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must be evident, that so many important and necessary subjects of education must require the aid of another tutor, in order to their being properly conducted; and that no great increase of students can be expected till this aid shall be obtained.

The preceding plan has been arranged principally, but not solely, with a view to the education of divinity-students. The course, however, for the first three years, is adapted also to the education of young men designed for other professions, or for mercantile life. And as the lectures delivered in the third year are upon subjects, concerning which it is very desirable that lay-students should be wellinformed, in this age of scepticism and infidelity, it is much to be wished that parents would allow their sons to continue till that part of the course is completed. They might thus be the more surely confirmed in that good character, which is essential to their being admitted into the institution, and which it is the object of all the regulations established there to guard and improve.

There are at present seven divinity students the number of lay-students is five.

The treasurer of the institution is Ottiwell Wood, Esq. of Manchester, to whom, or to the Rev. C. Wellbeloved, Theological Tutor, York, the Rev. William Wood, Visitor, Leeds, Lewis Lloyd, Esq. Lothbury, or Mr. Kinder, No. 1, Cheapside, letters may be addressed respecting the admission of students; or for the transmission of donations or subscriptions.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the first and second July, was held the annual examination of students at the close of the session: it was numerously and very respectably

attended, and gave the highest satisfaction to all present. It comprehended the business of the whole session without the students being previously informed of the questions to be proposed.

On Wednesday the two Hebrew classes were first examined; the junior class giving a particular account of the structure of the language, according to Mascle's grammar, and translating several passages taken at random from the Pentateuch from Hebrew into English, and others from English into Hebrew; the senior class be ing examined in Lowth's Prælections, and reading, as before, passages out of the prophetick and other poetical books, one of them concluding this branch of the examination by a discourse on Hebrew poetry. In the classicks the whole of the students, who had this year read the whole of Tacitus and great part of Lucretius, read a passage from the former author, Mucianus's address to Vespasian; after which a Latin poem on the battle of Maida, and a Latin ora. tion on eloquence, were read by two of the students. The Greek classicks, which had this year been read were two plays of Euripides, one of Eschylus, a part of Thucydides and some Odes of Pindar; the students read a scene of the Hecuba, and another of the im encas; after which an Essay was read on the character and talents of Cicero, with a critique on his Oratio pro domo sua. The examination of the junior mathematic al class in Algebra and Euclid concluded the business of the first day. On the second the only stu dent in the fourth year was strictly examined on the sources of biblical criticism, with a particular ref. erence to the Old Testament; on the original languages, in which

we possess its books and the state Taste, on Sublimity, and on the of the text; on the several divisions tragedy of Othello. The two which have been made of them; higher mathematical classes were on the sentiments, which they sev- then examined in fluxions, and in erally inculcate on the nature and hydrostaticks and astronomy; and character of God, and on human the whole was concluded by an duty and expectations; on the sev- Essay on the Study of Natural Phieral Greek and Latin translations, losophy. The examination being on the works of Josephus and Phi- ended, the Rev. John Yates of Livlo, the Apocryphal Writings and erpool, in an eloquent address dethe Targums, with their respec- clared the high satisfaction of the tive use in illustrating the scrip- trustees in its result, and offered tures; and concluded by an elabo- to the students some very judicious rate Discourse on the Mosaick in- advice on the conduct and proper stitutions, and their probable in- application of their future studies. tention and use in preserving the The trustees afterwards dined toknowledge of One Supreme Being,gether at Etridge's, when some and exhibiting a specimen and proof of the moral government of God. The students in the third year were then examined in logick and metaphysicks, and one of them read an Essay on the controversy relating to Materialism, another, a Summary and Estimate of the Natural Evidences of a Future State. Those of the third and second year were examined in universal grammar, oratory, and criticism; and three of them delivered Essays on

interesting conversation took place on the best means of raising a permanent fund for making provision for a third tutor. Several very handsome sums were reported as being ready for a beginning to the accomplishment of this truly desirable object, and there is little doubt that with a little exertion of the friends of the institution an adequate fund will soon be estabdished.

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first in England. The first reading room, in my opinion, is the Athenæum. I send you herewith the regulations and the list of the library. The collection of books is, I think, the most select, I have ever known. O when will the day come,when the library of our dearly cherished Athenæum shall boast of including the labours of Muratori, the Thesauri of Grævius and Gronovius, the Scriptores Byzantini, the Memoirs of the Academy of Inscriptions, the editiones optime of every author of Greece and Rome, the French and English literary journals ab initio, and not only possess these books, but have them always accessible to every man of letters, who wishes to consult them! By inspecting the catalogue you will see that there is not a library in America, which contains so general a collection of standard works in every branch of knowledge. Here you may enter at any hour, and you will invariably find some busy in consulting authors, others taking notes, and others reading for amusement. If I were to enumerate the various works, which I here saw for the first time, I should fill this page with a dry catalogue. The modern works are all bound in the most superb style, and I must acknowledge, that I was never before so much tempted to deprecate the day, which should reduce the luxury of learning.

The Lyceum is a more elegant and convenient reading room, but its library is nothing better than a common circulating, or the Boston Social Library. The annual subscription to the Lyceum is only half a guinea, therefore many of its shelves are filled with wooden books. The Athenæum is cherished by the choice spirits of the place, the Roscoes and the Shep

herds, while the Lyceum is rather the resort of the loungers; the repository for books, which will circulate, rather than for those, which remain stationary to be consulted. Porson would find himself at home among the folios of the former, while a Cornhill apprentice might spend a pleasant hour among the miscellanies of the latter.

I have taken the pains to insert all the additions, which have been made within three years to the class of ancient authors, and of biography, from which you may judge of the general increase of the library, which is not less in any of the other departments of learning. I could not procure a complete list of the periodical publications, which are here taken, and the lis of newspapers was too long to transcribe. One table is entirely covered with new pamphlets. The collection of maps too is admirable, and among these are found large plans of London and Liverpool, in which every house is marked, and a most superb plan of Rome, at least twelve feet square.

I have met with several ladies of very superiour accomplishments. The institution of the botanick garden has drawn their attention to botany, and there is hardly a window in Liverpool which is not decorated with some of the choicest products of foreigh soils; and hardly an evening in this pleasant season, while the sun sets just before nine, when the walks of the garden are not crowded with fair forms, who decisively show, that the two kingdoms of nature, the vegetable and the animal, cannot be contemplated together, and that the interests of the one will infalibly suffer, if the other is present. The little book, which I send you, contains a charming address, writ

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ten by Roscoe, and delivered by him before the proprietors, at the opening of the garden. It has never been published; I procured this copy by the favour of one of

the subscribers, for whom only it was printed. It is worthy of being published in the Anthology, in order to promote the interests of our botanical institution at Cambridge.

For the Anthology.

BOSTON ATHENÆUM.

On peut même affirmer que, dans tous les temps, dans tous les pays, sous toutes les formes de gouvernement, les hommes puissans qui ont légué à l'histoire un glorieux souvenir ont constamment honoré la littérature, comme la plus brillante et la plus féconde des études humaines, le plus noble des plaisirs, le lien le plus doux des sociétés, l'ornement, la gloire, l'appui des empires et des républiques.-Dis. M. Chénier.

It may be affirmed, that in all ages, in all countries, under every form of gov ernment those powerful men, who have bequeathed to history the record of their glory, have constantly honoured literature, as the most brilliant and the most fruitful of human studies, the most noble of pleasures, the sweetest bond of society, the ornament, the glory, the support of empires and republicks.

WE congratulate the publick on the rapid advancement of this institution, so highly honourable to the liberality of the citizens of Boston and its vicinity. Soon after the publication of the Memoir concerning its history and objects,* one hundred and fifty shares, at $300 a share, (the number limited by the terms of subscription) were obtained, as also several life-shares at $100, and many annual subscribers at $10. The munificence of publick societies and private individuals in various parts of our country in richly endowing the Library is also worthy of the highest eulogium.

Among the many recent instances of publick patronage we have room at present only to record the following:

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Tableaux, Statues, Bas Reliefs et
Cameos de la Galerie de Florence
et du Palace Pitti. Paris.
1759. 1 vol. folio.
Retratos de Los Espanoles Illus-
tres con un epitome de sus vi

das. Madrid.1791. 1 vol.folio. Galerie des Peintres Flamands, Hollandais et Allemands. Paris. 1792. 3 vols. folio.

Les Adventures de Télémaque.--

Paris. 1773. 2 vols. quarto.
El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote

de la Mancha. Madrid. 1780.
4 vols. quarto.
Description de Monument qui vi-
ent d'être érigé á Rheinsberg.
1791. 1 vol. folio.

Fables Choisies mises

en vers,

par J. de la Fontaine. Paris.
1766. 6 volumes 8vo.

GEORGE GIBBS, Esq. of
Newport.

A splendid copy of Bowyer's edition of Hume's History of England, in 10 vels. folio, with plates,

has also been presented,accompanied with the following polite letter, addressed to the Trustees of the

Athenæum :

Stephen Higginson, James Lloyd, jr. Thomas C. Amory, David Humphrys, Thomas H. Perkins, Samuel G. Perkins,

Thomas Lee, jr. Isaac P. Davis, John Prince, jr. Daniel Sargent, Samuel Eliot,

Henry Sargent,

"Boston, 26 October, 1807. Thomas L. Winthrop, John T. Sargent,

GENTLEMEN,

At a meeting of a number of gentlemen, whose names are annexed, adventurers in Bowyer's historick lottery, the following votes were unanimously passed.

Voted, to present one set of Hume's History of England with the plates, to the Boston Athenæ

um.

Voted, to present one set of prints in commemoration of naval victories, to the same institution.

Voted, that Samuel Eliot and Jonathan Mason, esqrs. be a committee to present the said History and Prints to the Boston Athenæum, in the name of the adventurers in said lottery.

In conformity to the above votes, we have great pleasure in executing the commission with which we were honoured, by handing you the splendid edition of Hume's History with the plates, and four very elegant engravings, in commemoration of four British naval victories.

We add our ardent wishes for the success of your institution, so well calculated to promote a taste for letters, the best mean of cultivating general knowledge, and thus subserving the highest interests of society.

We are, gentlemen, with regard,
your obedient servants,
Saml. Eliot.
Jona. Mason.

Trustees Boston Athenæum.

Names of the gentlemen, who were the adventurers in Bowyer's historick lottery.

Jonathan Mason, Joseph Lee, jr. Timothy Williams, John Davis."

Among the many literary and scientifick establishments, which have been thought worthy of the patronage of influence and wealth, that of large repositories of books has justly been considered as most illustrious for its dignity, its importance, and its pleasures. The history of learned libraries is the history of power consecrated t learning. It celebrates the patronage of monarchs, the munificence of a splendid nobility, the support of a lettered clergy, and the liberality of cultivated gent: men. This generous aid of rank, opulence, and influence, proceeds from the intrinsick excellence of the subject. Whatever is intellectual is a portion of the supreme reason, and proportionally as it is free from corruption, approaches nearer to the fountain. The ope rations of this principle are recorded in volumes. The earliest of these is almost coeval with the primary institutions of society, and from that period to the present the mass of human knowledge, notwithstanding the diminutions it has suffered, and the obstructions it has encountered, has accumulated from age to age, and has descended from generation to generation, till its present possessors are captivated in admiring the variety of its parts, the beauty of its materials, or are lost in contemplating its extensive magnitude, its diversified splendour, and its irresist ible power. In most ages and countries,the great and the wealthy

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