To be a good mechanic requires the labour of a whole life; a power of directing the attention and researches of the mind to a single subject, or to the devising of a single part of a subject, when need requires it: yet capable of compre hending the conveyance of the principle of action throughout a varied series of movements, to the very result intended.. Add to this, much practical knowledge, a familiarity with the powers of nature, and what they can be made to effect; an acquaintance with the best specimens of art, and the principles on which they are constructed. The knowledge of what the ingenuity of others has accomplished, is often of great advantage to a mechanic, as it keeps him from attempting impossibilities, yet encourages him, under circumstances of difficulty and embarass

ment.

We promote with pleasure publications like the present; and as there are many kinds of machines at which our author has not even hinted, we would encourage him to communicate these also to the public. He will, however, attend, by our advice, to an orderly, and luminous arrangement of them; and he should not think it beneath him, to pay proper attention to the effect of his plates, both in whole and in part. Let him remember, that what the eye comprehends with least difficulty, the mind also understands with least fallacy. A wheel is round, not flat, it therefore should ap pear round in a design, though a merely practical operator disregards this nicety. Ion should be carefully distinguished from wood. By the representations on some of these plates, it might be thought that water was a solid body. These are certainly blemishes in a work of merit : we remark them, not merely with a view to Mr Gray's future attention; but, by way of instruction to whoever may follow in his track That which is worth doing, is is worth doing well: and we are certain that whoever attempts to render a difficult subject comprehensible by general readers, will act wisely in profiting by every advantage within his power.

The public are under considerable obligations to artists who are masters of useful professions, for every communication, whereby the principles of their art are opened to practitioners in distant residences: and in this commendation Mr. G. is well intitled to partake,

Viaggio di Licomede (Arrighi) in Corsica, e sua relatione storico-filosophica sui costumi antichi e attuali de' Corsi: ad un suo Amico. Travels of Licomedes (Arrighi) in Corsica, and his historical and philosophical account of the ancient and present manners of the Corsicans to one of his friends. 8vo. price 9s. Lerouge. Paris:

THIS is one of those affected publications which have endeavoured to distinguish themselves at the French press; as appears by the author's assuming a Greek name, and giving Greek names to his friends with whom he corresponds.

From the circumstance of Bonaparte being a native of Corsica, that island has of late received a kind of comparative importance, and its history has assumed an interest, to which the subject of it is, assuredly, not entitled, by its magnitude, its population, or its productions. The ancients were little acquainted with the carly state of its first inhabitants: after its conquest by the Romans, we have somewhat more information of the manners of the people but the picture drawn of them is little to their advantage. The opinions of Strabo and of Diodorus Sicu lus are contradictory. The present writer, as Boswell before him had done, follows Strabo. The municipal govern ment was established in this island, about the beginning of the eleventh century, and the writers of those times describe it, as having been highly advantageous to the people. That vindictive character which is imputed to the Corsicans, our author attributes to the oppressive tyranny of the Genoese. He is, however, unable to vindicate them from this charge; but ob. serves, that their personal enmities ceas ed when the defence of their country and its liberties were in question. He also praises in strong terms their hospitality. The state of civil war to which they have been so long accustomed, has rendered them passionately fond of the chace: but has almost excluded them from acquaintance with the labours of agriculture, with commerce, or the arts of life. The population of this island, which he seems to have derived from authentic information, our author states at 166,000 souls : whereas, Corsica, from its extent, might be thought capable of sustaining at least a million.

Lettres sur l'Education des Vers-à-Soie,

&c. Letters on the rearing of SilkWorms, and the cultivation of the white Mulberry Tree; in which the author, founding his Opinion on the Experiments of the most successful Breeders, and on a Method practised by himself, demonstrates that both the Insect, and the Tree, may succeed and prosper in Latitudes much further North, than those comprised in the French Empire, and may be a source of Pleasure, and Wealth to Families. By A. R. Angéleny, Professor of Mathematics at Besançon. 12mo. price 2s. 6d. Marchand. Paris.

ALTHOUGH we are not without information on the subject of this useful insect, and on the mulberry tree, yet this work contains absolutely new views, as to the possibility of the multiplication of these valuable worms, or rather caterpillars, and of the plants on which they subsist. This information regards principally those climates which hitherto have been considered as too far north, too chilly, for this undertaking.

As Bonaparte has lately prohibited the exportation of silk from Piedmont, and other districts under his dominion, we register this little work with some degree of satisfactory opposition to him. We merely remark further, that there are several kinds of silk worms; and that they differ, as in other qualities, so in hardiness, and capability of resisting the effects of temperature. Moisture is injurious to them: wet food is fatal: but the art of hatching them, sooner or later, according to the season, is, of the greatest consequence, in this uncertain climate, As a very few weeks' attendance produces this valuable commodity, and silk never need fear any hazard of not finding a market, we think it pity, but that it should be naturalized among us. The finest and softest piece of silk we ever felt, was made from webs produced in this country. We recommend the prosecution of the experiments connected with this article to the female sex: because we recollect that the Grecian women, (many of whom make a profit of £80 or £100 a year, by their silk) are unanimous in their opinion, that should any man enter the rooms where the worms

are kept, the whole brood would die. They also choose to take the it money produces, themselves; but their reasons for this, as they do not divulge them, we cannot presume to penetrate.

De l'Influence des Beaux Arts, &c. On the Influence of the Fine Arts on public Felicity. Pamphlet. 8vo. Ratisbon. Montag.

THIS work is divided into seven dialogues, and consequently, has a dramatic forin. The speakers are Anaxagoras, Pericles, Phidias, Alcibiades, and Aspasia. These determine that the fine arts have very important influence on the happiness of nations, and communities, when they are employed in constructing monuments of public gratitude; in painting memorable events; in raising statues to illustrious characters; in setting heroic examples before the eyes of spectators; and in celebrating efforts of virtue, by songs of praise. They become, on the contrary, instruments of corruption, when employed to nourish the luxury and effeminacy of individuals. This is especially insisted on by Pericles, now near his end, in the last dialogue, wherein he explains to Aspasia his apprehensions, that the influence of Alcibiades will be prejudicialto the prosperity of Athens. This the more impresses the mind of the expiring statesman, because Alcibiades, in the preceding dialogue had not concealed from Pericles his inclination for magnificence, pomp, and enterprizing ambition.

These dialogues are distinguished by a profound knowledge of the theory of the fine arts, and a noble enthusiasm for the public welfare. Their author is M. de Dalberg, Arch-Chancellor of Germany.

Eloges Historiques, &c. Historical Commemorations composed for the Medical Society of Paris, accompanied by a dis Course on the connection of Medicine with the sciences of natural knowledge, and of morals. By J. L. Alibert, MD, member of several societies. 8vo. price 5s. Crapart. Paris.

THIS Volume contains memoirs of Lazarus Spallanzani, Galvani, and Roussel; with a discourse on physic.

The writer has carefully stated the progressive discoveries of the subjects of his

commendations, and has sacrificed to fidelity whatever of oratory or elegant composition he might have introduced : He has not, therefore, degraded into the notes the main facts which are the most worthy of attention, but has considered them as forming the principal object, when the merit of the person of whom he is giving an account is under discussion. The lives of Spallanzani, and of Galvani, cannot fail of being interest ing but the progressive view taken of the discoveries which they were so fortunate as to make, renders such interest doubly pleasing.

Voyages Agronomiques, &c. Farmer's Travels in the district of Dijon, con taining an explanation of the method successfully employed, for more than a century, to correct the abuses arising from the excessive subdivision of land, by the manner of laying down roads for agricultural purposes, &c. Price 5s. Mad. Huzard, Paris,

THIS work is interesting to the country to which it refers: but not much of it is applicable to Britain. We should not have noticed it, but for a remark it has drawn from the Editor of a French journal, when reporting it.

While we applaud, says he, the enlighted views of the author of these travels on the advantages of uniting lands into extensive premises, we ought to guard against falling into the opposite ex

treme.

Andalusia, so celebrated in antiquity, under the name of Bætica, on account of its extreme fertility, is for the most part, at present, actually struck with barrenness, occasioned by the excessive extent of its farms. The great proprietors of these farms keep registers, in which undue importance is given to the most productive pieces of land, while they proscribe from cultivation, not only those which their owners judge would yield unprofitable crops, but also those which are in disrepute for being of a secondary fertility, however capable they might be of contributing to the general increase, under proper management. From this

abuse, says the writer, hardly the third part of Andalusia is in full cultivation : so famous as this province was formerly for its abundance !- -Verbum sat, &c.

Elizabeth, ou les Exilés de Sibérie, a novel. By Mad. Cottin. 2 vol. 12mo. Giguet et Michaud. Paris.

THIS tale is founded on a real occurrence which happened in Russia, some time ago.

Deep in the deserts of Siberia, where her father and mother reside as exiles, a young lass of sixteen, meditates the bold attempt of penetrating to Petersburgh, a distance of 800 leagues, to solicit from the Emperor the restoration of her parents. This undertaking she executes, with invincible courage, and overcomes an infinity of obstacles. The circumstance of the coronation of the Emperor Alexander, at Moscow, somewhat shortens her journey. She visits this city, obtains an audience of the Emperor, and succeeds in her object: the