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The third is entitled Antiquitates Hibernia, and contains the tranfactions in Ireland from the year 795 to the descent of Henry II. on that ifland.

The fourth is a recital of the places and inhabitants of ancient Ireland, mentioned by Ptolemy, with their modern names. The fifth is intitled, Ricardi Monachi Weftmonafterienfis commentarioli de fitu Britannia.

The fixth is an Extract from Ptolemy's Geography of Albion, with a Latin tranflation, and the longitudes and latitudes.

In his Appendix, Mr. Johnstone has added fome notes on the more obfcure paffages in the manufcripts he has used, and given accurate lifts of the Pictish and Scottish kings.

The Collection will certainly be acceptable to the hiftorian and the antiquary; but it might have been rendered much more fo, had fome obfervations been added concerning the authenticity of the MSS. R--m

ART. V.

Antiquitates Celto-Scandica, five feries rerum geftarum inter nationes Britannicarum infularum, et Gentes Septentrionales. Compilavit JACOBUS JOHNSTONE, A. M. Ecclefia Magbere crucis Rector. 10s. 6d. Copenhagen. 1786. Sold by Cadell, in

c. 4to. London.

HIS performance is a compilation from various hiftorical

TH writers of credit in the northern parts of Europe. viz.

Snorro, Landnamaboc, Egilli, Scallagrimi-faga, Niála faga, 0. Tryggvasonar-faga, Orkneyinga-faga, Hriggiar-fiikki, KnytlingaJaga, Speculum regale. Though most of these have been already published, yet their contents being fomewhat fimilar, and all tending to illuftrate the history of the times to which they relate, the publication of them together must be acceptable to the curious. The mode, however, which Mr. Johnftone has adopted, is not free from objection. Thefe original records form the materials or elements for compofing a hiftory, and though they are allowed to be authentic, yet there is frequently need of great critical fagacity, in determining what parts of them ought to be rejected as useless, and what ought to be deemed fit for prefervation, and for the more immediate ufe of the hiftorian.

The work before us contains a continued chronological feries of Extracts from the writers above mentioned. The Editor has not informed his Readers, either in a prefatory discourse, or in notes and marginal references, from which particular author or authors the Extracts were made; and, what is of more confequence, the Extracts themselves are frequently of little importance to the hiftorian: fome of them, efpecially the poetry, may afford excellent entertainment to the philological Critic; and

being the fubject of contemplation, may gratify the curiofity of the linguift, and ferve as fpecimens of the poetry and language of northern Europe, about the tenth and twelfth centuries.

We do not mean, by these remarks, to difcourage the labours of Mr. Johnftone, who feems to be a moft penetrating fearcher into the deep and dark receffes of antiquity, while his diligence and activity require the united acknowledgments of the Hiftorian, the Antiquary, and the Critic.

ART. VI.

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Letters on Egypt; containing a Parallel between its ancient and modern Inhabitants, its Commerce, Agriculture, Government and Religion with the Descent of Louis IX. at Damietta. Extracted from Joinville, and Arabian Authors. Tranflated from the French of M. Savary. The Second Edition. 8vo. 2 Vols. 14s. Boards. Robinfons. 1787.

TH

HE original letters of M. Savary were noticed in our Review, vol. lxxiii. p. 378; again in the Appendix to our lxxivth volume; and laftly in vol. lxxv. p. 298, in each of which places we gave ample details relative to this valuable performance.

The tranflation, to which we muft now more particularly turn our attention, is well executed-very different from the first edition both in refpect to ftyle and accuracy. The tranflator, who conceals his name, has done ample justice to the erudition and capacity of M. Savary, and has fhewn himself well verfed in ancient and modern writings concerning Egypt and its antiquities. He has, in the notes and quotations from Latin, Greek, and Arabian authors, rectified many errors that had crept into the French of M. Savary. The comparing these quoted paffages with the originals, and rectifying the mistakes that had been committed, though not immediately the tranflator's province, is a great recommendation of the work, and muft have coft much labour and time.

Some of the accounts which M. Savary has given of the ftupendous works of art almoft furpafs credibility. The fanctuary of Butis may ferve as an inftance. M. Savary fays (in p. 292, vol. i.) A rock of granite, in its outward furface 60 feet fquare, formed this fanctuary.' In p. 76, vol. ii. defcribing the islands that furround Elephantina, he lays, From one of these was taken that vaft cube, each fide measuring 60 feet, in which the fanctuary at Butis was cut.' Again p. 375, vol. ii. The fanctuary was a fingle block of granite, a cube, each fide of which was 60 feet; the largeft and heaviest ftone in hiftory.' Allowing that the cube was hollowed by chiffels, as M. Savary fays, leaving the fides 6 feet thick; the internal dimenfions would be 48 feet every way, and the weight of the shell, fup

Q94

pofing

pofing one fide open, would be upwards of 8000 tons! an enor mous weight! and it was transported from the quarry, 200 leagues to its deftined place;' fee note at p. 292, vol. i. The dimenfions of this room, as defcribed by the compilers of the Univerfal Hiflory, are, "on the outfide 21 cubits long, 14 broad, 8 high within, 18 long, 12 broad, and 5 high" (fee firft octavo edition, vol. i. p. 408), which feems much more probable; yet even this would be a very heavy load, viz. 400 tons, though only the twentieth part of the former *.

The obelisks which fronted the temple at Luxor are alfo aftonishing. They are faid to have been 72 feet high, and 30 in circumference, and formed from a single block of granite. The weight of each of thefe would be 500 tons, nearly.-It is extremely difficult to imagine the practicability of moving thefe great blocks.

Leaving fcientific fubje&s, we fhall prefent our readers with the following extract from Letter xii, concerning the manners of the modern Egyptians, as a fpecimen of M. Savary's work, and of the tranflator's ftyle.

Life, Sir, at Grand Cairo is rather paffive than active. Nine months of the year the body is oppreffed by heat; the foul, in a state of apathy, far from being continually tormented by a wish to know and act, fighs after calm tranquillity. Inaction, under a temperate climate, is painful; here, repofe is enjoyment. The most frequent flutation, at meeting or parting, is Peace be with you. Effeminate indolence is born with the Egyptian, grows as he grows, and defcends with him to the grave; it is the vice of the cli ate; it influences his inclinations and governs his actions. The fofa, therefore, is the most luxurious piece of furniture of an apartment. Their gar dens have charming arbours, and convenient feats, but not a fingle walk. The Frenchman, born under an ever-varying fky, is conti nually receiving new impreffions, which keep his mind as continually awake; he is active, impatient, and agitated like the atmosphere in which he exifts; while the Egyptian, feeling the fame heat, the fame fenfation, two-thirds of the year, is idle, folemn, and patient.

He rifes with the fun, to enjoy the morning air; purifies himself, and repeats the appointed prayer. His pipe and coffee are brought him, and he reclines at eafe on his fofa. Slaves, with their arms croffed, remain filent at the far end of the chamber, with their eyes fixed on him, fecking to anticipate his fmalleft want. His children, ftanding in his prefence, unless he permits them to be feated, preferve every appearance of tendernefs and reípect: he gravely care fles them, gives them his bleffing, and fends them back to the Harem. He only questions, and they reply with modefty. He is the chief,

*The compilers of the Univerfal Hiftory are furely wrong in this place. Herodotus defcribes this room to be of the dimenfions which M. Savary makes it. See his Euterpe, where he fays it is 40 cubits every way; that is, 60 feet, allowing 1 foot for the cubit.

the

the judge, the pontiff of the family, before whom thefe facred rights are all refpected.

Breakfalt ended, he tranfacts the bufinefs of his trade, or his office; and as to difputes they are few, among a people where the voice of the hydra chicanery is never heard; where the name of attorney is unknown; where the whole code of laws confifts in a few clear and precife commands delivered in the Koran, and where each man is his own pleader.

When vifitors come, the mafter receives them without many compliments, but with an endearing manner; his equals are feated, befide him, 'with their legs croffed; which pofture is not fatiguing to the body, unembarraffed by drefs. His inferiors kneel, and fit upon their heels. People of diftinction are placed on a raised fofa, whence they overlook the company. Thus neas, in the palace of Dido, had the place of honour, while feated on a raifed bed *; he related the burning of Troy to the queen. When every perfon is placed, the flaves bring pipes and coffee, and fr the perfume brafier in the middle of the chamber, the air of which is impreg nated with its odours; and afterwards prefent fweetmeats and herbet.

• When the vifit is almoft ended, a flave bearing a filver plate, on which precious effences are burning, goes round to the company; each in turn perfumes the beard, and afterward fprinkles rofe water on the head and hands. This is the last ceremony; and the guests are then permitted to retire. Thus you fee, Sir, the ancient custom of perfuming the head and beard, as fung by the royal prophet, is not loft. Anacreon 1, the father of the feftive ode, and the poet of the graces, inceffantly repeats, "I delight to fprinkle my body with precious perfumes, and crown my head with rofes."

About noon the table is prepared, and the viands brought, in a large tray of tinned copper; and though not great variety, there is great plenty. In the centre is a mountain of rice cooked with poultry, and highly feafoned with fpice and faffron. Round this are hafhed meats, pigeons, fluffed cucumbers, delicious melons, and fruits. The roaft meats are cut fmall, laid over with the fat of the animal, feafoned with falt, fpitted, and done on the coals, it is tender and fucculent. The guests feat themselves on a carpet, round the table; a flave brings water in one hand and a bafon in the other, to wash. This is an indifpenfable ceremony, where each perion puts his hand into the dish, and where the ufe of forks is unknown; it is repeated when the meal is ended.

After dinner they retire to the Harem, where they flumber fome hours among their wives and children.

Such is the ordinary life of the Egyptians. Our fhews, plays, and pleasures, are to them unknown; a monotony which, to a European, would be death, is delight to an Egyptian. Their days are pated in repeating the fame thing, in following the fame cuftoms, without a will or a thought beyond. Having neither ftrong paffions, nor ardent hopes, their minds know not laffitude: this is a torment

*Inde toro pater Eneas fic orfus ab alto. Æneid, 1. ii.

+ Pf. cxxxiii.

+ Ode xv.

referved

referved for those who, unable to moderate the violence of their defires, or fatisfy their unbounded wants, are weary every where, and exift only where they are not.'

The language of the tranflator is in general good: fome few paffages occur which might have been better expreffed; we shall point out the only obfcure one that we have obferved, in order that it may be corrected in a future edition of this inftructive and entertaining work; it is in vol. i. p. 457.

Thefe, Sir, are the monuments best preferved among the ruins of Antinoe, the founder of which did not infcriptions and hiftorians declare, the arches of the gates, capitals of the columns, and want of hieroglyphics would fhew they were not Egyptian works.'

• Multitudinous boats,' p. 459, occurs for numerous boats; we do not recollect to have met with multitudinous more than twice; it is an obfolete word; and the two paffages of Shakefpeare in which it occurs, do not in our opinion authorife its ufe in the modern epiftolary ftyle.

Thefe, however, are but flight blemishes, in a work which abounds with a great variety of real information for the learned and the curious, and with matter of entertainment for readers of every description.

ART. VII.

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Scelta delle Opere dell' Abate Pietro Metaftafio, &c. i. e. Select Works of the Abbé Peter Metaftafio, with a fuccin&t Account of his Life. By Francis Saftres. 12mo. 2 Vols. 75. Sewed. Payne, &c. 1787.

HE works of Metaftafio are, on account of their peculiar merit, in the highest eftimation. Mr. Saftres has here publifhed fome of the more admired pieces of the Italian poet, with a view of furnishing thofe, to whom a complete fet of Metaftafio's works is inacceffible, with an opportunity of acquainting themfelves with the excellencies of this great writer.

The first volume contains La Clemenza di Tito, Zenobia, Adriano in Siria, and Ipermeftra, and five fonnets. In the fecond volume we have Artaferfe, Demetrio, Ciro riconosciuto, Olimpiade, with two fmall pieces, Le Cineft and Le Grazia vendicate; and it concludes, like the former, with a number of fonnets.

From the Life of the Author, prefixed by the ingenious Editor, it appears that PIETRO TRAPPASSO (for fuch was his original name) was born at Rome, Jan. 28, 1698, of obfcure parents; whofe humble fituation, however, was no obftacle to their giving their fon a knowledge of the Italian and Latin languages: in which he made a rapid progrefs. The young Trapale foon gave fufficient proofs that he was born a poet; for, at eight years old, he was frequently obferved to fing elegant extemporary verses. As the celebrated Abbé Vincenzo Gravina

was

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