ART. 54. Catalogus Codicum Sæculo XV. imprefforum, qui_in_publica Bibliotheca Magliabechiana Florentiæ adfervantur, auctore Ferdinando Foffio, ejufdem Bibliothecæ Præfecto. Tomus primus. Præfidum permiu. A. R. S. M,DCC,LXXXXIII. 812 columns in Folio. Florence.

The name of Magliabechi, who, from a journeyman to a goldfmith raised himself to the honourable office of librarian to the Grand Duke at Florence, and became one of the most eminent literary characters of his time, is even on this account fufficiently known, and will indeed never be forgotten. He has, however, endeavoured to deferve ftill better of his countrymen and of the public, by presenting them fome time before his death, which happened in the year 1714, not only with his very large and valuable collection of books, but also with what fortune he had remaining, for its future fupport. By this aid, as well as in confequence of the addition of feveral other libraries, which have been left to it by different perfons, and the bounty of fome of the Grand Dukes, it has been fo much augmented that, both in point of number and value, it may vie with fome of the most confiderable libraries in Europe. From this truly noble treasure Mr. F. has undertaken to describe the printed books of the 15th century only, in the execution of which talk he appears to have conformed chiefly to the plan adopted by Mittarelli in his excellent Catalogus Codic. Mfcr. Biblinth. Sti. Michaëlis Venetiar. This first volume, which will foon be followed by a fecond, takes in only the letters A-H. The defcriptions are uncommonly circumftantial, and made with all poffible accuracy. To thefe are added fhort accounts of the lives of the different authors, drawn from the most authentic fources. As this collection was made in Italy, and by a man of the most distinguished literary character, we may reasonably conclude that it contains but few of thofe trite articles, of which the libraries in the convents of that country principally confift, and that we shall find in it the moft interefting of those works, for the greater part of which we are indebted to the cities of Italy, where the art of printing was firft chiefly exercifed, and which was at this period the favourite fear of teal learning. From the few annexed articles our readers will be enabled to form fome judgement of the value of this fingularly curious collection. Anthologia, Flor. 1494. Apollonii Argonautica, Flor. 1496. letter quadr. both in parchment. Ariftoph. ap, Ald. 1498. fol; Ariftotel. Opera, Voll. V. Ald. Bettin. a monte fanto, Flor. 1477 the first book with cuts engraved in copper; likewise the second edition Flor. 1491, with wooden cuts. Biblia Hebraica Soncin, 1488. Biblia Lat. Mogunt, 1482; Scriptor. rei ruftic, Regii, 1482. Catull. Tibull. Propert. Ven. 1472. Celfus, Flor. 1478. Ciceron. epift. ad famil. Venet. 1469; ad Brut. Venet. 1470; together with a variety of other original editions of the works of Cicero. Duranti rationale Mogunt. 1459, on parchment; Homer, Gr. Flor.1488; most of the original editions of Boccace and Dante; Apicius, Milan, 4to. 1498, described in col. 127, and differing in fome refpects from that generally known with that date. The Bohemian Bible, printed at Prague, in 1488, lately prefented to the library by the Grand Duke, &c. In a book entitled Fiore de Ver

tu, published at Melina, probably about 1470; one of the printers, both of whom are, as ufual, Germans, is called MAISTER JOHAN SCHADE DE MESSHEDE; a name, perhaps, hitherto unknown in the annals of typography and the other MAISTER RIGO FORTI DE ISERLON, unquestionably the fame with Maftro Rigo dalamania (Henricus Alding) who printed at Melina in 1473.

Novelledi Firenze.

ART. 55. De Prima Typographie Hifpanica ætate Specimen, Autore Raimondo Diofdato Caballero, Romæ, 1793. xxxvi. & 134 pp. in large 4to.

From this work we learn that the number of books printed in Spain in the fifteenth century amounted to 310, which appeared chiefly at Barcelona (Barchinone, Barcino) Burgi or Burgos, Salamanca, Saraga (Cæfar Augufta) Seville (Hifpalis) Toledo, Tolofa, & Valencia. To which of thefe cities the honour of having first introduced this impɔrtant art into the country is to be afcribed, cannot at prefent be fully afcertained. Our author conjectures that it might have been Valencia, where, in 1474, appeared a work entitled Obres o Trobes los quales tracten de Hors de la facratiffima Verge Maria Sermme provinciali, and what is more extraordinary, in the following year an edition of Salluft, without the name of the printer. From the lift of the perfons employed in this bufinefs in the different towns of Spain, we find that they were here, as well as in Italy, for the most part, natives of Germany; as Frederick of Bafle, Paul of Cologne, Petrus Hagembuch, Paulus Hurus of Conftanz, John Lufchner, John of Nuremberg, or John Pegnicer, Jobn Rafembach, Nicholas of Saxony, Nicholas Spindaler, Meinardus Ungut, &c. On the fubject of the Spanish Chronicle, publithed by Diogo de Valera, published at Tolofa, in 1489; our author points out two ridiculous mistakes, one in the name of the printer, who inftead of Henricus Mayer, has hitherto been called Henricus Enel from a combination of the two words in the beginning of the date Enel ano del nafcimiento, &c. and the other in that of the author, who has generally been named Mofes Diego, from an ignorance in the perfons who have given it, of the real import of the word Maffen, anfwering only to Don (Dominus), a proof, among a variety of others that might be adduced, of the neceflity of a competent nowledge of modern languages in difquifitions of this nature.

Ibid.

DENMARK.

ART. 56. Xenophons Sokratike Merkwærdigheder; efter den Grafke Original ved J. Bloch, Dot. Philof-Xenophon's Memorable Things of Socrates, tranflated from the Greek Original, by J. Bloch, &c. Copenhagen. 381 pp. in 8vo.

We confider this to be one of the most valuable philological and philofophical productions that have for fome years appeared in this country. It equally evinces the learning, the powers of inveftigation, and the tafte of the author, who, we truft, will meet with all

that

hat encouragement to his literary labours which they fo highly deferve. The tranflation is, upon the whole, accurate and fufficiently, elegant. In the notes, with which it is accompanied, we have met with much ufeful hiftorical and critical information, particularly concerning the ancient philofophy. We were, however, more especially pleafed with the excellent differtation prefixed to this work, on the Life, Character, and Opinions of Socrates, in which the author has own much ingenuity, and an intimate acquaintance with the best writers on the fubject, both ancient and modern. Ibid.

ART. 57. Bidrag til Beskrivelse over St. Croix, med en kort Ud over St. Thomas, St. Jean, Tortola, Spanish-Town, og Crabbeneilan af K. Weft, &c. Effay towards a Defcription of St. Croix, together. with a fhort Account of St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, Spanish-Town and the Ifland of Crabs, by C. Weft, &c. Copenhagen, 1793. VIII. and 364 pp. in large 8vo.

Of the various works respecting the islands in the Weft-Indies, that belong to the Danes, we have certainly met with none, which in point of valuable and authentic information is to be compared with this which is now before us. It does not indeed profefs to give a complete ftatistical defcription of them, but it contains fuch a variety of judicious obfervations on the manners of the inhabitants, with their private economy, as alfo on the natural hiftory of thofe countries, that it appears to be not only indifpenfably neceffary to thofe perfons who are defirous of forming a proper idea of thofe iflands, in particular, which are specified in the title, but it will likewife be found exceedingly ufeful to thofe who would wish to acquaint themfelves with the manner of living in, and other circumftances relative to the Weft-Indies in general.

This work is arranged under three heads. In the first, after a brief introduction on the neceflity of experience in our forming a judgment of countries, and modes of living different from our own, the author treats, likewife in three chapters, of the influence of the climate both on man and beast, and of the degree of information, together with the manners, of moft of the inhabitants, and of the negroes. Thefe laft he divides into three claffes: The free Negroes and Mulattoes, render little fervice to the reft, or may rather be faid to promote idleness and irregularity among them. Of the negroes ufed in the capacity of domeftics, the fituation is reprefented to be fufficiently happy. Even thofe employed in the field, experience more humanity, and are under a milder government here than in other parts of the Weft-Indies, though the author confeffes that there are, as there must be in all places, fome inftances of an improper ufe of the power poffeffed over them by their mafters. The accounts of the cruelties practifed in the flave-trade are but too well grounded. It is generally known, that the Danish government has been the firit to fix a period for the termination of this commerce, which does fo much dilhonour to human nature. Even the fituation of the negroes in this country would admit of great improvements, which would be equally for the advantage of the planters and of the ftate. What the author obferves on this head is highly worthy of attention.

1

In the fecond part the author treats, in two chapters, of the manner of living, and domeftic economy of the inhabitants. The expence of houfe-keeping to an ordinary family does not amount to lefs than 3200 marks of Danish currency annually; even an unmarried perfon who keeps a couple of negroes, with an horfe, and vifits refpectable company, cannot live for lefs than 2000. The net income arifing to government from St. Croix, when all the falaries of the perfons employed are deducted, amounts to 80,000 marks annually, befides z pro cent. on all the fugars imported into Denmark. In 1792, the total value of all the fugar and rum exported from these islands was 2,240,000 Danish marks. The number of fhips employed in the trade to the Weft Indies is about 30, and 500 men annually. In the year 1791, that of the inhabitants was 24,418, viz. 1946 white perfons, 926 free negroes, and 21,546 flaves.

The third part contains much useful information on Natural Hiftory, which in St. Croix is the favourite ftudy of the inhabitants. The catalogue of the Weft Indian plants defcribed here, and of which a further account is to be given by Prof. Vahl, extends from p. 267 to p. 314. In the inland of St. Thomas are reckoned 5266 inhabitants, coming from different nations, and in that of St. John not more than 2383.

The author's fhort remarks on the English island of Tortola, containing about 6000 inhabitants, the island Spanish-town, or VirginGorda, and the Ifland of Crabs, in which there lives only a fingle hermit, regard chiefly their natural hiftory.

Ibid.

ART. 58. Labyrinthen, eiler Reife giennem Tydfkland, Schweiz, og Frankerig, ved Jens Baggefen; II. Deel.-The Labyrinth, or Travels through Germany, Switzerland, and France, by J. Baggefen. Vol. II. 403 pp. in 8vo. Copenhagen, 1793.

As few Travels will be found more amufing or inftructive to general readers than these we cannot but regret that they are written in a language which is as yet but little understood by foreigners. In this new volume we are conducted by our agreeable guide from Pyrmont to Bafle through a country as remarkable for its manifold natural beauties, as it is likewife diverfified in the manners and civil inftitutions of its inhabitants.

Among the defcriptions of many ftriking works both of Nature and Art, which the limits of our journal will not allow us to specify, we shall point out only the Cathedral, or Minfter, at Strasburg; called by our author the higheft inhabited edifice in the world. The lower tower is raised to an heighth of 250 feet above the furface of the earth, from which to the fummit are 250 more. Even the most elevated of the Egyptian Pyramids was only higher by 15 feet. On the lower tower, exactly in the middle of the height of the whole tower, there is on a flab of black marble, placed under the clock, and fronting the platform, the following infcription, relating to a reservoir of water directly oppofite to it.

Terra

Thefe two volumes form one whole, under the title of Travels through Germany. The two following ones will contain the author's obfervations on Switzerland and France.

Ibid.

ART. 59. Kammerherre og kongelig Hifloriographus Peter Friedrich Suhms Samlede Skrifter.-Mifcellaneous Works of P, H. Suhm, Royal Hiftoriographer, c. VIII Vol. 1792, 432 pp. IX Vol. 1792, 386 pp. X Vol. 1793, 422 pp. XI Vol. 1793, 406 pp. in large Svo. Copenhagen.

&c.

Of the historical pieces comprised in thefe volumes, the greater part had already been published in the collection of the Society of Sciences at Copenhagen, and fome of them have been tranflated into German by Prof. Heinze.

The eighth volume contains three differtations: On the Commerce and Navigation of the Danes and Norwegians in the times of the Heathens, written in 1759; On the Danish and the Norwegian Commerce in the 11th century, first published in 1762; A concife Hiftory of Denmark, Norway, and Holftein, intended for the ufe of fchools, and of which three editions had before appeared.

In the ninth volume we have four pieces: 1. Thoughts on the Difficulties of the ancient Danish and Norwegian Hiftories; 2. History of the State of Danish Agriculture and landed Property, in three Parts, written in the years 1771-2, and forming one of the most valuable ar ticles in thefe volumes; 3. A Syftem of Chronology for the Ufe of Schools, originally compiled in 1773, and continued down to the year 1792, by Odin Wolf, by whom it has likewife been separately published: 4. The Lyre, a Tale, written in 1776, containing an allegorical Delineation of the Kings of the race of Oldenburg, including Chriftian VI.

The first article in the tenth volume is a fhort history of Admiral Subm, the father of our author, collected by the above-mentioned O. Wolf, from the accounts given of this noble Danish family by Muller. The fecond piece contains the character of Frederic Sncedorf, first drawn up in 1792, and of little importance. But the third and fourth articles, entitled Miscellaneous Thoughts, and written in the years 1791-3, are uncommonly interefting, as they exhibit a real treasure of

inftructive