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by which, he is of opinion, the knowlege of them will be facilitated, and some of those difficulties removed, on account of which they have hitherto been considered as one of the most intricate and perplexing parts of botany. We regret that the necessary limits of our critique will not allow us to lay this subdivision before our botanical readers: but even this circumstance will be the source of pleasure, if it should induce them to become purchasers of a work from which we can promise them not less amusement than instruction.

There is one other point which we must not omit to mention, in which Dr. ACHARIUS seems to have rendered an essential service to the nomenclature of Botany; viz. that he has distinguished, according to their form, &c. the shields of Lichens; and, instead of keeping them under one or two general names, he has divided them into Scutella, Pelta, Tubers cula, Cistella, Thalami, Lirella, Trice, Glomeruli, Cyphelle, and Bacilla: to each of which terms he has added a complete definition.

It now only remains for us to give a general idea of the plan of the work, and to state a few instances in which we have observed any striking difference from preceding authors. On the latter head, however, we shall be very sparing; as we trust, even if no British Botanist should be induced to favor the public with a Lichenographia Anglica, (a'work much to be desired,) that still Mr. Dickson in his fourth Fasciculus, and Dr. Smith in his Flora, will avail themselves of the hints and emendations suggested in the present volume. Descriptions of every Swedish species are here given, amounting to the surprizing number of 345; to which are added the synonyms of all principal authors; references to almost every figure extant; and in general a short note designed either to point out some striking peculiarity, or to separate the plant more effectually from its congeners. Subjoined to the end of every tribe, are the foreign species mentioned by authors of credit, with their characters; those which Dr. ACHARIUS had seen being marked with an asterisk, and those which he had never had an opportunity of examining being distinguished by à cross.-On the title page of the work is a neat figure of Lichen Acharii, a crustaceous species apparently very different from any that has fallen under our observation; besides which we find two coloured plates, representing Lichen Dillenianus, L. Swartzii, L. Ehrartianus, and L. Westringii; all new to us, unless the third should be, as is suggested by the author, L. graniformis.

Among the most remarkable deviations from preceding writers, none strike us as more worthy of notice than that their L. cinereus, pallescens, and centrifugus, are not the true plants of Linné;

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Linné; that L. frigidus is the same with L. tartareus; that L. sphæroides of Dickson is the L. vernalis, Linn.; that L. querneus, Dickson, is made a variety of L. hæmatomma (surely this is wrong); and that L. fluviatilis, Huds. changes its name to L. hydaterpus, and L. fluviatilis Weber to L. Weberi.

ART. XIV. Voyage autour du Monde, &c. i. e. A Voyage round the World, during the Years 1790, 1791, and 1792, byETEPHEN MARCHAND; preceded by an Historical Introduction; Inquiries concerning the Discoveries of Sir Francis Drake; and a critical Examination of the Voyage of Roggeween. With Charts: by C. P. Claret Fleurieu, of the National Institute, and of the Board of Longitude. 8vo. 5 Vols, and 4to Atlas. Paris, 1798–1800. Imported by De Boffe, London.

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T is not a little remarkable that, of the many voyages round the world which have been performed, two only have been executed by French navigators. The editor of the present work, M. Fleurieu, observes that, before the expedition here recorded, Bougainville had not among his countrymen either model or imitator. The unfortunate La Pérouse was not permitted to complete his undertaking; and the travels of Gentil la Barbinais and Pagès, being made partly by sea and partly by land, are not to reckoned among the number of circumnavigations of the globe.

In addition to the voyage of MARCHAND, these volumes comprehend a body of disquisition on subjects highly interesting to geographers; and the manner in which some of them are treated by the author will probably excite more than common attention. The whole occupies five octavo volumes, and one quarto, which have been printed at successive times during the last three years: but we have received them so very lately, that we can at present only notice their contents in a general manner, and make a few observations on the Historical Introduction.

The Ist. and IId. volumes contain, besides the introduction, the narrative of Capt. MARCHAND's voyage. The IIId. is almost wholly given to the account of the observations made in the course of that expedition, and to nautical remarks respecting the navigation, &c.

Vol. IV. and part of the Vth. are occupied with descriptions of botanical productions, and other objects of natural history. The latter part of the fifth contains an examination of some of the discoveries of Sir Francis Drake, and of the accounts of Roggeween's voyage which have appeared. These examinations are to be considered as the sequel of those pubblished by the author in 1790, under the title of Découvertes

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des Français dans le Sud-Est de la Nouvelle Guinée, précédées de l'abrégé historique des Navigations et des Découvertes des Espagnols dans les mêmes Parages. The last volume contains charts and plates, and a memoir on the hydrographical division of the globe; and on the general Nomenclature; with some proposed alterations.-Other matters of less consequence occur in this and in the other volumes, which will be noticed when we enter more into particulars.

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In the Introduction, M. Fleurieu has given a brief and methodical history of the progressive discoveries made on the western coast of North America, from the first discovery of California to our own times; and, with great diligence, he has compared the early accounts with those of modern voyagers. This critical examination was read at the National Institute, Messidor, An 5; at which time the author had not the benefit of the discoveries made in Capt. Vancouver's voyage; consequently, many points were then doubtful to him which that expedition has since ascertained. M. Fleurieu has conducted his inquiries with clearness of judgment; and, as the question of a navigable passage through North America stood at the time of reading his memoir, he has shewn a freedom from prejudice which has not often been found in those who have been equally interested in the subject. Capt. Vancouver's survey has verymuch narrowed the ground on which the question rested, but we do not regard the discussion as entirely settled. The opportunities of acquiring information, which M. Fleurieu has enjoyed, have furnished his treatise with some particulars not generally known, respecting the later Spanish discoveries, and their settlements north of California.

The memoir commences with a short review of the early discoveries, in which the doubtful relations of the voyages attributed to Da Fuca and Fuente are particularly examined. Of the modern discoveries on the west coast of America, those of the Russians are first noticed, as being first in the order of time. It was not till the year 1769 that, awakened by the success of the commercial undertakings of that nation, and by the jealousy lest some others not less enterprizing should establish themselves in the countries to the north, the Spanish Govern ment decided on realizing those claims which were antiently founded on the ceremony of taking possession; although, says the writer, it must at all times have been evident that this sort of act would be considered by every other power as a vain formality exciting pretensions which are advanced on no other basis than the accidental circumstance of a first discovery; and as at the most a project of occupation, the execution of which is referred to an uncertain period. M. Fleurieu

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adds, that there is one thing wanting to these acts of taking possession; the ratification by the native proprictor, the natural sovereign.

The Spaniards, however, (says the editor,) decided, as far as they were able, and without intending it, a question which their interest required to remain undisturbed; whether the simple discovery and the form of taking possession, unaccompanied by any step towards the execution, can supply the place of a real title of propriety and right of occupation? Had Spain forgotten that, in 1578, Admiral Drake, who discovered New Albion, comprehending more than 200 leagues of coast between 37 and 48 degrees of latitude, had solemnly taken possession of all the country in the name of Queen Elizabeth; and if, at the present day, England chose to revive this preténded title of propriety, could Spain fancy herself founded in maintaining that time had effaced the title? I am only the historian, and ought to leave the question to be determined by those who are more versed in the law of nations. It is probable that their judgment would be, after having consulted the primitive rights of the native inhabitants, that the claims of both the one and the other side are founded on usurpation and the abuse of power.'

It was, however, resolved to establish a presidency at Monterey and San Diego.

It was necessary to have recourse to some illusive expedient, to conceal even from themselves the injustice of such an usurpation; and the Spanish Government imagined that they were sufficiently justified in the eyes of mankind, as well as in their own, by associating the cause of religion with the project of iniquity. They spoke only of the propagation of the faith, and of the conversion of infidels; covering, with a respectable veil, the true motives of their enterprize Missionary priests were destined to accompany the army.-'

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The forces appointed to this service were divided; one part proceeding by land, the other in vessels along the coast. Spanish relation of the expedition was published by the govern ment of New Spain; and though the work is very scarce, M. Fleurieu obtained a copy.

The Spanish attempts at discovery are not held in higher estimation by this author than they were by his friend M. ia Pérouse. In one of their late expeditions towards the North (in 1788), M. Fleurieu relates that the only discovery of importance made was from some conversations with the Russians, by which they learned that the governor of Kamtschatka had it in contemplation to occupy the port of Nootka in the name of the Empress of Russia. This rumour, whether well or ill founded, determined the Viceroy of Mexico to possess himself of that port; and that no one might be ignorant of the rights of Spain, the name of Nueva California was affixed to the countries in that neighbourhood.

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The result of M. Fleurieu's examination of modern researches, and comparison of them with the early accounts, tends to esta blish the reality of the old discoveries in the most material points; notwithstanding that the fabulous matter, with which they are interwoven, gives to the whole a very strong appear. In our review of Captain Vancouver's ance of invention. Voyage, we expressed a similar opinion. Indeed, the existence of a strait and of an archipelago of islands being proved, and nearly though not exactly in the situations represented, appears to us to be a circumstance of co-incidence so immediately to the point, that we cannot find reasonable groundfor refusing to believe that the old accounts were founded on actual discovery.

The editor takes occasion, in his account of the commercial expeditions to the Western coast of North America, to animadvert on some expressions in the published account of Captain Dixon's voyage, which seem to convey insinuations to the prejudice of M. de la Pérouse and his officers: but the character of M. de la Pérouse is too well known and established to require defence; and no part of his character or conduct was more conspicuous than his generous treatment, and not less than parental care, of his ship's company. Nevertheless, it would be unjust on that account to suffer any illiberal attack to pass without reprehension. In the French translation of that voyage, the passage is made more objectionable than in the original, by the words "They are said to have traced the North-west coast of America," &c. being rendered " Ils pretendent," &c. We shall extract the passage from the original.

They are said to have traced the north-west coast of America' from the Spanish settlement of Monterey to 60 degrees north latitude; but this seems rather improbable, for though these vessels were professedly fitted out on discovery, yet the commanders did not forget that furs were a valuable article, and accordingly, whilst on the American coast, they procured about 600 sea-otter skins, chiefly in pieces, of a very inferior quality, and evidently the same as those imported by the Spaniards; whereas had these gentlemen been well in with the coast to the northward, they undoubtedly must have met with sea-otter skins of a quality far superior to what they procured."

This passage is in many respects exceptionable, but chiefly for the liberty of censure in which the writer has indulged himself, on no better grounds than unexamined information and surmise.

The skins carried to China by M. de la Pérouse were of the finest quality; and though the greater part of them were old

*See Vol. xxvili. N. S. p.1. 141, 374

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