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MISCELLANEOUS LITERARY NOTICES, 
BELGIUM. 
• A Royal Society of Sciences has been es- 
tablished at Antwerp, and, though it has 
existed only six months, it already boasts of 
many eminent names of foreign literati among 
its members, such as Alex, von Humboldt, 
Charles Dupin, Dr. Pariset, Alexander de la 
Borde,?De Candolle, Magendie, Ilufeland, 
&c. &c. 
As connected with literature, it may be 
interesting to some of our readers to be in- 
formed of a remarkable sale of the splendid 
and valuable collection of the late Count de 
Rinesse Breidbach, which was to commence 
at Antwerp on the 1st of October, for the first 
part, and on the 16th of May, 1836, for the 
second portion. This second portion con- 
tains 50,000 medals and coins, ancient and 
modern ; with a library of 700, works on 
numismatology ; a collection of antiquities, 
Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Celtic, German, 
&c, ; another of antiquities of the middle 
ages ; a collection of 4000 diplomas, 400 
seals, and 10,000 prints, — many of them are 
extremely rare and curious. 
DENMARK- 
The museum of nothern Antiquities has re- 
ceived many valuable ' additions during the 
last year. The third volume of the Arch- 
aeqnlogical Journal offthe society has been 
printed. The society has also printed a Ger- 
man translation of several of its most interest- 
ingarticles, illustrated with numerous plates ; 
but only for theGerman members of the society. 
Professor Olshausen of Kiel has announc- 
ed that the family of the celebrated Carsten 
Niebhur are now preparing, after a lapse of 
so many years, to publish the third volume of 
his Travels in Arabia. 
FRANCE. 
In the last member of this Journal, we gave 
u brief account of the great works relative to 
the national history of France, either projected 
or already commenced. We have now to ad- 
vert to a nevv society, the nature and gigantic 
plans of which merit a far more extended 
notice than our limits will here allow us to 
give, but to which we shall doubtless have 
occasion frequently to recur. Within the last 
ten years in new era has commenced in the 
study and composition of history. Every- 
where, and in all the sciences, the historical 
features are the most prominent; historical 
schools predomi nate in philosophy and juris- 
prudence ; systems and reasonings give way 
to pragmatic developments poetry (including 
romance) draws its materials from history, 
and the historian admits into his narative more 
and more of the elements of poetry. The in- 
tellectual and moral history of mankind is 
more and more blended with the political .* 
the history of the sciences and arts, of the 
ideas, the opinions, the domestic manners of 
nations everywhere accompanies that of em- 
pires, kings and generals. This conviction 
has given rise in different countries to asso- 
ciations in one and the same historical under- 
taking, such, for instance, as that under the 
direction of Uckert and lleeren in Germany, 
This too has given rise to the society establish- 
ed about sixteen months ago under the title 
of Institut Historique, which has become so 
extensive, has so many proofs of its activity 
to produce, and is about to execute sucl» va.st 
plans, that it is high time io call the attention 
of the learned world to it. The number of 
the members is about 800, of whom one half 
are Frenchmen, the others natives of almost 
all countries. Among the French members 
are Chateaubriand, Reinard, the Dukes of 
Broglie, Doudeauville, and Montmorency, 
Messrs, de Fizensac, ChoiseuI, Noailles, the 
Acadenticians, Micheler, Carnot, Destutt de 
Tracy, Lamartine, Bory de St. Vincent, G. 
Saint Hilaire, &c. &c. The historians, such 
as Thierry, Darn, Capefigue, Barante, of 
course belong to it. The Journal de I' In- 
stitut historique began in August last year, 
and appears regularly in monthly numbers of 
four sheets. Its chief value, as far as France 
js concerned, is, that it is the first example in 
^hat country of independent criticism. The 
gecond undertaking of the society is the Au- 
y^uaire de V Institut historique, which is com- 
posed by a committee of thirty members, and 
t|je Ih'st annual volume oi which will appear 
in January, 1836, and contain the political 
and scientific history of Europe for 1835. 
Another committee is engaged on a manual 
diplo'>^oitique. The commencement of a more 
intimfil.e personal acquaintance between the 
European historians is to take place on the. 
15th of November, for which day the Institut 
historique invites a great European historical 
congress to Paris, to which all the learned 
societies in Europe are requested t© send de- 
puties. This congress is to sit a fortniglit, and 
questions are prepared in all the classes of 
the Institute, which are to be submitted to 
this congress. But the undertaking which 
is of the greatest importance to Europe, and is 
unparalleled both in itsplan and the manner of 
its execution, is the Dictioa/iaire de V Insti- 
tut historique, which is intended to super- 
sede all existing historical repertories, and is 
to be composed under the direction of an 
association of historians of all nations and 
countries. The plan is as follows: — J’lie 
contents of the Victionnaire will be exclu- 
sively historical ; it will not go beyond the 
limits of this circle, which is itself so exten- 
sive, but it will embrace History completely 
and in all its phases, and comprehend 
equally Men, Events, and Things. By 'i'hings 
is understood whatever relates to the history 
of Science, Language, Art, to the develop- 
ment of human activity in Agiicnlture, Ma- 
nufactures Commerce ; and it will pay as 
much regard to tlte history of the manners and 
