German and Greek one Language. -The author of this hypothesis is the first who has pursued seriously, and in detail, an idea which has been occasionally thrown out, but never before thoroughly investigated by any writer. According to the first number, which is all that has yet been published, it is his intention to prove, "that our mother tongue is in the main Greek," i. e. that every German word (we presume only roots) is to be found in the Greek, and vice versa; and this because we and the Greeks are one people. The proofs of this unity of language, as they are boldly adduced by the author, are, in many instances, really striking. He finds old German names and relations, even anterior to the Homeric age, as old as the Heroes, with whom he begins his list, and in whom he recognises the Latin Herus, the low German Heer, the High German Herr, (Master, Lord.) The whole meaning of the Homeric Heros is preserved in the German Herr: the Greek Mestor, another denomination of Herr, in Homer, is the Low German Mester, the High German Meister, the Latin Magister. An Aristos with the Greeks is the Low German Aerste, the High German Erste (first, principal,) Fürst (Prince.) The Esthloi of the Greeks are our Edle (Nobles.) The Greek word so entirely coincides with ours in all its meanings, that it might seem as if Adelung had copied the explanation. If we would see the manners and sentiments of the Greek nobles among ourselves, we need but recollect the games at the court of Alcinous, in which only nobles took part, in the midst of many thousand spectators; and compare them with the tournaments of the Nibelungen and the middle ages, to which none were admitted but such as were acknowledged to be ancient, qualified nobility. We may remember what Euryalus says to Ulysses when he declines to take part in the

games; "You are then no noble, understand no arts, are probably a mariner, a merchant, whose sole concern is gain."

Devanagari Types.-The Prussian University of Bonn possesses, through the care of that department of the administration which presides over public instruction, a complete fount of type in the Devanagari character. With the exception of the misshapen types of the Propaganda, which merely sufficed for short specimens, these are the first that have been employed in printing on the continent of Europe. They were cast from the designs and under the superintendence of that eminent oriental scholar, Professor A. W. Von Schlegel, who, in the execution of his arduous task, neither adopted as his model the characters used by the Missionaries at Serampore, nor those of the printingoffice at Calcutta, nor Wilkins's; but who has in preference followed manuscripts, and studied to avoid sacrificing more of the original character than seemed incompatible with European typography. The matrices were cut by Vibert of Paris, who has been for many years engaged for the office of Didot sen., and the letter was cast there with great care by Lion. Mr Schlegel has pursued the method adopted by Wilkins, to get rid of the lateral and vertical groups of letters; but what he considers as a new invention is an arrangement by which the vowel and other signs above and below the line are so inserted that each line consists of only one connected series, instead of forming three, as by the old method. Specimens of these new types have been introduced into the periodical work, entitled Indische Bibliothek (Indian Library or Collections) published by Mr Schlegel, who has announced his intention of speedily visiting England, in pursuance of his researches into the literature of India.

John Gotlob Schneider, one of the

most illustrious philologists of Germany, died about the middle of summer at Breslau. He was professor and librarian of the university, and a knight of the Red Eagle. He was born at Lolm in Saxony, and after studying at Gottingen and Leipsic, went to Strasburg, where he lived in great intimacy with the Hellenist Brunck. He was named Professor of Eloquence at Frankfort on the Oder in 1776, and quitted that place for Breslau in 1811. Schneider was also a naturalist. He published a Dictionary of Greek and German, sufficient to have established his reputation; and the best Hellenists of Germany assisted in perfecting the supplemental volume.

Toleration. One of the last sheets of the Iris, a German newspaper, contains a papal brief, which, admonishing M. Fesselles, a professor at Prague, expresses the indignation and grief of his Holiness, that the bishops and clergy of particular dioceses permit (especially clergy) to read unpunished the works of authors not Catholic; such for example as the amours and romantic poetry of Schiller, Herder, Goëthe, Wieland, and others!

RUSSIA. Russian Literature has made a rapid progress since the commencement of the century. From 1700 to 1800 only about 3000 works were printed in that empire, and yet in the last twenty years 8000 volumes have appeared. Three hundred and fifty authors are now living, the greater part of them unknown, even by name, to the rest of Europe.

His Excellency the President of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at Petersburgh has ordered all the researches and resources of eastern learning that can be obtained to be collected together, and placed in one of the rooms of the Academical Museum. By these means he has formed an Asiatic Museum, which has been enriched by imperial liberality with a new collection of orien

tal MSS. and in other branches by presents from individuals, forming, now, one of the most useful and remarkable collections in the Academical Museum. It has been arranged in three newlyerected rooms, and contains:-I. Oriental Monuments and Antiquities. 1. A large collection of Mohamedan coins, divided into 28 classes; a complete catalogue of which is now in the press, and of which a particular account will shortly be given. 2. A collection of other Oriental coins, such as Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew, Sassanide, and Indian. 3. Other Oriental Antiquities, as stones (bricks) with Persepolitan inscriptions, vessels with Arabic inscriptions. II. A very fine collection of Arabian, Persian, and Turkish MSS., arranged according to their different departments and languages, as Poems, Grammars, Mathematical, Historical, Philosophical, Physical, and Theological MSS. III. A rich collection of Chinese, Manshurian and Japanese MSS., likewise arranged according to languages and subjects; to which are added Chinese sketches and drawings. IV. A very rare collection of Mongol, Calmuck, and Tibetian MSS., also many Mongol prints, a detailed catalogue of which will be published to satisfy the curiosity of the public. V. An Oriental Library, or a collection of Oriental MSS. relative to literature and information, which may furnish the learned with sufficient means to obtain a knowledge of the countries of the east.

The Emperor Alexander has given orders to purchase 9000 copies of the New Testament in the Sclavonian language, for the Petersburgh Bible Society, to be distributed among his troops. The Bell and Lancaster system of education begins to find friends at St Petersburgh; on the other hand, the system of Pestalozzi is known but to very few. The Rev. Mr Muralt, formerly an assistant to Pestalozzi, established

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a boarding-school in that city eight years ago, which is now very flourish ing. He has, for his assistants, some able and enlightened men, who are engaged in compiling elementary books for the principal branches of human knowledge. One of them, Mr Duplan, is said to have ready in MS. several works on arithmetic, geography, &c. according to the system of Pestalozzi, A course of practical arithmetic, which he purposes to have printed in Paris, is said to be a work very well adapted to the instruction of youth.

St Petersburgh, July 11-A very important work has just been published here, in the Russian language, viz. "Travels through Turcomania and Chiwa, by Capt. Murawiew, of the Guards," 2 volumes 4to, with Atlas. M. V. M. was sent two years ago by the government to undertake a journey to the Tartar nations on the east coast of the Caspian Sea, particularly to the Truchmenians and Chiwensians, in order, if possible, to open a shorter way through the countries inhabited by these people, for our trade with Asia. His object did not entirely fail; but he had the misfortune, originating in the perpetual feuds of these tribes, to be made prisoner by the Chiwensians, and languished ten months in confinement in their capital. The accounts of all that he saw and experienced during this period render his narrative extremely interesting.

Mittau, the capital of the province of Courland, is distinguishing itself by the progress it is making both in literature and the arts. There are now several important private collections of paintings; and the Literary Society and Museum, established about four years ago, are at present in a very flourishing condition. The members of the former have produced several interesting scientific papers; while the latter now contains a valuable collection of curiosities in natural history, anti

quities, paintings, &c. Much too has of late been done, and is now doing, for the general embellishment of the city: the Emperor Alexander has assigned the sum of 80,000 rubles to be expended on the market, where all the old and mean shops which chocked up and disfigured the area are pulled down, and a large basin is constructed in the centre, into which a subterraneous canal discharges itself. In consequence of a regulation, which in England would be considered somewhat arbitrary, although it prudently restrains the bad taste of individuals, the façade of every new building throughout the province must be erected according to some design, which the proprietor is permitted to select from an extensive collection deposited for that purpose with the magistrates of each place. Owing to this, Mittau now exhibits a variety of elegant buildings which have been erected within the last three years: some of these have the appearance of pa laces. Indeed, this city promises to become one of the finest in the north of Europe. In other parts of the province also, many very fine palaces and seats belonging to the nobility have been erected.

POLAND. Polish Journals.—The productions of the periodical press in Poland are at present very numerous. There are now no fewer than twentyfour Journals of various descriptions; some political, others devoted to subjects of literature or science. Of these, twelve are published at Warsaw, viz.1. Pamietnik Warsawski (the Warsaw Journal) which appears monthly, notices subjects belonging to science and art. It is edited by M. F. Bentkowski, Professor of History.-2. Izys Polska (the Polish Isis) or Journal of Science, contains accounts of new discoveries, and intelligence relative to the arts, manufactures and trade: like the preceding it is published monthly with plates; and is edited by M. Korwin.—

3. Sylvanus, a quarterly publication, relative to planting and agricultural pursuits.-4. The Sybil, edited by M. Gerzymala, is a national Journal, devoted to the literature, history, and politics of Poland, and to whatever is collaterally connected with these subjects. A number, consisting of three or four sheets, appears every fortnight. -5. Dekada Polska (the Polish Decade) so called because published every tenth day, confines itself to the notice of the more important political events. -6, 7, and 8. The Warsaw Courier, the Warsaw Correspondent, and the Warsaw Gazette, are all political papers. The following are of a more literary and miscellaneous nature.-9. Wamba; this work relates more particularly to the fine arts, and their various dependencies. It is edited by MM. Dmochowski and Lisiecki, and is published weekly.-10. Momus, is a professedly entertaining miscellany, conducted by Zolkowsky, a celebrated comic actor, and contains amusing anecdotes, epigrams, jeux d'esprit, &c.-11. Sygodwik Muzycgny, (the Musical Journal,) is published weekly in a quarto form; it is edited by Kurpinski.12. Gazeta Literacka (the Literary Gazette) is also a weekly publication of a single quarto sheet. This work notices both Polish and foreign literature, and frequently contains articles displaying much information and considerable learning.

English Literature in Poland.English literature is more and more gaining ground in Poland. During the preceding year there appeared in print Lord Byron's Bride of Abydos, translated by the Count Ostrowski; and lately Sir Walter Scott's Lay of the last Minstrel, translated by Mr Brodzinski, who is at present the most distinguished young poet in Poland. Of works that are yet preparing for publication are, Sir Walter Scott's Lady of the Lake, and Lord Byron's

Corsair, both by Mr Sienkiewicz, who last year lived for some time in Edinburgh. Besides, in the Polish periodical writings, there appear very often inserted many extracts made from the works of these two authors, as well as from those of other celebrated English poets. Translated into Polish are Campbell's Lochiel, and O'Connor's Child; Lord Byron's Fare thee well, and also different fugitive pieces of poetry.-Ossian's Poems have undergone a great many translations; and since the time of Krasicki and Tymieniecke, who first made them known to their countrymen, they almost daily multiply by the particular predilection of some promising young poets for that species of poetry. Such is the progress of English literature in Poland. The ancient stock of our literature in that country, consisting of specimens from Dryden, Milton, Pope, Thomson, and many others, gets there continually a new increase. Shakespeare's Plays are an object of study in Poland; and the principal ones are very often performed upon the stage at Warsaw, Wilna, Cracau, and Leopol. The Poles having cultivated for a considerable time, and with an exclusive taste, the French literature, appear at present to direct their attention to that of the English.

GREECE. The heroic Greeks, who are making such sacrifices to fling off the yoke of their tyrants, are not neglectful of the press, that essential aid to the cause of freedom. At Calometa, a Greek printing office has been established, and the Acts of the Senate are regularly issued from thence, as well as the bulletins of the armies, and a new journal called the Ἑλληνικὴ

my, or Hellenic Trumpet. This journal is edited by a learned ecclesiastic, named Theoclitos, who before edited the Greek Mercury. There is no doubt, that ere long the Greek nation will become of no mean account among those of Europe. The despo

tism of the Porte has been suffered to exist too long already, and to subject a brave people, after robbing them of their country, to the most cruel bondage. Modern Greek Literature.-Zampelior, an ingenious young author of the island of Leucadia (Santa Maura,) has published a new Greek tragedy, Timoleon, dedicated to the venerable Dr Coray; two others, Scanderbeg and Constantine Palæologus, are ready for the press. Mustoxydi, a learned Greek of Corfu, has translated into French the whole collection of the proclamations and documents issued by the senate of the Peloponnesus, from the commence ment of the heroic struggle of the Greeks and the Turks. They will be published at Paris. In the city of Cydonia, which was destroyed last year by the Turks, a college and a wellchosen library were consumed. A young Greek, named Piccolo, has translated the Philoctetes of Sophocles into modern Greek. This is the piece which was lately performed at Odessa by Greek actors, amidst boundless acclamation; at the conclusion the whole pit rose, crying, "Greece for ever! Long live its generous friends!" Spiridion Petrettini, a Greek of Corfu, has published at Padua a translation of Velleius Paterculus. Though the present seat of the Greek government is at Corinth, yet if heaven has decreed the independence of Greece, Athens is to be the capital. The national arms bear a Minerva, with the attributes of wisdom (according to some accounts an owl.) A political journal, called the Hellenic Trumpet, formerly published at Calamata, is now printed at Corinth. The Greek money, which is coined at Corinth, bears on one side the Labarum (sign of the cross) which is said to have appeared to Constantine the Great, and on the other side the bird of Minerva. This cross has the annexed traditional form, and the legend ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ

All the monasteries have ea

gerly sent their church plate to the mint. That on the great Spilæon mountain alone sent twenty-six horse-loads of silver utensils.

TURKEY. Libraries of Constantinople.-M. Hammer gives the following account of the Libraries of Constantinople. Three clergymen, a French, Italian, and an English one, the Abbé Sevin, the Abbate Toderini, and Dean Carlysle, chose, for the main object of their travels, the examination of the Seraglio library, without entirely realizing their hopes. The Abbé was told that the ancient collection of manuscripts had been burnt; Abbate obtained a catalogue of a library extant in the Seraglio, and the Dean succeeded, through Lord Elgin's protection, in obtaining a sight of the Oriental library attached to the Mosk Bostanjamissi, in the garden near the haven, in which, however, no trace was found of any Greek or Latin manuscripts. If the intelligence given to the Abbé Sevin, that the remaining Greek manuscripts had been burnt, if the inconsistent intelligence given to the French ambassador Girardin, that they were sold at Pera, should prove groundless, and that there are still any where some remains of the ancient library of the Greek emperors, they are not to be sought in the garden library visited by Carlysle, but in a library which exists in the inner Seraglio, and in which, according to the annals of the Turkish empire, all the books hitherto scattered in different parts of the palace were united and deposited. As a passage so important to the history of the Seraglio library escaped the notice of the three clergymen, in consequence of their ignorance of the Turkish language, I here give a translation. "Whereas until now, in the year of hedjra 1138, (that is, 1718,) various costly books and manuscripts have been left abandoned to dust and worms in the ancient chests and shrines, and are thereby exposed to oblivion and destruction, it has pleased his Majesty