German. Literature.—Hornemann the Traveller. 
time fince publifhed a very {plendid edition 
of Wieland’s Works; which, however, 
falls infinitely fhort of the prefent article, 
in point of grandeur, ornament, and beau- 
ty. This edition is enriched with 60 ad- 
ditional odes, which have never appeared . 
in print before. Each volume is deco- 
rated with a beautiful engraving, executed 
by JOHN, of Vienna, and reprefenting 
the facred and poetical Mufe. There is 
likewife a fmaller and le{s coftly edition. 
Voss has produced a very elegant and 
claffical tranflation of « Ovid’s Metamor- 
phofes,”’ in German hexameters.. This 
work was undertaken, by way of recrea- 
tion, after a tedious and paintul indilpofi- 
tion. VOss is now employed upona tran. 
flation of ** Virgil’s Atneid.”’ 
A work highly interefting to the lovers 
ofaftronomy, geography, travels, voyages, 
é&c, has made its appearance with the 
commencement of the prefent year, under 
the title of “* The Univerfal Geographi- 
cal Ephemeris,” by M. von Zacu, ma- 
jor and aftronomer in the fervice of the 
Prince of SAxE GoTHa. This work, 
which is publifhed in monthly numbers, 
forms a complete regifter of all occur- 
rences and tranfactions that relate to the 
above branches of {cience, giving a regu- 
lar account of all geographical and af- 
tronomical difcoveries, together with no- 
tices of new maps, and recent or intended 
journies and voyages of difcovery. The 
epiftolary correipondence is particularly 
valuable and inftruétive, being enriched 
with the communications of the [iteratz 
in every part of Europe. It is publithed 
at Weimar; and to every number is pre- 
fixed an engraving of fome eminent af- 
tronomer, geographer, tourift, &c. 
Inierefing particulars relating to Mr. 
Fornemann, the Gentleman lately deputed 
by the African Affociation, to explore the: 
Interior of Afyica. 
FRoEDKIC HORNEMANN, is the only 
fon of a refpectable deceafed clergyman, 
whofe widow refides at Hildefheim. 
Being intended, by his parents, for the 
ehurth, he ftudied divinity at Goettingen ; 
but his genius, irrefiftibly impelling him 
to purfuits of a very different nature, he 
returned in the fummer of 1795 to Goet- 
tingen, and waiting upon Dr. BLUMEN- 
BACH, proteffor of natural hiftory in that 
Univerfity, informed that gentleman, that 
it had for years been the mot fanguine 
with of his heart, to explore the. interior 
of Africa. He flattered him(elf, he ad- 
ded, that he pofleffed, in an eminent dezree, 
all. the phyfical and bodily qualifications, 
indifpeniibly requifite to give a probabili- 
449 
ty of fuccefs to the undertaking; and 
ever fince his wifh to engage in the expe- 
dition, had affumed the character of 4 
firm, mature, and well deliberated. plan; 
he had devoted his time, to thofe ftudies 
which bore analogy to his project, and 
had diligently coniulted every authentic 
fource ot information, refpeéting this 
vaft continent hitherto fo little Known to 
Europeans. He concluded with requett- 
ing, that Profeflor BLUMENBACH would 
recommend him tothe African Afiociation 
in London.. . 
The Profeffor defignedly raifed feveral 
objections, to convince himfelf whether 
his defign was the refult of fudden im- 
pulfe, or aétually founded in mature deli- 
beration. But HorRNEMANN gave fucn 
peitinent replies, and was {o well prepared 
for every objeCtion, that BLUMENEACH 
could no longer oppofe his wifhes, efpe- 
cially when he feund that his mother had 
acquiefced in the project. The Prefeflor 
therefore made feveral private enquires 
into his charaéter, which proved perfectly 
fatistagtory. He was informed, that the 
ufual difeales of infancy excepted, HOR- 
NEMANN knew ficknefs but by name; that 
nature had aflifted Kim with an excellent 
conftitution, that he was remarkable tem-- 
perate and abftemiows, ftout, athletic, in- 
detatigably patient of fatigue; of great 
vivacity and a chearful difpofition, and. 
that, in addition to his literary acquire- 
ments, which were great and truly re- 
{peétable, he pofieffed an adequate know- 
ledge, both theoretical and practical of me- 
chanics. BLUMENBACH now no longer 
hefitated to propofe the young adventurer 
to the African Affociation, through the 
medium of Sir JosepH Banks, who 
wrote word back: ** If M. HORNEMAN 
be really the perfon you deferibe, he is the 
very identical man whom we are in fearch 
oc 
This favourable reply BLUMENBACH 
immediately communicated to HORNE- 
MANN, who happened to be at that time 
in Hanover, and before the profeffcr could 
fuppofe that his letter had’ reached him, 
he was furprifed to fee HORNEMANN- 
enter his apartment (having Haftened im- 
mediately from Hanoyer on foot) to make 
the neceffary enquiries in perion. In the 
courié of one night, he dréw up @ moft 
excellent plan im writing, ~for the 
infpection of the African’ Affociation, 
which BLUMENBACH forwarded to Lon- . 
don, and, iva little time,received an an- 
{wer from the cominittee of the Affocia-~ 
tion, fignifying their-approbation and ac- 
ceptance of his friend, hitae’ 
Hors 
