The method into which the materials of this work are disposed, is as follows: The two principal subjects of geography and history are distinguished into two volumes, under one cover, not exceeding 350 pages, octavo.

The first volume is devoted to geography, and is thrown into three capital divisions, or parts-natural, civil, and sacred. To each of these parts is prefixed an appropriate preliminary on its respective subject; and the detailed objects of each are arranged in a series of tables, exhibiting a comparative view of their ancient and modern names. Subjoined to each table, in the second and third parts, is a summary account of the revolutions, &c. experienced by the countries noted therein; a feature which is wanting in the first part, on natural geography, evidently because the subject did not admit of a correspondence with the other two in this particular. Such are the outlines, or general features of the first volume. We must now approach the several parts of it more closely, and examine into their individual and peculiar characteristics, in suc

cession.

Part I.-The preliminary to this part, on natural geography, gives a survey of the progress and extent of ancient geography, and dilates particularly on the errors that prevail relative to the knowledge which the ancients possessed of the north of Europe, and Asia, founded on Mr. John Pinkerton's explanation of Pliny's geography of that quarter. The student being thus prepared to enter upon the detail of his subject, Part I, opens to his view the natural objects of geography, such as seas, bays, promontories, rivers, lakes, mountains, islands, &c., in a series of tables, comparing their ancient and modern names. The first series may be regarded as a species of sea charts; each sea being noticed in a separate table, with its coasting objects, of promontories, bays, mouths of rivers, &c.; so arranged in succession, so indented in the margin of the columns, and so distinguished by arithmetical and alphabetical characters, as to exhibit to the eye the degree of projection of different promontories; what bays are embraced by them, and what rivers terminate in such bays; in short, every mode of relative situation between these objects is expressed by this arrangement. To this series there is a supplement, on the branches of the principal rivers of Asia, Europe, and Africa, which, not having their immediate termination in any sea, could not be noticed in the body

of the series. The second series on lakes, and the third series on mountains, are arranged under the distinct heads of lakes in Europe, in Asia, and in Africa; and mountains in Europe, in Asia, and in Africa. The fourth series, on islands, is arranged under the heads of the different seas in which such islands are situated. This concludes the first part.

Part II.--The preliminary to this part, which treats of the civil divisions of geography, gives a succinct account of the origin and migration of parental nations, with two chronological tables of the first and second Gothic spreadings over Europe, and a few remarks on the feudal system, founded on Pinkerton's dissertation on the Goths.

The substance of this dissertation is extracted by the author of the work we are analysing, and treated under the heads of Chinese, Eastindians, Scythians, Assyrians, Sarmatians, Celts, and Fins, or Laplanders, as being the only distinct aboriginal races of men; of whom he tells us the five first appear to have been Asiatic, and the two latter European.

Of the hints on the feudal system, extracted from Pinkerton, we deem it worthy of remark, that the author distinguishes this celebrated topic into the true feudal system, and the corrupted feudal system; of which the former is referred to the Scythe Nomades of ancient Persia, as early as two thousand one hundred and sixty years before Christ, whence it gradually spread with the Scythians, who were dispersed about that time by Ninus, and is found some centuries afterwards in Europe, in its corrupted condition. Our author concludes in the words of Pinkerton: that "Montesquieu has commenced his account of the feudal system with that of the ancient Germans, given by Tacitus; and prides himself in leaving off where others began. A writer more profound would leave off where Montesquieu begins," &c. The two chronoligical tables on the first and second Gothic progress over Europe, exhibit a connected view of the gradual manner in which these Scythians from Persia extended themselves towards the west at very early periods, exterminating the original Celts; and how two portions of them subsequently known as Greeks and Romans, cultivated the arts and sciences, whilst other portions, who remained in a barbarous state in the north, joined by fresh inundations from Asia, overran and subverted all the grandeur of their brethren in the south.

Leaving the preliminary, I cannot do justice to the general plan of the civil geography, better than by extracting the table of ancient Gaul, with the narrative subjoined to it; which may be considered as a specimen of the mode of treating the other countries of Europe, Asia, and Africa, with such variations as the subjects required:

ANCIENT.

MODERN.

Gallia. (Between the Rhine, Alps, France and Switzerland, with Mediterranean, Pyrenées, Atlantic, and British Channel.)

Roman

provinces.

inferior. superior quanoram. prima.

Germania German Maxima se- Belgica Belgica

secunda.

I. BELGICA. GALLIA. (Belgiam.)

Inhabitants.

1. Ubii, Gugerni, Tun

parts of Germany, and the Netherlands.

Countries.

1. Limburg, Liege, Brabant,

gri, Eurones, Menapii, Utrecht, Holland, and Zealand. Toxandri, Frisii, Mino

res, et Batavi.

2. Triboci, Nemetes, et Vangiones.

2. Alsace, and part of Upper Rhine.

3. Sequani, Helvetii, 3. Franche-Compté and Switet Rauraci.

4. Treveri, Mediomatrici, et Leuci.

5. Remi, Suessiones,

zerland.

4. Lorraine, Luxemburg, and Namur.

5. Part of Champagné, part of

Veromandui, Bellovaci, the Isle of France, Picardy, Ar-
Silvanectes, Ambriani, tois, Hainault, and Flanders.
Atrebates, Morini, Ner-
vii, Belga.

1. Caleti, Veliocasses, Lexovii, Aulerci-Eburovices, Viducasses, Unelli, Bajocasses, &c.

2. Aureliani, Senones, Carnutes, Parisii, Meldi, Tricasses.

1. Normandy.

2. Part of the Isle of France, with Orleannois.

3. Segusiani, Edui, 3. Lyonnois, part of Burgundy, Lingones, Celta.

4. Turones, Andes,

Nivernois, part of Champagné.

4. Bretagne, Touraine, An

Aulerci-Cenomani, Di-jou, and Maine.

ablintes, Arvii, Redones, Namnetes, Veneti, CuCrisolites, Osismii, &c.

Roman

provinces.

ANCIENT.

Inhabitants.

1. Bituriges-Cubi, Ar

verni, Gabali, Ruteni,
Cadurci,Lemovices, &c.

MODERN.

Countries.

1. Berry, Auvergne, and Limousin.

2. Bituriges-Vibisci, 2. Poitou, Saintonge, and GuiPetrocorii, Nitobriges, enne. Santones, Pictones vel

Pictavi, et Agesinates.

3. Elusates, Ausci,

3. Gasconé, Navarre, and

Sociates, Vasates, Tar- Bern.

belli, Bigerrones, Con

venæ, Aquitani, &c.

1. Sardones, Conso- 1. Rousillon, and Languedoc. ranni, Volcæ-Arecomi

secunda. [Aquitain proper] sis prima. 1st & 2nd sis secunda. ritima. Aquitania Aquitania Novem populorum Narbonen- Viennensis Narbonen- Alpis-ma- Alpis-pen

prima.

III. AQUITANIA GALLIA.[Aquitain.]

nina.

IV. NARBONENSIS GALLIA. [Narbonoise.]

6. Silvanectes (Augustomagus) 6. Senlis.

7. Ambiani (Samaro-briva)
8. Atrebates (Nemetacum)
9. Taruenna,

10. Castellum,

11. Portus Itius,

Germania superior.

quanorum.

Maxima se- Belgica

1. BELGICA GALLIA. [Belgium.]

Belgica secunda.

Bounded by the sea from the north to the west, it was limited

on the eastern side, only by the Rhine in the whole extent of its course. The chain of the Alps succeeded thence to the Mediterra