Annexed to this report is a letter from M. Derozier the younger, engineer-mineralogist, to his father; which contains farther remarks on Egyptian antiquities, and which concludes with observing that the horned serpents, which were, among the objects of antient Egyptian adoration, are still very common in that country, by one of which he narrowly escaped being bitten in a grotto at Thebes.'-Prefixed, is a map. of Egypt by D'Anville, from the cataracts of the Nile to the Mediterranean. This is a very acceptable addition: but the names of places in it ought to have been made to correspond with those which are given in the report.-Some gallicisms occur in the translation; as, the pillar has so many feet long,' &c. &c. MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For NOVEMBER, 1800. ARCHITECTURE. Art. 13. A Collection of Plans and Elevations of modern Buildings, public and private, erected in Great Britain by the most celebrated Architects; engraved in Aqua-tinta, from original Drawings, by George Richardson, Architect. To be completed in 10 Numbers. Imperial Folio. 10s. 6d. each; of which 7 Numbers are pub lished. Taylor, Holborn. HE Vitruvius Britannicus has long been highly valued as affording a collection of the principal buildings in this country: but many years have elapsed since it was formed, and many noble mansions have since arisen. We therefore congratulate the public on the appearance of the present performance; which is intended as a supplement to that production, and which lays before them plans and elevations of the principal modern buildings in this country. As the peculiar merits of this work cannot well be investigated without a reference to the plates, which our plan does not admit, we must rest contented with announcing so important an undertaking; not doubting that those who are interested, either professionally or from amusement, will be anxious to possess a publication in which will be found the studies of the most celebrated artists of the present day. It is intended to proceed in the regular succession of one num ber in every six months. When the collection is complete, we may probably take more particular notice of it. Art. 14. Hints for Dwellings: consisting of original Designs for Cottages, Farm-houses, Villas, &c. plain and ornamental. With Plans to each: in which strict Attention is paid to unite Convenience and Elegance with Economy. Including some Designs for Town Houses, elegantly engraved in Aqua-tinta, with appropriate Seenery. By D. Laing, Architect and Surveyor. 4to. 34 Plates. 11. 55. Boards. Taylor, Holborn. 1800. A set A set of useful designs, which, although they do not vie with those in the preceding article for magnitude and richness, yet still attract attention from their more general application to the wants of the greater mass of the public. The author observes, Of the plans, I hope the distribution will be found to possess convenience, elegance, and economy. This branch of the architect's profession is the most arduous; and to this point should all the powers of his mind be directed, united to all the intelligence which can be furnished by the employer; for within the house, those comforts and conveniencies will be sought, which shall compensate for all expence and trouble. In the plan, I may be allowed to say, will be shewn the skill, taste, and ingenuity of the artist; here, his address in surmounting difficulties will evince itself; and here the conveniences to be combined and arranged must render the mansion inviting to the master, and convenient to the family by a good distribution also much space is saved, or applied to useful purposes, and the expences much abridged; and I must repeat that too much care cannot be given to well arranging the plan, suitable to the family, circumstances, and desires of the proprietor: for a proper attention to these circumstances in the outset will prevent much future uneasiness, or alterations which never fail to create expence.' While a diversity of taste and wants prevails, these publications of studies, uniting talents and attention, afford a variety suited to different inclinations; and we can recommend the present work as one of the best of that kind, to the attention of those who wish to amuse themselves with brick and mortar. EDUCATION. Art. 15. The Friend of Mothers: designed to assist them in their Attempts to instil the Rudiments of Language and Arithmetic, at an early Age, and in a Manner agreeable to their Children. 12mo. 1s. Newbery. 1799. This little volume is designed as a prelude to a set of toys for the purpose of teaching in sport: it is intended at once to explain the manner of using those toys, and to hint to young mothers how they may amuse and instruct their little ones on the same plan, even with out such an apparatus. The writer hopes soon to provide a box for the purpose of teaching the rudiments of language in a sportive manher, on a plan the most simple and the least expensive possible: this will be called a Spelling Box. The difficulty of getting very diminu tive cuts neatly executed has hitherto retarded the appearance of this beginning of her scheme: she announces with pleasure, that the conti nuation is in the hands of an engraver: it is to be on the same plan as the Infant's Delight, supplying easy and pleasant reading for infants, as an indulgence. The whole of the projected method will in time he at the service of such ladies as may choose to adopt the plan. She flatters herself with the hope of affording entertainment and instruction to the various branches of the family, according to their respective age and progress. The infants will find easy reading lessons; those a little older, a dictionary; and children more advanced, an explanaon suited to them.' Such is the account given in a short preface to this performance. From letters, grammar, and arithmetic, with their appropriate engrav ings, if we rightly understand the lady, we shall proceed to natural history, with its suitable plates: but, as the design is not yet completely executed, we can give only an imperfect view of the plan. We observe many good remarks and directions in the present volume; and though it is chiefly intended to assist instruction with the appa ratus proposed, we find one chapter designed to render these early lessons not only amusing but improving without this aid. Art. 16. Dodici Conversazioni, &c.; i. e. Twelve Conversations, in Italian and French. In which are introduced the most necessary Words and Phrases used in famíliar Conversation. mani, Language-master. 12mo. pp. 383. 5s. Low, London." By G. Gri1799. This appears to be a very useful publication, as the titles of the several conversations will evince; which are as follow: I. Conversation; between a young Lady and her Woman, on first rising; with her Milliner, and Mantua-maker. II. Between a Mother, a Son, and a Daughter, at Breakfast. IV. Between a young Lady and her Music-Master, on the Piano Forte, Singing, and Accompaniment. V. Between a young Lady and her Dancing-master." VI. Between a young Lady, her Mother, and Brother, while walking out, making Purchases, and in the Garden. VII. Between the same Persons, concerning the Sciences, particularly Geography. VIII. At a Toilette, between a young Lady and her Woman. X. In a Gallery of Pictures, Drawings, and Engravings: on Mythology among many young Persons. XI. At the Playhouse, and Opera. XII. On different Games at Cards, &c. As boys at grammar-schools in England learn Greek through the medium of Latin, it seems necessary for students in Italian to learn it in a French Grammar, and to attain the colloquial language of Italy through that of France. two languages so equally derived from Latin, and of which the rules There is a greater affinity between of grammar are the same, than between Italian and any language of Celtic or Teutonic origin. It is but just to say that these conversations are written so equally well in both languages, that it would not be easy, without the author's Italian name, to determine which was his native idiom. In speaking of arts and sciences, he seems perfectly well acquainted with their technica. In the IVth Conversation with the Musicmaster, as much elementary knowlege is displayed in the art, as could be obtained in two or three months from the instructions of a professed teacher; and the technical terms in Italian and French, with the names and import of the several characters in the Gammut, Timetable, and Accompaniment or Thorough-base, will be of great use 2 12 in receiving lessons of foreign masters: as such terms of art rarely occur in common reading. The Conversation with the Dancingmaster will have its use in French; in which language, young ladies are more likely to receive instructions than in Italian. The old dialogues of Veneroni are now antiquated: but in these, the fashions and manners of the present times are the subjects of conThe Dialogue in the Garden furnishes the names of versation. plants, flowers, and fruits; which are likewise seldom found in common reading. In the first list of Sciences, Theology is omitted, p. 146: but at p. 148, it is enumerated as one of the principal exercises of human intellect. We have in this dialogue definitions of grammatical terms, and indeed the principal technica of all the arts and sciences. From the Conversation in a Gallery of Painting, Statuary, and Sculpture, a mythological Dictionary may be formed. In the dialogue at the Opera, questions and replies concerning the performance are furnished. In the last Conversation, on different games at Cards, the author seems to have rivalled Hoyle in definitions, and has certainly surpassed him in moral reflections on the evils which gaming engenders in society. A table of errata is wanting to this volume, in which we observed The punctuation, also, is deficient several typographical errors. throughout. At p. 354, the author, speaking of the amusements of the ante-revolution-Venice, (where there is little convenience for walking, and none for riding,) says that, in general, the inhabitants have no other amusement than cards. There may have been much play in private but in public and private, music, seems to have been more cultivated and patronized there, than in any other city of Europe. There formerly were four Conservatorios, or schools for the education of female orphans and natural children; in which music, particularly vocal, was cultivated with greater care, and taught by greater masters, than in any other city of Italy. * We have dwelt the longer on this little work, because of its singular merit and possible utility. It is arranged in a more alluring form than is given to the dry rules of grammars, and the unconnected vocabularies usually annexed to them; and we may venture to say of this book, what has been remarked of Johnson's Dictionary, that, from the happy illustrations and examples which the author has given of the terms which he defines," in looking for words, we find things." Art. 17. Scelta di Lettere familiari, degli Autori pieù Celebri, &c. A Collection of familiar Letters, by the most celebrated Authors; for the Use of Students in the Italian Language: with Accents, to • mark the Pronunciation of all the doubtful Words. By Leonardo Nardini. 12mo. pp. 264. 35. Dulau and Co. 1800. The English public have given considerable encouragement to this method of book-making; and, to say the truth, when selections are conducted with judgment and taste, they cannot fail of being accept * See Wright's Travels, and Burney's Musical Tour through France and Italy, X 3 able. able. They bring together, within a narrow compass, interesting pieces which are generally scattered through many volumes, and afford considerable entertainment at a very moderate price;-no trifling recommendation in these hard times. To the compiler of this little volume of Italian Letters, the praise of judicious discrimination is due; and his collection will be thankfully received by the Italian student who wishes to improve, and to write this elegant language with facility and correctness. Algarotti-Bembo-Bentivoglio Boccalini-Castiglione-Caro-Fabri-Galileo-Ganganelli-Gua rini Lambertini- Machiavelli- Mascardi― Metastasio- Redi Tasso-Tolomei-Zanotti, and others, are here laid under contribution; and, when drawing from such rich and various sources, it is no great compliment to the editor to say that this volume is both amusing and instructive. A letter from Ganganelli to a friend, on the subject of travelling in Italy, peculiarly merits those epithets on account of its style, its method of detail, and its reflections. The accentuation of doubtful words will prove of great use to those who study the Italian language without a preceptor. MILITARY and NAVA L. Art. 18. A Collection of Papers on Naval Architecture; originally communicated through the Channel of the Wrapper of the European Magazine; in which publication, the further Communications on this Subject will be continued. Vol. II. In Three Parts. 8vo. Is. Boards. Sewell. 1800. We have already noticed the first volume, and the first part of the / second volume of these papers *. Those contained in the remainder of the volume now published treat of various subjects of marine economy, but principally of improvements in Naval Architecture. As they are not original publications, and as some of them passed in review before us on their first appearance, we shall not enter into an examination of particulars but we must observe that this collection, of useful though miscellaneous maritime information, promises to be one of the most complete of any hitherto published. : Art. 19. An Epitome of Military Events. Translated from the French periodical Work published at Hamburgh. No. X. Illus trated by a Map of Part of the Chain of the Alps and Appenines on the Southern Frontier of Piedmont, and a Plan of the Town and Environs of Coni. 8vo. 25. Egerton. The same science, information, impartiality, and regard to the interests of humanity, which so honorably distinguished the preceding numbers of this valuable publication, are not less conspicuous in the present. We have here detailed the interesting particulars of the situations of the respective contending armies, at the conclusion of the last year. We understand that this work, which is so far superior to all former narratives of the day, comes from the pen of General Dumas who, if we mistake not, was involved in the proscription of the 18th Fructidor. If the Frenchman now and then appears, we *See vol. xix. N. S. p. 76. are |