The eleventh and twelfth chapters treat of the proportion which the principal ftates of Europe have fettled between gold and filver, of the refpective value of thefe metals,-of the present state of the coin in England, France, and Holland, with respect to weight, intrinfic value, alloy, &c. of mints, and especially of thofe erected in the United Provinces. From hence he proceeds, in the thirteenth chapter, to the confideration of what he calls univerfal money, that is, gold and filver in bars or ingots, which are received in payment for the coining of piafters of every kind, Spanish or Portugueze, ducats of Holland and Venice, fequins, rykfdaalers, &c. Here we have a particular account of the commerce carried on in thefe fpecies, not only in Europe, but in the Turkish empire, in the different parts of Afia, and even

in India.

The fourteenth chapter, which concludes this volume, ex-hibits, among other objects worthy of attention, the unhappy effects of railing the value of the circulating fpecies at different times; and that even fince the discovery of America, when gold and filver became fo much more abundant than they had been before that period. It was, indeed, natural to think, that a quantity of thefe precious metals, amounting to the value of forty millions fterling, imported annually into Europe, muft have lowered confiderably the value of the feveral coins that were in currency; but, through the ruinous expedients employed by fovereigns, the contrary has happened; the value of current coin has been raised, and, while the ftate has fuffered for this tranfitory method of fupplying its neceffities, the common people have, by these variations, feen the recompence of their induftry augmented in appearance, but not in reality: receiving more in fpecie, but the fame in value, while the price of provifions has rifen in confequence of the treasure that flowed in upon us from the New World. Our Author proposes shewing, in his fecond volume, how this evil has been augmented by paper circulation. In the mean time, not only the adepts in commercial knowledge, but alfo the generality of readers, will find entertainment in this work, which contains a variety of historical anecdotes,-efpecially fuch as are relative to the United Provinces

II. Nouvelle Defeription du Cap de Bonne Efperance, avec un Journal Hiftorique, &c. i. e. A new Defcription of the Cape of. Good Hope, together with an historical Journal of a Voyage made by Land into the interior parts of Africa (pursuant to the Orders of M. RYK TULBACH), by a Caravan of Eighty-five Perfons, under the Command of Mr. HENRY HOP. 4to. Amfterdam. 1778.Here we have a specious and promifing title to a work, which appears to be little better than a bookfeller's job. The defcription of the Cape, that precedes the Hiftorical Journal, is but a

Shabby

fhabby compilation of fcraps taken from Kolben and the Abbé de la Caille. The Hiftorical Journal itself, may be authentic, but it is trivial and barren beyond expreffion: it does not contain a fingle fact or discovery of any moment; and there is not, even a map to indicate the route of the eighty-five obscure travellers, and their unknown guide.-The editor tells us, that he obtained this Hiftorical Journal by the good offices of a certain Dutch minifter called BUUST; but we know nothing of this

It is true, a name well known in the republic of letters, even that of Profeffor Allamand of Leyden, is made use of in the advertisement, to give credit to this publication ;-but we can scarcely think that this learned philofopher could have lent a helping hand to fo forry a production; and we are inclined to believe that the notes, relative to natural history, which we find fubjoined to this meagre journal, have not been composed at all for the occafion. They feem rather to have been taken from the Amfterdam edition of Buffon's Natural History, which Mr. Allamand has enriched with fome very interefting defcriptions and obfervations, derived from his correfpondence with the literati in both hemifpheres. The fame book feller (Schneider) bookseller who published the Amfterdam edition of M. Buffon's Natural Hiftory, is the Editor of the work before us; and fixteen plates, representing animals, which had already appeared in the fame afpect and dimenfions in Buffon's work, would almoft tempt us to think that this work was compiled with a defign to usher them again into the world.

After the Journal, we find a report made of this uninstructive voyage, in which we only learn that the travellers could not come at what was the greatest object of their expedition, even the discovery of an African nation, of a fallow complexion and clothed with linen. They do not feem to have approached nearer to the equator than about the 26th degree of fouth latitude; and then returned, as it appears, because their carriages were shattered, and their oxen, that drew them, tired or ftolen; and also because they were afraid of wanting water. Thus they came back as they went; but not in confequence of quarrels and divifions among themselves as Mr. Bougainville affirms in his fallacious account of this expedition ;which was set on foot by TULBACH, Governor of the Cape, a spirited man, and a zealous promoter of useful undertakings.

The only part of this publication which deferves any attention, is that which we find in the laft ten pages. There we have a defcription of the wax-tree (by the botanifts called Myrica Cerifera), which has been long known in Louisiana, the Carolinas, Virginia, &c. and has been lately discovered at the Cape of Good Hope, where great pains are actually taken to render it an useful object of commerce. We fhall take no no

tice of what is here faid of the drug Daffenpis, produced from the urine of an animal called, at the Cape, Klipdas, and employed by the Hottentots as an univerfal remedy for all internal difeases: because what may be good for an Hottentot, in medical matters, as well as convivial, may be bad for an European. GERM ANY.

III. Materialen für die Statiflick und neuere Staaten Gefchichte, &c. i. e. Political Memoirs to ferve as Materials for the compofition of Modern Hiflory, collected by Mr. DOHм. 8vo. Lemgo. 1778. This mifcellaneous book is a collection of extracts from political works published in different countries, and of thofe pamphlets and fugitive pieces, which, from their difperfion, being generally configned to oblivion, are best preferved when affembled together.This volume contains fome pieces relative to the American contest, and many articles concerning other nations. In the article of Denmark we find the charter that was granted to the Afiatic company in 1772, for twenty years, and the contract of that company, as alfo the pieces that were published in the affair of Count Struenfee. In the article of Spain, there is a memoir on the population, manufactures, and commerce of that country; the thirtieth part of whofe inhabitants are ecclefiaftics, and which does not employ for itself the twentieth part of the gold it draws from Peru. The pieces that treat of the French commerce, and particularly of the trade and manufactures of Languedoc, are drawn from the dictionary of Expilly, and other writers.

IV. Dictionnaire Hiflorique de la Medicine, Ancienne et Moderne, ou Memoires difpofés en Ordre Alphabetique pour fervir à l'Hiftoire de cette Science, &c. i. e. An Hiftorical Dictionary of Phyfic, Ancient and Modern, or Memoirs ranged in alphabetical Order, and defigned as an Hiftory, not only of Phyfic, but also of the Phyficians, Anatomifts, Botanists, Surgeons, and Chemifts of all Nations. By M. N. F. J. ELOY, M. D. and Phyfician in Ordinary to his Serene Highness Prince Charles of Lorraine. 4to. 1778. This important work is executed in a masterly manner. 4 vols. V. J. G. WALTERI M. D. Phyfic. et Anatom. Profefforis Primarii Obfervationes Anatomica,-Hiftoria Monftri Bifcorporis, duobus Capitibus, tribus pedibus, pectore pelvique concreti,-Cura renovate de Anaflomofi tubulorum lactiferorum mammæ muliebris; concrementa terreftria; vena capitis et colli, cum figuris ad vivum expreffis. In Folio, with thirteen Plates. Berlin. 1778. This work is worthy of the great reputation of its Author, who is one of the first anatomifts of the prefent age. Befides the ob fervations of Profeffor WALTER on the two-bodied monster, exhibiting two heads, three feet, and conjoined by the breaft and pelvis, which are fingle, there are other interesting anatomical fubjects treated in this volume,-such as a farther examina

tion of the anastomosis of the lacteal ducts in the breasts of women,-terrene concretions,-and the veins of the head and neck.

VI. Entdeckungen der neuesten Zeiten in der Arzney Gelahrheit, &c. i. e. An Account of the Discoveries made by the Moderns in Medical Science. By Mr. GESNER. By Mr. GESNER. Nordlingen. Nordlingen. 1778. This eminent phyfician fhews an acute and learned touch in diftinguishing apparent difcoveries from real ones, and his refearches extend to the theory as well as to the practice of phyfic.

VII. Sammlung der neuesten gedruckten und gefchriebenen Nachrichten von Magnetcuren, &c. i. e. A Collection of the most recent Accounts, printed or in MSS., of Cures performed by the Loadftone, particularly thofe of Mr. Mefmer. Leipfic. 1778.

This is an ufeful and curious collection.

VIII. Expofitio brevis Locorum Sacræ Scripturæ ad Orientem fefe referentium, in quibus vel mentio expreffa vel allufio faltem ad Orientis Naturam, Ufus, Confuetudines, &c. i. e. A concife Explication of the Paffages of Holy Scripture, which either directly or by Allufion relate to the Climate, Customs, Manners, &c. of the Eaft, compofed from accurate Obfervations (mostly his own made on the Spot), by CHRIST. WILL. LÜDECKE, Paftor, &c. Halle. 1778. This learned Author, who is already known by a Defcription of the Turkish Empire, published fome years ago, and much efteemed, refided for a confiderable time at Conftantinople, Smyrna, and other cities of the Levant, and availed himself of this occafion of acquiring accurate notions of the prefent ftate of these countries. It is from thefe obfervations, made by himself, and compared with thofe that have been made by others, that he throws light upon feveral paffages of the facred hiftorians; and illuftrates many things relative to the agriculture, gardens, vineyards, animals, drefs, buildings, manner of travelling, as alfo to the political and military conftitution, and religious cuftoms of the eastern countries.

IX. Merkwurdigkeiten von Portugal, &c. i. e. Remarks on Portugal, or a compendious Account of the Nature of that Country, the Character of the Inhabitants, and its different Revolutions; together with fome recent Anecdotes, &c. Part I. Leipfic and Francfort. 8vo. 1778. This first part carries the remarks of this anonymous author as far down as the year 1245, when Capellus, the fucceffor of Sancho II. reigned. We find here the character of the antient Portugueze, the state of their country under the government of the Romans, and the revolu tions it underwent in the middle age.

FRANCE.

X. Though a French translation of a claffic, and particularly of a Greek, author, does not generally found well to

the

the ear of a good scholar in Oxford, Cambridge, or Leyden; yet fome exceptions may modify the feverity of this general obfervation.-The Greek Theatre of the Jefuit Brumoi, the Odes of Pindar by Chabanon, the Hymns of Callimachus by De la Porte du Theil, and feveral tranflations by M. Dupuis, have deferved. and obtained the applaufe of the public: not to speak of the figure that fuch men as Fraguier, Sallier, Capperonier, and feveral others of the French nation have made in Grecian literature. The following work, particularly when we confider the excellent notes with which it is accompanied, deserves an eminent rank among the philological productions of modern times, L'Expedition de Cyrus dans l'Afie Superieure, et la Retraite de Dix Mille, &c i. e. The Expedition of Cyrus into the Greater Afia, and the Retreat of the Ten Thoufand; tranflated from the Greek, and accompanied with historical, critical, and geographical Notes, by M. L'ARCHER of the Academy of Sciences and Belies Lettres of Dijon. 2 Vols. 12mo. Paris. 1778. This tranflation is accurate, elegant, and worthy of the reputation of M. L'Archer. The notes throw no fmall light on the customs, manners, ceremonies, and arts of ancient Greece; the learned Tranflator has employed great fagacity and induftry alfo in grammatical observations defigned to restore the true readings of the Greek text, which have been miferably corrupted; and his corrections are always fupported by excellent MSS. in the French King's library. M. L'Archer reproaches Xenophon with having drawn too flattering a portrait of the younger Cyrus, difguifed the vices of Clearchus, and disfigured feveral parts of his noble work by fuperftitious remarks and narrations: but we think these reproaches rather exaggerated.-We expect a tranflation of Herodotus from this learned man, who is certainly well qualified for fuch an undertaking..

XI. Traité fur l'Art des Sieges et les Machines des Anciens, &c. i. e. A Treatife concerning the Sieges and Machines of the Ancients, containing a Comparison of their Methods of Attack with those of the Moderns, in order to fhew the Identity of their Principles, and the Reasons that occafioned the Difference in their Application. By M. JOLY DE MAIZEROY, Colonel of Infantry, and Member of the Academy of Infcriptions and Belles Lettres. 8vo. Paris. 1778. This work will be well received on account of the name of the Author, who has already employed his pen with fuccefs in treating several branches of this terrible art. It is divided into four parts or fections. In the first the Author fhews how cities, in the times of old, were fhut up and defended against a siege, and defcribes the different forts of machines that were used, both in the attack and in the defence. He traces back these machines to their first invention and origin in the Eaft; and fhews how they were improved by the Greeks in process of time,

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