mufic, dancing, and archery, which comprize the whole art of war and architecture, under which the fyftem of mechanical arts is included." -“ Infinite advantage may be de-, rived by Europeans, from the various medical books in Sanfcreet, which contain the names and defcriptions of Indian plants and minerals, with their ufes, difcovered by experience, in curing diforders." Of the Sanfcreet language he obferves, "that its profody contains almoft all the measures of the Greek; and that it is remarkable, that the language of the Brahmans runs very naturally into Sapphicks, Alcaicks, and Iambicks." Aftronomical works in this language are exceedingly numerous : feventy nine of them are specified in one lift; and if they contain the names of the principal ftars visible in India, with obfervations on their pofitions in different ages, what difcoveries may be made in fcience, and what certainty attained in ancient chronology!" the most elegant; but all of them contain much curious information, and manifeft the univerfal learning and ftrenuous diligence of their author. The fecond volume of thefe works contains feveral valuable botanical effays, comprifing obfer. vations on Indian plants, together with a catalogue of them, giving their Sanfcréet, and as many of their Linnæan names, as could with any degree of precision be afcertamed. After these effays, follows his celebrated grammar of the Perfian language, the univerfally ac knowledged merits of which render it altogether useless to praife. The preface to the grammar is one of the most masterly, spirited, and elegant of all fir William Jones's philological compofitions. To the Grammar, the editor of thefe works has added, a hiftory of the Perfian language, which it was fir William's original intention to have annexed to it in the year 1771, when the grammar was first The other tracts in the first vo- printed. In this treatife, he takes Jume confift of fome remarks on the a comprehenfive view of his fubSecond Claffical Book of the Chi- ject, traces the progrefs of the Pernefé; of a Scientific Diflertation on fian language through a period of the Lunar Year of the Hindus; of a two thousand years, and relieves the Treatife on the Mufical Modes of drynefs of the narrative by interfperthe Hindus; of a Philological Ac- fing it with pleafing citations from count of the myftical Poetry of the the poets and moral writers of Perfia. Perfians and Hindus; of the Hand of Hinzuan; of a Converfation with an Abyliinian concerning the City of Gwender and the Source of the Nile; and fome Remarks on the Course of the Nile, of a Treatife on the Indian Game of Chefs; and of five or fix fhort Mifcellaneous Effays on Oriental Subjects. Of these tracts, that on the mufical modes of the Hindus, is the most interefting, and by far The last tract in this volume is a Commentary on Afiatic Poetry, written in the Latin language, and it is no lefs diftinguifhed for various and extenfive learning, than for pure tafte, and correct and elegant compofition. Our only material objection to this treatife, is, the language in which it is written. Surely the English tongue is fufficiently copious to exprefs our ideas on any fubject whatever. Why then render a work of this nature repulfive to men of the world, by writing in a language in which, it is well known, they are not converfant? It has indeed been faid, in defence of the practice of writing on learned fubjects in the Latin, that, as it is a general language, it. introduces a performance at once into the great commonwealth of letters. But as the French language is univerfally known throughout Europe, and as moft English works of any importance, have, for these twenty years paft, been tranf lated into that tongue, we confefs we can discover no poffible utility in compofing interefting works in Latin, efpecially on Oriental fubjects, which it fhould be our first endeavour to clothe in an agreeable and familiar attire. In the third volume of thefe works, we come to the moft important and valuable of all fir W. Jones's tranflation, namely, his Verfion of the Inftitutes of Hindû Law, or, the Ordinances of Menu, according to the Glofs of Calluca, literally tranflated from the Sanfcreet original. This work is a compendium of that fyftem of duties, religious and civil, and of law in all its branches, which the Hindûs believe to have been promulgated in the beginning of time by Menu, the grandfon of Brahmà, and the oldeft and holieft of legiflators. According to the calculation of the learned tranflator, it received its prefent form about 880 years before the birth of our Saviour, and about 300 years fubfequent to the promulgation of the Védas, or Hindû fcriptures. No production of the prefent age contains fo much new and curious matter. It throws more light upon the Hindû fyftem than all the publications that have heretofore appeared on the subject; and it proves beyond all difpute that the people of India had made great advances in civilization, at a period when the nations of Europe were in the rudeft ftage of focial life. But it is peculiarly worthy of observation, that in many parts of it we find much of the wildom, fublimity, and eloquence of the facred fcriptures; and though the text be deformed with innumerable abfurdities, it always breathes the fpirit of legiflation and the fervour of a pious morality. The laft tracts in the third volume are, The Mahommedan Law of Succeffion to the Property of Intestates, in Arabic, from an original manufcript, with a verbal tranflation, preface, and notes; and, The Mahommedan Law of Inheritance from the Arabic text of Sirajiyyah, with a preface and commentary. Both thefe tracts are of the utmost importance towards the due adminiftration of civil juftice in India, inafmuch as it regards upwards of three millions of British Mahommedan fubjects; and they ought therefore to be ftudied with the greatest attention, by all gentlemen intending to enter the civil fervice of the hon. company. The three remaining volumes, confift of many elegant compofitions in Hindû literature, and fome interefting tranflations from the Sanf creet. Afiatic Refearches; or, Tranfactions of the Society inflituted in Bengal, for inquiring into the Hiftory and Antiquities, the Arts, Sciences, and HILE we look with fatisfac have speculated charms of invention. WHIL Hion to the progress of this Objects fo interefting cannot but ufeful fociety, we cannot avoid re- excite a defire for a farther ac peating our concern for the lofs of quaintance with them; four vo the amiable and excellent inftitutor lumes have been already pub of fo liberal a plan, which has been shed, and the fifth now makes its productive of fo much information. appearance; but the lucubrations of The investigations of this fociety are the Afiatic fociety have not been fo bound only by the geographical widely diffufed as their merit de limits of Afia. The field of their ferved Nearly the whole of the researches is not only immenfe, but impreffion is diftributed in the Eaft fertile in every topic that can ex- Indies, therefore very few copies cite curiofity or furnish entertain- reach Europe; and this, among ment. The members are not con- other reafons, has given rife to the fined to Hindoftan, but extend to prefent re-publication, which co China, to Japan, to Tartary, to tains the whole of the tranfactions Tibett, to the fterile deferts of Ara- of the fociety, without abridgement bia, and to the beautiful provinces of Perfia. or mutilation. We cannot difmifs this article A space fo unbounded has enga- without obferving that in the five ged the attention and care of the volumes of this work may be found Afiatic fociety fince its first inftitu- nearly all the truly valuable articles tion, and the topics of their inquiry which compose the pompous and have been vaft and without meafure. expenfive work we have juft reperformed by men, or produced by publications of fir William Jones, They have examined whatever is viewed, that is to fay, all thole nature, within the limits they have on fubjects connected with Oriental prefcribed to themfelves. They Literature, Natural Hiftory, or have exhibited accounts of natural Antiquities, which received his lat productions; have examined the corrections, and were prefented by records of empires and ftates; they him in a finished state to the fociety, have difentangled the perplexities of which he was fo diftinguished a of pure and mixed mathematics; member. For an account of the third and fourth volumes of this work fee our Register for 1797 CONTENTS CONTENT S. HISTORY OF EUROPE. CHAP. I. A general View of the Year 1799.-Hazardous Situation of Buonaparte, in confequence of the Destruction of the French Fleet.-Prefent State of Egypt.-Mammalukes.— Beys.—Arabs.-Jews.-Greeks.-Cophts.- Force, Land and Marine, under the Command of Buonaparte.-Various Cares of Buonaparte.-Means of maintaining the Army.—And of recruit- ing and preferving it.-Buonaparte refpects himself, and gives Orders to his Officers to respect, the Prejudices of all the Egyptians.-His Proclama- tion to the People of Egypt.-At great Pains to propagate, in all Maho- metan Countries, a Belief of his Veneration for Islaumifm and the Prophet. -Treachery and Punishment of the principal Sheick, or Shereef, of Alex- andria. Endeavours of Buonaparte to blend and harmonize the French and the Egyptians.-Meafures taken for the Accomplishment of that Defign.- Grand Feast at Cairo, on the Anniversary of the French Republic.-Great Ceremony at the annual opening of the Grand Canal of Cairo.-Liberality of Buonaparte to the Egyptians.-Ufeful Infitutions.-Government of Egypt attempted to be affimilated to the new Government in France.- Notables-Departments. And a general fembly, or Divan, in Egypt. -Difficulty of operating and producing any permanent Change in the Minds of Barbarians.-Jealoufies of the French.-Difcontents.---Mur- murs. And Infurrections.-Particularly at Cairo.-This, with the others, fubdued.—A general Amnesty-Murad Bey defeated, with great Lofs. And forced to retreat to the Mountains.-The French, under the Command of Defaix, in Poffeffion of the best Part of Upper Egypt [1 The French keep their Ground in Egypt.-Yet many Caufes remain of Alarm.-Means ufed by Buonaparte, for obviating or encountering these.- An Alliance, offenfive and defenfive, between the Turks and Ruffians.—Ex- pedition of the French into Egypt.-Objects of this avowed.—Or probable. ·Preparations for the Expedition.-Difpofition of the Troops. - And March-Oppofed by Mammalukes, Arabs, Samaritans, and other Syrian Tribes.-Battle of El-Arifch.—El-Arisch taken by the French.-Progr} of the French Army to Gazȧ.—Of which it takes Poffeffion without Rej tance-And of Jaffa (the ancient Joppa), after a desperate Refifiance.— Importance of Jaffa.- Letter from Buonaparte to Ghezzar, Bahas of St. John d'Acre.-Ghezzar's Anfwer.-March of the French Army along the Roots of Mount Carmel.-Towards St. John d'Acre.-Defcription and Hiftory of Acre.- ·French encamp before Acre. And open Trenches against it.-Project, combined by the British and Turkish Governments, for a general Attack on Buonaparte, by Sea and Land.-A French Flotile, with Battering-cannon, Ammunition, and Stores, taken by Commodore Sir Sidney Smith.-Breach effected in the Wall of Acre.-Repeated As of the French, on Acre, repulsed.—Immenfe Multitudes assembled on the furrounding Hills, waiting for the flue of the Contest, with a Determins tion to join the Victors.-Circular Letter from Sir Sidney Smith to the Princes and Chiefs of the Chriftians of Mount Lebanon.-Their friendly Anfwer-Sallies from the Garrison of Acre.-Account of Ghezzar ba Shaw.-Difcomfiture and Retreat of the French from Acre CHA P. III. [30 Account of the Siege of Acre, by the English.-And by the French Com manders-Demolition of Forts.-Contributions.-The French Army reenters the Defart.-Camps of the Arabs burned.-Arrival of the French Army at Cairo.-Lofs of the French Army in the Syrian Expedition.— Internal Diffatisfaction and Commotion in Egypt.-And new Aleks threatened on the Coaft and Frontier.-Obfervations on the different Reports of Sir Sidney Smith and General Berthier.-Proceedings of Buon parte, after his Return to Egypt.-The Mammalukes, furprized in their Camp, betake themfelves to Flight.-A Turkish Army, fupported by Fleet, advances against Aboukir.-Pofition of the Turks at AboukirAnd of the Squadron.Difpofition of the French Army, for an Attack on the Turks.-Battle of Aboukir.-Gained by the French-Declarations by Buonaparte.-Buonaparte, amidst all his Proceedings, military and po litical, pays conflant Attention to the Interests of Commerce, Arts, and Sciences.-A Detachment of the French Army occupies Suez.—Journey to Suez, by Buonaparte. CHA P. IV. Object of the French Expedition to Egypt.-Connection between France and the Sultaun of Myfore, in India.-Letter from Buonaparte to Tippoo Sultaun. -Hoftilities against the British, in India, concerted between the French Government and Tippoo.-Embally from Tippoo Sultaun to Zemaun Shah, King of Cabul.-The Kingdoms of Candahar and Cabul defcribed.-Curious Inftructions of Tippoo to his Ambaffadors.-Plans for hoftile Co-operation between Tippoo Sullaun and Zemaun Shah, against the English.--Letter from Tippoo to Zemaun.-Zemcun's Anfuer-According with the Wishes of Tippoo. The Invasion of India concerted between those two Princes, pr 6 vented |