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ments has shed unexpected light on that of philology and history, and has in return drawn from them that solid and enlightened criticism, by means of which the science of medals has, within our time, been reduced to a regular system. The Greek and Latin paleographies have attained a degree of perfecti on unknown to our predecessors. Archæology, which elucidates monuments, has renounced its chimeras, and is become the depositury, of the faithful interpreter of the manners, customs, rites, events, and arts of antiquity. The admirable remains of ancient sculpture which your majesty has already caused to be removed, and is still about to have removed from the banks of the Tiber to your new Rome, will en hance the importance of the science of antiquities, and more and more facilitate its progress. Ancient iconography revived by one of your looks, will place before our eyes the images too long neglected, of the great men of antiquity, your ancestors in glory, and whose sublime and immortal inheritance you have been able to conquer and extend.

this branch of literature, and certain pledges of its future progress: but what chiefly insures its advancement, that your majesty has resolved that it should be admitted to contend for the great decential prizes instituted by your munificence. It were to be wished literature might also be indebted to you for editions of the best orien ral writers, in order to render ac cessible to the studious youth, the sources of that literature which could hitherto have been approached but by very few.

Among the essential characters of true philosophy, as taught by Socrates, and the wise men of all ages, we have sought the rule necessary to appreciate the merit of the labours of which this science is the object, and we have had the good fortune to find, in differenc countries, writers who preserved it in all its purity, and rendered it productive; who have pointed out some improvements in doctrines conducive to sound morali ty, improvements which console us for the deviations imputed to philosophy, but which philosiphy disavows. We have attempted to exhibit a view of the revolutions which it has experienced in Germany, and to present an abstract of the services rendered to it by the Scottish school.

"

France has furnished us with two principal results: the light thrown on the analysis of the ideas and faculties of man, and the history of philosophy, a history of which our literature was hitherto in want.

Oriental literature, which was before so much indebted to France, far from being neglected, has been enriched by some discoveries, and a considerable number of useful works. A new school esta blished for teaching the principal living languages of the east, the po session of multitude of different oriental types, which places the imperial presses at the head of the first typographical establishments If the progress made in the dif in Europe; a new professorship of ferent sciences within the last Persian, created by your majesty twenty years, be in a great mea at the college of France; are disure due to the many distinguished tinguished favours conferred on men in the science of legislation K2 whom France põsesses; it is nea

ly

ly all to be ascribed to the knowledge, to the active foresight, the wisdom, and the unshaken resolution of government.

The Napoleon code, so worthy of its great name, has been given to France, and offered as a model to Europe; schools have been formed where great numbers of pupils receive useful lessons; a code of civil proceedings, and a commercial code have been published; a new criminal code is preparing, and promises to France new benefits. Nevertheless, our civilians have never ceased labouring for the improvement of legis lation, and some have very useful ly seconded the profound views of the supreme head of the empire. Even at the time when the disorder of our laws was at once the cause and effect of our public misfortunes, foreigners sought amongst the works previously pub. lished by Frenchmen, principles capable of improving legislation; and Germany, so abundant in learned civilians, was not afraid to translate our books, for the pur. pose of enriching the legislative works ordered by its princes. Our codes have suddenly given rise to an infinite number of commentaries some of which may not be unworthy of the approbation of well-informed men. The rights of nature, and the laws of nations, have likewise been cultivated, and some elementary works have been added, in order to facilitate the study of them. The grand principles of legislation and public morals have been discussed in their necessary relations to social order, as well as to the closest bonds of the family and community.

In Germany, as well as in England, and in Italy, several treati

ses have been published on different branches of legislation; some, though few in number, have em. braced the whole if it. The civil and political laws of the Romans have been the especial object of various works published in the same countries, and particularly in France, where, a short time be fore the revolution, appeared some publications on the laws given by Moses, Zoroaster, Confucius, to the Hebrews, Persians, Chinese; and on those which Mahomet afterwards gave to the Arabs. France has also diffused new light on the federal governments of Greece, so that no part of the science of laws, ancient or modern has been neglected; and as soon as it was permitted to renew the connexion between legislation and those fundamental principles, from which it never deviates without danger to the repose and happiness of nations, the study was resumed an ardour which daily promises

new success,

Since the death of d'Anville, whose labours nearly fix the state of ancient geography, at the time which we are now considering, several works published in different countries, particularly in France. contributed to its improvement, The opinions of the principal geographers of the school of Alexandria, and the whole system of the Greeks, have been rescued from oblivion, and the kind of annihilation to which they appeared condemned during fifteen centuries. The development of this system, by giving rise to new ideas, has afforded abundant means of extending this species of knowledge so necessary to history, as it serves to determine the situation of the places, and to circumcribe, with pre cision, the countries which were

the

the scenes of memorable events. A great number of the difficulties and uncertainties which obscured the greater part of geographical discussions, have already been removed; and this science, so long conjectural, may henceforward aspire to rank among the accurate

sciences.

Several travels through Europe, Asia, and Africa, undertaken for the purpose of visiting countries better known to the ancients than they were in our time, have also contributed to extend the sphere our knowledge of ancient geography. The glorious expedition of your majesty to Egypt, in particular, has made us acquainted with that land of prodigies, which always revives the most astonishing recollections; and our geographers will soon connect with the new map, which they anxiously expect, all the knowledge transmitted to us by antiquity respecting that classic country.

Several parts of Greece, and the environs of the Bosphorus, have been surveyed with the greatest care, within about twenty years, This great operation will give a new interest to, and throw new light on, the ancient description of those shores, the celebrity of which has been increasing during thirty centuries.

Piedmont, the Alps, a great part of Italy, now better known than formerly, have presented numerous discoveries to those geographers who have occupied themselves with the state of the country while under domination of the Romans.

The western coasts of a portion of Africa, and the geography of India, rectified in many points, have made known to us the principal places visited by ancient navi

gators, who resorted to those remote regions of commercial purposes.

Ancient geography has made some progress; the translation of Strabo, ordered by your majesty, and the zeal of those who cultivate that science, are pledges of its future advances.

History, the great instructress of mankind, as Cicero calls, it has perhaps been cultivated by no nation so much as by our's; and none has produced so great a number of historians worthy of being quoted. To find the first link of the long chain formed by them, we must go back nearly to the origin of the monarchy, as far as Gregory of Tours, who wrote under the grandsons of Clovis; and the last link includes the present time. Italy is indebted to a Frenchman for the first history of Rome written by a modern; it was likewise a Frenchman who first acquainted the English with their own history. The epoch fixed by your majesty, was gloriously prepared and opened in France by a history of the private life of the Greeks, of their manners, their learning, their opinions, their philosophy; which has been translated into all languages and read throughout all Europe: but France was soon compelled lorelinquish the hope of reaping the produce of the soil which she had so long and so succesfully cultivated. History, which is no longer herself when she ceases to be free, was, during many years, reduced to silence; and how could she have raised her voice, when liberty was repressed in the name of liberty? She withdrew into neighbouring countries; she inspired Muller; who inspired Mitford; and lent her pen to writers pre

viously

viously accustomed to handle it, and who have employed it to advantage.

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However, some men of letters in France continued in solitude and silence their studies and their labours; and as soon circumstances permitted, there appeared in the lustitute, a considerable number of notices of manuscripts and memoirs relative to our history of the middle age, and to diplomacy. The fourteen the volume of the Collection of the Historians of Frace, has been pub. lished by the order, and under the auspices, of goverment, the fifteenth is in the press, as well as the fifteenth volume of the collection of the ordinances of the kings of the third French Dynasty. Other works of the same kind have been suspended, and yet wait, it is true, for continua ting authors; and we must confess to your majesty, though with great regret, that we have no hopes that all will find them, unless one of your powerful looks should revive this species of study, by which France had rendered her self illustrious during upwards of two centuries, and which she now seems to have entire abandoned.

The history of Russia, written by a Frenchman, has been auginented and improved in a new edition. The history of the Roman republic has been treated in a new point of view; that of the Lower Empire has been resumed, and is now completing. The unsettled governments of its long

misfortunes, has been written in a style, and with colours, suitable to the subject. The historical and political view of Europe, during ten years, has been delineated with as much truth, as elegance and ability. The view of the revolutions of this same part of the world, lately published, is a work which it will be useful to read before the history, and to keep sight of in reading it. The author has judiciously avoided the prolixity which some of our historians may be justly reproached with they wish to turn all their researches to some account; whatever has cost them trouble acquires importtance in their eyes. Our contemporaries must be in state of mind more fit than their predecessors to write history. They have witnessed so many great subversions, such great calamities, such great actions, so great a man, that whatever is not truly great, will to them appear little. From all the grand objects which they have undoubtedly learned to see grandly; and one who sees thus, will always express himself with force, dignity, and conciseness.r

His majesty replied nerly in the following words:

Gentlemen, presidents, secretary, and deputies, of the third class of the institute: I take a great interest in the prosperity of the sciences, and more particularly in the success of your labours. You may always rely on my protecti

on.

EXTRA

EXTRAORDINARY SPEECH OF GEORGE MANLY,
WHO WAS EXECUTED FOR MURDER AT WICKLOW,
IN THE YEAR 1738.

AFTER having behaved on his way to execution in the most strange and undaunted manner he stood up in the cart and spoke as follows. My friends you as semble to see-What -A man take a leap into the abyss of death. Look and you shall see me go with as much courage as Curtius the Roman, when he leapt into the gulph to save his country from destruction. What then will you see of me?-You say that no man without virtue can be courageous. You see I am courageous: You'll say I have killed a man.-Marlborough killed his thousands and Alexander his millions. Marlbo rough and Alexander, and all others who have done the like, are famous in history for great men : but I killed one solitary man : aye, that's the case, one solitary man. I am only a little murderer, must be hanged. Marlborough and Alexander plundered countries they were great men. I robbed the ale wife, I must be hanged. Now my friends I have drawn a parallel between two of the great est men that ever lived and myself, but these were men of former days. Now I'll speak a little of some of the present day. How many men were lost in Italy and on the Rhine during the last war, for setting a king in Poland, Now both sides could not be in the right, they were great men, but I killed one solitary man, am a little fellow. The king of Spain takes our ships, plunders our merchants, kills or tortures our men, but what of all

that, what he does is good, he is a great man. He is clothed in purple, his instruments of murder are bright and shining, mine was an old rusty gun, so much for comparison. Now I would fain know what authority there is in scripture for a rich man to murder, plunder, torture, and ravage whole countries and what law it is that condemns a poor man to death, for killing one solitary man, or for stealing a sheep to feed his family. But to bring the matter closer to our own country, what difference is there between running in a poor man's debt and by the privilege of gold, or any other power, preventing him from obtaining his right, and clapping a pistol to the man's breast and taking his purse. Yet the one shall thereby obtain a coach, riches, titles, and honours, and the other, what a cart and a rope. From what I have said my brethern you may perhaps imagine that I am hardened, but believe me I am fully convinced of my folly and acknowledge that the just judgement of God has overtaken me.

I have no hopes but from the merits of my redeemer, who I trust will have mercy on me, as he knows that murder was far from my heart, and what I did was through rage and passion, being provoked thereto by the deceased. Take warning, my dear comrades, think, O think, what would I not give that I had lived another life.

"One murder makes a villain,
Millions a Hero ?

Thus kings are privileged to kill
And numbers consecrate the crime."

AN

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