ART. XVIII. Graf Robert, &c.-Count Robert and his friend St. Michel; or, the Princes of Orimbul and Bambuk. An adventurous story, founded on facts; together with an account of La Peyrouse's preservation after the loss of his ship. 2 vols. Leipzig, Reinicke and Hinrich's, 1800, pp. 264, 8vo.

A literary monster, which recommends itself neither by originality of invention, nor elegance of diction. The account of Peyrouse's pretended preservation occupies no more than five pages, and seems to be intended merely for a lure to take in the unwary.

ART. XIX. Goldchen, oder das Zigeuner mädchen, &c. &c.-Goldchen, or the Gypsy Girl: By C. A. SEIDEL, Köthen, Aue, 1800, pp. 279, 8vo.

Agathon and his friend Horri, the two principal characters, although endowed with good natural talents, and on different occasions manifesting laudable sentiments, are, notwithstanding, the constant sport of thoughtlessness, and frequently commit actions of consummate knavery. Though the tale is not destitute of interesting scenes, yet we cannot recommend it to the perusal of readers unwilling to seek for amusement, where their better feelings are exposed to repeated insults.

ART. XX. Der Sohn der Natur, &c. &c.-The Child of Nature: By A. LAFONTAINE, Vienna, Doll, 1799, Pp. 224, 8vo.

Helmburg, an excellent young man, at the age of eighteen years, quits the paternal house, in order to try his fortune at Hamburg. The inn-keeper with whom he lodges, procures him a place in a counting house, where he forms an acquaintance with a virtuous, but poor, couple. He generously assists his new acquaintances in their extreme distress, and prevails upon them to receive him as a boarder. His host manifesting a strong desire to be re-united to his only daughter, an excellent young woman, lest her morals should be poisoned by some artful seducer, Helmburg resolves to take her out of the service of a noble family, with whom she lives, and to restore her to her parents. The charming Julia receives and rewards the benefactor of her poor parents, with the most unreserved and cordial love, which, under the disVOL. II.

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guise

guise of the purest friendship, deceives her unsuspecting heart. Helmburg soon attaches himself so much to her society, that he cannot live without her; and, having saved a sum of money suincient to enter into business for himself, he marries the charning and inocent maid. The picture which the celebrated author draws of the connubiai happiness which the your couple enjoy, is in his usual stile, and cannot but afford the most exquisite gratification to every feeling reader. Julia is delivered of a son, and soon after forces herself upon her husband, as a companion on a journey which he is obliged to ke; when she is drowned in crossing a rapid river. This loss renders Helmburg disgusted with every social enjoyment. On one of his solitary rambles, he discovers a secluded valley totally blocked up by three mountains, and resolves to retire there with his father-in-law and his infant son. He gives his son an excellent education, but neglects to make him acquainted with those conventional rules, the knowledge of which is indispensable in social life. At the *age of seventeen years, Charles attends his father, for the first time, on an, excursion to Hamburg, after having repeatedly manifested an ardent desire to obtain a sight of the country situated beyond the mountains that enclose their valley. Emilia Somner, the daughter of Helmburg's friend, is the first female that engages Charles's attention. The sight of her makes the deepest impression upon his unexperienced heart; and he declares that he cannot live without her. Emilia conceives a reciprocal affection for him, notwithstanding the eccentricity of his conduct, and their mutual love is sanctioned by their parents. But before they are united, Charles conformably to the wishes of his intended father-in-law, quits Hamburg, in order to travel a few years, and to acquire that refinement of manners, the want of which betrays him into the most ridiculous actions. He returns after a short absence, during which he meets with the most singular adventures, occasioned by his unacquaintance with the world, and, at length, is married to Emilia,

PHILOLOGY.

ART. XXI. Grammatica Linguae Mauro-Arabicae iuxta vernaculi idiomatis usum. Accessit Vocabularium Latino-Maure-drabicum Opera: et Studio FR. de DOMBAY, Caes. Reg. Linguarum orientalium interpretis. pp. 136. 4to. Vindobonae, apud Camesina, 1800.

The author declares in the preface, that this vol. is by no

means

means intended to be considered as a complete Arabic Grammar; but that it was principally composed to point out the peculiarities of the popular language of the inhabitants of the north-western coasts of Africa, and occasionally to intersperse observations on the language used in books. In this point of view we must judge of this work, which furnishes valuable contributions towards a better knowledge of the different Arabic dialects. Mr. de DOMBAY having had numerous opportunities of inquiring into the popular language of the inhabitants of Barbary, where he resided several years in the quality of an interpreter, the intelligence contained in this volume may, in some respect, be considered as authentic.

The work is divided into ten chaprers. 1. Of Orthogra phy. 2. Of the peculiarities of the vulgar dialect. These are divided into 15 classes. 3. Of the vowels and orthographical marks. 4. Of the pronunciation of syllables. 5. Of the conjugation of verbs. The western Arabs have many peculiarities in forming the tenses and moods, which are clearly pointed out here. 6. Of the nouns, pronouns, and numbers. 7. Of the particles. 8. Of uncommon and elegant expressions not used by the vulgar. 9. Of the method after which, in Barbary, reading is taught in the schools. 10. This chapter, which is superscribed: De reliquis scientiarum apud Mauros generibus; contains a catalogue of school books, and an enumeration of those branches of science on which the western Arabic authors have written, which the author concludes with the general observation: et sic de reliquis scientiarum et artium generibus diversos habent Mauri libros, et magnum auctorum praestantissimorum numerum.

ART. XXII. Aeschyli Tragoediae quae Supersunt, ac deperditarum fragmenta. Recensuit CHR. G. SCHUTZ. Vol. I. Prometheus vinitus et septem adversus Thebas XVIII. 176. p. 8vo. C. G. SCHUTZ, in Aeschili Tragoedias, quae supersunt ac deperditarum fragmenta commentarius. Vol. I. In Prometheum Vinitum et Septem adversus Thebas. 412. p. 8vo. Halle, Gebauer, 1800.

A new edition of this valuable work, which was published in 1782, and out of print. It has received no improvement, except the correction of the errors of the press, that crept into the first edition, as Mr. Schütz intends to publish the additions and emendations, which he has collected, in the fourth volume of this work. We must, however, observe, that this impression has a much more pleasing appearance than the first,

ART,

ART. XXIII. Aeschyli Tragoediae Septem. Denno recensuit et versionem latinam a diecit C. G. SCHUTZ. Vol. I. Prometheus vinctus. Septem adversus Thebas. Persae. Supplices. Vol. I. A dedicatory letter, addressed to the French citizen Caillard. 359. p. crown 8vo. Halle, Gebauer, 1800.

We find here an entirely new recension of the Greek text, after the best various lections of old manuscripts and editions, as well as after the emendations of other critics as well as the editor himself. Besides the editions published by Porson and Wakefield, the author also made use of the Codex Gudianus, (the various lections of which were extracted by the late Prof. Kulenkainp of Gottingen, and marked down in the edition of the works of Aeschylus by Pauw) and of the observations written by Ezechiel Spanheim, on the margin of a copy of Stanley's edition of Aeschylus. Mr. Schutz has in this edition altered 23 lections in Prometheus vinctus, 43 in the Septem adversus Thebas, 23 in the Persis, and 103 in Supplicibus. The latin version is both faithful and elegant.

ART. XXIII and XXIV. 1. Platon's Republic, &c.Plato's Republic, in ten books, translated into German: By F. C. WOLFF. Vol. I. pp. 334. Vol. II. pp. 302, 8vo Altona, Hammerrich, 1799.

11. Plato's Republic, translated and illustrated: By G. FAEHSE. Vol. I. pp. 522, Leipzig, Tauchnitz, 1800. None of all the works of the Greek philosophers is more deserving of being studied by the learned than Plato's Republic, as it stands unrivalled in beauty of composition, ease of dialogue, fullness, novelty, and fertility, of ideas; notwithstanding, there is none of the compositions of this philosopher that has less occupied the attention of commentators. Morgenstern's excellent tracts on Plato's works have opened a cheerful prospect to the admirer of this elegant writer, and we trust that the two versions, of which we are going to give an account to our readers, will prove an additional means of promoting the study of his works.

Mr. Wolff's version was originally occasioned by an unfinished translation, attempted by the late Mr. Boie, of Eutin. The first book of this translation was inserted, some years ago, in the Teutschen Museum, and has been received in Mr. Wolff's publication, with some alterations. The translation of the other books, however, was so deficient, that our author could not make any use of it, and was obliged to compose an entirely new version, which has only very few

annetations

annotations. Mr. Fähses work is to consist of three volumes; the first and second will contain the translation, together with grammatical, critical, antiquarian, and philosophical, annotations, as well as a complete retrospect of the whole work. The third volume is intended to comprehend a representation of the Platonic system, and some philosophical tracts, treating of the most important subjects that are contained in the republic.

Mr. Wolff's translation exhibits a very successful imitation of Plato's stile; and, as it, at the same time, is very faithful, it is much superior to that of Mr. Fahse, whose stile is affected, pompous, and diffuse. Mr. Fähse has premised to his translation an introduction, wherein he shews, that the object of Plato's republic is, to represent virtue in its purity; to trace its sources, and point out its consequences; as well as to delineate a picture of the most excellent and perfect constitution; the most propitious to the promotion of virtue.Mr. Wolff has added but very few annotations to his transla tion; whilst Mr. Fähse has been rather too profuse in this respect.

ART. XXIV. Vorlesungen über die Klassischen Dichter der Römer, &c. &c.-Lectures on the Classical Poets of the Romans: By I. F. HABERFELDT. Vol. III. containing lectures on the second book of the satires, and the first book of the epistles of Horace. pp. 724, Leipzig, Feind, 1800.

This work was begun, some years ago, by the late Rev. Mr. Nitsch, who died when he had finished the first book of the satires of Horace. The choice of the Rev. Mr. Haberfeldt, rector of Neukirch, in Misnia, who was fixed upon to continue these lectures, is a considerable gain to the undertaking, as he, in many respects, is highly superior to the late diligent and learned Nitsch. The continuation, contained in the volume before us, comprehends the whole of the second book of the satires, and the first book of the epistles; and the fourth and last volume will contain the second book of the epistles, together with additions, by prof. Eichstädt, and an extract of Van Ommeren's treatise on the poems of Horace; of which, the learned prof. Mitscherlich, in the preface to his edition of the works of Horace, lately judged in the following favorable manner: Dignus ane is liber est, qui veste latina ornatus in plurium notitiam perve niat. Mr. Haberfeldt has deviated as little as possible from he plan of the late Nitsch, but found it absolutely necessary

to