the Academy intended to consult, for a new edition of its dictionary. A catalogue raisonné of this collection, with notes bibliographical and critical has been printed. II. Editions of the fifteenth century, to the number of nearly four hundred, among which are the rarest editions of the Pinelli library, and many others, unknown. III. Books, printed on Turkish paper, or on marbled paper, or other coloured paper, of every age, to the number of 238. IV. Works, printed on vellum, of all ages, many of which are unique; to the number of 82. V. Many copies of works, printed on silk, silk paper, and India paper. VI. A numerous collection of novels and romances, among which are many not inserted in the catalogue of Count Bor romeo. VII. Several collections of editions, published by Bodoni; selected copies. VIII. Works in Science, of every kind. This class forms by far the most voluminous department of the library. Stefanino della Bella, Nanteiul, Balechou, Wille, Woollett, and Bartolozzi. The collection of the works of the last-mentioned artist, is one of the most complete that exists, amounting in number to no less than twelve hundred and twenty-four prints. Mushrooms; Instruction concerning. It must be acknowledged that in all countries there is considerable danger atyet, in all countries there is a strong desire tending the eating of mushrooms; and to obtain them, and use them as food. The Imperial Government of Venice has published an Instruction on this subject, that deserves to be noticed, and even to be made generally known. It is entitled Osservazioni, &c.-Observations on Edible Mushrooms; it is published with the approbation of the faculty of Medicine of Padua; by the Professors G. A. Bonato, A. dalla Decima, and V. L. Brera. of the inhabitants of the country; and is divided into four chapters. The first explains the injurious and even fatal effects, consequent on the eating certain species of mushrooms. In the second chapter is given a list of thirty-oue different kinds of mushrooms, and their varieties, which are found on the Venetian Territory; with their systematic names, their provincial or local This Instruction is intended for the use IX. Manuscripts, to the number of about four hundred, written, some on paper, others ou parchment. Many of them have been used by the authors of the dictionary della Crusca; many have never been edit-names, and the synonyms of several. The ed; and some of them are of the handwriting of personages and authors of the greatest celebrity. Sig Domenico Poggiali, son of the proprietor, and Sig. Francesco Pistolesi, are engaged in preparing a catalogue raisonné of this library for publication. To this library is added a collection of about twelve thousand engravings, ancient and modern, of the most fanious masters, all of them proof prints, or choice impressions, en vellum, India paper, &c. in colours, or plain. third division contains precautions to be taken to ascertain the dangerous species; and the fourth chapter marks the treatinent to be adopted, in cases of poisoning by mushrooms. The work concludes with a list of the principal works on the subject. Such works cannot be made too popular every year during the season, our newspapers record fatal accidents, from want of information and caution on this subject. POLAND. New University. Among the ancient masters in this col- It appears from the French papers, that lection, may be noticed Mark Antonio the Emperor of Russia, as King of Poland, Raimondi, Lucas van Leyden, Agostino has issued a ukase at Warsaw, by which Veneziano, Martino Schorel, Andrea Man-he founds a University in that city. The equa, Rembrandt, Eueas Vico, Martin Rota, ukase is in Latin. The University will be Lucas Cranach, &c. and among modern composed of five faculties: Theology, Jurismasters, Berwic, Sharp, Edelinck, Strange, prudence, Political Economy, PhilosoEarlon, Heath, Elmes, Smith, Morel, Ry-phy, and the Fine Arts. The Professors of land, Hackert, Bromley, Le Bas, Cochin, Moreau, Morghen, and many others. The works of Albert Durer offer a great number of rare and select proofs. The same may be said of the works of Callot, the first order will be declared nobles, and may trausmit their nobility to their descendants, if they have been Professors for ten years. The Rector of the University will be the Censor of all books published by the professors. PRUSSIA. Counsellor Graevell has published a tract, at Berlin, which has made considerable impression on the public mind. He examines the question, Whether Prussia really wants a Constitution? He notices the dangers of change, of re-action, &c. in strong terms. RUSSIA. translated a part of these formed into a table, into the Caraib dialect. The author possesses the original in the Empress's own hand writing. The further preparation of materials was afterwards entrusted to Dr. Pallas; and the first volume appeared in 1786, the second in 1789. The whole work is printed in Russian characters, and is accompanied with some observations on the pronunciation of these characters in the Russian tongue. Catherinens Verdienste, &c. Memoir on the comparative Study of Languages, pro- The work has always been rare at Pemoted and encouraged by the Em-tersburgh itself. The Empress gave it only press Catherine II. of Russia; by Fred. to individuals, and those not many, whom Adelung. Qto. pp. 210. Petersburgh, she deemed worthy of confidence. The 1816. Bookseller of the Imperial Court obtained no more than forty copies for circulation in foreign countries. What remained of the edition, which was but few, was deposited in the Cabinet Archives, from whence a copy was not to be procured without a special order from the Emperor. The Empire of Russia reckons more than a hundred different languages and dialects in its vast extent. Many learned men, and among them Leibnitz, entertained the notion of forming a universal vocabulary of all the languages in the world, in order to | obtain additional instruction on the origin, the filiation, the affinity, and the transmigrations of the various nations now scattered over the face of the earth. Leibnitz wrote on this subject in 1713, to the Czar Peter the Great, and in 1716, to the Chancellor Schaffirow; both these letters, printed in the introduction to the present work, are preserved in the archives of the ministry for foreign affairs at Moscow. M. Th. Jankiewitch de Miriewo was subsequently engaged to publish a Russian edition, which appeared in 1790 and 1791, in four volumes, quarto. This edition, now become equally rare, is sometimes sold among the books, proper for the administration of the public schools, at a high price. The third chapter comprizes Critical Analyses of the Universal Vocabulary, with certain Supplements and Additions. of Languages, and introduces several notices on the labours of various philologists dead, or still living in Russia. This project laid dormant till the reign of Catherine II. when it was executed, to- In the fourth, and last, chapter, the auwards the close of the last century. The thor discusses the influence of the UniComparative Universal Vocabulary, pub-versal Vocabulary on the General Study lished by her command, is the subject of the present memoir. M. Adelung has been assisted in his labours by a great number of manuscripts, bequeathed to him by the celebrated Pallas; by those found among the papers of Bacmeister, and by many other notices and communications, as well verbal as in writing. The volume has been printed at the expence of the Chancellor of State, Count Nicholas Petrovitch Romanzoff. The first chapter treats on the endeavours, made by various learned men in Russia to combine a comparative Dictionary of the Languages spoken throughout the empire, from the close of the seventeenth century to 1780. The second chapter contains the history of the origin of the Universal Comparative Vocabulary of Languages; with a detailed description of the work. The conception of this performance belongs to Catherine II. who engaged in it herself, during nine months of the year 1784. She collected in this time between two and three hundred radical words in the Russian language, and The Bible Society of Petersburgh, under the direction of the Counsellor of State M. de Turgenet, which lately published a translation of the Gospel of St. Matthew, in the Calmuck language, is about to publish a translation of the New Testament, in the Persian language. The Latin title of the Calmuck Gospel is in these terms, Evangelium S. Matthæi in linguam Calmucco-Mongolicam translatum ab Isaaco Jacobo Schmidt; cura et studio Societatis Biblica Ruthenicæ typis impressum. It forms seventy pages in Qto. Petersburgh, 1815. SWEDEN. The King of Sweden has commanded Professor G. A. Silverstolpe, of Linkoeping, Historiographer of the kingdom, to compose a History of Sweden and Norway, during the time the two kingdoms were united. At the same time, the King conferred on the Professor the title of Counsel. lor of the Chancery, with a pension. We have lately had occasion to describe our compatriots as injuring themselves and their Country, by the EXCESS to which they sometimes have carried principles good in themselves, and by the hazards to which they have exposed their property— their own capital-with that of others, borrowed with the intention of deriving services for mutual benefit. It is probable, that could we trace our Commercial Annals to early ages, we should find somewhat of the same disposition prevalent among them. But, not to go further back than to the period of the discovery of America, we find that event giving rise to undertakings executed with every exertion of that ardour which has ever distinguished Englishmen. Columbus brought to Europe gold: the successors of Columbus in the discovery and conquest of America brought gold: the desire of easily and rapidly acquiring that precious metal operated on others beside Spaniards; and the expectation of finding treasures yet unexplored, prompted the fitting out of many expeditions by private persons, for the purpose of further acquisitions. In this, our island took the lead; and the expeditions of Raleigh, and others, to the new world, are so many demonstrations of the speculative disposition of our countrymen. That those expeditions failed in their principal design, is well known; but they added the know. ledge of country after country, across the Atlantic, to the infinite advantage of the Public, though seldom much to their own. To the discovery of America, and of a passage to the East Indies by sea, we are indebted for much of the readiness with which commercial adventures of long course were undertaken these occasionally, though only occasionally, afforded great profits;-and their cost was forgot in the gain they produced. The evils of the following times at home encouraged a disposition to emigrate to America, and elsewhere, which was not diminished at the Restoration of Charles II. when thousands who found themselves obnoxious to the Government, withdrew to the western Continent, in search of safety and peace. : As discoveries advanced, the rumour of wealth attached to them spread more powerfully and extensively and the scale on which their concerns might be conducted became enlarged, daily, in the opinion of those who esteemed themselves knowing. The funding system, introduced by William III. at the close of the seventeenth century, with the establishment of the Bank of England, contributed greatly to direct speculators to the powers of combined capital, and they found that what was impossible to a few was easy to many; what even the revenue of the state could not accomplish, the subscriptions of a number of merchants had effected, and would continue to effect. They saw no limitation to the power of numerous associations, acting together in one body; and they perceived that this combination of power might be directed to an infinite variety of objects. Of this they took advantage: the turn of the Nation for Speculation afforded opportunity: the example of a neighbouring nation, impoverished by war, as well as England itself rouzed the passions of the multitude, and all anticipated the enjoyment of sudden wealth. The most astonishing instances of this mania were discovered in the famous South Sea year (1720) when the power of invention was pushed to the utmost, and was rivalled only by the power of delusion; in which, not a few of the simple kind only, were involved, but the whole na tion, with its most conspicuous characters, either openly, or covertly, We look back on that period with astonishment,—and yet, perhaps, could the sufferers under those projects have looked forward to some of the proposals which have found patrons in the present day, they would have felt at least an equal degree of overwhelming 969] Speculation. surprize. They would have seen Bankers without capital circulating their own securities!! to the amount of thousands and hundred of thousands; and the public accepting them without questioning their validity. They would have seen these carried into the most extensive and even hazardous concerns; and at last the system burst-like" the Bubbles" of 1720. Because the scheme of a traffic with the South Seas, from which the adventurers were to derive immense wealth, was the first and principal proposal of the time, that has given name to it; but, in fact, there were many others, equally fabulous -equally Bubbles. We have thought it might prove amusing to our readers, to see a specimen of some of them; which are taken from the Daily Post of Wednesday June 8, 1720. At this time the prices of these Stocks stood thus: Yesterday South-Sea Stock 770, 760 to 750. 325. The Annuities which have been subscribed into the South-Sea stock, are risen to a very great height, so that what would sell but for 1,500l. is now worth 8,000l. There is handed about town a list of Gentlemen's names who have got immense estates by the rise of South-Sea Stock, among which they insert one of the Directors of the South-Sea Company, who, they assure us, is worth three millions of money, most of which he obtained that way within these three months. Tis said, that the South-Sea Company being willing to have all the Annuities subscribed to their stock, offer now 45 years purchase for those which have not yet been brought in. The following are some of those proposals which then inundated the City of London. Hands of Messieurs Smith and Briscoe' Notice is hereby given, that several Persons of undoubted Character and Reputation, have determin'd to enter into a Coon that Advantageous Manufacture of partnership, in order to promote and carry making Dittis, (alias Manchester Stuffs) made of Thread and Cotton, will be taken in this Day at Mulford's Coffee-house behind the Royal Exchange. Where Permits will be deliver'd. To Morrow being Thursday the 9th instant, Permits at 6d. per Cent. will be delivered out, from 10 to 1, at the Hanover Coffee-house in Finch-Lane, for raising the Sum of 4,000,000l. in order to purchase Commons and Waste Lands, and enclose the same, by which Means they will be render'd fertile, and greatly enrich the Nation. N. B. This Design being of general Benefit, the Undertakers do not doubt but they shall obtain a Charter. To-morrow being Thursday, at Garraway's Coffee-house in Exchange-Alley, from Nine to Twelve in the Forenoon, and from Three to Six in the Afternoon, Attendance will be given to receive Contribntions towards raising a Fund of five Millions Sterling, as a Stock in Copartnership, to be employ'd in the buying and selling of Land, and lending Money at Interest, on Land Securities: An Undertaking more sure and advantageous than any ever yet propós'd; inasmuch as all other are subject to Calls for Money, to be laid out in Projects of certain Expence and uncertain Profit; whereas, in or towards this, no Person advances a Penney, but he will have good Security for his Money, the Moment he advances it; and the Money, tho' laid in or upon Land, will be The Scheme at large (containing many nevertheless a Market Commodity. N. B. other Advantages too long to be enumerat ed in an Advertisement) will be deliver'd at the Time and Place above mention'd. Whereas Subscriptions were taken in Yesterday at the Portugal Coffee-house from 120 Clock to six in the Afternoon, for carrying on a Copartnership for making Muslin and Callicoes here in England, in which Time a considerable part of the Money intended to be rais'd for carrying This Day, the 8th Instant, Books will be on and effectually prosecuting the said Design, was subscrib'd and paid into the open'd and Attendance given at 11 a Clock in the Forenoon, at the Ship Tavern in Bartholemew-Lane behind the Royal Exchange, for delivering out Permits for varrying on in Copartnership the Mill'd Lead Adventure, and buying of Lead Mines, in order to carry on the same to a great Advantage. Notice is hereby given, that Books will be open'd on Thursday the 9th of this In stant June, at the Sun Tavern behind the Exchange, No. 2, at Ten in the Morning, to receive Subscriptions for establishing and carrying on a beneficial Trade, under a legal Authority, for the better Improving and Increase of the Silk Manufacture, of the Nature and Advantage of which, more particular Satisfaction will appear in the printed Proposals at the said Place and Time to be given out. The Permits subscrib'd for at the Rain bow Coffee house in Cornhill, for the Improvement of the Soap Trade, and for importing of Oils and other Materials used in the Woollen Manufactury, will be ready to be deliver'd to the Subscribers this Morning at 10s. each, those that don't claim them in Time will be excluded the said Subscription. the Sum of four Millions Sterling, by way of Copartnership, for improving all sorts of Malt Liquors, and making the same at much easier Rates than hitherto. This Undertaking will be of prodigious Advantage to the Cities of London and Westminster in particular, and to the whole Nation in general, and much a greater Benefit to the Persons concerned, than any Undertaking yet extant, as will appear, even to Demonstration, by the Proposals at large, to be laid before the Managers when chose. N. B. Permits for one thousand Pounds each will be deliver'd ont at the same Time, for Two Shillings and Six Pence. Beaver Fur Society. Whereas nothing can conduce more to the Riches and Welfare of this Nation, than the Improvement of the Manufactures of all Kinds therein; and whereas the great Scarcity, and by consequence the excessive Price of Beaver Fur hath put a general stop to the Manufactury thereof, to the great Loss of the Public Revenue, and the almost total Ruin of the Furriers, Haberdashers, Hatters, and others concern'd in this valuable Commodity; these are to give publick Notice, that this Day being will be open'd for 2,000,0001. Sterling, at the 8th Instant, Books of Copartnership the Sun Tavern behind the Royal Exchange, at 8 in the Morning precisely, be euter'd, and on payment of 5s. (which where the Names of the Subscribers shall is only 6d. per Cent. to defray the Expence) intitled to one share of 10001. in this and importing the Beaver Fur at moderate Joint Stock, for carrying on, improving, Rates, vastly differing from the exorbitant Prices it now bears. Notice shall be given, Whereas several Gentlemen of Worth have agreed to enter into a Copartnership for making Looking-Glass after the Italian Chrystal Manner, for Looking-Glasses, Coach-Glasses, and Sash Windows; as also several other useful and necessary Things out of that fine Chrystal Material; and a Sum of Two Millions will be necessary to be raised, but not till a Charter is obtain'd, proper Means are already concerted to pro cure the same. Permits will be delivered out, at 6d. per Cent. towards the Charge of the Undertaker, at Cole's Coffee-house in Birchin-Lane, on Thursday the 9th instant.in a few Days, when Receipts are to be Whereas the Hollanders have done and do make vast Profit by extracting Oil from Rape-Seed, which they buy in Great Britain and Ireland at very low Rates, much above 1000 per Cent. Profit, by even supplying our own Nation; it is proposed by some considerable Dealers, to establish a Manufactory for Rape Oil, which will employ Thousands of Poor, and give larger Profits to the Proprietors than any Thing that has yet appear'd. Subscriptions will be taken at the Fleece Tavern in Cornhill, on Wednesday the 8th instant, at 10 a Clock in the Morning. This present Wednesday, being the 8th of this Instant June, at three of the Clock in the Afternoon, Books will be open'd at the Ship Tavern in Bartholomew lane behind the Royal Exchange, for raising given out to the Subscribers for 1-8th per Cent. to be paid into a Bauker's Hands, and, at the same Time, Directors for the speedy carrying on this advantageous Undertaking shall be chosen. N. B. The Projectors of this Scheme are lately come from foreign Parts, where Beavers abound in great Plenty, and altogether unknown to any that ever dealt in this useful Commodity before. This Day will be open'd by Subscription, at the Castle Tavern in Lombard-street, an Undertaking for the effectual carrying on the making of Joppa, and Castile Soap, (which will very much excel all the Crown Soap hitherto made in Great Britain) and as cheap, where Attendance will be given, and Proposals had Gratis. N. B. The Books will be open'd precisely at 5 in the Afternoon. |