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ner, augmented; and the prosperity of that University increases more and more, like that of the two others. The Literary Journal of Vienna, which, after four years' duration, ceased to appear at the commencement of the year 1817, has been continued, since 1818, under the title of Literary Annals, and enjoys the particular protection of the government. It is published quarterly. Although foreign literary productions are not excluded from this journal, it is chiefly occupied by every thing that relates to the arts and sciences in the Austrian states. The works, of which an analysis is therein given, are not, therefore, exclusively books written in German, but likewise in the Italian, Hungarian, and even the Croatian languages.

We learn from German publications, that in the month of November last, all the Physicians not matriculated at the University of Vienna were called together, in order to be officially informed of a resolution taken by the Supreme Powers, by which the practice of Animal Magnetism is generally prohibited throughout the dominions of the Emperor of Austria. Several of the Doctors of Vienna, who are known to be empirical practitioners of this art, have been publicly censured, and threatened with an entire suspension of their functions, in case of their continuing to have recourse to the operations of magnetism. Directions to the same effect have been given to all the Governors of Provinces, as well as to all houses and hospitals established for the recovery of health, in the Austrian Monarchy.

Since 1817, there has appeared at Pesth, a literary journal, entitled, Tudomanyos Gynjtemeny, (the Scientific Magazine,) published by Traffner, and edited by Mr George Fejer, professor of dogmatics in the University of Pesth, who has already

distinguished himself by some philo sophical works, both in Latin and in Hungarian.

According to the Ephemerides of Wiemer, Vienna has eight public li braries, three of which contain 438,000 volumes; viz. the Imperial Library, 300,000 printed books, exclusive of 70,000 tracts and dissertations, and 15,000 manuscripts; the university library, 108,000 volumes; and the Theresianum, 30,000. The number in the other five is not exactly known.

The Royal Library at Munich possesses 400,000 vols.; the library at Göttingen, (one of the most select,) possesses 280,000 works or numbers, 110,000 academical dissertations, and 5,000 manuscripts; Dresden, 250,000 printed books, 100,000 dissertations, and 4,000 manuscripts; Wolfenbuttle, 190,000 printed books, (chiefly ancient,) 40,000 dissertations, and 4,000 manuscripts; Stuttgart, 170,000 vols. and 12,000 bibles. Berlin has seven public libraries, of which the Royal Library contains 160,000 volumes, and that of the Academy 30,000; Prague 110,000 vols.; Gratz 105,000 vols.; Frankfort on the Maine, 100,000; Hamburgh 100,000; Breslau 100,000; Weimar 95,000; Mentz 90,000; Darmstadt 85,000; Cassel 60,000; Gotha 60,000; Marbourg 55,000; Mell in Austria, 35,000; Heidelberg 30,000; Werningerode 30,000: Neuburg in Austria, 25,000; Krems Munster 25,000; Augsburg 24,000; Meiningen 24,000; New Strelitz 22,000; Saltzburg 20,000; Magdeburgh 20,000; Halle 20,000; Landshut 20,000. Thus it appears, that thirty cities of Germany possess, in their principal libraries, above three millions of works or volumes, without taking into account the academical dissertations, detached memoirs, pamphlets, or manuscripts.

RUSSIA. The University of Dor

pat has just received a new organization, for which it is indebted to the indefatigable zeal of its benevolent and enlightened director, Count de Lieven. The number of students has more than doubled, and nothing is now wanting to give a new impulse to this valuable institution.

At the University of Moscow, the terms have almost all recommenced. Their interruption, at the time of the great fire, has had, in many respects, advantageous results, as well for the professors as for the students. The salaries of the former have been increased, the sphere of their instruction has been enlarged, and the various branches better arranged. The number of students, last year, amounted to upwards of two hundred. The Gymnasium, joined to this University, has been in like manner reopened, and several new preceptors have already been appointed.

The Greeks, who form the greater part of the population of Odessa, are all animated by an excellent spirit for improvement, and display the greatest zeal for the general good of Greece, their native country. By voluntary and abundant subscriptions, they have established a school, and intrusted it to eight able professors, at the head of whom are Messrs Genadios and Macris, both highly distinguished as men of science. The Governor of Odessa, Count de Langeron, gives the greatest encouragement to the professors and the students. Besides the annual donations made to the school, four houses of insurance, established and managed by Greek merchants, allow a deduction in favour of it from their annual profits, the amount of which, for the year 1817, was 53,892 rubles, or about L.11,000 Sterling. Several merchants have deposited funds for the establishment of a printing-office on a large scale, intended to propa

gate knowledge throughout Greece.

A few Greek amateurs have, from time to time, represented theatrical pieces, the produce of which representations is appropriated to the benefit of the hospitals of Odessa. They lately gave, for the second time, the Philoctetes of Sophocles, translated into modern Greek by M. Piccolo, a young savant of distinguished merit, who has since composed an original tragedy, called the Death of Demosthenes. The success of this piece was prodigious; the plaudits were interrupted only by the tears of the spectators; and the general enthusiasm was such, that the Greeks immediately determined to form and maintain a company of performers of their own nation, under the direction of M. Avraniotti.

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PRUSSIA. The King has recently purchased the herbal and the library of the late Professor Wildenow, in order to present them to the University of Berlin. M. Wildenow was one of the most celebrated botanists of the present period, and the author of several valuable works on that science.

As the practice of Animal Magnetism is still followed on the Continent, and even studied as a science, the class of Physical Sciences of the Academy of Berlin has proposed, by order of the Prussian Government, a prize of three hundred ducats, for the best explication of the phenomena of Animal Magnetism, and of the experiments made down to the latest period, divesting them of the marvellous, which has hitherto been mingled with them. This is placing the subject, where it ought to be, in the hands of the intelligent; and as the Government has interfered in it, it may be hoped that considerable light may be obtained, and both opinion and practice regulated by the sentiments of the judicious.

SWEDEN. The Academy of Sciences of Stockholm had granted to Professor Nilson, a sum of money for the purpose of undertaking a tour in Norway, the principal object of which was ornithology. Mr Nilson has just made known to the academy the result of his tour. This interesting narrative abounds with many new observations. Other sums have been assigned by the same academy for making, in Sweden, researches relative to mineralogy and geology, as well as for prosecuting meteorological observations' in Lapland.

Among the many improvements which have taken place under the administration of Charles John, the reigning Prince, must be distinguished a new collection of Hymns, intended to take the place of those heretofore in use, which were introduced in 1695; also, a new public version of the Bible; the New Testament, part of which is already completed; a New Code of Laws in great forwardness, some of its parts being finished; as also a Military Institution for the regulation of the Army, chiefly as to its economy. The capital also expects to acquire additional facilities for public instruction of a superior kind, by an important establishment, under the name of a Gymnasium.

DENMARK.-The Danish Sculptor, Thorwaldsen, at Rome, has proposed to the government of his country, the purchase of a series of basreliefs, representing the Triumph of Alexander. These bas-reliefs were ordered eight or ten years ago for the Imperial Palace at Rome; but, by the course of events, they have remained on the hands of the artist. The sum asked for them is 15,000 scudi. Endeavours are making to raise this sum by voluntary subscription.

M. Thorwaldsen has very lately

finished four bas-reliefs, intended to ornament the royal residence of Christiansburgh, at Copenhagen.

The King of Denmark has granted a pension of eight hundred crowns, during two years, to four men of letters, to enable them to travel inte foreign parts, for the benefit of making observations. The gentlemen thus honoured are Messrs Rask, philologist; Ingemann, poet; Clauzen, divine; and Henry Goede, of Kiel, naturalist. Dr Zeise, a naturalist, and the botanist, Schow, have also obtained additional means to continue their travels and studies abroad.

ITALY. The Count of Bevilacqua, at Verona, has published a notice of the fragments of Roman Jurisprudence, discovered among the MSS. of the Library of the Chapter of Verona. These MSS. were thought to be lost, by Mabillou and Montfaucon, in the seventeenth century; but since that time Maffei and the Canon Carinelli published a Catalogue of them. A part of these was carried into France in 1797; but restored in 1814.

We should not be surprised if the spoliations committed by the French, with the returns of the stolen goods, should give occasion to the publication of several catalogues of a like nature. It is not enough that the learned should know where certain documents and authorities were they desire information, also, where they now are, and where they may now be inspected.

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The Theseid of Boccacio has lately been published at Milan, after a complete and correct manuscript. There existed before this only three editions; which were not only very rare, but very incomplete. The Editor is Sig. Giovanni Silvestri.

At Turin is announced, a complete edition of the Works, or Theatre of Shakespeare. Each volume will con

tain two or three plays; which will be accompanied by prefaces from the pen of A. G. Schlegel, translated into Italian, with critical and historical notes, by M. Leoni. It is but just, that while the Italian poets form a part of the studies of the polite, in all countries, and in our own particularly, our bards should also become familiar in Italy. We anticipate much information and pleasure from Mr Schlegel's accompaniments.

GREECE. The progress of that civilization, which is the constant attendant or consequence of letters, continues to be rapid. The number of schools of the second order, or Gymnasia, augments daily. The principal establishments of the kind are at Smyrna, at Kydonios (a small town of eight or ten thousand inhabitants, opposite the island of Lesbos,) and in the island of Chios. A young A young man, a native of Kydonios, mentioned above, has staid long enough in the printing-office of M. Didot, at Paris, to perfect himself in the art of printing. A daughter of the Professor of the Gymnasium in that town, named Erianthia, not more than eighteen years of age, has translated into modern Greek, Fenelon's work on the Education of Daughters. The inhabitants of Chios have held meetings for the purpose of raising subscriptions in order to establish a Public Library.

M. Koumas, Director of the New Greek College at Smyrna, arrived some time ago at Vienna, for the purpose of causing several works to be printed. He has already published the first two volumes of his Course of Philosophy, composed in modern Greek; to which is prefixed a letter to M. F. Mauros, containing salutary advice to his compatriots, and exposing the fallacies of those friends to despo

tism, who oppose the propagation of knowledge and learning. The same author has translated into modern Greek, and published for the benefit of his countrymen, Schell's Elementary Chronology, translated from the French; and Tenneman's Abridged History of Philosophy, translated from the German. These are dedicated to M. Nicolaides, a Greek merchant, settled at Odessa, who has paid the expenses of publishing these works for the advantage of the rising generation. More than three hundred copies of them have been given by order of M. Nicolaides, to young students, who have distinguished themselves, by their promptitude in learning, and by their good conduct and fair character.

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Letters from Corfu, dated in January last, inform us, that M. Gerasimos Pizzamanos, a native of Cephalonia, and formerly pupil of M. Percier of the French Institution, and of the French Academy at Rome, has returned from traversing various districts of Greece and Asia Minor, where he has visited numerous monuments of antiquity. is now at Corfu, with his port-folio filled with a great number of beautiful drawings. The Government confided to him the undertaking of furnishing plans for the palace of the Grand Master of the new Order of St Michael and St George; and his designs having been adopted, he has also been employed to make drawings for a new Grand College, and for other public establishments; in which, no doubt, he will display additional proofs of his natural talent, cultivated and improved by extensive study and much reflection; and we may again see the Fine Arts of Greece revive, and perhaps establish themselves, in their native soil.

THE FINE ARTS.

A great deal of common-place cant has been both talked and written on the pretended infancy of the Arts of Sculpture and Painting in Great Britain; and various theories, all of them unfounded, and many of them absurd and nonsensical, have at different times been invented and put forth to account for this supposed anomaly. Freedom, it is said, is congenial to the expansion of the human mind, whether in its intellectual or imaginative exertions; and it is therefore the more wonderful that in this the only free country in Europe, the arts of design should still continue in so depressed and inferior a state. Now, assuming the fact to be as these theorists suppose it, there will be lit tle difficulty, we think, in accounting satisfactorily for the alleged inferiority, in genius and execution, of our native artists.

In despotic governments, like those of Rome, Venice, and Genoa, where the whole genius of the people is forced into one channel, and where fortune and eminence can only be acquired by the chisel or the pencil, it is natural to expect the highest degree of excellence in the few departments in which genius can either exert its innate energies, or expect a commensurate reward. But patronage ever follows the bent and direction, whether natural or artificial, of genius. The same Pontiff who caused Tasso be crowned in the Capitol, consigned Gallileo to the dungeons of the Inquisition. The object of his esteem and regard was not philosophy but poetry; not the sober deductions of reason, but the brilliant creations of the fancy. The former are dangerous, because they enlighten; the latter are honoured

and rewarded, because they illustrate and adorn. The spirit of inquiry is fatal alike to superstition and despotism; while the arts of poetry, painting, sculpture, and even architecture, have been employed, to consecrate and hallow, as it were, the greatest scourges of the human race. "Sint Maecenates non deerunt Marones," said Martial; and the observation applies felicitously to the point under consideration. The ardent patronage which the Italian Pontiffs and nobles extended to the Fine Arts, rendered excellence in them the certain road to distinction and affluence. Need we then wonder, that as the competition was keen, so the results were exquisite ? or that, with the refined models of ancient greatness, taste, and genius, lying in profusion around them, the artists of Italy should have distanced those of every other country in Europe?

How differently are men circum. stanced in a free country like our own? There the paths to eminence, to glory, and to riches are innumerable. The bar, the senate, the field; science, literature, commerce, agriculture, each presents its appropriate allurements and rewards. The national mind, if we may say so, is, in some measure, subdivided, and each chooses for himself the particu lar career, in which, from nature or adventitious circumstances, he is most likely to realise the objects of his ambition. Hence but comparatively few can devote themselves to the pursuit of the Fine Arts, which, while they require immense labour and study, promise only a distant and precarious reward. But let us look to those arts which are more particularly congenial to a free go

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