COMMERCE.

The markets have not presented any very remarkable features during the course of the last month, the variation in the prices of some articles having, it should seem, chiefly arisen from the state of the weather, as affecting the supply. The rumours of war between France and Spain, though not wholly done away, appear to have in a great measure subsided here, and hostilities are considered as the more improbable, as it seems to be understood that the King of France is personally averse to attacking Spain. On the other hand, there appears to be not the smallest probability that Spain will become the aggressor, though the manner in which the declarations of the Powers composing the Holy Alliance have been received by the Spanish nation and government, seems to prove that all parties would cordially unite in repelling any attack. Yet both Portugal and Spain appear to be convinced, that an armed interference, for the purpose of overthrowing their new Constitution, is intended; and this persuasion has led to negociations between Spain and Great Britain, the object and result of which are hitherto imperfectly known; but which promise to be productive of the most important advantages to this country. In the beginning of December Sir W. A'Court, the British Ambassador at Madrid, was charged by his Government to claim an indemnity for the losses sustained by English subjects, from pirates under the Spanish flag. This indemnity had been repeatedly claimed, but constantly evaded, if not rejected; and England would probably have found it difficult, under other circumstances, to obtain satisfaction; but the policy of the Continental Powers rendering it necessary for Spain not to offend those that still remain its friends, England has judged this a favourable moment for bringing forward its claims, and has insisted on their being acceded to as an indispensable condition of its alliance. The Spanish Minister, San Miguel, having rejected the demands of the English Minister, the latter declared, that orders would be issued by his Court to detain Spanish ships to the amount of the indemnity claimed.

This

threat induced his Majesty to order M. Gasco, Minister of the Interior, to write to the Spanish Consuls in the several ports of Spain, acquainting them with this fact, and also that ships of war had sailed from the English ports to occupy certain Spanish colonies. The Minister added, that there was no doubt that this affair would be amicably adjusted. Such were the external forms of these remarkable negociations, which were supposed by many persons to have been designed as a cover for others of a much more interesting nature. Certain it is, that there never was a greater union between the two powers than at this moment, and that the commercial discussion has not at all affected the great political question, in which Spain, England, and Portugal, appear to be perfectly agreed. The general result, as far as it has transpired, seems to be, that Spain has not concluded a commercial treaty with England, but that the resolutions adopted by the Cortes are equivalent to a positive convention, by means of which the Peninsula will be supplied by Great Britain exclusively, with all articles necessary for its internal consumption. The Cortes have also left it to the government to adopt all suitable measures respecting the acknowledgment of the independence of the revolted colonies. Meantime the ports of those provinces are thrown open by Spain to the ships and merchandize of her allies. It is the same with the ports of Cuba; and in case of need, that island will receive from some ally of Spain (viz. England) a sufficient force to maintain the authority of the government. Finally, the Cortes have decreed the creation of two millions of reals, of annuities, inscribed in the great book of the public debt. These new annuities are to meet the claims of the English government on account of the piracies committed under the Spanish flag. The immense importance of these measures to the commerce of Great Britain is evident. We cannot but entertain the hope of seeing the wish, which we have more than once expressed, at length accomplished, by the annexation of Cuba to the British crown.

gnostique sur le Gisement des Roches dans les deux Hémispheres. These volumes and numbers complete the work to about half of the text, and two thirds of the plates.

Among the new editions, which are remarkably well received, is that of the Funeral Orations of Bossuet, Flechier, and other orators, with a preliminary discourse, and observations, by M. Dussault, of which the third volume has lately appeared. M. Dussault shows himself an enlightened and impartial critic, and a very elegant writer. M. Alexander Duval, well known as a fertile writer for the stage, is now publishing a complete edition of his works, including several inedited pieces. In the fifth volume is William the Conqueror, which was composed at the time that Buonaparte intended (or pretended to intend) an invasion of England. The allusions introduced to suit the occasion not answering the expectations of the first Consul,-and the long lank chevalaresque figure of the performer who acted William having given the wits a fair opportunity to compare the Conqueror with Don Quixote, Buonaparte was mortified, and the further performance forbidden.

Mr. Letronne has just finished a work, of which great expectations are entertained: it is Researches into the History of Egypt, during the domination of the Greeks and Romans, derived from Greek and Latin Inscriptions, relative to the Chronology, the State of the Arts, the civil and religious Usages of that Country, one volume, 8vo. It is a remarkable and interesting circumstance, that M. Champollion, Jun., whose success in investigating the Egyptian hieroglyphics has excited such great expectations, and M. Letronne, have arrived by very different ways at the same conclusion. From the discoveries of both, it appears that not one of the four famous zodiacs discovered in Egypt is ante rior to the dominion of the Romans in that country. M. Champollion discovers, by the designs of the bas reliefs of the great portico of Esné, that the zodiac of that temple was carved under the reign of the Emperor Claudius; M. Letronne proves, from Greek inscriptions in the tem ple of Esué, that the zodiac sculp

ture on the ceiling of the pronaos of that edifice was made in the reign of Antoninus, though the date of it had been fixed at 3000 years before the Christian era; the temple itself, which was presumed to be of the same antiquity, is not anterior to the reign of Hadrian. The planisphere of Denderah, in which M. Champollion has read in hieroglyphics the word Autokrator, is assigned by him to the reign of Nero; and M. Letronne proves, from Greek inscriptions, that the rectangular zodiac of the pronaos must be of the reign of Tiberius.

The Memoirs of Madame Campan contain many very curious anecdotes of the Court of France, and justify the unfortunate and much injured Queen Marie Antoinette, from the odious inculpations which were so generally brought against her.

We must not conclude this sketch of French literature without mentioning, as belonging to it, Napoleon's Memoirs dictated to Count Montholon and General Gourgaud, and the Journal of Las Cases, though, as they are printed in London, both in French and English, and are so generally read, it is unnecessary to dwell upon them.

Germany.-Munich.-A work is just announced, which will be highly interesting to antiquarians, architects, painters, and artists in general. Greece, the native land of art, besides the strict and regular forms of architecture, had carried to great perfection the branch which we call ornament, and left to posterity the finest and most beautiful models. These, however, superseded by the superfluity of ornament among the Romans, and unknown on the revival of the arts in the fifteenth century, remained without influence in latter times, and, till the middle of the last century, lay buried in the ruins of the dilapidated monuments of Greece. Even the earlier travellers and connoisseurs took but little notice of them; and it is only within the last twenty years that the extent, beauty, and importance of this brauch of the art among the Greeks have been clearly understood, and considered to be deserving of more accurate attention and examination. Mr. Von Klenze, in Munich, chief architect of the court, well known as a great friend and connoisseur of Gre➡

cian art, possessing a rich collection of genuine Greek ornaments, has yielded to the wishes of numerous friends of art, and consented to publish it. The work will comprise the most beautiful oraments of Greek an tiquity, as well those executed in marble and stone, as those in terra cotta, and painted. As the drawings will all be made by Mr. Klenze himself, and the greatest care be bestowed on the engraving, it is hoped that the work will be equal to any thing of the kind hitherto published. It will probably consist of about eight numbers, each containing six plates in large folio.

Vienna.-A most important work, published some months ago, but which appears not to be known in England, is, Constantinople and the Bosphorus locally and historically described, by Mr. Joseph Von Hammer. The author, who, besides his other qualifications for the task, possesses the double advantage of an intimate acquaintance with the Turkish language, and a long residence in Constantinople, describes the history of Constantinople, from the establishment of ancient Byzantium to our times; the revolutions which those two cities have experienced; the religion, the manners, and the customs of a people, so different from us; their peculiar institutions; the form of government, the administration, the political situation, and the monuments of magnificence and public utility, which still exist in the capital of the Ottoman empire. The immense multitude of the details contained in these two large volumes, renders it impossible to give an analysis of them within the limits to which we are confined. They are evidently the result of vast reading and indefatigable patience in the most minute researches. The author never adopts without examination the opinions of preceding writers, but always refers to the fountain head. The Greek authors of the Byzantine History are as familiar to him as the Turkish writers of modern Constantinople, and it is evident that he has been long preparing the materials which he has here employed. If any reproach can be made against him, it is not that he has neglected any part of the picture which he had to draw; but rather,

that he has sometimes indulged in digressions, not immediately connected with the subject. Mr. Von Ham mer has added to his work 120 Greek, Latin, Arabic, Persian, and Turkish inscriptions, with a plan of the city of Constantinople, and a chart of the Bosphorus.

Dr. Sieber's Travels in Crete, 2 vols. 8vo, contain much vuluable information, both on the ancient and present state of that great island, and particularly on the manners of the Turks and Greeks; presenting a most striking, and evidently faithful picture, in which the pacha, consuls, physicians, clergy, Greek and Turkish officers, the slavery of the women, &c. &c. are represented.

Poland. Mr. Nathan Rounfeld, a Jew of Warsaw, has just published a history of Poland in the Hebrew language. This work, which some persons may think it singular the author should have undertaken, will, doubtless, interest his Jewish brethren, who form a considerable proportion of the population of the Polish provinces, and cannot, therefore, be indifferent to the history of that kingdom. It is said, that the author has consulted the best authorities, and that his work is written with much judgment. Count Edward Raczynski has now published the long-expected account of his travels to Constantinople, the plain of Troy, and the coasts of Asia Minor, in 1814. It is a pretty considerable work, consisting of above fifty sheets, and 82 plates. It is in the Polish language, printed at Warsaw, and a splendid specimen of topography.

Italy. The following work has been lately published, Componimenti Teatrali di Speciosa Zanardi Bottioni, Parmigiana. Parma, 8vo. 1822. Several journals, especially the Giornale de' Letterati of Pisa, No. 5, have given an account of the dramatic productions of this young lady, who, as far as is known, is the first of her sex in Italy who has ventured to put on the sock of Thalia. These dramas are, La Marchesa di Maintenon-I Contrapposti - Il Matrimonio per Generosità. In regularity of plan, natural developement, management of the passions, and strict morality, they are equal, say the critics, to any that have appeared for a long time in Italy.

An Encyclopædia, or, General Dictionary of the Science of Music is about to be published under the direction of Mr. Bacon, assisted by Messrs. Clementi, Bishop, Horsley, Wesley, Shield, and Hewitt. The work will be printed in 2 Volumes, 4to. and illustrated by numerous engravings.

An edition of Shakspeare is about to be published, containing the whole of his Plays, in one pocket volume, with a glos

sary.

Sharon Turner, Esq. FSA. is about to publish, in 4to. the third volume of his History of England, embracing the Middle Ages.

Mr. Frederick Clissold, who made the next ascent of Mont Blanc, after the fatal accident, that befel the Guides of Dr. Hamel, in 1820, by the fall of an Avalanche, is about to publish an account of his journey, for the benefit of the Guides of Chamouni.

The late Dr. Whittaker's General History of the County of York is within a part of its completion, and will form two handsome folio volumes.

The Rev. Edward Irving has in the press, in an 8vo. volume, Pulpit Orations, Lectures, and Sermons, delivered in the Caledonian Church, Hatton Garden.

Mr. Bakewell is preparing for publication, "Observations made during a Residence in the Tarentane and various parts of the Grecian and Pennine Alps, in Savoy, and in Switzerland and Auvergne, in the Years 1820, 1821, and 1822, with Comparative Views of the Geology of these Countries with that of Great Britain," illustrated with Plates, &c.

The Memoirs and Correspondence of Charles A. Stothaid, SA. by his Widow, will be published very shortly, in one volume, 8vo. with a portrait and facsimiles on wood of some of his original Sketches, in Letters to his Friends.

The Rev. G. S. Faber is printing, in 2 8vo. volumes, a Treatise on the Genius and Object of the Patriarchal, the Levitical, and the Christian Dispensations.

Mr. Hornor is about to publish in four engravings, a View of London and the surrounding Country, taken with mathematical accuracy from an observatory purposely erected over the cross of St. Paul's Cathedral. A Prospectus is published, containing some beautiful engravings, illustrative of the plan and execution of the work.

Mr. Scott's History of England during the reign of George III. designed as a continuation to Hume and Smollett, will appear in the course of the month, in 4 vols. 8vo., and also in 5 vols. 18mo. JAN. 1823.

The Flood of Thessaly; The Girl of Provence; the Letter of Boccacio; the Fall of Saturn; the Genealogist, a Chinese Tale, and other Poems, by Barry Cornwall, will be published on the first of March.

Mr. Scoresby has in the press an Ac count of his Voyage to Greenland in the summer of 1822, and of his re-discovery of the Eastern Coast of West Greenland.

The following works are in the press :Bouterwek's History of Spanish and Portuguese Literature, translated from the original German. By Miss Thomasina Ross, in 2 Volumes, 8vo.

The Antiquities of Free-Masonry, from the Creation of the World to the dedication of Solomon's Temple. By the Rev. G. Oliver.

A Latin Grammar, by C. G. Zumpt, Professor in the Fredericks Gymnasium, Berlin. Translated from the German, with additions. By the Rev. J. Kenrick,' AM.

Martha, a memorial of a beloved and only Sister. By Andrew Reed, Author of "No Fiction."

An Elegy on the late Henry Martyn, and other Pieces. By John Lawson, Missionary at Calcutta, with a Portrait of Mr. Martyn.

Popular Tales and Romances of the Northern Nations, in three Volumes, post 8vo.

Poems, Dramatic and Miscellaneous. By Henry Neele.

Practical Christianity, illustrated by Biblical Examples, also by Reflections on some of the principal parts of the Holy Scriptures. By Mrs. Sheriffe.

The Diary of a Journey through Southern India, Egypt, and Palestine, in 1821 and 1822. By a Field Officer of Cavalry, in an 8vo. Volume, with Maps, &c.

Letters upon the Art of Miniature Painting, containing the most clear, and, at the same time, progressive Instructions in the Art, and the processes for attaining perfection in it.

The Elements of Anglo Saxon Grammar, with Copious Notes, illustrating the structure of the Saxon, and the formation of the English Language; with Engravings, fac-similes of Manuscripts, &c. By the Rev. J. Bosworth, MA.

Travels through part of the United States and Canada, in 1818 and 1819, to illustrate the Moral, Literary, and Religious, Condition of the Country. By J. M. Duncan, AB.

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