his friends, and by them, among several biblicists of distinction. It obtained for him many valuable communications from Dr. Winstanley, from the late Dr. Horsley, and from the Reminiscent's learned friend, who now adorns the see of Peterborough. Availing himself of these, he was enabled to present his work to the public in a less imperfect form. Such as it is, it has been favourably received, and is now in its fifth edition. It has been translated into the French language. 2. The second part of the Hora Biblicæ, is a sequel to the first; and gives a succinct view of the books accounted sacred by other eastern nations. It may be thought to possess some value, as it brings together many curious facts respecting the Oriental Creeds, which are not generally known, and which lie widely scattered: it is now in its fourth edition. The writer received considerable assistance, in the part relating to the Edda, from Mr. Pinkerton, and in the part respecting the ZendAvesta, from sir William Ousley. Since the publication of it, much useful information respecting the sacred and profane literature of the Hindus, has been communicated to the public, by Mr. Colebrook, Mr. Stracey, and other Hindustanee scholars: the writer apprehends that they have rather confirmed than impeached his humble pages. It has sometimes occurred to him that a young gentleman of fortune, talents, and mental energy, could not employ them better, than by placing himself in Benares, and thence making excursions over all the adjacent parts of central Asia, to discover the remains of its ancient arts, science, and literature. It is probable that so laudable a pursuit would be rewarded with the richest spoil. How very interesting is the discovery of the Indian algebra ! -What reasonable hopes of further discoveries does it not raise! --- 3. Two tracts are added to the second part of the Hora Biblica:-One, A Dissertation on a supposed general Council of Jews, held at Agéda in Germany, in 1650: -the other, An Historical Account of the Controversy respecting the 1 John, ch. 5. v. 7,-commonly called the verse of the Three Heavenly Witnesses. The Reminiscent believes he has shown the fabulousness of the Council,and given an impartial account of the Controversy. The arguments against the authenticity of the verse are very strong; but the admission of it into the confession of faith presented by the Catholic bishops to Hunneric, the Vandal king, is an argument of weight in its favour. The statement of it by the Reminiscent, was allowed by Mr. Porson, the late learned adversary of the verse, to deserve attention: he promised the writer to reply to it. XV. SUCCINCT HISTORY OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL AND POLITICAL REVOLUTIONS OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE-FRENCH REVOLUTION. IN 1806, when the emperor of Austria publicly renounced the empire of Germany, a question arose in the Pavilion at Brighton, on the territorial extent of the countries renounced and retained by the emperor. This led the Reminiscent to investigations, which insensibly produced his "Succinct History of the geographical and "political revolutions of the empire of Germany, or the "principal states, which composed the empire of Charle 66 magne, from his coronation in 800, to its dissolution in “1806, with some account of the Imperial House of Haps"burgh and of the Six Secular Electors of Germany; and " of Roman, German, French, and English Nobility.” The composition of this work involved the Reminiscent in the abyss of German and Italian genealogists; but his grand resource was Anderson's Genealogical Tables ;—a work of the most profound and extensive erudition. A new edition of it, corrected, enlarged, and brought down to the present time, would be an invaluable present to the literati of every nation: but such a work is too expensive to be printed, otherwise than by a large subscription ;-and for such subscriptions, this is not the hour!--On a recent inquiry the Reminiscent found that Anderson's genealogical collections were still in existence. Another work, which the Reminiscent found of the greatest use in framing this historical compilation, is, "Tableau des Révolutions de l'Europe, par M. Koch;" the last edition of it is in four volumes: he begs leave to recommend it strongly to all his readers. The writer attempted to give, in his Revolutions of the German empire, a succinct view of Roman, German, and French nobility: An arduous task!—he was assisted in it by M. de Bourblanc, the attorney-general in the parliament of Rennes, one of the many emigrants, who edified this country by their persevering loyalty and dignified patience, under their severe and long-protracted trial. This work is in its third edition: it may be found useful in enabling persons to obtain a general knowledge of the states, which were formed out of the empire of Charlemagne or the states, of which the continent of modern Europe is composed. The Reminiscent has given in it, what he believes every author of the present time has given in some part or other of his works, his own notions of the causes and probable effects of the French Revolution. There does not perhaps exist any history of it so well written as the accounts of it in the "Annual Register," printed for the proprietors of Dodsley's publication with that title. It is greatly to be wished that these parts of it were published separately: We extract from the volume for the year 1793, the following account of the civil and military proceedings of the French Directory: the pleasure, which we are sure our readers will find in the perusal of it, will, we trust, be thought by them a sufficient apology for its insertion. "No political assembly recorded in history ever did "much greater or worse things, than the National Con"vention. As it consisted of men, chosen by a populous nation, it partook of the dispositions that characterized "the various partisans of the people of France; of the "fire and impetuosity of temper, that mark the inhabit"ants of the southern provinces, and the pertinacity and "unyieldingness of mind, that are usually found in those "of the northern parts. But that, which will eternize "the memory of this famous assembly, is the undaunted "audacity with which it shook off those ideas, that, im"planted by education, and confirmed by the habit of "years, remain so obstinately fixed in the human mind. "Monarchy and catholicism, the two favourite objects "of the French nation, sanctioned by the attachment "and veneration of centuries, began to totter the very "first moment of their meeting, and were completely "overthrown, as soon as they attempted to regain their "preponderance; so entirely had these artful and en terprising men obtained the confidence and prepos"session of the multitude. When they had new moulded "the public mind according to their own form, they con"ceived the vast prospect of extending the same in 66 "fluence over their neighbours; and they succeeded "beyond their own expectations, and even beyond the "fears of their enemies. They did, for the grandeur "of France, more than had been done in its most triumphant periods, and more than had ever been done for a century by its most victorious rulers. They did "those things, through means not heretofore imagined. "—All was new and unprecedented in their hands; they "created, as it were, the very materials with which so "many stupendous deeds were performed: their states men, their generals, their soldiers, were of their own "formation. When they began the execution of the vast "plans they had formed, they had the whole world to "encounter; all kings, all states, all nations, were at once their declared, and as they menaced destruction "to every establishment but their own, their necessary "enemies. What rendered their actions peculiarly "striking and marvellous, the actors, in those astonishing "scenes, were men wholly unknown to their own "country, before they assumed the reins of government : 66 they were not conspicuous either by birth, station, or "riches: their consequence was innate, and called forth "by a singularity of events, without which it must have "remained in that obscurity, which is the attendant of "all those talents, however great, that are not brought "forth by great occasions. No assembly ever displayed "a more astonishing mixture of shining qualities and of "atrocious vices. Ambitious, cruel, unprincipled, are "epithets inadequate to convey an opposite idea of their "enormities. They were true to their character from "the very beginning; overturning without scruple or remorse, whatever stood in their way, and compassing "their ends, without ever adverting to the rectitude or 66 |