translated into the Armenian language, and is of the fifth century. The academy proposes to publish the Armenian text with a Latin translation facing it.

RUSSIA. It is thought by M. Wormskiold, in consequence of observations made by himself in Greenland, compared with the reports of voyagers into the higher northern latitudes of North America, that the waters of Baffin's Bay, have a communication with the Northern Pacific Ocean, by means of Bering's Straits. To ascertain this, and, if possible, to terminate all further doubts on the question, it is said, is a principal object of the voyage now in progress under C. M. Kotzebec, son of the wellknown navigator, of that name; and M. Wormskiold, (who is by birth a Dane) is so thoroughly persuaded of his theory, that he accompanies the expedition in character of naturalist. It will be truly honourable to Russia, should this point be determined under the auspices of her flag.

By order of the minister for public instruction in Russia, Dr. Merkel has been invited to publish a Journal of Literature and the Arts, at Petersburgh.

GREECE.-New work publishing in Numbers.-Two learned Greeks, Messrs. Demeter Schina and Andreas Mustoxydi, propose to publish a periodical Collection of Greek anecdotes, selected from the principal libraries of Europe. They intend to publish every month a number, containing two sheets, to be had of the chaplain Theokletes, at Vienna. The price is one ducat for six sheets.

on.

AUSTRIA.—The Literary Journal of Vienna, formerly edited by Dr. Sartori, is continued with success under the direction of M. Hartmann, as also are the Patriotic Sheets, and the Conservator.-The Historical Archives, including Geography, &c. by M. de Hormayr, is also continued; but the number of original pieces contained in it is now greatly reduced.The Musical Journal is dropped; but the two Journals of Public Spectacles, the Dramatic Observer, and the Theatrical Gazette are still carried -Among the political journals the Austrian Observer, and the Gazette of Vienna, and of Ofen enjoy the most extensive sale.-M. Frint, cure of the chapel in the palace, has begun to publish a Theological Catholic Journal.-M. Andres continues to publish at Bonn, his Hesperus, and his Economic Newspaper, intended to communicate the newest discoveries and all improvements in useful knowledge.-Another journal publishing at Bonn is the Indicator, edited by M. Gurende.-Among the poetical publications, M. Castelli continues his Almanack under the title of Selam; and M. Erickson also continues his Almanack of the Muses. These publications, like most others, are compilations of good, bad, and indifferent: the selection is thought to be in favour of the latter.

In general, the booksellers of Vienna engage in very few novelties or speculations, because, during some years past, the dearness of paper and of workmanship at the press, has obliged them to put prices on their books which are much beyond those at which they can retail works of the same description from abroad.

THE

ANALECTIC MAGAZINE.

FEBRUARY, 1817.

ART. I.-A System of Universal Science.-Introduction: Considerations on the Divisions of Human Knowledge; and on the Classification and Nomenclature of the Sciences. Philadelphia, 1816. 4to. pp. 371.

THE

HE author of this work appears to be wholly adverse to system, and, at the same time, more enamoured of system than almost any other writer. In proof of the first part of this paradox, we advert to the fact, that the volume before us contains three hundred and seventy-one pages, which are divided neither into preliminary dissertations, nor essays, nor chapters; so that the reader is denied the privilege of all those resting places which, in large books, have hitherto been systematically afforded him. He gives us, indeed, preliminaries; but they are all mingled, here and there, with the alternations of the analytic and synthetic exhibition of his system. He records nine laws, by which we are to ascertain whether his system is a good one; divides all human knowledge into three provinces; gives us more preliminaries; proceeds to fix a specific termination for the names of his sciences; constructs his nomenclature for the subdivisions of the first province; and then, under the marginal notice of digression, introduces ten more preliminary pages, before he develops the remainder of his catholepistemia.' Besides, men not inimical to system let the public know, from the first page of a book, who its author is; but this child of genius permits us to guess the name of its father until the hour of expiration comes; in which we are informed, by way of climax, or catastrophe,-and the learned can scarcely say which,—that "The supreme court of the territory of Michigan commences its annual session on the sixteenth day of September; and there remains barely time for the performance of the journey.--A. E. B. WOODWARD.-Philadelphia, August 31st, 1816.' When the magical arts shall be revived, we

shall probably learn what connexion the session of the court of Michigan has with A System of Universal Science;' and shall then see, too, the reason of preferring this epistolary conclusion of a volume, to the ordinary mode of stating, in a title page, that this book is written By A. E. B. Woodward, judge of the supreme court of the territory of Michigan.' In proof of the latter part of the introductory paradox, we cite every page of the book under review, as well as the testimony of judge Woodward himself, that he has devoted a great part of his life to the systematization of human knowledge. It is strange, that the long and highly cultivated love of method, which the writer evinces, should not have induced him to adhere to something like system in the arrangement and discussion of the important topics treated of in the production on our table.

It is another peculiarity of our author to decline the quotation of authorities, and the acknowledgment of the passages, or of the expressions borrowed, or imitated,'-from a fanciful regard to a beautiful page, or an unbroken text.' Hence every reader must depend either upon his previous knowledge of writers, alluded to in the historical part of the work, or rely implicitly upon judge Woodward's opinions of his concealed authorities. We are informed that the Chinese maintained some principles of moral philosophy, that lord Verulam taught certain things, and that Locke, and Reid, and Stewart do not differ about the mode of acquiring the idea of duration,which we with deference deny; but if we should desire to satisfy ourselves as to the accuracy of the author's representations, we must review all the works of the Chinese, of Bacon, and of the rest; unless, indeed, we are so fortunate as to conjecture accurately what are passages for which he is indebted to his predecessors.-An inferior defect we conceive to be the use of such words as are not contained in any dictionary of the English language. We do not object to the introduction of new words, in the formation of his systematic nomenclature,― for they are necessary, and, when legally coined, should have currency; but to introduce terms which are not members of his new community, and which are not found in any classical writer, is always considered as censurable; and it is the more so, in the present case, because our author is by no means incapable of maintaining an uniform purity of style. The words 'dubiety, ecpyrosis, theophanies,' adyta,' andrapodistic,' luminosity, majuscular, embriotic, anthropic, dynamics,quadragintarian, dimensuration,' synonymic,' entomic,' and 'catachretic,' are not admitted by any English lexicographer, and should not have found a place in any scientific

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