We heartily wish that he may prosper in both his pursuits, and may soon return, laden with Russian gold and Danish ballads.

Letters upon the Establishment of the Volunteer Corps, and Domestic Military Arrangements of Great Britain. By James Ferguson, Esq. Advocate, Major, 1. Battn. 2. Regt. A.V.I. Arch. Constable and Co. Edinburgh; and John Murray, London. 3. 1806.

IN the present state of Britain and

of Europe, and the still more alarming prospects which threaten, no subject can be of such high and pressing importance as that which relates to the means of national defence; and it does not seem to have been yet investigated with that diligence which its importance and difficulty require. The country therefore is certainly much indebted to those who devote their abilities to its discussion. Without giving any opinion on the plans here brought forward, we shall give such a sketch of them as our limits will admit.

For improving the regular army Mr F. strenuously urges the necessicity of abolishing the sale of commissions. He suspects also that officers are too much employed at the desk, in the labour of returns, certificates, and correspondence, and thinks more military employments should be found out for them. Much, he admits, has been done in improving the condition of the soldiers, but alledges that sufficient care has not been taken to diffuse the knowledge of these provisions through the body of the people.

The militia, as it now stands, Mr F. proposes to abolish altogether, as inferior to the regular army, and at the same time tending to injure its recruiting.

Dec. 1806.

Instead of the volunteer system, our author proposes to substitute a levy en masse, which should include the whole male population. These to be commanded by the landholders and gentry; to be trained on Sundays, or days of leisure thro' the week ; and the unmarried, between eighteen and twenty-five, to be occasionally called out to permanent duty with the regulars. In case of actual service, all the men thus trained to be placed under officers of the line, and incorporated with the regular army; for Mr F.'s great principle is, that our force should be all of one kind,

and completely fitted for acting to

gether.

The following parallel between French and Prussian tactics seems well drawn:

I conceive, that very much of the etiquette and forms of dress, parade, manoeuvres, &c. of the system of Frederic the Great, served the purpose (just like the mummeries and manuals of intellect in the subordinate ranks, and false religions) to subdue and extinguish to place (if I may use the phrase) a monopoly of real military skill in the general. It certainly thus tended to insure subordination and steady obedience. But was it thus that inferiors could be qualified for exercising supreme command, when they might rise to the higher stations; or that the talents and exertions of individuals, could be most effectually stimulated? A monarch of transcendent and cultivated ability, thus, perhaps, made fit instruments for his own genius to employ; but, when the directing principle ceased, with his own life, to exist, had this system a good foundation for permanent superiority? Ever since the revolution of France, her system has been just the reverse. Her governments have stimulated to the utmost individual exertion, individual thought, individual claims, in all ranks of their armies. Is insubordination the consequence? Quite otherwise. The rival claims weigh against and keep down each other to the proper level; and balanced as they are, easily yield to the decision of the superior. But

other

other consequences have followed, of incalculable importance. The whole soul and strength of the officers and soldiers have been devoted to the acquisition and practice of what is really useful. Not a moment of time; not an exertion, has been wasted upon trifles or forms. Thus the objects of military discipline and training have become universally understood; and the qualities for real service being universally known and cultivated, have been universally acquired in the French armies. Hence the astonishing celerity of oper. ation, combination of means, and ready adaptation of the force employed, to all circumstances and objects, which have produced such stupendous changes and events. All these consequences flow naturally, nay, necessarily, from their obvious causes. If the differences between the two military systems have not been misunderstood, we have little room indeed to wonder, that, in one month, the armies and military reputation of Prussia have vanished before those of France.

P. 42.

On the volunteer system the author observes :

With regard to domestic troops, in every view, it would be a deception to conceal the circumstances which will always make them greatly inferior to regular soldiers, and more unfit to be relied on as the main part, or as any considerable part, much less as separate battalions or squadrons, of an army, for a close or general engagement with an nemy's army composed of veteran troops. But the very same circumstances, if I am not utterly mistaken, render forces, purely domestic, still more inadequate for ordinary field service of any duration, during actual hostilities, than for battle against such a foe.Twelve years of acquaintance, I should presume, will indeed impress, upon any fair mind, the most complete conviction, that the volunteer battalions are devoted in earnest to the cause of their country. Their disposition is as good, and, I doubt not, their resolution at present, as firm, as could be wished. That they would rush into danger but too eagerly, I firmly believe; and that their spirit and physical strength, were matters to

be brought instantly to that issue, might bear down all opposition, is not unlikely. But can such an opportunity be expected, in any general action, without delays, obstacles, and sufferings, from fatigue, and from the fire of the enemy? I apprehend not. It is in such circumstances, that the common feel. ings of our nature, unsubdued by habit and experience, and by a strong sense of the necessity of conquering them, would overpower us, Let the operations of war, with its privations, disasters, alarms, and labours, be prolonged even a few days, the husbandman and tradesman will think too naturally of his home and family, to which he may fly, and enjoy immediate relief. To the feelings of the moment, unaccustomed as he is to resist these, and invincible as they are, until subdued by painful discipline and struggles, he will sacrifice his country and the future. The soldier of the regulars has no such temptation: and he has conquered these weaknesses of our nature, which are not vicious, unless when opposite to habits and knowledge of duty that should have taught us to overcome them. To repel a sudden invasion, in this kingdom particularly, we should be under the necessity, I conceive, of relying chiefly on the volunteer battalions, while our ar rangements remain upon the present footing, I would therefore entreat my countrymen to consider, in case of retreat on account of inferiority or adverse for. tune, what the hardships must be to which they ought to make up their minds. The detail of the Prussian general Blucher will inform them what these must be, in such circumstances, even on our own soil, before an enemy superior in the field. Without shoes, bread, or rest, for weeks, under the storms and cold of winter, it may be indispensible to carry on the operations of war in retreat. But, would not the guidance and mixture of leaders and soldiers, to whom the unvoidable evils of war were familiar, then be invaluable among the inexperienced? Let each man put the question to himself, and he can give but one answer to it. How, then, are gratitude and attachment to be truly shewn to the members of the volunteer battalions? What is the duty of the individual who most admires their patriotism, and who, personally, is most bound to

them?

Upon the whole, without assenting to all the Author's conclusions, particularly with regard to the volunteers, (when he appears to have overlooked the decided preference of voluntary service, over dragging to the field an unwilling multitude) we consider his work as fully entitled to public attention, both from the importance of the subject and the ability with which it is treated. His style has little pretensions to eloquence (which indeed was hardly to be expected in a work of this kind) and it is occasionally too violent and impetuous. But he seems to be complete master of the subject, has treated it in an able and independent manner, and appears to be actuated by the most honourable and patriotic zeal for the interests of his country.

New Works Published in EDInburgh.

CO

OMMENTARIES on the Municipal and Mercantile Law of Scotland, in relation to Bankruptcy, Vol. II. Part II. 8vo. 8s. Acts of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, convened at Edinburgh 22d May 1806. 1s. 6d. A practical Treatise of Cantharides when used internally. By John Roberton, Surgeon. 8vo. 7s. Bibliotheca Sacra, or Dictionary of the Holy Scriptures, with Maps, &c. 2 vols. 8vo. 11. 2s. Letters on the establishment of the Volunteer Corps, and Domestic Mi. litary Arrangements of Great Britain. By James Ferguson, Esq. Advocate. 8vo. 3s.

Remarks on the Report of the Committee of the House of Peers relative to the Administration of Civil Justice in Scotland. 1s.

A

Scottish Literary Intelligence.

New edition of Herodotus, with

select annotations, and a Latin Index, from the edition Wesselingii and Reizii, and under the superin-" tendance of Professor Porson of Cambridge, and Dunbar of Edinburgh, has been printed in this town, and will be speedily published. It will correspond with Elinsly's Thucydides.

The Rev. James Hall has in the press, a Tour through Scotland, in two volumes, 8vo. Mr Hall travelled by an unusual route; and he visited, in particular, the Islands of Orkney and Shetland.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE, ENGLISH and FOREIGN.

HE late Mrs Charlotte Smith hav

TH

ing drawn up Memoirs of Part of her Literary Life, the same, accompanied by a Collection of her Letters, will shortly be presented to the world by one of the members of her family.

The first Fasciculus of Dr Smith's long expected Flora Græca Sibthorpiana will appear in the present month. It is already known to the public that this truly magnificent work is to contain one thousand plants, collected by the late Professor Sibthorpe in Greece, accurately coloured after nature, with descriptions, &c. by Dr Smith.

At the same time will appear a half volume of the Prodromus Flora Græcæ, which work will contain descriptions, &c. without figures, of all the plants to be found in modern Greece, compiled by Dr Smith, from the papers of Dr Sibthorpe.

Sir John Sinclair has nearly ready for publication, in four volumes octavo, his long promised Code of Health and Longevity; consisting of a detail of the circumstances which tend to promote health and longevity, with rules for preserving health,

Mr Bolingbroke, of Norwich, who has recently returned from Demerara, after a residence of five years in that and the adjoining colonies, intends to publish an Account of his Voyage: inclu

ding new and interesting particulars of the present condition of the various European settlements on that coast of South America.

Kotzebue's Novelties will appear within the first half of the month. This distinguished writer has for a considerable time resided at Berlin, and has there published a periodical paper, partly literary and partly political, calculated to infuse into the Germans some degree of public spirit, by which the encroachments of France might be resisted. The shower of stones, however, to which he alluded in the preface to his French travels, has reached him in the Prussian capital; and he has been forced to fly with his family to Riga, where he will, we hope, not be again overtaken by the French volcano.

The Life of Washington, drawn up from his own papers by the Chief Justice of the United States, will be com'pleted early in the month by the publication of the fifth and last volume. A variety of plans of battles, sieges, and other military operations, drawn by the General himself, or under his immediate direction, will be given with this last volume; combining, with the other features of the work, to render it the most perfect, as well as the most important piece of historical biography extant in any language.

Mr Pratt is about to present the pub. lic with an edition of his poem on “Sympathy," in an elegant pocket volume, ornamented with original engravings from designs of the most eminent masters. It is intended to be accompanied by a new-modelled edition of his "Cottage Pictures," embellished like. wise with interesting sketches.

Mr Frend's Evening Amusements will make their appearance early in December, on the same plan as those of the preceding years.

A Dissertation on the Hebrew Roots, pointing out their general influence on all known languages, an ingenious work, left in readiness for the press by the late Mr Pirie, of Newburgh, will be published in a few days.

The second volume of Oriental Customs, by the Rev. S. Burder, of St Albans, is finished, and will be published immediately. A new edition of the former volume will be ready for deli

very in a few weeks, in royal and demy

octavo.

Mr Cumberland's interesting Memoirs are about to appear in a cheaper and more portable form.

There is at present printing at Edinburgh, an Account of a Tour through the Orkney and Shetland Islands, by Mr Neill, Secretary to the Natural History Society of Edinburgh. The author, after describing the objects of natural history which occurred in his progress, treats fully of the state of agriculture and the fisheries in those much neglected and interesting islands. The Tour is to be followed by a Mineralogical Survey of Shetland, from the pen of Dr Traill of Liverpool, who lately visited those northern islands.

The Rev. David Bogue, of Gosport, and the Rev. James Bennet of Rum. sey, are preparing a History of the Dis. senters from the Revolution, to be comprized in four volumes.

Lord Lansdowne's manuscripts, which are speedily to be sold by public auction, form one of the richest collections of original state-papers which have ever been possessed by an individual.— A large portion of them were Lord Burleigh's; from whose secretary, till they came into the hands of Lord Shelburne, their descent may be regularly traced. Among other curiosities, they contain a great many royal letters, mostly, if not all, originals.

The Emperor Alexander has suppressed the Imperial Seminary for the reception of young ladies, founded by the Empress Elizabeth on the same model as the convent of St Cyr in France. In the preamble of his edict, he declares that those funds may be used to greater advantage if applied to the education of those youths who are intended to serve their country; and that the education of a female, being limited to domestic management, she will learn it sooner in her father's house, than in a sumptuous establishment, where it is vainly attempted to teach the sciences, the knowledge of which Nature forbids

them.

details as that of Acerbi, but is considered as being entitled to more credit.

Von Mechel is occupied, in company with Messrs Humboldt, and De Buch the travellers, Tralles, the mathematian, and Bode the astronomer, in preparing a grand work for publication. It is to be a copper-plate, which will exhibit a general picture of 150 of the highest mountains on the globe, with an exact measurement of their several heights above the level of the sea.Mr Riddel is doing the same thing in England from his own original materials.

M. Fischet, of Vienna, has discovered a new process to whiten straw. He dresses it in muriatic acid, saturated with potash. The straw thus prepared never turns yellow; is of a most shining white, and acquires great flexibility. The Easter catalogue at Leipsic contained 3,077 articles, among which there were 257 of divinity; 231 of jurisprudence, including political economy; 66 of philosophy; 177 on education; 59 on natural history; 88 on mathematics; and 77 on geography and relations of travels. The last Michaelmas fair `was less abundant: the catalogue did not exceed 644 articles. The works contained in the Michaelmas catalogue are, Morality, 31; education, 79, Belles Lettres, 29; The Fine Arts, 15; Ancient and Modern Languages, 58; Di vinity and Sermons, 88; Law, 55; Physic and Surgery, &c. 93; Mathematics, 30; Natural History, &c. 45; Rural Economy, &c. 49; Economy, Useful Arts, &c. 50; Commerce, 11; Political Economy, 21; History, 31; Biography, 19; Literary History, 8; Geography and Topography, 28; Tra. vels, 16; Statistics, 5; Novels, &c.' 63; Almanacks, 61; Genealogy and Chronology, 2.

Portalis, the minister for public worship, is sending missionaries to China, and they are to set off this year, accompanied by a skilful astronomer.

We congratulate our country on the ascendency of English literature at Paris, and on the commencement of a Monthly Repertory of English Litera

ture to be printed there in English.It will contain a catalogue of all the books published in Great Britain, and reviews at large of every work deserving notice, (party politics excepted,) together with the proceedings of learned societies; the progress of the fine arts; theatrical productions; patents for new discoveries; biographical memoirs of remarkable persons deceased; reports on the state of agriculture, com merce, &c. &c. reprinted chiefly from the Monthly Magazine. Such a publication has, we learn, been long wished for in France, where the readers of English authors have increased tenfold within these few years; and where,' we are also enabled to state, that, in spite of political differences, the English nation and character are respected by all ranks more than they ever were.

Dr Hager has been appointed Professor of the Oriental Languages in the University of Pavia, the first school of learning in Italy.

The Grand Siguior's press, established at Scutari, has produced the following works:-1. A Commentary on a book called "The Revelation of Mysteries," 267 pages, in small 4to.-2. A Com mentary on the Book of the Hundred Regents, 88 pages, small 4to.-3. An Arabie Grammar, from Yrub Awamel, 118 pages, in small 4to. The Books of Euclid, in the Arabic language, with the Commentaries of Bonnyscastle.

A printing press, with Bengal and Nagree characters, has been recently established at Calcutta, for the purpose of printing Sanscrit books. Sir George Colebrooke, we understand, has a copy of Pilpay's fables in Sanscrit. His son, J. Colebrooke, Esq, (author of Essays on the Husbandry and Internal commerce of Bengal, and who has lately been appointed President of the Asiatic Society) has just published the first vol. of a Sanscrit Grammar, which has not yet arrived in this country. In a short time the best Sanscrit books will be found printed in our universities, with dictionaries and grammars of that language.

A ninth volume of Transactions of the Asiatic Society is in the press.

POETRY.