gave to the Arabs.

France has also diffused new light on the federal governments of Greece, so that no part of the science of laws, ancient or modern, has been neglected; and as soon as it was permitted to renew the connexion between legislation and those fundamental principles, from which it never deviates without danger to the repose and happiness of nations, the study was resumed with an ardour which daily promises new

success.

Since the death of d'Anville, whose labours nearly fix the state of ancient geography, at the time which we are now considering, several works published in different countries, particularly in France, contributed to its improvement. The opinions of the principal geographers of the school of Alexandria, and the whole system of geography of the Greeks, have been rescued from oblivion, and the kind of annihilation to which they appeared condemned during fifteen centuries. The developement of this system, by giving rise to new ideas, has afforded abundant means of extending this species of knowledge so necessary to history, as it serves to determine the situation of the places, and to circumscribe, with precision, the countries which were the scenes of memorable events. A great number of the difficulties and uncertainties which obscured the greater part of geographical discussions, have already been removed; and this science, so long conjectural, may henceforward aspire to a rank among the accurate sciences.

Several travels through Europe, Asia, and Africa, undertaken for the purpose of visiting countries better known to the ancients than they were in our time, have also contributed to extend the sphere of our knowledge of ancient geography. The glorious expedition of your majesty to Egypt, in particular, has made us acquainted with that land of prodigies, which always revives the most astonishing recollections; and our geographers will soon connect with the new map, which they anxiously expect, all the knowledge transmitted to us by antiquity respecting that classick country.

Several parts of Greece, and the environs of the Bosphorus, have been surveyed with the greatest care, within about twenty years. This great operation will give a new interest to, and throw new light on, the ancient description of those shores, the celebrity of which has been increasing during thirty centuries.

Piedmont, the Alps, a great part of Italy, now better known than formerly, have presented numerous discoveries to those geographers who have occupied themselves with the state of the country while under the domination of the Romans.

The western coasts of a portion of Africa, and the geography of India, rectified in many points, have made known to us the principal places visited by ancient navigators, who resorted to those remote regions for commercial purposes.

Ancient geography has made some progress: the translation of Strabo, ordered by your majesty, and the zeal of those who cultivate that science, are pledges of its future ad

vances.

History, the great instructress of mankind, as Cicero calls it, has perhaps been cultivated by no nation so much as by ours; and none has produced so great a number of historians worthy of being quoted. To find the first link of the long chain formed by them, we must go back nearly to the origin of the monarchy, as far as Gregory of Tours, who wrote under the grandsons of Clovis ; and the last link includes the present time. Italy is indebted to a Frenchman for the first history of Rome written by a modern; it was likewise a Frenchman who first acquainted the English with their own history. The epoch fixed by your majesty, was gloriously prepared and opened in France by a history of the private life of the Greeks, of their manners, their learning, their opinions, their philosophy; which has been translated into all languages, and read throughout all Europe: but France was soon compelled to relinquish the hope of reaping the produce of the soil which she had so long and so successfully cultivated. History, which is no longer herself when she ceases to be free, was, during many years, reduced to silence; and how could she have raised her voice, when liberty was repressed in the name of liberty? She withdrew into neighbouring countries she inspired Muller; she inspired Mitford; and lent her pen to writers previously accustomed to handle it, and who have employed it to advantage.

However, some men of letters in France continued in solitude and silence their studies and their labours; and as soon as circumstances permitted, there appeared in the collections of the Institute, a considerable number of notices of manuscripts and memoirs relative to our history of the middle age,

and to diplomacy. The fourteenth volume of the Collection of the Historians of France, has been published by the order, and under the auspices, of government; the fifteenth is in the press, as well as the fifteenth volume of the Collection of the Ordinances of the Kings of the third French Dynasty. Other works of the same kind have been suspended, and yet wait, it is true, for continuators; and we must confess to your majesty, though with great regret, that we have no hopes that all will find them, unless one of your powerful looks should revive this species of study, by which France had rendered herself illustrious during upwards of two centuries, and which she now seems to have entirely abandoned.

The history of Russia, written by a Frenchman, has been augmented and improved in a new edition. The history of the Roman republick has been treated in a new point of view; that of the Lower Empire has been resumed, and is now completing. The history of the unsettled governments of France, and of its long misfortunes, has been written in a style, and with colours, suitable to the subject. The historical and political view of Europe, during ten years, has been delineated with as much truth as elegance and ability. The view of the revolutions of this same part of the world, lately published, is a work which it will be useful to read before the history, and to keep sight of, in reading it. The author has judiciously avoided the prolixity which some of our historians may be justly reproached with: they wish to turn áll their researches to some account; whatever has cost them trouble acquires importance in their eyes. Our contemporaries must be in a state of mind more fit than their predecessors to write history. They have witnessed so many great subversions, such great calamities, such great actions, so great a man, that whatever is not truly great, will to them appear little. From all

the grand objects which they have seen, they have undoubtedly learned to see grandly; and one who sees thus, will always express himself with force, dignity, and conciseness.

His majesty replied nearly in the following words :

Gentlemen, presidents, secretary, and deputies, of the third class of the Institute: I take a great interest in the prosperity of the sciences, and more particularly in the success of your labours. You may always rely on my protection.

MAP OF GERMANY./

THE successes of the French armies, and their long residence in Germany, have procured them an advantage which they formerly dispensed with in their victories, but of which they will not fail to avail themselves in their future military enterprizes. They have put themselves in possession of a map of Germany, surpassing all its predecessors in perfection and accuracy. Hanover was surveyed by Epaillu, chef de bataillon, immediately after its occupation by the corps of Mortier. In Brandenburg and Silesia, the French had two years time to collect the requisite topographical information; and it is not improbable, that the beautiful maps of several provinces, drawn up by order of the Prussian government, have fallen into their hands ; as their entrance into Berlin was so sudden, that a great quantity of important papers and valuable effects could not be secreted. Saxony caused a portion of its states to be surveyed every year: at the request of the French government, the work has been for some years accelerated; and the court of Dresden has made such communications as were required. It is believed, that the same has been done by Denmark, in regard to the duchy of Holstein, and perhaps of the whole Cimbrian peninsula. The French government has caused not only the northernmost provinces of Germany to the North Sea and Baltick, but likewise the counties of Stolberg, and the duchies of Weimar, Coburg, Meinungen, Hildburghausen, &c. to be surveyed by engineers. It probably possesses fewer materials of the former circle of Franconia but it is possible that the grand duke of Wurtzburg may have further information, to extend the topographical knowledge of those countries. Of Swabia and Upper Austria, the geographical bureau at Paris has a beautiful map. Bavaria has been surveyed for some time; and the map of the Tyrol is already engraved and sold at Paris. In respect to Austria alone, the materials are perhaps rather scanty, as the French have remained there too short a time to undertake extensive measurements. It is concluded, that this large and complete map will be given to the publick, from the circunstance that Swabia has already been engraved at Paris.

CATALOGUE,

OF NEW PUBLICATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

FOR JULY, 1810.

Sunt bona, sunt quaedam mediocria, sunt mala plura. Mart.

NEW WORKS.

The history of Modern Europe, particularly France, England and Scotland; with a view of the progress of society, from the rise of those kingdoms, to the late revolutions on the continent; abridged from Russell's Modern Europe. By a lady of Massachusetts. Price one dollar. Boston; Manning and Loring.

* An Oration delivered July the 4th, 1810, at the request of the selectmen of the town of Boston; on the feelings, manners, and principles that produced American Independence. By Alexander Townsend. Boston; John Eliott.

* An Oration pronounced at Boston, on the 4th of July, 1810, before the Bunker Hill association, and in presence of the supreme executive of the commonwealth. By Daniel Waldo Lincoln, Esq. Boston; Pa. triot office.

The Miscellaneous Works of Eliphalet Nott, D. D. President of Union College. Boston; Greenleaf. Price 150 cents.

An Oration pronounced at Hubbardston, July 4th, 1810; the thirtyfourth anniversary of American Independence. By William C. White, Esq. Published by request of the auditors. Boston; Joshua Belcher. Charles Caldwell's Oration, 4th July. Philadelphia; Bradford and Inskeep.

Joseph G. Sprague's Oration, July 4th, 1810. Salem; Pool and Palfrey.

Dr. Mason's speech relative to the resignation of his pastoral charge, in the city of New York. Philadelphia; Jane Aikin.

* Peyton Randolph Freeman's Oration, 4th July. Portsmouth; William Treadwell.

A Digest of the powers and duties of Sheriffs, Coroners, Constables, and Collectors of taxes. By Rodolphus Dickinson, attorney at law. Boston; Caleb Bingham. Price 175 cents.

No. I. of the American Medical and Philosophical Register; on annals of medicine, natural history, agriculture, and the arts; conducted by a society of gentlemen. New York; O. S. Van Winkle.

*

Speech of counsellor Sampson, on the trial of James Cheetham, for libelling Madam Bonneville, in his life of Thomas Paine; with a short sketch of the trial. New York; Charles Holt.

* A brief view of the policy and resources of the United States, comprising some strictures on a letter on the genius and dispositions of the French government. Philadelphia, 1810.

* Torpedo war, and submarine explosions. By Robert Fulton. (Fellow of the American philosophical society, and of the United States military and philosophical society.) New York; W. Eliott.

Perkins and Fairman's Running Hand, Stereographic Copies. Newburyport; Thomas and Whipple.

Such books, pamphlets, etc. as are designated by this mark (*) may be found at the Boston Athenaeum.