of curious plants was reaped by us on the side of the calcareous chain of New Andalusia, in the valleys of Cumanacoa and Cocollar, and in the environs of the convent of Caripé ; and moreover in those immense plains which separate the cultivated lands from the thick forests of Guiana! What new genera and species have we found in our painful navigation of the Oroonoko, the Cassiquiar, t'e Negroe river, and the streams of Temi, Tuamini, and Atabapo! In the plains of Carichana, in the vicinity of the cataracts of Aturés and Maypuré, and on the declivities of the granite mountains of Duida, situated towards the sources of the Qroonoko, regions which are moistened by continual rains, the ground is covered by a multitude of unknown vegetables; to ascertain the numbers and characters of which would require the labour of ages. In the region of the Andes of Quindių and of Popayan and Pasto, on the borders of the Cauca, and on the elevated plain which extends from Almaguer to the city of Ibarra, we have collected some precious vegetables.

The number of equinoctial plants obtained by us in the two he mispheres amounts to more than six thousand two hundred sorts. Those celebrated botanists who have examined our Herbaria have been surprized at the great number of new kinds which they have there discovered.'

These gentlemen, since their return to Europe, have been actively employed in examining, arranging, and classifying their botanical specimens. Impressed with the desire of furnishing the public, as soon as possible, with the fruit of their travels, and at the same time aware of the evil which might result from the too hasty execution of the whole undertaking, their proceedings are directed by zeal, chastized by caution, In the work which we now announce, they purpose to give designs and descriptions of equinoctial plants, without assigning them to a particular order; and when it is sufficiently advanced, and an attentive examination has been made of the contents of their Herbaria, then they intend to publish in Latin, and in an octavo form, without plates, an abridged description of all the species which they have displayed.

The first fasciculus contains two plates representing the Ceroxylon andicola; and subjoined is a memoir on this Palm, read by M. BONPLAND to the first class of the Institute.

Fasciculus II. includes Mastisia cordata, JUSSIEA sediodes, J. natans, Myrtus microphylla, Freziera reticulata, F. canescens, F. chrysophylla, F. sericea, F. nervosa, and Cinchona condaminea.

At the conclusion of the preface, M. HUMBOLDT expresses peculiar obligations to his friend and coadjutor M. BONPLAND; attributing to his genius and industry the greatest share of the work.

The paper and typography of this publication are truly beau tiful, and the plates are extremely fine.

ART. XIV. Recueil d'Observations, &c.. i.e. A collection of Observations on Zoology and comparative Anatomy, made in the Atlantic Ocean, in the interior of the new Continent, and in the South Sea, during the years 1799-1803. By Al. DE HUMBOLDT and A. BONPLAND. The 1st Livraison, illustrated by six Plates. Imperial 4to. Paris. 1805. London, De Boffe, 18s. THIS publication is intended to give the result of the voy

ages and travels of the above-mentioned ingenious philosophers, as they respect the particular branch of Zoology; since they were of opinion that it would be more beneficial to the study of Natural History to form their scientific remarks into distinct volumes, than to blend them with the narrative of their adventures. The first memoir of this work treats on the os hyoïdes and the larynx of birds and apes, and of the crocodile, which is long, and illustrated by plates. The second gives an account of a new species of ape, found on the eastern side of the Andes, called SIMIA LEONINA. The third relates to the Eremophilus and Astroblepus, two new genera of the order of Apodes; and the fourth and last in the number before us is intitled, On a new species of Pimelode thrown out by the Volcanoes in the kingdom of Quito. As this subject will probably excite the surprise of the reader, we shall transcribe a part of the account here given of this very singular phænomenon. Volcanoes, in general, vomit stones, cinders, boiling water, &c. but this philosopher informs

us that

The volcanoes in the kingdom of Quito present from time to time a different spectacle, less alarming, indeed, though not less curious to the naturalist. The grand explosions are periodical, but not very frequent. The Cotopaxi, the Tunguragua, and the Sangay do not experience one of these eruptions in the course of twenty or thirty years: but, in the intervals, these same volcanoes discharge enormous quantities of argillaceous mud, and, which is more striking to the imagination, inunmerable quantities of fish. It so happened that these volcanic inundations did not take place in the year which I passed on the Andes of Quito: but ejected fish constitute a phænomenon so common, and so generally known to all the inhabitants of the country, that there cannot remain the least doubt of the fact; and as these regions contain many well informed persons, who are occupied in the pursuits of the physical sciences, I have been able to obtain exact drawings of these fish. M de Larrea, who is versed in the study of chemistry, and who has formed a cabinet of the minerals of his country,has been very useful to me in these researches. In the archives of several

little towns in the vicinity of Cotopaxi, I have found some notes respecting the fish thrown out by the volcanoes. On the estates of the Marquis de Selvaligre, the Cotopaxi emitted so great a quantity of them, that their putrefaction diffused a foetid odour all around. The almost extinct volcano of Imbaburu, in the year 1691, vomited some millions of them on the fields which surround the city of Ibarra ; aud

the

the putrid fevers, which commenced at this period, were attributed to the miasmata which exhaled from these fish, lying in heaps on the surface of the ground, and exposed to the action of the sun. In more recent times, the Imbaburu has ejected fish; and when, on June 19, 1698, the volcano of Cargneirazo subsided, thousands of these animals, enveloped in argillaceous mud, issued from the top, which was shaken down.

The Cotopaxi and Tunguragua sometimes throw out fish at the crater which is at the top of these mountains, and sometimes at the lateral openings, but constantly at an elevation of two thousand six hundred toises (5200 yards) above the level of the sea.-Some Indians have assured me that the fish which issued from the volcanoes were sometimes alive when they came down the sides of the mountain: but this fact is not sufficiently confirmed: it is however certain that, among the thousands of dead fish which in the course of a few hours are seen descending from Cotopaxi with large quantities of cold and soft water, very few of them are so much disfigured as to induce the belief that they have been exposed to the action of a strong heat. This fact becomes more striking, when we consider the soft flesh of these animals, and the thick smoke which this volcano emits at the same time. I esteemed it an interesting circumstance to descriptive natural history, to ascertain the nature of these animals. All the inhabitants agree that they are the same with those that are found in the streams which run at the foot of these volcanoes, and which they call prennadillas; which is also the only kind of fish to be found at an elevation of fourteen hundred toises, in the waters of the kingdom of Quito.'

The prennadilla has been supposed to be a new species of the genus Silurus but La Cépède has classed it under the pimelodes: it is here called pimelodus cyclopum; and a representation of it is given in one of the plates.

We shall attempt no remarks on these fish-vomiting volcanoes. If the fact can be credited, it is curious, and might lead to a train of speculations: but we have our suspicions of the accuracy of the relation; which rests not on the testimony of these naturalists, but on the report of the inhabitants, who might not be able to observe with sufficient discrimination, or who might endeavour to cajole the European travellers. We do not contradict M. HUMBOLDT; we only doubt.

The several publications, which these gentlemen are now sending from the press, are intended to form one large work under the general title of Voyage de M. M. ALEXANDRE DE HUMBOLDT and AMIE BONPLAND: but they make their first appearance separately; consisting of the Botanical work noticed in the preceding article, the Zoological details before us, a series of Astronomical observations, and an Essay on the Geography of Plants; the two latter of which we have not yet seen.

ART. XV. Histoire générale des Sciences, &c. i. e. A general History of the Sciences, and of Literature, from times antecedent to the Grecian History, to the present day. By the Abbé JEAN ANDRES, a Jesuit, Member of the Academy of Sciences and Belles Lettres at Mantua. Translated from the Italian, with Additions Supplements, and Notes, by IE ORTOLANI, Ex-Commissary of the French Government for inquiries into the Arts and Sciences, &c. Vol. I. 8vo. Paris. 1805. London, De Boffe. Price 78. sewed.

WE E are informed by the translator of this work that the original is well known, and celebrated, in France and England: but we must acknowlege that its fame has never reached our ears; and that, now we are acquainted with it, we do not feel disposed to join the chorus of commendation.

It may, perhaps, be conceded that the performance bears strong marks of great reading and laborious research; and that it gives testimony of the multifarious attainments of its author. These, however, are circumstances perfectly distinct from the utility of the work; and for our part, having perused the present volume, which commences with an account of Indian and Chaldean Literature, and thence examines the state and progress of Philosophy, Natural History, Theology, Jurisprudence, in short of every branch of Science and of Literature, in every country and through successive periods, till the rapid course through 233 pages stops at the 19th century; we found our attention distracted, and our memory oppressed with the tedious enumeration of dates of books and of authors.-In our opinion, the volume cannot be perused with much hope of instruction, and it is ill calculated for a book of reference. -We select a passage in which, compared with others, the information is rather detailed and expanded.

Matters belonging to the exact Sciences have been treated with equal grace and precision by Fontenelle: the Natural History of Buffon is read with as much pleasure as a poem: Bailly, in his history of Astronomy, has displayed all the charms of style: the elocution of 7. 7. Rousseau has a magic in it which enchants his readers; and Voltaire, by his attic salt, by his grace, by his finesse, seduces all minds. The vigorous and elegant poetry of Pope, and the easy prose and good taste of Addison, have given new fame to English Literature: but its real glory proceeds from its historians: I speak not of the great undertaking of the Universal History and the History of Travels, of which the merit consists rather in the erudition than in the elegance of the style: I confine my assertion to the history of David Hume, and to those of Robertson and Gibbon: these celebrated authors have struck into a track unknown to the antients, &c.'

From such passages, can a reader, who is unacquainted with the authors, &c. mentioned, gain any knowlege worth keeping?

The

This publication issues from the imperial press: which perhaps is open to all authors: but, if the liberty of using it depends on favor and interest, the present author has shewn himself not ungrateful for his privilege, since he takes more than one opportunity of complimenting the Emperor Napoleon."

Annals of the

ART. XVI. Annales de l' Empire Français, &c. i. e. French Empire, by a Society of Men of Letters. Vol. I. First Year. Edited by R DE BAUNOIR and A. H. DAMPMARTIN, 8vo. Paris. 1805. Imported by De Boffe. Price 9s. sewed. IF in military matters the French discover conduct and heroism which did not heretofore belong to them, we do not find that they are divested of the levity and frivolity by which they have been in all ages characterized. On the contrary, never do they seem to have found more facility in flying from one extreme to another. How short a time has passed since republican representations threw them into the wildest raptures, and all were the disciples of the goddess of Reason, zealots for the sovereignty of the people, and advocates for the rights of man: yet now this mania is as much out of fashion as the Fronde or the League. Nothing suits their present taste but imperial and royal pomp; all insist on the necessity of religion, all applaud the unity of the supreme authority, all plead for herediditary succession; and no sooner is an Emperor made, than the history of the Empire is advertised,-though it has existed. only a few months, its annals are announced! Are a people of this fickle cast destined to command the world?—are they to be the models of mankind?

When we read the title page of the volume before us, we could not conjecture what were its contents. The imbecility of the cabinet of Vienna had not then opened a career for the hero, the strange events of which might blazon the first pages of the imperial history; and diatribes against England, and the movements of gun-boats, constituted the sum of the imperial achievements, to the epoch of the appearance of the Imperial Annals. We found, however, that the volume was wholly preliminary; forming a summary of the history of France from the origin of the monarchy to the assumption of the imperial dignity by Napoleon Bonaparte. This is the work of M. DAMPMARTIN, and we must admit that it is executed with much spirit and striking neatness. The writer is by no means a tam narrator, and he is so far from surrendering his judgment to that of others, that, if he errs, it is on the score of singularity. He is not contented to retail the observations which he finds in pre

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