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And we are happy to learn, from fome of our public prints, that the fame indefatigable antiquary intends to publifh, in the Iflandic original, with a literal English verfion, an Hiftory of the Kingdom of Northumberland, from the eighth century to the tenth, when it was fi nally fubjected to the English crown; a period, of which our best accounts are exceedingly confufed and perplexed.-Mr. Langebek hath also publifhed "A Collection of the Writers of Danish History, who lived in the Middle Ages; one part of which is now published for the first time, and the other re-published more correct ly, and enriched with Notes." This collection, which is principally written in Latin, contains the productions of national and foreign writers, relative to the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway, their chronicles and history, their monarchs, illuftrious men, and topography. From Mr. Johnstone, chaplain to his Britannic majefty's envoy at the Court of Denmark, we have been favoured with The Norwegian Account of Haco's Expedition against Scotland, A. D. 1263, now first published in the original Ilandic, from the Flateyan and Frifian M.S.S. with a literal English Verfion and Notes." To the fame Gentleman we are indebted for the "Antiquitates Celto Normannica," abridged by Camden, and now first published complete, from the original M. S. in the British Mufeum;" and "Antiquitates Celto-Scandicæ;" all of which works have been printed at Copenhagen. Thefe performances have been compiled by the author from original records, and various hiftorical writers of credit, and will be an acceptable prefent to the hif torian and antiquary, as they tend to throw confiderable light on fome

of the darkeft periods in the hiftory of Britain, and preferve curious fpecimens of the Poetry and Language of Northern Europe, about the tenth and twelfth centuries.-At Kiel, M. Ehlers, profeffor of law, hath published" Advice to good Princes, to those who are charged with the Education of Princes, and to the Friends of the People." The Advice is contained in five Differtations. The first is on the curious question, How far it is advifeable to carry the inftruction of the peo ple, and in what refpects their being well informed is useful and expe dient? The remaining differtations are on the difadvantages which may arife to any state, from inconfiderate regulations with refpect to toleration; on the methods most proper to prevent the introduction of fuch religious opinions, as may be pernicious to the well-being of a state; and on the principles and maxims that ought to determine the degrees of toleration, that may be granted to focieties, diftinguiflied by the denomination of Religious Orders.The fubjects of thefe differtations are difcuffed by our learned and ingenious author with great ability and fhrewdnefs; but we cannot fubfcribe to his doctrine refpecting the expediency of infifting on Confeffions of faith, to be adopted by perfons of all communions who fettle in any country; and the limits which he prefcribes to toleration, are inconfiftent with our ideas of natural li, berty,

In the United Provinces, Teyler's Theological Society at Haarlem,have publifhed the fourth and fifth volumes of "Prize Differtations relative to natural and revealed Religion." The fubject of the differtations in the fourth vol. is this: What were the opinions of the ancient philofophers, from Thales and Pythagoras

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to Seneca, concerning the Life and the State of the Soul after the Death of the Body? The first prize was decreed to Dr. Wyttenbach, Profef for of Greek, Belles Lettres, and Belgic Hillory, in the academi cal fchool of Amfterdam. And the knowledge and abilities difcovered in his very fenfible and ingenious performance, fully juftified thofe appointed to decide on the merits of the refpective pieces,in adjudging that eward of excellence to the worthy profeffor. Nor are the other differtations in this volume deftitute of confiderable merit. They difcover a great acquaintance with ancient literature, and contain many excel lent obfervations, which juttly en title the authors of them to the honours which they have received. The firit of thefe is written by M. Jeronymo de Bofch, first clerk to the fecretaries of Amfterdam; the laft by an anonymous author.-The fubject difcuffed in the fifth volume is, an Enquiry into the State of Christendom; particularly in the Eaftern Church about the time of Mahomet; and whether this did not greatly contribute to the rapid propagation of his religion. On this fubject four differtations are published. The first by Mr. Michael Pap Szathmari, profeffor of divinity and ecclefiaftical history, in the proteftant college at Claufenburg in Tranfylvania, is not diftinguished by any friking evidences of judg. ment or liberality. The fecond differtation, which we think poffeffes fuperior merit to the first, is the production of the fenfible and well-informed M. Jeronymo de Bofch; who would ftand still higher in the estimation of literary men, if he were more attentive to order and precifion in his compofitions. The third differtation is by the Rev. M. P. A. C. Hugenholtz, minifter

at Yffelftein, which, though fhort, is fenfible and well written, and contains juft and liberal views of the fubject. The last differtation, by M. Valentine Slothouwer, head maler of the grammar fchool at Leeuwaarden, is a clear, methodical, and matterly performance, which fhews the author to be poffefled of much historical information, and an intimate acquaintance with the human heart. The fecond and third volumes of "Tranfactions of a Phyfical and Me. dical Society at the Hague," are cach of them divided into two parts, the former containing meteorogical, and the other medical obfervations made in various parts of the United Provinces. In the first part a'fo, we meet with fome curious remarks concerning the influence of the moon on the weather, and repeated trials of the prognostics of Mr. Sennebier, and profeffor Toaldo, which have generally proved favourable to them. The Medical Obfervations containing accounts, by different phyficians and furgeons, of the difeates which occurred in different cities and dif tricts during the years 1780 and 1781, many of which are drawn up with great judgment and perfpicuity, and will be found particularly uletul to practitioners who live in low and marthy fituations.

"Pofitiones Phyficæ, or a Syllabits of a Courte of Lectures in Natural Philofophy, by J. H. Van Swinden, Profeffor of Philofophy, Mathematics, and Aftronomy in the Academical School, Amfterdam, vol. I." is a laborious and useful work, in which each branch in the fcience of natural philofophy is explained with fufficient minutenefs, and the late difcoveries are regularly ins ferted, fo as to render it, as far as the author hath gone, a complete fyftem of phyfes. To this work are prefixed two introductions; the

one mathematical, containing a felection of theorems with which the ftudent ought to be well acquainted; and the other philofophical, relating to the study of phyfics in general, the objects and extent of this fcience, and the methods and rules of philo. fophizing.

Dr. Martinus Van Marum hath publifhed at Haarlem, "A Continuation of Experiments performed with the Electrical Machine in Teyler's Mufeum." The design of several of thefe experiments is to prove, that the fuppofed analogy between the electrical fluid and fire, is founded only in hypothefis, and not fupported by accurate obfervation. In making these experiments feveral curious phenomena prefented themselves, favourable to the theory of Mr. Lavoisier, refpecting the calcination of metals, which were particularly examined by the Dr. and confirmed him in his attachment to the opinion of that philofopher. Thefe experiments were followed by feveral others made on different kinds of air; and on balloons filled with in flammable air, by which he hath illuftrated fome phenomena obferv ed in thunder ftorms; fuch as a fudden elevation of the clouds, and the violent fhowers of rain and hail which often accompany them. This work is rendered exceedingly interefting to the electrician, by the largenets of the fcale on which the experiments have been made, and by the well-known abilities and accuracy of Dr. Van Marum.-At Amfterdam, propofals have been printed for publishing a Dutch Cyclopædia, or Dictionary of Aits and Sciences, by a Society of learned Men." This work, in the execution of which the abilities of feveral of the most eminent literary characters in the Seven Provinces are to be combined, is to be published

by fubfcription, and is intended to confit of forty quarto volumes of letter prefs, accompanied by several volumes of engravings.

With refpect to German Literature, our account of it will not be found fo various and interefting as on fome former occafions, fince the lift of books which have come within our knowledge is, comparatively, but mall, and particularly defective in theological, biblical, and critical productions.-An anonymous author, at Breslaw, hath publifhed a work "On the Nature and Progrefs of Science, of Writing, and of Sacred Language among the first Inhabitants of the World; or an Explanation of the Fables and obfcure Traditions concerning Adam, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jofeph, and Moles, defigned to il luftrate feveral important Symbols, and myfterious Doctrines both of ancient and modern Times." This work is rather to be admired for the great labour and industry which it difplays than for its utility; for the author's ingenuity in the adaptation of his fynbolical reprefentations, than for the fatisfaction which he affords his readers refpecting the origin of the fabulous hiftories which he undertakes to explain. The philologift, however, will be gratified in perufing his critical obfervations on the cabaliftic fables. Van Bergen's "Critical Obfervations and Emendations of Ovid, Lucan, Phædrus, Terence, Cicero, Cor. Nepos, and Q. Curtius,' vince us that the author is a learned and ingenious commentator; and that, in many inftances, his propofed alterations will be useful to our attaining a more perfect acquaintance with the spirit and meaning of the original. But they are fometimes too fanciful, and inconfiftent with the rules of found criticifin.

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For Friefeman's edition of "The Geography of Rufus Feftus Avienus, with the Notes of various Commentators," we can fee no good reafon, as its value is fuperfeded by more perfect and accurate modern performances.-Profeffor Ditmar's" Obfervations on the Country of the Chaldeans," published at Berlin, compofe a curious and in terefting treatife, which deferves to be reccommended to the attention of our readers. And when we confider that it is only a fpecimen of a larger work relating to the geography of ancient Alia, we are led, from the manner in which it is executed, to form very high expectations of the information and pleafure which we fhall receive from the completion of our author's labours. —At Stendal, M. Gerken hath publifhed an ufeful geographical work, called "Voyages in Suabia, Bava ria, Switzerland, Franconia, and the Provinces of the Rhine and Mofelle, Part fecond." This intelligent author hath paid particular attention in correcting mistakes which have been committed by fone of the best German writers: and as the countries which he defcribes, are fo imperfectly known, a tranflation of his work into our own language, would prove a valuable addition to our stock of geographical knowledge.-M. de Baezko's "Manual of the History and Geography of Pruffia," is deferving of public patronage, not only from its excellence and accuracy, but from the peculiar fituation of the author, who hath been a cripple from his birth, and, who at the age of twentyone became totally blind; but whofe extraordinary merits under thefe difcouraging circumstances. have rendered him a worthy object of the fupport and countenance of the literary world.---At Gottingen, 1786.

profeffor Kaeftner hath published "Commentaries on the Optics of Boerhaave and Haller." The intention of the profeffor is, to conteft a paffage in one of Boerhaave's works, in which he fays, that in fixing the eye on any object, we perceive only a very finall phyfical point, directly in the axis; and that other points are only feen when we change the direction of the eye. His obfervations on Haller are con fined to the explanation of an intricate paffage in his phyfiology, where he fpeaks of concave glatles ufed by near-fighted perfons, In thefe Commentaries he reafons on just mathematical principles, and deferves the attention of the difciples of thofe illuftrious mafters.-The "New Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Belles Lettres of Berlin, for the Year 1783," include, as ufual, the bistory of the academy for that year, in which we meet with curious extracts from the correfpondence of feveral learned men, on the fubjects of aftronomy, meteorology, and medicine. The memoirs themfelves relate to experimental philofophy, mathematics, fpeculative philofophy, and belles lettres. Under the head of experimental philofophy, the most valuable memoirs are thofe of Mr. Achard, in one of which he gives an account of a series of laborious experiments confirming his objections to the hypothels of Mr. Cavendish, concerning the compcfition of water, which hath been fupported by M. Lavoifier. An enquiry, by M. Cohenius, into "The Nature and Qualities of the Red Quinquina," the fuperior virtues of which he zealously maintains; and a long and interefting treatife, by M. Gerhard, on "A New Manner of manufacturing Glafs." Of the mathematical papers, thofe by M.

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de la Grange are the moft confiderable and important. Under the head of Speculative Philofophy, we meet with but few papers, and thofe not very interesting. But the department affigned to belles lettres is peculiarly enriched, by the baron de Hertzberg's obfervations "On the Population of States in general, and that of the Pruffian Dominions in particular," of which we have given an account in our History of Domeftic Literature; by an entertaining and inftructive piece of biography"Concerning I. A. de Thou, by M. Wegnelin;" and by a learned and ingenious Memoir "On the Caufes of the Diverfity of Languages, by the abbè Denina.". Dr. Walter's well known fkill in anatomy and phyfiology, render it proper that we fhould mention, in this place, his Annotationes Academicæ," published at Berlin, which deferve the thanks of his medical readers, on account of the labour and ingenuity which he hath difplayed in his Treatife on the Uterine Polypi, and the Liver and Gall-bladder.—The volume on the Elements of Chemistry, confidered in its Relation and Application to the ufeful Arts, by M. G. Ad. Suckow, Leipzig," is a commendable attempt to render the fciences applicable to the ufes and wants of life, by enabling artifts and tradefmen to conduct their operations upon fcientific and folid principles. At Leipzig alfo have been published feveral numbers of a periodical work, called "Chemical Annals, dedicated to the Lovers of Natural History, Medicine, Domeftic Economy, Manufactures, &c." under the direction of Dr. Crell, which is a very refpectable publication, and promifes to contribute largely to the improvement and diffution of chemical knowledge.

Mr. Cramer, profeffor of mathe matics in the ducal college of Hildefheim, hath publified, at Bremen, "A Treatife concerning the Origia of the Aurora Borealis, or northern Lights;" the caufe of which he confiders to be phlogiston, collected about the pole; an hypothelis which he fupports with much plaufibility.-Fr. M. H. de Trebra hath likewife published, at Deffau and Leipzig, a pleafing and ingenious work, called "Obfervations on the interior and exterior Structure of Mountains," which contains a variety of excellent remarks on this branch of natural hiftory, illuftrated by feveral beautiful and coitiy plates. We hall conclude our ar ticle of German literature, by announcing to the adepts in anatomical ftudies, "The Secrets of Nature revealed, with refpect to the Work of Generation, and the Method of accomplishing the Defire of the Parents with refpect to the Sex of their offspring," by M. John Chriftian Hencke, organift of the church of Hildeft eim; which is a scientific performance, fupported by the literati of Germany, and abounding in curious, if not in well eftablished obfervations.

In Switzerland. Natural Hiftory hath received confiderable improvements from Dr. Girtanner's "Obfervations on the Mountains of Switzerland;" which include many ingenious remarks on the Tourma lin, which he found there in great perfection; on the draba pytaniaca of Linnæus, which the obfervant Haller was unaccquainted with, as the product of the Swifs mountains; and on the marmotte or mus alpinus, and the bouquetin of Buffon.-M. Bourrit hath, likewife, published at Geneva, a third volume of his "New Defcription of the Glaciers or Ice Mountains and Val

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