etymology of a word, without considering the import of the term, or the utility of its explanation; who, through vanity, seek praise from petty criticism, or attempt to build a reputa tion by discovering a few solitary errors.' Let such contemptible creatures bear in mind that the Baron de Montalembert recommends this Dictionary; and that the author himself describes the greatest good which will probably accrue from the perusal of his work (in language, the truth of which we are too polite to think of calling in question) when he says, as at page xxxvii. of his preface, that a little knowledge of surveying, a smattering of mathematics, a few words of French, and pretty drawings, may constitute a military coxcomb, but they never will make un officer.' Art. XI.-Eighteen Hundred and Thirteen: a Poem, in two Parts, by Mrs. Grant, of Laggan. Price 8s. Longman, Hurst, and Co. 1814. IT is impossible, we think, to read any one of Mrs. Grant's Pro ductions, without feeling that she is a perfectly amiable woman; a woman of that happy temper of mind, which sees every thing in its most favourable light, enjoys the present when it can, and, when it cannot, looks back to the past, or forward to the future, for something to enjoy. This opinion will certainly be confirmed by a perusal of the poem before us. It is in two Parts; the first containing a hasty narrative of the circumstances attending Buonaparte's downfal, from his expedition into Russia; the second lauding, without any great ambition of order, the happiness of Britain. The subject was good for an ode; but we are really afraid that Mrs. Grant will hardly have one reader who will not be inclined to say, This is too long.' There is a want of spirit and interest throughout the poem: not only is the whole tedious from its length, but particular passages, really well conceived, become vapid for want of compression. The following comparison between the painful sensations of a person recovering from a fainting fit, and those of the nations when partially awakened from their long and fatal lethargy, will fully substantiate the justice of our remark: As when, in sickly swoons, sensation fails, and results in reference to some points in the common and sublime geometry, to which we beg to solicit the most fixed attention of our mathematical readers. Circumference (for example) is a curve line, which goes round any perfect globular substance.' Calcul INTEGRAL. A calculation in arithmetic.' Of this description are multiplication and division, which reciprocally destroy each other, and are mutually proved.' Ellipsis, an oval figure made by the section of a cone, by a plane dividing both sides of a cone; and though not parallel to the base, yet meeting with the base produced.' 'Hydraulic, the name of a science.' Hydrostatic, the name of a science.' "Parabolic Pyramidoid is a solid figure generated by supposing all the squares of the ordinates, applicates in the parabola, so placed as that the axis shall pass through all their centres at right angles, in which case the aggregate of the planes will be arithmetically proportional.' Parabolic Spindle is a solid made by the relation of a semi-parabola about one of its ordinates.' Prime numbers, are those made only by addition, and not by multiplication, so that an unit only can measure it; as . . . . 4.' Prism, in geometry, a solid contained under several planes . . . the solid content of which consists of as many paralelograms as there are sides to its base, and which is crowned by a plane, which is equal and parallel to the base.' Right Sine, in geometry.... is half the chord, or twice the arc. Sine versed of an arc, in geometry, an arc or angle less than 90°, being that part of the diameter which is comprehended between the arc and the right line.' Square, a figure with angles and equal sides.' Squaring, in mathematics, signifies the making of a square equal to a circle.' The Trisection of an angle geometrically, is one of those great problems whose solution has been so much sought by mathematicians; being in this respect on a footing with the quadrature of the circle, and the duplicature of the cube angle.' Duplication of the Cube, the science or knowledge of powers or of moveable causes. In mathematics, action and reaction!!! The author of the work in which the above discoveries, and 'a thousand others equally ingenious, accurate, and useful, are exhibited for the benefit of military men, partakes of the contempt which all great geniuses feel for critics, He aptly cha'racterises them as 'persons, who though they themselves seldom or ever afford one particle of real wit or science, run erratic into a barren brilliancy of language.' For such wretches he does not condescend to write-No, no. His Dictionary is not intended for those waspish creatures, who will cavil at the mere etymology of a word, without considering the import of the term, or the utility of its explanation; who, through vanity, seek praise from petty criticism, or attempt to build a reputation by discovering a few solitary errors.' Let such contemptible creatures bear in mind that the Baron de Montalembert recommends this Dictionary; and that the author himself describes the greatest good which will probably accrue from the perusal of his work (in language, the truth of which we are too polite to think of calling in question) when he says, as at page xxxvii. of his preface, that a little knowledge of surveying, a smattering of mathematics, a few words of French, and pretty drawings, may constitute a military coxcomb, but they never will make an officer.' Art. XI.-Eighteen Hundred and Thirteen: a Poem, in two Parts, by Mrs. Grant, of Laggan. Price 8s. Longman, Hurst, and Co. 1814. IT is impossible, we think, to read any one of Mrs. Grant's Pro ductions, without feeling that she is a perfectly amiable woman; a woman of that happy temper of mind, which sees every thing in its most favourable light, enjoys the present when it can, and, when it cannot, looks back to the past, or forward to the future, for something to enjoy. This opinion will certainly be confirmed by a perusal of the poem before us. It is in two Parts; the first containing a hasty narrative of the circumstances attending Buonaparte's downfal, from his expedition into Russia; the second lauding, without any great ambition of order, the happiness of Britain. The subject was good for an ode; but we are really afraid that Mrs. Grant will hardly have one reader who will not be inclined to say, This is too long.' There is a want of spirit and interest throughout the poem: not only is the whole tedious from its length, but particular passages, really well conceived, become vapid for want of compression. The following comparison between the painful sensations of a person recovering from a fainting fit, and those of the nations when partially awakened from their long and fatal lethargy, will fully substantiate the justice of our remark : As when, in sickly swoons, sensation fails, Such horrors chill, such vapours cloud the brain, Till forms accustom'd chear the doubtful sight → With toilsome steps their anxious way they bend, Who headlong fall, and, struggling, re-ascend.' p. 20, 21. We meet with one or two sentiments in the poem, which we should hardly have expected from Mrs. Grant. Charles the XIIth., of Sweden, she calls, That generous prince, who knew no selfish aim, Whose guide was honour, and whose guerdon fame.' p. 15. 'No selfish aim!' And who was the god of Charles's idolatry, if self was not? No selfish aim!' Are we really to believe that Charles's object was the happiness of his people? that, to add the glory of a useless victory to his own name, he would not have sacrificed the comforts of half the Swedish nation? We are convinced that there is no man more thoroughly selfish than such a hero as Charles was. The virtuous monarch, and the heaven-taught bard, Thus Virgil sung to one distinguished throne, And Roman bays encircled that alone.' p. 19. Was Augustus another who knew no selfish aim? The style is sometimes prosaic and conversational. The heaviest punishment assign'd To sins of the most aggravated kind.' p. 36. (By far the richest in his diadem.') p. 62. There are some ingenuities too that we could have spared. The arm'd confederate kings Avoid his for-like wiles and tyger-springs. p. 21. Of Burke, she says, the Fertile fancy, with the lapse of time, Grew not less beautiful, and more sublime. p. 91. There are too many Alexandrines; indeed, in one place, we have a couplet of them: ، Like gracious Anna love, like great Eliza shine, And meek composure add to majesty divine.' p. 49. On the whole we should rather meet Mrs. Grant again in the plain field of prose. Is there no other lady of whom she can give us memoirs? has she no more letters from the mountains? or are there no more superstitions in her own dear Highlands to be enquired into? To any of these topics we shall be glad to welcome her back again. Art. XII.-Appel aux Souverains réunis à Paris, pour en obtenir l'abolition de la Traite des Negres. A Londres, de l'Imprimerie d'Ellerton et Henderson. 8vo. pp. 7. A FEW copies only of this well-timed and spirited appeal were printed, we understand, for private circulation, and were distributed at Paris. A copy having been sent to us, we hasten to lay its contents before our readers, principally with the view of calling their attention once more to a subject which, we hoped, might have been henceforth abandoned to the indignant pen of the historian-a record of shame, which posterity would peruse with astonishment and horror :-we trusted that it could never possibly become again a topic of cool discus sion, as connected with political interests. If any thing could heighten the enormity of an attempt to revive, in any form, or under any restrictions, this infernal traffic, it would be that this season of general deliverance and joy and hope should be chosen for the purpose; that the restoration of peace to Europe, next to liberty the greatest of national blessings, should be seized as the opportunity, and become, in a sense, the occasion of carrying devastation and slavery into other less favoured regions, by the very nation who is herself the most indebted for deliverance and peace, to the generosity of her conquerors;-or rather, who has been so manifestly and signally favoured by Divine Provi dence.' It is true that the Slave Trade has never been abolished by France: her late tyrant was consistent with himself, in encouraging it to the extent of his power; but without ships, colonies, or commerce, the favourite objects of his maddened ambition, he was unable to defeat the decree of England, by which it was abolished: so that this system of robbery and murder has been for many years practically extinct,'-during which period the legitimate commerce of Africa, which the revival of this inhuman traffic would expose to immediate injury and eventual destruction,' has materially increased and was rapidly augmenting to an extent which promised important advantages to both countries:' The conclusion which has been drawn is candid, and perhaps just; that the strong dispo 6 |