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Article REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. ← Page 3 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications.
v : e have met with . The Author , in general , writes as a Scholar , and uniformly as a Philanthropist . The Letters are addressed to a Lady , whom he always stiles his " dearest Eliza ; " and this may account for that minuteness of detail , which lie sometimes enters into ; and which , though-riot perhaps necessary for his more learned Readers , mav with propriety be conceded to the flair Sex . Mr . Hunter ' s route was from London to Paris , by way of Boulogne ; frotu Paris to Lyons ; and from thence to Marseilles , where he took shipping
for Smyrna .. From Sm ) rna our Author ' s route was to Constantinople , by way of Brur .-a ; and from Constantinople to Vienna , not by the usual track through Adrianople , but by crossing the -Danube at Galatz . At Vienna he concludes his observations . His plan of writing his travels we shall give in his own words , from the letter which opens the volume . ' It is not my intention to enter into a minute detail of every thing which may excite my curiosity in the course of my travels . —What I shall see , has
been seen before ; and when you are desirous of obtaining more particular information than I shall convey , there are many books to which you may refer with satisfaction . —;— —To be continually describing the exact height of an obelisk , or the scrupulous dimensions of an amphitheatre , is not only a tedious task to the writer , but render . ; the narrative dull , and generally uninteresting . —These elaborate delineations may indeed be useful to the architect , and may be pored over with enthusiasm by the antiquarian ; but they will not be
relished by the mind of delicacy , sentiment , and taste . —If , therefore , I should ever investigate with such precise accuracy ; if I should sometimes depict the size of an area , or expatiate on the measurement of a column , my only view will be to impress you with a just estimation of some of those stupendous produ £ tions of antiquity , which neither the injuries of time , nor the ruder assaults of m ? . n , have yet been able to destroy . —I do not , however , propose to bind myself down by any fixed rules . —My digressions will perhaps be
numerous . —Sometimes I shall obey the sober dictates of reason : sometimes I shall pursue the path which fancy traces out : and , now and then , I mayallow tlie captivating allurements of imagination to seduce me . ' If this plan hedesultoiy , I have only sketched it put , because I conceive that it will afford you more enrertaiment than any other . ' In his journey through France Mr . F-l ' s remarks on men and manners are ably drawn ; and many of them altogether original . His reflections on entering Constantinople are just and elegant , affording a strong lesson of the transitory condition of human grandeur . '
' The city is surrounded with a - wall , flanked with towers , which is in pretty good repair , but quite unfurnished with artillery . Comprehending the suburbs of Pera and Galata , it is of an immense extent , and is computed to contain upwards of 6 oo , coo souls . —Being the capital of a rich and populous empire , like all other great cities , it is the seat of profligacy and dissipation , and pre-eminently distinguished for luxury and vice . ' When we reflect on the sudden , various , and total revolutions , which this
renowned metropolis has undergone ; when we recollect , that it was once the receptacle of an undistinguished colony of Greeks ; that it was afterwards created by Constantine the capital of the world , ' and ordained to rear its lofty head above the majestic walls of Rome ; and that , finally , after arduous and repeated struggles , it was destined to yield to the arms of a barbarian conqueror , and to remain , for so many centuries , in the possession of a race of infidels , we have a most awful and striking lesson , on the insignificance of human grandeur , the instability of fortune , and the folly of reposing ,-with too much confidence , on our own strength and resources . ' In a note subjoined to the description of the Hippodrome , extracted from
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications.
v : e have met with . The Author , in general , writes as a Scholar , and uniformly as a Philanthropist . The Letters are addressed to a Lady , whom he always stiles his " dearest Eliza ; " and this may account for that minuteness of detail , which lie sometimes enters into ; and which , though-riot perhaps necessary for his more learned Readers , mav with propriety be conceded to the flair Sex . Mr . Hunter ' s route was from London to Paris , by way of Boulogne ; frotu Paris to Lyons ; and from thence to Marseilles , where he took shipping
for Smyrna .. From Sm ) rna our Author ' s route was to Constantinople , by way of Brur .-a ; and from Constantinople to Vienna , not by the usual track through Adrianople , but by crossing the -Danube at Galatz . At Vienna he concludes his observations . His plan of writing his travels we shall give in his own words , from the letter which opens the volume . ' It is not my intention to enter into a minute detail of every thing which may excite my curiosity in the course of my travels . —What I shall see , has
been seen before ; and when you are desirous of obtaining more particular information than I shall convey , there are many books to which you may refer with satisfaction . —;— —To be continually describing the exact height of an obelisk , or the scrupulous dimensions of an amphitheatre , is not only a tedious task to the writer , but render . ; the narrative dull , and generally uninteresting . —These elaborate delineations may indeed be useful to the architect , and may be pored over with enthusiasm by the antiquarian ; but they will not be
relished by the mind of delicacy , sentiment , and taste . —If , therefore , I should ever investigate with such precise accuracy ; if I should sometimes depict the size of an area , or expatiate on the measurement of a column , my only view will be to impress you with a just estimation of some of those stupendous produ £ tions of antiquity , which neither the injuries of time , nor the ruder assaults of m ? . n , have yet been able to destroy . —I do not , however , propose to bind myself down by any fixed rules . —My digressions will perhaps be
numerous . —Sometimes I shall obey the sober dictates of reason : sometimes I shall pursue the path which fancy traces out : and , now and then , I mayallow tlie captivating allurements of imagination to seduce me . ' If this plan hedesultoiy , I have only sketched it put , because I conceive that it will afford you more enrertaiment than any other . ' In his journey through France Mr . F-l ' s remarks on men and manners are ably drawn ; and many of them altogether original . His reflections on entering Constantinople are just and elegant , affording a strong lesson of the transitory condition of human grandeur . '
' The city is surrounded with a - wall , flanked with towers , which is in pretty good repair , but quite unfurnished with artillery . Comprehending the suburbs of Pera and Galata , it is of an immense extent , and is computed to contain upwards of 6 oo , coo souls . —Being the capital of a rich and populous empire , like all other great cities , it is the seat of profligacy and dissipation , and pre-eminently distinguished for luxury and vice . ' When we reflect on the sudden , various , and total revolutions , which this
renowned metropolis has undergone ; when we recollect , that it was once the receptacle of an undistinguished colony of Greeks ; that it was afterwards created by Constantine the capital of the world , ' and ordained to rear its lofty head above the majestic walls of Rome ; and that , finally , after arduous and repeated struggles , it was destined to yield to the arms of a barbarian conqueror , and to remain , for so many centuries , in the possession of a race of infidels , we have a most awful and striking lesson , on the insignificance of human grandeur , the instability of fortune , and the folly of reposing ,-with too much confidence , on our own strength and resources . ' In a note subjoined to the description of the Hippodrome , extracted from