In the notices, which we propose to insert in future numbers of the Anthology, of former American works, there is only one department, which we shall entirely disregard, and that is unfortunately the most rich in materials. Theology, or something which has been called so, is the subject upon which much of our genius and learning has been always employed, and not seldom wasted. chiefly the scholastico-theological scanty hints, which we find in the knowledge of that age, and the journals of foreigners. generation, which immediately succeeded them, inherited little more than the rags of their fathers ecclesiastical habiliments. The elegance of Queen Anne's golden age of literature seems to have had little cotemporary influence in this country. The clergy were still the principal writers of the times, and the character of a gentleman author, who wrote for amusement or fame, was almost unknown. In the interval between the commencement of the last century,and the establishment of literary journals in Great-Britain, may be found a few of the most rare and curious articles, which we shall be ⚫ able to present. Since the establishment of the Monthly Review in the year 1747, it has been the good fortune of some of our writers to have their works reprinted, and consequently reviewed in England; and the political complexion of this journal has,since the rev-, olution, given some of our authors an estimation, and procured some of our writers an attention, which others of not inferiour merit have failed to obtain. Still however we believe, that the connexion of this country with England has been just sufficient to place us in the train of their literature, where, like some of the last couples in a long procession, we have been rather overlooked through the weariness of spectators, than distinguished according to our real, tho' not pre-eminent merit. It would be an endless task to review even the works of tolerable merit in this class, which have issued from the presses of New-England alone. Here we are proud to mention the works of Jonathan Edwards, a man, whose powers of mind need not have bowed before the genius of Locke or of Hartley, and whose theological research, in a remote part of an unlettered country, would have been considered creditable to any divine surrounded with learned libraries, and aided by the intercourse of men of erudition. But we refuse to enter this field of literary history, because it is perhaps not only the best known, but would be also less generally interesting. Neither shall we trespass upon the ground of that respectable and industrious society, which has already published several volumes of historical collections; for their objects are rather archæological than literaary, and extend to the earliest periWe ods of our history, which are so remote, as to furnish little for our review. Still, however, we shall be happy to avail ourselves of their aid, and we especially solicit information, and suggestions on the subject of early American authors, which we doubt not their have received just enough attention to lead us to think too little of ourselves; and it is perhaps a just punishment of our want of national curiosity, that we have taken our notions of our own literary wealth from the partial and inquiries have abundantly enabled them to give. It is of no small importance to the honour of our literary history, that notices and anecdotes should be collected of authors and their works, before all their cotemporaries, or their immediate descendants, shall have left the stage. The fame of some men, whose works really deserve not to be forgotten, lives now chiefly in the recollections of their personal acquaintances. It will be our pleasure to revive, guard, and magnify their worth; and if in the great republick of letters their dignity should be still thought inconsiderable, it should be remembered that the emoluments of literature also were then inconsiderable, and the prospect of fame, from our intercourse with Europe, exceedingly obscure. Literary men have always, in this extensive country,been too widely separated, to enjoy the advantages of lettered intercourse. There has been little to excite emulation, nothing to generate an esprit du corps, and the hope of posthumous fame has, from our remote situation, always been too faint to stimulate to solitary exertions. It does not come within our plan to review works, which have appeared since the revolution, unless they are recommended by some peculiar, or hitherto unnoticed excellence. Within the last thirty years many domestick magazines and reviews have taken upon themselves the trouble of giving an account of works, as they appeared; but these journals, enjoying only a temporary and local importance, which it was necessary to preserve by not offending, have almost invariably praised without discrimination, and thus, as we think, kept our literature in a state of imbecility, or rather tinc tured it with a vain and presumptive spirit, not unlike that of a young, and ignorant pedagogue. Nothing seems at present to be in the way of our gradually taking a rank in the scale of literary nations, but our avarice; and the extraordinary opportu nities we have had of making money, as it is termed, are at least some apology for our immoderate love of gain. This is the sin, which most easily besets us,and debases much of the native generosity of literature. Romani pueri longis rationibus assem Discunt in partes centum diducere. DiFilius Albini, si de quincunce remota cat est From what we have said, it will perhaps be perceived, that the inquiries we shall make into former American publications, will relate chiefly to works of literature and scholarship. We shall not however entirely neglect works relating to this country, though published in Europe, by men who have lived or travelled among us. We are sensible,that we shall find much difficulty in procuring many books, whose titles and merit we know; and we particularly solicit printers, antiquaries, and men interested in the literature of this country, to furnish us with curious information, and with curious works. One of the objects of the Athenæum, which has been so liberally established in this town, is, gradually to collect all the American works of merit into one grand and accessible repository, and we now formally renew the promise, which we have formerly made, that any books, sent to us for review, whether old or new, shall be faithfully deposited there. The time we hope is not far distant, when this town shall possess an institution, and a library, which need not shrink from a comparison with any in this country, and be worthy of commendation even in Europe. The spirit of literary encouragement seems to be at last awakened among us, and it is not too late to redeem our char acter. We can never in this country possess many of the luxuries and elegances of the fine arts, but we may learn to enjoy the more refined and loftier elegances of literature and taste. These can never be entirely debased by sensuality, never can be completely pressed into the cause of corruption. God grant that our expectations may not be disappointed, for we think we discern the dawn of better days. Novus sæclorum nascitur ordo.' Col. Gibbs's grand Collection of Minerals. ONE of the most zealous cultivators of mineralogy in the United States, is Col. George Gibbs, of Rhode-Island. And his taste and his fortune have concurred in making him the proprietor of the most extensive and valuable assortment of minerals that probably exists in America. This rich collection consists of the cabinets possessed by the late Mons. Gigot D'Orcy, of Paris, and the Count Gregoire de Razamowsky, a Russian nobleman, long resident in Switzerland. To which the present proprietor has added a number, either gathered by himself on the spot, or purchased in different parts of Europe. The collection of M. D'Orcy is particularly rich in the productions of the French mines: Such as the phosphates, carbonates, and molybdates of lead; the iron ores of Bangory, Framont, and the Isle of Elba; the silver of St. Maria and d'Allemont; the mercury of Deuxponts; a great variety of marbles, calcedonies and agates, quartz, calcareous, and other spars from France and different parts of Europe. The collection of the Count Razamow Vol. V. No. 1. H sky consists chiefly of the minerals of the Russian empire. It is particularly rich in gold and copper ores, chromates of lead, the native iron of Pallas, Beryls, Jaspers, &c. The Russian specimens alone are about six thousand in number. The remainder are chiefly German and Swiss. To these Mr. Gibbs has added all the newly discovered minerals, a complete collection of English, Swiss, and Italian specimens, including the ancient marbles, porphyries, &c. the muriates and carbonates of copper from Chili; the spinel and oriental rubies, of which this is the third complete collection existing. Also, a large geological collection. The whole consists of about twenty thousand specimens. A small part of this collection was opened to amateurs at Rhode-Island, the last summer, and the next, if circumstances permit, the remainder will be exposed. In giving this account of a collection, so much wished for in the United States, it may be justly acknowledged, that it is principally by the assistance of the sçavans of France, that it was rendered so complete ; and that if it should prove useful to our country, the proprietor will share the pleasure with De d'Aumont, Daubuison, Struvo and Bournon. Medical College of Maryland. The legislature of Maryland, on the 18th of December, 1807, passed "An Act for Founding a Medical College in the City or Precincts of Baltimore, for the Instruction of Students in the different Branches of Medicine." This institution is established upon a liberal plan, and incorporated in perpetuity. It consists of a board called the Regents of the College of Medicine of Maryland, formed from the existing board of medical examiners for the commonwealth and the president and professors appointed by the act. It may hold a property to a value not exceeding thirty thousand dollars, exclusive of a lot and buildings. The regents may appoint professors and lecturers, who shall form one learned body, under the name of the Medical Faculty; with power to choose their dean, and to do what is necessary for conveying instruction and supporting discipline. The Regents must meet at least once a year. The faculty shall hold at least one term annually, to begin on the first Monday in November, and continue not less than four nor more than six months. At convenient times, commencements may be held, and degrees in surgery and medicine be granted, after due examination and other proofs of sufficiency. Each student must have attended each course of lectures at least once, and frequented the Classes of the College for two terms; and he must also have been privately and publickly examined, and have printed and defended a thesis, before he can be admitted to the honours of the College. The Professors appointed by the act, are, John B. Davidge, M. D. and James Cocke, M. D. joint Professors of Anatomy, Surgery, and Physiology. George Brown, M. D. Professor of the Practice and Theory of Medicine. John Shaw, M. D. Professor of Chemistry. Thomas E. Bond, M. D. Professor of Materia Medica. William Donaldson, M. D. Professor of the Institutes of Medicine. The Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland are appoineed the Patrons and Visitors of the College; and their President is declared to be the Chancellor. Baudeloc que's Midwifery. Dr. W. P. Dewees, who has been many years known to the public as an eminent teacher of midwifery at Philadelphia, and whose publications on that subject have gained a high degree of approbation, has lately presented to the publick "An Abridgement of Mr. Heath's Translation of Baudelocque's Midwifery." This abridgement is also accompanied by notes, which add greatly to the value of the work. Analysis of Balltown Waters communicated by Dr. D. Hosack to Dr. Miller of New York. Presuming that an accurate knowledge of the composition of Balltown waters may be of publick benefit, and lead to a more general use of this valuable article of the Materia Medica, I request the favour of you to give place in your Repository to the following analysis, which has been made in France by one of her most celebrated chemists. It may be proper to remark, that the water was carefully sealed at the Spring, and conveyed by a gentleman who had been in the habit of drinking it. He observes, "On my arrival at Paris, I drank two bottles of water, and found no difference in the taste or effect from that experienced last year at Balltown, from which I conclude that it suffers no alteration from transportation." Analysis of a bottle of Balltown water, containing twenty-five ounces :...1. Carbonick acid gas, or fixed air, three times its bulk. 2. Muriate of soda, or marine salt, thirty-one grains. 3. carbonate of lime, supersaturated, twenty-two grains. 4. Muriate of magnesia, twelve and an half grains. 5. Muriate of lime, five grains. 6. Carbonate of iron, four grains. The chemist proceeds to add, "No mineral water of our continent is so rich in saline substances of this sort. That of Vichy, which is in great repute, does not contain more than the tenth of a grain of the carbonate of iron to a bottle; while that of Balltown contains four grains And it is chiefly to the iron that these waters owe their tonick and deobstruent qualities. Another advantage of the American mineral water is, that by its gentle cathartick operation, it is no less calculated to evacuate bile, than to give tone to the vascular system. On these accounts it is a valuable remedy in a great variety of diseases of debility, and appears to be formed by nature in the best possible proportions to give it efficacy." He adds, "I have no doubt, when known, it must become an important object of commerce." Two inferences worthy of notice are to be deduced from the above analysis of this powerful chalybeate; that in some diseases, as in consumption of the lungs, it has hitherto been improperly employed; but that there are also many others, for which it has not been generally used, and in which it promises to be of great value. 'London, Nov. 1807. Mr. Thelwall commenced on Monday the 26th, at the Institution for the Improvement of English Oratory, and the Cure of Impediments, a course of miscellaneous lectures on the genius, composition, and utterance of the English language, and on the means of improving our national elocution; including strictures on the causes of the customary defects in reading, recitation, publick speaking, and conversational delivery; with criticisms on the elocution of the senate, bar, pulpit, and stage, and sketches of several of the most celebrated characters of the present, and the preceding generation. The lectures are to be accompanied with readings and recitations from Milton, Shakespeare, Dryden,Johnson, Sterne, Goldsmith, and other celebrated writers; and with oratorical and critical dissertations on literary and historical subjects, and upon such interesting topicks of a temporary and popular nature, as do not unnecessarily involve any disquisitions or considerations of party politicks. The Rev. A. Murray is employed in preparing an Account of the Life and Writings of James Bruce, esq. of Kinnaird, to which will be added, an appendix of original papers, illustrative of the Travels to discover the source of the Nile. This work is expected to make one volume in quarto, and will be embellished with a portrait of Mr. Bruce and fourteen other engravings. The world has been gratified during the current month with the appearance of a comet, which has been distinctly visible with the naked eye, after sun-set. Perhaps we cannot do better than present our readers with an extract of a letter received from that indefatigable observer, Mr. Capel Lofft of Troston, near Bury : "I hope you have seen the beautiful and glorious comet; we saw it on Tuesday evening, the 6th instant. Its light was so intense, that it bore exceedingly well a reflector with a power of one hundred, and a small field of view. But it appeared best in an achromatick of Dollond's, with a field of view very considerable and in an excellent night glass of the late Mr. Dunn's, the astronomica-lecturer. I find no Comet that resembles it, |