when inftihets and habits of living are the fame in each; and badds, The durable grey colour of the American fquirrel is, to me, lefs remarkable than this power of becoming grey. If, in the economy of nature, an animal be fo conftituted, that it can, from red, be changed into an afh colour, it is eafy to conceive that, in fome' ftates, the colour fhall be permanent.'- Euxleben, in like manner, confiders the petit gris of America as a diftinct fpecies from the grey Squirrel of the old world, because it is fomewhat larger than the European: but this is of fmall moment. Daubenton gives eight inches and a half to the red fquirrel, and to the American petit gris, ten inches. But fhall we feparate a race of animals, whofe inftincts, manners, and form, are in other refpects perfectly fimilar, merely on account of fo flight a difcrepance? This plan of procedure would multiply fpecies ad infinitum.'

He applies the fame mode of reafoning to the weezel, or muftela vulgaris, and ermine, or muftela erminea.

The difference of fpecies, according to M. de Buffon, and other naturalifts, is taken from their fize, and the colour of their tails. The weezel is fix inches and a half in length, the other nine: the tail of the ermine is tipt with black, that of the weezel with yellow. They have the fame inftincts, are found in the fame places, and are equally diffufed; they both change their hair in the fame manner, being red in the fummer, and white in the winter, and they equally inhabit hot and cold climates.'

In the fecond part of this interefting work, which treats of thofe quadrupeds that are diffufed over large diftricts, without being univerfal, the Profeffor commences from the north pole, and thence proceeds to the temperate and torrid zones. A fubdivifion is here neceffarily made between the animals which are common to the four quarters of the world, and fuch as are not found in America. He remarks, that this part is not fo rich in materials as the preceding, though the diverfity in fpecies is greater, because a greater uniformity of climate keeps each genus and fpecies more diftinct; and, accordingly, fewer fubjects for fpeculation prefent themselves.

The third part is chiefly devoted to the quadrupeds which are found in smaller diftricts. These are the moft numerous of all, as those which are univerfally or generally diffufed, are united with those peculiar to thefe diftricts. Hence the author takes occafion to give, under this divifion, a fummary view of all the quadrupeds known, with their characteristic differences, according to the order of Ray. This is the more valuable, as he has affembled together the recent difcoveries of the most celebrated naturalifts, fo that it may be confidered as a more complete compendium of the natural hiftory of quadrupeds, than any which have preceded it.

In the fourth and last part, the Profeffor gives catalogues of the animals which are found in each grand divifion of the world,

and

and alfo in the different iflands. We find at the end of the third volume, a geographico zoological chart, or a map of the world, in which animals are made to fupplant towns and vi lages; and by which, with the aid of a few marks or charac ters, denoting colours and degrees of magnitude, the ftudent may, with little trouble, refresh his memory in thofe leading articles, local refidence, hue, and fize.

We cannot accompany this indefatigable and well-informe! writer any further, at prefent. Out of a copious abundance of materials, we have felected fuch fpecimens as we thought would prove moft acceptable to the generality of our readers, while they gave fome juft ideas of what was moft peculiar in his plan. The fpeculations and enquiries contained in the third volume, are too important to be overlooked; and fome account of them fhai be given in a future article. We fhall take our leave, for the prefent, with obferving, that notwithstanding we entertain very high opinion of Profeffor ZIMMERMAN's geographical hiftory, as being replete with ufeful information, and as placing the hiftory of the higher order of animals in a new and interefting light: yet it is very deficient in the graces of compofition. Through the want of a proper arrangement of his ideas, be perpetually anticipates and repeats. His introduction not only plunges too deeply into fubjects which immediately concern the object of his treatife, but into others that have a remote reference. It was unneceffary alfo to produce fo many vouchers for facts which no one will be inclined to difcredit; and he dwells on minutia, oftener, and longer, than an English reader is, in the prefent day, accustomed to endure. In fhort, though we wish to do juftice to his diftinguished merits, we must confel that he is not altogether exempt from the cenfure which the elegant Count de Buffon paffes on fcientific Germans, when he complains, qu'ils groffiffent à deffein leurs ouvrages d'une quantit d'erudition inutile, en forte que le fujet qu'ils traitent, eft no dars la quantité de matieres inutiles, &c.

[To be continued.]

ART. XXVIII.

Cog.

Hiftoire Secrete de la Cour de Berlin, &c. i. e. Secret Memoirs of the Court of Berlin, in a Series of Letters. 8vo. pp. 420. Paris. 1789,

A

FONDNESS for every fpecies of fcandal is-fo generally prevalent at the prefent day, that a book with the title of Secret Memoirs, will, no doubt, be fought after with avidity. Such a publication, however, carries an abfurdity on the very face of it: for if the anecdotes recorded therein were really genuine, and at the fame time fecret, it would be impoffible to give them in detail, and in the precife and particular manner in

which the author here pretends to communicate them. The fact indeed is, that volumes of this kind are fabricated to gratify the reigning propenfity of the times. Amid fome truths, which are easily collected, falfehoods, of the groffeft and moft malignant nature, are ufually found in them. In the prefent Secret Hiftory,' the latter are abundant indeed! Abufe, too, is fo plenteously poured on the Emperor and the prefent King of Pruffia, that we ftand aftounded, as Milton would exprefs it, at the writer's temerity, and bold nefs of expreffion. He reprefents thefe diftinguished perfonages as the weakest among princes, and wholly incapable of an equal and an honourable government. Frederic William, in particular, is attacked with unparalleled feverity and injuftice: we fay, with the highest injuflice;-for as the letters here prefented to us, and which are fuppofed to contain an hiftory of him in his regal capacity, are dated between the months of July 1786, and January 1787, when he had recently afcended the throne, it is impoffible that any decifive judgment could be formed refpecting him. But it will be afked if the author has proved, or endeavoured to prove, by any one inftance, the weaknefs and incapacity already (poken of? To this we anfwer in the negative; for with his bare affertions we have nothing to do. What then will it amount to, in the opinion of unprejudiced perfons, when an anonymous writer fhall fay in general terms, that the K. of P. is a Sardanapalus? What will it amount to, when that fame writer, after violently cenfuring every regulation and promotion made by the r King, fhall exclaim- Quelle prostitution d'honneurs!' And, further, what can we poffibly think of fuch an author, when even an HERTZBERG is included in his cenfure; and when he roundly maintains, that the naming of the Duke of Brunfwic to the poft of Field Marshal in the Pruffian army, is the only appointment which has done the fmalleft honour to the prefent reign? The following extract will ferve as a fpecimen of the writer's manner;

(

Jamais royaume n'annonça une plus prompte decadence. On le fappe par tous les endroits à la fois. On diminue les moyens de recette; on multiplie les depenfes; on tourne le dos aux principes; on gaspille l'opinion; on afforblit l'armée; on décourage le tres petit nombre de gens qu'on pourroit employer; on mecontente ceux-la meme pour lefquels on a mecontenté tout le monde; on eloigne tous les etrangers gens de merite; on s'entoure de canaille pour avoir l'air de regner feul. Cette funcfte manie eft la cause la plus feconde de tout le mal qui fe fait, et de tout celui qui fe prépare. *** Parmi les autres graces, on diflingue un prêtre vifionaire, predicant, effronté, couché fur l'etat des gratifications pour deux mille écus; le Baron de Boden, renvoyé de Cafjel, efpion de police Paris, connu à Berlin pour voleur, filou, fauffaire, capable de tout, excepté de ce qui est bonnete, et dont le voi lui-meme a dit, feft un coquin; decoré de la clef de Chambellan. Des fenfions jans nombre à des etres obfcures ou james. Les academiciens Welner et Moline:, nommés directeurs des

9

finances

finances de l'académie.-Toutes ces faveurs annoncent un prince fans tali, Jans delicateffe, fans eftime de lui meme ni de fes dons, fans foin de fa gloire, fans égard pour l'opinion, aussi propre à décourager ceux qui font quelque chofe, qu'a enbardir ceux qui ne font rien, ou pis que rien.'

We cannot think of following Count Mirabeau, the reputed author of thefe Memoirs, in the charges of incapacity, &c. which he has brought against the King of Pruffia, and his mini fters. To the English reader they would be little interefting, could we even allow them to be juft: and in the other cafe, they are certainly unworthy of farther attention. Our only ap prehenfion is, that his affertions may, by fome, be admitted as truths. High fituation is not a fufficient fecurity against the attacks of the fmaller and more infignificant race of animals.They are capable of confiderable mischief.

"An eagle towering in his pride of place

Was, by a moufing ow!, hawk'd at and kill'd."

But however indignantly we may express ourselves refpecting the man who thus prematurely and unhandfomely throws out invectives against the prince by whom he appears to have been received with cordiality +, we cannot withhold the praife which is juftly due to him as an able projector. His fcheme for an alliance between England, France, and Pruffia, on the broad bafis of a reciprocal guaranty, is worthy of particular attention, as it would probably be the means of fettling and preferving the peace of Europe. His obfervations on the treaty of commerce between England and France, are likewife extremely judicious. Although a Frenchman ‡, he very honeftly declares, and even labours to fhew, that the advantages to be derived from it are, or will be in a very little time, entirely on the fide of the latter. And when we confider that our neighbours will, by degrees, become well inftructed in the art of imitating our feveral manufactures, while on our part we are unable, both on account of our foil and climate, to grow the wines which make, by reafon

We have mentioned this gentleman's name only on newspaper authority, and common reports; for which we are not answerable. + The reader may guefs at this writer's fituation at the Court of Berlin, from a line or two in one of his letters, and which we quote not only as a proof of prejudice too haftily taken up, but to fhew ftill farther the illiberality and coarfenefs of his expreffion. *** Mais refter ici, condamné au fupplice des bêtes, fonder et remuer les finuofités fangeufes d'une adminiftration qui fignale chacune des fes journées par a nouveau trait de pufillanimité et d'imperitié, c'eft ce dont je n'ai plus la force, parceque cela ne me paroit bon a rien. Faites moi done revenir,

&c.'

The title-page to the prefent work announces it as, Corre Spondance d'un Voyageur François,' while in the avant-propos, it is faid, Ce'ft un Anglois qui ecrit.' We know not what is meant by this contradiction; but the title-page is apparently right.

of

of the lowering the duties, fo confiderable a portion of their exports, they must ultimately be far greater gainers than ourfelves. But after all, no material objection, in our opinion, can be railed against the treaty in queftion, in whatever point of view it may be taken: though, perhaps, the expectations of advantage from it have not yet been answered on either fide.

Annexed to the prefent publication, is an Efai fur la Secte des Illuminés: an order of men who are now to be found in Germany in confiderable numbers; and who, according to this author, bind themselves to a due obfervance of the laws of the fociety by the most folemn and unnatural rites Rites, which, for fecrefy and horror, can only be compared with the Eleufinian myfteries, and the feaft of Atreus,-and of which he has given a very circumftantial account. have not room for further extracts, but will bring our readers acquainted with the matter when the English tranflation of the work before us [juft published] fhall come to hand; and we fhall be the more attentive to the whole, as fome demi prophets and demi wonder-workers have lately started up among us, whom we fufpect of being connected with this enlightened clan.

We

After expreffing our difapprobation of the general contents of this volume, as far as it relates to the government of Pruffia; we muft, from a principle of justice, acknowlege, that many

curious and important fans are scattered through its pages. A.B.

ART. XXIX.

Hiftoire de la Societé Royale de Médecine, &c. i e. Hiftory of the Royal Society of Medicine for the Years 1780 and 1781, with the Memoirs Practical and Medico-Philofophical of thofe Years; extracted from the Registers of the Society. Vol. IV, Part I. Pages 392. Part II. Pages 430. Paris. 1785.

N the Appendix to the feventy-fifth volume of our Review, we noticed many of the principal memoirs contained in this volume of the Parifian Royal Society of Medicine; but the following, (not then reviewed) are likewife worthy the public attention:

MEDICA L.

Mem. III. Caries of the Offa Capitis by Expofure to cold Air. A foldier, aged thirty-nine years, after having sustained the fatigues of the fiege of Savannah, being in a profuse sweat, was fuddenly exposed to a blast of wind, which exerted its influence principally on the crown and the left fide of the head. After having fuffered many alarming fymptoms, and fubmitted to many

* For our accounts of the preceding volumes of these Memoirs, fee vols. Lxii. and lxviii,

ineffectual