FOREIGN LITERATURE Of the Year 1801. IN N our list of Foreign Publications of the year, the northern nations are distinguished by very few productions. The names of only two works have reached us, which can be classed under the head of Russian Literature Mr. Storch, who is noticed in our department of Domestic Literature, as the author of the "Picture of Petersburg," has published "An historical and statistical View of the Empire of Russia, at the End of the eighteenth Century," in 4 volumes, octavo; a work of considerable importance. In the first two volumes he points out the civil state of the Russian people, and in the third he traces the progress of Russian industry. The fourth volume contains a particular account of the commerce of Russia, divided into three periods; 1. from the foundation of the empire to the establishment of the first board of commerce; 2. from that time to the re-establishment of the route of commerce across the Black Sea in 1553, by English navigators; 3. to the acquisition of the shores of the Baltic in 1703. The whole subject not being included in the present plan, a continuation is promised. The other Russian publication is of the same nature: "An historical and topographical Description of Caucasus, by J. Reinigg, collected from his Manuscripts, by E. Schræder," in 2 volumes, with plates and charts. This author visited the Caucasean nations five times, and by assuming the appearance of a Mahometan, and practising physic among them, obtained much curious information respecting the topography of Caucasus, and the government, manners, languages, and religion of the inhabitants, whose population is estimated at 600,000 nien capable of bearing arms. But while the author was employed in preparing his materials for the press, his death interrupted the work, which seems to have found an able editor in M. Schræder. Among the few Swedish publi cations is " New Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences at Stockholm,” volume 20th, of the year 1799 — This volume is divided, as usual, into four parts; the first containing seven papers; the second, eight; the third, four; and the fourth five. The principal subjects discussed are, the determination of currents at sea: method of determining, from the appearance of the lungs, whether a child has breathed: description of a pellicule attached to the eye from the birth, by J. G. Pipping: two cases of rheumatic affections: some new species of insects: J. E. Norberg's remarks on the effects which manual labour can produce, applied to machines moved with handles: experiments on living queen bees, by G. Adlermark: Thunberg's Thunberg's description of a new is made to assign to reason, taste, species of nutmeg: account of the lampris, a species of fish unknown to Linnæus and Bloch, by J. A. Retzius: longitudes and latitudes of different places of Sweden, determined by N. G. Sculten: a method of finding curves, by means of analytic expressions of their tangents: description of some improvements applicable to vessels employed in distilling water, by J. E. Norberg: relation of a journey, undertaken at the expense of the academy at Pello, to examine whether the measure of a degree of the meridian, taken in 1739 by Maupertuis and other French philosophers, was exact, by J. Svanberg: extracts of astronomical and meteorological observations, articles of medicine, and some of natural history." Stockholm," in 2 volumes: this account of the capital of Sweden is written by M. Elers, and does credit to his abilities and industry in collecting the most full and interesting account that has yet been published. He has likewise been able to trace its ancient history with considerable precision a third volume is promised, which is to contain the remaining topography of Stockholm, the history of the government of the city, its commerce, &c. The only other article of Swedish production we have to notice, is "An Essay on the Art of Poetry, in four Cantos: followed by Remarks on the Swedish Versification, by the Count de Gyllenborg" the patri arch of Swedish versification, and a poet of high estimation in his own country, from which the present publication will certainly not de tract: the first canto treats of the general rules of poetry; the second and third of the different kinds, and their progress in different countries; and in the fourth an attempt 1801. and genius, their different offices. From Denmark we have "The Friend of the State, or Inquiries into individual and public Felicity, by Boye," in 2 volumes: the production of a Christian philosopher, whose system is the doctrine of an immortal soul, and that of a Providence, or a moral power which governs the universe. He has a profound reverence for revelation, and a respect for virtue, and is among the warmest and most successful opponents of the philosophy of M. Kant." An Essay in Prose, containing Camilla and Constance, a Romance, founded on the Events of the French Revolution, by K. L. Rahbek" is a very ingenious novel, calculated to show the miseries of political prejudices, and the horrors that arise from the blindness of party rage.-A Danish journal has lately appeared, entitled "Observations of Danish Travellers," a number of which is published every three months. Of this we have seen an account of only three numbers: the plan is new,and promises Information and entertainment, as may appear from the following sketch of the prin cipal contents of these numbers-Observations on Germany and Holland, by Dr. Engelstoft a description of Pyrmont, by Dr. Frankenau: report of the committee of weights and measures, by M. Bagge: an account of the seminary of M. Salzman at Schepfenthal: and the departure of the Russians from Gottingen, one of the frantic actions of the emperor Paul." The poetical Works of Tode" have lately been published at Copenhagen, a poet of considerable talents, but perhaps better known as a medical writer." Observations on the Vegetable Kingdom, collected in a Journey through X the the Empire of Morocco, iu the Years 1791, 1792, and 1793, by K. A. Schonsboc." This is the first volume of a work which, when finished, will form a botanical history of Morocco, which has not yet been examined with a view to that science; and among the indigenous plants are some which have not been before described. They are characterised according to the Linnaan system; but the present volume extends only to the octandria, except a few plants added in a supplement.-At Copenhagen, the sixth volume of "Memoirs of the Academy of Belles Lettres, History and Antiquities," has made its appearance, and contains some articles of considerable interest, particularly a few relating to antiquities. "The Scandinavian Museum, No. I. Vol. III." is the revival of a work which was some time ago dropped for want of success. The present attempt, however, promises spirit and activity, and it may again in terest the literati of Europe. In the number published, are an ode to reason, and two lyrical romances by Baggasen: a philosophi cal discourse on the utility of the study of the rights of nature, by Professor Schlegel, and geognostic letters on the mountains of Konigsberg, by Esmark, with some other pieces of inferior note.-Much of the political history of the northern powers is ably elucidated in a publication which deserves to appear in our own language, entitled "Memoirs of the Life of the Danish Minister Count de Bernstorff, by C. H. D. d'Eggers," in 2 volumes. The Batavian republic affords us only Pliny's Epistles, with Notes, by G. E. Gierig, Vol. I." A work of very considerable merit, and superior to the edition of Gesner; and twopublications belonging to the department of medicine, an" Introduc tion to the Materia Medica," and "A. natomical Tables, by G.Sandifort." The German publications are as usual more copious than those of any other nation, if we except France; but literary commerce is not yet so general as to enable us to be com> plete in our lists; and the difficulty of procuring tolerable accounts of German literature are so well known to the literary world, that we hope we shall be excused, if no very gross omissions are detected. Under the head of Biblical Criticism and Theology, we have "A Collection of Dissertations on certain Parts of the New Testament, by H. E. G. Paulus," formerly pub lished separately; of which the most interesting are the first two on the history of Cerinthus, whose appearance is supposed, however, to be here antedated.-Rosenmuller has given a new edition of "Bocharti Hierozoicon," and from the pen of C. F. Richter we have an interesting inquiry into" The Time of the Book of Job," which, he is of opinion, was written about the period of the Babylonian captivity, and was new when quoted by Eze kiel. The approaches German theology has lately been making towards transcendental scholasticism may be seen in the following works: "Mnioch's Illustrative Variations on the Tendency of Fichte's Destination of Man;" "Schad's generally comprehensive View of the Theory of Religion, founded on the System of Fichte;" and "The Absolute Harmony of Fichte's System with Religion." The learned Sintenis, of Anhalt Zerbst, has published a new work, entitled "Pisteuon, or the Existence of God," in which he pursues his inquiries into the pris tine purity and simplicity of the Christian religion, with freedom. Ribbek has sent forth a fifth volume of "Sermons adapted to the Spirit and Wants of the present Age," which are esteemed equal to the former ones. The learned professor Hensler, of Kiel, has published a new "Translation of the Epistle of St. James," divided into sections, according to the different subjects of which the apostle treats, and illustrated with annotations of great importance to the biblical student. Under the head of Philosophy we may class "The Commentary of Simplicius on the Enchiridion of Epictetus; with the Christian Paraphrase of the Enchiridion, and the Enchiridion of Nilus, all faithfully compared with the ancient Codices and different Lections, and illustrated with Notes; by J. Schweighæuser," the learned editor of Polybius and Epictetus, who now completes his view of the stoical philosophy. The Christian Paraphrase was written for the use of the monks, and is little known. Nilus was a monk of the fifth century, who wrote many ascetic treatises for the use of students, which were published by Saurez in 1673.-Perhaps, likewise, as our subdivisions are this year so scanty, we may here notice a work in three volumes, "On the Spirit and Character of the Eighteenth Century, by D. Jenisch," in which the author enters on these important queries What degree of general happiness, of humanity, of morality, of perfection in science and arts, has mankind attained during the past century? What are the remarkable differences, observed in the nations of Europe, relative to the four, distinguishing faculties of man, namely, the faculty of distinguish ing truth, of practising good, of feeling and expressing the beautiful, " and of enjoying physical and moral. happiness? And, lastly, What are the events, and who are the chief persons by whom politics, letters, arts, and manners, have been promoted in the eighteenth century? The result of the author's contemplations on these subjects is in favour of the progressive improvement of the age. The celebrated Herder, whose "History of Man we had so lately occasion to notice, has published a work called "Calligone; or, On the agreeable and beautiful," in three volumes, which abounds with philosophical knowledge and just and striking criticism, but would have been far more useful for general study, if it did not pre-suppose an acquaintance with the Kantian doctrines, which are so far beyond comprehension, and which so ill repay the labour of reading them. Belonging to Travels, History, or Biography, very few articles of importance have come from the German press; of the following, it will suffice to give the titles only: "The Jovial and Political Travels of Adelstan in Italy, during the Campaigns of Bonaparte," in two volumes; "Ambrose Simegrants's History of Hungary and Transylvania, from the Year 1490 to 1606, in four Books, with Notes, by J. Elder;" but "The Life of David Ruhrkenius, by his successor Daniel Whyttenbach," is a very interesting piece of biography, and excellently written; and much useful information, may be obtained in "Memoirs subservient to the History of those States of Asia and Africa which are least known, by G. de Brietenbauch," in two volumes. The first volume contains the history of the Druses, a people of Asia, with some observations relative to the history of Persia, Ava, Pegu, X 2 Malacca, Malacca, Ceylon, &c. The second volume contains historical information on the Malacca Islands, Ternate, Macassan, and different parts of Africa, drawn from rare authentic publications and manuscript notes. Under the head of Natural History, Botany, &c. several valuable publications have appeared, of which our limits permit us to give but a brief account. Schneider, the author of the History of Tortoises, and of an Essay on the Physiology of Amphibia, has published the "Natural and Literary History of Amphibious Animals."-Valuable extracts from different works, and some original memoirs, are given in "Archives of Botany, by J. J. Ramer: vol. I."" Gesner's Phytographic Tables, exhibiting an Analysis of the Genera of Plants; published with Notes, by C. S. Schintz," is an attempt to unite every advantage and every perfection of which a work of this kind is susceptible; and the descriptions are very correct, and the plates elegant and accurate. The Species of Astragali described, and illustrated with coloured plates, by P. S. Pallas." Of this splendid work four fasciculi have appeared." German Ornithology, or A Natural History of all the German Birds, drawn from Nature, snd described by Barkhausen, Lichthammer, and Bekker, No. I.," is another very elegant work. It contains the description of six birds, each accompanied by the principal synonyms, the character of its species and varieties, the peculiarity of its note, its habitation, nourishment, and propagation, the method of taking it, and its utility, or the mischief which it occasions. In imitation of the Archives of Botany, above mentioned, we have Archives of Zoology and Zoötomy, by C. R. W. Weidemann, vol. I. part I." a periodical publication intended to circulate the discoveries made in Germany and other countries, and to give copious extracts from works of merit, which, from their price, are beyond the reach of many naturalists. The plan is good, and appears to be executed with care.Other publications of this description are," A Slight View of the Cultivation of Economical Plants, by J. G. Reyer."-" An Essay towards a complete History of the principal Species of Wood, in a systematic Order, by M. de Burgsdorff," in two volumes; "The Physiography of Forests, or the Natural History of Animals, Plants, and Minerals, which are the Objects of the Forester and the Hunter, by F. L. Walther;" "Elements of the Natural History of Animals, theoretical and practical, by G. A. Suckow," in two volumes. We shall now notice a few articles under the head of Miscel· lanies, none of which are numerous enough to form a separate department. Among these is an excellent edition of "The Architecture of M. Vitruvius Pollio, in ten books, compared with the Codex of Guelferbitanus, and others of less note: together with a Glossary, in which the technical Terms of the Art are interpreted in German, Italian, French, and English, by A. Rhode;" in two volumes, quarto. The authority of this edition rests chiefly on an ancient manuscript found in the library of Wolfenbuttle. The editor has also consulted the editions of Sulpitius and Jucundus in 1511, as well as the Italian translation of Galliani, of 1758. We regret that the timi dity of his publisher prevented M. Rhode from adding plates to a work which must be in a great measure imperfect |