N giving our view of the Foreign Literature of the year 1791, we fhall, in the first place, introduce to our readers thofe publications in the Ruffian dominions, concerning which we have been able to obtain fome imperfect information. And the first which we have to an nounce is, the "Nova Acta Acar demiæ Scientiarum Petropolitana, Vol. III." publifhed at Petersburg. This volume contains, the hiftory of the academy, down to the year 1785, in which we meet with no thing very interefting; a fupplement to that hiftory, confifting of fuch memoirs as have been prefented to the academy by thofe who were not members of it; and the academical memoirs, which are arranged under the heads of mathetics, phyfico - mathematics, phyfics, and aftronomy. The memoirs in the fupplement to the hifiory, are on fubjects in natural history, and mathematics; and were delivered in by M. O. F. Muller, M. Simon L'Huilier, citizen of Geneva, M. E. Block, and M. de Lambre. The moft valuable of the academical memoirs relate to the higher branches of the mathematics, and were the productions of the late M. Euler, M. Nicholas Fufs, and M. F. J. Schubert. The papers in the other claffes, were contributed by M. Euler, M. James Bernoulli, M. N. L. Krafft, M. C. F. Wolff, M. J. G. Georgi, M. J. J. Ferber, M. B. Zuyew, M. Steph. Ru moutky, M. Fufs, and-by M. John Albert Euler, who drew up the meteorological tables for the year 1784. This volume is not fo important and interefting as the preceding ones. At the fame place have appeared, "Select Economical Papers, from the Memoirs of the free Economical Society at Petersburg, Vol. I." pub, lithed in the German language, This volume commences with the history of the fociety, which was efta, bifhed in 1765, by prince. Orlow and contains a number of interefting economical papers, by M. J. G. Georgi, Mrs. Von Kelchen, chancellor Gronau, M. Lehmann, M. G. Orräus, M. Weinberg, M. Wagner, and various anonymous contributions.-At Peterburg, likewife, there hath been published “a Brief Introduction to Mathematical Geo Geography, and the Knowledge of the celestial Globe," by M. Staniflaus de Komar, a page of the emprefs, which is well fpoken of by the foreign journalists. interefting information relative to the hiftory of Livonia.- At the fame place M. Hupel has published" an Hiftorical Effay on the Coffacks," and other memoirs, which will fupply the general hiftorian with useful materials. At Riga, M. Hupel has publish ed" an Effay on the Political state of Ruffia, Vol. I." from materials with which he was fupplied by the minifters, and the fubordinate officers of government. This work is the most valuable and complete one, that hath yet been offered to the public, upon this interefting fubject. It contains an accurate and perfpicuous account of the different fubdivifions of the Ruffian empire; of the climate, population, and culture of each province; of the claffes and diftinctions eftablished among the inhabitants; of the public and civil law; of the imperial family; of the court, the army, the finances, the national induftry, the commerce, and the connexion of that empire with other European powers. We fhould wish to be better acquainted with this work, which has employed the attention of the author dur ing the course of thirty years.-At the fahe place, M. Freibe has publifhed a Manual of the Hiftory of Livonia, Efthonia. and Courland, Vol. I," and "Memoirs for the Hiftory of Livonia, taken from a Manufcript newly difcovered, and other Materials for northern Hiftory, collected by M. Hupel." The firft of thefe works commences at the period when the Phoenicians opened a traffic with Livonia for amber, and extends to the year 1439. The manuscript from which the latter is taken, was written about the year 1640, by Melchior Fuchs, burgomafter of Riga, and relates, chiefly, to the difputes between that city and the archbishop. From the labours of this induftrious hiftorian and antiquary, we may expect much At Petersburg hath appeared "a Sketch of a Defcription of Petersburg, the refidence of the Empress of kuffia, and what is worthy notice in the Neighbourhood, by J. G. Ge orgi, M. D. Fellow of the Academy of sciences, &c. in z Vols." This work is an important and interefting one; and will be acceptable to travellers, who may be defirous of vifiting that celebrated metropolis, or to others who may wifh for as accurate a knowledge of it as can be obtained through the medium of the prefs. In an Appendix, Dr. Georgi has added a sketch of the natural and aconomical state of the govern ment of Peterburg. At the fame place has been published a treatife entitled, "the Speaking Wall, or a Picture of what has been written and drawn on the Wall of the Garden of the imperial Corps of Gentlemen Cadets, illuftrated by Plates." This work contains an account of the emblems and infcriptions which the count of Anhalt has ordered to be painted on the wall furrounding the garden of the cadets. for their amufement and inftruction. emblems are appropriated to the different fubjects of their studies; and the infcriptions, which are in the Ruffian, French, and German lan guages, confift of thoughts, maxims, fentences, principles, precepts, lef fons, reflections, proverbs, dialo gues, queftions, notes, mifcellanies, withes, and problems, with faaps of hiftory, geography, aftronomy, natural hiftory, tactics, &c. &c. The book is given to the cadets on their quitting the fchool. S3 The When When we turn our attention to Swedish literature, the firft work which demands our notice is, "the Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Vol. XI. for the year 1790," published at Stockholm. This work, as ufual, is divided into four parts, relative to the different quarters of the year; and contains many curious and interefting papers on fubjects in natural hiftory, political economy, chemistry, me teorology, aftronomy, phyfiology, and medicine; to which is added, a hiftory of the academy for the year 1790, with defcriptious of the medals ftruck in the courfe of the year. Of the papers in this collection, thofe which belong to natural hiftory and medicine are by far the moft numerous. Among the refpectable names prefixed to the different articles, we meet with those of M. S. Fahlberg, M, O. Swartz, M. C. P. Thunberg, M. A. Modeer, M. P. J. Hielm, M. J. Gadolin, M. F. Von Paula Schrank, M. D. Lundmark, M. C. L. Nordmark, M. CL. Bjerkander, M. J. L. Ochelius, and M. C. L. Hellenius. At Stockholm alfo have been publifhed the Tranfactions of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Hif. tory, and Antiquities, Vol. II." The principal pieces which compofe this volume, difplay confiderable knowledge and tafte, and. appear with the following titles: hiftorical remarks on fome ancient gold coins found in the island of Oeland, by M. Engeftroem; remarks on the fcience of emblems, fo far as it concerns medals, by M. Adlerbeth; a view of the connexions of commerce and policy between Sweden and the Hanfe towns, and the effects of thofe connexions, by M. Flintenbeg; an enquiry how far the ancients ought to be confidered as models for modern hiftorians, by M. J. Hallenberg; and propofals and ketches for medals of great men, who flourished in the times of Guftavus Adolphus, and Chriftina, by M. Luth,-At the fame place a valuable work is publishing in numbers, under the title of "Swedish Archives," by M. Gioerwell, keeper of the royal library; who, after being diftinguished in the literary world, for more than thirty years, by the ardour of his researches, and the importance of feveral of his periodical works, has now entered on rural retirement, in which his object is to devote his application folely to a history of his country. The Thoughts on Agriculture, Mines, Manufactures, Commerce, &c. as a Memorial of Lewis, Anceftor of the Family of De Geer, the greatest Promoter of Manufactures in Sweden, in the preceding Century," published at Stockholm, compofe a mifcellaneous work, relative, partly to political economy, and partly to biography. Under the former head, it offers to us many interefting and entertaining obfervations on the ftate of agriculture, arts, fciences, and commerce in Sweden, from the reign of Guftavus I. to the abdication of Christina, and the mode of education, and manners of the times, which will be acceptable to the readers in general. The biographical part contains the life of Lewis de Geer, to whofe activity, reputation, and wealth, the manufactures of Sweden are so greatly indebted, that he may almost be confidered as their founder.-At the fame place hath appeared "aTreatife on the Swedish Iron Furnaces, by J. C. Garney," illuftrated with numerous plates. This ufeful and inftructive work, for which the author appears to have been well qualified, in point of knowledge and infor mation, was undertaken by him at the request of the Swedish mineralogical fociety. A tranflation of fuch a work in this country, would be peculiarly feasonable at this time, when immenfe new fields for the exertions of the metallurgift, are daily opening in different parts of the kingdom. In our Register for the years 1787 and 1788, we announced the publication of Dr. Sparmann's fplendid place has been published "the School for Scandal, a Comedy, in three Acts," written in imitation of M. Sheridan's celebrated drama; which met with great fuccefs and applaufe on its introduction to the Swedish theatre. The firft article which we have to to notice in our view of Danish literature is, "Nature confidered, after the Manner of Bonnet, by Tyge Rothe," published at Copenhagen. The object of the ingenious and pious author of this work is, from the contemplation of nature, both as a whole, and in its parts, to deduce clear and fatisfactory proofs of the exiftence of a God, who is good, wife, and powerful, all whofe cperations tend ultimately to the happinefs of his creatures. The introduction contains remarks on the importance of the study of natural philofophy to man's improvement, and the foundation of a rational belief of a deity; and a fhort account of the prefent ftate of that fcience in Denmark. This excellent work cannot be too ftrongly recommend. work entitled "a Collection of rare Birds in the Poffeffion of M. Guftavus Von Carlfon, Secretary of State." The lovers of natural hiftory will be glad to learn, that the proprietor of that noble collection, has been contributing to the extenfion of a science to which he has evinced a long and ardent attachment, by publishing, at Stockholm, "General Remarks on the Manners and Economy of Birds; being a Difcourfe pronounced on quitting the Prefident fhip of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, in the year 1789."—At Stralfund, in Swedish Pomerania, a work highly intereft ing to naturalifts has been publifhed for the utility of its defign, and ed, entitled "a New Magazine for Entomologifts, by Dav H. Schneider, Vol. I. Part I." Of M. Schneider the foreign journals fpeak in very high terms, as poffeffing every qualification for engaging in fuch a defign; a thorough knowledge of his fubject, a valuable collection of infects, and an intimate acquaintance with the principal entomologifts throughout Europe. At Stockholm have appeared "the Mifcellaneous Work of M. Lidner, in 2 Vols." M. Lidner is fpoken of as a poet of a bold inventive imagination, and great fenfibility, whofe works would be exceedingly valuable, were he more frequently to reprefs the exuberances of his genius, At the fame the fenfible, convincing manner in which it is written. It is a proper companion to the author's work, entitled "Philofophical Ideas on the Knowledge of our Nature, &c." of which we took notice in our laft year's Regifter.-Our next article is, the "new Memoirs of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences, Vol. IV. Parts I. II." published at the fame place. Among the most curious papers of which this volume confifts, are the following: proofs that the Baltic, at the time when the principal inhabitants of Norway and Sweden came out of Afia, did not cover the ground it now does, by M. T. Rothe; a defcription of a micrometer, for afcertaining the diftance of a body of troops, by M. H. T.Wegerer; remarks on Cato's Treatife de Re Ruftica, chiefly refative to natural hiftory, by M. C. F. Rottbol; on the Application of finking Funds, by M. J. N. Tetens; and on the Origin and Progrefs of the Spanish Inquifition, by M. Moldenhawer. At the fame place have been publifhed, "Memoirs of the Society of natural Hiftory, Vol. I. Parts I. II." This fociety is a private cne, and was inftituted in the year 1789, chiefly through the exertions of profeffor Abilgaard. And if we may venture to judge from what it has already done, it promifes to render important fervice to the interefts of knowledge and fience. The contributors to this volume are, profeffor Abilgaard, M. Vahl, M. N. T. Lund, M. O. Fabricius, M. L. Spengler, M. J. C. Fabricius, M. T, W. Troyel, and M. O. F. Müller. To the memoirs is prefixed a concife account of the fociety and its tranflations, by chancellor Suhm, one of its directors. The "Geometrical and economical Divifion of Lands, &c. by Niel Morville," publifhed at Copenhagen, is the work of an ingenious and fenfible author, which bids fair to prove of confiderable and extenfive utility. The object of it is, to unite geometry with agriculture; and to fhew in what inftances the ftudy of geometry, and even of algebra, may prove of great advantage in rural economy.-The "Extracts from the Acts of a Com miffion of Agriculture, inftituted to re-eftablish the rights of the Peafants, in 2 Vols." publifhed at the fame place, contain, many obfervations and remarks on fubjects connected with political economy, which may be ferviceable to the interefts of that fcience, particularly in the ftate in which it exifts, in Denmark, For thefe yolumes, the country is indebted to the patriotie attention and encouragement of the prince of Denmark, who, if we are rightly informed, employs his en. fluence and power in increafing the liberties and happiness of mankind; while moft of the other princes of Europe, feem to be struggling for the honour of being the most active confpirator against them-At Altona, J. P. Benj. Von Rohr-has publifhed "Remarks on the Cuiti. vation of Cotton, for the Use of the Danish Weft India Colonies, Vol.1.," which appear to be the result of long experience, and attentive obe fervation. To the planter of that article, therefore, they may prove of considerable use, At Copenhagen, M. P. F. Suhm, who is well known for his erudition and profound knowledge as an hife torian and antiquary, has published a fourth. volume of his " Hiftory of Denmark." This volume, in which the hiftory is continued down to the year 1095, contains a particular ac count of the Danish expeditions to England, Scotland, Ireland, the two Sicilies, and Greece, and of the difcovery of America by the Ice-: landers. The public is much in</ debted to the royal hiftoriographer, for the gratification which his la-ż borious and judicious: refearches have provided them. At the fame place have been published" Memoirs of the Literary Hiftory of Denmark, from the pofthumous: Collection of privy councellor Luxsi dorph, by Erafmus Nyerup, fecree tary to the Royal Library, in 2: Vols." Thefe memoirs are of great > importance to the hiftory of modern Danish literature; and will afford ample gratification to the critical and polite fcholar. The illuftrations which have been added by the editor, nes: flect honour on his learning, and: accurate attention to the fubject of the |