84 to establish about it. The author, ftrongly affected with the beauties of Nature, has fhown himself in his work to be an acute and judicious obferver, who at the fame time that he communicates his ideas to others, gives them the hiftory of his own enjoyments. Of his ftyle our readers will be able to judge, in fome measure, from the following extracts taken from the fecond part of this work. "Le premier cultivateur établit fans doute fon domicile au milieu de fon champ; cette difpofition eft la feule convenable à l'ordre primitif de la nature; elle épargne le tems, les courfes, les tranfports inutiles, et mettant les travaux et la confervation des produits à portée de l'habitation, elle n'oblige pas pour réparer le tems perdu, à chercher un fecours de vîteffe dans des animaux, dont l'acquifition et la nourriture font plus cheres et dont la confommation eft en pure perte. "L'amélioration du champ augmente néceffairement de plus en plus par la prefence continuelle du maître. Sa vigilance eft fans ceffe excitée par la vue de fon terrein, et n'eft jamais diftraite par la proximité des occafions de dérangement. Cette difpofition conduit néceffairement à varier la culture, en la partageant en divers encles, dont les haies fervent en même tems d'abri contre les vents deftructeurs; ces enclos donnent la facilité de mettre en valeur les jacheres, en y préparent des nourritures, qui fervent tout-à-la fois pour a eublir la terre, et pour élever partout, fans foins et fans peines, tant de beftiaux qu'on égorge prefqu'en pure perte, au moment de leur naiffance. La multiplication des beftiaux augmenteroit nécessairement la fertilité des terres par la multiplication des engrais......" On the favourite topic of Liberty, Mr. G. obferves, that faire ce qu'on peut, c'eft la Liberté naturelle faire ce qu'on veut c'eft le caprice, ou le defpotifme; faire ce qui nuit aux autres, c'eft la licence; faire ce qu'on doit, telle eft la liberté civile, la feule convenable dans l'ordre focial. Or qui fixe le devoir de l'homme dans la fociété ? La loi.Qui fait la loi? Le Souverain democratique, ariftocratique, monarchique, ou mixte, fuivant les differentes conftitutions du Gouvernement. Quel doit être le but de toute loi jufte? Celui de procurer l'avantage général, auquel tout individu, à plus forte raifon tout propriétaire, eft intéreflé à concourir. Pourquoi cela? Parceque la condition de la fociété c'est le facrifice que chaque individu fait d'une portion de fon interêt à la volonté générale: facrifice pour lequel il reçoit en échange la protection de la force générale pour la défenfe de fa poffeffion, du fruit de fon travail, et de fa fécurité perfonnelle. Teile eft la condition expreffe du contrat de fociété, dans lequel l'obfervation de la loi eft le plus grand intérêt de chaque inaividu, puifque fa vie, fa fubfiftence, et tout ce qu'il poffede en dépendent. C'eft pourquoi la lettre de la loi doit être précieufe et facrée : car antrement la fociété n'eft plus une loi, c'eft une chicane."-To fuch doctrines, from whatever quarter they may come, we trust that most of our readers will be Journal Encyclopédique. ready to fubfcribe. AR TO ART. 49. Lettre de N. François de Neufchâteau, Juge-de-Paix à Vicherad, Préfident du Département des Vofges, aux Cultivateurs de ce Département, pour leur propofer d'effaier dans la Moifon une maniere plus facile et plus économique de recueillir les Grains. A Paris. 1793. The method recommended by our author is, to divide the business into two fucceffive operations, in the first of which the ears are to be cut, after which the remainder of the halm or ftraw is to be mowed. The advantages to refult from this plan are, according to our author, a confiderable annual faving of grain, and a very great increase of the ftraw. We do not pretend to determine how far this would really be the cafe, and fhall only obferve that, at any rate, the mode of reaping propofed by M. de N. is not a new difcovery, as it is mentioned, together with others, by Varro de R. R. Lib. I. c. 50: "Tertio modo metitur," fays he, "ut fuburbe Româ, ut ftramentum fubfecent, quod manu finiftra fummum prehendunt; infra manum ftramentum quod terræ hæret, poftea fubfecatur. Contra, quod cum fpica stramentum hæret corbibus in aream defertur; ubi difcedit in aperto loco palea." ITALY. ART. 50. Catalogo de Codici Manofcritti Orientali della Biblioteca Na nana, compilato dall' Abate Simone Affemani, Profeffore di Lingue Orientali. Padua, XXIII. et 446 pp. in small folio. This fecond volume is formed entirely on the plan of the firft, published in 1787, and though the author affures us in his Preface, that, to avoid prolixity, he has confidered himself as writing for perfons who had already made fome progress in the study of Oriental Literature, we have, however, no reason to complain of his concifenefs. We must likewife object to the very unequal manner in which these books are described, as the author often dwells too long on fome MSS. of little importance, illuftrating them by quotations made chiefly from printed works, whilft of others, frequently more valuable, he gives us the titles only. The MSS. of which an account is given in this vỠlume, from LI. with which the last terminates, to CXXV, are here divided into fix claffes. I. Grammars and Dictionaries, of which Cod. 32. is an Introduction to the Syriac Language, with a Collection of Songs or Hymns from the Old and New Teft., written in the year 1604. 55. An Arabico-Perfic Lexicon, by Cadhi Chan; and 56. An Effay on the Arabie Infinitives, by Baiheki, quoted by D'Herbelot, Art. Dabaloui, and Baibeki. Clafs II. The Gospels, Catechifms, and Liturgies; particularly Cod. 58. A Turkish Translation of the Gospels, written at Ifpahan in 1740, and, according to our author, agreeing, in general, with the Syriac verfion. The remaining articles of this clafs are chiefly the works of Miffionaries, tranflations of the Doctrina Chrif Ziana of Bellarmin, &c. III. Corans and Mohammedan Books of Prayer; among which Cod. 66. contains the 29 firft Suras, very elegantly written for the use of a Mufti. IV. Writers concerning Mo 6 bammedan hammedan Jurifprudence, as Cod. 74. A Collection of Canonical and Ci vil Laws, frequently quoted by Maracci, under the name of Ali Ben Mohammed, (which, however, Mr. A. contends to have been only that of the copyift) and compared here in certain paffages with the celebrated work of D'Ohfon on the same subject; and Cod. 77. A Compendium of the Mohammedan Law, according to the Doctrine of the Imam Ahmed Ben Hambal. V. Hiftorians, Poets, and Mifcellaneous Writers, among which are, Cod. 78. A Perfic Tranflation of the famous Arabic Hiftory of Abu Giafar al Thabari, from which Mr. A. has excepted only the genealogy of Mohammed and of the firft Chaliphs: Cod. 79. Hadihi Chalifahs Takvem Altavarich, or Chronological Tables, confifting of 29 leaves only, from which we are here presented with copious extracts. It is worthy remark, that we are informed here, that in the 40th year of the Hegira (A. D. 660) gunpowder and bombs were faid to have been invented by fome Philofophers of Alexandria. But Mr. A. obferves very juftly, that neither this paffage, nor that quoted from Elmacin by Cafiri, relate to the difcovery of gunpowder, but rather to that of fire-balls, compofed of naphtha and fulphur, which were thrown from machines conftructed for that purpofe. Of the following articles in this divifion the author gives us the titles only among them we find, Cod. 80. The Gulifan of Sadi; 88. The Divan of Hafez; 84. A Turkish History of the first Ottoman Sultans, which might, perhaps, deferve a greater fhare of attention than Mr. A. has chofen to allow it. The VIth. and laft clafs comprehends writers on the fubject of Medicine and Natural History; and from Cod. 117-125. we are prefented with a list of books printed at Conftantinople, and preferved in this library. ART. 51. Andreæ Gritti, Principis Venetiarum, vita, Nicolao Barbadico Autore, Alexandro Albritio Procuratoris Divi Marci Dignitatem ineunte primum edita. Venice. Small folio. Nicolas Barbarico, as he was named in the dialect of his country, was born of a noble family at Venice in the year 1534. He devoted himself to the fervice of the State, rofe from one honourable fituation to another, was appointed the Podeftà at Verona in 1574, went out as Ambaffador from the Republic to the Ottoman Porte in 1577, and died at Conftantinople in 1579. He had intended to have written the lives of feveral of the most eminent of his countrymen, but it does not appear that he had finished any other than this which is now printed by the public Librarian Morelli, and that of Cardinal Contarini.We fhall transcribe a paffage from this work, which, though, perhaps, not the most elegant in point of compofition, may be found, at leaft, the most interefting to general readers. Having fpoken of Gritti's elevation to the dignity of Doge, the author adds, that this took place" Populo, cujus ex animo jam ejus in remp. merita effluxerant, ægrè id ferente et invito. Nimirum multitudo, quæ femper in periculis bene merentes de fe cives, quo tempore ipforum utitur opera, omnibus honoribus afficit, eadem, rebus conftitutis, metu depofito, accepta beneficia aut oblivione obruit, aut ingrato animo diffimulat. Verum cum Veneta in Republ. plebs nulli adhibeatur Con filio, et Magiftratuum creandarum expers omnino fit, neque ejus arbitrio prorfus quidquam relinquatur, nifi quod adimi nullo modo poteft, hoc eft, ut fuum Audium voluntatemque vultu et voce fignificet, ut in vulgus emanavit Grittum Principem effe declaratum, tremere omnes, ac maledicta pæne congerere. . . . He then takes occafion to enlarge on the attention of his hero to the duties of his office, and introduces the following account of the power and dignity of a Doge: "Illud autem animadvertendum eft, quod ea eft ratione inftitutus Venetæ Reip. principatus, ut non multa fint à Venetis principibus poftulanda. Primum urbe egredi principi lege non licet; ut neque in bello, neque omnino foras clari alicujus facinoris gerendi facultas detur. In urbe uti fummam dignitatem, ita poteftatem auguftis adeo terminis habet circumfcriptam, ut nihil quod alicujas momenti fit, per fe poffit unus conficere; neque in ferendo fuffragio ejus auctoritas major eft, quam cujuslibet e fenatu; neque omnino in fententia dicenda, nifi quantum hominis gravitas ponderis affert orationi. Proprium munus eft ut in civitate frumenti copia fuppetat providere, principum legatis refponfa dare ex collegii et fenatus fententia, curare, ut leges ferventur, ut unusquifque officio fungatur fuo, ne quis alicujus gratia, aut opibus, aut judiciis fupprimatur; magiftratus cohortatione, caftigatione, timore poenæ in officio continere, liberas querelis omnium aures præbere; denique fingulorum magiftratuum, quorum in rep. adminiftranda diverfa munia funt, ftudia univerfa ad reip. utilitatum referre, ne qua procuratio aut nimia fedulitate magis, quam oporteat, intenta, aut negligentia remiffa, communis boni rationi officiat. Hæc qui præftat, bonus habetur princeps, fatifque fuo officio facere exiftimatur. Quod fi prætergredi limites velit, ac ceterorum partes affumere, præterquam Reip. inftituta perturbet, atque omnium, quibufcum eft ei Reip. adminiftratio communis, in fe odium, ac invidiam concitet, oportet; præterea quod aget, fruftrà aget: cedat enim unus pluribus, atque omnia in Veneta Rep. ad legum præfcriptum, non ad cujufquam arbitrium revocentur, neceffe eft." ART. 52. Summa Plantarum, quæ hactenus innotuerunt methode Linnaana per Genera et Species digefta, illuftrata, defcripta à Fulgentio Vitman Abb. Vallumbros. in Reg. Mediol. Lyc. Publ. Botanices Profeff. et plur. Acad. Soc. Tom. IV. 487 pp. Tom V. 438 pp. et Tom VI. 397, and XLIII. pp. in 8vo. Milan. The Abbé Fulgenzio Virman has added in this work all the different genera and fpecies of plants undefcribed by Linnæus, in which undertaking he was affifted by the celebrated Botanist Wahl. This important collection is now complete. SPAI N. ART. 53. Antonii Jofephi Cavanillas icones, &c.-Defcription of the Spontaneous Plants of Spain and of thofe cultivated in the Gardens of that Country, By A. J. Cavanillas. Third Part of Vol. 11. Ma. drid. 1794 This part terminates the fecond volume. The author treats in it of all the plants which grow naturally in the kingdom of Valencia, and the work is accompanied with 30 plates, containing the figures of 33 plants. To the complete defcription of each plant, and obfervations which throw much light on feveral points of Botany, fucceeds a particular account of the Mountains of Peñagolofa, Airana, and Mariola ; as alfo of the Mountains of Enguera, and of the Valley of Cofrentes. HOLLAND. ART. 54. Opufcules Mathématiques de M. Du Bourguet, Lieutenant des Vaiffeaux de France, contenant de nouvelles Théories, Méthodes et Formules pour la Réfolution des Equations du second, troisieme et quatrieme dégrés; d'autres objets de Calcul abfolument nouveaux, la Théorie trèsSimple de toutes les Trigonométries par l'Analyfe, la Démonftration rigoureufe du Principe fondamentale de Catoptrique; la Partie Aftronomique du Métier de la Mer, mife à la portée des Commerçans, avec des nouvelles Formules très-fimples pour réfoudre tous les Problemes de Navigo-Aftronomie et la Théorie fur la Figure de la Terre. A Leyde, 1794. In 8vo. fig. Though the author does not pretend to give here a merely elementary work, we may, however, obferve, that no great extent of Mathematical learning is required to enable us to understand him; at leaft, in the Trigonometrical and Aftronomical parts of his book, which he has endeavoured to render eafy to perfons of ordinary attainments in the fcience. But the fame remark, will not apply to his Theory on the Figure of the Earth, which fuch perfons are not already acquainted with Conic Sections and Fluxions cannot be suppofed to comprehend. ART. 55. Hiftoire des Révolutions arrivées dans le Gouvernement et dans L'efprit bumain, après la converfion de Conftantin, jufqu'à la chute de l'Empire d'Occident; par M. de Pilate. Seconde édition, à Haarlem, 1793. Gr. in 8vo. The author of this history is already known to the public from other works in the fame department of literature; fuch as his Traité des Loix Politiques des Romains, du tems de la République; his Traité des Loix Civiles, &c.; and his Voyages en Hollande, et en differens autres pays de l'Europe. That our readers may be able to form fome idea of the object of this work, we will lay before them the plan on which it was compofed by M. de P. in his own words. Je ne dis pas," fays he, "des chofes neuves. Un honnête hiftorien ne fait point créer des faits nouveaux. Mais je tire du cahos de l'histoire des événemens, des faits, des maximes, des fyftèmes qui peignent les caractères et les talens des hommes, des Princes, et des nations, qui ont occafionné les principales Révolutions dans le gou. |