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in such situations, and the good quality of the soil is to be attributed to the same cause. Of the advantages which those parts offer for agricultural purposes, the inhabitants avail themselves, though in general such matters are conducted in a slovenly and unprofitable stile, no such regard being paid to the proper management of the ground as to render it as productive as it ought to be.

At the heads of all the lochs over the whole wide extending western shore, this formation of new land has taken place, for there are none without one or more rivers entering them. This circumstance, in conjunction with the former action of the sea, has

left undoubted evidence of the fact, all

the stones of every size found in such places being round, having been so shaped by great and long continued friction against each other.

In such situations, anciently co. vered with water, now stand the Towns of Campbeltown, Inverary and its Castle, the villages of Loch gilphead, Tarbert, Beaumore in Islay, Fort William, and Oban; and many thousand acres have in the same way been left dry, particularly at Crinan, now an immense stretch of barren moss. In different places of this amazing collection, the bottom has been dug up, and fossils, sea sand, and stones been discovered, showing that the sea had once occupied the space now taken up with this moss, and formed an extensive shallow bay, with a narrow opening into the western sea. That it increased subsequently to the withdrawing of the water is certain, but originally it must have taken its rise from the moss and earth brought into the bay by two large rivers, one of them issuing from a great fresh water lake, extending 30 miles into the interior, and which Jake is supplied by several large rivers descending from mountains at a distance of twenty miles more, so that the quantity of these substances car

ried down into this bay must have been very great, and must there have been detained and deposited, and after the water fell back, became consolidated by degrees. This great lake, whose superabundant water in ancient ages found an efflux into Crinan, has long since taken a different course, and produced effects of the same kind in another part of the country.

Character of the most eminent SCOTS WRITERS of the present day.

Translated from a French work entitled, "Londres & les Anglais;" by Terri de St Constant.

HISTORY.

AMONG living authors who have

written ancient history, we may distinguish Messrs Ferguson and Gillies the former, who was the countryman and friend of Hume and Robertson, holds, as an historian, an honourable place by their side. In his "History of the Progress and Termination of the Roman Republic," he has profited by the works of those who preceded him; but, from a fund which appeared exhausted, he has drawn an infinite variety of new matter. The philosophical spirit by which he is guided, leaves a great distance between him and his predecessors. It were to be wished however that Mr Ferguson's style possessed more elegance, and sometimes more clearness.

Mr Gillies was first known by a translation of Lysias and Isocrates. Instead of an ordinary preface, he prefixed to his translation a "Discourse upon the General History of Greece," which proved that the author was capable of treating with success this interesting subject. This has been confirmed by his "History of Greece," published in 1785. The first part comprehends the history of the Greeks from their origin till the period in which they lost their liberty. Mr Gillies does not treat his sub

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subject in so profound and extensive
a manner as Mr Mitford: his work
is, in a manner, only an abridgement,
yet it contains
ains all that is most inter-
esting in the history of Greece. He
is now employed in the continuation
of this history, which he intends to
bring down to modern times. On
the death of Frederic the Great,
King of Prussia, Mr Gillies, who
had visited his court, wrote a paral
lel, equally interesting and instruc-
tive, between that monarch and Phi-
lip King of Macedon, as a politician
and a warrior. Mr Gillies writes
an elegant and agreeable style, but
it is thought too luxuriant, and fis or
naments are sometimes misplaced.
He seeks to
imitate the manner of
Gibbon, forgetting that it is not style
which forms the chief merit of that
celebrated historian.

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Dr Watson published the history of the reign of Philip 11 as a sequel to that of Charles V. by the celebra brated, Robertson; he meant also to give the history of Philip III. whose reign forms the era of the decline of the Spanish monarchy; but he had only begun his work, when he died. Drs Robertson and Blair, being inwith

the historical compositions of the an cients.

Mr Somerville has given the " history of political transactions and parties, from the restoration of Charles II. to the death of King William". His style is not so brilliant as that of many of his cotemporaries, but it is diguified, simple, and agreeable. He is exact in his narratives, impartial in his judgments, and liberal in his opi nions. The same qualities are found in his "History of Great Britain under the reign of Queen, Aung,"

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Me Heron, in his new General History of Scotland, from the most ancient times to the period of the abolition of hereditary jurisdictions has followed in part the plan adopteds by Dr Henry his History of England; he has, like him, the merit of presenting an interesting and curious, picture of the manners, customs, laws, &c. of the people whose history he writes, in times of ignorance and bar. barism. Mr. Pinkerton has written the History of Scotland, from the, accession of the House of Stuart, till the reign of Mary. His works forms a sequel to that of David, Dalrymple, and closes at the period in

red manuscripts of Wat- which that of Robertsoulb¢gsrbi

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son, chose Mr William Thomson to Pinkerton's style has great merit he continue this history. In the has been reproached as not exempt, nion of the best critics the conti-from pedantry, causticity, and bad nuator is superior to Watson. Mr taste but he has las profound knows eye" alvo, Continued Gold-ledge of his subjecty and much ener smith's History of Greece, from gy in his styles ryne "bolis till the taking

Thomson has also come

Alexander the G Greece,

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of Constantinople to MORAL PHILOSOrityslá la vu National, history employs a num Among those who have treated. ber of writers. First in this class the theory of this sciences we may we may place Sir John Dalrymple, distinguish Di Adam Ferguson I author of Memoirs of Great Britain the year 1770 he published his In, and Ireland, which is regarded as stitutes of Moral Philosophy, which, one of the best productions of the were only the syllabuss of the Leo kind which exist in the English lan-ures which he delivered in the unis guage. He goes to the fountain-versity of Edinburgh His great head, and writes only upon authen work, titled 6 Pruciples of Moral tic information We find in his and Political Seidnee? didnot appear work, that simplicity and selection till 1792. Dr Ferguson's philosophy circumstances, which distinguish is characterised by his never losing

sight

sight, in his theories of man, such as history displays him. He has contested the principles of Dr Price, and some other philosophers, upon eivil and religious hberty, because he does not believe them applicable to the actual condition of Society. Dr Dugald Stewart has succeeded Mr Ferguson in the chair of moral philo. sophy in the university of Edinburgh. Few writers of the present day are so celebrated in England. The Elements of Moral Philosophy, which he 'illustrates in his lectures, have proved him worthy of supplying the place of Mr Ferguson. Dr John Bruce, another professor in the University of Edinburgh, has published two esteemed works, the "Elements of Morality, and the "First Principles of Philosophy." Dr Beattie, professor in the University of Aber deen, has published "Elements of Moral Science," in 2 vols. 8vo. ; an elementary work, which contains little that is new, but has the merit of correctness in the thought, and elegance in the style. Dr Beattie has, in his "Dissertations Moral and Critical, collected whatever was most interesting and original in his Lectures on Moral Philosophy. The Dissertations, and particularly those relating to criticism, are full of taste, of ingenious and original observations. The University of Aberdeen numbers also among its professors, Dr James Dun. bar, author of a very ingenious moral work, entitled, "Essays on the History of Mankind.”

Periodical works of morality, of which the Spectator presented the first model, are always suited to the English taste. Although this kind of writing has become more difficult since Addison has found successful imitators in the authors of the World, the Rambler, the Connoisseur, and the Adventurer, yet many living writers have attempted to follow his footsteps, and several with success. Of this number is Mr Mackenzie, the 0a. 1806.

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chief author of the Mirror and Loun ger. The first of these works ap. peared at Edinburgh, in 1779 and 1780, and the second in 1785 and 1786. Mr Mackenzie, already distinguished by his romance entitled "The Man of Feeling," was assisted only by Scotsmen, among whom we may distinguish Messrs Craig, Abercromby, Frazer Tytler, Henry, Cullen, &c. but it is to him that these works are indebted for their success, as he has written the greatest and best part. The Mirror and Lounger contain little that is original, connec ted with the knowledge of the hu man heart, and the precepts of morality. Neither have the fictions which are employed in diffusing variety over the portrait of manners, and characters, much merit in point of novelty. The critical and philo sophical papers are often deficient in precision and depth, through the necessity of being understood by all readers. The success of these works has been produced chiefly by the pa pets on pathetic and sentimental subjects, and by those of gay and delicate pleasantry. The story of" La Roche," the object of which is to convert a Deist by the mere force of sentiment, is one of the most affecting that it is possible to read. The let ters signed Homespun may be compared to the best humorous pieces inserted in the Spectator by Addison, and in the World by Chesterfield. These essays, in such various styles, are all by Mr Mackenzie.

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ull of extravagance, that they have made no disciples, though they con tain a number of ingenious and profound thoughts, of just observations, and learned researches The works of this celebrated Scotchman are, "The Origin and progress of lan guage," in four vols. 8vo. and Ancient Metaphysics," in 5 vols. 4to. In this tast work he maintains that the orang butang belongs to the human species, and is destitute of speech only through mere accident: he attempts also to prove that the syrens, the cyclops, the satyrs, men with eyes in their breast, men with the heads of dogs, &c. are not fabulous beings; that Egypt was, in ancient times, governed and taught by demons, &c.

Dr James Hutton, lately dead, is well known on the continent as a natural philosopher, particularly by his Theory of the Earth, in 2 vols. 8vo. ; but he deserves still more cele brity by his great metaphysical work, entitled, "Inquiry into the Principles of Knowledge and the Progress of Reason, &c. 3 vols. 4to. 1796. He there treats, 1. Of the natural progress of knowledge, or of the faculties of instinct which lead to science. 2. Of science, or of the principles which conduct to wisdom. 3. Of wisdom or philosophy, or of the proper end of science, and of the means of happiness. Under these three divisions, Dr Hutton treats all the questions which relate to the human understanding; he shews much sagacity and depth, and strikes out many new and original ideas. Some principles of his theory are contrary to that of Locke, and seem to at tack the theological system.

Among living metaphysicians we may distinguish Mr Thomas Reid, Professor of Moral Philosophy in the university of Glasgow. His first work, entitled, "Inquiry into the hu man mind upon the principles of common sense," is intended to refute

some principles relative to the human understanding, on which Berkley and Hume have founded a system of scepticism. In 1785, Dr Reid published "Essays on the intellectual powers of man," in one volume 4to. and a year after, "Essays on the ac-. tive powers," in one volume 4to, He refers the first to the understand ing, and the second to the will, essential and distinct faculties of our soul. Dr Reid is at once a good moralist and a sound metaphysician.

Dr Beattie, in his " Essay on the immutability of truth," proposes to refute Hume; he follows the princi ples of Reid, whose disciple he is, and combats the sceptics still more successfully than his master. His "Essay on the Theory of Language," has the merit of being written in a very clear and agreeable manner; but contains little novelty. It has been remarked, that in many of his essays, particularly those on memory and imagination, he has been sometimes led astray by the fear of meeting with Hume, which is neither just nor phiIosophical.

Dr James Gregory, who had the honour of succeeding the illustrious Cullen as professor of medicine in the university of Edinburgh, cultivates philosophy and literature with no less success. His philosophical and literary essays prove him to be a good writer and a profound thinker; he has applied, in a new manner, mathematical demonstration to meta. physics; his opinions upon the liberty and necessity of human actions have given occasion to long and animated discussions. No family perhaps has produced a greater number of learned men than that of Dr Gregory. For two centuries, it has constantly contained celebrated mathematicians and medical practitioners; his father, well known in the learned world, by medical works, which have contribu ted to the fame of the university of Edinburgh; is also the author of a

moral

moral work, translated into almost all languages, entitled "A Father's Legacy to his daughters.".

The Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind," by Mr Dugald Stewart, another professor in the university of Edinburgh, will transmit his name to posterity as a man, who, with profound metaphysical genius, combines fancy and taste, whose knowledge embraces the whole circle of philosophy and literature, who is acquainted with the understanding and passions, who considers the character of man in his general nature, and such as it is presented by the manners existing in modern society.

MATHEMATICS, &c.

The university of Edinburgh, which has been rendered illustrious by the Maclaurins, the Gregories, and the Napiers, now contains few mathematicians of distinguished merit: Mr John Playfair is one of the number; he has published Elements of Geometry containing the six first books of Euclid, in the view of adapting the principles of ancient geometry to the actual state of the mathematical sciences, and to shew the advantages of the modern calculus. Mr Playfair has also written "Memoirs upon the astronomy and trigonometry of the Bramins," where he shews that these people must have made great progress in calcula tion from the most remote antiquity. Mr John Clerk is the author of the best work on naval tactics which has been written in England; it is entit. led, "Essay, systematical, historical, and practical, upon Naval Tactics," in 2 vols. 4to.; the first volume ap peared in 1782, and was reprinted with additions in 1790: the second appeared in 1797. The celebrated Rodney set the greatest value upon this work, and even wrote some remarks upon the first volume, which he communicated to the author. Admiral Duncan, in the action which he had in 1798 with the Dutch fleet, followed a plan marked out in this

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Anecdotes of the Life of Mr Fox. THE family of Fox was original

ly seated in Wiltshire, and William Fox, of Farley, in that county, is the first of whom any mention has been made. His youngest son, Sir Stephen, appears to have resided abroad during the exile of the Stuart family; and when the restoration took place, his merits and services were not overlooked. He attained the honour of knighthood, then not so lavishly bestowed as at present, and became, in succession, a clerk of the Green Cloth, a Lord of the Treasury, &c. but the most remarkable incident of his life, perhaps, is the circumstance of his becoming a father when almost an octogenarian ; for at this late period he married a second time, and was not only the founder of his own fortune, but also of two noble houses-those of Wchester and Holland. Nor ought it to be forgotten, that Chelsea Hospital, that noble and munificent asylum for our soldiers, is chiefly indebted to him for its existencer

Such was the grandfather of the subject of this memoir. Henry Fox, his father, embarked at an early period of life in the ocean of politics, and made prizes of some of the best offices in the gift of the crown. He was Secretary at War, Secretary of State, and then Paymaster General of the Forces; the last of which em. ployments rendered him obnoxious to censure, for being unpopular on account of his parliamentary conduct, which was of a high Tory complexion, the city of London was pleased to term him, in one of its addresses,

"the

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