as far as it is controverfial, left we should do injuftice to the opinions of a coadjutor who can no longer defend them. We think, nevertheless, that, excepting occafional violence of manner, the ftudious reader will find much deferving of attention in this differtation. But in the fecond part, when we come to "the Oracle of the Lord," as the divine perfon who converfed with Adam, &c. we must enter our direct protest against the introduction of this novel and very objectionable expreffion. An oracle, in common ufe, implies nothing perfonal, but either the prediction delivered or the place of delivering it; and the heathen oracles are too familiar to our minds to allow of the confecration of the term to the divine perfon of Chrift. This abufe of the term is continual, and is put to represent both the DABAR IAHOH, and the Aoyos Eou, and Dr. H. even feems to pride himself in the ufe. Still more unhappy is he when he attempts claffical criticism, and reprehends the editors of Horace for not printing Dis-piter inflead of Diespiter, (p. 156,) where the verfe would abfolutely be annihilated by his reading. So eafily may even a learned man get out of his depth in fome matters! This differtation is much the longest of the whole. It extends to three parts, and contains much curious matter; though certainly, if examined with rigour, a number of difputable affertions.

7. In this differtation the author is again employed to combat a double fenfe. We have here another new term, the REGENT, applied to our Saviour, and introduced in various places and various ways; but, in our opinion, no better conceived than the author's favourite ORACLE.

but

The remaining differtations on the cxth and xlvth Pfalms, and on a prophecy of Micah, are of the fame ftyle and character. The author errs in general only by feeing too much, and being too pofitive respecting his fancied difcoveries; every where he is zealous, every where orthodox, and every where learned. We lament, therefore, that we cannot give him unalloyed commendation; and we cordially recommend his writings to the ftudents' in theological literature, as fitted to exercise their judgment, and often to extend their learning.

ART.

ART.

X.

Lettre au Comte Moira, Général de fa Majeftë Britannique, Colonel du 27eme Regiment, Confeiller Intime de fa Majefté, Gouverneur de la Tour de Londres, &c. Sc. fur les Efpagnols, et fur Cadiz, par le Baron de Geramb, Major Général au Service de fa Majefte Catholique Ferdinand VII. Magnat de Hongrie, Chambellan actuel de fa Majefté l'Empreur d'Autryche, &c. &c. Londres. De I'Imprimerie de Vogel et Schultz, Poland-ftreet. 4to. pp. 72. 1810.

THIS

HIS animated addrefs to the Earl of Moira, the patron and friend of the meritorious or distressed of every nation, conftitutes a continued panegyric on the people of Spain, couched in language abounding with that imagery and metaphor, which feems requifite to fuftain elegant French; but which, if equally applied to an English pro.. faic compofition, would diminish its intereft, and give it a character of bombaft and affectation, not meant however in reference to the work before us.

The Baron, in his ufual vivid and flowing ftyle, feelingly laments the fall of the House of Hapfburgh, broadly hint. ing at caufes which are now but too apparent. He might have mentioned the reason of the lofs of the battle of Wagram. Auftria was completely victorious up to that fatal period of the war. Buonaparte's fituation, though in poffeffion of Vienna, was extremely perilous; and procraftination in the then ftate of Europe was the effential object in view. The preventing of the paffage of the Danube would completely have effected this. Inftead of that, the French army was quietly allowed to pass over, and to appear the following morning drawn up in battle array, at right angles to the left flank of the Auftrian army, which was thus forced to change front, under every circumstance of difadvantage. It was attacked during a difficult and complicated movement, and neceffarily defeated. The honour of characters, deemed previoufly great in the cabinet and field, is deeply implicated in the event of that myfterious paffage of the Danube. The Auftrians are ftill, in heart, attached to Britain; and therefore we earneftly wish to have the lofs of the battle of Wagram accounted for, on grounds that will bear tactical investigation.

* Confeiller Intime-Privy Counsellor,

The

The author, when he arrives at Cadiz, does ample justice to the enthusiastic patriotifm pervading the people of Spain, whofe exalted character and ardent fpirit, ftruggling against the feverest privations, myriads of difciplined enemies, and cruelty, mifery, and oppreffion in every fhape, will stand high in future annals. In every work on Spanish affairs, which we have occafion to notice, the mifconduct of the various Juntas of Spain, feem to form a prominent feature. A want of union, a falfe confidence, a lamentable imbe cillity, jealoufy, and not unfrequently palpable treason, are, one or all of them, established as incontrovertible facts. The author before us not only afcribes to them several of these qualities, but calls on them to account for treafures that ought to have been applicable to the fupport of their armies, inftead of being abforbed by the prodigality and avarice of thefe inefficient Juntas. Thefe confiderations naturally lead us to glance at the conduct of even the Cortes, and to ask how far they have fulfilled the public expec tation, fince the period of their affembling? Has any mea fure of energy or vigour emanated from their deliberations? Have they organized a fteady and powerful fyftem of defence, adequate to the exigencies of the country? If we deduft the British and Portuguefe forces, where are we to look for fuch armies as may be calculated to repel the powerful oppreffor of Spain? It will probably be answered, give them time, and all this, and more, will be effected; they have nearly established the liberty of the prefs; they will abolish the Inquifition. They cannot do lefs, as the decree against it is the only laudable act of their moft bitter enemy.

Measures of military vigour and decifion are what are immediately wanted, and not empty declamation and idle difputations about forms and ceremonies. The mafterly generalfhip of Lord Wellington has faved Portugal, and diverted the first army of France from the conqueft of Spain. This army has been forced to retreat without accomplishing the avowed object of its advance. No artful fabrications in the Moniteur, no controul of the Continental prefs, can hide from Europe the difgrace reflected on the arms of the Tyrant by the retreat of his armies. He is deeply senfible of the error he has fallen into, by invading a country without forming magazines, and without duly appreciating the strength, power, and resources of his enemy. He feels his throne tottering under him by this grand failure of what he deemed a decifive plan of campaign. His efforts next fpring will be commenfurate with his danger. He is fenfible that his armies, reduced by uncommon hardships and

privations, muft reft on their arms till they are refitted and reinforced. He will ftudioufly avoid all the rafh errors of the campaign, which has covered him with confusion; and will appear, early in Spring, at the head of at leaft 200,000 men, and deem' every other object minor to that of expelling the English from the Peninfula. His first attempt will be to occupy the fouth of Portugal. That fecure, he will advance towards Lifbon. The fate of his affairs will impel him to make a daring and defperate attack on the allied lines. We have no fear as to the refult, after a prodigious lofs on the part of the enemy. It may be readily feen, that the prefervation of Europe, if not of the world, depends on the refult of the greatest, most important, and moft decifive campaign, which will appear on the records of Hiftory. Few will feel difpofed to combat fo evident a probability, or rather fo apparent an event. Those who can, under fuch circumftances, oppofe the reinforcing of our armies almoft to any extent, must be able at least to prove, that what is fuggefted, is equally unfounded and improbable. Let them however recollect, that facts before us in a thousand inftances, and the character of the enemy we have to deal with, warrant all that is advanced. The Cortes, it is hoped, will feel a lively impreffion of the magnitude, dangers, and vaft importance of the enfuing campaign, and be impelled to make adequate efforts. Their firft care must be to provide for the fafety of the fouth of Portugal, by ftrengthening the garrifons and ftrong holds of the Southern Provinces; and by provifioning them, and principally Lifbon. As for Cadiz, it is in little danger while Lifbon remain fafe. The Cortes would find it conducive to a happy refult of the tremendous campaign before us, to establish light armies in the North Weft and North Eaft of Spain, to threaten the rear of the French, to hang on their flanks, and to cut off fupplies. To effect these purposes it will be neceffary, without delay, to call out the population, between 16 and 50; but above all to conciliate America, which is to furnish the finews of war; for though that country muft in time become independent, its pecuniary aid at prefent is a primary object of confideration. We deem it a duty to our country to throw out these hints; leaving it to those who may be more able, and better informed, duly to appreciate their value or utility.

The Baron de Geramb, with a view of exemplifying the generous, virtuous, and exalted character of the Spanish nation, gives an account of an apparition, which those who have faith in ghofts, will perhaps credit; while others,

with us, will afcribe the whole to the lively imagination of the author, impreffed with the fcenes of combined pariotism and warfare in which he participated. It is, however, a curious tale!

The Baron, accompanied by a party of Spanish ladies, went on board of a ship of war in the harbour. Returning in the dusk of the evening, the finging of the ladies was fuddenly interrupted by a voice exclaiming in French-Save me! help! help! in the name of God, fave me! These cries became fainter and fainter, till they entirely died away. In vain did they fteer their courfe in the direction of the voice; all their hopes of faving fome unfortunate being, who must have fallen from one of the prifon fhips, proved ineffectual. We shall now give the Baron's narration of the Spanish apparition, neceffarily condenfing the tranflation as much as poffible.

"Walking the following day on the strand, I obferved a naked dead body placed on a black board, having a lighted flambeau on each fide. Suppofing this to be the body of the unfortunate per. fon, whofe diftreffing cries I had heard the preceding day, I directed the livid corpfe to be covered, and gave thofe who were collecting money, a fum fufficient for defraying the expences of interment. In the evening, a fecret inquietude, an irrefiftible instinct, attracted me again to the place, where in the morning I witneffed fo fhocking a fpectacle. The beach was deferted, the wind blew tempeftuously, and the roaring of the waves was alone heard. Suddenly, there arofe from the spot, where the dead body had been placed, an airy phantom, devoid of any diftinct form, and wrapped up in the winding sheet of dark cloth which I had purchafed in the morning. This fpectre moved it advanced, stalking fometimes with huge ftrides, and refembling a giant. It then affumed a round form, rifing in a fpiral direction, and defcribing circles diminishing in fize, till it arrived at their common center, when it again bounded off with velocity to refume a gigantic fize at fome diftance. I at firit fuppofed this appearance to be a mere vapour fpringing from the earth, or a cloud of duft to which the irregular action of the wind had given a fantastic form. But, arriving in the streets of Cadiz, I ftill perceived this extraordinary apparition, accompanied with a rustling noife, like that of autumnal leaves rolling along the ground. The door of a houfe having been fuddenly thrown open with violence, the phantom, which I followed, rufked forward with the velocity of lightning; and finking, plunged into one of the under-ground apartments fo common at Cadiz.. Hollow groans iffued from this fpecies of cavern. I difcovered the entrance that led into it; and what must have been my aftonishment on perceiving there the dead body, which