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514

Retrospect of German Literature.-Politics.

POLITICS.

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much as it abounds with excellent phi- "which leads to the highest degree of lofophical reflections, and is written in a "human happiness; a happiness, which correct and manly ftyle. If the ingeni- "confifts only in the dominion of ous profeffor continue the hiftory of all" reafon, in thinking justly, and acting other European ftates, with the fame "uprightly." degree of accurate difcrimination between facts and opinions, we venture to pronounce, that he will justly deferve the firft rank among modern hiftorians. As he has undertaken a very arduous and fatiguing task, we can only with him the neceffay portion of indefatigable induftry, which characterizes his native contemporaries, and we make no doubt but his labours will be crowned with fuccefs. -We cannot better conclude this department, than with "SCHILLER'S Hiftorico-genealogical Almanack, for the Year 1798," in which the hiftorical picture of Germany, on 288 pages, 12mo. is the principal and moft interefting article. The author is well known to the English reader by feveral dramatic pieces, which have been tranflated. and read with avidity, but particularly that of "The Robbers.' Within the compass of a few fheets, Schiller has furnifhed us, in a masterly manner, with "A Concife Hiftory of the Germans, from the Abdication of the Emperor Charles V. to the reign of Francis II; or, from the Reformation of Luther, and the fubfequent Foundation of religious Liberty in Germany, down to the prefent Time, when the Critical Philofophy begins to manifeft its Influence, and to develope as well as to fpread progreffively the Confequences of that Revolution in Church and State i. .e. from the year 1556 to 1797." KANT, the profeffed founder of the Critical Sy tem, naturally finds a warm panegyrift in our hiftorian; and, in order to give a fhort fpecimen of Schiller's didactick mode of writing, we fhall faithfully tranflate the concluding lines of this hiftorical sketch: "The Germans," fays he, muft now endeavour to fa

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tisfy the loud and univerfal wishes for "ameliorating the abject condition of "the lower claffes of fociety; to banish the immoral practices carried on in "the political departments of their "country; to conciliate that opprobrious and increafing conteft between the "civil and religious eftablishments with "the fpirit of the times, and the pre"vailing opinions and wishes of nations "to act and to be treated confiftently "with the more correct notions and

ideas of things they have acquired. "Thus only will they pave the way

It can scarcely be expected, that in a country, where the political interefts of fo great a variety of fovereign states are not cemented by one common tie, there fhould appear many impartial difquifitions. By far the greater number of books, published on the fubject of politics, in Germany, are translations from the French or Englifh, not unfrequently accompanied with notes and commentaries. This circumftance, however, affords no proof, that the Germans poffefs no political talents, nor, that they have no original writers in this favourite branch of English literature. We have already mentioned the names of Schlözer, and Schiller, in the preceding article, to which we might add a long lift of others, if we were not limited in our plan. We muft content ourselves with mentioning one or two publications, that have lately appeared in this department. Mr. GENZ, a gentleman in a high station at the court of Berlin, prefented the new king of Pruffia, Frederic William III. on the day of his afcenfion to the throne (November 16th, 1797), with a very spirited addrefs, which is now printed, and which, though it filis only 26 pages, octavo, is replete with the moft curious and interefting matter, fuch as was, perhaps, never before exhibited to the view of an abfolute monarch, by a private individual. It is confidently reported, that the young king received this truly patriotic advice of Mr. Genz with marks of fatisfaction, and has not only munificently rewarded him, but has actually adopted the principal fuggeftions of this modern Theophron. It is impoffible to abridge the important truths conveyed in these few pages, which are already fo much condensed; but we shall gratify our readers with the perufal of one paffage only, relative to the liberry of the prefs, and which we deem wor thy of being tranflated. "Of all ob"jects," fays Mr. G. " that groan "under the deteftable weight of fet"ters, none are more oppreffed by it "than the opinions of man. This fpe"cies of oppreffion is not merely per"nicious, because it prevents the good, "but alfo, because it immediately pro"mötes the bad. Without attending to " any other argument, there is one ef

"fential

Vol. V.] Retrofpect of German Literature.Biography, &c. 515

fential circumftance, which exclufively "and peremptorily condemns every law "impofing reftrictions on the prefs; and "this circumftance is indifputable, name-, ly, that fuch a law cannot be main"tained, or, in other words, that it may "be easily evaded. The facility of cir"culating ideas among the public is fo great, that restrictions of this kind are "turned into ridicule. And though "fuch laws be ineffectual, they are, ne"vertheless, calculated to produce animofities; and this is the moft mifchievous part of them, that they are apt to "irritate the very clafs of men, against "whom they are directed, and to ftimulate "them to a refistance, which frequently is "not only fuccessful, but is likewife confidered as meritorious. The moft wretch"ed productions, which, on account of "their intrinfic merit, could not expect to live two hours, make their way "with the public, becaufe à fort of rage, "or fatality, feems to be connected with their origin. The only antidotes, the "productions of better writers, lofe their "effect, becaufe the ignorant are but "too prone to confound him who fpeaks of limitation, with him who approves "of what is unjuft; hence, fire, let the "liberty of the prefs be the unalterable "principle of your government! Never will this fyftem fofter dangers in a "well-regulated ftate, never has this "fyftem proved dangerous to fuch a ftate: for, in thofe countries where it "has become deftructive, destruction had "already preceded, and the voracious "infects were generated only beneath "the mouldering ruins."-Dr. DORN's fmall, but claffical, work, intitled, "Re flections on Luxury, the Taxations of Luxury, and their Objects, principally in a Political and Statistical View," deferves to be read by every financier, particularly in those countries, where the objects of taxation must be occafionally fifted, as they become nearly exhaufted; or, perhaos, from the lamentable circumftance, that the premiers of fuch devoted countries are equally obftinate in their ruinous plans, and unacquainted with real life. The author has taken a comprehenfive view of this fubject, and premifes his profound and juft obfervations with the following definition of luxury: "It confifts," fays he, " in the confumption of "things, which aim at fuch a degree of conveniency and enjoyment of life, as "may be difpenfed with in our indi "vidual fituation, without detriment ་ to our phyfical, civil, and intellectual

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Although the Germans poffefs, perhaps, a greater number of individual defcriptions of the lives of eminent men; yet in collections and biographical dictionaries the English have obviously the advantage. Among the few publications of the latter kind, we take notice of a "Collection of Pictures, representing learned Men and Artifts (of Germany), together with fhort Accounts of their Lives." Of this publication the nineteenth and twentieth numbers have lately appeared: the plates are well executed; and the biographies, though rather too concife, are well and impartially writ ten. Among the variety of other "Lives" poured forth by the German prefs, we fhall mention only that of John Henry Tifchbein, formerly countellor ard aulic painter to the landgrave of Heffe Caffel. His life, which is here defcribed by Prof. ENGELSCHALL, of Marpurg, is uncommonly inftructive and important, in as much as it exhibits the fubject in his double capacity, as a man and an artift. There is further annexed to this life, a Lecture in Commemoration of Tischbein, read in the Society of Antiquaries at Caffel, in April, 1790, by Counfellor and Profeffor Cafparfon." In this, the merits of the deceased are duly appreciated; and we meet with many valuable remarks, which may be read, with equal fatisfaction, by every lover of the arts, as well as by future biographers.

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GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY. In thefe branches the accuracy and induftry of the Germans is univerfally acknowledged. Since the days of BüSCHING, the names of FORSTER, FABRI, KLÜGEL, ZACH, and EBELING, ftand foremoft among modern geographers. As an elementary book there has appeared lately, "An Introduction to Mathematical and Physical Geography, Parṛ I, with two Maps by STOTZMANN, and two Plates, 145 pp. large quarto, Ber lin, 1797" (without the author's name). This elegant and accurate work is chiefly defigned for the ufe of young people, and females in particular, who are not in a fituation, in which they can acquire a profound knowledge in phyfics and mathe matics. We mult only regret, that the 3 U 2 anonymous

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516

Retrofpect of German Literature.-Natural History:

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anonymous author has copied the physical with accuracy all the genera of plants,
defcription of the globe, verbatim, from
Profeffor KLÜGEL's valuable Encyclopedia,
without acknowledging the fource from
which he has taken it. PLESMANN'S
"Manual of a general Physical Geo-
graphy, for the Ufe of Schools and Aca-
demies." is likewife, upon the whole, a
good compilation, though we meet with
feveral inaccuracies. particularly in the
geognoftical part of it. "The New
Picture of Vienna," lately published by
an anonymous author, affords the beft
and most correct view of this metropolis,
fince the "Sketches," by PEZZL, ap-
peared, in the reign of Jofeph II. The
moft interefting, as well as the most com-
prehenfive, of all geographical works
now carried on in Europe, however, is
the "General Geographical Epheme-
rides," compofed by a fociety of men of
letters, and edited by F. von ZACH,
major in the fervice of the duke of Saxe-
Gotha, and director of the ducal obfer-
vatory at Seeberg, near Gotha. The
profeffed aim of this work is, "to ferve
as a repofitory for the aftronomical obfer-
vations and difcoveries made in all coun-
tries, and thus to form a point of union be-
tween all the aftronomers and obfervatories
in Europe." Of thefe Ephemerides' a
number has appeared every month, fince
the ft of January, 1798, illuftrated occa-
fiona ly with maps and as Mr. v. Z. is
one of the first aftronomers of the age, a
man of profound kill and indefatigable
induftry, a man who is already connected
with the most diftinguished geographers
of Europe, the public may reasonably ex-
pect to find, in this publication, one of
the greatest defiderata happily accom-
plished*.

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NATURAL HISTORY

has lately received many valuable accef-
fions from the German prefs. T. M.
BECHSTEIN'S concife and popular
Natural Hiftory of foreign and native
Plants, in two large Volumes Octavo,
forming together 1316 pages, is an ex-
cellent work, and well adapted to. ferve
as a school-book and for private study, and
to facilitate the acquifition of other sciences.
The author has introduced whatever
is important and remarkable in the ve-
getable kingdom; he has enumerated

The readers of the Monthly Magazine
will be carefully prefented with every new and
interesting fact contained in Mr. ZACH's valu-
able journal. The letters refpecting the Afri-
can traveller, Hornemann, contained in our laft
number, were derived from this fource.

The

at the end of every clafs, and has pro
vided the whole work with an ufeful,
fyftematic, and an alphabetical index
JACOB STURM's "Flora Germanica, ex-
hibited in Pictures drawn from Nature,
with Defcriptions: II. Part. Numb. 1.
contains the Clafs Cryptogamia, in fix-
teen coloured Plates, Octavo, and an
equal Number of Leaves of Letter-prefs."
Fidelity in the defcription, accuracy in
the delineation, and neatnefs in the exe-
cution of coloured plants, have, perhaps,
never before been united in fo eminent
a degree as we find them in this elegant
publication. A. W. ROTH'S "Remarks
on the Study of the aquatic Plants of the
Clafs Cryptogamia," alfo deferves to be
mentioned with praise, as it contains
many ingenious and original hints. One
of the most accurate, as well as moft in-
ftru&ive, publications on botany is CHRIS-
TIAN SCHKUHR's "Botanical Manual,"
of which we have feen the 20th number,
containing from the 253d to the 284th
plates octavo, concluding the third vo
lume, that begins with the genera of the
18th clafs, Polyadelphia, and extends as
far as the Polygamia neceffaria.
author is one of the most celebrated art-
ifts in Germany, and holds a high rank like-
wife as a botanical obferver. We are indebt-
ed to him for many found critical re-
marks, with which he has greatly en-
hanced the value of this extenfive publi-
cation. Another work, equally useful,
though of lefs magnitude, is "The Bota
nical Dictionary, or an Attempt to ex-
plain the principal Ideas and technical
Terms in Botany," by Dr. M. B. BORK
HAUSEN, in two volumes octavo.
fhort history of botany given in the fe-
cond volume, is well calculrated to ini
tiate the young tyro in the study of that
fcience ; and throughout the whole
work, the author fhews, by his original
remarks on the phyfiology of plants, that
he has not merely compiled, but well di-
gefted his materials. "The Annals of
Botany," by Dr. PAULUS USTERI, of
which the 21st and 22d numbers (or the
15th and 16th numbers of the new fe-
ries) have lately appeared, and are en-
riched with feveral fine plates. In this
collection of botanical effays the author
communicates his own obfervations, as
well as thofe of his friends, with a view
of improving the Linnæan fyftem. Ma-
ny of the late difcoveries in that science,
particularly fome made by HAYNE,
SAVI, ROTH, HOSE, WILDENOW,
CAVANILLES, RAMOND, DESFON-

The

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Vol. V.] Retrospect of German Literature,-Natural Philofophy. 517

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This is one of the favorite purfaits of the Germans, and it is uniformly allowed that, in phyfics, they are fecond to none: we shall mention a few of their latest publications. "The Outlines of Natural Philofophy," by Dr. D. L. BOURGUET, prof. of chemistry, in the roval Medico-chirurgical College at Berlin, 326 pp. octavo, with two plates (1798), is a very excellent compendium for ftudents. And though the author does not throughout claim the merit of originality, as he has chiefly followed the principles of GREN and KLÜGEL, two naturalifts of the first rank; yet, upon the whole, his book is one of the best and concifeft on that fubject. Another work of a fimilar nature, is, "The Elements of experimental Philofophy, sketched in its chemical Department, according to the modern Theory, and defigned for a Guide to academical Lectures, as well as for the Ufe of Schools," by J. G. F. SCHRADER, Dr. and Prof. of Philofophy at Kiel, 18 fheets, with 66 cuts printed on the paper with the letter-prefs. In this useful compilation, too, the editor has chofen GREN and LICHTENBERG as his guides; but, with respect to the external form, and the internal arrangement of the work, Dr. S. appears to have adopted ACHARD'S elementary book on the fame fubject, as his model. Although we cannot pronounce this fmall book altogether free from errors and inaccuracies, it ftill remains one of the most inftructive, and unqueftionably the cheapest book of the kind. The Pocket-book for the Use of Chemifts and Apothecaries, for the Year 1798, pp. 212. with a plate," continues to furnish a felect variety of chemical and pharmaceutical treatifes, as well as the latest discoveries made in thefe fciences. It may, perhaps, not be known to every English reader, that the prefent already is the 19th continuation of this Pocket-book,' which is edited by the celebrated Mr. GÖTTLING, prof. of chemistry at Iena.

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ASTRONOMY

has been cultivated among the Germans with uncommon industry and fuccefs. Since the days of COPERNICUS and GALILEO, this has been one of the mo fashionable purfuits. on the contineat, and particularly in Germany, where, at a very early period it affumed a fyftematic form. It is with pleasure we find the indefatigable BODE, aftronomer to the king of Pruffia, continuing his " Collection of aftronomical Effays, Obfervations, and Accounts, being the third fupplementary Volume to his Atronomical Annals.** This volume is chiefly indebted for its rich materials to the learned major v. ZACH, who has furnished the editor with the greater number of the facts here ftated; for among the twenty-five articles contained in this continuation, twenty of them are communicated by that gentleman. We must further an nounce the appearance of Mr. BODE'S "Aftronomical Annals for the Year 1800; together with a Colection of the latest Treatifes, Obfervations, and Accounts, relative to the aftronomical Sciences." As the merits of this author, and especially his incomparable accuracy, are fully established and acknowledged by all the literati of the age, it is needless to enlarge upon them in this place. We, however, think it our duty to remark, that Mr. B. would be not a little puzzled at the queft ons lately agitated in certain literary circles in this country, refpecting the beginning of the nineteenth century!!! To thofe curious gentlemen, therefore, who are in good earnest, refpecting this frivolous problem, we muft refer Mr. B.'s Aftronomical Almanack, which, it is to be hoped, will dif tintly explain to them, that the nineteenth century cannot begin before the eighteenth is actually expired, i. e. after the laft hour of the 31st of December, 1800; or with the first hour of the it of January, 1801. Another work of original merit, or at least a new edition of it, is IMMANUEL KANT'S " General History of Nature, and Theory of the Heavens; or, an Effy on the Conftitu. tion and mechanical Origin of the Fabric of the World, according to the Principles of Newton." The first edition of this profound work appeared at Königsberg, in 1755; but as it has of late years become fcarce, the author was prevailed upon to revise the work himfelf, and to prefent the public with a corrected edition. The rank which K. holds among the philofophers of the pre

fent

518

Retrofpect of German Literature.-Arts, &c.

fent day, and his mode of reafoning on fubjects of the first importance, are already known in this country, by two different publications, which have lately appeared on the elements of the critical philofophy.

ARTS AND MANUFACTURES.

It cannot be faid with juftice, that the Germans excel either the French or the English, in this profitable department; but if they are deficient in the practical part of technok gy. their method of writing on fubjects of the arts and manufactures certainly is more fyftematic than in other countries, where human ingenuity tends to perfectionate the practice, rather than the theory, of the arts The latest and most important work in this branch of knowledge is "The Commercial Encyclopedia, or a complete Manual of Trade and Commerce, reduced to a fyftematic Order," by G. H. BUSE. The first part of this work, which only appeared in May laft, contains a fyftematic arrangement of all articles of merchandife, accompanied with their chemical tefts or criteria, which are pointed out and defcribed in the plaineft manner by one of the first German chemifts, Prof. TROMMSDORF. We wish for a ipeedy continuation of this valuable work, which, on account of its general, utility, Lyftematic arrangement, and concifenefs, furpaffes every work of the kind hitherto published. Another work, not unlike the English Repertory of the Arts and Manufactures, but on a more extenfive plan, is "J.G. GEISLER'S Defcription and Hiftory of the principal Inftruments and Machines of the most recent Invention, and their mechanical Application explained upon fcientific Principles; for the Ufe of Artifts and Amateurs." Part VIII. we find, befides many other curious articles, a defcription of WIESENMANN's failing windmill, and a well written view of the labours of Meffrs. BLAKE, COOKE, FRANÇOIS, THOMSON, MAURA, and FITZGERALD, on the fubject of steam and steamengines. The editor concludes this volume with an account of a new invented reel, by Mr. PRASSEN, and an interefting examination of atronomical rings, by COUNT DE BRÜHL. A work chiefly defigned for the ule of fchools, and the amulemen of dilettanti, is The Conjuror's Mechanifm, or a Defcription of mechanical Amufements, with the

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Apparatus belonging thereto, by J. C. GüTLE." It is well calculated to afford amufement, and to ftimulate beginners to the farther profecution of the ftudy of mechanics. The new Mifcellany on Subjects of the Arts, &c. being a Con, tinuation of the new Mufeum for Artifts, by J. G. MEUSEL. The eight numbers, which have appeared of the new feries, are no lefs interefting to the man of letters, than they are inftructive to the practical artift. "The Correfpondence relative to the Arts, between C. L. v. HAGEDORN and his friends, publifhed by T. BADEN, Prof. in Kiel, &c." contain valuable ftrictures on painting, and an impartial examination of many pictures belonging to the gallery of the late Mr. H. His letters are replete with found remarks on every species of painting; and his ftyle evinces the paffionate lover of the arts. The characters here exhibited, of feveral painters of eminence, deferve to be read and ftudied by every friend of the arts, particularly thofe of BOTH, BEICH, l'ORIENT, QUERFURT, NICH. BERCHEM, MIERIS, F. MILET, OESER, and CARREE. "The Directory (Addrefs-Lexicon) of the Manufactories of Germany, and fome neighbouring countries; or a Lift of the Manufacturers in thofe Countries, their Productions, and the Fairs which they frequent," is a work of general utility, and the first attempt of the kind in Germany. As the goods and articles of trade are alphabe, tically arranged, and accompanied with concife explanations relative to the value and quality of merchandife, this Directory' is peculiarly calculated to inftruct the young beginner, as well as the experienced merchant.

MATHEMATICS.

Mathematical learning is by no means neglected in Germany; the names of Wolf, Leibnitz, and Bernoulli, have been honoured among modern mathematicians. As a proof of our affertion, we will quore G. VEGA'S " 'Loga. rithmical and Trigonometrical Tables, together with other Tables and Exemplifications, adapted to Practical Mathe matics," two volumes quarto. cannot enter into particulars, fuffice it to fay that there is no publication extant, in any language or country, which contains fuch a treasure of mathematical know. ledge as he prefent, particularly in the article of Integration' We are happy to obferve. that the pious wifh of l'HUI

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* We refer to the works of Mr. NITSCH IE, for a concentrated view of this and Dr. WILLICH. fubject (fee his Princip. Calc. Diff.

etc.

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