The next publications which call for our attention, belong to the head of Philofophy and Ethics. In this department the English reader is introduced to the threshold of that new fyftem of speculative philofophy, which, as we have announced in former volumes of our work, has acquired nume, rous profelytes among the German metaphyficians. Mr. F. A. Nitfch, formerly lecturer in the royal Friderician College, at Konigsberg, is the gentleman who has undertaken to explain the principles of that philofophy in this country; and in purfuance of that defign has published "A General and Introductory View of Profeffor Kant's Principles concerning Man, the World, and the Deity, fubmitted to the Confideration of the Learned." This work, as the title imports, is preliminary only, and intended to enable the readers to form fome judgment of what they may expect to meet with in the ftudy of the profeffor's writings, and to initiate them into the terms of his technical language. For this purpose the author has adopted the following plan. In the firft place, he prefents us with an examination of that feries of philofophical opinions which gave rife to the Kantean fyftem; in which he particularizes the various and contradictory notions which have been entertained respecting the nature of those substances of which the world is compofed; the bounds of the univerfe; the first cause of all that exifts; the nature of the percipient principle; and the freedom of the human will. Mr. Nitfch's next object is to inform us of the manner in which profeffor Kant conducted his enquiry, fo as to avoid the refpective errors of preceding philofophers, and to

ascertain "what can be known by man, or what is the extent of human knowledge in general." To illuftrate this method, our author fubmits to us a fummary of the leading principles of this new philofophy, in numerous general propofitions, referving the arguments by which they are fupported for future publications. In the laft place, Mr. Nitfch endeavours to obviate fome objections to the fyftem, and to point out the influence which it is likely to have on fcience in general, and on religion and morals in particular. Before our author's additional publications appear, or we are introduced through other channels to a more intimate acquaintance with the works of our German profesfor, it would be highly improper in us to pronounce a decifive opinion refpecting the truth and importance of his principles. At prefent, they appear to be involved in much obfcurity, both of ideas and language, which, it is poflible, farther light may tend to remove.

Mr. Caleb Pitt's "Effay on the Philofophy of Chriftianity, Part I. containing preliminary Difquifitions on Power, and Human Preference," is the production of a new advocate for the doctrine of philofophical neceffity. It is introductory to a work which the author appears to have undertaken from the most commendable motive, that of harmonizing the chief difcordances refpecting the doctrines of fcripture, which have obtained among proteftants, and which he conceives to have originated in the hypothefis of philofophical liberty, and tracks of thought confonant with that hypothefis. In thefe difquifitions on power and human preference, we

cannot

cannot say that the philofophical reader will meet with any material arguments with which he is not already acquainted, or that he will not occafionally meet with explanations and rations that are needlefsly tedious and trifling. At the fame time, we must do the author the juftice to acknowledge, that he entertains a clear conception of the doctrine for which he pleads, and that his manner of defending it, in general, is perfpicuous, and ingenious.

The next article that we have to introduce, which belongs partly to the head of Ethics, and partly to that of Legiflation, is a work fingularly interefting to curiofity, and fupplies us with a vaft fund of information refpecting the opinions and customs of the natives of India. It is entitled “Inftitutes of Hindu Law; or, the Ordinances of Menu, according to the Glofs of Culluca, "comprizing the Indian Syftem of Duties, Religious and Civil: verbally tranflated from the Original Sanferit; with a Preface, by Sir William Jones." Theie Institutes, which in the opinion of the learned tranflator must have received their prefent form about eight hundred and eighty years before the birth of Crift, are an authentic fummary of those ancient ufages, and established rules of conduct among the Hindus, which they firmly believe to have been promulged in the beginning of time, by Menu, the fon or grandfon of Brahma. By adopting the elegant words of fir William Jones, towards the conclufion of his preface, we thali convey to our readers the most juft and accurate idea of their general character. "The work," fays he," now prefented to the European world, contains abundance of curious matter

extremely interefing both to fpeculative lawyers and antiquaries, with many beauties which need not be pointed out, and with many blemishes which cannot be jusří. fied or palliated. It is a fyftem of defpotifm and pricftcraft, both indeed limited by law, but artfully confpiring to give mutual fupport, though with mutual checks; it is filled with strange conceits in metaphyúcs and natural philofophy, with idle fuperftitions, and with a fcheme of theology moft obfcurely figurative, and confequently liabie to dangerous mifconception; it abounds with minute and childith formalities, with ceremonies generally abfurd and often ridiculous; the punishments are partial and fanciful; for fome crimes, dreadfully cruel, for others, reprehenfibly fight; and the very morals, though rigid enough on the whole, are in one or two inftances (as in the cafe of light oaths, and of pious perjury) unaccountably relaxed: nevertheless, a spirit of fublime devotion, of benevolence to mankind, and of amiable tendernefs to all fentient creatures, pervades the work; the ftyle of it has a certain auftere majefty, that founds like the language of legiflation, and extorts a refpecticl awe; the fentiments of indepen. dence on all beings but God, and the harsh admonitions, even to kings, are truly noble; and the many panegyrics on the Gayatrì, the mother, as it is called, of the Vèda, prove the author to have adorned (not the vifible material fun, but) that divine and incom. parably greater light, to use the words of the mort venerable text in the Indian Scripture," which illumines all, delights all, from which all proceed, to which all muit return, and which alone can irradiate

the ferious confideration of political writers of all parties and opinions. But the author has not been able entirely to diveft himself of party prejudices; and has partaken in that political alarm which the advocates for things as they are Bave fo induftrioufly propagated in this country. Owing to these circumstances he has introduced much into his work, that will be ifputed by many of the advocates for liberty we mean British liberty, as it exifts in the genuine principles of our conftitution. They will particularly except to what he has written on the fubject of equal rights, religion, the law of primogeniture, a ftanding army, and the extent of the power that ought to be intrufted to the crown; which, they will contend, is more favourable to the establishment of defpotifni, than well regulated freedom.

Mr. Angus Macaulay's treatife entitled "Rudiments of Political Science, Part the Firft, containing Elementary Principles, with an Appendix," is the introductory part of a work in which he propofes to examine the characters of the different forms of government which have fubfifted in the world, in order to deduce fuch conclufions as fhall ferve to detect political error, and establish the truth of that theory which may prove most favourable to the happiness of mankind. The volume before us is divided into feven chapters. In the first two the author chiefly employs himself in proving the neceffity of fome kind of civil government, for the good order and comfort of fociety; and in refuting the reprefentations of doctor Robertfon, refpecting the focial union which obtained among the American tribes independently

of any kind of civil government, Roffeau's romantic theory of a ftate of nature, and doctor Adam Smith's, relative to the progrefs of human fociety. In the following chapters, which are fubdivided into numerous fections, Mr. Macaulay treats of the ends of civil government; its right, which he derives from the confent of the governed; political refiftance; the difference between forms of governments and conftitutions; the importance of developing the diftinct characters of governments; and on a variety of other fubjects, which inciden tally arife in the courfe of his difcuffions. The Appendix confifts of interefting and curious hiftorical elucidations of the author's reafonings, and claffifications of forms of government taken from Plato, Socrates, and Ariftotle. On the whole, Mr. Macaulay's Rudiments afford abundant evidence of extenfive reading, cool difcrimination, and liberal views of things, which entitle him to a refpe&able rank among our writers on political fcience. His ftyle and language, likewife, are perfpicuous and correct.

The author of "The Origin of Duty and Right in Man confidered," maintains that right in man is fubordinate to duty; that he has a sphere of action affigned him, in which, if he faithfully and univerfally obferve his rule of duty, he is entitled to his right; and that " the object of government is to produce the difcharge of thofe duties in each, which fhall enfure to all the enjoyment of what they denominate their natural right. These duties," he adds, " forming a part of that abfolute and indefeafible obligation with which man is born, each man brings them with him into fociety; nor can any artificial

or incidental circumftances of focial life whatever, exonerate any one from that condition, to obtain the performance of which in all, is the very effence of affociation, the immutable purpose of all go vernment." The reader will per ceive that there is not any novelty in our author's ideas, and will fearch in vain in his treatife, for any determinate and explicit de finition of rights and duties as they are connected with the relation of man to man in fociety.

Dr. Biffet's Sketch of Democracy," is introduced by fome fenfible and well written obfervations on the value of experience in all matters of human fcience, and in the practical application of political principles. His work is afterwards divided into fifteen chapters. In the first he endeavours to explode the popular notion, that the general will ought to be the rule of government, and contends for the neceffity of what he calls "a government of check, in oppofition to the uncontrouled dominion of any individual, fet of individuals, or the people at large." The remaining part of this fketch is compofed of appeals to the hiftory of the principal governments in Greece, to that of Rome, and in one chapter to that of England, in order to prove, that their internal diforders are all to be attributed to the prevalence of the democratic fpirit, and that for their fuccefs and glory they were indebted to the mixture, or temporary preva lence of ariftocracy in their refpective conftitutions. In treating this fubject the author is not fparing of indignant declamation against furious and ignorant mobs, and defigning demagogues, which he has enriched with what he unquestionably deems a happy and 796.

feasonable mixture of modern political terms and phrafes. But his facts will not always bear him out in the conclufions which he de duces from them; neither is their connection with their legitimate caufes always traced with becom ing impartiality.

Mr. Watkins's "Reflections on Government in general, with their Application to the British Conftitution, in Five Sections," confti. tute a valuable little tract, replete with just and liberal principles, en forced in neat and pleafing lan guage. The titles of the different fections are: on the natural equality of man, with remarks on the republican and monarchical forms; on the form of government, relative to the fecurity of liberty; on government, relative to the improvement of the people, with obfervations on reform; on government relative to religion; and on government relative to its origin and powers, its laws and organization.

"The Effence of Algernon Sydney's Work on Government, &c. by a Student in the Inner Temple," contains a judicious abridg ment of feveral of the most important fections of that valuable writer, in a form well adapted for circulation, and for impreffing his rational and useful opinions.