Star.
London, England, 1828-04-23 00:00:00

FOREIGN REVIEW-SECOND NUMBER.

The circumstances of the times, both from the desire
of novelty, and from an anxiety to obser ire the silent but
expressive progress of the public mind on the Continent,
have greatly increased the demand for Foreign Litera-
ture. A Foreign Review has been consequently set up
within a few months, by Messrs. BLACK and Yount).
That materials for such a publication, of the highest
interest, exists in abundance, there can be no doubt;
the only question is as to the use made of them. With
this view the Second Number of the Foreign Review,
just published, at present claims our notice. After an
attentive perusal, we do not hesitate to say, that it di,-
plays so much originality, and spirit, and talent, as
cannot fail to obtain for the Review a wide and lasting
circulation, whilst conducted under the same auspices.
The first article is a brief history of the relations of
Spain and of the Court of Rome, for the last thirty years.
However injudicious the Corms may he thought in some.
of their attempts at renovating the Government, their
struggle against the Papal power, for the independence
of the National Church, is a soutce of unmixed pies-
sure, in reflecting on the future destinies of that wretch-
ed kingdoms We recommend the article to the attention
of all who are desirous of obtaining a connected view
of those events.

A p%ilosophic inquirer would, perhaps, attribute the
present degraded state of that country, and with truth,
to what others may think the brightest events in her
history—her discovery of America. On this subject
there is also an article in the Review, the longest and
the brst. The Court of Spain, several years ago, most
laudably engaged in the publication of the manuscript
remds, in which 'she was so ri.h, of her adventurons
voyagers. Evert Ferdinand encout ages the work, with
the hope of conciliating and connecting the rights of
his august Tnrone with the glories of the Seanidi 114•
ikon." and to establish against all gain-ayers the j istice
of his present claims, by the jti fee of the original con-
quzsts ! Washington Irving's late publication of the
Life of Columhus, gives an increased in.eiest to these
ducuments. The article seems to be from the pen of
oue no longer unknown—it is certainly fully equal to
his reputation. The dignity and purene,s of its style,
and the spirit of philosophy in the tell .ctions on the
ways of PROVIDENCE, in extirpating a whole people,
are but some of its merits. Nothing can be more touch-
tag than the Episode of llenrique, the Chiet of Hispa-
niola ; if puts one in humour with the human race, and
we forget for a moment

Alas s inhumanity to may
DLitt.s countless thousands mourn.

- - -
It would be injustice to an arcicle,all of which should
be road, to make any extracts. No person who reads
it will think our praise extravagant. These is. however,
one detached passage, which shows even snore sulk
ingly titan the Marquis of Worcester's Century of In
ventions, that the application of Steam is no modern
discovery :
Dat the most remarkable fact which tin Editor has brought
forward, is s discovery made by D. Tomas Gonzalez, among the
Archives still remaining at Siinatiess, that in the year 1543, an In-
vention for propelling ships even in a calm, without aid of oars or
sins, was laid before Charles V. by a sea Captain, named Blasco
de o..ray. The secret of his invention Garay refused to commis.
ukase, and it was Rot till after much opposition that he obtained ,
mission to make a public trial of It at Barcelona, in presence
the Governor and others. Th'e apparatus was afSzed to a ship of
4to tons, laden with corn—it consisted of a large cauldron of boil-
ing water, and of certain thefts on both rides of the vessel. One
of the Commissioners, who had always disapproved the attempt.

v. pone° tan ■ •t7.cl ...tat.., to ~..ho tw• Lague* In three
hsurs ; but that the machinery was very complicated and costly,
and there was evidently a danger that the cauldron would burst.
The others appear not to have been persuaded of the danger. After
the espetintettt, the machinery was removed, and the wood work
being deposited in the arsenal, Garay took the other pan into his
own keeping, lest the principle of his invention should be disco-
vered. He was rewarded with a grant of mosey, and an increase
of no& ; and Senor Gonzales says, that if the itanpeeor had not
been at that till)e engaged in an expedition, thu ssperiansorwoold
have been pursued."