before him, a copy of every useful and excellent object of study but that copy is fo replete with masterly strokes, that compilation contains things collected in fo new a manner, that it is preferable to most originals treating on the fame fubjects.' To thefe reflections of M. de Buffon on the character of Pliny as a writer, M. Poinfinet adds fome remarks on his character as a man. His moral character, fays he, is in his whole work as naturally difplayed as his genius. You find in it a good citizen, a true friend to mankind, a philofopher fociable and void of pride; a difinterested man of learning, who writes only to be useful, and not to acquire that vain and tranfient fame, whofe nothingness he fhews on every occafion.with fo much energy. All his reflections on manners breathe honesty, virtue, juftice, and the love of order. The only problematical part of his character is his religion an article on which Pliny is very inconfiftent, and hardly to be reconciled with himfelf. For if be confounds God and Nature, if he has thought the world felf-existent and eternal, and the foul perishable, &c. these Epicurean fentiments, which are mere materialism, are refuted by the respect he often expreffes for the gods and the religion of his country. An affiduous fpectator of nature had easily accustomed himself not to look forwards on a caufe fuperior to that by which he was fo fenfibly truck. However, we neither will justify nor arraign Pliny of atheism, and leave this difcuffion to those who will enter into it. : Such as the hiftorian of nature has here been reprefented, his fate among the moderns has been almost as fingular and various as that of Ariftotle. Sometimes he has been efteemed the most univerfal and moft learned writer of antiquity; and fometimes he has been defpifed as a liar, and accused of the groeft impofitions, or of the weakest credulity. Pliny may, indeed, be accufed of errors: they are what he has in common with all the compilers of facts and ob fervations of all kinds. Who among our beft modern writers can pretend to be free from them? But, in order to accufe him of deliberate falfehoods, while re always proves himself their profeffed enemy, and even feizes every occafion to attack the Greeks fo famous for theirs, one muft have read him without any reflection. No doubt he could not avoid copying fome of the fictions from their books; fince, as he wanted to collect all, he had not always leifure to make the neceffary choice, and as by being too nice he might poffibly have feared to omit fome interefting fact. Befides, it ought to be confidered, that Pliny had completed his Hiftory only a very short time before his death, and confequently had not been able to revife it, and to give it that finishing hand, which eftablishes the reputation of a work. [To be concluded in our next. ] FOREIGN LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. 15. Nature and Art, in Pictures, Statues, Buildings and Engravings, for the Inftruction of Students, and the Pleasure of Connoiffeurs. B M. Koeremon, an Honorary Ajociate of the Academy at St. Lucas at Rome, &c. 2 Kals. 8vo. Leipzig and Vienna. (German.) THE firft volume is chiefly defigned for the ufe of young painters, and the fecond, for young ftatuaries. The whole, is the work of a real connoiffeur, and, though not very methodical, replete with very useful and practical obfervations. 16 Of the Urbanity or Politeness of Artifs. A Difcourfe read at the Diftribution of Prizes in the Imperial Academy of Drawing and Exgraving at Vienna. By J. de Sonnenfels. Vienna. 8vo. (German.) 17. The Portrait of a Nobleman: a Difcourfe pronounced by J. de Sonnenfels, at the Opening of Lectures in the Imperial Savoy Academy at Vienna. 8vo. Vienna. (German.) 18. On Patriotifm. By J. de Sonnenfels. 8vo. Vienna. (German.) Three productions of a patriotic and excellent writer. In the first he endeavours to infpire young artifts with principles of a decent, polite conduct towards perfons of all ranks; with docility for criticism; with juftice and equity to the talents and merits of their fellow ftudents; and delineates the portrait of a respectable and amiable artik. In the fecond he difplays to young noblemen the real prerogatives of their birth, the duties of their rank, and excites them to fulfil the expectations of the public. The third begins with fome general reflections on patriotifm, and on the respective advantages of countries, their conftitution, government, and way of thinking of their citizens, in promoting that virtue; and then he fketches the idea of patriotic fovereigns, minifters, foldiers, men of learning, and fathers of families, with a warmth of fentiment that makes his readers wish to fee his interesting portraits realized in every country. 19. Raccolta di Poèfe Teatrali dell' Abbate Antonio Landi, Peeta Axlico di S. M. Federico II. Rè di Pruflia. In Firenze. Dramatic poems in three volumes, by no means deftitute of merit, though greatly inferior to thofe of Metaftafio. 20. Les Comedies de Térence. Traduction nouvelle avec le Texte Latin à coté et des Notes. Par M. l'Abbé le Monnier. 3 vols. 8vo. avec de très belles Gravûres: and another Edition in 12mo. without Figures. Paris. In point of elegance this tranflation appears to be greatly fuperior to that of Madam Dacier. It is illuftrated with learned notes; and at the end of every comedy Mr. le Monnier has given his judgment on the imitations of feveral paffages in it, by the modern dramatic poets of his nation. 21. Dr. J. C. Schæfer's repeated Attempts towards fabricating Paper from various Plants and Kinds of Wood, in ordinary Paper-mills, with 10 Specimens. Regenfburgh. 4to. (German.) The author of this small treatife is one of the most fertile fchemers in Germany: fortunately he directs all his ingenuity to useful purpofes; and if of ten effays, one only fhould fucceed, and prove of extenfive utility, he may be fatisfied. In the prefent attempt we observe that he has at length fucceeded fo far as to fabricate from plants and fome kinds of wood, without rags, feveral forts of hanging and packing paper. 22. An Effay on a Syftem of Colours. By the reverend Father Ignatius Schiffermüller, a Jefuit. Vienna. 4to. (German.) This very ingenious naturalift. was writing a fyftematical work on the butterflies round Vienna, when he first became fenfible of the indiftinctnefs of the common names of colours, and their inLufficiency for an accurate defcription. This induced him to at L 3 tom pt tempt a fyftem of colours, in which he endeavours to fix their vague denominations fo as to render the ideas of their respective thadowings more diftinct, general, uniform, and permanent. The prefent publication, confifting of nine fections, on 82 quarto pages, treats only of blue colours, is illustrated with a coloured map, and is intended for a fpecimen of the whole work. In Sect. I. the author explains his purpose, and its usefulness to feveral sciences, arts, and manufactures Sect. II. he gives a sketch of a regular collection of colours. Sect. III. contains fome rules concerning the various compofitions of colours.-Sect. IV. confiders the mixtures composed of more than two colours: and difplays thirty fix diftinct gradations of blue, under twelve classes, in a coloured map Sect. V. he explains his motives for the names by which he has diftinguished thefe various fhadowings. Sect. VI. he fhews the mixtures by which they have been produced-Sect. VII. contains, befides a fhort digreffion on the colours and paintings of the ancients, fome useful reflections on fresco, ftage, enamel, and pastel painting. Sect. VIII. treats of fuch blue colours as are fit for oil painting; and occasionally of black colours mixed with oil, and used by book and copper-plate printers-Sect. IX. he confiders the materials ufed by dyers for the various kinds of blue. This elaborate fpecimen has met with the warmest approbation of connoisseurs in Germany, and excited their wishes to fee all the other colours difcuffed with equal ingenuity. 23. Recherches Critiques, Hiftoriques et Topographiques fur la Ville de Paris, depuis fes commencemens connus jufqu'à préjent, avec le Plan de chaque Quartier. Par M. Jaillot, Géographe ordinaire du Roi Vol. I-VIII. 8vo. (with Plans and Maps.) Paris." The most accurate description of Paris that has hitherto appeared. Every quarter or ward will be defcribed in a feparate volume, and illustrated with an exact plan: and, confequently, the whole work will be completed in twenty thin volumes. 24. Leçons de Géométrie théorique et pratique à l'Ufage des Eléves de l' Académie Royale d'Architecture; Par M. Mauduit, Lecteur Royal en Mathémasique, et Profeffeur de Géométrie à l'Académie d'Archi. tecture. 8vo. (with Plates.) Paris. Thefe Elements of Geometry are particularly calculated for the ufe of architects, and appear to be complete, perfpicuous, and greatly fuperior to thofe of the late Mr. Camus, Mr. Mauduit's predeceffor at the Royal Academy of Architecture. 25. Poefie del Signor Abbate Metaftafio. 12mo. Vol. I-III. Paris. This correct and elegant edition of the dramatic works of Sig nor Metaftafio, is enriched with an excellent preface written by Mr. Baretti; and the whole collection is to be comprised in fix volumes. 26. La Voix des Pauvres. Epitre au Roi fur l'Incendie de l'Hotel Dieu. Par M. Marmontel, Hiftoriographe de France. Vendue au profit des Pauvres. 8vo. Paris. After the late dreadful fire in the Hotel-Dieu, Mr. Marmontel joined his wishes to thofe of the public, and urges in this affecting little poem, and a preface prefixed to it, the neceffity of removing that large and crowded hofpital from its prefent narrow, fickly, and dangerous place, to a more airy, more wholesome, and more con. venent fituation. 27. Guide 27. Guide du Commerce, contenant quatre Parties: favoir, 1. Le Commerce de la Chine, celui du Pérou, celui de l'Amérique, avec des Modeles d'Achat et de Vente. 2. La Maniére de tenir les Livres de Compte en parties fimples et en parties doubles, tant en particulier qu'en Societé, avec des Infiructions et des Modeles defd. Comptes et des Billets, Lettres de Change, Refcriptions, Avals, &c. 3. La Geftion d'une Cargaifon de Navire à l'Amérique, partie utile tant aux Navigateurs, aux Géreurs de Cargaifons et de Pacotilles, qu'aux Négo cians et aux Habitans des Ifles. 4. La Maniere de traiter, de troquer, ou d'acheter les Noirs en Afrique, &c. et d'acheter les Retours en Amérique, ou ce qu'on appelle aux Ifles, pour France, &c. avec des Tableaux de Traite, de Negres, et d'achat en Retour, très-bien gravés en taille douce, et très expéditifs pour ceux qui ne veulent pas en former, parcequ'il y en a qui font prêts à remplir, &c. &c. Par. M. Gaignat de Laulnais, Ancien Négocians de Nantes, ci devant Profeffeur de la Grande École du Commerce à Paris. 1 vol folio. Paris. Containing feveral curious fpeculations on the most interesting details of maritime commerce. 28. Gerardi Heerkens, Arcadum Romanorum, &c. &c. Socii, Notabilium Libri IV. 2 vols. 12mo. Groninge. An elegant and inftructive account of remarks made by Mr. Heerkens on a literary journey from Holland through Germany's to Venice, the Pope's Dominions, Naples, and Herculaneum. MONTHLY CATALOGUE. POLITICA L. 29. Obfervations on the Prefent State of the Parochial and vagrant Poor. 8vo. 25. Dilly. TH HE writer of this pamphlet appears to undertake the defence of the poor from motives of mere compaffion, and with no interefied views of pecuniary profit, he confiders our prefent laws for the maintenance of the poor as fevere and inadequate to the purpose of removing beggars from our streets, one of the chief ends which the makers of thofe laws had in view; and proposes a new plan to effect it. The vagrant act,' says he, like many other laws, defeats its own purpofes, by the feverity of its penalties; by this act all perfons wandering abroad, and begging, are to be deemed rogues and vagabonds, and punished with whipping or imprisonment: and not till after fuch flagellation or confinement, can the culprit be legally conveyed to his fettlement. Here is no diflinction made between the vileft impoftor, and the most inoffenfive, accidentally diftreffed traveller; the magilirate, if he acts according to law, is conftrained, however widely cafes may differ, indifcriminately to punish before he can relieve. Can it then be justly thought matter of furprize, that the apprehenfion of vagrants is difcou raged, rather than encouraged, by perfons cautious of injuring their fellow-creatures. Avarice must have totally eradicated fenfibility from the breaft of him who could devote an unhappy. L4 human human being to the whipping-poft, br houfe of correction merely for afking charity. In answer to the objection, that if any fuffer want, the fault is their own, fince all have fettlements, and might, if they would, be provided for, he objects that, according to the tenor of our prefent ftatutes, the point appears extremely doubtful whether it be poffible for a native of Scotland, or Ireland, by any means to obtain a fettlement in England: fuch perfons, therefore, however diftreffed, cannot be lawfully relieved, nor indeed conveyed to the place of their nativity, but by the previous commiffion of an act of vagrancy, and confequently fubjection to its penalties.' 'The condition of fuch perfons, as well as that of foreigners, who can be neither legally relieved nor removed, is truly pitiable, as they have no refource but that of afking alms; yet are there numerous caufes which may induce them to quit their native countries, and refide amongst us, where after having paffed, perhaps, great part of their lives in fome commendable employment, they are left, when age has impaired their intellects, and rendered them incapable of manual labour, to seek a precarious fubfiftence from private charity, or to perish for want of the neceffaries of life. Our author proceeds to remark the conftraint which fome are under of becoming beggars from their being refufed relief by the parish officer, adding that complaint to the magiftrate is a remedy worse than the disease, as this is to commit an infult, for which pardon muft never be expected: the word of a wealthy farmer, or tradefman, is of greater validity than the oath of a friendless mendicant, who is reprefented as neither needing nor meriting affiftance, and confequently difmiffed to nakedness and hunger with an abufive joke or aggravating reprimand:' he confeffes that there is further an appeal open to the quarterfeffions, but that scarcely any have knowledge or fortitude equal to fuch a procedure.' We cannot in this affent to his opinion: the proof of wanting relief may be fo eafily made known to a magiftrate, that it is very unlikely any really in need of it fhould be refused it by him; and whatever fortitude is requifite for making an appeal to the quarter-feflions, few we believe will run the risk of being punished or ftarved, rather than attemp making it. The power which parish officers have of letting workhouses to farm is here feverely and juftly cenfured; as those who farm them too generally do it with a view of accumulating wealth by abridging the poor of their neceffary food, and compelling them to unreasonable labour; we heartily with that fuch a power was no longer allowed, as it manifeftly tends to encourage inhumanity. -There is one reafon which, we think, ought to induce the molt avaricious to take care that the poor, at least those whose poverty is owing to misfortune, fhould be treated humanely we |