reign of his sovereign, by so fortunate an event: this great genius was well aware, that the surest mode of immortalizing the rames of kings, was the illustration of their reigns by means of important disCoveries in the republic of letters. But Frovidence, which chooses at different t mes to place different precious stones in the diadems of sovereigns, had reserved this oriental brilliant for the crown of Louis XV. It was pleased to allow a afew seeds of the Armenian language to be scattered in France, during the administration of one Cardinal, but reserved the entire conquest of Armenia for another: for the pen has its conquests as well as the sword, with this difference however, (very glorious indeed for the sciences,) that their acquisitions are of eternal duration; while those effected by arms, vary with times and seasons, and are restored, or withheld, by accident or -caprice."

Armenia indeed, never did make any gigantic acquisitions in respect to the sciences; but let it be recollected, that their progress was always greater than what might be expected, either from the genius of the age, or her own political situation. She always possessed writers who were famous for every species of learning; and it is a remarkable fact, respecting the nation in general, that it constantly exhibited the difficult art of allying modesty to science. None of the writers of this country ever affected to distinguish themselves by dangerous opinions; they never professed any but such as were useful to good morals, and the social order; they never were ambitious of any other giory than that of enlight ening the mind, of forming the heart, end of conferring happiness on mankind. Neither the violence of political convulsions, nor a long series of ills, could ever obliterate among the Armenians an ardent love for the sciences, commerce, and the arts. As a proof how desirous this nation ever has been to propagate instruction, notwithstanding the immense distance of its situation, it was one of the first to introduce the art of printing. Scarcely had a century elapsed, after this invention, when at Constantinople, at Ispahan, in the Crimea, in Holland, in the Indies, at Venice, at Trieste, and other places, Armenian printing-houses were introduced in succession. Of what important discovery can the Greeks and Romans boast that they were the first inventors? What sciences and arts did they possess, which were unknown in the

East? No, the Romans especially can not affect any superiority over Asia, but what proceeded from the fortune of their arms. It is on account of the celebrity of the oriental nations, that they were jealous of them, and that, the more ef fectually to hun ble the vanquished, they have placed truth herself in fetters, and rendered her the slave of their pride. There is no species of glory which these two European nations have not endea voured to usurp; and it is now high time to avenge a people outraged in respect to their honour, their glory, and their great men. To do this with effect, it is necessary that the means of rendering the intelligible to Europeans should be facilitated, and we shall soon have the pleasure of hearing the natives of the East pleading their own cause before us. It is natural that every one should be best acquainted with his own affairs; and we shall no longer run to Greece or to Italy, to learn the history of Armenia: it is from oriental literary mo. numents, we shall henceforth learn the records of the east! Several learned Frenchmen, Englishmen and Dutchmen, had all conceived the design of compo. sing a new Armenian Dictionary, but were prevented by death, except Father J. B. de Toxica, who was occupied during eighteen years in Armenia itself, in the execution of this difficult achieve. ment. He had already completed a large portion of his work, when he was obliged by infirmity to resign his task to Father Villa-For, of Alexandria, who employed thirty years in completing it, which was at length effected at Paris, by the aid of the society for oriental languages. It contains all the simple and compound words, as also all the proper names of ancient history, with a summary of the lives of the doctors, kings, princes, and grandees, of Armenia; the appellations of rivers, of mountains, of animals, plants, fruits, herbs. flowers, precious stones, &c. &c. In short, the interpretation of each word is extracted from the best authors, and their autho. rity is cited for every article; and that this work may prove useful to all the nations which are connected with Armenia, it has been translated into Italian, Latin, and French, which are the three most general languages.

We have thus far followed the author, who by way of enhancing the merit of the work, concludes by telling us, "that it has been examined by, and honoured with the approbation of, the learned so

1

Aiety of the Propaganda, and has also obtained the approbation of M. Lourdet, professor-censor of Paris!" These, assuredly, are no recommendations to an English reader; but the work itself abounds with curious historical details, and we trust that this sketch of it will not be deemed unacceptable.

GEOGRAPHY.

"Coup d'oeil general et histor. sur les changemens geographiques," &c. A general and historical survey of the geographical changes, as well as of the progress of the political and statistical sciences that occurred in 1808. By M. BERTUCH.

The epoch during which we live, is so fertile in events, and has produced so many singular and important changes, that the Germans already begin to com pose books, for the express purpose of registering the occurrences. M. Bertuch, in his " Geographical Ephemerides," has been at infinite pains to follow the career of Buonaparte, and point out, with his pen, those striking alterations which the other has accomplished with the sword.

"The summer of 1808," we are told, put an end to the continental war, and to the grandeur of a kingdom which had formerly become respeciable, in consequence of the personal talents of Frederick II. This state has been precipitated, as if by enchantment, from its former elevation, while, two new monarchies have been erected in the centre of Europe. This, and all the great events of the year 1808, are connected with the grand project of the aggrandisement of France on the continent, and the entire expulsion of the English from that portion of the globe, The events of Italy were but of little importance. The bounds set to the secular power of the Pope, the disappearance of Etruria from the catalogue of states, and the change of the sovereign of the two Sicilies, which would at any other time have set all Europe in flames, scarcely attracted pub. lic attention for a single moment. The King of Sweden had determined to contend with unequal forces, but all his efforts proved unable to save Finland. Byzantium has become the theatre of the most bloody scenes, and has changed its sovereigns twice; Servia is absolutely separated from the Porte. and there are

but a very few Pachas who now obey the orders of that court. Mean while, the eyes of the world are fixed on the great events now occurring in the west-on

"Every revolving year produces an augmentation of knowledge, both in respect to countries and nations. The harvest in this point of view has been eminently abundant, in the course of the last twelve months: for during this period, we have obtained not only all the intelligence produced by the travels of Messrs. Humboldt and Bonpland, in South America, but much information also from the voyage of M. Peron, in the South Sea. M. Robin has, at the same time, made us better acquainted with the internal parts of Louisiana, and 'Florida; while Father Paulin de Saint Barthelemi, and M. Sonini, have given us additional information relative to the East Indies. We still, however, impatiently expect the details of the Voyage of M. Krusenstera round the World. From time to time, we receive news of M. Setzen, the Ger man traveller, who is at present.in Ara⇒ bia. M. Haenki, a Bohemian, who sailed round the world with Malaspina, now resides in South America, and is busied in a narrative of the particulars. The Chevalier de Hoeglmüller has been prevented, by the wars there, from undertaking the journey projected by him to

the East.

"In the mean time, geography and to pography have been enriched in Germany, by the works of M. Büsching, con tinued by Messrs. Ebeling and Rühis, the Manuals of M. Liechtenstern and Stein, the General Geography of M. Stein, and of M. Schutz, together with the Physical Geography of M. Kant. Among the French works, the most remarkable in this point of view, are the "Cours Com plet de Topographie," by M. A. Moitie; and the Ephemerides Geographiques Generales." Statistical literature has been enriched by two theories, the one by M. Niemann, and the other by M. Butte. "La Literature de la. Statistique," by M. Meusel, was finished during the preceding year; and the "Tables Statistiques" of M. Hassel, were com→ pleted towards the conclusion of the present. The statistical science was invented in our own time, and has made a most rapid progress towards improvement. Any one may easily convince himself of this fact, by comparing the tables published by M. Randel, in 1784,

EUROPE.

inan.

1. THE FRENCH EMPIRE. "France has attained," we are told, "the height of power and of glory, by the extraordinary genius of a single The peace of Tilsit annihilated a formidable coalition, and restored tranquillity to the continent, at least so far as concerned France. Napoleon, leaving his armies on a foreign territory, for the purpose of ensuring its safety, has returned to his own empire, and his return has been followed by many changes, all more or less import ant for the purposes of administration; and all connected with the principle of that unity, so necessary for the safety of the state, and of the throne. The tribunate has been abolished; the number of the members of the senate has been augmented; a general government has been established beyond the Alps; hereditary titles and fiefs have been instituted, while a variety of great offices have been created for the purpose of augmenting the glory of the throne. At the same time, both colleges and the sciences have obtained a central point by the founda tion of the Imperial University; the criminal code has been moulded anew; a legislation of commerce has been established, and the civil administration of justice has been meliorated? The embellishments commenced in the capital, and in the interior of the empire, have been continued with activity; the treashres of art acquired by conquest in foreign countries, have been transplanted to the borders of the Seine; new canals have been created for the purpose of internal communication; old ones have been restored; while highways, which

display great genius, have been formed in various directions.

"The empire has been enlarged by the incorporation of the towns of Wesel, Cassel, Kebl, and Flushing; these, which are but of little importance in themselves, had been long under the influence of France, but they are useful for the defence of the Confederation of the Rhine, so strictly allied to the empire; and also of Holland, now (1808) governed by a prince of the dynasty of Napoleon. The occupation of Etruria and Parma presents a more brilliant accession; but those countries have been for many years regulated by France, and nothing was wanting but a formal union. France has been thus augmented by the addition of a surface of 458 square leagues, a po. pulation of 1 350.000 men, and a revenue of direct imposts, to the amount of 4,900,000 tranks. These two provinces form four departments, viz. those of the Taro, the Arno, the Mediterranean Sea, and that of Ombrona; so that the num ber of departments is now augmented to 114; and that of deputies to the legisla tive body, to $42. The 115th department was established in the interior of the empire, at the end of 1808; this is the department of the Tar and the Garonne, which is divided into three arrondissemens. Montauban is the chief town, which has at the same time been admitted into the number of those, the mayors of which are entitled to assist at the coronation of the emperor. In short, this immense empire, at the end of the year 1808. comprehended a surface of 16 78448 of square leagues, with a population of 39 $47,397 inhabitants, (consequently 2,344 individuals for every square mile) who are contained in 2,294 cites, and 104,000 towns or villages. This extent and population, are distri buted as follows: 1. The empire, properlysocalled 12,2771 $7,842,567 comprehends 2. The dependent principa lities

3. The colonies

Square miles.

Inhabitants.

of

of Europe. A French army has marched towards Lisbon, while the Prince Regent, with his treasures and his fleet, has gone in search of a new kingdom. The King of Spain has ceded his rights to the Einperor Napoleon, who has conveyed them to his brother Joseph, King of Naples; assigning the throne of the Two Sicilies to his brother-in-law Joachim, Grand Duke of Berg, who has resigned his possessions in Germany to the emperor. One por tion of the Spanish nation, with a view of opposing those arrangements, has commenced a civil war in the Peninsula; the English, who are their allies, have reOccupied Portugal, and the French in cheir turn have advanced against both."

II. THE KINGDOM OF ITALY.

"Several decrees for the internal administration of this portion of the French empire have been enacted; a consulta tive senate hath assumed the place of the legislative section in the council of state; the order of the iron crown has been augmented; the city of Venice has obtained great privileges; a treaty of Commerce has been concluded with Bavaria; an exchange has been founded at Milan; and the whole of the internal administration has been assimilated as nearly as possible, with that of France. The States of the Church, viz. Urbino, Ancona, Macerata, and Camerino, have all been united to the kingdom of Italy. Since the 11th of May, 1808, these provinces form three additional departments, viz. those of Metauro, Tronto, and Musone: these accessions have encreased the departments of the kingdom to twenty four, exclusive of Dalmatia. The number of towns of the first order, amounts to 126; the towns of the second order, to 272; the villages are 7,500, and the hearths 980,000. The revenues of the state are nearly 122 mil lions of livres, while the expenses in 1807 were calculated at 114,230,000 livres. The army consists of 30,000

men.

III. THE KINGDOM OF NAPLES.

"By conferring this portion of Italy, first on the brother, and next on the brother-in-law, of Napoleon, it was the intention of the government to regenerate state almost annihilated, and to awaken a degree of energy among the people, which has hitherto been vainly sought for within the walls of Naples. The only recent publication of any value that has lately appeared here, is entitled "Tableaux de Naples," and "les Lettres sur L'Italie."

IV. THE OTHER ITALIAN STATES.

During the course of this year, the States of the Church have experienced a great revolution; the secular power of the pope has been confined to a very limited extent of territory in the vicinity of Rome; the March of Ancona, together with Urbino, Camerino, and Macerata, having all been re united to the kingdom" of Italy. In 1792, the holy father, without reckoning considerable possessions in Italy, possessed the Counties d'Avig non and Venaissin, together with the duchy of Benevento, and Pontecorro,” which constituted an extent of 960 square leagues, with 2,100,000 inhabitants; but at the present moment be only retains Rome, with the Campagna, and the legations of Viterbo, Spoleto, and Perugia, comprehending 310 square. leagues; together with 620,000 inha bitants." Sicily and Sardinia, still obey their former masters; the Ionian isles are occupied by the French; Malta is incorporated with Great Britain, and as to Lucca and Piombino,they present nothing, remarkable.

V. SWITZERLAND, THE PAYS DE VAUD, AND NEUFCHATEL.

"These three states have not experienced any political change, during this year; the first of them, however, has been subjected to considerable internal troubles, and become also the theatre of some of the grand catastrophes of nature. Among the works which make mention of this country, we have distinguished the following:

1. L'Alianach Helvetienne,' which contains excellent materials for the geography and statistics of that country.

2. Alpina,' a work calculated to make the Alps better known.

3. Descriptions de quelques parties de la Suisse, ou la Catastrophe de la Valiée de Goldau.'

And 4. Mont Rigi,' sketched from nature.

VI. CONFEDERATION OF THE RHINE.

"This confederation, which has assum ed the place of the "ancient union" of the German nations, and which is under the. immediate protection of France, at present contains the whole of ancient Ger many, with an exception of the provinces of Austria, Prussia, and Denmark, together with such states as may have

These territories have been since seized upon by the French, and His Holiness himself has been conducted into the dominion of Bonaparte. Ed.

been

been incorporated with France and Holland. During the course of 1808, the Dukes of Mecklenburg Schwerin and Mecklenburg Strelitz, have been admitted into it. It is therefore composed, at the present moment, of the following Sovereigns, one part of whom form the Royal College, and another the College of Princes.

I. To the ROYAL COLLEGE belong,

The Prince Primate,

whose possessions consist of the principality of Aschaffenburg, the principality of Ratisbon, the county of Weylar, the city and territory of Francfort, together with the possessions of the Orders of the Empire: these contain 38 square leagues, and 174,736 inhabitants.

The King of Bavaria

possesses the circle of the Mein, Pegnitz,
Naab, Rezat, Altmühl, the Upper Da-
nube, the Lech, &c. having in all an ex-
tent of country, amounting to 1,636
square miles, and 3,231,570 inhabitants.
The Dominions of the King of Saxony.
"The kingdom of this monarch consists
of two different states, governed accor
ding to two different principles: that of
Saxony proper, and the Grand-duchy of
Warsaw. 1. The Kingdom of Saxony
contains, the circles of Wittenberg, Thu-
ringia, the remnant of the county of
Mansfeld, with the county of Stolberg,
and the circles of the Misnia, Leipsick,
and country of Wurzen, as also the Erz-
gebirg, with the sovereignties of Schoen-
burg, the circles of Voigtland and
Neustadt, the Bishoprics of Naumburg
Zeits, and Merseburg, the principality
of Querfurt, the Saxon part of Henne.
berg, Upper and Loser Lusatia, and the
circle of Corbus. In square leagues the
amount is 750, in inhabitants 2,106,294,
principal towns 264, second order of
towns 33, villages 5,976. The army
consists of 50,997 men. 2. The Grand.
duchy of Warsaw contains the depart
ments of Warsaw, Kalisch, Pozeu,
Bromberg, Plock, Bialzstok, with the
New Selesia. In square leagues the
amount is 151, the number of inhabi-
tants 2,177,000, the chief towns are
$87, the boroughs 27, and the villages
15,847.

The Dominions of the King of
Westphalia.

"This new kingdom, erected on the ruins of ancient states, has by degrees adapted itself to the constitution which has been conferred on it. The revenues are estimated at 37,375,000 franks, the

interest of the public debt at 4,500,000 franks, the civil list at 5,000.000, and the war department at 13.000.000. The amount of the public debt, in 1809, was 112,667,750 franks, and the army at present consists of 14,048 men.

The Dominions of the King of
Wirtemberg.

"This kingdom, which is also a new one, is divided into the twelve following circles: Stutgard, Louisburg, Heilbronn, Abringen, Caliv, Rothenburg, Roth well, Urach, Ehingen, Altdorf, Schorn dorf, and Elwangen. The extent in square miles is 329, and the number of inhabitants 1,181.372.

The Grand Duchy of Baden. "The provinces are three in number, viz. those of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Rhine; the amount in square miles is 275, and the number of inhabi tants 922 649. The revenues amount to 2,953,936 German florins, and the public debt to 18,000,000 florins.

The Grand Duchy of Berg and Cleves consists of the dominions of the houses of Orange and of Brandenburg, and is composed of Munster, Mark, Lingen, Tecklenburg, and Dortmund, 314 square leagues in point of extent, and 930,494 inhabitants. This territory was originally carved out by the sword of Bonaparte, for his brother-in-law Joa chim, now called King of Naples.

The Grand Duke of Hesse possesses the principalities of Starcken. burg and Upper Hesse, together with the Duchy of Westphalia: the extent in square leagues 200, and the amount of inhabitants 538.256.

The College of Princes is composed of the three following ancient members: 1. The Duke D'Arem. berg; and 2. and 3. the Princes of Liechtenstern and Leyen. The new ones are: 4. The Duke of Saxe Weimar. 5. The Duke of Saxe Gotha, 6. The Duke of Saxe Meinengen. 7. The Duke of Saxe Coburg. 8 The Duke of Saxe Hildburghausen. 9. The Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin. 10. The Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz. The Duke of Oldenburg. 12. The Duke of Anhalt-Dessau. 18. The Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg. 14. The Duke of Anhalt-Koethen. 15. The Prince of Schwarzburg Rudolstadt. 16. The Prince of Waldeck. 17. The Prince of Reuss, 18. The Prince of Lippe Det mold. And 19. The Prince of Lappe Schaumburg.

21.

The