the author seems not to have visited,) though under papal dominion, is rich, flourishing, and happy. The country round it is more cultivated and fertile than any other part of Italy: such plenty reigns in its precincts, that it is called Bologna la Grassa; and all travellers find it the least expensive residence in the Papal territory. Yet priests and religious orders, who contribute nothing to this plenty, abound there in greater numbers than elsewhere. Ancona, also, under church government, is allowed to be in life and vigour from the spirit of commerce, and the freedom and activity of its inhabitants;-these are the usual effects of trade and commerce elsewhere: but why Bologna alone, under ecclesiastical government, should escape poverty and desolation, it is not easy to explain.

The cataract of Velino, near Terni, our author calls the Niagara of Italy; and if his description be exact, it is surprising that it has so long escaped the eye and the pen of travellers: for we do not remember to have seen it in the general list of objects of wonder, in descriptive books.

The sensations which the author expresses on his first entering Rome, are such as every man of taste and reflection must feel on the same occasion. Rome and its wonders, however, have been so often described, that, except a little more or less enthusiasm and eloquence, nothing new is left to be said by future observers. We shall therefore take it for granted that those of our readers, who have never been at Rome, can talk about it; as Johnson, who had not seen Mrs. Siddons act when she had been three or four years on the stage, said, on being asked how he liked her, that he had never seen her, but he could talk Siddons.

Dr. MEYER'S description of the Pontine Marshes, his history of them, of their poisonous effects, and of the failure in late attempts at draining them, are more ample than those of any other publication which we have perused.

The road from Rome to Naples, and the antique curiosities which it presents, are to be found in every book of travels.Being arrived at Naples, therefore, we shall follow the author through that beautiful city and its environs, as we have hitherto done reminding our readers; that his account was drawn up previously to the revolution, and to the arrival of the spoglia d'Italia at Paris.

Naples, The author commences this chapter with two proverbial sayings, repeated by the inhabitants to travellers, on their first arrival:

Vedi Napoli, e poi muori.

See Naples, and then die.

In the second, they call Naples

Un

Un pezzo di Cielo caduto in terra.

A piece of heaven fallen on the earth.

In describing the theatre where Medonte, an opera by Sarti, was performed, the tranquil beginring, and the impetuous increase of rapidity and force in the orchestra, seem to be taken from Dr. Burney's Italian Tour. Almost all the great opera composers of the fast century were Neapolitans, educated in the Conservatorios of that city.-Dr. M. has given a very minute and spirited account of Mount Vesuvius, and of one of its eruptions, at which he was present: but he refers to that intrepid observer, Sir William Hamilton, and to the drawings of Woulky, the Austrian painter, for the best intelligence concerning the beginning and progress of the tremendous and destructive eruption of 1779, so fatal to the city of Torre del Greco.

The character, manners, and propensities, of the Neapolitans, are described with apparent truth and candour-with their inactivity in all things but their pleasures and amusements; their passion for music, antiquities, and all the fine atts; the museum at Portici, containing the Greek and Roman treasures found in Herculaneum and Pompeii, the history of their discovery, and a list of the most curious and valuable works of art found in those antient cities, which were overwhelmed and annihilated by the volcanic eruptions of Mount Vesuvius. All these subjects the author has treated with spirit, intelligence, and good taste, far above the general standard of descriptive travellers.

The Catacombs, Virgil's tomb, the Pausilippan subterraneous passage, Grotto del Cane, &c. with the remains of Greek and Roman splendor in the environs of Naples, have been so often depicted by others, that little was left for Dr. MEYER to say on viewing them, which had not been anticipated.

In conclusion, it is but justice to say that this volume is written with such temper, prudence, and sound judgment, and that the objects of discussion and description are so well selected, that it must afford amusement and instruction not only to the general readers of travels, but to travellers themselves.

ART. X. Précis des Evènemens Militaires, &c. i. e. A concise Account of Military Events, or an Historical Essay on the present War, with Maps and Plans; from the Rupture of the Congress at Rastadt to the end of the Campaign of 1799. Nos. xi. and 11. 8vo. Paris. 1801. Imported by De Boffe, and Debrett. London.

TH

HIS termination of the Précis, executed with leisure of which periodical publications seldom admit, is performed

* See M. R Vol. xxx. N. S. p. 581.; Vol. xxxii. p. 307, and Vol. xxxiii. P. 310.

in

in a style of superior accuracy, neatness, and elegance. The military part of these numbers is confined to a description of the operations of the Archduke, and of General Lecourbe, which sets in a very clear light the merits of those able commanders; and the remaining pages contain political observe ations which reflect not less credit on the comprehensive and correct views of the author, than those of the military kind, by which his former readers have been so much gratified and instructed.

The delay of these numbers is thus concisely explained:

The author, a French officer, was for a long time separated by political circumstances from the armies; thus torn from his country, he wrote in a neutral territory; and in that hospitable land he could say of all the celebrated personages of whom he penned the history, that he had received from them neither benefits nor injuries: nec beneficio nec injuria cogniti.'

Although this particular situation, the pledge of the writer's independence, ceased to exist as soon as he was recalled to his country, he would not have interrupted the course of this work until he had finished his summary of the campaigns of 1798 and 1799, (as the editors had announced,) if, when again enrolled in the ranks of his former companions in arms, he had been able amid his new occupations to have secured any leisure. The campaign of 1799, he says, is of all the most fertile in events; it is the only one, whether among the an tients or moderns, in which nine grand battles, all of them decisive, can be counted,-Stockach, Verona, Cassano, Alexandria, Trebia, Novi, Alkmaer, Zurich, Aboukir; and still these memorable actions were but preludes to those which were, at length, to terminate the quarrel, to fix the lot of Europe, and to establish the equilibrium that had been disturbed by the preponderance which England aimed at acquiring in the affairs of the continent;-a preponderance purchased by enormous sacrifices, and which she preserved to that time, only by means of the intestine divisions which distracted the French republic.

We transcribe the following passage as a specimen of phi-osophical military history:

The greatest advantage is derived from the extraordinary aptitude of the French troops for new situations and relations; from their facility in forming new corps, and organizing new armies. is certainly so old a stratagem that it ought not to be very formidable, to present hollow columus to the enemy, and to make him suppose greater forces than actually exist by forming Staffs: but it is not merely the success which is almost sure of attending this arti fice that we would here remark, but the benefit to be derived from assigning to French officers and soldiers new enterprises and new denominations. To what a point are the understanding and the

spirit of emulation electrified! what new life suddenly reanimates the remains of corps and chiefs happily re-united! what ardour blends itself with all ideas of change among this warlike, light; curious, and adventurous people! The character of the French soldier, if the commander has skill to give it all its spring, renders these new combinations of force, these changes of plans, easy and beneficial; while in other armies, similar alterations for a long time disturb the general order, and leave permanent impressions on the

mind.'

This reflection is called forth in consequence of exploits atchieved by Lecourbe, at the head of an army constituted as suggested above; and the justness of that part of the author's observation, which respects other armies, is supported by the result of the operations of the motley forces sent by this country on the expedition to Holland.

Having described the circumstances with which the campaign closed, the author adds;

The unexpected event which had changed the destiny of France, by giving a new character to its revolution, engaged the attention of Europe, and held the human mind in suspence. It seemed likely that, at the end of this campaign, the course which things had taken would incline the two parties to overtures. Experience had shewn that this war did not resemble preceding contests, in which a few victories decided the question, and forced the conquered party to have recourse to negotiations. Constant reverses during three cam paigns had not been able to dishearten and dissolve the Austrian armies; and the French, who had been considered as terrible in successes only, had shewn in their retreats in Suabia and Italy, and in their active, able, and determined defence of the country of Genoa, that they were capable of supporting, and of rendering themselves formidable even in adversity. The loosened bonds of the two imperial courts, the separation of the two armies, and the symptoms of defection in one, restored the equilibrium ; and, as two combatants separate when they find their powers to be equal, so the belligerent states should have given up a struggle which could only Exhaust them,'

It were much to be wished that the not less important than just reflections made in this passage had occurred, in proper time, to certain persons: but the game was begun, the passions were rouzed, the voice of reason could not be heard, and the play must proceed, though, the parties on one side being changed, it had ceased to be the same contest.

The author of this work, being recalled to his country and teinstated in his profession by Bonaparte, is not one of those philosophers who regard gratitude as a vice; on the contrary, he zealously espouses the cause of his benefactor, and inveighs vehemently against his enemies; among whom, Mr. Pitt has the honor of the first place assigned to him. It would be APP. REV. VOL. XXXVII. corrupting

Kk

corrupting history (the writer says) to give any value in the eyes of posterity to the pretexts adopted by the British prime minister, in order to colour his refusal to enter into negociation, and his determination to forego the glory and solid advantage of giving peace to Europe.' The author elsewhere asserts that, had not the same minister prevented it, a continental peace would have taken place on Bonaparte's accession to the chief magistracy of France.

Paul the first, he says, entered into the war because he deemed the existence of a republic in France inconsistent with the safety of thrones; and depended on seeing his example followed by all neutral powers: but, finding his expectations not answered, that his allies had not the same object with himself, and that French anarchy had ceased when Bonaparte assumed the government, he became as anxious for a general peace, as he had been before zealous for a general war against France. In this early negociation with the First Consul, Paul seems to have acted with more wisdom than either the British or the Austrian statesmen ;- the latter did not recur to measures of amity, till forced to it by a war in which they suffered unparalleled losses of men, treasure, and territory.

The author contends that it was the obvious interest of Austria to accept of offers of conciliation, when they were first proposed by the consulate. Having Lombardy and Piedmont in her hands, she had the means of ensuring and of even extending her acquisitions in Italy, under the peace of Campo Formio: but, after the retreat of the Russians, without great additions to her forces, (supposing the French armies to continue the same,) she could not hope to push farther her successes, nor even to guard against reverses. It was in consequence, however, of the pressing solicitations and the prodigious sacrifices of the cabinet of London, that she became deaf to the overtures of France.-He complains that the English ministers, by their answers, took care to exclude all possibility of a first basis of negotiation, and to leave no room for a favourable doubt; and that they declared that the establishment of the system which had preceded the revolution, and the recall of the Bourbons, were necessary preliminaries: though they had lately treated the convention, the committees of public safety, and the several directories, with more respect; and though the consular government had checked the parties which gave alarm, and could only exist by repressing them. So far, indeed, was it from propagating mischievous principles, that it endeavoured to destroy the schools which taught them, and watched narrowly over the disgraced apostles of them; and finally, the author asserts that social order, the sacred