different bibliographical works of which the authors availed themselves in this compilation, which are fufficiently numerous, and not ill defcribed. The fecond part is entitled, Analifi delle opinioni full'origine della Stampa, e fua introduzione in Italia, in which it is the object of the Abbé to fhow that the art of printing was introduced into Italy at an earlier period than has generally been imagined; that is, before the year 1465, in which the works of Lactantius were printed by German artists in the monaftery of Subiaco. He therefore contends for the authenticity, or correctnefs, of the date 1461, which is that found in the well-known Decor puellarum, printed by Jenfon at Venice, but with arguments by which we conceive that few of his readers will be likely to be convinced. Indeed we have now before us a fhort, but full, confutation of this notion that Jenson's press existed in Venice in the year 1461. Sign. Morelli has not only brought together the verses found at the end of the books printed by John of Spires, in which he is exprefsly called the firft Venetian printer: Primus in Adriaca formis impreffit ahenis

Urbe libros Spira genitus de ftirpe Johannes, &c. M.CCCC.LXIIII. but he has likewife now first published the extraordinary privilege which was granted to him on the 18th of September, 1469, by the republic of Venice in extenfo. It begins thus: Inducta eft in banc noftram inclytam civitatem ars imprimendi libros, in diefque magis celebrior et frequentior fiet per operam ftudium et ingenium Magiftri Johannis de Spira, qui cæteris aliis urbibus hanc noftram præelegit, ubi cum conjuge liberis et familia tota fua inhabitaret, exerceretque dictam artem librorum imprimendorum, &c.

Ibid.

Thefe arguments are ftill further purfued in another differtation, which, though printed in Germany, we shall take this opportunity of pointing out to our readers. It is entitled:

ART. 75. Mich. Denifii, a concil. aul. Aug. et primi Bibliothecæ Palat. Cuftodis, Suffragium pro Johanne de Spira primo Venetiarum typographo. Vienna, 1794. 8vo.

In this tract the author fhows that the first book printed at Venice was Cicero's Letters, by John of Spires. He contends, therefore, that the date of the Decor puellarum abovementioned muft have arifen from an error of the prefs, of which he adduces fimilar inftances in the hiftory of printing at Vienna. Gött. Anzeig

HOLLAND.

ART. 76. Betong der waare en eeuwige Godheid van onzen Heere J. C. tegen hedendaag fche beftrydingen, door Dionyfius van de Wynperfe S. S. Th. D. Phil. Math. et Aftron. Prof. te Leiden.-Demonftration of the true and eternal Divinity of our Lord Jefus Chrift against modern Attacks, by D. v. d. Wynperffe, &c. Amfterdam, 1794. 269 PP. in 8vo. (22 St.)

Some years ago the Theological faculty at Göttingen offered, at the exprefs command of the King of England, a prize to the best Essay

in Defence of the Divinity of Chrift. Among a number of dif fertations, however, which were prefented on this occafion, there was not one that was thought to answer the end for which the reward was to have been given, and it was therefore obtained by none of the competitors.

Not long afterwards the Society inftituted at the Hague for the vindication of the Chriftian Religion, announced their intention likewife, to confer a prize on the beft effay on the fame important fubject, which was accordingly awarded to the author of the prefent work. Mr. v. d. W. profeffes in it that it was his object to make a judicious felection of the most convincing arguments in favor of the Divinity of Christ, which, fays he, p. 27, wy hebben niet getragt te tellen, maar te weegen (I have endeavoured not merely to enumerate, but to weigh.) We have already given fome account of a translation of this work in our Review for June, p. 666.

Jena ALZ.

ART. 77. La Flore des Infectophiles précédée d'un Difcours fur l'Utilité des Infectes, et de l'étude de l'Ínfectologie. Par Jacques Brez. A Utrecht. 324 pp. in l. 8vo.

This volume, which we understand is foon to be followed by others, contains, befides the preface, a long differtation on the medical, œconomical, and other advantages, to be derived from infects, with an introduction to their history, accompanied with obfervations, collected, in general, from the works of other writers on this interesting branch of Natural Hiftory. To this is added, a lift of the plants, trees, and fhrubs, which to infects ferve both the purposes of dwelling and of food, with the names, and according to the arrangement of Linnæus.

Alg. Vaderl. Letter-afn.

GERMANY.

ART. 78. Phyfiologus Syrus, feu Hiftoria Animalium xxxii. in S. S. memoratorum Syriace. E Codice Bibliothece Vaticane nunc primum edidit, vertit, et illuftravit Olaus Gerhardus Tychfen, LL. OO. in Univerfitate Litt. Roftock. P, P. O. 1795. 195 pp. in 12m0.

The treatife from which this work was published had been copied, at the inftance of Cardinal Borgia, for the editor, who fays of it, in the preface-quum primus et unicus adhuc cognitus fit libellus, qui res naturales idiomate Syriaco perfequitur, committere nolui ut eruditi ejus afpectu mea culpa nimis din privarentur. He then proceeds to affign the further reafons by which he was induced to publish this work, and to point out the ufes to which it may be applied. Quanquam enim, fays he, hiftoria naturalis ad eum hodie dignitatis et perfectionis gradum afcendiffe videtur, ut opis Syriace haud indigeat, tamen multis in rebus magno ufui effe poteft. Nam ut taceam librorum Syr. excuforum paucitatem, non modo nominum Syriacorum, quibus animalia in S. S. appellata fuerunt, fignificationem, quæ fola adhuc Lexicorum lubrica fide nititur, vel confirmat, vel rejicit, fed ad linguæ quoque genium et divitias penitius cognofcendas multum con

fert

fert-Tantum etiam abeft ut multorum animalium quæ orientem inhabitant, accuratam et omnibus numeris abfolutam defcriptionem dederint phyfiologi, ut potius in fuis relationibus, quæ multum a je invicem discrepant, multa, quæ fcire philologum cum maxime intererat, v. c. fonus vocis naturalis, qui denominationis multorum animalium tam a facris quam profanis fcriptoribus recenfitorum caufa atque fons eft; œconomia et mores vel ficco pede tranfierint, vel jejune fatis, altero alterius veftigiis infiftente. Ne nimis temere aliquid dixiffe videar, nondum ad liquidum perductum fuit, quenam fint tantopere celebratæ Ægyptiorum Ibes, afpides, murum et locuftarum orientis variæ fpecies vel, quomodo fit res pecuaria orientalium conftituta.

Utrum auctor S. Epiphanii, Euftathii Antiocheni et Pfeudo-Hieronymi veftigiis inftiterit, an vero alium deperditum auctorem imitando exprefferit, baud facile dictu eft. Quum enim nunc cum Epiphanio, nunc cum Euftathio, Poftremo cum Pfeudo-Hieronymo concinat, S. Epiphanius autem in fus Phyfiologo, ad exemplum auctoris noftri fæpe ad quemdam Phyfiologum provocat, et Titulus libelli Emipanov HIS TOY QUOTIORO you rel. audiat, pronum erit judicare, quod eumdem Phyfiologum, quem S. Epiphanius tranfcriptum aut excerptum myftico commentario inftruxit, et Euftathius et Pfeudo-Hieronymus præ oculis babuerunt, interpretatus fit."

Mr. T. owns that the tranflation of this work was frequently attended with confiderable difficulty, which fuch of our readers as are acquainted with his extraordinary skill in the Syriac language will, we are perfuaded, readily allow that no one was better able to furmount. He has likewife added greatly to the value of this work, by referring, as far as he could difcover them, to the fources from which the defcriptions given of the different animals were drawn, as alfo by his own excellent obfervations relative to natural history and oriental philology.

The titles of the different chapters, including the names of the animals here defcribed, are: Cap. I. de Hyena; II. de Caftore III. de Cervo Dama; IV. de Vulpe; V. de Viverra Ichneumone; VI. de Vipera; VII. de Serpentibus; VIII. de Salamandra folari; IX. de Salamandra vulgari; X. de Ericio; X1. de Muftela; XII. de Myrmileone; XIII. de Formica; XIV. de Aquila; XV. de Charadrio; XVI. de Phonice; XVII. de Falcone Milvo; XVIII. de Ardea Ibi; XIX. de Vulture barbato; XX. de Pelecano graculo; XXI. de Strige Oto; XXII. de Upupa Epope; XXIII. de Merope apiaftro; XXIV. de Corvo; XXV. de Columba turture; XXVI. de Columba vulgari; XXVII. de Hirundine; XXVIII. de Sirenibus s. canibus aureis; XXIX. de Struthiocamelo; XXX. de Ceto; XXXI. de Hydro; XXXII. de Delphino.

ART. 79. Oftindien, ein hiftorisch-geographifches Lefebuch. Aus den beften und neuesten Reifebefchreibungen und andern geographischen Schriften gammelt-An biftorico-geographical Account of the EaftIndies, compiled from the most approved and lateft Voyages and Travels, as well as from other Geographical Works. Frankfurt and Leipfic, 1794. LXIV. and 384 p. in 8vo.

If in the place of the word compiled, as it now ftands in the title, we fubftitute tranfcribed, we conceive that we fhall have given a proper

account

account of this book, which may, however, ftill be useful to those perfons who are not poffeffed of the larger works from which thefe extracts are made, fuch as those of Henning, Mackintosh, Sonnerat, Sprengel, Sullivan, Langfledt, Le Gentil, Grofe, &c. Jena Littzeit.

ART. 80. Chreftomahtia Quintiliana. Quam claffibus humanioribus accommodavit, notis variorum et fuis, adjecto in fermone patrio appendice auxit et dilucidavit Laur. Blafs in Acad. Jul. Wirceb. Litt. Hum. Profeffor. Wirzburg. 381 pp. I. in 8vo.

ART. 81. Anhang zur Erlaüterung und Ergänzung der in Quintilians Chreftomathie aufgeftellten Grundfätzen zum Gebrauche der rhetorischen Claffen-Supplement intended to elucidate and extend the Principles laid down in the Chreftomathia Quintiliani, for the Ufe of the Rhetorical Claffes. Ibid. XXII. and 205 pp. in l. 8vo.

ART. 82. Ueber die Bildung des Gefühls für das Schöne auf öffentlicheSchulen. Eine Abhandl. in der pädagog Verfamlung d. königl. Seminar riums für gelehrte, Schulen vorgelefen von Fried. Rambach, Subreton des Friederichfwerderfchen Gymnafiums. On the Formation of a Tafte for the Beautiful in public Schools; a Differtation. By F. Rambach, &c. Berlin, 1794. 160 pp. in 8vo.

Though the ftudy of rhetoric can hardly be deemed of the fame importance to us, as it must certainly have been of to the ancient Romans, yet, fince it may unquestionably be rendered fubfervient to the formation of the understanding, and of the tafte, as well as to other civil purposes, it ought not to be wholly neglected by us. As the rules laid down for it can not be learned fo perfectly from any other authors, as they may from Quintilian and Cicero, we cannot but recommend to our readers this very copious Chreftomathia, in which the precepts given by the former, are confirmed and illuftrated by parallel paffages taken from the latter. It is a book exceedingly well adapted to the ufe of the higher claffes in public fchools. At the fame time we think it incumbent on us to exprefs our difapprobation of the conduct of the prefent editor, who has in the title fuppreffed the name of the original author of this Chreftomathia, Bonav. Andres, Wirz. 1782, which Mr. R. has only now republifhed, though with confiderable additions and improvements. In his notes on the 10th book he has taken occafion to infert a lift of fome of the best editions of the principal claffics, in which, however, feveral that are particularly deferving of notice, are

omitted.

The remaining articles which are intended to illuftrate the doctrines inculcated in the Chreftomathia, contain many ingenious and valuable obfervations. Ibid.

ART. 83. Ge. Lud. Boehmeri-principia Juris Canonici Speciatim juris ecclefiaftici publici et privati, quod per Germaniam obtinet. Editio fexta emendatior. Göttingen, 616 pp. in octavo.

From the univerfally acknowledged induftry and learning of the author, it will naturally be imagined, that no new edition of this cele

brated

brated work, published under his infpection, would appear in which great improvements had not been made, and we fhall, therefore, obferve only concerning this fixth re-impreffion of it, that though the fame arrangement, and even the fame number of pages are retained, it has, however, undergone feveral very important alterations, particularly in regard to the Roman Catholic ecclefiaftical law. Ibid.

ART. 84. Weidemann (J. Petr.) Med. doctor, & moguntiaci prof. de Necroft Offium. Frankfurt on the Main, and Strafburg; in Folio, with 15 Plates.

Both the text and the Plates are on fine Dutch Paper; the Engravings by the celebrated Contgen, Engraver to the Court, and Univerfity, of Mentz. The Text contains 60 pages only. Ibid.

ART. 85. Initia Bibliotheca medico-practice chirurgica realis, five repertorii medicine practice chirurgica, communicat D. Guil. Go

dofr. Plouquet; Tom. I. Tubingen, 4to.

In this volume are comprized a preface and introduction, ferving to explain the nature and origin of the work; an account of the fources from which it is to be drawn, as well as of the method and order adopted in compofing it; two lifts of the names of the phyficians or furgeons who have written on internal and external complaints; and, laftly, the beginning of the Bibliotheca itself, including the letters 4AL, Ibid.

SWEDEN.

ART. 86. Svenska Folkets Hifloria efter förra uplagorna är denna ökad och förbättrad, Andra Bandet. Hiftory of the Swedish Nation. A new Edition, enlarged and improved. Vol. II. 301 pp. in 1. 8vo. Stockholm.

According to the intended plan of this work, it is to be regarded more as an hiftory of the Swedish nation, than as that of its kings only, whofe history is fo often made to conftitute almoft the whole of that of the countries and people over which they have prefided. The first volume of this excellent work, published by the late privy-counfellor Botin, contained the three firft periods of the Swedish hiftory, including that part of it only which preceded the introduction of Christianity into that kingdom, and which, of courfe, can hardly be faid to deserve the name of hiftory. In the prefent volume, which takes in the fourth period, from the year 1061 to the year 1250, we have more hiftoric certainty.

In the former edition, which was published in 1764, the hiftory of this period was comprised in five fheets, in Izmo. in a large character, whereas in this it fills nineteen sheets in octavo, printed with a comparatively fmall type; and though the order of the chapters remains the fame, the additions and improvements are fuch as give to this edition the appearance of a new work. We must not forget to mention like