieper, till the obstructions in that river are completely removed, which are already described in treating of the rivers of Russia. Supposing the merchandize was shipped from. England in the end of March to Riga, it would arrive in the middle of April at that city; and, on the canal being completed, from the great trafic which will be carried on by this channel, immediately proceed forward for the Black Sea; a month might be allowed, the expence would be trifling, as well as the risk.

The

< The freight from England to Riga might be reckoned about 20s. per ton, as most vessels to Russia go in ballast, or only part loaded. The premium of insurance in spring and summer would be only four guineas per cent. to return two per cent. for convoy. The transit duty, through Russia would be one eighth part of the customs, as will be seen at the end of the last chapter in treating of Russia, and in some instances, by Odessa, nothing. The expence from Riga to Odessa might not exceed 50s. per ton, by water, and not more by the sledge roads, part of the way in winter. The freight from Odessa, as well as the insurance, are both reasonable, as is already mentioned in treating of the trade betwixt Russia and Turkey; so that taking the freight from England, by way of Riga, or even Konigsburg, to Constaninople, it would only be about half of that by the Mediterranean, in time of war; and the premium of insurance altogether not more than from four to six per cent. being only from one third to a half of the amount by the other route.'

pp. 184-185.

This extract lays open to our readers one of the chief objects of Mr. Oddy's publication; and it affords to the British merchant a subject of interesting consideration. His account of the commerce of Russia concludes with the following reflections:

In taking a general view of the trade of Russia, which is all that remains to be done, after having entered so fully into the details, and furnished tables, from which every circumstance of importance may be seen; we cannot help observing how amazingly advantageous its trade is with the British dominions. Not only the amount of the sales is equal nearly to those of all other nations; but it is from Britain only that Russia receives a balance in cash. Were the trade suspended, the importations of wines, brandies, and foreign produce and manufactures, from other countries, would totally absorb the monied capital of Russia; and it is not going too far to say, that such an event would do it more harm, than any other that could take place. Russia can only grow wealthy by internal industry, and its connection with other nations; but those two things are dependent on each other. The introduction of foreign goods, stimulates the people to industry, but they could not be introduced in half the quantity they now are, if it were not for Britain.

This statement of the case cannot be too much enforced, as there is evidently a disposition in Russia to undervalue the connection, and to put it to a risk, for advantages that are merely in expectation, and that certainly would never be realized. We have already, in our remarks on the armed neutrality, had occasion to speak of this; but it cannot be too strictly impressed on the mind, as Russia evidently gives the direction to the views of the courts of Sweden and Denmark, and therefore in point of politics, may be considered as regulating the North.

Though it is easy to see that many mistakes are committed by the Russian government, in its endeavours to forward commerce, yet those endeavours are incessant, and have already produced great effects; its im mense extent, the line of politics that has been followed, and the opening of ports on the Black Sea, will tend to civilize the interior of the country, which, together with the canals that are carrying on, must, in a few years, produce great changes.

When we look on the past, we may anticipate the future. The rise

of Petersburg, the general increase of commerce, and the vast augmenta❤ tion of power; the rapid rise of Odessa, and the numerous efforts made to hasten the progress towards prosperity, leave no doubt as to the important part that nation will soon act on the theatre of Europe.'

pp. 209, 210. We sincerely hope that the good understanding which now subsists between the two countries, will be continued and cultivated, on both sides, with that earnestness which their respective interests require. (To be continued.)

Art. VI. The Song of the Sun. A Poem of the Eleventh Century ; from the more ancient Icelandic Collection, called the Edda. Imitated by the Rev. James Beresford, M. A. Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. With a Preface, Notes, and short Account of the Author. Johnson, London. 8vo. pp. 110. 1805. price 3s. 6d.

IT

T seems there are two Icelandic works, known by the name of EDDA one of the eleventh, the other of the sixteenth century. We shall extract Mr. B.'s account of the former. He says, they have erroneously been confounded with each other, though of wholly different ages, authors, and objects.'

The more ancient of these, which is wholly metrical, was first committed to writing in the eleventh century, and is by some supposed to have been composed by Sæmundr or Sæmundar; while others allow to him no other concern with the poems, than as a compiler, maintaining that he barely wrote down from memory, such poems as had been really in→ troduced into Iceland by the Norwegians, who, accompanied by a numerous body of Swedes, are known to have colonized that island, of which they were the first inhabitants, in the 9th century. For one or other of these reasons, this more ancient collection has been called by way of distinction, the Sæmundine Edda."

Mr. B. then introduces a succinct history of the later Edda; adding, concerning the more ancient, that, one portion was published at Copenhagen, in 1787, in a quarto volume; another has been promised; I know not whether it has yet appeared. In the volume already published, will be found the poem of which I now offer an imitation.'

From this statement it appears, that Sæmundar was another Ossian. But, as the poems of the latter are said to be nearly of the venerable antiquity of fifteen or sixteen hundred years, the Icelanders must not pretend to contest the palm of antiquity with the Caledonian. The name Edda, they say, signifies grandmother, importing the antiquity of the poems. The Icelandic name of the part before us, is, Solar Liod, Song of the Sun.. The Icelandic bards are represented, as a sort of mystics, whose grand object was to be unintelligible; and had not Mr. B. taken some pains to assure us that this was not the case with