The Popish Bishop thought, perhaps, as he was on Irish ground, that he must brandish a shillelah, and break a few pates. The national beverage of whiskey may, for aught we know, have infuriated his mind; nor let any one stare at our attributing the twist in Dr. M.'s understanding to so potent a liquor, which has produced much more serious effects, than giving a vertigo to a Popish Bishop. Whiskey, next to Popery, is said to have been the most serious cause of the Irish rebellion; and it is not improbable that, in like manner, Dr. M. indited his Tour, from compound inspiration. Certainly, however, the Dr. has no where stumbled on the unwished-for honour" (to use his own phrase) of writing like a man of an enlightened mind, liberal education, and gentlemanly forbearance, no more than he had when in Ireland, as he says, the "unwished-for honour of being acquainted with Sir Richard Musgrave, Bart. Dr. Duigenan, Dr. Ledwich, and such like worthy characters; who, without doubt, must have panted for the high distinction of being seen walking in the streets of Dublin with the Popish Bishop of Castobella, a circumstance which could not have failed to canonise them in the eyes of the Popish multitude, and to absolve them from their notorious and crying sins of loyalty, and attachment to a Protestant state. It may not be amiss, in this place, to inform the reader why Dr. M. discovers such ungovernable rage, and shakes his angry mitre at the aforesaid worthy characters-atherwise, such paroxysms of fury in a Popish Prelate would be as unaccountable as they are unbecoming. Sir R. Musgrave happens to have spoken the truth in a History of the Irish Rebellion, and Dr. M. is ashamed of, and offended at, the likeness of the portrait to the original. The honour, therefore, of the historian's acquaintance, would not have been unwished for by Dr. M. if he had displayed less fidelity in his drawing, if be had softened and flattered the harsh features of Popery with an agreeable air of contented loyalty, as a certain bowing and obsequious English Baronet has done; so that here, as elsewhere, obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit. Next comes Dr. Duigenan he, it seems, is more inclined to bite than to kiss the toe of his holiness; him, therefore, Dr. M. never wishes to see at St. Peter's, or to initiate in the mysteries of St. Winifred's well. Last of all comes Dr. Ledwich, on antiquarian ground, whom Dr. M. tries to strangle with Turkish jealousy. Dr. Ledwick has been guilty of a great crime in the eyes of Dr. M. by denying the existence of St. Patrick. It would have been as well, perhaps, if Dr. L. had not dived into the recesses of antiquity with such a staunch love of truth, as to confine the existence of St. Patrick, and the serpents he destroyed, to the regions of fiction and romance. Dr. L. with equal boldness, and more guilt in the opinion of Dr. M. has denied that such an antiquated maiden as St. Bridget ever counted her beads, or shunned "the unwished-for honour" of male society in Ireland. The gallantry of Dr. M. takes fire on this occasion. It is ludicrous to see what a warm advocate the Popish Bishop is for the existence and miracles of such musty female saints. We shall continue our remarks on some future occasion.

P.

THE so long announced "Fifty-two Lectures on the Church Ca techism, by the Rev. Sir Adam Gordon, Bart. Prebendary of Bristol, and Rector of West Tilbury," will be published this month, in 2 vols. 8vo.

THE author of All the Talents and of The Comet has announced a poem, intitled "The Statesman," which will contain biographical sketches of Mr. Pitt, Mr. Fox, Lord Nelson, &c.

DR. MAVOR is about to produce a work on which he has been long engaged... A Series of Catechisms on Popular Subjects.-The Mother's Catechism, A Catechism of Health, and another on Ge neral Knowledge, will appear in a few days, and be followed, in rapid succession, by others on English History, Universal History, Geography, Animated Nature, Botany, the Laws and Constitution of England, The Bible, &c.-They are intended to sell sepa rately, or to form, when collected, two very neat pocket volumes.

MR. CUSTANCE has in the press a New and Improved Edition of his Concise View of the Constitution of England.

MR. BRADLEY of Wallingford has prepared, under the sanction of Dr. Valpy and other distinguished preceptors, A Series of Grammatical Questions adapted to Lindley Murray's Grammar, with copious Notes and Illustrations. The idea was suggested by Morgan's very useful book, the Grammatica Questiones.

MR. YORICK WILSON, Veterinary Surgeon, of Lemington near Warwick, has in the press an improved Practical Treatise on Farriery, entitled "The Gentleman's Veterinary Monitor." It is the result of his own experience in the various Diseases of Horses, and prescribes humane and rational methods of Cure without the assistance of a farrier. It likewise treats on Breeding, Training, Purchasing, Riding, Management on a Journey and in the Stable, &c. The Work will appear in a few days in a Portable Size.

CORRESPONDENCE..

THE Defence of Public Schools, and several other communications, shall appear in the Appendix to Vol. 32, which will be published with our next Number on the 1st of June, containing a review of foreign literature in Spanish, Portuguese, &c. &c.

APPENDIX

TO

VOL. XXXII.

OF THE

Antijacobin Review.

Histoire Romaine depuis la Fondation de Rome jusqu'au Regne d'Auguste, c.

Roman History from the Foundation of Rome to the Reign of Augustus. By James Corentin-Royou. 4 vols. 8vo. Le Norman, Paris, 1809.

THE Roman history has been so often related, and în so many different forms and manners, that its capital could now scarcely contain the volumes to which it has given existence. To enumerate the authors, even of the more celebrated histories of that once most powerful of all nations, would occupy the pages of a considerable volume. The greater part of the French writers have employed themselves in translating or writing histories, or disquisitions on the history, of Rome; but, with the exception of Rollin, whose work is still read, and some dissertations by Montesquieu and St. Real, they have almost all sunk into oblivion. Still, however, new Roman histories find readers; and whether it is owing to juvenile prejudices in favour of the Romans, to any peculiar merit which is felt by all classes and nations, or to the growing insatiability of the literary appetite for novelty, most persons can always take up, with renewed pleasure, a well-written account of the ancient people of Italy. One cause, however, of the universality of respect to the Romans, is the circumstance of their language being no longer the vernacular dialect of any living people. As much laborious application is requisite to acquire it, persons are consequently somewhat proud of the acquisition; and if there be any truth in the observation of Charles the Fifth, that " he who knows four languages is equal to four men," this pride is neither unjustifiable nor injurious to society. Few men, indeed, of inferior minds, can ever taste the philosophical elegance of Sallust, or the apophthegmatical sentenAPPENDIX, Anti-Jac. Rev. Vol. 32.

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tiousness of Tacitus, and all who can, are decided admirers of the Roman historians and literature. In this manner the empire of the Latins is extended and perpetuated centuries after the national existence of these people is no more. In addition to this, there is a certain majesty or loftiness in the structure of the language, a kind of military dignity, if we may so call it, which is not to be found in any living tongue, and which could not exist in a country where the nobles and the peasantry are equally accustomed to write in the same dialect. The style of those who command will always possess something characteristic; but when blended with that of those who obey, it must lose some of its imperious dignity, although it may not of its elegance and simplicity. Rome never attained that general civilization which now prevails over Europe; and in transferring our admiration of the heroes and philosophers, whose works have survived the wreck of time, to the whole Roman people, we naturally forget the deplorable semi-barbarous state from which the great majority of the empire never emerged. The licentiousness which followed the age of philosophy, valour, and patriotism, was also accompanied by a consequent decadence in literature, which terminated in the total extinction of the language of Cicero, Cæsar, and Virgil.

Notwithstanding, however, the number of Roman histories, we know of no complete one, properly adapted for general use; almost all are either too brief or too voluminous. From France, indeed, we shall not expect such a work. Frenchmen are too much accustomed to deal in fiction, ever to produce a history of Rome, or of any other country, which might be advantageously introduced into schools. To form a just idea of any country, it is necessary to have a faithful picture of its manners; this is beyond the abilities of a Frenchman; for whether he sketches the portrait of a Roman or a Chinese, still the manner, the genius, and the character, of his country obtrude themselves on the attention of the spectator. The histories of Rollin, although not altogether the best in their language, are perhaps the most generally admired in other countries; yet they should rather be accounted a series of pleasing historical tales, arranged in chronological order, than legitimate histories. To be agreeable is the sole object of French historians; and, with the utmost indifference about being instructive, they a lopt a manière effleuré, with a chronological table, as the perfection of history. There is, too, another disadvantage attending this flowery and high-coloured view of historical events and manners, that it invariably presents the reader with deceptive notions of the real state and nature of things, ex

alts frivolous actions, depresses noble ones, and blends virtue and vice into a common harmony of general amenity, very different from what really exists in the world. The same spirit pervades all their writings; their descriptions and narratives, whether of remote events, or of the recent battles of their country, are all equally delusive.

The author of the volumes before us has adopted the plan of Rollin, and has before furnished the world with histories of the Republic, the Emperors, and the Lower Empire. M. CorentinRoyou, in his preface, arranges his work, as usual, with his countrymen, very methodically, and expresses his opinion of the works of his predecessors in the same field. He divides the history of the Republic into four principal divisions, which furnish the subject of as many volumes. Commencing with Rome from its infancy, he exposes the fables respecting it, which are found even in the best authors; and with some industry shews the successive progress of the government, amidst the storms of liberty, and the obstacles of foreign war. He pursues this subject, like a drama, till the moment when Rome, becoming mistress of Italy, after having expelled Pyrrhus, began to experience a change in her manners, as a presage of what she might afterwards expect. The first volume ends with the year of Rome 486, or 268 before the Christian æra. following is our author's view of the state of morals and civilization of Rome at that period.

The

"While the Republic extended its domination and its influence externally, the citizens of the interior signalized themselves by examples of courage and moderation. The conduct of Rutilius, who feared not to censure the whole Roman people, has justly excited admiration. Having been continued in the office of Censor, without being placed in the rank, he immediately convened the people, reproached them pointedly for having deviated from the prudence of their fathers, who, in consequence of the great authority of this magistracy, reduced its duration, and proposed and issued a law prohibiting it from being conferred twice on the same person, in future.

3

"The morals in general were good at this period; but exceptions could then be noticed. In 456 of the foundation of Rome, the Ediles brought to justice a great number of the citizens, whom they accused of possessing more land than the laws allowed; almost all were condemned. Three years afterwards some usurers and adultresses were fined. The time had not then arrived, when the immense number of guilty silenced the laws."

Such brief reflections are no doubt very pleasing; but they want that compass, that comprehensive power and energy, which are indispensable to convey just, notions of the Roman