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XXVIII. A Historical and Critical Introduction to an Enquiry 

 into the Revival of the Greek Literature in Italy, after 

 the Dark Ages. By PATRICK FRASER TYTLEK, Esq. 

 F. R. S. E. & Sec. Lit. Class. 



(Bead 2\st Feb. 1826'.; 



A HISTORY of the revival of literature in Europe, after its ex- 

 tinction in the middle ages, has been long a desideratum in the 

 annals of human knowledge ; and from the wide, and almost un- 

 travelled field, which such a history would embrace, and the re- 

 condite sources of information which rmist be consulted, it will 

 perhaps be long before any individual is found with sufficient 

 learning to estimate its difficulties, and yet hardy enough to at- 

 tempt to overcome them. Lord BACON * has presented us with 

 an eloquent and comprehensive sketch of the subjects which 

 ought to be included in a general history of learning. " The 

 task is none other (says he) than that of extracting, from every 

 possible source of information, a history of the sciences and the 

 arts, and marking the different a?ras, and the various regions in 

 which they have flourished. In this must be pointed out their 

 earliest origin, their progress to perfection, their travels through- 

 out different climes, and amid various tribes of people ; for we 

 know well that the sciences are migratory like nations. The 

 historian must mark them in their declension, in their somnolen- 

 cy, in their revival. In his attention to individual arts, he must 



* De Augmen. Sclent. B. ii. c. ix. 



