advantages, and, like those of Livius and of Thucydides, not only furnish examples of eloquence, but abound in maxims of public policy and of sound philosophy. Machiavelli ranks high as an historian, and may be considered as the rival of Tacitus, whom he imitates, not indeed in the dignity and extent of his subject, nor in the veracity of his statements, but in the concise and pithy style of his narration.

These historians were preceded and followed by others of talents and celebrity little inferior; such were the judicious historian of Naples, Angelo de Costanzo; the Cardinal Bembo, Morosini, and Paruta of Venice; Adriani and Ammirato of Tuscany or rather of Florence; Bernardino Corio of Milan; and in general history, Tarcagnota and Campagna, not to mention Davila and the Cardinal Bentivoglio. In each of these historians, the Italian critics discover some peculiar features, some characteristic touches exclusively their own; while in all, they observe the principal excellencies of the historic art, discrimination in portraits, judicious arrangements in facts, and in style, pure and correct language. These writers, it is true, flourished for the greater part, at a time, when Italian literature was in its meridian glory, that is, during the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries; but its lustre did not cease with them, nor was Italy in the eighteenth century unenlightened by history or unproductive of genius.

Were I to mention the learned and judicious Muratori only, and close the list of Italian historians with his name, I should not be called upon for any further proof of the superiority of the Italians in the research, and combination that constitute the excellence of this branch of literature. So extensive is

the erudition, so copious the information, so judicious the selection, and so solid the criticism that reign throughout the whole of this voluminous author's writings, that his works may be considered in themselves, as a vast and well disposed library, containing all the documents of Italian history and antiquities, and all the reflections which they must suggest to a mind of great and extensive observation.

But to the name of Muratori, I will add another equally illustrious in the annals of literature, and like it capable even single, of fixing the reputation of a language of less intrinsic merit than Italian; I mean Tiraboschi, the author of numerous works, but known principally, for his Storia della Letteratura Italiana. This work takes in the whole history of Italian literature both ancient and modern, and contains an account of the commencement and progress of each science, of the means by which knowledge was promoted, of libraries and literary establishments, of the lives, the works, and the characters of great authors; in short, of persons, revolutions, events, and discoveries, connected with the fate of literature. It begins with the first dawn of science and taste in Rome, and follows their increase, decline, and revival during the succeeding ages; of course it includes a considerable portion of the general history of the country at each epoch, and conducts the reader from the first Punic war over the immense space of twenty intervening centuries down to the eighteenth. Few works have been planned upon a scale more extensive, and none executed in a more masterly manner. strict adherence to veracity; a thorough acquaintance with the subject in all its details; a spirit of candor, raised far above the influence of party; a discernment in criticism, deep and

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correct; and, above all, a clear and unbiassed judgment, principium et fons recte scribendi, pervade every part of this astonishing work, and give it a perfection very unusual in literary productions so comprehensive and so complicated. The style, according to the opinion of Italian critics, is pure, easy, and rapid, free alike from the wit that dazzles and the pomp that encumbers, yet graced with such ornaments as rise spontaneously from the nature of the subject. On the whole, it may be considered as one of the noblest and most interesting works ever published, and far superior to any historical or critical performance in any other language. The author intended it as a vindication of the claims of his country to the first honours in literature, and has, by establishing those claims, erected to its glory a monument as durable as human language, and appropriated for ever to Italy the title of Mother of the Arts and Sciences, and Instructress of Mankind.

The work of Abate D. G. Andres Dell 'Origine, di progressi e dello Stato di ogni Letteratura, is a noble, an extensive, and a very masterly performance. I have already spoken of the Revoluzioni D'Italia, by the Abate Denina; I need only say that to perspicuity and manly simplicity this author adds a great share of political sagacity, and a sound philosophic spirit. The same qualities are predominant in his discourses, Sopra le Vicende della Letteratura, a work which comprises, in a small compass, a great mass of information, and may be considered as a compendious history, and at the same time, as a very masterly review, of literature in general.

In antiquities the Italians are rich to superabundance, and can produce more authors of this description not only than any

one, but than all the other nations of Europe together. Among them we may rank the illustrious names of Muratori, Maffei, Mazzochi, Carli, and Paciaudi, to which many more might be added were it not universally acknowledged that the study of antiquities called forth by so many motives and by so many objects, is an indigenous plant in Italy, and flourishes there as in its native climate *.

For the last fifty years political economy has been a favourite subject on the continent, and in it some French writers have acquired considerable reputation. In this respect as in many others, the French may be more bold, more lively, and perhaps more entertaining, because more paradoxical; but the man who wishes to be guided by experience and not by theory, who prefers the safe, the generous principles of Cicero and of Plato, to the dangerous theories of Rousseau and of Sieyes, will also prefer the Italian to the French economists. Of the former the number is great, and from them has been extracted and printed in sets, as Classics, (in which light indeed they are considered,) a select number of the best, whose works form a collection of about fifty volumes octavo.

In Essays, Treatises, Journals, and Reviews, the Italians first

* En verite, exclaims the Abbé Barthelemi, on ne peut guere se dire antiquaire, quand on ne pas sorti de France!-Letter IV.

The same ingenious writer observes elsewhere-Il faut l'avouer encore une fois, ce n'est qu' ici que se trouvent des carrieres inépuisables d'antiquites; et relativement aux etrangers, on devroit ecrire sur la porte del Popolo cette belle inscription du Dante.

Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch' entrate.

led the way, and still equal every other nation. In the Sciences, they have been considered as deficient, but this opinion can be entertained only by persons imperfectly acquainted with Italian literature. To be convinced, that it is without foundation, we need only enumerate the astronomers, mathematicians, geographers, and natural philosophers, who have flourished in Italy from the time of Galileo to the present period; and among them we shall find a sufficient number of justly cele brated names to vindicate the reputation of their country, and to justify its claim to scientific honours.*

Here indeed, as upon another occasion, I must observe that Italian literature has been traduced, because its treasures are unknown; and that the language itself has been deemed unfit for research and argument, because too often employed as the vehicle of amorous ditties and of effeminate melody. This prejudice, is owing amongst us in some degree to the influence of French fashions and opinions, which commenced at the Restoration, was increased by the Revolution, and was strengthened and extended in such a manner by the example of court sycophants, and by the writings of courtly authors, that French became a constituent part of genteel education, and some tincture of its literature was deemed a necessary accomplishment. Thence, French criticism

* Les sciences sont plus cultivees a Rome qu'on le croit en France, says the Abbé Barthelemi, je vous dirai sur cela, quelque jour, des details qui vous etonneront.— Letter XXVIII.

Soyez persuade, says he again, que malgrè l'avilissement et le decouragement general, l'Italie fournit encore bien des gens de lettres dignes de ceux qui les ont précédés. Ces gens la iroient bien loin si ils avoient un Colbert a leur tête.