Retrofpect of German Literature—Reviews, Sc. 
gontinuation of thefe journals and the 
multitude of romances can only be ex- 
plained by the number of reading- 
rooms and circulating libraries, which 
buy up every thing that bears the name 
of romance. 
HISTORY OF LITERATURE, REVIEWS, 
AND MISCELLANIES. 
We have already noticed, in fome of 
our former Retrofpects, the ‘* Ge- 
{chichte der Kiinite und Wiffen{chaften 
feit der. Wiederheritellung derfelben 
bis an des Ende des 18 ten Jahrhun- 
derts;’? (Hiftory of Arts and Sciences, 
from the Time of their Revival to the 
Ciofe of the Eighteenth Century), pub- 
lithed at Gottingen, -where the ufeful 
and copious Univerfity library fur- 
nifhes much affiftance towards the pro- 
per execution of fuch a work. This 
hiftory was formerly edited by Pro- 
feflor EICHHORN, but is now under 
the fuverintendance of Profeflor Hee- 
REN. Two continuations of it were 
publifhed at this fair, viz. a fecond vo- 
jume of the ‘* Gefchichte der Phyfik,”’ 
(Hittory of Phyfics), by Profefior F1- 
SCHER, Of Jena; anda fecond volume 
of the * Geitchichte der Poefie und Be- 
redfamkeit,”” (Hiftery of Poetry and 
Eloquence), by Profeflor BrEuTER- 
WECK, of Gottingen; and a firit vo- 
lume of the ‘* Gefchichte der Schrif- 
terklarung,”’ (Hiftory of Biblical Cri- 
ticifm), by Dr. MEYER, of Gottingen. 
The Rev. Mr. Buscu, paftor of Arn- 
ftadt, author of a ** Handbuch der Er- 
findungen,’’? (Manual of Inventions), 
of which a third edition has already 
made its appearance, has for the latt 
fix years been furnifhing contribu- 
tions towards the lateft hiftory of arts 
and literature in his ‘* Almanach der 
Fortfchritten der neueften Entdeckun- 
gen und Erfindungen in Wifchenchaf- 
ten, Kiinften, Manufaéturen und Hand- 
werken,”” (Almanack of the Progrefs 
of the neweit Difcoveries and Inven- 
tions in Arts, Manufactures, &c). 
which however excluded the fpecula- 
tive and pofitive fciences. This defici- 
ency bas, however, been Jately fupplied 
by Prefeflor BELLERMANN, of Erfurt, 
by the publication of a fimilar alma- 
m@ck for thefe fciencess 16 that a fuffi- 
cient provifion is now made for both, 
Both thefe almanacks comprehend the 
literature of Germany, and likewife of 
other countries.» Befides thefe contri- 
butions to the hiftory of literature in 
general, feveral publications appeared 
give very partial 
687 
on the literary hiftory of particular 
countries, giving either general views 
or accounts of the authors and inftitu- 
tions for the promotion of fcience and 
the arts. The diligent Profeffor Meu- 
SEL, of Erlangen, befides a new volume 
of his ‘* Bibliotheca Hiftorica,” con- 
tinued his ‘* Jetzticbendes gelehrtes 
Deutchland,” (Memoirs of living Ger- 
man Authors), and publifhed the com- 
mencement ot a * Lexicon der verftor- 
benen Schriftfteller Deutfchlands von 
1752 bis 1800,” (Biographical Dic- 
tionary of deceafed German Authors 
from the Year 1750 to 1800). Other 
writers have been employed upon fimi- 
Jar works, limited to fing!e provinces of 
Germany. 
In the “:Ephemeriden der Italie- 
nifchen Literatur, Gefetzgebung und 
Kuntt,”” (Ephemerides of Italian Liter- 
ature, &c.) of which four numbers have 
been annually publifhed fince 1800, 
M. Wismayr, of Strafburgh, has con- 
tinued not only to introduce to the ac~ 
quaintance of his countrymen the 
neweft Italian publications, but like- 
wife to inform them of the prefent ftate 
of literature and the arts,and with what- 
ever may contribute towards amore inti- 
mate knowledge of the country. There 
are a number of fimilar journals for fin- 
gle countries, fuch as ‘‘London and 
Paris,’ with caricatures. The ‘*Han- 
featicMagazine,’’ and many other perio- 
dical publications for fingle provinces or 
cities, were likewile continued: and 
the number of the journals devoted to 
foreign countries, was increafed by a 
*¢ Zeitichrift fir Ungern,” (A Journal 
for Hungary); a Swedifh Mufeum, and 
‘¢ Mifzelien der Ruffifchen und Mogo- 
lifchen Literatur,’? or, Mifcellany re- 
lative to Ruffian and Mogolian Litera- 
ture.) 
Criticifm promulgates her decifions 
in a great variety of journals; every 
literary fastion has its own, in which 
we are aflured that their own works 
are excellent, and thofe of their oppo- 
nents wretched productions. Such un- 
dertakings, lowever, feidom laft.long, 
if their, partiality becomes too glaring. 
The. moft.efeemed reviews are, the 
«Allgemeine. .Literatur-Zeitung,” of, 
Jena. The pian of it comprebends every 
branch of literature, arts, and {ciences. 
It has now exifted for more than twenty 
years: but during the laft three_or 
four years, has loft much of its autho- 
rity and value ; as it has been found to 
and unfatisfactory 
4. T 2 criticilms, 
