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is mountainous, but not absolutely without nor the 1ws themselves too simple, nor their arrangement too correct and clear.

resources.

FRANCE.

ITALY.

Ancient Charitable Institution: Alimentary
Table.

Classification of Arrétes and Laws. The administrative laws of France have been so numerous,-or rather, innumerable, since the revolution, and so confused are they, as to which are in force, or which have been repealed, or varied, that the most expert lawyer in France cannot be certain of his discrimination respecting them. It is, therefore, extremely proba ble, that we do a valuable service to some of our readers, who may have occasion to appeal to the laws of that couutry, by in-it to be melted and cast into a bell; when forming them that there exists a Classifica tion of the Administrative Laws of France from 1789 to 1814, to which is prefixed an essay on the principles and ruies adopted in practice, by M. Lalouette: it makes a thick volume in 4to.

Among other antiquities which attracted the notice of M. Millin, during his late travels in Italy, was oue equally interest||ing and instructive, known under the appellation of the Alimentary Tables. This antiquity, which derives its uame from its object, was found in 1747 by peasants in the hill where later researches have discovered the ruins of Velleia (in 1761). The first intention of the finders, was to cause

To facilitate acquaintance with these Jaws, the first thing necessary to be done was, to procure as complete a collection of them as possible; then to classify them, in their most simple order, and to form a Chronological table, or to give them a dictionary arrangement. This task required inexhaustible patience, inflexible perseverance, and resolution incessantly renovated: such is the immensity of laws, decrees, arrêts, &c. issued by the government and council of state; while the omission of any, would be a heavy imputation on the correctness of the work, and would much detract from its utility.

The author of this Classification has studied the most luminous arrangement; as well by order of dates as by order of matters: he has placed at the head of his book a summary of the principal parts which compose it; and at the end a copious Alphabetical Table. The notice taken of the subject of the law is proportionate to its importance.

To render this work absolutely complete, the laws enacted since the return of the king, should be added. Considered with respect to so great a change in affairs, these are, indeed, not many; yet, as some of them, are, and must be, in direct opposition to those established by Napoleon, they ought to be brought forward. Perhaps, too, it might be good policy in the Government to cause a revision of these laws; to select those which it may be proper to continue in force, and to abro gate what are no longer applicable. Such a purification would have the most beneficial effects; for, in fact, the body of laws of any state cannot be too concise,

two cauons of the church hearing of this inteution, opposed it, and saved the article. This table is composed of several plates of copper attached together. It is in width ten feet and a half; and in length five and a half. The inscription is divided into seven columns: a few small pieces are wanting; but these defects do not prevent its purport from being understood. Severai of the literati have exercised themselves in interpreting it.

The magistrates of the Roman people who feared the consequences of any eåervescence caused by want or distress, among a people naturally turbulent and free, were anxiously careful to provide an abundant supply of the necessaries of life; and for the support of the indigent, by the distribution of what they most urgently wanted. The Emperors followed the same policy; and the Table of Velleia informs us that Trajan in imitation of Nerva extended this benevolence to a distance from Rome.

He bestows one million one hundred and fifty thousand sesterces for the parchase of lands, the income from which should be employed in the maintenance of two hundred and forty five boys, legitimate children of their parents, and thirty four girls, also legitimate :-but, he makes provision for the admission also of one spurius (bastard son,) and one spuria (bastard daughter). Each boy received sixteen sesterces per month; and each girl twelve sesterces: but, the spurius and the spuria only ten sesterces. According to calculation the produce of the lands must have been fifty thousand two hundred ses. terces; which gives an interest of five per cent, on the capital. The inscription fürther declares that Cornelius Gallicanus had added to the sum given the further sum of sixty two thousand sesterces, for the acquisition of certain other property then in possession of divers individuals, but destined to form a fund for the sup

port of eighteen other boys and one girl, all to be legitimate; to receive the same allowance as the others; and the income is also calculated at five per cent. amounting to three thousand six huudréd sesterces, If this Table gave no other information, it would be one of the most valuable documents which have been preserved from days so remote, and referring to an institution of such a nature; but, it derives additional interest, from exhibiting the names of the places where the property was situated, the names of the persons from whom it was purchased, and other particulars, whereby it be comes a geographical authority, and especially in reference to that part of Italy, whereto it belongs. The inhabitants of Parma naturally attached great importance to this antiquity; the value of which is much enhanced on the spot, and is equally diminished by being carried elsewhere. It was, however, carried off by the French, and placed in the Museum at Paris; but, whether it was returned to its naturai home, or whether it was smuggled off from the discovery of prying eyes in the year 1815, is left uncertain by the learned traveller whose work has afforded this information.

The reader will not fail to notice the interest expected to be made of money laid out in the purchase of land,-five per cent. and probably, we may add, that this land was of the most valuable and best secured kind, as property. A comparison of this profit with lands in modern days is not without its use. If we might take the proportion here fixed between the legitimate children, and the illegitimate, or spurious, as that which was general among the population in the days of Trajau, it must be acknowledged, that between the city thus favoured, and some that might be named at present existing, the comparison in point of morals is much in favour of the antient age. Perhaps the Emperor had effected somewhat approaching to wards the nature of moral improvement.

The foregoing article may properly be followed by Ratio Instituti Clinici Romani a primo ejus exordio ad Kalend. Septemb. Anni MDCCCXVI exposita a Joan. de Mat thais. pp. 37, 4to. Rome. 1816. This is a succinct history of the establishments in favour of the sick and infirm which have existed at Rome, from the fourth century, to the formation of the present Clinical Institution; which was founded by Pope Pius VII. in 1815, at the proposal of his Physician Tommaso Prela. Certainly, institutions of this benevolent kind have

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ble document.

In 1816, Messrs. Zohrab, a learned Armenian at Venice, and the well known Angelo Maio, at Milan, published in Latin, a considerable portion of the Chrouicon of Eusebius. They gave reason to hope at the same time, for a complete edition of the work, which though lost among the Greeks, had been preserved among the Armenians, in a M.S. of the most valuable kind, preserved in the Ambrosian Library.

These Literari bave at length determined the contents of this M.S. in the Latin lanto realize their resolution; and to publish guage, accompanied with notes, and a prealready in forwardness, the learned Editors liminary discourse. The printing being of subscription. offer the work to the studious by the way four-pence per sheet in quarto, aud about The price will be about nine-pence on large paper. This price will be eventually raised. The whole work the chief booksellers throughout Europe will form one volume in quarto. Any of will receive subscriptions: the money to be paid on delivery. Should this undertaking receive the sanction of the learned, there would be no objection to the publication of the Armenian text, with notes and other critical appendages, in a complete edition.

NETHERLANDS.

River-streams combined:

The following question appears to us to be of a practical nature, and very importaut in its application and bearings. Whether it have, as we suppose, an immediate reference to some river in the Low Countries-that it is intended to improve the Rhine and Waal, perhaps, or to some other, we conceive that it may incidentally be

come of no small consequence to our own country, the rivers in which are not exempt from changes in lapse of ages, from Natural causes. We have, therefore, thought it might be useful, to direct the attention of our countrymen to this question; and to those whom it more immediately concerns,

we recommend an attention to such solu
tions of it as may be proposed. For, al-
though the different levels of rivers, their
different rapidities, volumes of water, the
floods to which they are liable, &c, doform,
and always will form, great and striking
differences among them, yet there may be
general ideas suggested on such a subject
as that of this question, which may prove
extremely useful, when modified by the
peculiar circumstances of any particular
stream and which it may be of great ad-
vantage to be able to recur to, as part of
the previous preparations for practice.

Prize proposed by the first class of the
Royal Institute of Sciences, Belles Lettres,

and Arts of the Netherlands.

DEMANDED.

PERSIA.

The reader has seen in several articles

relating to Persia information on the subject of Religion, leading to the opinion Faith is gradually abating, and in fact is abated, to no inconsiderable degree. No Ismail part of this disposition may be attributed to the sentiments of the present Prince Royal of Persia, who has exerted zeal in the Mussulmans employed in his himself to correct the excesses of religious service, and to protect the Christians who might suffer in unfortunate rencontres with them. To sanction his proceedings, he was desirous of obtaining the support of the superiors of the Mohammedan priesthood, the natural guardians of the Mussulmau laws; and therefore he assembled a divan composed of Sheick ul-Islam, and the principal Ulemas (doctors of the law) of the city of Tauris.

that the intolerance of the Mahometan

following questions, which they answered He proposed for their determination the seriatim, according to their custom. Question the first; Was the Lord Jesus a true prophet sent from God? auswer, Yes. Se"A theory, whether à priori, or deduced condly; Are the laws promulgated in his hofrom the operations of Nature herself, or nourable gospel just or not? answered, unafounded on experiments, on the connexion nimously, Yes, they are just. Thirdly; Acand proportion which exist between the cording to our own laws may the laws of the declivity, the rapidity, and the depth of a Lord Jesus, promulgated in his honourable river; from which may be determined, | gospel, be blasphemed? answered unaniwith certainty, to what point the capacity mously: No: it is unjust. After these deof such river will be augmented after the cisions, to which the Ulemas gave the form execution of certain cuts which are in- of a fatha, or judicial sentence, the Prince tended to be made under circumstances Royal ordered one of his domestics to repreviously determined :--especially, when ceive a hundred blows on the soles of his the resolution is taken to throw all the feet, in punishment for an insult offered to water in a principal river, divided into two a Christian: he then dismissed him from branches A and B, into one branch only, A, his service, as an example to those who by closing the Branch B. This important might be inclined from the fanatical feelcase demands où one part, a due regard to|ings of their religion to dishonour Jesus the physical constitution of the brauch A, Christ, and to insult professors of Christiin order to determine how far, after having anity. closed the branch B. it will be possible to conduct the whole body of water through the Branch A, now supposed to be fitted to receive it; and on the other part, that the theory demanded be such as may be applied, not only to the medium height of water in the principal river, but also to the lowest height of that water, and more esperially to the highest flood to which that water is known, or may be expected, to

rise."

The value of the prize is three hundred florins. The papers may be written in Dutch, French, English, Latiu, or German and must be sent free of postage to the secretary M. Vrolik, at the Hague, before the end of the year 1818.

RUSSIA.

of the State of Literature in the empire of M. de Gretsch published in 1817, a view Russia: from which we learn that the liberal studies continue to meet with protectors, and to produce works in various branches.

publication at Moscow of Annals of the Among other articles we notice a History and Antiquities of Russia: these

contain valuable materials for Russian History: but, it should be recollected by whoever intends to treat that subject with due justice, that many other works relating to the former history of this country, have been published in German. In like manner, many other works on the Russian

language, have been published in German; although there is a journal edited by a literary society at Moscow, which contains a critical analysis of the rules of Russian Grammar.

the child's education, and directs its decree. towards his happiness and improvements The child feels himself free amidst the general order that surrounds him, and is not deranged even by the talents of the childIn the year 1815, the number of peri-ren more or less distinguished. As success odical works of different descriptions pub-is not the object of pursuit, but merely lished in Russia, amounted to more than progress towards a certain point which all forty; but several of them have expe- endeavour to reach with the same sincerity, rienced the fluctuations of public opinion, Scholars become masters when they know or the difficulties of a first establishment, more than their comrades, and masters and the number decreased in the year again become scholars when they perceive 1816. The Academy of Sciences, and the any imperfections in their method, and beRussian Academy continue to publish their gin their own education again, in order to Transactions. There are also a number of become better judges of the difficulties atPoets in Russia, whose works contribute to tending the art of instruction. But though entertain the public; and some of them the school of Pestalozzi is confined to enjoy a distinguished reputation among childhood, and his education is to be contheir countrymen, who can best appreciate sidered final only for the lower classes, for their merit. that very reason it may diffuse a very salutary influence over the national character. foundation on which he may erect, as he In fine, his instruction gives every man a chooses, either the cottage of the poor man or the palaces of kings. How far this theory has been realized by the practice grounded upon it, will appear from the following extract taken from a Lady's Journal, who has been sometime on the Continent, connected with Religious Ob

HINTS, PLANS, and PROCEEDINGS

OF

Benevolence.

Homo sum:
Humanum nihil a me alienum puto.

PESTALOZZIAN SCHOOLS.
In these, it has been observed, "child-jects.
ren amuse themselves with their studies,"
not that they are given to them as a play,
but because they enjoy from their infancy,
the pleasure of grown men, which is that
of comprehending and finishing what they
are set about. The method of Pestalozzi,
is not entirely a new discovery, but an en
lightened and persevering application of
truths already known: it has been applied
with success to grammar, geography and
music; and he makes use of geometry to
teach children arithmetical calculation.
It is very singular and pleasing to see in
these schools the countenances of children,
whose round unmeaning and delicate faces,
naturally assume an expression of reflec-
tion, being attentive of themselves, and
considering their studies as a man of ri-
pened age would consider his business.
One remarkable circumstance is, that pu-
nishments and rewards are never necessary
to excite them to industry.

Pestalozzi places children in a situation to discover themselves, what he wishes to teach them. There are no half measures in his method, children either understand well or not at all; for all his propositions follow each other so closely, that the second is always the consequence of the first. Rousseau wished to subject the child to the laws of destiny; Pestalozzi himself creates that destiny during the course of

"At Yverdun we visited the celebrated Establishment of Pestalozzi. Madame de Stael gives an account of the System of Education carried on here, in the first volume of her Work on Germany; to judge by the specimens I saw, it must be very superior: At an examination (in geography) of five boys, of five to ten years of age, a large map of the iwo Americas was suspended on a wall; the master pointed to the spot he wished named, and the boys seldom failed in the answer. The mountains, rivers, towus, and political divisions, were all distinctly traced. When a thorough examination had taken place on one map, another was substituted, and in this way they went through the known world. They are taught geometry by fi. gures made in wood, and every boy in the school learns to draw all such figures as are formed by lines. This, Pestalozzi says, gives them a steady hand and a correct eye, and being purely mechanical, requires no genius; but if the pupil has the latter, it uaturally shews itself, and then he proceeds in his art. The younger pupils were drawing with chalk on slates nearly as high as themselves, before which they stood, and struck out the figures that were placed on the wall with a great deal of dexterity. We saw no other branches of education, but were told the same system

1

was pursued throughout. I ventured to | went to Naples; here he has been four ask the venerable founder, in what manner years, and is warmly patronized and very religion was attended to, and he assured much respected; but in the national chame it was his anxious wish to make that racter encounters trials and difficulties the foundation of all he taught. He re- which unwearied attention and exertion quested us to walk with him to the girls' can hardly surmount. Our first interview school, and here I was highly gratified with Mr. Hoffman afforded us so much with every thing I saw and heard. The pleasure, that we returned the next day, head of the female institution is about accompanied with two English gentlemen, forty, with a countenance and manners who were present at the mathematical exthat expressed great good sense and feel-ercise of the first class, and were much ing. I renewed my enquiries about the pleased with the facility with which they point of most importance, and had I been worked the problems, in writing, drawing, talking with one of the pupils of our va- arithmetic and geography, there were also luable monitress, Hannah More, I could examinations that were highly interesting. not have received more satisfactory answers. We remained the whole moring, and en. This excellent woman said her first aim gaged to dine the next day, when Mr. was to make her pupils good christians, Hoffman promised to shew us his method and then good wives and mothers; that of instructing the little ones. We went the education that was generally given was there at one o'clock, and dined in the favourable to neither character, and she school with forty boys, and saw that they was extremely anxious to remedy the de- were well fed and kindly attended to by fect by making the education of her pupils Mrs. Hoffman and daughters, who were as more solid than showy. The manner of full of domestic worth, as our host was instruction was the same as the boys. One of sense and every gentlemanly acquireclass of girls was learning to sing: they ment We passed the hours till six in had only four notes written on a very highly interesting conversation. When large slate fixed to the wall, and these they the little class came in, the examination were to sound till they were as perfect as began: I cannot attempt now to give it in possible. I could have passed the whole detail; I shall only say, Mr. Hoffman's day with Madame Niederer with pleasure aim is to teach a child to think and reason, and improvement, but our arrangement and by these meaus to become its own indid not allow of it. She is the wife of structor. He disapproves the use of books, Pestalozzi's principal assistant. The wor- because, he says, the knowledge acquired thy old man accompanied us to the inn, by them only exercises the memory, not and we gave him a supply of books, which the mind; whatever a child found out, was he said he had the means of getting trans- its own, and the great art of the teacher lated: Jones' Scripture Directory was was to assist the research, but never antiamong the number. I hope to visit the cipate the result: the advantage of this institution in the spring, when I will en- method is perceptible the moment a quesdeavour to gain a thorough knowledge of tion is proposed, for you see their little the whole plan. minds go to work, and continue the research without being the least distracted by outward objects. The arithmetical questions they auswered, surprised every one. Subsequent visits during our stay at Naples, confirmed us in our estimation of a system capable of producing such sound, such indestructable knowledge: its steps are hand in hand with those of nature, rising from the simplest forms and principles by just, gradual, and sure degrees, into all the dignity and sublimity of the works of an Almighty Creator, who has stamped his impress divine alike on the most minute and the most conspicuous. Children thus instructed are preserved from delusion, prejudice, and self-conceit; if all cannot ascend to an equal height in the scale of knowledge, all are equally sure of the point up to which they have been led; and the mind that attains but one pure unadulterated truth, is richer and happier

"NAPLES-In our enquiries about the institutions for public education, we were told of one kept by a Mr. Hoffman upon the plan of Pestalozzi; we went imme diately; our having been at Yverdun was a sufficient introduction, and we enjoyed a high treat for two hours in listening to Mr. H.'s ideas on the developement of the human mind, and the formation of cha racter. He is by birth a German, but had quitted his native city, Manheim, to avoid being under the dominion of the French. For ten years he resided at Yverdun Being much struck with Pestalozzi's system, he became one of his assistants; at length, being seized with an ambitions desire to revive the love of learning m the former capital of the naiverse, he removed to Rome; but after close examination, finding every avenue guarded by bigotry and supersti tion, he reluctantly gave up the idea, and

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