The ensuing conversation is described as having passed in the Directory:

At the discussion which was held, to determine on what footing that country (i. e. Holland) should be placed in the treaty then negotiating at Lisle with Lord Malmesbury, Reubel made a violent ha rangue against the Batavian natio.. He said, they were all Stadtholderians, and had constantly betrayed us. They were a nation of merchants, whose interests were centered in England, whose wishes were in favour of the English, who were only watching for an opportunity to surrender themselves to the English, into whose hands Admiral T. Lucas had recently delivered his fleet at the Cape of Good Hope. Every thing that Holland had to gain in prosperity and in riches, it was evident, could only be at the expence of France, and to the advantage of England. In short, there was but one line of conduct to pursue with regard to Holland- TO KEEP HER IN THE

MOST ABSOLUTE DEPENDENCE-TO SUBJECT HER TO A PASSIVE OBEDIENCE AND TO TREAT HER AS A CONQUERED COUNTRY!!!'

"If this be so," said I," we are very unwise to continue the war merely for the restoration of their colonics; or, when our own are of fered us, to exhaust the remains of our marine in vain efforts to serve so ungrateful a nation. I am of opinion that Holland should be asked, what sacrifices she is willing to make to obtain peace?"

"But do you imagine," replied Reubel, "that it is for Holland that I would demand the restitution of the Cape and Trincomalé ? The first object is that of recovering the possession of them, for which purpose, the Dutch must furnish the ships and the money, and afterwards I will clearly convince them that these colonies belong to us!!!".

The following (not very circumstantial) account is given of the escape of Carnot from the fury of his colleagues:

A body of assassins had been posted at a back gate of my garden, whom the guard of the Directory, by my orders, commanded to retire, and they obeyed when they found that they were discovered. A few minutes previous to the departure of the detachment, who were appointed to arrest me, an aid de camp was dispatched to know if I was still at my house; where I certainly was, and quitted it but at the moment when the guard entered the apartments. The Luxembourg was, as it were, invested by a large body of troops, supported by artillery; but I deceived the vigilance of the assassins, by availing myself of a secret passage of which they were ignorant. I heard the discharge of the alarm gun, just as I had shut the last door through which I was to pass; and, with a pistol in each hand, I wandered for three hours about the city, and took my way through bye streets, in order to avoid the detachments of soldiers which had been augmented on that occasion, and that I might, at length, reach the asylum where Ified for safety. Reubel could not express the violence of his anger at the officer who carried the order of arrest; and Barras was so inconceivably base, as to accompany the soldiers who were ordered to seize the feeble Barthelemy.

On the 19th, when the council excepted from the proscription certain representatives, and among others Doulcet, the Directory addressed

addressed a very insolent message to the Council on that occasion, who, recovered from its first impressions of terror, refused to change its determination. This message is well known. It was then the opinion of Réveillère, that Doulcet should be assassinated. To say the truth, give that man but an opportunity to do any thing, and he will soon find the means of doing it.'

Whether the Directory be capable of the intentions here ascribed to them, is not the question: but it is remarkable that, from the foregoing extract, M. Carnot appears, after his expulsion and escape, to have continued still to be acquainted with what passed in the Directory.

Capt. B....y.

Art. 49. A Translation of Passages from Greek, Latin, Italian, and French Writers, quoted in the Prefaces and Notes to "The Pursuits of Literature; a Poem in Four Dialogues." To which is prefixed, a Prefatory Epistle, intended as a general Vindication of the Pursuits of Literature, from various Remarks which have been made upon that Work. By the Translator, 8vo. 3s. 6d. Boards. Becket. 1798.

The writer, editor, or author of this miscellaneous volume offers it to the public, not as the production of that inscrutable pen to which they are so much obliged for "The Pursuits of Literature," but as coming from the volunteer hand of a friend.-A man of genius will always find or can easily make friends, at pleasure.

It matters little, however, who is the proper author of such a book as that which now claims our attention. Suffice it that a work of the kind was wanted, and that here it is.-Its purpose is to illustrate a poet whom all men read, whom many approve, and whom still more admire. Inthe number of readers, of which these classes are composed, it may be very reasonably concluded that there are not a few to whom a translation of the numerous citations from works, which are familiarly known to those only who are conversant with the classical and foreign languages, must undoubtedly be very acceptable; and for their use the work is professedly published.-Let the editor, or translator, or whatever title best pleaseth his ear, explain, in his own words, his inducement to this undertaking: we quote from his Prefatory Epistle;' addressed to L. B, Esq.

I have been informed that repeated requests have been made to the publisher of "the Pursuits of Literature," for a translation of the passages from various languages quoted in the notes to that poem. I wish the author had translated them himself; but as that cannot be the case, I have, at your immediate desire, endeavoured to give you some idea of their force and full meaning. As you are of opinion that my attempt will not be disagreeable or unsatisfactory to many persons who are not peculiarly conversant in Greek and Latin, I have consented to print and publish them.'

As to this Prefatory Epistle,' its main design is to give (as the title-page expresses) a general defence of the Pursuits, &c. against the various attacks which have been made on that celebrated poem, by hostile critics and rival poets; and this purpose the author of the Kk 2

epistle

epistle has accomplished with all the warmth, not to say the partiality, of the most intimate friendship.

Among the opponents of the poem here defended, the attention of the Epistolary Critic is chiefly employed on a performance entitled "The Progress of Satire, an Essay in Verse;" a work of more desert than is here allowed to it; for it is treated as possessing very little merit indeed! In opposition, however, to the present writer's opinion, some of his readers, perhaps, may quote his own conduct ; since he has vouchsafed to devote many-many pages to a laboured and severe castigation of this despised adversary!-These numerous pages, however, are enlivened by a variety of miscellaneous strictures and excursive remarks; similar, in manner, (we avoid particulars,) to the general tenor of the Prefaces to the several editions of the PURSUITS, &c. with the perusal of which we have been successively amused; as we likewise have been, in no small degree, with the contents of the present supplemental volume.

Art. 50. Supplement to the Progress of Satire, containing Remarks on the Pursuer of Literature's Defence. Svo. IS. Bell. 1799. The Prefatory Epistle mentioned in the preceding Article has given birth to this Reply, from the author of the Progress of Satire; who, as it appears, not feeling himself totally vanquished by the Pursuer,' as he terms his opponent, [in return perhaps for that gentleman's having called him the Progressionist, here renews the combat.Among the literary kicks and cuffs which he aims at his powerful adversary, there seem to be some "good hits ;" particularly when he remarks on what the Pursuer has suggested respecting the danger which the celebrated satirist apprehends from the countenance given by us to the French emigrant clergy. He likewise warmly reprobates the censure which the Pursuer has so harshly cast on Dr. Warton, on account of his edition of Pope's work. Many, indeed, are of opinion that the venerable editor has not been altogether candidly treated on this occasion; nor, in every respect, according to the true principles of criticism respecting the duty of an editor.

FAST SERMONS, Feb. 27, 1799.

Art. 51. Preached before the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, Feb. 27, 1799. By Shute, Lord Bishop of Durham. 4to. IS. Payne. The text of this sermon is from Luke xiii. 1-5. and it is treated as it ought to be by a Christian preacher. The style is plain and unaffected, and not a spark of national or personal invective is to be found in it. We give the following extracts as a specimen :

It was our Saviour's manner to give a practical turn to every thing. Questions and occasions, which, by their own nature, and probably according to the design of those who introduced them, might have led to abstruse and mysterious speculations, drew from him unexpected lessons of duty, admonitions immediately applicable to conduct. Instructions thus conveyed, must have come upon

* See Rev. vol. xxv. N. S. p. 472.

the

the inquirer, and to the audience with a force, which we who read them now, feel and conceive very imperfectly, because we have not present to our senses and observation, those circumstances and realities, which gave aptness and impression to the answer, power and efficacy to the reflection.'

After having rehearsed the answer given by Jesus to those Jews who told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices; the Bishop adds:

The doctrine which I consider our Lord as laying down by these examples is, that Almighty God in the dispensation of corrective evil, which he is pleased to carry on in this world, as it is connected with that dispensation which awaits us in another, out of many alike "concluded under sin," alike obnoxious to his judgements, out of many who share in a common depravity, instead of destroying all, punishes some in order to afford a warning to others; that, if those others do not take warning by the example, they shall assuredly fall by the same hand; incur, not perhaps in the same manner, but the same destruction, as they have seen inflicted; that the thus taking warning to themselves is the proper, the intended use and application of every signal calamity which comes to pass before their eyes; and, lastly, that in a religious view, this is the only use which we are authorised to make of them.

These considerations, which ought never perhaps to be long absent from our thoughts, are at this time brought before our view by the situation in which we are placed. Can it be necessary to remind any one person who hears me, that tremendous warnings have been given, and continue to be given to a careless age. A devouring fire is kindled upon the earth. All endeavours, I will not say to check, but to subdue it's fury, have hitherto failed. In what direction it's frames may next be carried, human foresight is not able to predict. They who are spared have cause to tremble. That sacred voice ought to be still sounding in their ears, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." With deep thankfulness indeed for the mercy by which we have hitherto been protected, and for the opportunity and space for reflection and amendment which have already been vouchsafed to them, still they ought to see their danger as it is they ought to see, that, acting as reasonable men, they can neither dismiss their fears, remit the penitence, nor forget their YOWS.'

66

Again, deploring the religious insensibility of the age, his Lordship makes this excellent remark:

But from whatever cause or quarter this deep insensibility to the truths of religion hath proceeded, I fear I am too well warranted in asserting that it still exists. A series of visitations the most awful, of public calamities the most general, of political changes the most tremendous, which any age of the world ever experienced within the same period, have not done away our negligence in these most important of all human concerns. The successive fall of states and kingdoms, the ruin of establishments and institutions by which the order of civil life hath hitherto been maintained, the devastation of countries,

countries, the misery of millions, though events passing at our doors, under our eyes, amongst those with whom we are connected by society or alliance, have produced very little, if any, change upon our religious dispositions. The truth is, that whatever we may pretend, we are not affected at the heart by these things.'

From these 'specimens, we presume, our readers will be not only enabled to judge of the merit of the Bishop's sermon, but will be in duced to peruse it with serious attention.

Art. 52. A Fast Sermon for February the 27th, 1799, from Isaiah,
Chapter x. Verse 5. 4to. 15. Stockdale.

When, where, or by whom, this discourse was preached, does not appear: but with energy of diction and strength of argument, it urges on men an alteration and amendment of life.-Having taken notice of the wickedness of the world, and of the Jewish state in particular, at the time when the Messiah appeared, it is asked, what remedy did the Saviour bring with him for these evils ?'-the laconic, but impressive, answer is; He brought repentance.'-This, nevertheless, it is added in the progress of the sermon, is the only remedy which we are unwilling to try; and rather than cast a thought on it, we are for recurring to every other feasible experiment. The first thing which we do, in order to liberate ourselves from the slavery of sin, is to use the powers of nature, art, and industry; the second, to endeavour to call down, by prayer and supplication, the aid of supernatural agency:-but this is not of the least avail without repentance. We can never hope to prosper by either of these modes; for our sins prevent our prayers from succeeding. It was not (we are told) the sword of God alone, nor the sword of Gideon, that conquered the Midianites, but the sword of God and Gideon. The force of God and man united makes human efforts succeed :-but when this union is broken by our sins, all our endeavours are rendered doubly useless, by depriving us of the aid of God, and of the strength of our own arm.'

These few lines may afford some idea of the nature and importance of this anonymous discourse.

CORRESPONDENCE.

In acknowleging the letter from the author of the pamphlet on Chess, (noticed in our last Number,) we must take the liberty of delivering it as our opinion, that too obstinate an adherence to any system is the broad path to certain delusion; and that, if pursued, it will, in the strong language of the East, bring a man at last to believe that the freshest sandal-wood is a flame of fire.-We cannot follow the author through the whole of his letter, but must offer a remark on the beginning and the end of it.

The game of chess was a military one, and is still so with us, except that the piece on our boards, called the Queen, has not much of that aspect but, properly, that piece is Pherz, or General, and from Pherz, Vizir, became Vierge, Lady, or Queen. If this be so,

how

Ged

Hi.