THE [ 445 ] VARIETIES, LITERARY and PHILOSOPHICAL; Including Notices of Works in Hand, Domeftic and Foreign. HE complete tranflation of the Voyage of LA PEROUSE round the World, will be published, in the courfe of a few days, by Mr. JOHNSON, of St. Paul's Church Yard. A hort delay is occafioned, by the time that has been requifite to prepare the numerous plates. The courfe of LA PEROUSE, in this interefting voyage, was by the route of Cape Horn to La Conception in Chili, from thence to Eafter IHand, the Sandwich Islands, and the North West coast of America. He then failed across the great ocean, in the parallel of the tropic of Cancer, to Macao, thence to the Philippines, Formofa, and through the Chinese and Japanese feas to Corea, Chinese Tartary, the Islands of Tchoka and Jeffo, the Kuriles and Kamfchatka. From Kamichatka he fteered in a fouth east direction to the Illes des Navigateurs and the Friendly Iflands, and from thence to Port Jackfon in New Holland. In the fpring of 1788, the two fhips failed from Port Jackfon, and have not fince been heard of. Fortunately, LA PEROUSE had taken every opportunity to difpatch copies of his journals, accompanied by drawings, memoirs, &c. &c; in confequence, geography and the fciences are enriched by his difcoveries, made in the extenfive route above defcribed. The two fhips, when they failed from France in 1785, were literally freighted with fcientific men of the very firft eminence; the work is therefore rich, beyond any which has preceded it, in new difcoveries, connected with geography, aftronomy, navigation, natural history, manners, customs, &c. &c. The knowledge of every place touched at or paffed, in the courfe of the voyage, is either rendered more accurate, or perfected; the Chinefe and Japanese feas, and the north east coaft of Afia, were particularly explored, and that part of the voyage would, alone, entitle it to celebrity. The entire work in Mr. JOHNSON's edition, will form three large octavos, which will be embellished by the various illuftrative views, charts, &c. &c. engraved by the firft English artifts. WELSH ARCHEOLOGY. - For the gratification of thofe, who have a tafte for refearches into the more remote hiftory of Britain, we are enabled to announce, that a gentleman, a native of Wales, has generoutly refolved to publifh, at his own expence, all the ancient Welth manufcripts. With this view, the Rev. LL. LLOYD, of Caerwys, Flintshire; the Rev. W. DAvigs, of Meivod, Montgomeryshire; and Mr. D. THOMAS, of Amlwç, Anglefey, in North Wales; Mr. E. WILLIAMS, of Flimiton, Glamorganshire, in South Wales; and Mr. W. OWEN, of Pentonftreet, Pentonville, London, have been appointed to arrange, and print fuch of the aid manufcripts, as may be communicated to them, or as they may be able to collect, in addition to thole which they no poffefs, in a regular feries, from the earliest times; at least such of them, both in profe and veife, as may be deemed most curious for illuftrating the language, or moft ufeful for throwing light on the darker periods of our hiftory. It is propofed that the collection fhall be in an octavo form; and that one volume fhall be ready for publication at the commencement, and at the conclusion, of each feffion of parliament, till the work fhall be completed. For fuch a collection a popular fale cannot be expected; and, being defigned chiefly for public libraries, and for individual admirers of ancient fubjects, fuch a number of copies of it only will be printed, at firft, as may be fubfcribed for, during the prefent fummer. Names fhould be fent to any of the above-mentioned editors, before the firft volume is put to the prefs. Mrs. MARGARET LEE, authorefs of Clara Lennox, or the Diftreft Widow, is engaged in a Hiftory of the Ife of Man, to be comprised in two volumes. Mrs. LEE being a native of the file of Wight, fome new and interefting information may be expected in this work. Mr. JOLLIE, of Carlisle, the conductor of the Hiftory of Cumberland, is preparing to publish a weekly newspaper on an improved plan, under the title of the Carlife Journal. It is remarkable, that on the north-weft fide of the island there has hitherto been published but one provincipal paper (Mr. Ware's, at Whitehaven), between Manchefter and Glafgow. We are glad to obferve, that Mr. JOLLIE promites a conftant attention to local improvements and local tacts, of every kind: neglect of thefe, greatly di minishes 446 Proceedings of the National Inflitute. minishes the value and importance of the provincial papers. Mr. NICHOLS has almoft finifhed the third volume of his large History of Leicestershire. Mr. MUNGO PARK propofes to pubFish, by fu fcription, under the patronage of the African Affociation, Travels in the interior Parts of Africa, by way of the River Gambia, performed in the years 1795, 1796, and 1797, by the direction, and at the expence, of that affociation, to form one volume in 4to, and to be ready for delivery in the month of April next. A Hiftory of the Mauritius, or the Ifle of France, is announced, to be compofed principally from the papers and memoirs of Baron Grant, who refided twenty years in that ifland, by CHARLESGRANT, Vifcount de Vaux, fon of the above baron. It is to contain interefting details of its natural and civil hiftory, its maritime and military fituation and establishments, with obfervations on the islands of Bourbon, Madagascar, &c. The work will be comprifed in four vols. 8vo. illustrated with maps, &c. The last public fitting of the National Inflitute, in Paris, attracted an amazing concourfe of fpectators, and excited the most lively curiofity. BUONAPARTE, the hero of Italy, having been chofen an affociate of this learned body, and this being the day fixed on for taking his feat in the affumbly, the benches, appropriated for the spectators, were filled at an early hour with a very brilliant audience. At five o'clock, the members of the Inftitute entered the hall; BUONA PARTE was among the reft, habited in a grey frock, without any marks of diftinction to announce the hero, who had alternately fubverted, fupported, and created fates and republics, and whole protection had been coveted by four momarchs, and a whole tribe of fovereign princes. Neither his figure, his ep, nor his equipment, were characterised by any affectation of fingularity, and yet, the moment he made his appearance, the eyes of the whole affembly were eagerly directed towards his perion, and the hall refounded in every quarter with reiterated plaudits, which were repeated whenever the difcourfes prefented a fingle idea that might be applied to the valiant chief *. The Secretaries of each refpective clafs, gave notices of all the memoirs read in the Inftitute during the last quarter: after *Decade Philofopbique, &c. which, LANCLES interefted the company with the fragment of a tranflation of a journey from Perfia to India. FOURCROY commented on the various proceffes which have hitherto been difcovered for painting on porcelain, and gave an account of the feveral experiments made to procure colours, which will not change in the furnace. He noticed the fuccefs which had attended the experiments of DILLE in this line. CHENIER recited a poem, entitled, "Le Vieillard & Ancenis," (dedicated to the memory of General Hoche) which was received with unbounded applause, on account of its animated allutions to the war between the Republic and the Englifh nation, of which the poet predicted the fpeedy downfal, and the destruction of the empire which they have ufurped over the fea. The prefence of BUONAPARTE, to whom the accomplishment of this important event is to be entrusted, of courfe, added uncommon intereft to the piece, and at the following pafiage : La grande nation, à vaincre accoutumée, "Et le grand general, guidant la grande armée." the whole affe:nbly rofe from their feats, and fixing their eyes on the young conqueror of Italy, made the hall re-echo with thundering peals of acclamation. DOLOMIEU Communicated fome interefting geological obfervations made on the fummit of the mountains, in the departments of Cartal and Puy-de-Dome. MONGEZ imparted a project for enabling the fpectators to take a fhare in the dil courfes and mufical entertainments of the national feftivals. GARAT concluded the fittings, with an analyfis of the different memoirs tranfmited to the Institute, on the subject of the influence of figns in the formation of ideas. But as none of thefe effays appeared to deferve the prize, the fame fubject was announced for the enfuing year. GARAT preceded this Analyfis with a very ingenious differtation on metaphyfics, which he concluded with an elegant compliment to the new-elected member (BUONAPARTE), who, he obferved, in confideration of his tale for the tranquil fhades of peace, the extent and multifarioufhefs of his knowledge, and his talent for reflection and inquiry, would, on the confummation of his military duties, be regarded as a philofopher, who, at the call of his country, for a moment, quitted the groves of academies to shine at the head of armies. PROGRAMMA of the premium, pro French and German Literature, &c. pofed by the National Institute of Sciences and Arts, in their public fitting, Jan. 4, 1798. GENERAL CONDITIONS, to be obferved by the candidates in all cafes: "Persons of all countries, the members and affociates of the inftitute excepted, are at liberty to contend for the prize. The candidates not to affix their name to their manufcripts, but only a fentence or device: or, they may, if they prefer it, attach a feparate note, under feal, which, exclufive of the fentence or device, fhall contain the name and addrefs of the writer. This letter the inftitute engages not to open, except the manufcript to which it is affixed shall obtain the prize. "The feveral effays, intended for the inftitute, may be fent under cover to the minifter of the interior, or addreffed, poft-free, to one of the fecretaries at Paris, of the clafs which has propofed the prize. In this latter cafe, the fecretary will give a receipt, and minute down the fentence affixed to the works, with its number, in the exact order in which the feveral works come to hand. "The commiffion of the funds of the inftitute will deliver the golden medal to the bearer of the receipt; but, in cafes where the author has not obtained a receipt, the medal will not be delivered, except into his own hands, or to his trustee, producing a fatisfactory certificate of his being duly authorized to receive the fame." CLASS of LITERATURE and FINE ARTS. This clafs not having received any effay, which appears deferving of the grammatical prize, prorogues the diftribution to the following year. The fubject to remain as before, viz. To examine the fucceffive changes which the French language has experienced fine Malherbe and Balzac, to the prefent period. The feveral candidates are requested to confider this fubject in its double relation, with respect to the mechanifm of the language, and the character which the most celebrated French writers have fucceffively impreffed upon it. The prize a gold medal, of the weight of five hectograms; to be prefented in the public fitting of the institute to be holden Jan. 4, 1799, being the feventh year of the republic. The memoirs to be written in French, and tranfmitted to the inftitute previous to the 22d of September at the fartheft. VAUQUELIN has made an analyfis of the emerald of Peru, in which he recognifes the new metallic fubftance difcovered by himself, in the red lead of Siberia. It is to this metal that the emnerald owes its green colour. VAUQUELIN defigns to repeat his analyfis, to deterMONTH. Mag. No. XXXII. 447 mine, with greater precision, the exact proportion of the feveral component parts. The art of Mofaic Painting being very little understood in France, the govern ment, on learning that an Italian, who poffeffed great skill and eminence in this line, refided at Paris, have employed him to finish feveral pieces of workmanship, and commiffioned him to inftruct a number of pupils; by which means, France her Italian conquefts. will owe the acquifition of a new art to The Citizen CASSEL, one of the directors of the national menagerie, who was deputed by the French government to Tunis, to collect animals for the above inftitution, has been prevented, by the plague, which defolated that city, from accomplishing the object of his milion fo completely as he could have wifhed. He has only been able to procure the following; viz. a beautiful lion and lionefs, eighteen months old, and extremely fierce, both three years old, another lioness, prefents from the Dey of Conftantine; two oftriches, a female lionceau (a fpecies of final lion), two white camels, and two antelopes, prefents from the Dey of Tunis; and three vultures, which he pur chated. A literal translation has been published by DUSAULT, at Paris, of the Anecdotes of the Founders of the French Republic; a work which was published in London lat winter. A German tranflation of the fame work, has appeared at Leipfic. A fecond volume of new characters is in the prefs in London. The Academy of Sciences, in Goettingen, has advertifed a premium of 50 ducats, for the beft effay on the following question ::-" Quaeritur in quibufnam infectorum et vermium ordinibus, refpiraticnis, feu fpiritum ullo modo ducendi functio et effectus ejus primarius, qui vulgo proceffus phlogiftici,. combufturae certo refpectu comparandi nemine venit, abfervationibus et experimentis demonftrari poffit.' A very valuable treatife on metallic irritability, involving a difcovery which promiles to prove highly beneficial to the interefts of humanity, has been lately published in German, by C. C. CREVE, Profeffor of Medicine at Mayence. M. CREVE maintains, from a number of experiments made on the corpfes of perfons juft deceased, as well as on animal bodies, that the fymptoms of putrefaction do not conftitute an infallible evidence of the ac tual death of the individual; and that the application of the principle of me3 M tallic 448 Ruffian, Danish, and German Literature. tallic irritability will, in all cafes, establish the fact of life or death beyond the poffibility of niftake. By this means, the danger of premature inhumation may be effectually obviated. The work is accompanied with appropriate and illuftrativ plates. for permiffion to pafs into Ruffia. His application having been written in German, has been fent back to him to be tranflated into the Ruffian language. We do not hear that any public burnings of bocks have taken place, but the followOf the ftate and probable progrefs of ing have been confiicated, and placed on fcientific information, in Ruffia, we leave the condemned lift: "The Livonians," our readers to judge, after informing (in German), by M. MERKEL. The them, that a late and formidable ukafe "Spectateur du Nord" (in French). has, with one blow, annihilated the li- "Voltaire's Correspondence avec l'Impeberty of the prefs, and taken the bufiness ratrice." "Le Salon de Diderot." The of printing from private perfons into the 4th number of M. ARCHENHOLZ'S hands of government. In the immenfe "Minerva, for 1797." NICOLAI's « All empire of Ruffia, no printing, in future, Gemeine Deutsche Bibliothek," (Univerwill be fuffered to be carried on, except fal German Library), which ftands at in fome of the chief cities, to which, of the head of all the German literary jourcourfe, all works intended for publica- nals. The first number of the "Univertion must be tranfmitted. Offices for li. fal Literary Gazette," (likewife a Gercenfing the printing of books, are esta- man publication). The firit volume of blished in only five towns, fo that authors the Annales Europeenes," by Prowill be under the neceflity of fending feffor PosSELT; and volumes 43 and 6c, their manufcripts the diftance of three or of "Krunitz's German Encyclopedia," four hundred miles to be examined. All &c. &c. &c. writings, which appear of a fufpicious character to the cominiflioners of the licencing board, are to be burnt upon the spot; and, if written in a foreign language, they must be translated into Rullian, previous to their being fent to the office. The board, at Riga, has already condemned feveral numbers of the "Gazette de Literature Universelle de Jena," and fimiliar honours have been paid to a variety of other works; among the rett, to Madame MEREAU's "Bluethenalter der Empfindung," (the Golden Age of Sentiment), which thefe judges have pronounced a moft dangerous and pernicious publication. Without ftopping to animadvert on the impolicy of a meafure, by which thousands of mechanics are now thrown out of employment, we cannot refrain from commenting on a fingular circumstance, which proves that fimilar effects frequently refult from very oppofite principles. Notwithstanding the amazing difference of political opinion which obtains at Petersburgh and at Paris, the "Spectateur du Nord," is alike prohibited by both governments; fo true is it, that extremes meet and touch each other. The following extract, from M. WIELAND'S Mercury, throws confiderable light upon this fubject. "It is not yet akcertained how far the licenfing board at Riga, will stretch their authority; but this much is certain, that M. HART KNOCK, the moft eminent bookfeller in Koeningberg, has no lefs than feven large packages of books, in fheets, from the laft Leipzig fair, waiting, on the frontiers, In Denmark, it fhould feem, that the liberty of the press is likewife much more limited and circumferibed than we have lately been led to believe. P. COLLET, affeffor of the tribunal of the court and city at Copenhagen, has been dimified from his employments for publishing an "Analysis of BIRCKNER'S Treatife on the Liberty of the Danish Prefs." Among other paragraphs, which have incuried the difpleature of the monarch, we find the author accused of atheifm, for maintaining, that it is poffible for morality to exift independent of religion. And his loyalty has been impeached, for afferting, that it is lawful to expofe the errors of a corrupt government. If the illumination of a people depends upon the number of writers and new publications which it produces, Germany certainly ought to claim the first rank among the nations of Europe. The latt Leipzig fair was frequented by no les than 314 bookfellers of eminence, who have added upwards of 6000 new works to the vast stock of German literature. Great part of this acquifition, as may easily be fuppofed, falls under the decription of trash and fcribbling; but the following articles are truly valuable and meritorious: GOESCHEN, who may justly be styled one of the best informed and most liberalmindel bookfellers in all Germany, has pubilled a magnificent edition of "Kiopfteck's Odes," in 2 volumes, large 8vo. edited by the celebrated Dr. AUGUSTBOETTIGER. GOESCHEN is the fame perfon, who tome time fince published a very fplendid edition of Wieland's Works; which, however, falls infinitely fhort of the prefent article, in point of grandeur, prnament, and beauty. This edition is enriched with 60 additional odes, which have never appeared in print before. Each volume is decorated with a beautiful engraving, executed by JOHN, of Vienna, and reprefenting the facred and poetical Mafe. There is likewife a fmaller and leis coftly edition. Voss has produced a very elegant and claffical tianflation of " Ovid's Metamorphofes," in German hexameters. This work was undertaken, by way of recreation, after a tedious and painful indiipofition. Voss is now employed upon a tran.. flation of "Virgil's Æneid." A work highly interefting to the lovers of aftronomy, geography, travels, voyages, &c. has made its appearance with the commencement of the prefent year, under the title of "The Univerfal Geographical Ephemeris," by M. VON ZACH, major and aftrononer in the fervice of the Prince of SAXE GOTHA. This work, which is published in monthly numbers, forms a complete regifter of all occurrences and tranfactions that relate to the above branches of fcience, giving a regular account of all geographical and aftronomical difcoveries, together with notices of new maps, and recent or intended journies and voyages of difcovery. The epiftolary correspondence is particularly valuable and inftructive, being enriched with the communications of the literati in every part of Europe. It is published at Weimar; and to every number is prefixed an engraving of fome eminent aftronomer, geographer, tourist, &c. Interesting particulars relating to Mr. Hornemann, the Gentleman lately deputed by the African Affociation, to explore the Interior of Africa. FREIDRIC HORNEMANN, is the only fon of a respectable deceased clergyman, whofe widow refides at Hildeheim. Being intended, by his parents, for the church, he ftudied divinity at Goettingen; but his genius, irrefiftibly impelling him to purfuits of a very different nature, he returned in the fummer of 1795 to Goettingen, and waiting upon Dr. BLUMENBACH, profeffor of natural hiftory in that Univerfity, informed that gentleman, that it had for years been the moit fanguine with of his heart, to explore the interior of Africa. He flattered himself, he added, that he poffeffed, in an eminent degree, all the phyfical and bodily qualifications, indifpenfibly requifite to give a probabili 449 ty of fuccefs to the undertaking; and ever fince his with to engage in the expedition, had affumed the character of a firm, mature, and well deliberated plan; he had devoted his time, to thofe ftudies which bore analogy to his project, and had diligently confulted every authentic fource of information, refpecting this vaft continent hitherto fo little known to Europeans. He concluded with requesting, that Profeffor BLUMENBACH would recommend him to the African Affociation in London. The Profeffor designedly raised several objections, to convince himself whether his defign was the refult of fudden impulfe, or actually founded in mature deliberation. But HORNEMANN gave fuch pertinent replies, and was to well prepared for every objection, that BLUMENBACH could no longer oppofe his wifhes, efpecially when he found that his mother had acquiefced in the project. The Profeffor therefore made feveral private enquires into his character, which proved perfectly fatisfactory. He was informed, that the ufual difeafes of infancy excepted, HORNEMANN knew fickness but by name; that nature had aflifted him with an excellent conftitution, that he was remarkable temperate and abftemious, ftout, athletic, indefatigably patient of fatigue; of great vivacity and a chearful difpofition, and that, in addition to his literary acquirements, which were great and truly refpectable, he poffeffed an adequate knowledge, both theoretical and practical of mechanics. BLUMENBACH now no longer hefitated to propofe the young adventurer to the African Affeciation, through the medium of Sir JOSEPH BANKS, who wrote word back: "If M. HORNEMAN be really the perfon you defcribe, he is the very identical man whom we are in fearch of." This favourable reply BLUMENBACH immediately communicated to HORNEMANN, who happened to be at that time in Hanover, and before the profeffor could fuppofe that his letter had reached him, he was furprifed to fee HORNEMANN enter his apartment (having hattened immediately from Hanover on toot) to make the neceffary enquiries in perfon. In the courfe of one night, he drew up a moft excellent plan in writing, for the infpection of the African Affociation, which BLUMENBACH forwarded to London, and, in a little time, received an anfwer from the committee of the Affociation, fignifying their approbation and acceptance of his friend. HOR |