RETROSPECT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

THE rapidity with which great events succeeded each other on the European continent in the months of October and November, has been followed by an interval of apparent inactivity, which has, doubtless, disappointed the expectations of politicians, but for which it is not difficult to account. The approaching conflict between the two greatest military empires in the world must necessarily require many preparatory movements; and the unexampled career of the conqueror of Germany could not fail of being retarded in the remote plains of Poland. A winter campaign has always proved destructive to French troops; and although there may be exaggeration in the accounts of the diseases prevalent in their army, it cannot be doubted that numbers of the men have been sent to the hospitals. The French, however, have continued to advance, though slowly. On November 30, Glogau in Silesia surrendered to their arms; and they appear to be now engaged in the siege of the fortress of Breslau. They have penetrated some way into Swedish Pomerania; but their principal efforts have been directed towards Poland and the banks of the Vistula. They entered Thorn on Dec. 6, and several columns of their army have since crossed the Vistula, and posted themselves on the rivers Bug and Narew. The Russians are assembled in great force in their front, apparently with the intention of giving every possible opposition to their progress, consistently with the plan of avoiding general engagements. In this state of affairs it is not extraordinary that continual rumours of actions favourable to each party are disseminated, none of which have as yet been confirmed by authentic intelligence. Indeed, the increased impediments to communication with the continent render us singularly uninformed of the current transactions.

The King of Prussia continues in his Polish dominions, his only remaining possessions, at the head of a force which is variously stated; and seems, by his public declarations, fully resolved to abide the event of arms.

The Russians are said to have declared war against the Porte; and have certainly made themselves masters of Choczim, Jassy, Bender, and other places on the Turkish frontier.

On December 11, a treaty of peace was signed between Napoleon and the Elector of Saxony, by which the latter is admitted to the confederation of the Rhine with all its privileges, and is to take the title of King. The catholic religion is to be placed in his dominions upon a perfect equality with the lutheran, and both are to enjoy the same civil and political rights; which article is said to be an object of peculiar interest to the French emperor.

The new King of Holland, by way of promoting monarchical principles in his country, has instituted two orders of knighthood. Meanwhile he has put in full force his brother's injunctions as to prevent

ing all intercourse with England; and has burdened trade by an edict forbidding the sailing of all vessels from any port in his dominions without his special license.

In the month of October, a revolution took place in Hayti, (St. Domingo) in which the emperor Dessalines was killed, and Christophe was raised to the supreme power in his stead. The new emperor issued an address to all commercial nations, inviting them to a free: trade with his island.

In the United States of America, Col. Burr underwent an accnsation of a treasonable attempt to excite a rebellion against the government, in the Western States. He surrendered himself in Kentucky, in November; and a commission since appointed to try him, has been dissolved on pretext of the proofs not being prepared. It was, probably, in connexion with this incident that the President issued a proclamation declaring that he had been informed that some citizens of the United States are preparing an expedition against the Spanish dominions, and calling upon public officers to assist in preventing such unauthorized hostilities.

On Dec. 1st. Congress assembled; and on the 2d. the President, Mr. Jefferson, communicated a message to both houses. In this he expresses hopes of bringing the negotiation with Great Britain to a happy termination, but speaks dubiously concerning that pending with Spain relative to the boundaries of Louisiana. He mentions that a Spanish force had occupied Bayou Pierre, on the Red River, which had ence belonged to the French; but that they had quitted it on the approach of an American force, and retired across the Sabine river. He speaks of the necessity of maintaining troops, especially cavalry, in that country: and likewise adverts to the fortification of the American ports, the equipping of gun-boats, &c. He makes a favourable report of the increasing attachment of the Indian tribes to the American government; and notices the expeditions that have taken place for discovery in the interior country. He informs them that the period is at hand, in which they may constitutionally determine on the abolition of the slave trade. Finally, he enters into a statement of the surplus of the revenue beyond the public demands, and throws out various hints for its useful application.

On December 3d. a message was sent from the President to the House of Representatives, recommending a temporary suspension of the non-importation act respecting British commodities. Debates arose thereupon, and a bill was framed and passed for the suspension till June 30th. It was afterwards introduced to the senate, and passed, with an amendment to give the President the power of suspending it to the end of the year 1807.

The political occurrences at home during the current month have been of little importance. On January 1st, notice was sent by the Minister to the Lord Mayor, that a treaty of amity, navigation and commerce, between his Majesty and the United States, had been aigned by the commissioners of each nation, and was transmitted to America for ratification. Its conditions will not be made known tilt it has been ratified.

On

On January 5th. an address to the king on the subject of the late negotiation with France, was introduced into Parliament by Ministers. It became a topic of considerable debate, but no division was moved by the opposition.

The public feelings have been agitated by repeated reports of the recapture of Buenos Ayres, and the surrender of General Beresford and all his troops as prisoners of war; but no direct intelligence of such an event has hitherto been received.

LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.

IN the month of February, 1806, a message was read in the Congress of the United States of North America, from the president, communicating an account of the discoveries which had been made by a party sent out in 1804, for the purpose of exploring the great river Missouri. At the time of this message Capt. Lewis, the commander of the party, had sent intelligence of his arriving on November 1st, 1804, in the country of the Mandan Indians, 1609 miles above the mouth of the Missouri, (that is, its entrance into the Mississippi) and of his wintering there, and proceeding on this voyage up the river in April, 1805. By letters since received from Capt. Lewis, it appears that in June, 1805, they reached the great falls of the Missouri; that from thence, by a laborious portage of 18 miles, they again joined that river, and penetrating the Rocky Mountain, arrived on July 27th, at the point where the Missouri divides into three nearly equal branches. This point they computed to be, by the windings of the stream, 3843 miles from its mouth. They followed the northern branch, which they named Jefferson's river, till it became no longer navigable. There they purchased horses of the natives, and taking a guide, crossed the chain of mountains which separates the eastern and western waters. Of this chain, 60 miles was over eternal snow, and the hardships they underwent from cold and hunger were excessive. They reached the lower country beyond the meuntains in September, and in October they embarked on a river called the Kooskooske, down which, and another to which they gave the name of Lewis's river, they came to the Columbia, and followed its stream to its discharge into the Pacific Ocean, where they arrived in November. At this place they passed the winter in the midst of a numerous, and in general, a friendly tribe of natives, and on March 27th, 1806, they set out on their return. This they effected with much greater ease than their journey outwards, and arrived in safety at St. Louis in September. They calculate the whole distance from the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi to the mouth of the Columbia, at 3555 miles. Of this remarkable expedition a particular account will doubtless be given, which will be impatiently expected by the lovers of geographical information.

The greater part of the communication to Congress above-mentioned (which has been published in a pamphlet) consists of a statistical view of the Indian nations inhabiting the territory of Louisiana, and the countries adjacent to its northern and western boundaries, together with an exploratory voyage up the Red and Washita rivers. It contains many curious particulars, among which is the account of the remarkable hot springs in the vicinity of the latter river. The principal of these are four in number, of the respective temperatures of 132, 136, 150, and 154 degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometor.

The designs of Mr. Flaxman from the Italian poet Dante, which were originally composed in Italy, for Mr. Thomas Hope, are at length preparing for publication, they consist of one hundred and nine subjects, of a smaller size than his compositions from Homer. Mr. Flaxman has also thoughts of pub

lishing

lishing his compositions from the Lord's Prayer and acts of Mercy, the result of many years' study. He also is employed upon compositions from the Greek poet Hesiod. This eminent artist has in hand the following pieces of sculpture. A great national monument of Earl Howe for St. Paul's Cathedral, and a statue of Sir Joshua Reynolds for the same place; a statue of Mr. Pitt for the city of Glasgow; a public monument to the late Josiah Webb, Esq. for India; with several inferior commissions both public and private. He has just completed a magnificent statue of the Raja of Tanjore, for that Prince, and a monument to the Rev. F. Swartz a missionary, who died in the Raja's dominions.

The language of the Hungarians is little known by other European nations, and on account of its radical difference from the polished tongues of Europe, is little likely to acquire much estimation beyond the limits of the territory where it is spoken. It appears, however, not to be wholly uncultivated, and the attention paid to native literature is said to be increasing. A journal is published at Vienna, of which Dr. Lübeck is the editor, under the title of Ungrische Miscellen, (Hungarian Miscellanies) though the numbers do not succeed each other with as much rapidity as might be wished. Only three have yet appeared. Their contents are not devoid of interest.

Among Hungarian works of recent date, the following may be mentioned. A new edition, with corrections, of the Hungarian grammar of Farkas, published by M. Jos. Martin, secretary of the consistory, at Vienna, printed for Gerold, 1805. Professor Nic. Revaj has published the first part of the second volume of his Grammatica Hungarica elaboratior, treating on the inflections of verbs.

M. Jos. Hegyi, has published an Hungarian translation of select epistles of Cicero; and John Tenarki, a translation of the Jerusalem delivered of Tasso, both printed at Pest, for Kis.

M. Francis Toth, professor at Papa, has published a system of doctrine for the use of reformed protestants, Raab. 1804.

. Matthias Trattner, a bookseller at Pest, has printed (1805) dialogues for the use of children, already able to read, intended to habituate them to the exer cise of reflection, by the Countess Karyoli, who has availed herself of a German work of similar object by G. C. Claudius. Kis, a bookseller at Pest, has printed a "library for the use of children and young persons," consisting of a collection of moral tales.

In 1803, M. Jos. Fabian, minister of the reformed religion at Veres Bereny, published at Veszprim, a popular treatise on medicine. The same writer has also given an Hungarian translation of the useful work of M. Chaptal, on the cultivation of the vine, and the preparation of wine, Veszprim, printed for Sammer, 1805.

Hungarian literature has sustained a considerable loss by the death of Mich. Velez of Csokona killa, a pleasing poet who published in 1805 a collection of songs, which had a remarkable success. The same author published in 1804, an heroi-comic poem, in four books, entitled Dorothea, or the triumph of the ladies at the Carnival. In the preface, which, as well as the poem, is in the Hungarian language, the author treats on the nature of the heroi-comic poem. This branch of writing has hitherto been scarcely cultivated in Hungarian literature.

Another work of nearly the same kind, was printed at Pest, for Kis, 1804, entitled Matthias Ritoki, in which the author, who describes himself only by the initials F. V. relates the solemn coronation of the celebrated Hungarian poet of that name. The same author published in 1804, and 1805, at Pest, in two volumes, a satirical view of the follies of the city of Pest, under the title of the life of M. Tzarvas of Kolompos.

A new edition of the fragment of Philodemus on music, discovered at Herculaneum, has been published at Berlin, with a translation, a life of the author, and various illustrations.

The Latin society of Jena, which had been suspended, was re-established a few years ago, and M. Eichstadt was appointed its president. Among the honorary members occur several names, eminent in foreign classical literature,

VOL. 1.

as those of Schäfer, de Bosch, Tzschucke, Mitscherlich, Jacobs, Heyne, Matthæi, Alter, Schnieder, Harles, Wyttenbach, Coray, Spalding, Herman, and others. A volume of their transactions was published during the late year, which contains some interesting pieces, among which may be mentioned Eichstadt's observations on passages borrowed by Plutarch from the poets. He does not, however, appear to have seen the learned and interesting note of Professor Porson on the Medea, v. 139.

Partonepex de Blois, a poem in three books, with notes from the French of M. le Grand, by William Stewart Rose, Esq. will appear very soon from the press of Ballantyne of Edinburgh. This work will be enriched with fine Engravings from Paintings by Smirke, Esq. Jun. in which the costume of the time has been an object of uncommon attention.

The Orchard Pathway, a collection of Poems, with other Miscellaneous Poems, by William Wordsworth, Esq. Author of the Lyrical Ballads, will be published next month.

Mr. Banks has a little volume in the press, entitled a Manual of Nobility. Mr. Southey's specimens of English Poetry in continuation of Mr. Ellis's much admired works, will appear this month.

New and enlarged editions of the Rev. Mr. Daniel's Rural Sports, are in great forwardness,

The second edition of the Rev. Lant Carpenter's, Geography of the New Testament, is in the press.

There is in the press, Some account of a Voyage round the World, performed by order of the East India Company, in the Antelope Packet, (Captain H. Wilson) which was wrecked at the Pelew Islands; with Engravings of the Landscape Scenery and Natives of Pelew, Patagonia, and Terra del Fuego, from Drawings made on the several spots by A. W. Devis.

The first Number will very shortly be ready, of Illustrations of the most remarkable Scenes in SCOTLAND, from Pictures by William Scrope, Esq. F. L. S. to be published in Numbers at the price of One Guinea each.

Mr. Landseer is engraving an Emblematical Monument in Honour of ADMIRAL LORD NELSON, in which will be introduced the Bust of his Lordship, and Allusions to his most celebrated Victories. This Engraving will be from a Drawing by P. J. de Loutherbourg, R. A.

Mr. Dallas is at present employed upon a new Romance, to be entitled The Knights.

There is a new work nearly ready, by Dr. Barclay, of Edinburgh, on Muscular Motion.

Dr. Trotter of Newcastle, will publish his Treatise on Nervous disorders in a few days.

The Rev. Mr. Crutwell, of Bath, has for several years past, devoted his whole time in preparing a new Edition of his General Gazetteer, which is now in the press.

The fourth volume of that eccentric work, the Lounger's Common-place Book, is in preparation.

Mr. Parkinson will shortly publish a new and enlarged edition of his Experienced Farmer.

Mr. Cuthbertson, of Poland Street, has in the press, a work on Practical' Electricity and Galvanism; being a translation of the greater part of the experi ments contained in a treatise published by him, during his residence in Holland, with the addition of all such as have since been invented by himself and others; together; with an Appendix, containing the most interesting experiments on Galvanism.

The celebrated Von Michel, from Basle, but who is at present in Berlin, is occupied, in company with Messrs. Humboldt and De Bach, the travellers,' Tralles the Mathematician, and Bode the Astronomer, in preparing for publication a large copperplate, which will exhibit a general picture of the highest mountains of the Globe, under the title, "Tableau general des plus hauts Montagnes du Globe." It will coutain about 150 Mountains, with an exact measurement of their several heights above the level of the Sea. These heights are

reckoned