not record them as historians, nor admit | hear our historian, who speaks decidedly them as critics. on that affair.

This work, the author informs us, in his introduction, was purposely written to confute another work, published in Paris in 1797, entitled Campagne du Général Buonaparte en Italie, pendant les Années IV et V. de la République Françoise, par un Officier Général.

In that performance, Buonaparte, of course, derives his triumphs solely from his own genius and bravery; but in the publication before us he is represented in à different character, indeed! With an

Augereau, seeing that those fierce repub licans were completely dismayed by the enemy's fire, took the standard of liberty, and carried it to the extremity of the bridge; but without producing the desired effect. campaigns of Italy, and by a letter from This fact is certified, by the historian of the General Berthier. They both add, that this very courageous action, proving useless, Buonaparte himself had recourse to the same stratagem, which, in his hands, was completely successful...

What would he say, however, were we to We were present at that battle; we saw very deny this act of bravery of which he boasts? hand, advancing alone on the bridge. We distinctly a French officer, with a flag in his saw General Alvinzi, convinced that it was a flag of truce, give orders to suspend firing; but we have no recollection whatever, of having seen a second officer tread in the footsteps of the first. Yet such a fact would have been too public, not to he remarked. Neither is it credible; because the Austrian artillery, which had respected the first, who was supposed to be the bearer of a flag of truce, would not, in all probability, have respected the second, whose temerity would have cost him his life!

immense superiority of forces he purchases petty advantages by an immense sacriticeof lives; all his conquests are prepared by treason, and his frequent blunders in the field are repaired by treachery; in the most critical moments, he pretends to capitulate, and snatches victory from the hands of his too credulous antagonist. Something like this, we have heard often, from good authority; but does the author think that his unavowed publication will convince the dazzled multitude, the mass who have not had the same means of information? To tear the laurels, however undeserved, from the guilty head of a successful villain, indirect means are unavailing and unbecoming; truth scorns to The author them maintains, that this not carried bridge was on that day. be defended but by manliness. Besides, we cannot reconcile it to our feelings as (Nov. 15), but that the position was mainEnglishmen, that officers of rank, how-tained against Buonaparte, on the 16th,and on the 17th; that on the evening of this ever culpable in appearance, should be' accused of having sold themselves to the day, General Alvinzi ordered a retroenemy of their country for money, with-grade motion, at which murmurs ran so out being afforded an opportunity of meet-high in the army, that on the 19th, he ing the foul charge; or even the knowledge

of their accuser.

We have stated the dangerous tendency of admitting anonymous publications to the privileges of authenticated documents or historical facts, principally from our re gret on seeing accounts of important transactions, destitute of the signature of a writer, who professes to have been an eye-witness, and whose work is not without internal proofs of veracity. We shall now proceed to make a few extracts, mostly from this officer's relation of events on which we have had some previous information. All the world has heard of Bon iparte's prodigious feat in planting the standard of liberty on the famous bridge of Arcole, in spite of a tremendous fie of artillery and mosquetry: let us

pp. 183, 184.

but quitted it again on the 20th for Vinresumed his former position at Arcole; Verona, which he could then have cenza, instead of pushing forwards to taken easily.

But, continues the author, what was the surprise of the whole army, and the rage of many, when, being arrived on the middle of the road, we niet General Alvinzi, on horseback, who ordered us to fall back on Vincenza! I then saw an Austrian colonel, frantic with rage, break his sword in three pieces, and declare that he would no longer serve in an army, which its commander-inchief was covering with shame; similar sentiments were openly manifested by several others. (p. 188).

At the end of the chapter on the battle of Arcole, the author relates the known anecdote of Buonaparte's fall into a marsh

with his horse, in a flight, after an un-Toissac, the French commander of successful attack on Arcole. He adds that Manta. He forbade him to wear French a negro alone ventured to come to his regimentals; the whole army murmured; assistance, and was, in consequence, the order was not obeyed; and Latour made captain of cavalry, and presented demanded a court-martial, which was as such to the army. This we have heard refused. His son, a youth of fifteen, repeatedly in France, in the years 1798 publicly vented the most bitter execraand 1799, from officers of the army of tions, in the military coffee-house of Italy, and from Augereau hinseif. We Turin, before a numerous assembly of have heard the same Augereau, in a large officers, against the Corsican Upstart," dinaer party, at Thoulouse, before several who to palliate his own shame, endeaof his brother officers, claim the sole voured to disgrace the most ancient French merit of having planted the standard of families. This language passed uncontraliberty, both on the bridge of Arcole, dicted, and unpunished, at least for the and on that of Lodi; with many bitter time. In fact, Latour Foissac had done sarcasms on Buonaparte's vain boasting. his duty; we have heard a friend, `an offiIndeed, we never heard it denied by any cer who commanded the gate Pradella, officer of the army of Italy; and we on the last day of the siege, state pubhave conversed with several. But, that licly that, in twenty-four hours he lost army knew too much of its general; after seventy-one men out of one hundred; the evacuation of Egypt, these troops that the garrison was reduced to 3,000 were not allowed to enter France; but | men; and, that the breach at Pradella were sent to Italy, and from thence to was large enough for a whole battalion Saint Domingo; those who have contrived to form in it. That officer suddenly disto revisit France have been intimidated, appeared from Bourdeaux. or seduced,-or-have disappeared.

Speaking of the battle of Rivoli (PP. 190, et seq.), which completed the conquest of Italy, the author affirms that Buonaparte was entirely surrounded (which, by-the-bye, Berthier fairly owns in his report), that the whole Austrian army were exclaiming, we have them! When Buonaparte sent a flag of truce, to solicit an armistice of one hour, to settle the terms of a capitulation: it was granted; and, a quarter of an hour before its expiration, Buonaparte attacked the Austrians, unawares, and not only saved his army, but obtained a complete victory. This we must believe; for General Wedel attempted to play the same infamous trick, on the Spanish General, Castanos, at Baylen.

will see, that we had some grounds for stating, that this work contained internal proofs of veracity, and from that circumstance we regret the more its not having the sanction of a respectable name. The author, indeed, tells us, in his introduc-u tion, that "to speak ill of Buonaparte is

From what we have said, our readers

crime, which cannot be atoned for, consideration has delayed his publication but by the death of the guilty ;" and this several years. A man is certainly not bound to publish truths, which he foresees will be fatal to himself; though we should not have expected this objection from a urilitary man. Yet a moral obligation is certainly incumbent on him to authenticate by all possible means what he publishes; On the taking of Mantua, the last trans-especially on a question to be decided by action we shall examine, the author ob- testimony. The French poet says with much truth: quand j'attaque quelqu'un, serves, that that city, which Buonaparte had boasted to take in eight days, resisted je le dois, et me nommer. his utmost efforts near eight months; that he lost before it an immense number of men; and once, all his artillery; yet this same town, with a French garrison, was taken by the Austrians in the next campaign in less than a month.

From a note of the translator, this work does not appear to have been originally written in French. The style bears witness to this: yet, since it is intended to expose the errors of a French publication, its appearance in that language was indispensable. Is the British press the only one remaining in Europe, which dares to announce truths unpleasant to the ear of the emperor and

This is undeniable; and we add, that
Buonaparte felt so keenly the shame im-
plied in the comparison, that he exerted
all his power (he was then first consul) |
to fix the whole dishonour on Latour king?

J

elsewhere remitted as the son of perdition, to his just deserts * by the halter, or by a purling stream, at his pleasure: for that he will trust himself on the boisterous ocean, to avoid a dry death on land, we think doubtful. The Pope has lately complained, in terms much harsher than were expected from him, of the conduct of the Eidest Son' of the Church, the Most Christian King, &c &c. and if Buonaparte should subdue Con

though he be, but he will give the most venerable the Muphti an early opportunity of displaying equal eloquence, with equal cause. Mr. H. renews our acquaintance with Ali Mohammed's professions of the Mahometan faith, and we enrich our pages with productions so valuable, to which we think it likely, we may have occasion to appeal hereafter on behalf of the Emperor and King.

Calvinus sapuit, quià non scripsit in Apocalypsin," said Scaliger; and on this subject we assume equal wisdom to Calvin. In all disquisitions on prophecy, we have seen too much taken for granted. Constantinople, we doubt not, Mussulman scious of their power to move the earth, like Archimedes, could they but obtain a station for their fulcrum, commentators are apt to fix this station as fancy appoints, or as best suits their argument, without first demonstrating that this is the true and only point proper for the purpose. Mr. Hioan must therefore excuse us, if we do not treat his publication with a studious accuracy. We may be allowed to ask, when Mr. H. observes, that " we are not confined to the western empire for the ten kingdoms," i.e. the ten toes,into which the prophetic figure of Daniel was divided; [we should have wondered greatly had they been twenty toes], whether we are not rather confined to the eastern empire ?i. e. to the countries comprehended in the dominions of Nebuchadnezar; for we cannot find any interest that chief could take in the fate of regions of which he had never heard : nor what connection there is between the future declension of his empire, at Babylon, and the revolutions of a country on the shore of the Atlantic.

for

We would not be understood to deny that Buonaparte is the man of sin; truly we think the term expresses his character but too accurately: he shall also, if it will do Mr. H. any pleasure, substitute imself for the Pope, and become the successor of St. Peter, which he will be, with as much truth as he is

successor

"In the name of God, gracious and merciful. There is no God but God. He has neither son nor partner in his kingdom. "People of Egypt,

"When the Bey's tell you that the French are come to destroy your religion, do not believe them. It is an absolute falsehood. Tell those impostors, that they are only come to free the weak from the yoke of their tyrants; tell them that the French worship the Supreme Being, and honour the Prophet, and his holy Alcoran.

"The French are Mussulmen. It is not long ago since they marched to Rome and destroyed the throne of the Pope, who excited the Christians against those who professed Islamism. They went afterwards to Malta, to drive from thence the infidels, who thought themselves selected by God, to wage war against the Mussulmen.”

Such was the language of the Corsican, who now calls himself Christian and Roman Catholic. Witness also his proclamation to the inhabitants of Cairo.

Buonaparte, Commander in Chief, ta the people of Cairo.

"

People of Cairo, I am satisfied with to Charlemagne: nay, he shall be head of the Turkish empire also, have taken any part against me. your conduct. You have done right not to I am come as Mr. H. imagines, and successor of to destroy the race of the Mamelukes, to Othman: but all this does not induce us protect the trade and the natives of the coun to spell his name falsely, in order to find try. Let those who have any fears be withthe number 666 in it. And thus we, like out uneasiness; let those who have filed come some admirable prudes of our acquaint back to their houses. Let prayers be attended ance, acknowledge that the fellow is to as usual, and, as I wish, continued every really an odious, abominable, and wick-day. Do not fear for your families, for your ed wretch, but we will not suffer a houses, and your properties and, above all, for the religion of the Prophet, whom I letter of his good name to be touched : no, we defend that, as men of letters: though, the party himself, we have

love."

Compare Panorama, Vol. IV. p. 774.

Fashionable Biography; or, Specimens

State, to the Divinity of personal decora tion. The edicts of this goddess she anof Public Characters: By a Connoisseur. nounces, and registers monthly, in the "Records of Fashion and Court Elegance," With a Preface and Notes, pantological Price 4s. 6d. per number, beautifully and pantogelastical. By Prydu Povidos coloured. Mr. W*st*n, Tailor to his Crown 8vo. pp. 148. Price 4s. 6d. Lon-R. H. the P. of W. having (as in duty don: Oddy, 1803.

What can we think, now, of an author, who, before he is able to get through the three Introductions prefixed to this little sprite of a volume, meditates his own death? It is true, that he takes advantage of this meditation to favour the editors of the Reviews, monthly, quarterly, and annual, with sundry bequests,-forming no real estate, if we understand him rightly, while his personals are continued by a second pen. Nothing could be more à propos than the legacy he has left to the LITERARY PANORAMA ;* for it happened that our printing-office, about the time he designed us this favour, was plundered of every dictionary, valuable and invaluable, within reach of a devil: and would but our author be civil and oblige us, by dying like a man of honour, with all due dispatch, we might console ourselves by a post obit, and dry up our tears for his loss, if his kindness enabled us so speedily to forget our own. Alas! we have received no black-margined summons to attend his funeral, nor so much as a pair of undertaker's gloves (the critic's fee, as a friendly hand, kind reader, time immemorial!) We suspect that

our learned author has taken advice of his
pillow, and improving on second thoughts,
has adjourned his decease sine die : at least
Unul to-morrow comes defers his fate.
-Sed gravè tardus

·Expectare colos

What then is the object of his book?—
To imitate the inimitable, and to equal the
unequalled. His "Public Characters"
are Mrs. F*ske, M-ll-ner and Dr-ss-
m-ker, whose renown is circulated with
infinite complacency among the votaries of
fashion, and whose talents are eminently
conspicuous as the Prime Ministeress
no, we beg pardon, as Secretaryess of

To the Literary Panorama,--I give and
bequeath my Latin and Greek Dictionaries,
together with my Russian, Coptic, Hindos-
tanee, and other useful Grammars.-
p-xxxviii.

and gallantry bound) yielded the pas to the lady, is introduced in the second place: then follow Messrs. H*by and H*mby, Bootmakers to their R. H's. &c. ---and lastly Mr. O*kl*y, Cabinet-maker and Upholsterer. Such are the Public Characters" selected, and attempted to be described in the best manner of certain Characteristic pens, by Mr. Pryda Duvidos! "Pleasant but wrong: Public Charac ters," says the infinitely ingenious Mr. Shift to the exquisitely dexterous Mr. be sported with :" and to punish this Shuffle, "Public Characters should not author for his presumption and temerity the insurrection of vanity which has taken in thus sporting with them, and "to quell place in his soul,' we sentence him to sufferings to which those of Tantalus

were but shadows of a shade.

On the part of the original author, whose laudable labours he attempts to render ludicrous" the attempt without the deed "(Shakespeare, hem!)-we adjudge him to all the terrors of a haunts ed imagination-incessant haukerings afier. endless visions of gold chains, painted Guildhall dinners and city festivities; chariots, be-laced footmen, and be-ribboned horses; the perpetual buzz in his to an ideal knighthood, not merited by ears of a temporary title of office, and so much of martial emprize as amounts to the watching of his arms by night, in an enchanted castle, like the valorous Dou Quixote, but conferred by "unhacked rapier, and on carpet consideration."

his wife (if he have one, of which we On the part of Mrs. F*ske, we enjoin confess our doubts) to teaze him vivace et larghetto-de die in diem, and likewise, de nocte in noctem, for the most exhave received the fiat of fashion;" pensive articles of her publication, that tucker, an Arragonian mantle, or a robe whether a Deiopéan cap, an Egerian à la Fatriote (for a ridicule she never can be at a loss).-May her discontented fancy brood over the mortification of being unable to obtain the last new-fashioned bonnet devised by Mrs. F*ske, aud