304 Nations lately become Literary. 



in the vulgar tongue; and among many other 

 works, caused a large edition of the Bible in that 

 language to be printed and scattered through his 

 dominions. He instituted also, besides schools of 

 less celebrity, in different parts of the empire, a 

 Mathematical school, a Seminary for instruction in 

 navigation, a Museum for the collection of curiosi- 

 ties from all parts of the world, and an Observatory, 

 for the promotion of astronomical science: in 

 short, he endeavoured, as far as possible, to trans- 

 plant, from all other nations, into his own coun- 

 try, every thing that appeared to him ornamental 

 or useful. By these means he produced a taste 

 for letters and science among some of the higher 

 classes of his subjects, and laid the foundation of 

 that general improvement in his empire, which has 

 since risen to such an honourable height." 



The establishment of the Imperial Academy of 

 Arts and Sciences forms an important aera in the 

 history of Russian literature. This institution owes 

 its origin to Peter the Great, who, during his 

 travels, observing the advantages of public societies 

 for the promotion of useful knowledge, determined 

 to form an association of t,his kind in his own 

 country. For this purpose, when in Germany, he 

 consulted Leibnitz and Wolf, and availed him- 

 self of their learning and experience in the forma- 

 tion of his plan. With their aid he at length com- 

 pleted the constitution of the Academy, and signed it 

 on the tenth of February, 1724, but was prevented 

 by his sudden death from putting it into effective 

 operation. His decease, how T ever, did not defeat 

 the laudable and well-formed design. The academy 

 was established by Catherine I. on the twenty- 



n For more minute Information on the subject of Russian literature than 

 it is convenient to give in the present sketch, see Coxe's Travels, and 

 Tooke's Survey cf the Russian Empire, his History tf Russia, and his Life 

 ff Catherine II. 



