the way, after our own magnificent polar enterprises), has given to the world some excellent translations of northern Sagas, with a learned dissertation on the literature of Sweden and Norway.

We find a kind of Peerage advertised under the title of "Memorial Historique de la Noblesse," by M. A. J. Duvergier. It is to come out in livraisons of eighty pages each, and is to contain a great number of family and personal anecdotes.

M. Ambert, a cavalry officer of some repute, has been entrusted, by Marshal Soult, with the writing of a history of the camp at Boulogne, assembled by Napoleon, for the projected invasion of England, of the column built there to commemorate nobody knows what, and of the campaign of Austerlitz. If M. Ambert gets out of the scrape successfully, with such an omnium-gatherum commission, we shall think him a lucky fellow.

A most amusing instance of French carelessness and inaccuracy appears in the following extract of a recent notice of Dr. Buckland's Bridgewater Treatise, which appeared in "La France," a legitimist journal. "Traduction de l'ouvrage Anglais de Buckland," is the heading of the article, with a note appended to the last name, as follows: "Dans ce nom l'u doit être prononcé comme notre e muet." The notice then goes on as follows: "Buckland, chanoine de l'eglise du Christ, professeur de géologie et de minéralogie à l'université d'Oxford, comté de Bridgewater, était de la religion anglicane, qui reconnait aujourdhui pour chef suprême une jeune fille, la reine Victoria. Voilà pourquoi il nomme sa théologie la théologie naturelle, sans doute par opposition à notre croyance, à laquelle il aurait refusé ce titre. Buckland est mort en 1829," &c. &c.!!

A new edition of the Periplus of Heraclaus, the Epitome of Artemidorus, and some other works of what are commonly called the minor geographers, from a MS. of the Bibliothèque du Roy, has just appeared, from the pen of M. E. Miller. It is highly spoken of for the correctness of the text.

We are at length going to have a good French and English and English and French Dictionary, by Professor Spiers, of the Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées. This gentleman, who is well known in the Parisian literary world for his essays and elementary works on the English language, brings all the advantages of an accomplished northern linguist to bear on the difficult task. The first volume is nearly ready, and will prove to be a philological repertorium that will throw all the old Boyers, Chambauds, Wilsons, &c., into the shade. It is a really scientific and critical book.

GERMANY.

The labours of the society for the publication of the sources of the German history of the middle ages at Hanover, are proceeding rapidly under the direction of M. Pertz. The fifth volume of the "Monumenta Germaniæ historica," the third of the "Scriptores," will speedily appear. It contains the first half of the writers of the Saxon period. In order to encourage a taste for national history, and to extend the acquaintance with its sources over as wide a circle as possible, separate editions of the most important and best writers are to be published for general use. The seventh volume of the Archives of the Society, which will speedily be published, contains a report of all that has been done for the work during the last ten years, and a series of papers which are of not less importance for the study of German historical literature.

In the department of older German literature not much has lately been produced, but several interesting works are promised. Massman has ready a Gothic Dictionary; Graff's" althochdeutscher Sprachschatz" has advanced to the fourth volume; Schmeller's Old Saxon Glossary to the Heljand is nearly finished at press; and for the modern Lower Saxon Kosegarten is preparing a work that is to embrace what Richey, the Bremen Lower Saxon Dictionary, Strodtmann, Schütze, Dähnert, &c. have individually collected. The "An

zeiger für Kunde der deutschen Vorzeit," founded by Aufsess, and lately edited by Mone, is to drop, and owes its continuance, for the present year, to the munificence of the Prince of Fürstenberg alone. Efforts are making to introduce the older poems to a larger circle of readers by means of modernised versions. Of Simrock's recent translation of the "Nibelungenlied," into modern High-German, a second edition has been already required. Another version of the same poem, by Oswald Marbach, is to appear as a monument of the fourth secular anniversary of the art of printing, splendidly got up with wood-cuts, from original designs by Edward Bendemann and Julius Hübner. Thus also two renovations of the "Gudrun" are coming out together. The more modern standard writers are making their appearance in the same form as the twelve-volume octavo edition of Schiller's works; Klopstock, Thümmel, Gellert, Seume, Schubart, Rotteck, have been published in this manner, and corresponding in form and external appearance, German translations of foreign authors of various rank, Cervantes, Shakspeare, Byron, Moore, Lesage, and Lamartine.

The extraordinary interest manifested in Germany for every thing connected with the literary pursuits and person of Schiller, has induced his family to give to the public a supplement to the legitimate edition of the works of this great national poet published by Cotta. This supplement will consist of three divisions: the first will contain poems and essays which, taken individually, may be of inferior value, but which, nevertheless, serve to elucidate circumstances and events in the life, and to mark the steps in the development of the genius, of that extraordinary man. The second will be occupied by a selection from his letters, many of which have not before been published; and the third will contain opinions and criticisms of eminent contemporaries.

Ferdinand Wolf, of Vienna, has in the press a curious and interesting work on the Lays of the Middle Ages, in which we expect that he will solve many obscure questions relating to the history of poetry and romance. Wolf is so well known by his able writings on similar subjects, that we have no doubt our expectations will be realised. His volume will also contain various inedited documents of much importance.

Leo, of Leipzig, has announced a new annual for 1840, by the title of "Rosen und Vergissmeinnicht," to consist of about thirty sheets, with six or seven steel engravings.

The tenth and last volume of Kant's complete works, edited by Professor Hartenstein, is nearly ready for publication.

An Historical Society has been formed at Hamburg, under the presidency of Dr. Lappenberg.

The Historical Society of Upper Bavaria has published the first number of Upper Bavarian Archives for national History.

ITALY.

A recent decree of the duchess of Parma directs that sixty-six water colour drawings shall be made of all the fresco paintings of Coreggio, in Parma, and likewise of those of Parmigianino, in the two chapels of the church of San Giovanni Evangelista, on paper of three sizes, in proportion to the dimensions of the paintings. This enterprize, calculated to occupy three years, is committed to the celebrated draughtsman, Chevalier Toschi, under whose superintendence these drawings are to be engraved on copper, in the course of eight years, from 1840. It is well known, that Parma alone possesses fresco paintings of Coreggio's, which have never been preserved with sufficient care from the injurious effects of external influences.

A work of high interest for classic Italian literature is preparing by Count Mariana Alberti. It is a collection or hitherto unpublished letters, poems, and other papers of Torquato Tasso, letters of duke Alphonso of Ferrara, of his sister Eleonora, of the duke and duchess of Mantua, of J. B. Guarini, and other eminent persons.

Several eminent German writers are, at present, busily engaged at Rome. Gervinus is proceeding, in profound retirement, with his History of German Literature. Dr. Schulz, of Dresden, is arranging his materials for a History of the Arts in Southern Italy. Dr. Papencort, of Berlin, is employed upon a History of Rome in the Middle Ages. Professor Palacky is making collections for his pragmatic History of Bohemia. The Austrian archæologist, D. O. Melly, is assiduously engaged in collecting materials for a work on the Seals of the Middle Ages. Another Austrian, prince Lichnowsky, is availing himself of the rich stores of Rome for the prosecution of his History of the House of Habsburg.

HUNGARY.

The zeal of the Slavonian youth in Hungary for the diffusion of civilization among their race is very active. In several places Slavonian libraries are forming, but as the funds are not adequate to the continued purchase of books, the young patriots of Lewoc have resolved to publish a Bohemian Album of an instructive and entertaining nature, the produce of which is to be devoted to that purpose. This Album will appear next autumn, with the title of "Gitrenka," (the Morning Star,) and may hereafter be continued,

POLAND.

The Russian government has given notice that the young Poles will no longer be permitted to attend foreign universities, not even that of Berlin. It has further directed that all the children of mixed marriages, without distinction, shall henceforth be required to adopt the Greek confession.

GREECE.

The literary activity of regenerated Greece is surprising. One is the more astonished at the great number of printing-offices which have sprung up there of late, when one considers that the population does not exceed 800,000 souls: it is true that we ought also to take into account the Greek population of Turkey, which used at least to be regarded as more polished than the population of the present kingdom of Greece.

Of the existing newspapers, the " Athene," published at Athens, and edited by Antoniades, has the greatest circulation; it has maintained itself longest, for it was formerly published by him at Nauplia. This paper is the principal organ of the opposition party, now called the constitutional or English party, but its sale is said not to exceed seven hundred copies. The "on," edited by Philemon, author of the History of the Hetaria, circulates about five hundred copies, and represents the Russiau, Capodistrian, or conservative party, but which is not, on that account, exactly favourable to the government. The "Tachydrom" is likewise published at Athens in Greek and French. This paper, edited by Ballys, is the organ of the government, and especially of the minister of the interior, Glarakis, who has the reputation of being a very honest man, but, nevertheless, has not been able to gain the public favour for this journal. The "Sokrates," constitutional, like the " Athene," is conducted by Sophianopolos, and has about six hundred subscribers. The Sotyr," which is said to turn, like a weathercock, with every wind, was suspended for some time, but is about to appear again.

Besides these Athenian political journals, first one, and then another political paper appears, and is dropped again at Syra. A periodical, with plates, like the "Revue Universelle Pittoresque," is likewise published at Athens; and is likely to contribute not a little to the diffusion of useful knowledge, though it is only a translation from the French. A medical gazette, the " Asklepios," is published by a society of physicians; and a collection of the decisions of the Areopagus, or supreme court of justice, is about to be established. A collection of the Ordinances of the Government has been published ever since the time of the Regency.

There are at present four bookselling houses in Athens; three of them esta

blished by German firms at Vienna, Münich, and Stuttgart, the fourth of Athenian origin. The first is a publishing house as well. The principal works which it has produced are: The Old Greek, and the New Greek Lexicon, by Gozi, in three 8vo. volumes; Balbi's Geography in Greek; a translation of Goldsmith's History of Greece, and extracts from all the Greek Classics, in ten volumes. This establishment possesses also a type-foundry, the only oue in Greece; most of the above-mentioned works were printed in its own office at Athens, and are distinguished for their beauty, though the paper is only German. The royal printing-office has its types chiefly from Paris. There are, besides, four other printing-offices. That of Rallys is engaged upon a translation of Mackeldey's Roman law, edited by Rallys, president of the court of appeal. There is also a printing-office at Syra, and another at Nauplia; and, in the former place, there are three booksellers; in the latter, two, but not doing much business. A paper-mill is much wanted, as most of the paper comes from France. Didot of Paris was lately in Greece, with a view to the establishment of a paper-mill; but it is not known whether the scheme is likely to be carried into execution or not.

The lithographic establishment belongs to the king. It produces excellent works, among which, a beautiful map of Greece, by Altenhofen, deserves particular mention.

RUSSIA.

The academicians, the brothers Tschernezow, have been making a picturesque Tour of the Wolga. The emperor, who has inspected their drawings, has expressed a wish that they should be published together with the descriptious. The work will contain upwards of one hundred views, plans, drawings of antiquities, &c.

Count Stroganoff and the imperial chamberlain Altrykoff, guardians of the children of the late Alexander Puschkin, have published, for the benefit of their wards, an edition of the works of that poet, in eight Svo. volumes, with his portrait from a painting by Utkins. The whole impression, of 10,000 copies, was sold in six weeks; and another is preparing, to which will be added some hitherto unknown poems, and a biography of the author.

By an imperial ukase of February last, the lectures at the university of Kiew are suspended for a year.

Paul Petrovitch Svinin, author of several topographical and historical works, and, among others, of one containing descriptions of some of the most remarkable buildings at St. Petersburg, and the works of art contained in them, died in that capital, March 29th (April 18th) of the present year, aged 52.

Under the title of "Sto Ruskikh Literatoror," or a Century of Russian Literature, has appeared the first volume of a work intended to consist of a collection of pieces, in both prose and verse, from the pens of the most popular writers of the present day. This circumstance of itself, by the by, affords tolerable evidence that there is now, at all events, a writing public in Russia; though it is not a very great while since not more than a mere handful of literary names; viz., as many as could be reckoned on the five fingers, were all that had reached this country, including even those of Lomonosov and Sumarokov. Although extending to upwards of 800 pages, this first volume contains the contributions of only ten writers; it may be presumed, therefore, that every decade will form a volume, embellished, like the first, with twenty plates, namely, a portrait of each author, and an illustration of each subject. In fact, when completed, the whole will form a Literary Almanac upon a large scale, both as to its own extent and that of the articles themselves. The writers who have contributed to the present, are: Senkovsky, alias Baron Brambeus, of caustic satirical notoriety; Davidov; Marlinsky; R. M. Zotov; Alexandrov; Kukolnik (who gives us another of his biographicopoetical dramas, of which Leisewitz, the author of Julius von Tarent, is the hero); Svinin (whose death is noticed above); Polevoi; and Prince Shakovsky.

When this work shall be more advanced, we shall probably take an opportunity of treating of it at greater length. At present, we only add that it is a speculation of the enterprising publisher Smirdin (the Murray or Colburn of St. Petersburg), who, a few years ago, brought out a somewhat similar collection, in two volumes, under the title of Novoselie, or the House-warming; he having just then opened a new establishment, or rather new and more extensive premises.

A complete edition of the works of the late Marlinsky, comprising, besides his tales, and a variety of articles by him scattered throughout different periodicals, several inedited poems and other productions, is now in the course of publication. Ten of the volumes have already appeared, and two more are to come. We may observe that Marlinsky, then known by the name of Bestuzhev, was the first who brought out a literary Annual in Russia, namely, the "Poliornaya Zvæsda," or Polar Star.

UNITED STATES.

In autumn next, a work of considerable importance, "The Madison Papers," will be published under the auspices of Congress, which gave 30,000 dollars for the manuscript. Of the proceedings of Congress between 1782 and 1787 there have hitherto existed only fragments, which it is intended to fill up, and complete by means of the copious collection of letters written by Madison to different friends on important subjects. Another portion of the manuscript, which promises to be of not less interest, contains a full report of the entire debates of the convention which adopted the constitution. With a presentiment of the importance which these debates would have for futurity, Madison undertook the task of committing to paper every thing that was worthy of notice as soon as it was spoken.

On the Erie Canal, in the state of New York, there is a floating bookseller's shop, which keeps moving about to and fro upon it.

According to the report of the chief inspector of the Common Schools in the state of New York, published in March last, there were, on the 1st of July, 1838, iu that state, 9830 schools, with 529,113 pupils, the total number of children between five and sixteen years old exceeding that amount by only 10,634. Hence it is evident that, attentive as the Americans are to material interests, still they do not neglect the important subject of public instruction. Schools have already been established here and there for the formation of teachers; popular education is now become a concern of the State, and, carried into effect on a uniform plan, the common school system is considered as the firmest prop of democracy. At present attention is principally directed to the application of the Smithson bequest of half a million of dollars. The most distinguished persons have been solicited by the government to furnish plans for an institution to be founded with this sum; and several have already been submitted. Many wish for a national university, after the best European models. A German has proposed the establishment of a national agricultural institution at Washington, which, on the ground that cultivation of the soil is the chief interest and principal resource of the American people, he would have carried into effect on a grand scale. What he wants is a tract of land extensive enough to make all sorts of experiments, and to try all systems. His plan seems to be borrowed from that of Fellenberg, but it is on a much larger scale. It is uot unlikely that the scheme of a university may be preferred, as the Congress resolved upon such a foundation so long since as December,

1836.