Retrospect of French Liteature—History. 
a view to the institution of a public fund 
for contributing to the relief of the dear- 
est relatives of a class of men, who, 
though they deserve every encourage- 
ment, have seldom an opportunity of 
procuring a share of affluence suitable 
to their real importance as members of 
the state, The object of this meeting 
was to deliberate upon the most efficient 
mode of putting these suggestions into 
execution; but no regular measures were 
adopted, though the public attention was 
excited in a considerable degree. An 
individual, present at the meeting, after- 
_wards threw out a hint intended for pro- 
‘moting the objects in view. He pro- 
posed that the co-operation and support 
‘of Dr. Adam should be requested in the 
most particular manner; these objects 
being thought highly desirable, both on 
account of the doctor’s prominent situa- 
tion as ateacher, and his extended influ- 
ence and connection. This hint was 
adopted without delay, and the rector 
benevolently lent a willing ear to the re- 
quest of his brethren. He exerted him- 
self among his friends in public capaci- 
ties, who could assist them in facilitating 
the completion of the plans which had 
been laid down; and he advanced from 
his. private funds nearly 370I. being the 
amount of expence incurred in procuring 
an act of parliament. Those friends 
who assisted the doctor in his laudible 
exertions exclusively belonged to that 
set of men, to whose endeavours huma- 
nity is indebted for the abolition of the 
slave-trade, and from whom, it is to be 
hoped, this country will yet derive im- 
portant benefits. Among these, the 
Hon, Henry Erskine, Francis Horner, 
and William Adam, Esqrs. M.P. were 
most conspicuously anxious in manifest- 
ing their attention to the rector’s wishes, 
At a numerous mecting of schoolmasters 
held at Edinburgh on the 18th of Sep- 
tember, 1807, thanks to these gentlemen 
were propused, and carried by unani- 
mous acclamation. It had been previ- 
viously resolved, that the members 
678 
shold “return their warmest thanks to 
Dr’ Adam, for the essential services 
whch he had rendered to the school- 
maters in Scotland, by promoting the 
enictment of their bill, and in advane 
cig the monéy for that purpose.” 
“his bill was intituled, “Aw Act, for 
raing and securing a Fund for the relief 
of widows and children of Burgh and 
Paochial Schoolmasters in Scotland ;” 
an includes a variety of minute regula- 
tios. These are not of immediate con- 
segence ; but it may be proper to give a 
brif sketch of the state and nature of 
the institution. The contributors are 
divied into five classes, The first is 
assssed in the annual payment of five 
guieas, and so on to the fifth, or lowest, 
with pays one guinea yearly, The 
sur thus raised is subject to various 
lintations, and is vested in trust, in the 
naje of a cashier, chosen from among 
the members. at the general meeting. 
Th widows of contributors receive an- 
nuies in proportion to the payments 
mde by the class to which their hus- 
bars may have belonged. A widow of 
a ontributor of the first class draws 251. 
peannum, and those of the fifth receive 
51. Dr. Adam was chosen cashier, and 
offiated, from the commencement of 
thc proceedings under the act, till his 
deh. The writer had occasion to 
knw, from his own observation, that 
hally a day passed in which the doctor 
dicnot perform some service to the in= 
stiltion, or shew his anxiety, in some 
maner, for its welfare. He was truly 
th: father of the measure, and he had 
th:satisfaction to see it increase in ex- 
te: and respectability. In the space of 
tw years, the contributors were tripled. 
Athe last general meeting, held in June 
1€0, the funds, after deduction of all 
exences from the commencement, 
‘apunted to 21201. and contributions 
we drawn from three hundred and 
thty subscribers. The numbers stood 
ths: In the first class 64, the second 45, 
ththird 64, the fourth 93, and the fifth 64, 
ny My 
HALF-YEARLY RETROSPECT O FRENCH LITERATURE. 
rt 
‘ HISTORY. 
“ CIUR VEtat Militaire de l’Empire 
Bysantin,” &c.—On the Military 
State of the Byzantine Empire, during 
.the reign of the Emperor Justinian [. 
ty Lawrence Encrrstorr, professor of 
istory and Geography in the University 
of Copenhagen. 
_ History no where presents a more 
agnishing phenomenon, than the conti« 
nid existence of the Bysantine empire, 
weh, although feeble at its very birth, 
ye was able to sustain itself for near 
ellen hundred years, in the midst of the 
mt imminent dangers; any one of 
wth would have proved sufficient to 
ovturn a great state. Sprung from 
atient Rome at a period when itself 
approxis 
