publie. His reflections bespeak him a lover of letters and of public morals, and he considers education the basis on which public welfare rests. The general principles, however, which he seeks to maintain, have no claim to originality, though many of his thoughts and suggestions can be traced to no former writer. His aim is to combine public with private education, making the first succeed to the second. He dwells particularly on the education of the heart, which he would have commence from the cradle. He deplores the number of years devoted to the study of the dead languages; and treats in order the advantages resulting from the study of sciences, arts, and practical mathematics. He points out the works that ought to be put into the hands of children, and the rout which should be taken in making the tour of Europe. His chapter on the education of females is worthy the particular attention of all mothers; and his whole treatise may be said to contain most important reflections, and useful views of education, supported by the authority of the best writers in France and England, and a great number of judicious advices to the directors of the youthful mind.

Nouveaux Melanges de Litterature Française.-A new Miscellany of French Literature. By M. Brunner. 12mo.

To render the French tongue familiar to youth, to make them acquainted with dignity and variety of expression, to form their taste by presenting them at once with the true and the beautiful, to enrich their understanding with useful knowledge, to assist them in facilitating the means of reasoning justly, to inspire them with elevated sentiments, to make them cherish virtue by the lessons and examples of generous and celebrated men, is the arduous task which the author of the work before us has prescribed to himself, and he has perfectly fulfilled it. He has not confined himself to the mere placing before the eyes of his readers simple fragments of eloquence, but bas studied to make them acquainted with the oratorical modulations of voice, amid a concatenation of ideas which concur with them to form a complete whole; and he has preferred to a multitude of brilliant sallies of imagination a num ber of passages, which, though less elevated, tend, notwithstanding, to con

vince and to persuade as well by the force of proofs as by the charms of expression. It is unnecessary to say, that, in order to attain this end, he has been frequently obliged to make numerous extracts from voluminous works; but this has not interfered with the unity of his plan, because, in rejecting all uninteresting discussions, and whatever offends against decency, he has taken care to connect the thoughts of each author, in his own words. In fine, he attempts to fix the orthography which ought to be adopted in the work; and, while he recognizes the right of the ancients and the moderns, and regards the orthography of every author as his own property, he has caused every extract to be printed with that which is similar to it, without fearing to create confusion in the minds of learners, as they read French works continually differing in their orthography.

Essai sur l'Histoire Ancienne et Moderne de la Nouvelle Russie, &c.An Essay on the Ancient and Modern History of New Russia, with Maps, Views, Plans, &c. 3 vols. 8vo. Price 15 francs.

The history of new Russia presents more difficulties than that of any other country in Europe. This portion of the Russian empire, being recently united to it, was successively possessed, conquered, and ravaged, by upwards of seventy different nations, since the time of Herodotus. The work is divided into three principal epochs. The first commences with the earliest accounts, and terminates with the conquest of Taurida by Mahomet II. in 1475, twelve years after the capture of Constantinople.

In the first epoch the author rests upon the authority of Herodotus, and the Greek and Latin authors who have spoken of the Scythians. He evinces great erudition and sound criticism in reporting the notions which have been transmitted to us by the ancients, relative to the manners, migrations, and wars of the native inhabitants of Taurida and those who became masters of it by conquest; and also of the different countries which composed the aucient Scythia.

The first part terminates with the description of some remains of antiquity, and of the principal medals found in the ruins of ancient cities, and in turning up the Kourganes.

The second era presents more cer

AMERICA.

Encroachment of the Sea.-In 1814, a house was built at the mouth of the Delawar, near Cape May, 334 feet from the sea. In 1820, this house was not farther than 180 feet from the shore. The progress of the sea, regularly observed during five years, varies a little from one year to another, but is never interrupted. On the coast of Brasil, the same observation has been made. It appears, that the encroachments of the sea are here still more rapid than in the United States.

Public Instruction.-The education of youth is considered an affair of national importance throughout the United States, and considerable sacrifices are there made to increase it. The State of Connecticut has appropriated a fund of a million and a half dollars, for the support of public schools. In Vermont, land has been appropriated, and its produce dedicated to the same object of public utility. The instruction imparted at these schools prepares the pupils for the colleges, the number of which is increased to forty-eight; they are, generally speaking, richly endowed. -The University at Cambridge, near Boston, founded in 1798, is, perhaps, the most distinguished of these establishments. The child of every citizen, without distinction of sex or colour, has an equal right 'to participate în elementary instruction.

ASIA.

The Koran, in folio, published in 1787 at St. Petersburg, with marginal notes, and reprinted several times afterwards at Casan, has lately again been published at Casan, at the expense of the merchant Apanai. No press in the world, with the exception of that of Constantinople, contributes more to the progress of Mahometanism than that of the Asiatic University of Casan; and the tolerance of the Russian Government is to be admired, which, at the time that numerous Bible Societies propagate the Christian doctrines, by the infinite multiplication of Bibles, permits the believers of Mahomet to spread the doctrine of their legislator and prophet.

The American Missionaries of Rangoun, doubtful of the success of their pious labours, and even uncertain as to the safety of their persons, went to Ava, the residence of the Emperor, to solicit a positive permission to propagate Christianity throughout the empire of Birman, and to beg, that those who

adopted that persuasion should not be persecuted. The Emperor's answer has convinced them, that the government of this country is as hostile as that of China to the preaching of the Gospel, and that the Sovereign would not tolerate in his subjects any difference of religious opinion.

FINLAND.

The Protestant Church in Finland is in a deplorable state. The clergy are ignorant and poor. Their revenue is very little, and they are often obliged to employ force to get it. It is not uncommon for a pastor to seize, or cause to be seized, the horse or cow of a proprietor of a house, as payment for his fees. The Fins are still strongly attached to the Pagan customs of their ancestors. They believe, that Monday and Friday are unlucky days; that cattle ought not to go from the stable till Christmas; and that it is dangerous to light a fire or a candle till Lent. On the eve of the great feast-days, they carry food for evil spirits into the stables of the cows and sheep; and on All-Saints Day (called Kikri, the name of their ancient idol) they kill a lamb, which they bake and eat without cutting it in pieces. A thousand other superstitions are practised by these people.

The Mnemosyne, a journal published in this country, mentions a curious stone, found in the north of Finland, and which serves as a kind of barometer. When rain is near, it becomes of a blackish or greyish colour, and when the weather is fine, it is covered with white spots.-It is, probably, a clayish substance, containing rock salt, or ammoniac, or saltpetre, absorbing more or less humidity, according to the changes of the atmosphere.

POLAND.

Mr. Nathan Rosenfeld, a Jewish merchant, of Warsaw, a man of deep research and learning, has lately published a history of Poland, written in the Hebrew language. The historian has evidently had recourse to none but the best authorities, and the dates and authenticity of the facts he relates, are undoubted.

An immense hill or tumulus in the manner of the ancients, will be raised upon a mountain in Poland, to the memory of Kosciusko, whose name will be inscribed on a block of granite, which will be placed at the top of the tumulus. The mountain, with the land that surrounds it to the banks of the Vistula, will be purchased

for the purpose of making useful and ornamental plantations, and for building houses for the veterans who served under this celebrated and patriotic general. These veterans will form a colony that will take the name of Kosciusko.

Dramatic Literature.-M. Kowalski has translated Moliere's comedies into the Polish language; the poetry is rendered in verse.

Archiology.—A collection entitled, "Monumenta regum Poloniæ Cracoriensia," is publishing in numbers. Three have appeared since the commencement of the present year; the price of the collection, when entire, will be 2000 Polish florins. The superintendance of this work is confided to the bishop of Plotzk, Adam Prasmowski, and to the librarian Linde. The drawings are by a Polish artist, Michael Stackowitz; they are engraved in aquatinta, by the celebrated Dietrich: the plates, twenty-four in number, will represent different monuments of Cracow, and an explanation will not only be given in Polish, but in French and Latin. The authors of this work of art ob, serve, "It is from misrepresentation we refuse to concede the degree of me rit due to Poland with regard to the fine arts. She certainly does not possess the chefs d'œuvres of the South, but her monuments are well worthy the attention of the artist and the amateur."

DENMARK.

The last winter, which was so mild for the rest of Europe, was very violent and destructive in Iceland. Notwithstanding this circumstance, the volcano, the mountain Elsfield-Jokel, a volcano that has not made an eruption since 1612, has again thrown up a quantity of lava, ashes, and stones, some of which weighed eighty, and se veral fifty pounds each; they were occasionally thrown to the distance of about six English miles. In spite of the violence of the eruption there was ice on the very borders of the Crater.

PRUSSIA.

A society for the propagation of Christianity among the Jews is formed at Berlin, under the superintendance of General Witzleben, and with the decided approbation of the King.

SWEDEN.

Archiology-The Royal Society of Stockholm, to patronize the publication of all manuscripts relative to the Swedish history, has just given to the world the ninth volume of its memoirs; it

contains interesting articles on ancient manuscripts belonging either to public libraries or those of private gentlemen.

RUSSIA.

Amelioration of prison discipline.The Emperor has issued an ukase; its object is to ameliorate the condition of criminals in irons: for the future, women will be exempted from having their feet chained, and men alone will undergo that punishment; the former will only wear light manacles during transportation. Minor criminals of either sex, while under age, are not to be ironed. The total weight of a man's fetters is not to exceed five pounds, and the rings fastened to the feet will be covered with leather. All the malefactors of the empire, whatever their crimes, will, for the future, be fettered in the manner prescribed by this ukase. The minister of finance will appropriate a certain sum for the manufacture of these irons, for both sexes, in the forges of the capital, A society, of which the Prince Galitzin, the head of the clergy, is president, is employing all its influence to ameliorate, the condition of criminals. In all considerable towns large and commodious towers are building for prisons. Some of these towers are already completed.

A new commercial town has been built in the district of Melitapholsky, near the river Obotyczna, which runs into the sea of Asoph. It is called Nogaisk. All persons willing to establish themselves here are exempted, during eighteen years, from every kind of contribution.

Odessa. In this town in the year 1792 a hut was not visible, but there are now 40,000 inhabitants. Russians, Germans, French, Greeks, Jews, Americans, and Polanders. A French and an Italian theatre are built, and a lyceum, founded by the Duke of Richelieu, furnishes ample resources to the learned. There are, besides, several schools for law, navigation, and commerce; eight churches, 2000 houses, and numerous public buildings. The harbour is two verstes in length. In summer a number of Russian and Polish families visit Odessa for the purpose of sea-bathing, which is there remarkably convenient and healthy: the population of the environs is rapidly increasing.

Public Instruction.-It is said, that the Russian government no louger intends to admit foreigners as professors in the universities and other establishments for public instruction, but to bestow all professorships on the native

inhabitants; thongh education is not in a very advanced state throughout the Russian empire.

The Greek seminary, founded in 1775 by Catherine II. at St. Petersburg, be-comes daily of higher importance; two hundred young Greek and Albanian officers are thus educated; they have twenty-five professors. Besides the military sciences, they are instructed in French, Italian, and German, and when they have completed their education, they may have the choice of a commission in the army, of becoming interpreters at the colleges of St. Petersburgh or Moscow, or of returning to their native country. Among the pupils now educating, there are several youths from Chio, Lesbos, and Naxos.

GERMANY.

Fine Arts. The Duke Albert, of Saxe-Teschen, has left, by a codicil in his own hand-writing, his rich collection of works of art to be possessed entire by a prince of the imperial family. It contains above 300,000 engravings from the very commencement of the art to its present high state of perfection, 82,000 portraits, and above 40,000 original drawings. This is the finest and most extensive collection in Europe.

- Missionary Societies are established at Bremen, Berlin, Dresden, Frankfort, Halle, Leipsic, Lubeck, Stuttgard, Elberfeld, and several other German towns. About six months ago one was established in Hamburgh.

Mr. George Frederic Spang is daily exhibiting at his own residence for the small sum of twelve ktreutzers, a gallery containing 550 different pieces, executed entirely with pen and ink by the late Abbé Werner. All the friends of art are anxious to visit this interesting collection, which is really astonishing, when considered as the production of one man only: it contains specimens of every kind of writing, in sentences taken from the best French, German, Italian, English, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew writers; also the representation of several works of art, and portraits of philosophers, sovereigns, and celebrat'ed men.

HUNGARY.

M. Farkas de Farkasfalva, at Futak, has invented a machine by which a person may plunge to the bottom of the sea, walk at the bottom, work with the hands or feet, ascend easily to the surface, or stop in the middle, without any help; and in this manner remain several days under water without inter

ruption and without effort. The inventors calls this machine the dolphin, and pretends that it has many advantages over the diving bells. This machine, which only costs about 901. and only employs two men, would be useful in shipwrecks, in regaining any thing dropt into the sea, and in facilitating peart and coral fishing; an experiment the author made last year at Vienna, in the presence of Count Joseph Esterbazy and other persons of distinction, had the greatest success. To procure this machine, and to have directions for using it, the inventor at Futak, through Buda, must be applied to.

SPAIN.

A work is to be published in Spanish, by subscription, which, it is expected, will greatly excite the curiosity of the French. It consists of the Travels of a Spaniard in the South of France. The anonymous author promises the history of the parts of France he has visited, and an accurate account of the actual state of the Arts and Sciences, commerce and industry of that country, as compared with those of Spain.

Camels-Some Spanish merchants have bought a number of camels, of a particular kind, only to be found in the interior of Africa, in order to naturalize them in Spain. These animals are by far the fleetest of their species; one of them, in seven days, travelled from Senegal to Mogador, a space that extends over fourteen degrees of latitude.

ITALY.

The Chevalier Theodore Carezziui, a Piedmontese, has invented two kinds of round tables, which he calls geocentric and heliocentric; by which you may, without understanding mathematics, in a little time, perfectly well know the course of the stars, and explain celestial phenomena; you may also, in a few minutes, in the open air, find the meridian line; and in a journey by land, always discover the North.

In the Palace of Arts at Naples, a room is appropriated to contain the antiques found at Pompeii and Herculaneum. -This cabinet contains specimens of ancient glass, of various forms and colours. This collection proves, that the Ancients used glass as well as the Moderns, for the purposes of decoration and chemistry.-Here is also a great number of cinerary urns, most of them enclosed in leaden vases.

At Turin, a new publication has lately appeared, called Il Spigolatore, or the gleaner.-It gives an account of new productions as they appear, and of