1816.] Present State of Literature in Germany. pied with the titles of pamphlets and political ephemera, the offspring of that state of suspense and fermentation excited by the Congress of Vienna, yet it cannot be denied that many of these fugitive productions bear the stamp of genius, and display the hand of a master, and are well worthy of being preserved in such a collection as the Pamphleteer, published by your enterprising Valpy. To the circumstances which afford a prospect of better times for the bookselling trade, belongs one, the account of which diffused sincere joy among all the honest members of that Ja profession during the fair-I mean that clause in the 10th Article of the Act of the Congress of Vienna, which states that "the Congress will consider of uniform regulations respecting the liberty of the press, and for securing authors and publishers against the piracy of their publications." More important works in every department have appeared during this year than might have been expected. Some of the most remarkable shall be concisely noticed. The basis of all knowledge deserving of the appellation of science is philology and the study of science on the one hand, and mathema. tics on the other. For general philology, Professor VATER, of Königsberg, who has now completed the third part of his Mithridates, including the American languages, published a Literatur der Grammatiken, Lexica und Wörtersammlungen aller Sprachen der Erde, upon a much more comprehensive plan than Marsden's Catalogue of Dictionaries. Thus has one of the greatest modern linguists created a repertory, in which those who are fond of researches into languages and the friends of Bible-missions may deposit each new discovery in philology. Every lover of comparative criticism regretted the non-appearance of the second part of MOHINKE's Literature of the Greeks, among the novelties of the fair. On the other hand, MATTHAI of Altenburg published a Manual of Greek and Roman Literature, a very useful work for lectures; and Professor GESENIUS of Halle, to whom we are indebted for an excellent critical Hebrew Dictionary, a valuable Critical History of the Hebrew Language and Character. A new edition of Lowth's Prælectiones de Sacra Poesi Hebræorum, with additions by Professor ROSENMULLER, will convey to the notice of foreigners many recent investigations of German philologists on the subject of the Hebrew poets. NEW MONTHLY MAG.-No. 24, 525 Professor RIEMER, of Weimar, gratified the lovers of Greek literature with a new edition of his Greek Dictionary, the first part of which only (from A to K) bas yet appeared, and which is replete with acute inquiries concerning roots and etymologies, and with ingenious hints on philological analogies. How much might VALPY'S Stephanus be enriched by this work, if the editor knew how to derive from it all the benefit that it is capable of affording! Prof. THIERSCH, of Munich, has published in the spirit of the Cambridge Museum Criticum, the first volume, comprehending four numbers of Acta Philologorum Monacensium. The MS. corrections for Aristophanes, &c. by the great Florentine philologist Petrus Victorius, preserved in the central library of Munich, are here communicated; and Thiersch defends his ingenious hypothesis on the modes and times of the Homeric tenses against the weighty objections of Herrmann of Leipzig. JACOBS has given to the public a Supplement to his Remarks on the Greek Anthology. Critical Translations of Herodotus, Sophocles, &c. were published by WERFER, DÖDELEIN, and others. In Thiersch who has opened at Munich a school for the modern Greeks, and who is now at Paris demanding the restitution of stolen MSS., Bavaria possesses a hopeful promoter of classic lore. The philological studies have likewise produced excellent fruit in regard to the ancient classics in almost all parts of Germany. Professor BUTTMANN, of the university of Berlin, assistant librarian to the King of Prussia, has completed the Quintilian that was left unfinished by Spalding; whilst at the same time Professor BECKER edited the Orations of Eschines and Demosthenes with scholia from MSS. at Paris, before he again set out for that capital, for the purpose of collecting Greek inscriptions for the great Corpus Inscriptionum Græcarum, which the Berlin Aca demy of Sciences intends to make as complete as possible. SCHNEIDER of Breslau edited Nicander's Theriaca, and a new edition of the Minor Works of Xenophon, so that he has now published in six volumes a complete collection of the productions of that classic. As new materials from the British Museum were received after Nicander's Theriaca was put to press, the work was withdrawn by the author for the purpose of availing himself of these acquisitions, so that it may not be expected to appear before Easter, 1816, Professor VOL. IV. 3 Y 526 Present State of Literature in Germany. HEINDORF, of Breslau, published the Satires of Horace, with an Explanation, full of grammatical and historical erudition. The edition of Cicero de Natura Deorum, prepared by the same author, the immediate occasion for which was furnished by a valuable MS. in the library of the university of Breslau, completed the labours of Heindorf in behalf of ancient literature. From Halle we received the continuation of Cicero, with the text revised by SCHUTZ, who has thereby supplied a desideratum which was very sensibly felt. Of this edition (M. Tullii Ciceronis Opera que supersunt omnia cum Indicibus copiosissimis, Leipzig, G. Fleischer) six volumes, the fifth in two parts, have made their appearance. The 5th contains all the orations against Verres, with the ancient scholia of Asconius, and an anonymous commentator. The 6th concludes with the oration pro Rabirio. The work also recommends itself by typographical elegance and correctness. At Leipzig, where the philosophers BECK, HERRMANN, and SCHAFER, though they have brought forward no new productions, are engaged in providing new and correct editions of the Classics, a small prolu sion, like that by HERRMANN, On the Metre of the Ancients; or BECK's, On the new editions of Thucydides, often gives the stimulus to more important works. Under the superintendence of SCHAFER and BECK, a cheap edition of the Greek and Roman Classics, distinguished for its neatness and correctness, proceeds with spirit. This collection already extends to 60 volumes, and will be increased by Plutarch's Lives, the Orations of Demosthenes and Eschines, Apollonius Rhodius, and the second part of Plato, to which Beck is preparing a critical commentary. Whole sets of this edition are ordered for Russia, and even for Greece itself. BENEDICT, who is now master of the school at Annaberg, produced Commentarii critici in Thucydidem, and a new part of the accurate Florence edition of CICERO's Philosophical Works. JACOBS, the celebrated editor of Brunck's Anthology, has supplied a very useful edition of the Greek Anthology, after Spaletti's copy (in the library at Gotha) of the celebrated Vatican Codex, which modern revolutions had transferred from Rome to Paris. The text is now very correctly printed in two thick volumes, with the addition of 394 epigrams, partly from ancient in scriptions, which are not in that codex. The third part, containing a complete [Jan. 1, commentary, will very shortly appear. The experienced bookseller, WETOEL, deserves particular commendation for his spirited and useful undertakings in classic literature. The text of the Euripide, published by him, is finished with the third part. Professor MATTHAI of Altenburg bas subjected the text to a thorough revision, of which he will give a circumstantial account in the succeeding part of the commentary. Various works are in preparation, as an edition of the Etymologicon Magnum by Prof. SCHAFER, and the large edition of Plato. PORSON's Adversaria has been reprinted at Leipzig, under the superintendance of SCHAFER, enriched with critical annotations by JACOBS, and an interesting dissertation De Agro Trojano in Carminibus Homericis descripto, by SPORN, a young philologer of Wittenberg, was an nexed to the volume by way of Appendix. VOGEL published a complete edition of the Biographies of Jamblickus and Porphyry, by KIESLING, of Zeitz, toge ther with some fragments of the former, corrected in part from a MS. in the library of Zeitz. From Göttingen we received a new common edition of Heyne's Virgil, in 2 volumes, with an abridgment of the commentary by a worthy disciple of that great master. The grammatical monography of Prof. DISSON, of the same place, published under the title of Disquisitionum philo logicarum Specimen primum, is imbued with the spirit of philosophical enquiry. From Rostock the learned FUSCHET transmitted a specimen of his Tibullus, which excites expectations that we should already fain see fulfilled. Heidelberg's principal ornament in philology, CREEZER, after displaying Batavian elegance and profundity in his edition of Plotinus de Pulchritudine continues to operate in various ways by means of his pupils. One of these, MEYER MARX, has produced a complete edition of the Freg ments of Ephorus the historian. The veteran, J. H. Voss, not only presented us with a fourth, much improved edition of his Homer, but gives us hopes of a complete translation of Aristophanes; and we expect an edition of Æschylus from one of his learned sons. At Landshut, the acute investigator of ancient and modern philosophy, AST, is proceeding with his edition of Plato's works. From Kiel besides some instructive Prolusions by Professor HEINRICH, we received from TWASTEN, one of his pupils, an interesting Commentatio Critica de Hesiodi Carm. Oper, &c. with s 1816.] Present State of Literature in Germany. Postscript by Heinrichs, from whom we have long been expecting a complete Hesiod. A collection of the Roman Historians-Corpus Historicorum Latinorum, by RuнKOPF and SEEBODEN, published by Hahn of Hanover, is worthy of notice. The 5th and 6th volumes, the last that have appeared, contain Velleius, edited by Cludius, and Rufus, De Regionibus Urbis Rome, with a map; which deserve honourable mention here, and have a claim upon our thanks, because the annotations of the great Runkbenius are printed separately for the illustration of this Velleius. Various editions and collections for schools also appeared; among these JACOBS' Reader occupies the first place. His elementary prose work received a welcome companion in his Greek Garland (Griechische Blumenlese), to which Thiersch furnished an Appendix. Sappho's Poems by MOBIUS, WEICKERT's Tacitus, and LEHMANN'S Select Dialogues of Lucian, will be of great use in their respective departments. BLOCH's new edition of the Characters of Theophrastus prefers well-founded claims to higher critical value. We are in hopes that a second volume of explanatory observations will follow. Besides the actual critical editions of ancient classics, many important contributions have been received by classic archæology. Professor URKERT, of Gotha, who has been for some years engaged upon a work on the Geography of the Ancients, has favoured us with an admirable specimen of this performance under the title of Observations on the Geography of Homer, in which, in opposition to Voss, he explains with great acumen the division of the Homeric map of the world into the eastern and western side. By his Dissertation on the Stadia of Antiquity, Urkert had previously proved his talents for the composition of a standard work on the ancient geography. In Prof. KANNENGIESSER'S Sketch of Archeology (Grundriss der Alterthumswissenschaft) the leading idea, that all the ancient nations dwelt upon mountains, and their descendants upon contiguous ranges, was very acutely applied to the state of barbarism into which the south-west of Europe was plunged by the migrations from Pontus, Thrace, &c. by the pontifical families, and by the northern Phoenicians. HEEEN, of Göttingen, in a new and wholly itered edition of his Ideas on the Poiey, Commerce, and Intercourse of the incient World (Ideen zur Politik, 527 Handel und Verkehr der alten Welt), in four volumes, has completed a work, which, in spite of petty cavils, is entitled for the penetration and masterly arrange ment which it displays to rank among the most important and valuable productions of our literature, and which will transmit the name of the author to remote posterity. With this work may be classed DRUMMEN'S (of Halle) Ideas on the History of the Decline of the Grecian States (Ideen zur Geschichte des Verfalls der Griechischen Staaten). Many an enigma in the quarrels of the Grecian tribes is here solved. In spite of the late political storms Winkelmann's Works are advancing to their comple tion. The 6th part, which finishes the History of the Arts, is now in the hands of the amateur. The able editors, H. MEYER of Weimar, and SCHUTZ of Hanau, have done themselves the highest credit, as well by correcting the text as by extending and enriching Winkelmann's ideas with copious annotations. Meyer, the most erudite of our German artists, has here freely communicated the results acquired during half his life by actual observations in Italy, and by incessant inquiries concerning the style and epochs of ancient art. The sketches from antiques annexed to each volume are truly illustrative. It is to be hoped that WAKKER, (of Giessen) will speedily give to the public the Basso Relievos of Zoega with such explanatory matter as he found on examining Zoega's papers at Copenhagen. As the precursor of an extensive History of Ancient Architecture, A. HIRT, of Berlin, has favoured us with two Discourses delivered before the Berlin Academy, and subsequently enlarged, On the Gradual Cultivation of Ancient Egypt, and on the Egyptian Pyramids and their Construetion, replete with new and striking ideas. General MINUTOLI in association with M. KLAPROTH of Berlin, published an interesting work, On Antique Mosaic work in Glass (folio, with two engravings) on occasion of some glass-fluxes previously analyzed by the latter. The exertions of the advocates for the purity of our language, who now prosecute their plan with a high hand as the injunction of patriotism, and have formed at Berlin a powerful society with the veteran Wolke at its head, have been productive of a variety of critical inquiries. At Munich a monthly journal, exclusively devoted to the history, elucidation and improvement of the German language, under the title of Teutos NEW PUBLICATIONS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, ARTS AND SCIENCES. Time's Telescope for 1816; or a Complete Guide to the Almanack: containing an Explanation of Saints' Days and Holidays; with Illustrations of British History and Antiquities, Notices of Obsolete Rites and Customs, Sketches of Comparative Chronology, and an Account of the Fasts and Festivals of the Jews, &c. &c. 12mo. 9s. The commendation which we thought it our duty to bestow upon the preceding volume of this agreeable publication, we can repeat with great pleasure on the appearance of the present continuation, which, among other improvements that cannot but render it highly instructive and amusing, is enriched with a very perspicuous introduction, containing the elements of botany, well cal. culated to facilitate the study of this valuable science, and serve as a key to the Naturalist's Diary. The sketches of comparative chronology, or notices of remarkable events on the days when they occurred, will also prove equally entertaining and informing. This department, however, might, we think, be extended with considerable advantage, by compressing the history of science within a more moderate compass. ASTRONOMY. Ladies' Astronomy, translated from the French of Jerome de Lalande. By Mrs. W. Pengree. 24mo. 3s. The reputation of Lalande, as one of the most eminent of modern astronomers, is so well known, that it would be superfluous to dilate on the merits of the original from which this translation has been executed. It will therefore be suffi cient to remark, that the fair translator has performed her task, which, as she informs us, was undertaken for. the benefit of her own pupils, in a creditable manner, and that she has shown sound judgment in the alterations which she has made in the concluding chapters. The popular manner in which the subject is treated in this little work, will no doubt tend to smooth the approaches to a science from which many have hitherto been de teried by technical difficulties. Evening Amusements, or the Beauties of the Heavens displayed, for 1816. By Wm. Frend, esq. 3s. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Browne's General Catalogue of an extensive Collection of Old Books, for 1916. 8vo. 6s. A Catalogue of Books for 1815-16, on sale by Isaac Wilson, Hull. 1s. A Catalogue of Books in Engla ture, now selling by E. Reddell, Teki Part ii. 6d. A Catalogue of Books in various in 'guages and Classes of Literature, inci one thousand articles, ancient, curious, rare. By James Rusher, Reading, BIOGRAPHY. The Life of the Right Reverend Fathe God Jeremy Taylor, D. D. Chaplain dinary to King Charles the First, and La Bishop of Down, Connor, and Droman the Rev. Henry Kaye Bonney, M.AChrist's College, Cambridge, Prebendary gvo. pp. 386. Lincoln, &c. &c. of A good memoir of this excellent prelate be been a desideratum to the lovers of litera general, and particularly to true members of Church of England and the admirers of el piety. The volume now published, therefim, d not fail to meet with a cheerful welcome at 11 when the writings of Bishop Taylor are unre read, and the particulars of his life and ci are sought with avidity. We are grateful t biographer for the entertainment and instructe which he has furnished on a subject so intership and though we could have wished for more in mation with respect to the private history good bishop, we are aware of the diffruities were to be encountered in the research, owity the negligence of his contemporaries and the so tiness of his correspondence. It surprised little, however, that the author did net, in celleing his materials, examine the Lambeth collecta of manuscripts, and the records or Trinity Colleg Dublin. Of this last university Taylor was p nor; and it is certain that be restored it to arm from a very bad state, as may be seen in Cat History of the Duke of Ormond, where the par cufars of the bishop's appointment and the quences of his vigilance are minutely re When the present memoir comes to a serced re tion, we would recommend to the author that vef scarce but valuable work for his examination. Memoirs of Alessandro Tassoni; Occasional Notices of his Literary Conten poraries and a general outline of his varios works. By the late Joseph Cooper Walks esq. M.R.L.A. Edited by Samuel Wak esq. M. R. I. A. Post svo. 15s. Lives of Topographers and Antiquaries, who have written concerning the Antiqual of England. By J. P. Malcolm, esq. F.5.5 demy 4to, 21. 12s. 6d. imp. 4to. 41. 45. 1816.] New Publications, with Critical Remarks. BOTANY. A Continuation of the Flora Londinensis, or History of Plants Indigenous to Great Bri⚫tain, with figures of the natural size. By Wm. Jackson Hooker, esq. F. A. S. and L. S. Part i. royal fol. 10s. coloured 16s. COMMERCE. A Schedule of Duties, payable by Law, on all Goods, Wares, and Merchandize, imported into the United States of America after the 4th day of March, 1815, carefully revised and corrected by E. Vallette, of the Custom-house, Philadelphia. DIVINITY. Sermons. By Archibald Alison, LL.B. Prebendary of Sarum, Rector of Rodington, Vicar of High Ercal, and Senior Minister of the Episcopal Chapel, Cowgate, Edinburgh. Vol. II. 8vo. 12s. These sermons are affectionately addressed to the younger part of the congregation attending the chapel where they were preached. The subjects are as follow:-On the Example of our Saviour's Piety; On the Evidence which arises from the Nature and Character of the Gospel; On the Evidence which arises from the Progress of the Gospel; On the Evidence which arises from the Jewish Revelation; On the Evidence which arises from the accomplishment of Prophecy; On the Love of Excellence; On the Dangers of Moral Sentiment when not accompanied by active Virtue; On the Moral Dangers of the Society of Great Cities; Upon the Importance of Religious Examples; On the Importance of the Education of the Poor; On Instability of Character; On Stability of Character; On the Parable of the Prodigal Son; On Repentance before Heaven; On the Power of Christian Faith; On our Saviour's Ascension. The style of eloquence by which this able writer is distinguished, cannot be drawn in the way of comparison; for it is certainly his own, combining sweetness with strength, and simplicity with elegance. The discourses, however, are rather practical than doctrinal; and though as exhortatory compositions they possess unrivalled merit, they would have had a still higher claim to commendation if the unum necessarium of Christian redemption had been more explicitly stated and enforced. As a specimen, we select the following illustration of the benefits rendered by the Gospel to mankind."We have only to spread before us the map of the ancient world; to remember their institutions, their doctrines, their inanners; we have only, with a similar view, to examine the map of the modern world, under the reign of other religions and other systems. From this useful, but melancholy survey, why is it, that all Christian countries are so far above all that meets our eye in the geography of nature? Why are their laws more equal, their manners more pure, their knowledge more wide, their comprehensions more exalted? To these questions the answer isin their religion; in the lofty but simple aspect which it affords of man and of his duties; in the exaltation which it gives to all its powers, when he sees life and immortality presented to him by the Gospel. I am well aware that the character of individuals, and of nations who call themselves Christian, is yet far below the design of Provi dence. But while the vices and the follies of inen are for ever retarding the merciful will of -their Author, the retrospect of eighteen hundred years must shew us, that there is a design carrying 529 on in the present hour, which man can never defeat; and that the misery of man or of nations is not because they are, but because they are not Christians." The Peace Offering: a Sermon on the Peace. By the Rev. James Rudge, M. A. F.R.S. 8vo. 1s. 6d. This sermon, which is of a very superior character, opens with an admirable illustration of the Levitical law respecting peace-offerings, and an instructive view of its evangelical application. Having shewn from the highest of all authorities. what is required in return for the temporal blessings which we receive, and the only efficacious mode of sanctifying them to our private edification, the author proceeds to a general survey of what may fitly be denoininated a Providential history of our country during the last twenty years. Of the war which, with little intermission, occupied that space of time, he says, that "its ends were the unimpaired possession of our laws, and the full enjoyment of that happy and unrivalled constitution, which is the pride of Englishmen and the model of other nations." That in this great object we have been successful calls aloud for our gratitude, espe cially when the difficulties which the nation has had to encounter in the struggle are duly considered. "The time," says he, was, when the prospects of the country were, beyond any parallel, gloomy and cheerless-when our enemies were strong and mighty, and when there were many, even of our own citizens, who mourned continually in our streets in strains of dismal augury, that the sun of England's glory was set; that she must at length perish amid private ruin and national bankruptcy. But, thanks be to God! (though our situa tion was gloomy, through the pressure of the times and the stagnation of trade, occasioned by the frantic decrees and lawless measures of our adver sary,) the prospect has brightened, the horizon has cleared, and we (now may Israel say) are delivered. The character of the country has risen in propor. tion to the difficulties which it has had to encoun ter and the perils which it has had to subdue. Character is strength. Never at any time did the character of the country stand higher-cever was the character of Britain more looked up to with exalted feelings of gratitude and respect, than it is Who that takes a candid at the present moment. and temperate review of our late, compared with our present situation, will not confess that the Lord has been on our side; that he remembered us in our low estate, and redeemed us from our enemies;' that therefore he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever."" In a long note appended to the discourse, the author gives a relation of his visit to the plain of Waterloo, which is so uncommonly interesting, that nothing but its length prevents us from transplant. ing it into our pages. Four Dissertations, Moral and Religious, addressed to the Rising Generation. 1. On Covetousness; II. On Hypocrisy; III. On the Prosperous Condition of Man in this World; IV. On Continuance in Well-Doing. 8vo. pp. 68. These papers are posthumous, and the name of the author, who appears to have been a clergyman of the established church, is carefully concealed, for which we see no reasonable cause, as the dissertations are certainly such as must do honour to his memory. The principles laid down in them are sound, and the advice is excellent; the reason ing is clear, and the language correct; in short, |