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The Gothic structure of their charac- rality of the French having at all times ters in print, varying again very materially been considered as triflers, most other nafrom those they use in writing; the ab- tions have been willing to leave to their struseness of their grammar, and the pecu-choice the cut and colours of their coats, liarity of their phraseology, must discourage | gowns, &c.; and if the French have imthe study of a modern language, on which posed upon foreigners old fashions for new few will vouchsafe to bestow so much ap-inventions, it shows that they are deceitful, plication as any ancient language might require. without betraying a want of penetration in those who were deceived: for, to fashion may be attributed a wheel as well as to fortune; what is on the top of it one day is turned downwards the next, and after a while it appears uppermost again; But not so with intellectual productions. There is a standard of mental beauties, of literary excellence, which has remained immutable since thousands of years. The facility and fluency, too, with which Germans in general speak and write foreign languages, may be another reason why theirs is so seldom learned by foreign-little ers. Whatever country a German visits, and so on. he endeavours immediately to speak to its inhabitants in their native tongue: hence, perhaps, their backwardness to learn his a backwardness which proceeds less from timidity than from an irritability of selflove, from which the Germans, in general, seem totally exempt. If they are but couvinced of the propriety of what they have to say, it is almost immaterial to them how they express it, particularly when conversing in a foreign language. A striking instance of which our author has given in quoting her controversy with Schiller on the dramatie system. Nor has the decadence of French literature, on which our author justly animadverts, escaped the observation of other nations; and it proves their good taste, and correct judgment, if they prefer its former to its present state. Times have changed; and will continue changed. Nations which did not venture to think for themselves deserve this reproach: but let not our author, There may be more in this than or his countrymen be too sensible of it. we are aware of; but to say truth, those-France may borrow wisdom from Germans who so quickly, and so well learned to speak English, for instance, have been somewhat rare in our intercourse with Foreigners. After she had asserted that German writers, who possess an immense erudition, know all French books as well as Frenchmen themselves." She adds, in another passage; "French milliners send to the colonies, to Germany, to the North, what has been left on the shelf, as they vulgarly call it. And what is true of dress may be equally applied to the understanding. We have a cargo of Madrigals, Calembourgs, and Vaudevilles, which we send to foreign countries, when nobody minds them any more in France." According to that argument, are we to suppose a great part of the world involved in mental darkness, in thus allowing themselves to be imposed upon by the outcast of French literature. Germany, hereafter, as Germany has borrowed wit from France, heretofore. Fashion and Literature may follow, and that at no very remote distance; at any rate times have changed; and the steady patriotism of the Germans will enable them to settle more difficult accounts with France, than those between their own country and Madame de Stael. A SHORT EXCURSION IN FRANCE, 1814. Svo. pp. 85. price 5s. 6d. Stockdale. London. 1814. be The renewal of intercourse between our island and the Continent, it may expected will add many "Descriptions of France," Letters from France," "Excursions in France," &c. to the shelves of our Libraries. Such of them, as are written by men accustomed to the world, familiar with good company, and in the habit of making remarks, and reducing them to writing, Such as are will be very entertaining. the works of authors for the first time, What a parallel altogether between of travellers too indolent to commit fashions and literary productions! The their observations and opinions to notes first have certainly been imported from while recent-or rather on the spot, France into most countries; for, the geue--such as contain the surmises of those But she said, that she met in Germany inn-keepers, and toll-receivers, who were acquainted with French literature; it is therefore not likely that they could be so grossly deceived in that point. who have seen their own country, only. | will make but little way in the world of letters. Most things are great or small mean or magnificent, by comparison: how should the most sensible man living be able to judge on what he sees, if he never possessed opportunity of forming that scale which is to serve him as a standard, and to be brought into use, as objects are presented to his contemplation. view of the most magnificent buildings in the world, with nothing to offend the eye ill we enter the interior of the city, where the stranger, notwithstanding all he may hove heard, must feel surprised at the narrowness of the streets. When I returned to London, I was astonished at the comparative magnificence of our streets; I could almost imagine them enlarged. London altogether may be more superb than Paris, but one does not see it altogether; while at Paris, from the This traveller landed for the first time, centre of the Pont Neuf, one sees almost in a foreign country, at Havre de Grace, almost all the wonders of Paris at once:immediately after the review at Ports-silent majesty, along the banks of the the immeuse Louvre, stretching itself, in mouth, in honour of the Allied Sove-Seine; the palace of the Thuilleries; the reigns. He describes some things well Palais des Quatre Nations; the Palais du enough, and gives some fair advice to those Corps Legislatif; the domes of the French who may follow his example. His feel-Pantheon and the Hotel des Invalides, the ings are those of an Englishman; and latter of which is gilded. I am convinced they are expressed in a simple style. that the whole world could not furnish a The following observations are sufficient view of equal magnificence. proofs of this, to the initiated. The whole world could not furnish a scene of equal magnificence! Sir, you told us in your first page, that this was the first time of your landing know,-except by report, picked up at a foreign country: what do you Paris-of what scenes of magnificence the world can furnish? The diligence stops at Rouen in a ruined church, called St. Herblanc, not the only church which has been ruined by the revolution. I saw the church of St. Pierre con-in verted into a warehouse; and was informed that, of thirty two which existed at the beginning of the revolution, only twelve remain; but surely this must be incorrect, or all the chapels in one church must have been included, also the chapels of couventual houses. The revolution has spared two splendid monuments of the English, the cathedral and the church of St. Ouen, both built by English architects. We infer the contrary: the revolution has done more mischief than will readily be believed. The following expresses the feeling of all who have been accustomed to the bustle and dust, and THE DOCTRINE OF CHANCES, or the Theory of Gaming made easy to all persons, &c. By W. Rouse. 8ro. pp. 350. price 15s. For the Author: Lackington and Co. Londou. The Theory of Gaming made easy! How can it be supposed that Panoramists understand the Theory of Gaming? Beyond all question, the practice of gaming made uneasy, has but too often come before us, sometimes in our magis multiplicity of population and employ-terial capacity;-for the public has long ments that burden the roads in the vicinity of the British metropolis. But we are approaching Paris! I can hardly believe that I am here; I am perpetually saying to myself, is it possible that I am so uear Paris? The approach to Paris through the Champs-Ely-sees is the very best, and it is truly magnificent. Imagine a very long and very broad road, with avenues of trees, at the end of which the triumphal arch, the Château of the Thuilleries, and the towers of Paris gradually appearing, unobstructed by paltry edifices, and you have a view of Paris. One enters immediately into the Place de Louis Quinze, the Place Vendome, having, all the while, a suspected that the Bench was graced by members of the corps ;-sometimes in the character of friends, who have to soothe the afflicted, so far as permitted by a sense of what is due to honour and integrity; and sometimes in that of umpires, who have seen breaches scarcely to be healed, between those who sat down to the gaming table in perfect good humour, but rose up from it, in that disposition which-but who can describe the abandonment too frequently attendant on this destructive practice. Be it known then, that we protest against making the theory of gaming easy to all persons. The proposal itself is revolting to the feelings. Could the, also, on the "probability of their fact be accurately known, it is more missing honours, and getting more than probable, that the history of the tricks,"-O! fye Mr. R.!" more invention of gaming, (said to be among tricks," quoth he! on the "probabithe Lydians,) would meet with an in- lity of their getting the game either by verted explanation, from that which is honours, or by tricks."-Why really usually given to it. Says our author, this is beyond endurance; beyond ex"Gaming is said to be invented by the pression provoking! Who can wonder Lydians, when under the pressure of at the desperation incident to true great famine: to divert themselves from patriots, when they calculate the chances their sufferings, they contrived dice, for them-or against them,―of their balls, tables, &c." More likely, says a obtaining,- --or of their adversaries oblearned Censor, the passage ought to be taining-or of themselves not obtaining otherwise translated. "The Lydians-the game, by honours, or by tricks? having contrived dice, balls, and tables, and invented gaming, were reduced to great famine; and to extreme sufferings!!" In plain truth, while engaged in this practice, they could think of nothing else: their property, their farms, their looms, their nets, their establishments of industry were all lying waste their time and talents were all absorbed in this intoxicating pursuit. What a state is this world come to ! But, courage, all is not yet lost: we shall turn the Author's arms against himself. See what pains he has taken and he is not the first-to calculate the probabilities of those who are eight, getting the game over those who are nine ;-but then they must have "the deal:"-Who does not understand this hint-Who, especially, that has proThe subject is treated in reference to perly considered the doctrine on the calculation: the Book is a deep Book: preceding page, in which the Author the Preface is a well written Preface: tells us there are six ways of taking it describes the chances of winning; 2 things out of 4!! Much information the lucky road to fortune; the necessity on the manner of doing this might be of a prize falling somewhere,-then why obtained from a Public Office of great not to me? Surely I am as lucky as notoriety---but a word to the wise: my neighbour-perhaps more so. "Ah! State Secrets! Our Author observes, " It but then the chances of failure -why is self-evident, then an event either will think of them? the blind Goddess be-happen, or will not happen; therefore, stows her favours undistinguishingly; these taken together constitute cer-why not on you? After all, the Pre-tainty." True enough; and proper face ends unluckily :-" the tendency enough too, for the meditation of a man of riches is to corrupt the morals, and in the way to execution; to which noProvidence, for wise purposes, withholds thing would more certainly lead an exthem from virtuous and just men."—If perimentalist, than deep study of the this be so, why publish a Theory of Doctrine of Chances, or the Theory and Gaming made easy ?-Or why not a Practice of Gaming made easy. corrective, shewing in a calculation per contra, the Practice of Gaming made Difficult? Nor is this all we suspect a Snake in the Grass. The subject is familiartoo familiar! among certain in the higher sphere of life. Now by substituting the words Ins and Outs for those who are Eight, and those who are Nine, or "Lords A. and B.," for those who "get the game by honours, or by tricks," we stand a chance of penetrating the author's occult meaning. Mr. R. expatiates on the " probability of the dealers reckoning honours :"-why sir, the dealers always reckon honours: THE MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS OF JOHN SMEATON, Civil Enginer, &c. F. R. S. comprising his communications to the Royal Society, printed in the Philosophical Transactions, forming a fourth volume to his Re ports. 4to.pp.210. with plates, Longman & Co. The hints and suggestions of a man of mind, are at all times worth reading; they differ from his proper works only by the additional value afforded by opportunity for finishing: and it has been well remarked, that the Queries of Newton are, in many instances, superior to the demonstrations of ordinary talents. The man who raises himself by his ge nius and professional labours, to an eminence of reputation, not confined to his own country, merits the preservation of all his papers, and the general circulation of all his productions, whether mere essays, or more complete dissertations. Often too, the demands of the moment, the questions which arise, the propositions of others, furnish occasion to man of science, for bringing his knowledge into activity, and elucidating subjects, which otherwise he might never have thought of treating. a : assisted in obtaining true results, inay be inferred with sufficient accuracy from a single fact. Belidor in his Architec ture Hydraulique greatly prefers the application of water to an undershot mill, instead of an overshot; and attempts to demonstrate, that water applicd undershot will do six times more execution than the same applied overshot. On the contrary Desaguliers, endeavouring to invalidate what had been advanced by Belidor, affirms from his own experience, that "a well made overshot mill ground as much corn in the same time, with ten times less water." A difference of no less than sixty to one-between two writers, both mathematicians, both demonstrators! Sixty to one, is a fearful odds; but, surely the public was suffering till this were reduced to certainty. Belidor also calculated the motion of the sails of a windmill, at: a velocity beyond that of the wind in the greatest storms that are ever experinced. It was necessary, there Mr. Smeaton stood at the head of his profession; of which, in fact, he was the Father, in more senses than one. His "Works" have formerly come under our notice, and certainly form volumes of high importance to a manufacturing and machine-working people. The contents of this additional volume, complete the whole of Mr. S's. labours they are miscellaneous, and consist of articles, communicated by him to that truly scientific institution, the Royal Society; which, with a liberality extremely com-fore, to obtain satisfactory results on mendable, has granted the use of such copper-plates as were in its possession: others are added to illustrate the subjects. These papers may be considered also as contributing to the history of science, and to the practical improvement of knowledge, as it stood at the time, and As the progress of wind is a matthis is of great moment to a just appre-ter of general concern, we shall add ciation of an artist's efforts. What was Mr. Smeaton's Table of the rate at the condition of art, or practice, as he which it travels: we need not say, found it; and? what was its condition as that the motion of a traveller, prohe left it, is a fair question; when, as duces a wind to him, though the air be in the present case, it must meet with a calmn; or that going against the wind, most honourable answer. increases the effect of what is in action. Wind. The subjects of Mr. Smeaton's speculations are the air-pump-the steam engine, as constructed by M. de Moura, of Portugal-the mode of measuring a ship's way at sea-the mariners compass, with Dr. Knight's needle, and card-the powers of water and wind to turn mills, &c.-the principles and proportions of velocities-collision-tackle-the heavenly bodies-eclipses-a pyrometer-an hygrometer-with remarks, and corrections, or other instruments, &c. That some approaches toward certainty were necessary in the then state of science, and that the learned world was laid under obligation, by whoever practical questions of such general interest to the public. This, Mr. S. undertook, and performed: his labours were directed to other purposes not less important, and with results not less satisfactory. Miles Feet Sec. 1 1,47 2,98 4,40 4 |