The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-04-08 00:00:00

ifILIT.I.R r illiT , ,
The important establishment of a grreral .
of war is not confined to uniting in the game . .
i
theictureledge derived from the experience *et .;
AA wars ; to disseminate et encourage useful ire .
tion and instruction relative to future wet <:, . ;
entific operations ; it relates to the gencrif L •
the Republic, and the detailed topography e .',..)4. if ' ,
- i
conquests, and it gives us that of nrany nely ; re • i •
ing countries ;it urges the examination, t •• e 1 •
who are praekised in the art of war, of .7 4
which may become the theatre of it ;itis tf e,t: ) ,
.. 1
of those useful labours which are promised an rt.
in the topographical and military memor
lisped under the auspices of the Minister of '. •
Already the first number has developed the 1 . -
4
of the principal operations in use for the cony
tion of charts, the second has been consecrator. '4
historical and military works ; the third, whin: *
.00 .
about to appear, contains, with the theory of ti e
mode of drawing charts and plans, a general r . • , ee
4. • I '
view of the topographical works of the differte • i
•
people of Europe, followed by a catalogue of the
best charts. The fourth, which they say is in the i . .
press, is devoted to military information.
This rapid succession, proves the abundance and 4
f , )
riches of that mine, which, hitherto confined to the
.
scrvice ef Government, will now be explored for .•
that of the army. The third number is preceded .' e 1
by a preface, which exposes, with precision and j ~e,
clearness, the state of our knowledge with regard to
the art of raising plans, of the authors who have • i
treated upon it, and the motive of the contents of
the memorial, with reference to this subjetl. Some .• k
t: ,
observations on the utility of topography naturally
i
lead to refieetions which arc offered in an interesting .
point of view, with regard to the utility of certain ~
information relative to voyages, and the imper- , 3
tance of topographical works to science, comme.rcee
and politics. l'
.
Of the advantages of perfeet topography it states : i
" No one profits so much as the military Man.
Arletor of combats; sometimes called to the .sue
preme councils, where high considerations are de-
bated
rei:ttive to the disposition and defence of the
frontiers, where these warli':e plans and operation; ,4'
are traced out, on which often depend the fate or : ',
empires, and the destiny of nations. What light ' • ! ;
can lie throw un these grand deliberations ?—what
precision can he engraft upon the adeice he gives;
if his view does not at once embrace the relations of . '
the vast zone to which it is to apply, by means cf ,
rivers, mountains, roads, garrisons, and armies,
)
and dispositions of tutelar of offen.,ive operation ?-
1 low can he comprehend the vast theatre of his con-
ceptions,
if topography does not assist him, by sub-
mitting
to him a reeuced but faithful image of it?
o At times descending to the field of 'uattle, ire .
what inquietude and fatal incertitude will he be, if
after having formed a general idea of his position,
he cannot meditate on ,a picture which offers him
not only a general view, but details sufficiently pre- (
cise to shew him what he has to hope or fear—a pic-
ture
which shall represent to him not only the pesi-
tion of his enemy, but shall partly develop to him
the objeel of his movements and the secrets of his
faults ?
e Thus when the voice of war is heard, with what
avidity will he contemplate those whom it calls up- •
on, and obtain at any price, the topography of the - i
countries which are to become the theatre or the ob- P
.
jest of it ; but when the leisure of peace has not been i
employed in its slow and useful labours. it is often
to be regretted that only false or incompl 'te notions
are obtained relative to those countries which it is \ •
il ,
) ! ,
most our interest to know."
The chapter on the Theory of forming Charts • ,
and Plans, conveys precise information as to the dif-
ferent instruments to he employed, and the manner 1.t4
. ,
of resolving problems, which emanate from the use ~
of them in their different applications. It is an ab-
bridged manual, bat complete for the geographical i`
engineer, charged in the course of a campaign with ,
this kind of duty, as well as for every soldier who
by exact operations would exercise himself in those ,' '
kind of studies, which are aided by the approximae i
tion of others connected with them. 1,
The general review of the topographical works 1
before and after the middle of the last age, the
epoch of the grand chart of France; projeeted by •
toe Academy, and direCted by Cassini, succinctly
i• o :
presents the state of the topography of the ancients, ,
as well as of the middle age. It afterwards em- 1
.1
braces the different States of Europe, and examines i...
the origin.of the art, its produelions and its produce.
Such a labour cannot but become the centre of the . i' t
most rich and numerou,s colleßion of topographical i .1
works ; and all those to whom such works are use-
ful will be infinitely pleased at an establishment
which thus analizes them, and remarks whatever ; i
appears on the subjea worthy of confidence or freed '' e •
• from error. ~.
. • ,
ICLOPSTOCK AND GLEIM. ,
4
When le eo psi- oe e heard ofGe et m'sindisposition, il
•
, he dispatched a friend of his in Quedlenburg to Hal- C
berstadt, to enquire after the state of his health. t
This friend communicated to Gleim the olic& of his
mission, and received from him the answer, that he %. ,
would liiinself write to Klopstock. The following is a i
copy of the letter; and it cannot fail of proving ac- i /: " I
ceptable to leaders of sensibility, to observe how the i
two oldest Poets of Germany loved each other in V ' ,
their lest moments. ,
Halberstadt, Jan.l4, 1803. 4, •
Dear Klopitock ! I am &flag: and, as a dyi,ig nan, say, l
t 1
that we, in this life, have not lased enough for and wits each. 4
other; in the future, we shah repair this deficiency. My Muse i
has conduct .d ine to the brink of the grave, and still coin:iota, .1
• with me.—" Peons iy. old Gkiiii on his death-bed," arc now
• copying neatly, for a few readers. A copy of Night Poems I 1
▪ now send to inn Klopstock, as I think that he alone wilt had
nothing iniptiPer in it. It is too painful foe tne to dictate •' it.
' more. Salute the friend of yonr heart, and those who keep me
. in remembrance; the three Iteimarus's, our female friend at 1( 1
, Ham, and all those who love my Klopstock.
" Gtetw"
, "P. S. I have given ordi•rs to be buried in my gardenaso
1 Rotund the grave staid, in marble, the urns of some nt my de- , '
: 1.4
e parted friend.. My Aunts and Nieces bcg to be tetnehiberiad to
j their KlukAlock."
____— .
The LANDGIZ AVE Of HESSE CASSEL hat caused ta
i. be hired, for himself and suite, at Brussels, the
e first storey of the magnificent Had Axe Primo ifs o;
• ,
Galin. Some other Frinre, and several Foreign
Officers, have also secured apartments, and have
if hired them far the wltole time of the stay of At . .
. Fruit Coriact. 4a that dry. A seeteisete and beater
Le tiful hotel, rem that vhich 4us be isECtlitii by -:
c 1 the Ft met Comers, it destiaold for the lelincitettediei
1 Miier-ile-c.usip,wlia trill 3casciaqatia. •
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