ART. X. An Effay on the Principle and Origin of Sovereign Power. By a Dignitary of the [French] Church*. Tranf lated from the French, with a Preface and Appendix. 8vo. 298 pp. 7s. Hatchard. 1805. A VERY few years have elapfed fince the doctrines of this book were as far beyond the reach of any Frenchman, as the quadrature of the circle, the difcovery of the longitude, or any queftion which most completely baffles the fagacity of man. Melancholy experience has at length taught them how to reafon on the fubject, and has led them to principles, which they might have found in English writers many years ago, had they not been too felf-willed and felf-opinioned to adopt the wifdom of any other people. In the year 1795 we reviewed an English tract, in which all the leading principles of this work were clearly laid down, and with great vigour defended. Nor were they then new in this country, Sir Robert Filmer had explained them many years before; but as he was incapable of contending with fuch an antagonist as Locke, it was referved for Mr. J. Whitaker to fet the doctrines in their true light, and deduce the proper confequences from them. In giving a fhort account of the French original of the prefent book, we lately alluded to the work above-mentioned, which the reader will do well to compare with it. There is fomething rather curious in the circumftance, that this French book, the work of an ecclefiaftic, has been made English, as we understand it has, by a military man, an officer high in the fervice, who has been diftinguifhed before by a publication relative to his own profeffion, The tranflator has accompanied his book with a preface and an appendix, in both of which he ftrongly proves his own found knowledge and good principles. We cannot too carneftly commend the qualities of heart and understanding, which have produced this work in its English form. After fighting the fame queftion through the very worst times of republican fophiftry and infanity, we are glad to hail fuch * In the original, "Par un grand Vicaire." See Brit. Crit. vol. v. p. 413, where an account is given of "The Real Origin of Government. By John Whitaker, B. D. of Ruan Lanyhorne." Brit. Crit. vol. xxiv. p. 96. an an auxiliary, though late; to fortify the ground which we have never feared to defend. A fummary view of the contents of this work will inform our readers in what form and manner the subject of government is here treated. After a fhort introduction, of a more general nature, the author proceeds to refute the hypothefis, fo favoured by many modern writers, of a flate of nature anterior to fociety, and next that of a primitive compact. Thefe are placed as matters preliminary to the work itfelf, which is divided into two parts, the firft of four, the fecond of five chapters. Chapter the firft takes a general view of the different flates of nature fuppofed by various authors, of the fyftems of Hobbes, Montefquieu, and Rouffeau, with a comparison of their principles; concluding with fome notice of fuch theologists as have admitted a focial compact. Chap. II. proves, that these fyftems are devoid of all hiftorical fupport. Chapter III. fhows, that the hypothefis of a state of nature is impious and contrary to revelation. It oppofes alfo the theory of publicifts on the origin of property. In the fourth chapter the author proceeds to prove, that thefe fyftems are alfo irrational. The oppofite hypothefis being thus difpofed of, the author proceeds, in his fecond part, to develope the true fyfiem. Chapter I. treats of that mode of government which is really according to nature. Chapter II. explains how political focieties were formed; of the union of feveral into one, from motives of felf-defence; on the right of conqueft, and other matters depending on thofe fubjects. In chapter III. we ́ are informed of the true preferving principle of governments, and of the change which was effected in their fpirit by the influence of the Chriftian religion. Chapter IV. difcuffes. the right of fovereignty, as arifing from prefcription; and, the fifth chapter contains the general conclufion of the whole, argument. The language of the tranflation is in general good; but it is extremely difficult, in fuch a task, wholly to avoid the infection of the original idioms; from which circumflance our language is continually in danger of being corrupted by Gal licifms. We could mention, perhaps, a few trifling inflances, but the following is the most remarkable. In p. 106, fpeaking of the junction of feveral focieties, the tranflator ufes the expreflion of their re-union, and of their being forced to re-unite; which is completely a French expreffion. In English, things are not faid to re-unite, unless they have been united before, and, after a feparation, united again. But the French language, abfurdly enough, and contrary to etymology, calls that a re-union which takes place Y 4 for for the first time, as in this inftance; for the focieties here faid to re-unite, are not fuppofed ever to have been united before. Great care fhould be taken to avoid these ex. preffions, especially when they involve abfurdity. Thus re-place is often introduced, (by tranflators from French particularly,) in the fenfe of putting one perfon in the place of another, whereas the force of the particle re implies putting a perfon again into the place he held before. We mention these things not from a wifh to cenfure the book before us, but from an anxious regard for the purity of our language. The appendix which the tranflator has fubjoined is, in fact, a collection of notes on the text of his author; several of which are very ufeful. In note (E) particularly, the fummary view of the inftances of wife design perceivable in the works of nature, is well oppofed to the abfurdities of atheism, and proves an attention to fuch enquiries highly honourable to a man engaged in fo active a profeffion as that of a military life. In note (I) we find a fimilar sketch of the leading evidences of Chriflianity: and in note (M) are traced the characters of Hobbes, and the other authors principally opposed in this work. As a fpecimen of the original infor mation communicated by the ingenious tranflator, we fhall infert a paffage from his preface, where he gives a view of the prefent fyftem of education in France. It is extremely curious, and well deferves confideration, as to the effects it is likely to produce with respect to this nation. "The prefent fyftem of public education in France, did not efcape the attention of the tranflator of these sheets, when he vifited that country, at the close of the fhort-lived peace. The celebrated Cuvier, and Fourcroy, gave in plans conceived and drawn up, on a liberal and enlarged fcale. Buonaparte who is himself deficient in every branch of belles lettres, and claffical knowledge, and is converfant in plain, but not in abftrufe mathematics, drew his pen through the whole of this well-digefted fyftem of education laid before him. He directed, that in each of the fix claffes of which the Polytechnic schools are compofed, one eafy Latin author, the common rules of arithmetic, and plain mathematics, only, fhould be taught. He directed that the libraries of the fchools fhould contain, only, the mathematical, and poli tical works of the Jefuits. This barbarous decree will throw back the French nation a whole century in scientific knowledge, in claffical acquirements, and in polite literature. Many ages may revolve before France may again produce fuch authors as, Des Cartes, Montefquieu, D'Agueffeau, D'Alembert, Voltaire, Renfeau, Diderot, Raynal, Helvetius, Malebranche, Bayle, Pascal, Thomas Thomas, Mably, &c. &c. These Polytechnic Schools are calculated to render the nation completely military, to infufe into the mind a knowledge of diplomatic fineffe, and to be a means, in the hands of the ufurper, of arriving at univerfai empire. These fchools are literally, in appearance, fo many military barracks. Every thing carries a martial afpect. The exercifes, habits, and converfation of the youths, are purely military. The scholars, or rather recruits, are infpired with a hatred and contempt for all other nations. They are taught to think Buonaparté the first of characters, ancient or modern; and that France has a right to univerfal dominion. They are particularly inftructed to deem the English, faithlefs, tyrannical, and arbitrary; and that France is deftined to liberate the world from their infolent and overbearing fway. Manners and morals are but little attended to. All polish, and urbanity of demeanour are defpifed as weakneffes of character, and a favage roughnefs diftinguishes the unfortunate youth, whofe real happiness is thus facrificed to the views of unbounded ambition. The central fchools are intended to cherish a fimilar fpirit in the minds of the lower order. The united object of both inftitutions is, to have, at all times, ready for action, a difciplined army infpired with deep-rooted prejudices, and of dif pofitions inimical to all mankind, and pre-eminently hoftile to the English nation." P. xxxii. This tranflator dedicates, as Mr. Reeves did on another occation, to the good fenfe of the English nation; and he trufts that, under the influence of that good fenfe, this book will lay afleep for ever the doctrine of the Majefty of the People: of which he very properly fays, that, if the people rightly understood it, they would reject it with abhorrence, as deftructive of their welfare and happinefs." Our trust is, that the good fenfe of the English nation had long before feen the pernicious tendency of that doctrine, and had accordingly rejected it with abhorrence. BRITISH CATALOGUE. POETRY. ART. 11. Monody to the Memory of the Right Honourable Wil liam Pitt: infcribed to his furviving Friends. 4to. 15. Stockdale, 1806. Though this monody is anonymous, it betrays the hand of an able and experienced writer: and we rather wonder that any per fon fon who writes fo well, and on fo a good a subject, fhould withhold his name. It is formed on the claffical model of the Epitaph of Bion, afcribed to Mofchus, being divided into portions by a recurring ftrain, like that poet's Αρχετε Σικελικαὶ τῷ πένθεος, ἄρχετε Μοίσαι, The poem contains a sketch of the most remarkable periods of Mr. Pitt's public life. The last fatal effort, when his great plan for the liberation of Europe was fruftrated by folly and treachery, and when the fufferings of his mind brought to a crifis the maladies of his body, is thus defcribed: "Refound, my Mufe, refound the song of woe! prey. "But ah! the dread misfortunes that befell When, to the foeman's wiles compell'd to yield, "Not from thy error*, Pitt! the fource arofe Which rankling deep, confumed thy feeling heart." P. 13. Though we have hitherto had twenty pens employed in praise of Nelfon for one who has celebrated Pitt, we hope, that the example of this poet will call forth other writers to pay a debt no lefs due in this inftance than in the other. Never, perhaps, did fo fhort a space terminate three lives of fuch vaft public conse quence as thofe of Nelfon, Pitt, and Cornwallis. * "The treaties and other papers produced feem to juftify this opinion; but the author does not prefume to anticipate the decifon of Parliament." ART. |