he calls Magellanica; and that infinite number of islands feattered through the Pacific Ocean, which he diftinguishes by the name of Polynesia, Thefe diftinctions are very proper, not only as they ferve to facilitate our comprehending the Author's obfervations, and to enable him to diftinguish and apply his proofs; but as they give the Reader a very clear and diftinct notion of the fituation of thefe fouthern countries, and confequently put it in his power to apprehend clearly what, from a multitude of Writers, the Prefident advances; and to be able, in like manner, to bring any lights he may have received from other Authors, into their proper places, and to perceive thereby how far they agree with, or differ from, what Monf. Le Broffe has collected. The Prefident Le Broffe divides his whole performance into five books; the firft of which may be confidered as an introduction to the other four, and cannot fail of giving the attentive Reader a juft idea of the Author's skill in the fciences of Aftronomy, Geography, and Navigation; his free and difinterested notions in refpect to Commerce, Colonies, and the advantages that ought to be expected from them; with other points of useful and polite literature. In the fecond book, he gives the History of the Difcoveries made with refpect to the countries lying near the South Pole, during the fixteenth century. In the third book, we have the Hiftory of the fame difcoveries, continued during the courfe of the feventeenth century; and through the whole extent of the eighteenth, in the fourth.. His extracts are fuccinct, judicious, and very exact: often in the words of the Authors from whom they are taken. In making this collection, he has not only examined Ramufio, Hakluyt, Purchas, Thevenot, and many other Authors of the like kind, but also particular Voyages, in all languages, in order to render his performance as comprehenfive as poffible. In the fifth book, he difcufles the -means of making a proper eftablishment for the attaining a per'fect knowlege of all the countries round the South Pole. Upon the review of his work, he found it neceffary to fubjoin certain additions, and feveral Supplements, which contain a variety of obfervations, new relations, and fome corrections. There are alfo three Charts, very requifite for the illustration of the work, an Index, with a very large table of Errata, occafioned by the Author's being at a distance from the prefs, and other accidents. Upon the whole, it is a point of justice due to this learned and worthy Magiftrate, to acknowlege that he has taken incredib'e pains, affembled a vaft variety of curious, entertaining, and inftructive paffages, relative to a matter of great import ance 397 ance, not hitherto examined with the care that it deferved; and that he has interfperfed many new, fingular, and interefting obfervations of his own. But after all, it is highly probable, that this work may appear in a more perfect manner, in fome fubfequent edition; for the Author having more than once changed his plan, laid it afide for a time, refumed it again, for reasons which he has affigned, altered and new moulded it, in many refpects, from whence there naturally arifes fome embarrassment and confufion, notwithstanding all the care and circumfpection which he has employed ;-it is therefore hardly to be queftioned, that when fo able and accurate a Writer finds that the world in general approves his undertaking, and does that juftice which is due to his merit, he will once more review what he has delivered upon this fubject, remove the unavoidable defects of a first attempt, and digeft all his additions and corrections into their proper places. Vie de Witikind le Grand, Tige des Maifons de Saxe, de Brandebourg, &c. Brochure in 12mo. Par M. Dreux du Radier. 1757. That is, The Life of Witikind the Great, from whom defcend the Houfes of Saxony, and Brandenbourg, &c. This famous Hero lived in the ninth century, and defended the liberty of the Saxons against the fuperior power of the Emperor Charlemagne. He was, without doubt, a Prince of great parts, a fincere Patriot, an able General, and for the times in which he lived, a confummate Politician. He was often defeated, never fubdued; moderate in fuccefs, firm in adverfity, conftant to his purpose, and fo fertile in refources, that the Emperor, at laft tired out, courted the friendship of him whom he found it impoffible to overcome. In confequence of this, he became a Chriftian, and was honoured with the title of Duke; but was fometime after flain in war, against a neighbouring Prince. He left behind him an only fon, Robert, from whom, according to the German Hiftorians, many of their greatest families are defcended; and if we give credit to fome, the third race of French Kings are alfo fprung from him. We have a large Life of this Prince in folio, under the title of Wittikindus magnus, written by Andrew Cruzius, Counsellor to the Elector of Brandenburgh, in Latin, and published in the year 1679; compofed with great labour and learning, and fupported by numerous teftimonies of every kind. This work, tho' much efteemed, was, in refpect to the generality even of learned Readers, much too long to be read: which produced the little piece now before us. Mr. Mr. Dreux du Radier believed he should do an acceptable fervice to the public, if he drew the moft material facts relating to this Saxon Hero, into a narrow compafs, and published them in a modern drefs; in which he has fucceeded fo well, that in all probability the reputation of this patriot Chief will spread farther, in confequence of these fhort Memoirs, than ever it would have done in a more voluminous History. Memoire pour l'accroiffement du Commerce, tant par mer que par terre, & la Sûreté de la Navigation, & de la Pêche, en Tems de Guerre, comme en Tems de Paix. 1757. 4to. i. e. A Memorial, calculated for the Extenfion of Trade by Sea and Land; and the Security of the Navigation and the Fishery, as well in time of War as in Time of Peace. The defign of this pamphlet, is to point out the advantage that would attend the making a Sea Port on the coaft of Picardy, in the county of Ponthieu, between the towns of Augft and Cayeux. After fhewing the many purposes that fuch a haven would answer, and the great need the French have of such a one, in that part of their dominions, the Author concludes with arguments to prove, that what he propofes is practicable, and lays down the means for carrying it into execution. Recherches Hiftoriques fur les Cartes à jouer, avec des Notes critiques intereffantes. Par l' Auteur des Memoirs fur la Language Celtique. Lyon, 12mo. pag. 163. That is, Historical Researches upon Cards, with Notes critical and interefting. By the Author of Memoirs on the Celtic Language. This is, properly fpeaking, a Bagatelle Litteraire, or, in plain English, a learned Gimcrack. The Author is Mr. Bullet, Profellor in Theology at Befançon. It is furprizing, that a man of his abilities, and who already had acquired fome credit in the learned world, by a former performance, fhould condescend to employ his time, and his talents, upon so frivolous an object. The chief point he labours to prove, is, that they were invented and brought into ufe, four or five years before the death of the French King Charles the fifth; which he has established with great ability, and with a difplay of learning, much greater than fo trivial a fubject deserved. He difcourfes copiously on the figures reprefented upon them, their allufions, and the alterations that have been made in them. He fhews that the game of cards was at firft entirely military, and proves it from the original names of the pictures. He enters alfo into the origin and meaning of feveral old games, and on these topics advances fome things that are curious and entertaining. If the Reader is defirous of knowing the reafon of all this, we can only fay, that the Reverend Fathers Meneftrier and Daniel, had gone before him in this important path; and that Profeffor Bullet had a mind to trip up their heels, and to fhew the learned world, that in regard to the myfteries of a pack of cards, and the thorough knowlege of the delectable Hiftory of the four Kings, they were but mere novices in comparison of this our learned Divine. [To be continued.] MONTHLY C-1 CATALOGUE, For A PRI L, 1758. POLITICAL. Art. 1. An Essay towards deciding the Question, Whether Britain be permitted by right Policy to Infure the Ships of her Enemies? Addreffed to the Right Hon. Henry Pelham, Efq; The fecond Edition, with Amendments. To which are now firft added, Further Confiderations upon our Insurance of the French Commerce in the prefent Functure. Addressed to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle. 8vo. Is. Millar. HIS is a very fenfible pamphlet, wrote upon a very interesting fubject. The arguments in favour of Infuring the fhips of our enemies, are very methodically and judiciously arranged; and, in our judgment, the Author has evidently demonftrated, that fuch Infurance is detrimental to this kingdom. As his reasons cannot be reduced to the compass of a Catalogue article, we refer the curious Reader to the work itself; and we may venture to say, that the perufal of it will give him great fatisfaction. Those who are defirous of further information on this head, will do well to confult Mr. Poftlethwayt, who is very explicit on the fubject, and agrees with our Author, that the practice of Infuring the fhips of our enemies, is very prejudicial to the intereft of the nation. We hope the Legislature will take this matter into confideration. For it is a fcandal to Government, to tolerate abuses for, the benefit of individuals, to the detriment of the Community. R-d in Art. 2. Confiderations on a Letter to the Mayor of relation to a Bill now depending in Parliament, for the Encouragement of Seamen employed in the Royal Navy, &c. &c. &c. 8vo. 6d. Lewis. * Its Author is Mr. Corbyn Morris; who has favoured the public with feveral other very ingenicus performances. We We have here a well-penned Anfwer to a well-written Pamphlet. The two Difputants feem to be men of abilities; but, in our judgment, the Anfwerer has taken the wrong fide of the quellion. - He fays. It is a fact univerfally eftablished, that no Seaman can ⚫ work with money in his pocket; therefore payments of all kinds to the Seamen are poftponed till a fhip, upon her arrival in port to be cleaned, is cleared of her flores, docked, and again refitted. This univerfal practice has never been varied in any inftance; the attempt would be fruitless, and endanger the unmanning a welldifciplined fhip.' But this is all affertion; and he has taken no notice of what has been urged to the contrary by the Letter writer to the Mayor, &c. who tells us, that upon a calculation, it appears, that more men have deferted under flow payment, than under quick payment. Upon the whole, we are of opinion, that all the arguments used for detaining the feamen's wages, are founded upon unnatural policy, and favour of the highest injustice. If men were to have their money kept from them, because they might not fquander it away, and indulge in vice and extravagance, it would be a reason why a great many fhould never receive a farthing while they live. We cannot help obferving likewife, that the Anfwerer feems to betray a little latent animofity against the promoter of the bill; as we may judge from the fneer with which he concludes. The promoter of an act, fays he, for the encouragement of feamen, and for the more certain payment of their wages, has an undoubted right to ⚫the acknowlegement of that body of people, and of the fea-port trading towns. It is a popular fubject, popularity will follow, it is ⚫ all that is defired, or can be meant by this bill. R-d Art. 3. The Officer's Answer to the Country Gentleman's Reply. 8vo. 1 s. Robinfon. The ill fuccefs of our arms against Rochfort, having opened a paper war, the Public has had an opportunity of obtaining a confiderable knowlege in the rudiments of military fcience. The anfwer before us charges the Country Gentleman with mifreprefentations, or mifquotations; and taxes him with having made unjust calculations with refpect to the French forces. It would not be confiftent with the brevity to which we are limitted, to abridge the arguments here made ufe of; let it fuffice to obferve, that they are in many inftances fpecious and ingenious: but, in our opinion, not altogether fatisfactory, upon the whole. We muft, however, do the Writer the juftice to acknowlege, that he has preferved great temper and moderation, and has managed the controverfy like a man of fenfe, and like a gentleman. R-d The Remainder of this Month's Catalogue will be given in our next. |