Literature; the Essays of Mason on able additions have been likewise made to English criticism, by the excellent notes accompanying the translations and editions of Homer by Ogilby, Chapman, Pope, and Cowper; of Demosthenes, by Leland; of Eschylus and Euripides by Potter; of Sophocles, by Potter and Francklin; of Aristotle's Poetics, by Twining and Pye; of Pindar, by West; of Epictetus, by Mrs. Carter; of Theocritus, by Creech; of Pliny, by Holland and Melmoth; of Virgil, by Ogilby, Dryden, Pitt, Sotheby, and Symmons; of Horace's Art of Poetry, by Hurd and Colman; of Ovid, by Dryden and Sandys; of Juvenal, by Dryden, Gifford, and Hodgson; of Lucretius, by Creech and Good; of Cæsar's Commentaries by Duncan; of Lucan's Pharsalia, by Pitt and Rowe; of Persius by Dryden and Drummond; of Cicero, by Middleton and Melworth; of Maximus Tyrius, Minutius, Felix, and Lactantius, by Davis; of Vida's Poetics, by Pitt and Hampson; of the Thebais of Statius, the Dryope and Vertumnus and Pomona of Ovid by Pope; and many others which we cannot here enumerate. Whilst the art of Criticism thus flourished in this country, its progress was not less successfully promoted in France. Indeed it was there that it was most assiduously cultivated, and brought to perfection, after the revival of learning in Europe. Several valuable works, connected with this branch of literature, were published during the seventeenth In 1630, and eighteenth centuries. Vaugelas wrote his Remarques sur la Langue Françoise; a work which is considered by M. de la Monnoye a master-piece of elegance and solidity; in 1660, Patru a treatise on the same subject; in 1670, Menage Observations on the Origin of the French and Italian Languages; Rapin a Discourse on Pastoral Poetry; and Bossu a Treatise on Epic Poetry, which Boileau has declared to be one of the best compositions on that subject in the French language. In 1682 Valincour wrote Observations critiques sur l'Edipe de Sophocle; and in 1690 Boileau an Essay on the Art of Poetry; La Harpe the Cours de la Litterature ancienne et moderne; Perrault Reflexions sur Longine; D'Argonne Melanges d'Histoire et de Litterature, published by him under the name of Vigneul Marville; and Bayle an Historical and Critical Dictionary, of which Voltaire has said, that it is the first work of the kind, in which a man may learn to think. To these may be added, Dupin's Bibliotheque universelle des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques, and Simon's Dissertation on the same in 1700; Le Clerc's Art Critique, in 1710; Massieu's History of French Poetry, in 1712; La Motte's Discours sur Homere, and Reflexions sur la Critique; Sanadon's Dissertation on the Iliad; Masson's Histoire Critique de la Republique des Lettres, and Lives of Horace, Ovid, and the younger Pliny; and the Abbé Du Bos Reflexions Critiques sur la Poësie et la Peinture, in 1720; Brumoy's Thêatre des Grecs; Fontenelle's Discourse on Pastoral Poetry, and Reflexions Critiques sur l'Art Poetique d'Aristotile annexed to his Life of Corneille; Crousaz' Essay on Logic, Essay on Beauty, and Comments on Pope's Essay on Man; Marmontel's Essai sur les Romans, and Epitre aux Poetes; and Des Fontaines' Observations sur les Ecrits modernes in 1730; Banier's Historical Explanation of Fables and Supplement to D'Argonne's treatise; and Voltaire's Essai sur la Poësie Epique, Essai sur l'Histoire Generale, Melanges des Litterature, and Connoissances des beautés et des defaults de Poësie et de l'Eloquence in 1740; Andrew Dacier's Remarques sur Longine in 1750; the Observations of the French Academy on the Cid of Corneille, Diderot's Dictionnaire Encyclopedique; and D'Alembert's Melanges Litteraires in 1760. Many excellent translations of the Classics were also undertaken, and successfully completed, by learned French scholars; the best of which are those of Horace by Sanadon; of Diodorus Siculus with notes by Terrasson; of Quintus Curtius, by Vaugelas; of Virgil, by Des Fontaines; of Herodian and Cicero's Epistles to Atticus, by Mongault; of Vitruvius, by Claude Perrault; of Thucydides, Tacitus, Lucan, Cæsar, Arrian, and Minutius Felix, by Perrot; of Ovid's Metamorphoses, by Banier; of Virgil, Horace, Juvenal, Persius, Lucretius, Terence, Plautus, Lucan, Statius, Martial, Aurelius Victor, Ammianus Marcellinus, and Athenæus, by Marolles; of Homer, Anacreon, Sappho, Terence, and Plautus, by Madame Dacier; and of Aristotle's Poetics, two of the tragedies of Sophocles, and the works of Plato, Epictetus, Plutarch, and Hippocrates, by Andrew Dacier. We may add to those the editions of Petronius, Lucan, and Heliodorus, by Bourdillon; of Aristotle, by Duval; of Justin and Valerius Maximus, by Cantet; of Tertullian and Florus, by Salmasius; of Demosthenes, by Massieu; of Ammianus Marcellinus, by Henri de Valois; of Pliny, by Hardouin; of Aristotle and Polybius, by Casaubon; of Quintilian, by Rollin; of Livy, by Crevier; of Tacitus, Pliny, and Phodrus, by Brotier; of Horace, by Andrew Dacier; and the commentaries on the edition of Polyænus and Dionysius Halicarnassus, by Casaubon. In Italy also, besides the celebrated Vida,there were many excellent writers, by whom the art of Criticism was most diligently and successfully cultivated. In the sixteenth century especially several works appeared, which far surpassed any produced by the French at the same period. Of these the principal are the following:-the Poetics of Vida, written in 1520; the Della Poetica of Trissino, in 1529; the Varia Lectiones of Vettori in 1540; the Ercolano of Varchi, or Dialogues on Language, in 1541; the Naugerius of Fracastorius, or Dialogues on Poetry, in 1555; the De Poeta of Minturnus, in six books, printed at Venice in 1559; Ricoboni's Historical Comments, and Treatise on Rhetoric, in 1570; and the Raggionamento della Poesia of Bernardo Tasso, and the Discorsi del Poema Eroico, by his son the illustrious Torquato Tasso, in 1587. In 1610 appeared Dandini's Commentary on Aristotle's Ethics; in 1630, Mascardi's Treatise Dell'Arte Istorica; in 1698, Crescembini's Istoria della Volgar Poesia, with commentaries on the same; Gravina's Treatise Della Ragion Poetica, in two books, and Epistle Di Poesi, published at Naples in 1716; Muratori's Essay Della Perfetta Poesiana Italiana, in 1730; the learned Scipio Maffei's Teatro Italiano, and Osservationi Letterarie, about the year 1732; Metastasio's Estrato dell'Arte Poetica d'Aristotile, in 1740; Baretti's Dissertation on Italian Poetry, and other critical works of con siderable value, in 1750; and Tiraboschi's Istoria della Letteratura Italiana, and Origin of Rhyme, in 1770. We may also enumerate the Commentaries on Aristotle's Poetics, by Castelvetro, and on his Rhetoric, by Vettori; Vettori's Critical Notes on Euripides, Xenophon, Plato, Porphyry, Sallust, Varro, Terence, Cicero, and Columella; the annotations on Terence, Juvenal, Persius, Ovid, and Statius, by Britannicus; and on Horace's Art of Poetry, Cicero, Juvenal, and Pliny, by Valla. Also the translations of Homer, by Metastasio, and in part by Scipio Maffei; of Plutarch, by Aretin; of Herodian, by Politiano; of Aristotle's Poetics, by Castelvetro, and of his Rhetoric, by Annibal Caro; of Thucydides and Herodotus, by Valla, and of Diodorus Siculus and Xenophon's Cyropædia, by Poggio. Of the German and Dutch schools of criticism we might also say much. It will be sufficient, however, merely to observe, that literature is indebted to them for a vast accession of sound and useful learning; and for some of the best editions of the classics that have ever issued from the press. The indefatigable care and diligence of the German critics is so well known, that it will not be requisite to introduce any further remarks on that subject, or even to mention the names of the most eminent; but only just to observe, that they have distinguished themselves more as editors and commentators than as original writers. (To be continued.) MISCELLANEA. ITALIAN LITERATURE. THE German language continues to make considerable progress in Italy, and particularly in Lombardy. Gratuitous instruction is established throughout the country. Upwards of two hundred pupils are instructed in the German language at the lyceum of Milan; and upwards of three hundred learn it in other schools, or by private lessons. The number of persons at Milan, capable of reading the best German works, amounts to upwards of five thousand. The most active and zealous of them is M. Argenti, whose works co-operate with his personal exertions in the dissemination of the German language in Italy. The conspiracy of Fiesque has been translated into German. The dramatic works of Kotzebue have been also translated at Modena ; and at Florence, the collection of the German theatre continues to assimilate the literature of both countries. Gessner, whom his ungrateful countrymen have almost forgotten, is the chief delight of the youth of Italy as well as of other countries. The literary journals, which continue to preserve a high character in Italy, are the Opusculi of Bologne; il Giornale arcadico of Rome; Antologia of Florence; Giornale enciclopedico of Naples; Giornale chimico of Pisa, and the Biblioteca Italiana of Milan. The twelfth number of the Antologia (December 1821) contains very interesting articles, such as a Retrospect of the best French Works on different Subjects of Crim 1 Law-Reflections on the Synonime. f the Italian Language -An Article on the Romaic Language, or modern Greek-A Political Essay on the People of New Spain, &c. This journal and many others prove, that the Italians make every exertion to proceed with the most civilized nations in the march of intellect, and in the progress of science and art. From some periodical works and pamphlets, which have appeared for some time past at Naples, especially Lo Spirito di vertigine, it would seem that this part of Italy is retrograding, and merits the stigma which Lord Byron affixes to it; but it is well known, that the Neapolitan dominions contain a great number of philosophic minds, which are obliged to conceal their sentiments. It seems, however, that the species of study which chiefly prevails in Italy is that of literature and erudition; at least the greater part of the works, which are published on the peninsula, are of this character. It is also known, that many men of merit cultivate the moral and political sciences, but unhappily they are obliged to mingle with the herd of antiquaries and translators. The taste of the Italians for tragedy seems to develope itself more and more; for, though they were the first to distinguish themselves in this career, their productions were but exaggerated imitations of the Greek models. If, therefore, in consequence of this common defect, they could inspire in their contemporaries but little interest; they gave, however, sufficient evidence, that they possessed the same talent for the drama, that they did for every other species of literature, Unfortunately, circumstances deprived them of a national theatre, and a na- SWEDISH LITERATURE. The poet Ling, whose compositions are conspicuous for splendid imagination, originality of character, and an ardent love of country, has excited, for a considerable time past, the admiration of his countrymen. The subjects of his poems are generally selected from the history of Sweden and other Northern countries. His best works are Ayne, a Tragedy replete with fine conceptions; an idyl, entitled Love; Eylif, the Goth, and The Diet of 1527. Besides the Tragedy already mentioned, he has composed several pieces for the theatre, but all inferior to Ayne. He is at present employed upon an epic poem entitled Die asen. A part of it appeared in 1816, and was received with enthusiasm. His allegory of Gylf, though the subject is patriotic, has not yet become popular. Many of his poems are written in Danish, and he published a collection of them during his residence at Copenhagen. Ling is not the only poet, who dispenses the pleasures of poetry to his countrymen. Madame Asping, a lady of distinguished talents, shares with him in public applause. The Young Maid of Lapland, a poem which appeared in the Poetic Calendar, published at Upsal, and edited by the Poet Atterbom, is replete with freshness, naiveté and grace. Afzelius and Professor Geijer have also published some Swedish ballads, and the former has rendered an important service to his countrymen by giving, in conjunction with other writers, a new edition of the Edda. The collection intitled Snorra-Edda, or the Edda of Snorra, as well as Choice Fragments of Islandic Literature, has been recently published at Stockholm by M. Rask, a Danish traveller profoundly versed in the languages and literature of northern Europe. MUSEUM AT PRAGUE. A universal zeal manifests itself for enriching this national museum with the most rare and valuable books and manuscripts, Other objects of art are equally sought after, and deposited in the Museum. They possess already a painting, which represents the son of Lewis, Landgrave of Hesse, maintaining before the Emperor, Charles IV., a thesis on the philosophy of Aristotle ; also, a bronze vase, found in the suburbs of Konig Gratz, an immense depth below the surface. Its form shews it to be of great antiquity, and its origin has already excited a great controversy among the antiquaries of Germany; with whom may be classed, perhaps, all the writers in the empire, for the antiquarian mania seems to have got hold of them all. Such is the ridiculous curiosity excited by this vase, that M. de Hammer is at present engaged in writing a dissertation, in which he promises to prove that it is a Baphomet. Some maintain that it has been brought from the East by the Sclavonians, who made use of it in their sacrifices; while others dispute the opinion tooth and nail, and are as zealous in maintaining a different theory, as if they were engaged in the discovery of some useful art, or accounting for some property in the works of nature. A PRESS FOR THE BLIND. A young lady of Switzerland, born blind, but rich in intellectual powers, conceived the possibility of communicating her thoughts to her family and her friends, through the medium of impressions, if some ingenious mechanic invented for her a press with its necessary accompaniments. She applied to Mr. Francis Huber, the celebrated historian of bees, to whom she had the happiness of being related. A community of misfortune, for the historian laboured under the same inisfortune with herself, rendered the subject of still greater interest to him. He consulted his servant, Claude Léchet, a man endowed with a singular instinct for mechanism, and they both set their wits to work and happily succeeded. The press was soon executed by Claude, and sent with a proper assortment of characters to the interesting female, who first suggested the idea of it; after a short apprenticeship to herself, she soon enjoyed the luxury of communicating her thoughts to her friends, through this happy medium. She has written a letter to M. Huber, of thirty-three lines, free from faults, and typographical irregularity. THE PARIS MONTHLY REVIEW. A society of literary Englishinen, residing at Paris, has formed the project of publishing a journal, which is to contain the best articles in the principal periodical works published in England, and critical remarks on the best French productions of the age. This journal has the same object in view as that of Gallignani. The selection of matter, it is expected, will be made with great discernment; and the extensive connexions of its proprietors in England, France, Spain, &c., will enable them to procure original pieces and intelligence interesting to the literary world, the sciences, and the arts. STEAM BOATS, Have completely succeeded at Bordeaux, in France. Four of these boats proceed daily from that city to Laugon, going up the river as far as the tide reaches. Two of them cross over to Pauillac, and even in the bathing season bring passengers to Royan. Another steam-boat, built at Bordeaux, has coasted the entire shore from that city to Havre, where it is employed in the passage of Honfleur. An eighth vessel, built upon the same stocks, has been sent to Martinico for the use of that island. Eur. Mag. Vol. 81. April 1822. HYALOGRAPH. M. de Clinchamp, teacher of the youth intended for the marine service, at Toulon, in France, has invented an instrument called Hyalograph, which takes off with extreme correctness the appearances of natural objects. A particular sort of ink serves to impress, on paper, designs taken on the glass of the instrument; and, as the first impression cannot be erased, many proofs may be taken off by inking it over again. The Hyalograph serves also for many mathematical applications. The works executed with hyalographic ink have the appearance of lithographic designs. PIANO-FORte. The Council of the Canton of Zurich, in Switzerland, induced by the favourable report of a committee of artists, have granted Jean Jacques Goll, of Zurich, the exclusive right of making and selling a piano of his own invention. This piano is said to possess great compass, clearness, and melody, and far exceeds the best pianos in the second rate shops of Paris or Vienna, The inventor has solved a problem which was deemed nearly impossible. He has succeeded in giving the higher notes the same proportional force, and duration of sound as the lower. TRIBE OF THE SCOTACKS. In calculating the population of the different people, who inhabit Hungary, few travellers or geographers have taken the Scotacks into the account; They are, however, entitled to attention, as well for their numbers, as for their manners and habits. They inhabit sixty-five towns, or large villages in the district of Zemplein, and are of Sclavonic origin. They form an intermediate people between the Sclavonians, the Vasmiaks, and the Poles; but totally differ from those nations in dialect, in character, and in habits of life. It is said that both men and women have white hair, and dark coloured hair is among them a species of phenomenon. They live in the patriarchal manner, and assist each other as if they were members of the same family. The father confides the care of his house to one of his sons, but always selects the one whom he thinks best qualified for the charge; and the rest pay him an implicit obedience, whatever be his age, for age and merit are carefully distinguished between them. The people are shepherds, and Y y |