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merits of John Böschenstein, as a restorer of Hebrew learning in Ger many, interfperfed with other notices refpecting the study of the Hebrew language at that period. Befchenftein was the first perfon who gave public inftructions in Hebrew at Wittenberg, in the year 1519. He was fucceeded in the following year by M. Adrianus. Barthel. Scheräus is still lefs known, of whofe very fcarce works, defigned to facilitate the ftudy of the Hebrew and German languages, fome account is here given. 2. On the German orthography, according to ancient writers, and monuments of the middle age; containing fome ingenious and useful remarks on the nature of orthography in general, and fuch as may be effectually applied to the improvement of it in other languages. Ibid.

ART. 78. Aufgewählte Stücke aus den Dramatischen Dichtern der Römer, dem Plautus, Terenz, Seneka, und andern, zum öffentlichen Gebrauch der obern Klaffen deutscher Gymnaften, von D. Ch. D. Koeler, Rector des Gymnafii zu Detmold; Nebft einer Abhandlung über das Theater fin der Grichen und der Römer.-Select Paffages from the Roman Dramatic Poets, Plautus, Terence, Seneca, and others, for the Ufe of the higher Claffes in public Schools, by D. Ch. D. Koler, &c. together with a Differtation on the Greek and Roman Theatres. Stendal. 1794. 638 pp. in l. 8vo.

As, alfo, by the fame author:

ART. 79. Aufzüge aus allen Lateinischen alten Dichtern, die gervihn lichen und b kanten aufgenommen, für Gymnafien und Academien, Eriter Theil: welcher das befte und zweckmälligfle aus der Dichtern der goldnen zeit enthält.-Extracts from all the ancient Latin Poets, fuch only as are common and generally known ing excepted, for the Ufe of Schools and Academies. Vol. I. Containing the best Paffages from the Poets of, what is here called, the Golden Period. Halle, 1794. 184 pp. in 1. 8vo. Befides a prologus galeatus of 44 PP. Though in fcholaftic instruction the teacher muft generally confine himself to the leading and more approved claffical writers, it being from thefe chiefly that the learner is to acquire a competent knowledge of grammatical accuracy, and of the beauties of ftyle, it were, however, to be wifhed, for the fake of those who are defirous of acquainting themfelves with the characters of thofe lefs commonly read, that good felections were made from them, by which, without being at the expence of purchafing the whole of books, the editions of which are comparatively few, the ftudent might be furnished with an ufeful Chrestomathia of this kind. This, in effect, was the object of the two publications now before us, and we think them very well calculated to anfwer the purpofe for which they were intended; at leaft, if the teacher is likewife provided with good editions of the books them. felves, from which he may be enabled to draw the materials of his inftruction. In the former of the articles here announced by us, to which alone we shall reftrict ourselves, are contained: 1. Fragments from Ennius, which we are afraid that few school-masters theinfelves would be likely to understand, without the affiftance of notes; 2. Pieces

felected

felected from Plautus, the Captivi, with paffages from the other plays; 3. From Terence, the Heautontimorumenes, the Andrian, with extracts from the reft; all which excerpta from the comic writers, are here printed in the manner of profaic compolitions, without any divifion of them into verfes; 4, Parts felected from the Tragedies of Seneca; to which is annexed, from p. 513, the Differtation on the Theatrical Exhibitions of the Ancients, which comprifes, within a narrow compafs, every thing that can be faid, with any degree of certainty, on this fubject, of the difficulty of which Dr. K. appears to be fufficiently

aware.

By the fame learned author has alfo lately been published another work, entitled:

ART. 80. Die Republik Athen. Etwas zur Parallel der alten und neuen Staatfkunft. Skizzirt von Dr. Ch. D. Koeler-The Republic of Athens; or, An Attempt at a Comparison between ancient and modern Politics. Sketched by Dr. Ch. D. Koeler. Berlin, 1794. 114 PP.

in l. 8vo.

We have here a much more fatisfactory account of the government of this republic, than what is to be found in any of the ordinary Compendia of the Greek Antiquities, or even in the works of de Pau and Barthelemi themfelves; witten too in a ftyle which cannot fail recommending the author in the profeffion to which he belongs. It is certain that Statistics form the most important branch of the study of antiquities; and it is, therefore, with them that it is now generally made to commence. To this effay is prefixed the topography of Athens, which, as well as the reft of the work, fhows the author to poffefs no common fhare of philological erudition. Ibid.

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ART. 81. Lucius Annæus Seneca's phyficalifche Unterfuch ungen, aus dem Lateinifchen übersetzt, und mit Anmerkungen verfehn, von Fr. Ernft Ruhkopf, Doctor der Philofophie. Erfter Theil.-The phyfical Refearches of L. A. Seneca, tranflated from the Latin, and accompanied with Remarks, by F. E. Ruhkopf, &c. Vol. II. 299 pp. in 8vo. Leipzig, 1794.

Notwithstanding the great advances which have unquestionably been made in thefe ftudies by the moderns, it cannot be doubted that an enquiry into the hiftory of ancient phyfics, undertaken by a perfon. duly qualified for it, would be ufeful, at leaft, in reminding us of, and afcertaining, as far as may be, the merits of our predeceffors in this department of fcience. The prefent tranflation of the Quaftiones Naturales of Seneca is intended to pave the way to a further investigation of these matters, and we do not think that the author could, among all the phyfical remains of antiquity, have made a better choice. With an evident predilection for thefe pursuits, and other favourable circumftances, Seneca had ftudied not only the obfervations of former philofophers, but likewife nature herfelf; had collected materials in his youth, from which, at a maturer age, he had endeavoured to draw the proper refults; to which, at any rate, he has imparted a certain degree of intereft, by the peculiarly agreeable and at

tractive

tractive manner in which he has clothed his ideas. On this account, therefore, and independently of thofe further views to which Dr. R. looks forward, this muft neceffarily be an entertaining, as it is also an inftructive work. The title promifes a fecond volume, though the tranflation is completed in this which is now before us. In this will be contained the ancient Hiftory of Phyfics in general, which, whilst it will anfwer the purpofe of a valuable commentary on Seneca, and be immediately connected with the Tranflation, may however be read without referring to it. Of this volume we are led to form great expectations, as the Tranflation itfelf fufficiently evinces both the anxiety of the author to prefent the public with an exact representation of his original, and alfo his intimate acquaintance with the subject. In the Tranflation Dr. R. has made ufe of the edition of Gronovius, collated with that of Gruter, and improved, in a variety of paffages, by his own conje&ural emendations. For the immediate illuftration not only of the text, but likewife of the fubject itself, are annexed fhort, but fatisfactory notes. Among the author's conjectural alterations of the text, feveral appear to be, at leaft, very ingenious, fuch as I. C. where, in the place of poma formofiora, he propofes fubftituting Ibid. pema formâ majora, &c.

ART. 82. Philologisch-pädagogische Magazin, unter Beforgung des Hrn. Prof. Wideburg in Helmstädt. Zweyte (oder des Humanitiichen Magazins fünfier Band.-Philologico-pedagogical Magazine, published by Praf. Wideburg; Vol. fecond, or the fifth of the Humaniftifche Magazin. Helmitädt, 1794, 8vo.

Of this new volume the most important pieces are, 1. Biographical and literary Notices of Stephen Bergler, by Mr. Gurlitt; 2. By the fame, various Lections in the Writings of Sulpitius Severus; 3. Obfervations on, and conjectural Emendations in, the Text of the Works of Seneca, by 1. Albert Fabricius; as alfo a Comparison between the Heathen and Chriftian Systems of Morality; 4. The first Part of Obfervations on the Trachinie, by Prof. Höpfner; 5. Conjectural Alterations of various Paffages in Lizy, by Mr. Vofs; and, 6. Elogium, by Prof. Wiedeburg, of the late eminent Philologist Wernsdorf, to whofe fituation he has himfelf fucceeded. The pædagogical Articles being local, and therefore not generally of an interefting nature, we think it unneceflary to fpecify.

Ibid.

ART. 83. Differtationes Theologica et Philologice; fcripfit D. Sam. Fr. Nathan. Morus, Theol. Profefs. in Acad. Lips. Volum. fecundum; Leipfig, 1794 1 Alphabet, in 8vo.

The former volume of thefe differtations was published in the year 1787. In the prefent one are comprised the following effays: 1. De religionis notitia, cum rebus experientia ob-viis, et in facto pofitis, copulata, differtation I-V. 2;—2. Illufir. loc. Evang. Joann. cap. XII. 36— 503-3. De homine fubmittente je Deo, Diff. I.-III.-4 and 5. Åd locum epift. Pauline, Ephes. IV. 11.-17. Diff. I. and II. being the two lalt of his Programmata. The author does not dwell on the really obfcure expreflion is epyov dizxonas, nor on the and av aryany, buɛ

undertakes

undertakes to explain more particularly the καταρτισμόν των άγιων and the defcription of it in v. 13. The words vanta Tus disews, he chooses to render paritatem, instead of unitatem, &c. maintaining, in contradiction to other expofitors, that we are to underfland by them, that all Chriftians, one as well as another, will, each in his refpective manner, make progreffive advances in the extention of their knowledge, and the degree of conviction refulting from it. In conformity to the explanation given of it by most other commentators, he believes that by ηλικια του πληρώματος του χρίσου is meant the fame as by ηλικία πεπληρωμένη, (explete s. ήβα αιας) and that χρισου is added only to fhow, that the expreffion is to be taken allegorically. But he enlarges more especially on the words zupas T. aparar, to which he afligns the fenfe of inconflantic et mobilitas, or of fluctuans difciplina ;—6. On Ephes. I. 15, to the end of c. II.-7. Deferibitur teftimonium Dei Patris de Filio fuo, ad Jɔ. V, 31-47. Son of God must be understood of him who is alone properly and emphatically fo called, namely the Meffiah Carev, V. 34, is equivalent to the word ge employed in other paffages of the N. T. lucrars aliquem, to bring him over to a more jult way of thinking; the works of our Saviour (spy) to which he appeals, Dr. M. conceives to be here, as alfo in c. XIV. 10, 13, and throughout the whole of St. John's Gofpel, not fo much the miracles performed by him, as the bufinefs with which he was charged by God, his doctrine and his death, and that the teftimony of his father concerning him, can be no other than the prophecies in the O. T. respecting him, as appears likewife from v. 39;-8. Difs. de cognatione hiftoriæ et eloquentiæ cum poëft;—9. Difs. de commendatione veri fubtilitatis aceffione. Jena ALZ.

ART. 84. Alumbratio quæftionis de carminum Thecriteorum ad genera fua revocatorum indole ac virtutibus. Auctore Henr. Carolo Abr. Eichstadt. Leipzig, 1794. 4to.

It has already been obferved by other writers, and particularly by Manfo, in his additions to Sulzer's Theories, part I. p. 89. that it might be ufeful to reduce the feveral poetical compofitions afcribed to Theocritus, all of which, at prefent, bear the general unmeaning name of Idyllia, under diftinct heads, in order that we might be the better enabled to account for the different, and, in fome inftances, apparently contradictory judgments, which have been formed of their comparative merit. Mr. E. has, therefore, in this ingenious and well-written tract, prefented the public with fuch a claffification of them, drawn from the three leading fpecies of poetry, the lyric, the defcriptive, and the dramatic. Under the first of these divifions is ranged the threnus of Daphnis I. III. VIII. IX. To the fecond belongs the VII. Idyllium. The characteristic features of these two fpecies are here defcribed, with the difference obfervable in each of them in the fentiments, language, and verification, when compared with the compofitions appertaining to the third clafs. In the fecond Part of this differtation, Mr. E. endeavours to clear up fome doubts relative to what was by the Greeks called Mimic Poëtry, which feem, however, fill to want further elucidation. Of the pieces attributed to Theocritus, the II.

XIV. XV. and, perhaps, the XXI. are of that kind. He then proceeds to difcufs the opinion of thofe who maintain that fuch mimic poems were intended for reprefentation. Among the compofitions of Theocritus, thofe of a mixt kind may be faid to form a distinct claís, which, from their nature, have no difcriminating character; indeed it has not yet been perfely afcertained which of these poems really belong to Theocritus. With a view, in fome degree, to determine this point, we have here an excellent critique on the XXIV. and XXV. Idyllia. Of the latter of thefe, Mr. E. does not believe Theocritus to have been the author, but fupports, with new arguments, the conjecture of Prof. Beck, that it may probably have been written by fome Alexandrine rhapfodift. We are happy to find that our author is ac tually employed in preparing a new edition of Theocritus.

Ibid.

ART. 95. Bibliothek der ältern Litteratur. Oder historische Aufzüge, Ceberjitzungen, Anekdoten und Charactere. dus verfchiedenen theils fibaren, theils jeltenen Werken für die Liebhaber einer ernsthaften und nützlichen Litteratur. Gejammelt von Friedrick Pächtermünze. Erflies St.-Library of ancient Literature, confifting of hiftorical Extrači's, Tranpations, Anecdotes, and Characters, selected from expensive and fearce Books. By F. Pächtermüaze; Part I. Zuric, 264 PP.

in 8vo.

The compiler, who has accefs to a confiderable library, conceived that he should render a fervice to his country men, by prefenting them with extracts from fuch publications as are defcribed in the title; particularly from thofe which relate to Hiftory and the Belles- Letters. Among the principal of thofe contained in this volume, are some hiftorical notices refpecting the Orlando innamorato; but from which no idea can be formed of the nature of the poem itfelf. We muft likewife beg leave to obferve, that the dedication, the preface, and the Elogia, are not, in general, reckoned among the interesting parts of a book.

Ibid.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have no reluctance in acknowledging, in juftice to the late Mr. Falconer, of Chefter, that we had been misinformed in fome particulars refpecting that accomplished scholar. This we fay on the authority of his brother, Mr. W. Falconer, who informs us by letter that, inftead of being remarkable for indolence," he was always a very early rifer; feldom later than feven in the morning, and often at five. His permanent indifpofition, which lafted thirty-two years, often induced him to read in a kneeling pofture, and placing the book on a chair, or a bed, if in his bed-chamber. But this was not the effect of indolence, but folely for the purpofe of procuring a temporary refpite from internal uncalinefs, from which he

was

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