they were drowned, by the light of the flames that consumed their country.

VOYAGES AND TRAVELS.

"Voyage à la Partie Orientale de la Terre-Ferme de l'Amérique inéridionale, fait pendant les années 1801, 1802, 1803, et 1804.”—A Voyage to the Eastern Por tion of the Terra Firma of South America, performed during the Years 1801, 1802, 1803, and 1804; by F. DE PONS, 3 vols. 8vo. At a period like this, when the eyes of Europe are steadfastly fixed on the possessions of Spain on the transatlantic continent, a work of this kind cannot fail to prove interesting. The author has accordingly seized the present opportunity, not only to detail the information gleaned by himself, but to expose the mistakes, misapprehensions, and ridiculous speculations of others.

M. De Pons accordingly commences his introduction with an account of the principal errors hitherto propagated relative to the geography of the country; he then exhibits the plan of his own work, which is divided into eleven chapters. The first is dedicated to the discovery of the country, and the conquests formerly made by the Spaniards; the second includes every thing relative to the climate, the soil, the productions of the earth, the forests, the lakes, the mountains, the rivers, and the ports. The third includes the population, both European and African; while the fourth conveys an idea of the indigenous inhabitants, "improperly termed Indians."

After this, we proceed to a detailed account of every thing relative to the government and administration: this occupies the fifth chapter. The 6th contains a sketch of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction; the seventh relates to agriculture and the territorial products; the eighth treats of commerce; the ninth of the finances; the 10th of the state of the towns, and the adjoining territories which are dependent on them; and finally, in the 11th, we have a description of Spanish Oroonoqua and Guyana.

The author himself presents his readers with a most excellent analysis of the whole, in a preliminary discourse; but it is perhaps a mistaken policy to enter into particulars, anterior to the body of the work; while on the contrary, had this paper followed it, it would not only have exhibited the design, and served to engrave the chief subjects still more forcibly on the mind, but also conveyed a just idea of the intentions of the writer.

The history of the discovery and the conquest of the Terra Firma, as well as of the first establishments made by the original adventurers, is written with great care and attention. The author is not imposed upon, either by the recitals or the authority of Oviedo; and he is at great pains to discuss his principles, and in some instances to overturn his reasoning. It was the hope of gold, and of gold alone, that engaged the Spaniards to encounter so many toils and difficulties, to obtain possession of this country: but every attempt to realize this speculation, as we shall speedily see, hath hitherto proved ineffectual.

"It affords me pleasure to think," says M. de Pons, "that none of these provinces have ever enjoyed, and probably are not ever destined to enjoy, the shortlived reputation arising from the posses sion of mines. They have been recompensed however, more than an hundred fold, by the abundant, precious, and inexhaustible productions of a country, which, both on account of its extent and its fertility, seems destined to be the constant asylum of happiness. This portion of the earth, indeed, will continue to flourish, when those colonies that yield only the precious metals, present nothing but misery, ruins, and frightful excavations, the sad memorials of their past opulence."

According to the best accounts that could be obtained by M. de Pons, the population of the Spanish provinces of Venezuela, Maracaibo, Cumana, and Guyana, amounts to 728,000, out of which the whites constitute no more than two-tenths, while the slaves amount to three; the descendants of those who have been enfranchised to four, and the Indians to the remainder.

"These fine provinces were at first entirely neglected, merely because they were deficient in respect to the precious metals. The court of Madrid afterwards, when their value began to be better understood, opposed a variety of obstacles to the progress of their population, by restraining the permission to repair to, or settle in them. Its system in this point of view, is very different from that of other states, who contribute not a little to their own comforts, by leaving such an opening to all those who wish to repair to the plantations, that for a long time past those establishments have been considered as so many depositories, into which the mother country empties all its filth and impurity, instead of con

sidering

sidering them as so many asylums of pleasure and of happiness.

"In stead of sending thither, as was formerly the case in France, all those whose conduct was equivocal, or whose offences were commuted into transportation; Spain, either more just or more tender in respect to her colonies, without being more fortunate than other nations, continues to employ all her attention for the express purpose of maintaining good morals, of preventing the germs of corruption from being imported from Europe. Since the 7th of August, 1584, no one has been able to obtain permission to repair to the West Indies, without an authentic testimonial of a sober life, and good morals. It is not long since a person, who had a passport for any particular province, was prohibited from repairing to another without a new permission signed by the King; he was accordingly obliged to proceed directly to the place of his destination.”

We are assured that emigration from Spain to the Terra Firma, is not frequent; but on the other hand, when adventurers repair thither, they seldom return. The Biscayans and Catalonians, are the only persons in whose bosoms the love of their country is never extinguished; accordingly they generally revisit their native soil. As to the inhabitants of the Canaries, they transport themselves frequently to America, where their industry, and their attention, render them more prosperous than the other subjects of the King of Spain.

While treating of the slaves, M. de Pons informs us, that the number in the Captainship of the Caraccas amounts to two hundred and eighteen thousand. He reproaches their masters with neglect, in respect to this unhappy portion of the human species; but on the other hand, he launches into an eulogium on the excellence of the juridical institutions.

"Every where else, (says he) the slave is condemned for life, to suffer under the tyranny of an unjust master; among the Spaniards, he may at any time relieve himself from the dominion of a man who abuses his right of property. The law, indeed, insists that he should declare the motives; but this beneficent system of jurisprudence is satisfied with complaints of the slightest kind. The most trifling allegation, whether true or false, is sufficient to force the master to sell the slave who does not choose any longer to serve him. In addition to this,

he cannot exact an arbitrary price for his liberty, and the maximum is regulated at three hundred piastres, whatever may be the talents of the slave; if any infir mities have deteriorated the value, the judge makes the necessary deduction. Every bondman is allowed to purchase his freedom, at prime cost, while the master is not permitted to chastize him so as to make the blood flow, without exposing himself to punishment. In fine, the governors nominate an advo cate, who is to support the rights and the claims of the slaves. This institut on demonstrates the wisdom and the humanity of the legislature. How many calamities would the colonies of other European nations have avoided, if similar laws had been promulged by them! The Spaniards, hitherto so frequently ac cused of cruelty, are nevertheless the very people, whose code is the most sage, and whose customs are the most worthy of being imitated."

We are further informed, that out of the seven hundred and twenty-eight thousand persons, contained in the Captainship of the Caraccas, the number of those enfranchised, amounts to 219,000. "This is the less astonishing, (adds he) as the Spaniards consider the liberation of their slaves, among the most meritorious acts enjoined by their religion."

We now come to the Indians, who are described as being in general more attached to their mothers, than their fathers. The Goahiros, are represented as the most ferocious, as well as the most perfidious, of all the neighbouring tribes. They are cannibals, and if by chance any vessel is cast ashore by a tempest, they constantly murder the crew and feast on human flesh. M. de Pons offers up his vows for the subjugation of this people, in order that they might be obliged to renounce the customs and habits of wild beasts.

It is far otherwise with the civilized Indians; and the Spaniards, who are fally sensible of the difference, have not only renounced all the rigorous measures hitherto adopted by their ancestors, but now actually treat them with paternal kindness.

"But few authors, (we are told) have rendered that justice to the Spanish government which is due to it, relatirr to the manner in which the Indians are regulated. The Abbé Raynal, that a

The piastre is a dollar, but the text mess tious "trois cents piastres fortes."--Ed.

The merits of the first missionaries are described and praised, aud we are told that they braved danger, and submitted to a thousand acts of injustice and cruelty, with the most heroic constancy, The Jesuits also, to whom the education of youth was chiefly confided there as in Europe, are commended with an uncommou degree of ardour; and we are informed, "that the expulsion of these learned men bereaved the youth of Maracaybo,

of all the means of instruction."

When the Spaniards were unable to discover any mines of gold or of silver, on the Terra Firma, they bethought themselves that the pearl-fishery would fully reward all their labours; but as it proved expensive, it was soon abandoned. They then betook themselves to the cultivation of cacao, of coffee, of cotton, and of the sugar-cane.

This inquiry naturally leads to a detail of the commercial relations of the country, to a history of the company of the Caraccas, to an account of the administration of the finances, and an enumeration of the towns, such as La Gonyra, Porto-Cabello, Valentia, Maracaybo, Tulmero, Coro, Tocuyo, Guairara, Araura, &c.

The Oronooko separates the Terra Firma from Guyana. It is represented as one of the largest rivers of the world, and in many respects, particularly its annual increase, resembles the Nile. Father Gumilla was the first who presented the world with a circumstantial account of this mighty stream; but he was deceived when he pronounced that MONTHLY Mac. 139.

it was connected, and had a direct communication with the river of the Ama-* zons. The testimony of the Baron de Humboldt has since proved fully decisive relative to that subject He says, "that be entered the Oronooko by the stream of the Apora, and arrived, after incredible difficulties, at Fort St. Charles, which constitutes the limits of the Por tuguese settlements. From Fort St. Charles," adds this celebrated traveller, in a letter to the Captain General of the Caraccas, dated August 23, 1800, we returned to Guyana, by the Cosiquiari, an arm of the Oronooko, which communicates with the Rio-Negro. The force of the current, the immense quantity of flics and insects of all sorts, together with the scantiness of the population, all contribute to render this navigation at once dangerous and fatiguing.'

The mouths of the Oronooko appear to have a great affinity to those of the Nile, in respect to the earth thrown up, and formed into a delta, by the force of the stream, &c. Here a number of islands are formed, which occupy an extent of sixty miles of territory; they are at least fifty in number. The extreme breadth of the Oronooko is estimated at three thousand and fifty toises; while its depth at low water, opposite to St. Thomas's, is considerable. That town, or rather city, is considered as the capital of Spanish Guyana,

The Author, after narrating a variety of new and important particulars, ter minates his work with some remarks relative to the lake Parima, so famous under the name of Eldorado, the search for which formerly occasioned the death of numerous adventurers, who were led thither by cupidity alone. M. de Pons conjectures, that the rays of the sun, by being reflected from the tale with which the borders of the water are covered, aud exhibiting in a fine day all the brilliancy of the precious metals, has furnished the basis of most of the tine stories which have been related on this subject.

In 1797, a "conspiracy" was formed, or in other words a revolution was in tended by the inhabitants, for the express purpose of enabling them to free themselves from the yoke of the court of Madrid. As it is not at present the interest of France, that the territories of her ally should be dismembered, M. de Pons, in a very pathetic exhortation to the colonists, addresses himself particu larly to the Europeans, and the descendants of Europeans in the New World,

and

and earnestly solicits them to shut their hearts against that moral perfidy with which a destructive anarchy is constantly accompanied: " it pretends to virtue, but practises crime; it promises all sorts of good, and only scatters evil; in short, with the language of an angel it unites the reelings of a tiger," &c.

"Mon Voyage en Prusse, ou Mémoires Secrets sur Frédéric-le-Grand et la Cour de Berlin. Par L. M. D. L***.”My Travcis in Prussia; or, the Secret Memoirs of Frederick the Great and the Court of Berlin. By L. M. D. L***. The following paragraph by the author, serves as a preface:

"I was only twenty years of age when I wrote these notes; I thought I had lost them for ever, but, by accident, they were discovered. After having taken the trouble to read them over, M. de Frechel was polite enough to deem them of some value. Without either retouching, or even reperusing them, they are now given to the public." This volume, instead of giving any account of Prussia, abounds entirely with anecdotes relative to the great Frederick, whom the author endeavours, as much as possible, to debase. Nicolai, Bitaubé, and most of the members of the Academy of Berlin, are also treated with but little respect.

BIOGRAPHY,

"Galerie Historique des illustres Germains, depuis Arminius jusqu'à nos jours, avec leurs Portraits," &c.-An Historical Gallery of illustrious Germans, from the days of Arminius to our own Times, with their engraved Portraits, and a Representation of the princi al Events of their Lives. Paris, 1806-1807.

This work, which is published in parts, or livraisons, is the production of the CHEVALIER DE KLEIN, Privy Counsellor to the King of Bavaria, perpetual Secretary of the German Academy of Manheim, a Correspondent of the National Institute of France, and a Member of several learned Societies. The frontispiece represents History in the shape of a female, holding a lamp in one hand and a book in the other; thus differing from former artists, who have usually depicted her with a flambeau. The figure, &c. is executed by Joseph Fratrel, a Frenchinan, in the service of the King of Bavaria.

The first portrait is that of Arminius, the liberator and defender of his country, who, in the school of the Romans, attempted to learn the difficult art of vanquishing them. The second plate repre

sents the spouse of this hero, who was worthy of him, and who, notwithstanding she was destined to become the captive of Germanicus, yet, by the elevation of her mind, rose superior to the persecu tions of fortune.

The third print recals the memory of an anecdote on the part of one of the lieutenants of Arminius. Boyokal, preferring death to treason, is here represented in the attitude of replying as follows to that Roman, who intended either to seduce or to affright him: "If your countrymen will not allow us a corner of the earth on which to live, we shall at least find a sufficient portion whereon to die!"

The fourth exhibits one of those incidents which seem to appertain to fabulous times, and which the unanimous tes timony of historians can alone render credible---the circumstance of the Cimbrian women devoting themselves to destruction, after the victory obtained by Marius.

"The females of this nation," says the author, "according to the test of Plu tarch, on beholding their husbands defented, descend from their cars, clothed in robes that denoted their grief, and, being unable any longer to rally their fu gitive cohorts, kill every one they meet with their lances. The ties of nature itself are not respected by their blind patriotism; and, rather than fall into the power of the conqueror, the sister pierces the bosom of the brother, the wife takes away the life of her husband; they either seize and strangle their children with their own hands, or throw them under the wheels of their carriages, after which they put themselves to death also.”

The last print is of a very different kind, as it appertains to the history of the arts; it is the portrait of Albert

Durer.

The price of every number is 25 franks, and that of a whole volu ne 150 lares.

"Eloge de Massillon, Evèque de Clermont, l'un des Quarante de l'Acadiaze Française."-The Eulogy of Massillon, Bishop of Clermont, one of the forty Members of the French Academy. By CHARLES HENRY BELIME.

It has been observed, and that too very justly, that eulogies of this species are ex ceedingly dithcult in point of compos tion. It is far more easy to celebrate great magistrate, a great minister, or a great warrior, than a great orpar; lesa eloquence is required on the part of baya who makes the panegyric of a man de tingusted