Omnium facile princeps cujus in moribus erat moderatio animi Multa gravitati comitas suaviter adspersa concinnum orbe verborum reconditæ exquisitæque sententiæ et in monumentis rerum politicarum observandis vixit annos LVI mens. VII dies XXVIII MDCCLXXXXIV et in hoc mausoleo sepultus est qui amico bene merenti et convictori humanissimo If we were called upon to remark the character of English style prevalent at the present moment, as distinguished from that adopted by Mr. Gibbon, it might easily, we think, be proved, that a simpler and chaster form of diction is now in use amongst the approved writers of the time, than that which was most the object of admiration, when the volumes of his miscellaneous works first issued from the press. It is not, however, to be supposed, that in the space of twenty years, such a reformation in taste can have taken place as to render the Essays and compositions now laid before the public, much less attractive than formerly; and if in the substance of the new materials there be displayed the same indefatigable industry,' the same scrupulous accuracy,' as that exerted by him on other occasions, it cannot justly be made a cause of complaint, that his general cast of sentiment, and the main fabric of his opinions, remain unaltered. We, in the new matter, trace the old man; but we feel ourselves justified in saying, that if the faults attributable to the pictures of this great Historic Master are visible in the subjects now exhibited, so certainly, in proportion to the relative extent of the designs, are discovered his former acknowledged excellencies. In an advertisement prefixed to this edition, the noble Editor states his endeavour to class the several Essays and Compositions under three heads. 1. HISTORICAL and CRITICAL. Under the first head will be found, in addition to the tracts before published, « A Memoir upon the Empire of the Medes" "A Discussion upon the chief Epochs in the History of Greece. and Egypt, according to the Chronological system of Sir Isaac Newton, compared with the ordinary Chronology."-" A sort of Abstract of the three Memoirs written by the Abbé de la Bleterie, upon the mode of succession, by which the Imperial power passed from one Emperor to another; which the Abbé contends was elective, and at length, after the abolition of the Comitiæ, settled wholly in the Senate."-" Critical Remarks upon the Population of the Sybarites." - And an "Essay upon the feudal Government, particularly with respect to France." These are written in French, as are also three smaller articles, viz. an account of the nuptials of Charles Duke of Burgundy with the Princess Margaret, sister of Edward the Fourth, King of England - an Introduction to the General History of the Swiss Republic-and Remarks upon Horace Walpole's Historic Doubts relative to the life and reign of Richard the Third; the latter article was written for the "Memoires Litteraires de la Grande Bretagne pour l'an 1768," a periodical work, edited by his friend M. Deyverdun. "Materials for an additional section on the Antiquities of the House of Brunswick," (in English) connected, where Mr. Gibbon's manuscript ceases, with Mr. Butler's very able Succinct History of the Geographical and Political Revolutions of the Empire of Charlemagne, from 814 to 1806,' form the last addition under this head. Under the second Division will be found an Essay on the character of Brutus-a Tract on the Classical Geography of ancient Italy-Remarks upon the works and character of Sallust: of Julius Cæsar: of Cornelius Nepos: and of Livy: Critical Remarks upon a passage in the Pœnulus of Plautus, and upon some lines in the Georgics of Virgil. Under the third, or Miscellaneous head, are inserted, Remarks upon Jewish, Assyrian, and Persian Chronology, being a critique on "Les Memoires Posthumes de M. de Cheseaux." Observations on some Prodigies recounted in Suetonius; and on the Sacerdotal Dignities of Julius Cæsar. A Dissertation on the Weight, Monies, and Measures, of the Ancients, &c. of the Lower Empire down to the Capture of Constantinople, &c. ; on the Position of the Meridional Line; and an Enquiry into the supposed Circumnavigation of Africa by the Ancients, and its singular coincidence with the opinions of the learned Dr. Vincent, delivered in his Periplus of the Erythræan Sea, is observed with just satisfaction. Mr. Gibbon's MS. upon this subject was communicated to the Dean of Westminster only in October last. An Index Expurgatorius, with copious Selections from Mr. G.'s Extraits Raisonnés de mes Lectures-Recueil de mes Observations et Pieces detachées-and lastly, an Explanatory Supplement, by Mr. Pinkerton, to the Address of Mr. Gibbon, recommending a publication of the Scriptores Rerum Anglicarum, the Latin Memorialists of the middle ages, &c. conclude the collection. Such are the Contents of the additional pages now laid before the world in this new edition of the Miscellaneous works of Gibbon. The "Memoir of my Life and writings," with the rest of the original matter contained in the first edition of 1795, has, as far as we have remarked, undergone no alteration. The series of Letters, however, upon which it is our intention to make a few observations, before we direct the attention of our readers to the more elaborate parts of the work, is enlarged by a number little short of sixty. The second volume, indeed, of the present five, consists of Letters only, arranged according to the time of their being written, and of which those that have not before been published, are the epistles of correspondents, rather than of Mr. Gibbon himself. The readers of literary history will necessarily bear in mind his early attachment to Madlle. Curchod, afterwards the wife of Necker; it is observable, in the course of human affairs, that the purest, though unimpassioned friendship, is often found to subsist in maturer age, betwixt persons of different sexes, whom prudence, and the casualties of fortune, have prevented from marrying according to their early and mutual inclination of this tenderness, it does not appear, from their respective situations, that either the historian or Mad. Necker stood in need; but there is a frankness of esteem shown in the letters of that lady, a little tinged with the peculiarity of French literary compliment, which is decisive of the lady's respect for the character of her former admirer. That J. J. Rousseau, at fifty-one, could but ill understand the calculating, though filial obedience, which actuated the philosopher of twentysix, may be easily believed. The historian enters in his Journal in June Saw Mademoiselle Curchod;" and adds, (as a memorandum) Omnia vincit amor et nos cedamus amori.' In the April following he quits Lausanne for England - and passion slept. It is not probable that such a love should have been regarded without suspicion by him, whom the eloquent daughter of the lady in question describes as a man becoming enamoured, in consequence of his own meditations; to whom it has perhaps happened to fall in love gradually with a woman, by dwelling on the idea of her during her absence, who discovered no sudden emotion, but whose feelings grew into intensity upon long reflection. Rousseau himself relates a boyish attachment at twelve years of age of his own; and tells his readers, (there are few whom his genius has not beguiled into reading him) that twenty years afterwards, sailing with his father upon the lake of their native city, he inquired who were those ladies whom he saw in a boat ap proaching their own; when informed that it was his early flame, his heart sunk within him at the almost forgotten name, and unable to sustain the meeting, he directed his boatman to take another course, that he might avoid the encounter. Twenty years after this he records the circumstance. Although we do not therefore believe that Gibbon would at any time have died of love, yet we cannot but feel that he had reason to complain of some injustice, when spoken of as a man to be despised for leaving even Susan Curchod. The letters of the lady herself form no inconsiderable part of the volume of which we are now speaking, and certainly express, in strong terms, the esteem felt both by Mr. Necker and herself, for the talents and moral qualities of the friend whom she is addressing. No. CCXXXVII. "A Geneve, ce 30 Mars, 1792. « ***** Je finis, Monsieur, en vous rappellant trois promesses: la lecture des opinions religieuses, car si elle ne change pas les vôtres, vous vivrez du moins encore plus intimément avec nous: vous jugerez du génie, de l'eloquence, et des sentimens de Monsieur Necker; et Yous jugerez aussi de l'impression que j'en recevois. Je connois trop la superiorité et l'universalité de votre esprit, pour vous croire étranger aux plus grandes questions que les hommes se soient jamais proposées; ce n'est pas vous qui traiterez légerement les profondeurs de nos destinées; ce n'est pas vous qui traiterez légerement les affections les plus douces, les plus propres à consoler deux ames etroitement unies, qui ne peuvent plus retenir le tems prêt à s'échapper pour elles, et qui le suivent, et se suivent jusques dans les abîmes de l'eternité, et vous donnerez quelques larmes au passage qui exprime ce sentiment avec des couleurs inimitables.". No. CCLV. M. NECKER à M. GIBBON. "Rolle, Mars 19, 1793.. "Nous comptons, Monsieur, quitter Rolle vers la fin du mois. La santé de Madame Necker la rend impatiente de changer d'air, et nous irons plus ou moins long tems nous établir à Copet. Nous avons toujours en perspective d'aller passer quelques jours avec vous, et nous prendrons le moment ou nos idées sur l'avenir seront plus arrêtées. Peut-être aurions nous le plaisir de vous recevoir auparavant; il y auroit bien de la grace à vous a en user ainsi. On a toujours plus besoin d'un ami tel que vous. Il nous en coûte véritablement de renvoyer a un autre moment le plaisir que nous nous proposions, mais nous l'aurons sans cesse en perspective, et je laisserai alors à Madame Necker la satisfaction de vous l'annoncer. Je lui ai promis, foi de votre raison, de votre indulgence, et de votre amitié, que vous approuverez ce petit derangement; et que vous ne serez pas moins disposé à nous recevoir avec bonté dans un autre moment.". Amongst the new matter of this edition, next in number to the letters of the Neckers, are those of Horace Walpole, some of which however, we rather suspect to have before appeared in the correspondence of the latter gentleman. The following by Garrick, giving Lord Camden's opinion of the first volume of the "Decline and Fall," strikes us as characteristical. No. LXXIII. DAVID GARRICK, Esq. to Mr. GIBBON. "Dear Sir, Adelphi, March 9th, 1776. Whenever I am truly pleased I must communicate my joy. Lord Camden called upon me this morning; and before Cumberland, declared, that he never read a more admirable performance than Mr. Gibbon's History &c. He was in transport, and so was I; the author is the only man to write history of the age; such depth, such perspicuity, and such language, force, variety, and what not! I am so delighted with him,' continued he, that I must write to thank him; I should be happy to know him.' My lord, I have that honour; and will contrive, if possible, to bring you together.' Said I too much?-My coach is at the door-my wife bawling for me, and every thing impatient. So hey for Hampton, till Monday; and in the mean time, as I am always most truly, 6 Your most obedient and obliged I have not a moment to read over this scrawl." D. GARRICK. It is not our wish, nor can it be our duty under the present head, to pass our judgment upon that part of the miscellaneous works which has before been given to the Public; on that which is new, however, whether it be from the pen of the Historian, of the correspondents of the Historian, or of the noble Editor himself, we certainly think ourselves justified in commenting. There appeared in the English Review, for the year 1788, some strictures upon parts of the "History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," written, and afterwards collected and published separately, by the Rev. John Whitaker. Lord Sheffield states, in a Note to the "Memoirs of the Life and Writings," (p. 243, vol. I.) that several very amicable letters from the Rev. Mr. Whitaker, addressed to Mr. Gibbon, are still in his possession, the date of which letters are subsequent to Mr. Whitaker's perusal of the offensive Fifteenth and Sixteenth Chapters. When Mr. Gibbon came to England in 1787 he read Whitaker's Mary, Queen of Scots; and I have heard him very incautiously express his opinion of it. .Some good-natured friend mentioned it to Mr. Whitaker;' and it is thence more than insinuated, that the bitterness |