facilitate the study of so useful and fo important a branch of science.

In order to fet this in the cleareft light, we fhall obferve, that this work is divided into nine books. The first treats of the obligations and rights of men in general, diftinguished under three heads, thofe that they owe to themselves, to others, and to Almighty God. The fecond treats of property, the rights refulting from it, and the obligations that belong thereto. The third explains the manner of acquiring property, or the means of obtaining a right to what once belonged to another. The fourth, regards fuch particular acts as have an operation for the good of others; in which is difcuffed, whatever regards donations, contracts, and difpofitions. The fifth refpects contracts obligatory, mixed contracts, and the right that a man has to alienate his own poffeffions, for the benefit of another. The fixth contains a view of the different terms upon which property may be poffeffed. The feventh ftates the nature of domestic government, and the duties and rights respecting the conjugal, paternal, and oeconomical power of a master of a family. The eighth book gives us a defcription of public empire, or the rights of states. The laft includes the principles of the law of nations.

This is a very fuccinct account of a pretty confiderable work, which is, notwithstanding, the compendium only of one much more confiderable; but even from this sketch it will appear to be an accurate, ufeful, and methodical performance; comprehending the elementary principles of all kinds of law, and exhibiting the fundamental maxims of all forms of government.

L'Arcadie Moderne, ou les Bergeries Savantes, Paftorale Héroïque, dediée au Roi de Pologne, Grand Duc de Lithuanie, Duc de Lorraine & de Bar. Par M. de la Baume Defdoffat, Chanoine d'Avignon, de l'Académie des Arcades de Rome. A Paris chez Vincent, 1757. 12mo. pp. 313. Sans l'Intro

duction. That is,

The Modern Arcadia, an Heroic Paftoral. Dedicated to the King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Duke of Lorrain and Bar, &c.

There is fomething whimfical, and even romantic, in this ti tle, and fomething of the like fpirit runs through the work itself; which, notwithstanding its extravagancy, has in it many curious things, and not a few that are inftructive and entertaining. We have only room to explain the nature of the piece. The academy of the Arcadians was erected towards the latter end of the last century, at Rome, by thofe learned perfons chiefly

who

who were about Queen Chriftina of Sweden. This academy admits all sciences, all arts, all nations, all ranks, and both fexes. The number of its members is not determined; they are faid to be at present upwards of two thoufand. They aggregate fometimes whole academies, and there are many learned affemblies, in different parts of Europe, that are proud of traceing their descent from this illuftrious body.

At Rome, the academicians affemble in paftoral habits, in a moft agreeable garden, called Bofco Parrhafia. The conftitution of the fociety is Democratic; they therefore never chuse any Prince for their Protector. At the end of each Olympiad, for that is the method of computing adopted by the Arcadians, they chufe a Guardian, who is the fpeaker, and has the fole right of affembling the fociety, who are also represented by him alone, when they are not affembled. In order to be admitted a member, it is requifite that the perfon fhould be twenty-four years of age compleat, of a reputable family, and to have given fome fpecimen of abilities in one or more branches of education. In refpect to Ladies, a poem, or a picture, is a testimony of genius that is held fufficient. The ftated affemblies of this academy are fixed to seven different days, between the firft of May and the feventh of October. In the fix first they read the works of the Roman fhepherds, the productions of strangers are referved for the feventh and laft.

Being himself an Arcadian, and having a great defire to celebrate his Polish Majefty, who is one of the great ornaments of that fociety, to whom, upon his election, he prefented his picture, and his buft in marble,-our Author took his hint from thence, and keeping the circumftances before mentioned in view, compofed this allegorical work; in which he has not only fhewn a lively imagination, but a great compass of knowlege, and a variety of learning, in a very agreeable manner; tho', if the praifes he has bestowed upon this academy, which he supposes the glory of Italy, and upon the great Prince who is the hero of his piece, had been more moderate, they would not have been lefs pleafing.

This heroic paftoral confifts of three acts; the chief characters are, Genius, Tafte, and Emulation; with the chief of the Shepherds of Arcadia, Shepherdeffes, &c. At the opening, Genius, who comes as a stranger into Arcadia, is queftioned by the Chief of the fhepherds, as to his defcent, profeffion, and intention; which affords him an opportunity of entering into a fine allegorical tale, of the progrefs of Genius, told with great wit and elegance, but interfperfed with fome ítrokes of panegyric, that are a little too glaring. Tafte and Emulation fupport their parts with great vivacity. At length Genius is invited to become a

member

member of the fociety, and the more to incline him to this, he is fhewn the habitations of the fhepherds, their manner of living, employments, and amusements. In the third act, Genius is received under the name of Euthimes, and reads a difcourfe, by way of specimen of his talents, which is precifely the fame that King Stanislaus fent to the academy, and where it had been read in an Italian tranflation. In the reading of this piece, Euthimes lofes his mortal form, and is difcerned to be Genius, a Being of fuperior rank; who at the fame time declares, that he transfers all his rights to Euthimes, and enters into a long and elevated character of Stanislaus the Beneficent. And now Emulation rifes into the air, amidst the acclamations of the fpectators, with a crown in one hand, and the picture of Euthimes in the other, which he places in the frontispiece of the theatre. In the mean time, Genius and Tafte place the buft on a pedeftal. Then the Olympic games commence, intermixed with dances and fymphonies, while a Polander, a German, a Frenchman, a native of Lorrain, and the Arcadian fhepherds celebrate, each in his turn, the glory of the immortal Euthimes.

Verhandelingen uitgegeeven door de Hollandfe Maatschappy der Weetenfchappen te Haarlem. Derde Deel. Te Haarlem by J. Bofch, Drukker Van de Hollandfe Maatschappy der Weetenf chappen, 1757. That is,

Memoirs published by a Dutch Society, for propagating the Sciences, at Haerlem. Vol. III.

There is a preface prefixed to this volume, by M. Vander Aa, who is Secretary to the Society; in which he gives the reasons why they have not thought fit to bestow the prizes promised in the years 1755 and 1756; and invites the learned ftill to continue their attention to the fubjects then propofed. The question for the year 1757 runs thus: A dyke being broken; Which is

the fpeedieft, fureft, and least expenfive method of repairing ⚫ and ftopping up the breach? Then follows a lift of the Directors and Members of the Society, with other particulars relative thereto.

The differtations that compofe this work are on all forts of fubjects, Theology, Phyfics, Natural Hiftory, Mathematics, Medicine, Cafes in Surgery, Experiments of all kinds; fpecimens of which would take up too much room. We shall therefore content ourselves with obferving, that in free countries, fuch as Great Britain, and the dominions of the United Provinces, where focieties of this kind may be formed, without ftanding in need of the protection, and confequently without falling under the influence of power, the greateft difcoveries are

to

to be hoped for. It is with fcience as it is with trade, freedom excites and preferves it; whereas the arts of luxury, and frivolous ftudies, can alone thrive under abfolute monarchies. It may not be amifs to obferve too, that these kind of learned communities are of great fervice in all countries, as they propagate a difpofition to thinking, and a habit of enquiry, the most proper means of improving and perfecting every branch of useful knowlege. They are alfo beneficial in another refpect, as they take men off from idle, useless, and expensive amusements, and thereby render the fruits of their leifure, as well as the effects of their labours, beneficial to fociety. Add to this, a third confideration, that where the Memoirs of these focieties are publifhed in the language of the country, they are highly ferviceable in fmoothing, enriching, and reducing it to a proper ftandard,

Developement & Defenfe du Syfteme de la Nobleffe Commerçante, par l'Abbé Coyer. A Amfterdam & fe trouve à Paris chez du Chefne, 1757. 8vo. 2 Tom. Premiere Partie 152 pag. Seconde Partie 206 pag. That is,

An Illuftration and Defence of the Syftem of a Commercial Nobleffe. By the Abbé Coyer.

There have been few pieces received with more applause on one fide, or oppofed with greater vehemence on the other, than the famous treatife which is fupported in this new work. The Abbé Coyer might have revived the most obnoxious heresy, or have advanced doctrines the moft immoral, without risking a more fevere perfecution than has attended his vindicating the honour of Trade, and afferting, that it becomes a Gentleman full as much to exert himself for the benefit and fupport of the human fpecies, as for its deftruction. Against a crowd of witlings and declaimers, he thought it equally needless and endless, to attempt any defence: but when the Chevalier d'Arc entered the lifts, and publifhed his Nobleffe Militaire, he thought it became him to justify his own opinion, and to refute the arguments that had been offered against his fyftem.

In the first place, it is demanded, whether the great enterprizes

of Commerce are confiftent with the interefts of monarchies? He affirms that they are. He obferves, that the grandeur of a monarchy, as well as every other kind of government, depends upon the number, and the condition of its fubjects; and as both of thefe are incontestably improved by Commerce, it must be beneficial to monarchies as well as republics. He fhews, that circulation corrects all the evils that arife from the increase of wealth; he proves, that a poor nation is more expofed to

tyranny

tyranny than a rich; and in anfwer to the demand, whether a fpirit of trade is reconcileable to a spirit of conqueft, he remarks, that Lewis the XIVth, after all his conquefts, was once brought to deliberate whether he could remain in fafety at Verfailles; and that the victorious Swedish Hero Charles the twelfth, had abundant leifure to difcufs this queftion in his own mind, during his captivity at Bender. He adds, that as money is neceffary to conqueft, trade is neceflary to procure money; and hints, that it was the zeal and wisdom of Colbert, in the support of Commerce, that enabled Lewis the fourteenth to execute the ambitious projects dictated by Louvois.

It is afked, whether a commercial Nobleffe can be reconciled to the conftitution of the French monarchy? He answers this by observing, that the monarchy has changed its fituation; which he thinks is fufficient to juftify the Gentry in changing theirs. When the country was to be conquered, and to be kept after it was conquered, there was fomething very noble in drawing the fword for those purposes; but now that armies are paid for fighting, it fhould feem that there can be nothing ignoble in obtaining money to pay them. What, fays he, fhall it be lawful in the French monarchy to alienate fiefs, render the crown indivifible, fupprefs the States General, conquer with an army of mercenary fcoundrels, and if you talk of making an idle ufelefs Gentleman get his bread honestly by Commerce, then truly, and not till then comes the clamour that there is an end of the conftitution! Formerly it was the exercise of arms only that procured Nobility; now it is done by employments of every kind, nay, by a proper application of money; and yet, forsooth, when these new raifed Nobles come, by their folly, to be poor, there is no trade by which they can honourable fubfift, but that of cutting throats! Befides, the fear of confounding the Nobility, or Gentry, for they are the fame thing in France, with their inferiors, by meddling with Trade, is groundlefs; for if this is not done by their going into the Church, or into the Law, why fhould Commerce operate more to its prejudice? In fhort, why, fince money is as neceffary to the Gentry as to any other fet of men, fhould they be reftrained from any honeft and honourably way of coming at it? Add to all this, that thofe who talk of the conftitution, forget that it is no longer ago than the reign of Francis the first, that Trade and Gentility were rendered incompatible, and this because the State had then great need of Gentlemens fwords. But now, when the State has rather occafion for their purfes, this prohibition, by a parity of reafon, ought to be abolished.

It is afked, Whether a military and commercial spirit can subfift together in the fame nation? It is anfwered in the affirma