As Mr. Bretschneider is exercising his critique on the books called the Apocrypha, it is proper to mention here, that in 1804 Mr. Augusti published a good critical edition of the Apocrypha." Libri V. T. Apocryphi. Textum Graecum recognovit, et variarum lectionum delectum adjecit J. C. W. Augusti Lit. orient. prof." Leips. 8vo. 1804.

8. Professor Justi, of Marburg, who published about six years ago some very acute "Considerations on the national songs of the Hebrews," promises, for 1809, an "Anthology of ancient Hebrew poetry, during its different periods." Every morceau will be given in the original, with a metrical translation, and notes historical and explanatory.

9. "Essay towards a history of the Jews in China, accompanied with interesting details respecting their sacred books in the synagogue of Kai-fong-fu, by Mr. de Murr, correspondent of the class. Halle, 1806.” The notice of the Jesuit Koegler on the bibles of the Chinese Jews, is to be found in this book of Mr. de Murr, with the remarks of Sacy, and Tychsen of Rostock.

10. "Information about Asia, for the friends of biblical antiquities, of history, and oriental literature; by Dr. Ar. Th. Hartmann." Oldenburg. 2 vols. 8vo. 1806 and 7. Very learned and curious researches, on the first chapters of Genesis in particular, and the original abode of the human race. The author has admitted much controversy in his work, because he has undertaken to refute the hypotheses of Hasse and of Buttmann on the latter subject.-Mr. Hartmann, professor at the Oldenburg Lycaeum, has rendered frequent services to biblical and oriental literature.

11. "On the system of Emanation and of Pantheism in the most remote antiquity among the Orientals, and the writers of the Old and New Testaments. Erfurt 1806. Essay of a learned and intelligent man, which casts much light on several points of the oriental, greek, and mosaick philosophy. The author, who remains anonymous, promises a complete body of researches into the theoretick philosophy of the sacred writers.

12. The theological faculty of the university of Gottingen, proposed in 1802, for the subject of its annual prize, an examination of Gnosticism, in the Old and New Testament, and in the apocryphal books, and the relation which might exist between it and the opinions of the Gnostics of the first and

second age of the church. Dr. Horn, now professor of theology at Dorpat, obtained the prize. His memoir, written in Latin, was full of learning, and of fine and new views; and suggests some bold notions. Since that time, the author has published it in German, remodelled and augmented to make three volumes, the first of which only has appeared (Hanov. 1805) entitled, "On the Gnosticism of the Bible, or a pragmatical exposition of the religious philosophy of the east, to promote the understanding of the Sacred Scriptures." This work, the two remaining volumes of which are earnestly desired, throws much light on the origin of the ancient philosophical and religious doctrines of the East, especially in Judaea, Persia and India.

13. Finally; we must mention two works which illustrate biblical antiquities, "The history of the Hebrew nation," by Mr. G. L. Bauer; and the Anthropology of the bible," by the learned Catholick theologian Mr. Oberthur of Wurtzburg. (2d vol. 1808, 3d 1809, at Munster.)

TO THE PUBLICK.

THE Massachusetts Historical Society, by the publication of the tenth volume of their collections, have completed a series of documents, not less interesting to the curious, than important to the historian. By multiplying and diffusing, and thereby preserving these valuable materials, they have accomplished, thus far, one of the principal purposes of their association. And although they cannot boast of having excited any general interest in the local and statistical history of our country, yet their volumes abound with proofs that, under the auspices of their institution, individual attempts have been fostered, and stimulated to many honourable and useful exertions, in these branches of historical science. The origin and progress of various towns and sections of our country have been ascertained and illustrated. The character and conduct of the first settlers, and their immediate descendants, have been made the subjects of minute and learned investigation. Much light has been thrown on the language and usages of the savage aboriginals, and on the policy and the prowess, by which they were either conciliated, or subdued. Considerable advances also have been made in exploring the civil and ecclesiastical institutions of our ancestors. The whole series

has been furnished with a chronological table, and with most complete general indexes, compiled with minute accuracy and singular exactness, which facilitate casual inquiry and particular research.

In reviewing their works, and recalling to recollection the circumstances, under which they have been prosecuted, the Society have reason to rejoice in the degree of their success, rather than to lament, that they have not been enabled to realize all their anticipations. It cannot be expected, in a country, comparatively new, where opportunities for literary leisure are few, and men's thoughts, necessarily occupied, chiefly, by the concerns of active live, that any very general, or lively, interest can be excited, concerning the events of early and distant periods of national history. Accordingly the labours of the Historical Society have received but little attention, or encouragement, beyond the circle of the immediate friends of the institution. The expense of publication has been defrayed, almost wholly, by the contribution of individual members; many of whom, from the nature of the institution, have been necessarily selected from a profession, much more distinguished for learning, piety, and zeal, in every good work, than for pecuniary rewards, or possessions.

Under the embarrassments and discouragements, with which they have, for eighteen years, been obliged to struggle, the Society have persevered, supported by a consciousness of the importance of their objects, and a certainty that the time would not be distant, when their value would be justly appreciated by their countrymen. That time, they flatter themselves, is already commencing. They find that their works have become objects of research, and demand, in various parts of the union; that a deficiency of the early volumes makes complete sets almost impossible to be procured. Their original value is, of consequence, greatly augmented, and even at an increased price they are rarely to be obtained.

These circumstances have suggested to the Society, the expediency of making the following statement and proposals to the publick, and thereby offering an opportunity, which will, probably, never occur again, to such private gentlemen, publick and town library-societies and literary institutions, as wish to possess a complete copy of their publications, to obtain it, at the present publishing price of the single volumes.

The Society have on hand, a sufficient number of the last volumes of their works to enable them, by the republication of some of the earliest, to furnish one hundred entire sets. It is, therefore, their intention to republish the deficient volumes, if subscribers enough shall appear for that number of sets. For this purpose they propose the following conditions:

1. Each subscriber shall receive one complete set, consisting of ten volumes, in boards, payable as the several volumes shall be delivered, at one dollar and fifty cents the volume, or fifteen dollars the set.

2. Any subscriber, who has detached volumes may have his set completed by subscribing for the particular numbers wanting, at the same price.

From the London Monthly Magazine.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE.

REPORT on the Progress of the Sciences from the Epoch of the French Revolution (1789) to the Year 1808, made by a Commission of the Institute of France, by order of the Emperour Napoleon.

His Majesty being in his Council of State,* a deputation from the class of History and Ancient Literature of the Institute, composed of Messrs. Levesque, President; Boissy-d'Anglas, Vice-President; Dacier, Perpetual Secretary; Sylvestre de Sacy, Visconti, Pastoret, Gosselin, Degerando, Brial, SainteCroix, Dutheil, Ameilhon, being presented by the Minister of the Home Department, and admitted to the bar of the Council, the President spoke as follows:

SIRE,

All the sciences with which the class of history and ancient literature of the Institute is occupied, and of which it has the honour of presenting to your Imperial Majesty the actual state, have one common centre: all concur in preparing their materials and their modes of proceeding; all have made a gradual progress, and criticism which throws a light upon them all, is in some measure, a science of our time.

Modern history, which originated in France nearly at the same time with the monarchy, cultivated in France during ages in which it was silent in every other country, either bore

Sitting of Saturday, the 20th of February, 1809.

away the palm, or gloriously contended for it, in the ages of learning. Reduced to a temporary silence, while publick confusion stifled its voice, it appeared at one time likely to be buried under the ruins of all social institutions. It is to your Majesty that it owes its regeneration.

M. Dacier then read the following report.

It is not with literature, sire, as with the accurate and the natural sciences, the real state of which may at every instant be known, and their progress calculated; the state of literature can only be estimated by the works it produces. If they be good, literature supports itself; if but middling or bad, literature either declines or retrogrades: if they excel, it advances. Thus the report which the class presents to your Majesty, is and can be only the result of the examination which it has made of the works published in Europe since the year 1789, with a statement of the most effectual means of maintaining or encouraging each of the branches composing what is denominated ancient literature; a literature which is the primitive and everlasting model of taste, if the grand and beautiful in letters, as the monuments of ancient sculpture and architecture will ever be models in all the arts of design.

This labour, which would have required a longer space of time to be prepared and executed in a manner worthy of the subject, and, if it were possible, of the hero who has ordered it, includes, under the general titles of philology, antiquities, history, oriental languages and literature, ancient geography, almost the whole circle of letters, with an indication of the efforts made within the last twenty years by French and foreign literati, to make some additions to the immense and magnificent edifice of human knowledge. The class has thought fit to join to their report, a view relative to legislation and philosophy, in order to discharge a portion of the debt of the class of moral and political sciences, to which it has in part succeeded.

Your majesty will see, that notwithstanding the political troubles which have agitated France, it has not hitherto remained behind-hand in any branch of literature; but it is with pain that we are obliged to state to you that several of its parts are threatened with a speedy and nearly total annihilation. Philology, which is the basis of all sound literature, and that on which rests the certainty of history, and the knowledge of what is past, which has shed so much lustre on the academy