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sess of monuments of a similar nature, could we have placed any reliance on him even as a plain observer. But his sight appears to have been dizzied by the multitude of objects before him; he seems eager to view them all at once, and anxious only to give every one of them a name, regardless of its fitness; none of the barrows were opened; but he expatiates with warmth on the proof they will afford of the superiority of the Gauls when recourse is had to that operation. He places with Latour d'Auvergne, the Carnutum of C. sar on the Bay of Quiberon, where Celtic monuments called Kernac are to be seen. It will surely be objected to me, says he, that the country of the Carnutes was situated in the middle of Gaul; que regio totius Gallic media habetur, says Cæsar; to this I answer, first, that this general has been accused of not knowing geography; and, I will say, in the second place, that Belgium forming a part of Gaul, Kernac may, in one sense, be considered as in the middle of it, by its transversal situation!" |

Tableau des Révolutions du Systéme politique de l'Europe depuis la fin du quinzième Siècle. View of the Revolutions in the Political System of Europe from the end of the Fifteenth Century; by M. F. Ancillos, 3 vol. 12mo. Paris, 1806. Dulau and Co.

London.

We should think the word revolutions, incorrectly applied to the different modifications of a system, to which the several states of Europe, with few momentary exceptions, have adhered for three centuries; a system, whose only aim was mutual security, through a ba lance of power: and which our author himself professes to unfold, and to follow, throughout all its variations; for such is the object of his work. It begins at the year 1492, and ends at the calling of les Etats-Généraux, in France, in 1789, that precursor of a revolution which was to overthrow the fabric raised by preceding ages, and scatter its bloody fragments over the whole continent, perhaps the world.

In this eventful period, the author has chosen three remarkable epochs, which form the natural divisions of his work. The first, from 1492 to 1618, takes the political system at its birth. The thoughtless ambition of Charles VIII. of France, and his invasion of Italy in 1494, first

awakened several states to a sense of their danger; and the league concluded at Venice (in 1495) for their mutual defence, is the ground work of the multiform coalitions since formed, to maintain a political equilibrium in Europe. From that epoch to the beginning of the thirty years war, Spain assumes the first rank among the European powers, domineers over lesser states, and threatens their existence. France, with inadequate means, struggles at first for the independence of Europe; the unwieldy greatness of her antagonist, undermined by the abuse of power, gradually gives way to her compact efforts, and France threatens in her turn.

The second epoch from 1618 to 1715, begins with the thirty-years war. France is still at the head of the coalition, fighting for the political and religious liberty of Europe; the flames of war spread over the greatest part of the continent. Richelieu calls Sweden and Denmark to the defence of the Protestant religion. The treaty of Westphalia, which terminates the sanguinary contest, gives France a decided influence in Europe; that of the Pyrennees, places her alone in the first rank; and, under Louis XIV. she soon becomes the oppressing power. In the negociations of Nimeguen, Louis pompously displays his superiority; nor is this impolitic ostentation lost on the other powers; the genius of William Prince of Orange, afterwards King of England, unites part of Europe against the common enemy, and the league of Augsbourg is formed. Peace is concluded at Ryswick, on more equal terms; by the treaties of Utrecht and Radstadt, France still obtains some advantages: but, exhausted by her ambitious efforts, she is no longer the dread of Europe; she is still a great, but not the domineering, power.

In the third epoch, from the peace of Radstadt, in 1715, to the year 1789, a great alteration takes place in the political system; Europe is no longer divided between Austria and France: three other powers assume a rank, and an influence, equal to that of those ancient rivals; and lesser states think they see in them new guardians of their liberties. By the genius of Peter I. Russia emerges from barbarism; brilliant victories, and useful conquests, soon follow the first dawn of civilisation. Hardly known to Europe, she is already one of its first powers.

Prussia, with less boldness in her career, acquires new provinces, becomes a kingdom, and rises to eminence by adopting an economical and military system, which upholds her insidious politics. England, after centuries of civil wars, and revolutions, enjoys at last the blessings of a free constitution, and displays her natural resources; with a firm hand, she grasps the trident; she becomes the sovereign of the seas: her industrious sons gather the rich-. es her extensive domain affords, secure in their property, and in their enjoyments, by their bravery and by equitable laws. This vast accession of force, occasions various oscillations in the political system, for the space of about 35 years; and the true principles upon which the new balance of power was to rest, are not finally settled, till the peace of Hubertsbourg, in 1763.

Since this epoch, (1763 to 1789) says Mr. Ancillon, in his preface, Europe has ceased to apprehend the dominion of a single power: five great powers able successfully to wage war, single-handed, carefully watching cach other, afford protection to lesser states, and seem to insure the stability of Europe. The particular ambition of any of them, may still produce plans inimical to the liberties of nations; but they can hardly escape the penctration of the other powers, who counteract, or oppose them by force. The only extension allowed to any of them is, that which it may derive from labour, and from the improvement of its internal resources. A grand example of national industry, diffuses in every state a spirit of improvement, and an useful emulation of activity. Europe advances by slow, but steady steps, in the career of civilisation; and the progressive increase in the resources of the several states, becomes a new guarantee of their political existence. The equipoise of forces, and of passions, is so far established, as to prevent any threatening or oppressive influence. Prussia, forcing Joseph II. to abandon his designs on Bavaria, and signing with him the treaty of Teschen, under the guarantee of France; England experiencing in the American war the resources France possesses to create a formidable marine; Austria and Russia compelled to make peace with the Turks, when their expulsion from Europe seemed near at hand; all this proves to the impartial observer, that the system of counter-balancing forces, was advancing to maturity, when the French revolution broke out. Attempts have been made to inforce a contrary belief; but sophisms must give way to facts.

The French revolution, occasioned by

causes foreign to the political system of Europe, produced an universal confusion in that fair part of the world. The war which the revolution party had artfully prepared, and conducted with an equal degree of ability and fury, changes often its aim, and its means; annihilates some states; creates others; and is terminated by a series of treaties, which change all ancient relations, and give an intirely new face to Europe. Here begins a new order of things; evidently contrary to the principles and experience of the three last centuries. It seems as if Europe was seeking her safety, in a system considered as the greatest evil by preceding generations. But these facts are too near us to belong to history. It is an essay perfectly new in its kind, and whose merit time alone can, and ought to determine.

Such are the outlines of Mr. Ancillon's work one-third part of which only (the first epoch) is as yet published. We commend his prudence, in declining to meddle with the present times; yet we apprehend that this caution will be but of little avail to him; and we wonder his work has been printed in Bonaparte's dominion. He, indeed, carefully avoids mentioning his name; he does not censure his plans; but the system he has destroyed, by so many crimes, is the constant theme of his praises; and many applications not very favourable to the tyrant's views, may be drawn from his work. After stating in his preliminary discourse, that nations are towards each other in a state of nature, in which the undue exercise of force is prevented by force only; he mentions sundry chimerical plans, devised by several writers and statesmen, to relieve Europe from that violent state.

Could this be obtained, says he, as some writers pretend, by establishing in Europe an Universal Monarchy? But, this would be signing the death wariant of political bodies, in order to secure them from diseases or wounds; and the remedy would be worse than the evil! Which of them, besides, would consent to such a measure, and would thus commit a moral suicide? Besides, the independent existence of a great number of various states, whose laws and constitutions are different, is the true principle which gives life to the agriculture, to the labour, and to the wealth of Europe. The diversity of governments has produced an useful emulation, an abundant variety of ideas, of sentiments, and of characters, which would soon disappear under the levelling rod of the same master. Honest pride, confidence, patriotism, national characteristics, all that distinguishes one pro

ple from another, would soon be lost in this confused mixture of heterogeneous elements. And, lastly, should even this plan of universal monarchy be practicable, did it not tend to the degradation of mankind, still means would be wanting to secure its permanent existence. It has always been seen that those great powers whose colossal dominion seemed to realise the idea of universal monarchy, have been dismembered with great facility; and, after their dissolution, nations have contended, with fierce and bloody war, for the possession of their scattered spoils.

Ever since the end of the fifteenth century, the history of Europe offers to our view, as a grand and useful lesson, its several governments attempting and striving, with various success, to emerge from that state of nature, and to establish among themselves a social guarantee of right, to prevent the abuse of force. There was but one mean to arrive at the wished-for end; it was to oppose forces to forces, to counterbalance action by reaction; to main tain order, harmony, and rest in the political world, by the same means which maintain order, harmony, and rest in the physical world; and to attempt bringing about an equilibrium, by an able system of combined attractions. It is in this point of view, that I propose considering the political history of the Jast three centuries.

Speaking of the wars which this system has occasioned, and which Mr. A. represents very justly, we think, as necessary evils productive of some good, he exclaims.

Far from me the idea of lessening by these reflections the natural horror which war inspires, and which I share with all the friends of humanity! I want only to prove, that, in the general chain of events, good may sometimes arise from that destructive scourge. Peace is, and always will be, the first of blessings. But a nation ought never to forget, that there is an evil greater than war; it is the loss of her political independence and of her national existence.

Summam crede nefas, animum præferre pudori Et propter vitam, vivendi perdere causas.

It is but justice to mention, that in this part of his work which is before us, Mr. A. has faithfully adhered to the principles he professes, without however, suffering his judgment to be baffled by his predilection for the balance of power. His work is that of an impartial man, rather wellinformed than learned; possessing more sense than wit, and more industry than genius. To men conversant with the poIitical history of Europe, it will afford nei

ther new thoughts, nor new combinations of ideas; but, we think, it will prove useful to youth; a complete view of the political system of Europe during the last three centuries, was a work actually wanting; and, if Mr. A.'s performance is not masterly, it certainly is commendable. His style is not entitled to higher praise; it is not incorrect, but it is not elegant, nor is it free from negligence and repetitions; it does not swell into that turgid pathos, the characteristic of the modern French school, but the frequent abuse of verbal antithesis betrays an affectation of false wit, ill suited to the subject.

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We conclude, by entering our protest against the total want of references; which, in a production of this kind, is a capital omission. The author has, indeed, anticipated the reproach, and he pertly says, No building can be erected without a scaffolding, but this must disappear when the fabric is completed." True, friend, but leave us at least a staircase for, without that convenience how can we examine the different stories of which the building consists?

Travels to discover the Sources of the Nile, in the Years 1768,-1773. By James Bruce, of Kinnaird, Esq. F.R.S. Second Edition, corrected and enlarged. To which is prefixed, a Life of the Author. In seven volumes, 8vo. with a Volume of Plates, in 4to. Price 41. 16s. Constable, Edinburgh; Longman and Co. London, 1805.

Travellers have been accused of exercising a privilege in respect to descriptions of foreign parts, which those who remain at home are hardly induced to tolerate, without many exceptions, and some contradiction. Suspicion on this subject particularly attached itself to the late Mr. Bruce, and, long before the publication of his Travels, it had gathered enough from his conversation, from reports of his discoveries, and from surmise, to embolden wicked wits, who delighted in incredulity, to treat with ridicule both the author and his narration. If ridicule were in its nature a test of truth, such conduct might be capable of vindication; or, if the mode of describing a fact were so identified with the fact itself, as to be inseparable from it, then might the censure due to the mode reflect dispa

ing theniselves in Mrs. B. he accompanied her to the South of France. She died at Paris, Oct. 1754. The loss may be con

ragement on its principal. But, as the common sense of mankind, has hitherto, happily been able to distinguish between essential and accidental, between a sub-ceived, but not described. Continuing stance and a mode; so the accounts of Mr. the wine trade, Mr. B. visited Portugal, Bruce have outlived the aspersions of their Spain, France, Germany, and the Netheropponents, and the present edition of his lands. He saw the battle and victory at works, is a proof that his authority has Crevelt, June 23, 1758, and returned to maintained itself among those who were England that summer. About this time capable judges of his assertions. We do he applied to the study of Eastern lannot mean by this, to commend his manner guages; and his father dying, he declined of writing, or that grandioso view of the wine business to reside on the family things, and style of description, which estate which now descended to him. In might have been avoided by a little dex- February, 1762, he was appointed Consul terity in authorship; we mean to express General at Algiers; where he arrived in our belief, that he presented Truth to his March, 1763, and having a previous readers, but not always arrayed in the sim-knowledge of the written Arabic, he apple robe which best becomes that divinity.

This being the second edition of these Travels, we shall not enlarge in our account of them, yet considering the publication as important, we cannot avoid reporting its contents at some length.

We shall endeavour to combine our extracts in the order of their occurrence, with the life of the author, who certainly was one of the most venturous travellers which either ancient or modern ages have produced. Ulysses himself, scarcely had more hair breadth escapes; the cave of Polyphemus was not more dangerous, than the town of Masuah, the intrigues of Abyssinian priests, or the perplexities of Sennaar, were to Mr. Bruce: yet these he happily overcame, and spent his latter days in his native land, amid the circle of respect and friendship.

plied himself with diligence to study the spoken dialects; and thus qualified himself for transacting business without the intervention of an interpreter. In Algiers, he acquired that knowledge of the Arab character, which in subsequent occurrences was the means, under Providence, of saving his life. He made a very hazard. ous excursion into the interior of Africa, while he was Consul; and executed many drawings of ruins, &c. with which some parts of it abound.

We cannot give a better idea of his character than by transcribing his own account of this journey, written from Algiers to the celebrated Mr. Wood.

I began my journey by land the middle of September by Keff to Constantina; but the Moors between those two places being then in rebellion, after having the mortification of secing part of the frize of the temple of Venus (Keff, as you know, was the Sicca Venerea), so mutilated, that no idea could be formed of it, and having delineated the only three figures that remained on a part of the frize of the temple of Hercules, I turned eastward to Spaitla, the ancient Sufetula, where I knew there was what would occupy me for some time; and I was not mistaken. Having delineated, measured, and minuted every thing of any worth, as well there as in all the other places of the neighbourhood, I returned, and proceeded to Constantina, where I arrived safely, but with difficulty enough,

Mr. B. was a native of Scotland; he was born at Kinnaird, in the county of Stirling, Dec. 14, 1730. He there received a liberal education, which was completed at Harrow, in England. He was destined by his father for the Scottish bar, but it is believed that this was not the unbiassed choice of the youth himself. His constitution was delicate, but the chace, and its amusements, at length, established it. He quitted Scotland in July, 1753, with intentions of proceeding to the East Indies; but, in London, he met with The Bey was gone out with his camp; a Miss Allan, who, eventually diverted but, having advice of my coming from Algiers he had left orders to have every thing ready his mind from seeking abroad for that distinction, which might be well compenfor my reception. We were lodged in his own palace, and treated with the utmost magsated by happiness at home. Mr. B. marnificence, as well as the greatest attention, and ried this lady; and became partner in the six chosen Moorish horse well acquainted with business of her family, the wine trade. the language and the country, for the lanSymptoms of consumption soon discover-guage is in many places difficult, appointed to

accompany me wherever I intended to go. With these I went to every place of note through that province, even through the mountainous, and hitherto thought inaccessible parts of it; and advanced into the desert to the southward, till we wanted water, and, indeed, every thing else. I then turned N. E. and coasted along the desert to the frontiers of Tunis, resting a little at Cafsa, one of the principal cities of Jugurtha. From this I again took to the desert standing due south east, steering always in a sea of land by compass and observation, intending to have fetched Tripoly; but we were here again obstructed by the Moors, and not knowing the wells which are kept always covered with camel's hides, we were obliged to cross the mountains of Atlas, and continue our course to Girba, a fruitful island of Tunis, the Meninx of the Lotophagi, three days journey distant, but then in sight.

Here I was surprised to find myself among men of a different species, not living in tents, or in mud-walled cottages, as the Arabs do; but in caves under ground as the Troglodytes of old. Mela says of these that they lived in caves, and fed upon serpents; if he had said fed together with serpents, his description had been just; for there are so many in every habitation, and so familiar, that at each meal they come and pick up what falls from the dish, like dogs Some of them are seven feet in length; but to these people so harirless that, even trod upon accidentally, they do not sting, and there is not any person of the family who will not with their hands lift them out of their way, when sleeping, or in any manner troublesome. No persuasion nor reward could induce them to let me carry away one of them; it being universally believed that they are a kind of good angels, whom it would be the highest impropriety, and of the worst consequence to the community, to remove from their dwelling.

At Girba I staid a month with an intention to proceed to Tripoly. The Bey being on ill terms with the consul, though he promised, he would not send any escort. Myself and servants did indeed most rashly attempt to pass the desert, inhabited only by ruffians and assassins, who pay no sort of acknowledgement, to any sovereign, and where the caravan from Morocco to Mecca, which we found near Tripoly, had been defeated and plundered, though it amounted to upwards of 3000 men. Nor did we escape; for the night of the third day we were attacked by a number of horsemen, and four of our men killed upon the spot. Providence, the prodigious resolution of our little company, and the night, saved the remainder, and we arrived at Tripoly, when given over by every body for lost. After which I returned along the coasts' of the lesser Syrus down to Cape Bon, the

Promontorium Mercurii; from thence again arrived at Tunis, after an absence of more than six months constantly encamped.

It is now time to mention how that space has been employed, and where my expectations have been answered by the antiquities I have found in my journey. The principal are these: eight triumphal arches of the Corinthian order, mostly of different plans and designs, and little ruined; seven Corinthian temples in great preservation, all highly ornamented and of the very best ages, whose plans, parts, and decorations, I have by very laborious searches and excavations made myself entirely master of; add to these one large temple of the Composite order, in its best age; one part of which is so perfectly preserved, that it must be looked upon as an unexceptionable example of the manner in which the ancients disposed and proportioned the constituent parts of that order, and two large aqueducts, the smallest of which exceeds by fortytwo feet in perpendicular height the remains of the highest aqueduct in Rome. In these designs are included the ruins of the three principal cities of Africa, namely, Iol, or Julia Caesarea the capital of Juba, Cirta, and Carthage; the last of which, I hope, will be found to make a better figure than it does in the accounts of some travellers, who would persuade us there are no traces of that city remaining. The drawings are 16 inches by

12.

I have corrected and cleared up many passages of the Antonine Itinerary, Peutin ger's tables and Ptolemy, as well as of Sanson, Nollin, and Dibbler's, French maps, all by actual observation; and, if ever I have time, hope to give a large map of Africa, that will show how much the gentlemen above-mentioned have wrote by hearsay, or imagination.

I have collected about three hundred medals of all kinds, many of which are curious, though I have not had tin:e to consider them; some large medallions vases and statues of bronze, all in good taste; and have copied about one thousand inscriptions.

And, lastly, I have not entirely neglected, but have made about thirty drawings of the rarest animals, insects, birds, and plants of this country, particularly the interior and remote parts of it, all in their natural colours.

As soon as Mr. Harrison has obtained leave for me, I return to Tripoly; from thence I intend to visit the ruins of Leptis Magna; go round the gulf of Sidra, or Syrus Major, to Berenice, Arsinoe, Cyrene, Puolemais, Barca, Apollonia, down to Darne.

My excursions though terminated to my satisfaction, have been so continually attendedwith every kind of danger, hardship, and difficulty, that no consideration possible would make me again repeat the journey 1 have dow finished. Often beset with, and constantly

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