3dly. Although the collection of Meidani is very extensive, containing nearly 6000 proverbs, it is still far from complete. M. Freytag intends therefore to add to it all the ancient and modern proverbs he could procure. 4thly. To give two Indexes; Latin and Arabic. 5thly. To add a treatise on Arabian Proverbs, and on the writers who have collected and commented upon them. An edition of Schiller's Works is just published in small pocket volumes, printed on a very fine paper, and exceedingly cheap; the price not being more than the commonest edition has hitherto been sold for. Dr. Görres and Dr. Phillips, in Munich, have published a new periodical entitled Historisch-Politische Blatter für das Katolische Deutschland, with contributions from Bayer, Döllinger, Baron Freyberg, Professor Görres, Möhler, and Von Moy. It is to appear twice a month, and will contain a short chronicle of the most interesting events; a second part will be devoted to articles on Politics, Political Economy and History, also to Theology, so far as this is interesting to the public at large; a third part will contain short Notices of the most interesting Literary Novelties, with Miscellaneous Remarks, Historical and Literary. The third Volume of Niehbuhr's Travels in Arabia was destroyed by fire in tho printing-office at Copenhagen. It is in the press now at Hamburgh, and will appear at the close of the present year. We may notice, though somewhat out of our usual course, that the recent work of Mr Hawkins, Travels in Germany, contains details usually omitted in books of travels, such as the actual condition of the several German states, their institutions, regulations, and all those particulars, statistical and other, which are so necessary for every reader, but for which he has to search in vain, except in works expressly devoted to scientific details, and which are not often found in the libraries of light readers. FRANCE. Milton et la Poésie Epique. Cours professé à l'Athénée Royal de Paris par M. Raymond de Véricour. 8vo. Paris, 1838. This work may fairly be called a phenomenon in the literary world, for it exhibits the rare appearance of a Frenchman writing on English poetry with knowledge, discrimination, and taste. The genius and character, indeed, of Milton, have been so fully discussed by his countrymen, that any further remarks by a foreign writer might, if we could overlook the extraordinary discovery of Guizot, be supposed to possess little interest; but such is the love and veneration entertained by M. de Vericour for his subject, that it becomes, under his hands, replete with interest, and to us, at least, invested with all the charm of novelty. Much of this, no doubt, arises from the gratifying and unexpected style in which the work is written. Hitherto such a subject was considered forbidden ground for a Frenchman, above all others; but such has been the rapid course of events since the peace, and so great the change produced by the free intercourse of nations, that the literature and intellectual character of each have been studied and appreciated free from the prejudices of bygone days, and in a spirit of philosophic contemplation and impartiality. The results, on the literature of Europe and of the world, are manifest. Every day we see the common domain enriched with the intellectual fertility of different lands, and yielding a return of increased knowledge and happiness. Every hour adds to the possessions and enjoyments of all-in rich argosies, wafted from the shores of nations; not hurling at each other, as of yore, the thunderbolts of war, but the welcome missives of books and book-projects. May the friends of man, in all nations, labour to prolong such a state of things, and avert the demon of discord from his unwearied task. Ours is done when we thus briefly, but conscientiously, recommend to our readers the work of M. de Vericour, so honourable to his study and just appreciation of Milton. A splendid work is now in course of publication at Paris, on Ancient Tapestry. The object is to give, by means of first-rate copperplate engravings, such representations of the most remarkable specimens extant, as will convey to the lovers of the fine arts a correct and elegant picture of these curious products of the most unwearied industry and taste. The work will be completed in 4 vols. folio, each consisting of ten livraisons, price 15 francs, plain; 40 on India paper, and 70 coloured. Engravings on wood will also be given, consisting of portraits, head and tail pieces, &c. serving to embellish and illustrate the work. Since the Révue Encyclopédique was given up, we have seen no work that fills its place so well as the Révue Universelle, which is conducted on the same plan as the former; and to those who subscribed to it and regret its loss, will prove a welcome substitute. A new edition of Brunet's Manuel du Libraire is announced as nearly ready for the press, with the supplement incorporated, and the whole so revised and improved as to form nearly a new work. The appearance of this edition has been accelerated by a Belgian reprint of the whole, which is said to be a sad jumble, and utterly unfitted for its object. The learned society of the Benedictines had published, in 1778, the first volume of the works of Gregory Nazianzen, and were about to publish the second, when the French Revolution broke out, and put an end to the society and its labours. The MS. of the second volume having lately been discovered, it is now in the press, and will be published in eight livraisons. De Lamartine has just published a new poem, entitled, La Chute d'un Ange. M. de Tocqueville has a new work on America in the press; and his friend and fellow-traveller, M. de Beaumont's long-expected work on Ireland is also announced. M. Salvador, a Jewish writer, the author of some interesting works, has just published a work on Jesus Christ and his doctrines, with the History of the Church during the first century; of which we hope shortly to give an account, A collection of the principal Architectural Monuments in France, in the Byzantine and Gothic styles, is now in course of publication, in 10 livraisons, at 6 francs 50 centimes each. The appearance of such a work, and of a little volume which we have lately read with great pleasure, "Les Eglises Gothiques," of which we are happy to see a translation announced, is a proof of the advances now making in France towards a better appreciation and care of her valuable remains in Gothic architecture. Mignet, the author of the History of the French Revolution, is now writing a History of the French Reformation, and has for this purpose applied to the Grand Duke of Weimar for the use of the Ernestine and Saxon Annals, through the French ambassador, Count Larochefoucault. His J. J. Porchat, Professor of Roman Literature at Lausanne, has by his "Glamires d'Esope" proved himself a singularly successful fabulist. Even French critics allow that he comes nearest of any writer to Lafontaine; and this praise from a Frenchman must be highly flattering to M. Porchat. ideas and expressions are both novel and well chosen. In the free country in which the author resides, he is at liberty to state his political opinions, which saves much circumlocution. Colonel Mitchell, (author of the Life of Wallenstein,) is engaged on a Life of Napoleon, in which he intends directly to combat the received opinions of the high genius of the French Emperor. The French government are about sending a scientific expedition to the Scandinavian peninsula and Spitzbergen, the leader of which is M. Gaimard, the naturalist, who conducted the recent expedition to Iceland. It is said that Louis Philippe, who travelled through Sweden and Norway, Lapland and Finland in 1795, takes a particular interest in the expedition, and has himself pointed out the objects most worthy of attention. The Swedish government lends its cordial assistance, and a body of Norwegian and Swedish naturalists and engineers are to join the French savans. Some of the party are to winter in Hammerfest, near North Cape. The vessel destined for Spitzbergen is to attempt the passage northwards to the North Pole. Thus, as M. d'Urville, who sailed last year in command of the Zelée and Astrolabe, had orders to approach the south pole as near as possible, the French government will have to boast that its efforts in behalf of science extended at the same time from pole to pole. SPAIN. The lovers of the Spanish drama have been put in possession of a valuable selection of the best pieces, from its origin to the present time, by the publication, in 5 vols. 8vo. of the Tesoro del Teatro Espanol, por Don Eugenio de Ochoa. The first volume contains Moratins' excellent work on the Origin of the Spanish Theatre, and biographical notices and notes are interspersed, which add greatly to the value and interest of the publication. The work is printed at Paris, by Baudry. The theatres of Madrid were of late overflowing nightly to see a dramatic curiosity, namely, a play written by an uneducated and wholly illiterate man, a serjeant in the Spanish army. The singularity of the circumstances under which it is produced is said to be the least merit of El Trovador, so the piece is called, which is admitted by competent judges, and there are few so severe as the Spaniards, to develope dramatic talent of a very high order. Another dramatic effort of even higher, but more cultivated, powers, is a production entitled El Amante, or The Lover, the author of which, however, is the son of a German settled in Spain, and, like the preceding, in rather humble life. The success of these two dramas has been prodigious. ITALY. There has lately been found in the Vatican library a manuscript containing songs written and composed by Abelard, with the original musical notation. The Abbé Baini is employed in rendering them into the modern notes, and a German savant, to whom this curious and valuable discovery is owing, hopes shortly to be able to publish it. The Trieste bookseller, Marenigh, has undertaken the publication of a splendid edition of Tasso's "Gerusalemme Liberata," which is said to excel every thing that has been lately published in Italy. It will appear in about twenty-one parts, each embellished with a splendid engraving, by the famous Raphael Morghen. Tasso's Life, his Funeral Speech, the parallel of Metastasio between Goffredo and Orlando, and Tasso's Portrait, engraved by one of the first masters, will unite to render this a most splendid and valuable edition. RUSSIA. The Commercial Gazette of St. Petersburg contains a detailed statement of the produce of gold and platina from the mines of the Ural, during 1837; from which it appears that the quantity of gold from the government mines was 131 poods: and from those belonging to individuals, 178 poods 23 lbs. The platina obtained from the government mines was only 16 lbs., and that from those belonging to individuals 118 poods 12 lbs. The aggregate quantity of gold from the Ural mines, including fractions, was therefore 309 poods 23 lbs.; and of platina, 118 poods 28 lbs. The same journal also states that the gold mines of Siberia produced 130 poods, and that 30 poods more were extracted from the silver mines of Altai and Nertchinsk, which, added to the produce of the Ural mines, made the total amount of gold obtained during the year, in Russia, 470 poods, being 48 poods more than in 1836. The pood is equal to about 40 lbs. SERVIA. The following works, original and translated, have been printed in the Servian language, at Belgrade and Kragujevaty: Life and Adventures of Demetrius Obradovitch. Letters of Dositheus Obradovitch; i. e. a continuation of the Life and Fables of Esop and others. Moral Tales. VOL. XXI. NO. XLII. I I Ethics from Soave. Moral Tales. Moral Tales. The Garland of the Alphabet. The Omega. Advice to Married Persons. Belgrade. Gil Blas, 5 vols. Moral Tales, by Anne Obrenovitch. Belgrade, UNITED STATES. GOLD MINES. The return embraces a period of thirteen years. The highest amount of gold raised was in 1834, when there were obtained 898,000 dollars. Last year only 282,000 in gold were obtained from the mines of the United States. The mines of Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Virginia, have produced the greater portion of gold. The total quantity raised in the period stated is 5,120,500. The official return states, the production of the mines went on increasing from 1824, when the first gold was collected in North Carolina, to 1834, when it had reached its maximum, namely, 898,000. From this time it has declined, so as to have been reduced in the last year to 282,000. A human skeleton has been brought to Baltimore from the Rocky Mountains. It is perfect, and 8 feet 9 inches high. "There were giants in the earth in those days!" Antiquarians have been of opinion that this continent was inhabited by a gigantic race of men, antecedently to the Indians, who were the ancestors of the present so-called "Aborigines;" and the circumstance of colossal skeletons and human bones being found in the ancient mounds of the far-west would seem to favour the supposition. It is clear that the ancient animals of North America were of immense size, the Mastodon (Mammoth), to wit, the bones of which are quite common; and the Indian tribes have traditions of the great beast that crushed the pine trees in his walk, and fed upon the tall branches of the forest, or devoured men and cattle. MEXICO. Don Manuel de Naxera, a learned native of Mexico, and well known for his researches in the Ottomi language of that country, has in the attempt to decipher the old Mexican character succeeded, he considers, so far as to discover the distinctive signs of verbs and substantives. A report of his labours hitherto may be expected shortly. A work has lately appeared calculated to vindicate the character of our historian Robertson, from the charges of perversion and exaggeration, heaped upon him by the Spaniards, in his account of the conquest of Mexico. It is entitled "Crueldades de los Espanoles," and is compiled from native autho rities. |