cal notions of which I have been speaking. Every one acquainted with history, knows, that Menzikow was very conspicuous in Russia at the commencement of the present century. The author read his piece before several companies in Paris, at which some Russian noblemen happened by chance to be present. 1 one day asked the Count Schouvalow what he thought of M. de la Harpe. "It is enough to make one die with laughing," said he. Upon my expressing my surprize that a tragedy, which was favourably spoken of, should have such an effect: "How can it be otherwise," replied the Count, "when we see an author emphatically holding forth to us, as received maxims among us, things which are directly opposite to our customs and our manners; and citing, as fundamental laws of the Russian empire, principles which are directly opposite to those which have ever been established there? Besides, even the history of the subject is entirely altered in the tragedy: the most notorious facts are disguised; the persons in it are so unlike themselves, that we, who have seen them, do not at all know them. A prince (Alexander Menzikow) is made to die in Siberia, at the age of fifteen, whom I saw alive at the age of seventy, in Petersburgh. As to the young Princess Menzikow, who, in the tragedy, dies at five years old, and to whom a tomb of marble, which her parents bathe with their tears, is erected in Siberia, she was at Paris only two years ago, enjoying perfect health; and was very near being at the reading of this tragedy, in which she would have been very much surprised to hear her funeral oration composed by M. de la Harpe." In justice to M. de la Harpe, we cannot close this article without alluding to page 144 of vol. iii. of his Œuvres choisies et posthumes, where we find a copy of verses addressed by him to Count Schouvalow in answer to some very complimentary lines sent him by that nobleman; which, after reading the above anecdote, appears singular. Be that as it may, we find in the latter part of these verses the following pleasing description of the beautiful, accomplished, and unfortunate MARIA ANTOINETTA, then Dauphiness. Pour moi, si je savais toucher Je vous peindrais notre Dauphine. Ces yeux où brille également Et la douceur du sentiment. NOTICES OF THE MUSEUM BORGIANUM AT the late Cardinal Borgia, who died at Lyons, This museum was founded by the uncle of collect all the antique monuments, &c. which 1804. The design of the founder was to the environs of Velletri. He had procured a were recovered by the excavations made in almost entirely pillaged in the war of 1744. considerable number, when the museum was The father and uncle of the Cardinal renewed increased it so greatly, that he may be regardtheir endeavours, and the Cardinal at length ed as the founder of this establishment, and of the academy of Velletri, which he instituted for the purpose of inspecting this museum, After the death of the Cardinal, this valuable and of publishing descriptions of its contents. collection became the property of the family; and it is now one of the most considerable which remain at this time in Rome. This museum is arranged in ten divisions. The first class contains,-1. Nearly 600 pieces of antiquity of different materials, and of various sizes.-2. 400 engraved Egyptian stones.-3. A manuscript on Papyrus, described by Schow.-4. 1800 Egyptian coins of Roman emperors.-5. Nearly 1800 pieces of Copthtic manuscripts. The second class contains several bassi relievi in terra cotta; with an inscription in the Volscian language, the only one remain ing in the dialect of that people. The third class. Etruscan antiquities, among them an Assarium, comprising more than 250 asses coined in Italy; Etruscan scarabei, cippi, and other stoues containing inscriptions, with 12 Etruscan vases, anciently used in sacrifices. These last have been engraved and published under the Cardinal's direction." The fourth and fifth classes. Greek and Roman inscriptions, idols, bassi relievi, and coins. Among the latter, more than 5000 Greek coins. The sixth class. 1. Indian articles; among them, more than 50 idols in bronze, and more than 200 drawings, many of which are described in the Museo Brahmanico of Paolino à Santo Bartolomeo.-2. Several Indian MSS. of which the same writer hast published descriptions. The seventh class.-1. Arabic productions; including a collection of more than 1000 Cufic coins, of which the most remarkable have been described by Adler-2. The idol of the Druses, described by the same author.-3. An Arabic globe, described by Asseman.-4. Many MSS. in the Arabic and Syriac languages. The eighth class. Northern antiquities: sacred hatchets, knives, arms, urns, and coins, collected from time to time in Sweden and Denmark. The ninth class. Mexican idols, with a pictured history of events in that country. The tenth class. Christian antiquities, inscriptions, bullæ, coins, seals, pictures, ecclesiastical vases, &c. of the primitive times, and of the middle ages. The principal works, descriptive of this museum, are,-1. Those of Zoega on the coins of the Alexandrian emperors; on the obelisks, and MSS. of Egypt, &c.-2. Fossilia Egyptiaca Musei Borgiani, by professor Ward.-3. Schow's illustrations of the ancient Egyptian roll of Papyrus, of the second century.-4. Adler's Muscum Cuficum. -5. Many essays on the coins, inscriptions, &c. dispersed in the works of Visconti, Marini, Becchetti, Heeren, Munter, Siebenkees, &c. As Secretary to the Propaganda, Cardinal Borgia increased, often at his own expense, the number of founts of types of foreign letters. Among others, he gave a fount of Etruscan types, which was wanting. He encouraged the Egyptian bishop, Raphael Tuki, to print his Coptic grammar: he also promoted that of the language spoken by the Curds, of which Garzoni was the author: and in many other languages of which the printing office of that institution had already founts, he was active in promoting publications. Notwithstanding the multiplicity of Cardinal Borgia's occupations, he found time for literary studies. He published several learned works, which contributed to remove certain prejudices which Pope Pius VI. entertained against the Cardinal, of whom he said one day, publicly," Cardinalis Borgia est liber cautè legendus." [Cardinal Borgia is a book to be read with caution.] Beside the works published under his own name, he furnished the materials for various others; as to Tarimi for his Supplementa ad Bandurium; to the Abbé Lanzi for his Saggio di lingua Etrusca, &c. &c. Correspondence from Prince of Wales's Island in India. No. I. CHARACTERS AND LOCALITIES OF LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN INDIA. The following extract is from a letter addressed to a person in Lordon from a gentleman in Pinang, and we have reason to expect further communications on the same subject, which will be regularly laid before the public through the medium of the Literary Pano rama. We doubt not, but that the writer, by treating of those subjects of which he is an eye-witness, and which he has the opportunity of personally investigating, will throw light on many different articles at present involved in much obscurity. It will no doubt surprise some of our readers, to find the Malays described as trustworthy, polite, courteous, and humane; but the contrariety ceases, when it is known, that the sca-faring tribes may deserve the character of violent animosity usually attributed to them, while others differ totally in manners and disposition. We may add, that such imperfect knowledge of a people as we have hitherto possessed of the Malays, can hardly fail of leading to a proportionably worse opinion of them, and of the human race, than they deserve. 20th April 1806. The Malaya is a very easy language for an Eastern one; but there appears a something about them all that does not speedily become familiar to an European. The beauty of the Malaya consists in its simplicity and softness. Truly may it be called the Italian of the East it is, without exception, the softest language I could have a conception of. We are very much in want of a dictionary. Howison's is not to be depended on: he has not spelt a single word throughout, right. A friend, who was here a short time for his health, united his endeavours with mine, in tracing the origin of this language. He was very well qualified for the subject, being master of the Sanscrit and Arabic, with most of the languages properly Indian. Marsden, in his excellent account of Sumatra, seems to think this language indigenous in the peninsula of Malaya, and thence to have extended itself among the Eastern Islands, till it became the lingua Franca of that part of the globe. You will find in the 6th vol. of Modern Universal History a very curious way of accounting for this language. Having the book by me, I will give you the words, as a literary curiosity. Describing Malacca, the author observes; "the Malay"an tongue is formed out of the languages " of the different nations which resort thi"ther, by selecting the choicest words in "each. Hence it is reckoned the most agree"able and elegant in all the Indies; which "quality joined to its use in trade, causes it to be learned by the remotest Eastern peo"ple." A language formed according to this ingenious selection might, undoubtedly, be very agreeable and elegant, but it would still be more remarkable in the history of nations. My friend, in a note on this account of the origin of the Malaya, could not help remarking, that it would be a most uncommon occurrence to discover a nation so choice in matters of abstract sound, and so delicately refined in their organs of hearing, as to take the trouble of learning a copious language, for the mere pleasure of gratifying their sense, or appetite, for sweet vocalic sounds. My friend has now left me for Bengal, and I am not to expect his return here; but as the origin and progress of the Malaya language can only be capable of satisfactory elucidation from the history of the Malaya nation, and of the different tribes from which they originated, and with which they have been connected, I am now collecting all their traditions and writings that can tend to explain their laws, manners, and customs, from a perfect knowledge of which I shall be better able to judge than from any writ ten history. I however apply as much to these books as to their conversation, and hope to send you full remarks on the subject. : This much I cannot omit saying, in justice to the inhabitants of the Malaya countries, or at least the peninsula, that they are not what they are represented to be, a revengeful, wicked, treacherous people. They are by far the best class of people I have met with they may be trusted with any thing, and are faithful even to death. They are mild in their manners, polite and courteous in conversation, affectionate in their families, and pay great attention to their religious duties. Their feelings are shocked at cruelties, and they would not tread on a worm to hurt it. There are certainly tribes and families of them that live by plunder and piracy to the eastward, but these are persons not under the control of any regular chieftain and you might as well judge of the English nation from the exhibitions in Newgate or Horsemonger Lane, as of the Malaya nation by these pirates. : As I shall be able to treat more fully on the Malaya hereafter, I will now, in as few words as the subject will admit, give you a short account of some of the different languages on the continent of India. You will find, I believe, that the people in England have not a correct idea of the languages. Take the map and follow me, · Instead of a dialect of Sanscrit, or mediate jargon between Sanscrit, Arabic, and Persic, which is generally, I believe, considered as being the language of the Coromandel coast, the popular language of the coast, from Madras to Cape Comorin, is Tamul, an original language, totally unlike any other, not even excepting Sanscrit, and entering deeply into the composition of several other dialects in the peninsula. North from Madras to Chicacole, the Tilenga or Tilegu or Badiga language prevails. From Chicacole, through Ganjam, Cuttack, and part of Orissa, the Woodiar prevails. On the Malabar coast, through Travancore and the Nair countries, as far as Coorg, the popular language is Malayalam or Malabar.* Through the greater part of Mysore proper, as well as in the Canara provinces, the Canara is the popular language; but, in ascending along the coast of Malabar, the Coorg and Canara are succeeded by the Concanar, which, as you ascend, graduates into Mah ratta and Guzeratty (properly denominated Maharashtra and Gujarashtra or Gujara.) The dialect of Hindustani spoken in the peninsula, is reckoned very pure, and in a few unessential particulars differs from that of Hindustan proper: it is termed Deekani, i. e. the dialect of the South. When this language, however, in composition leans towards an use of the proper Indian vocables, in preference to those of Persic or Arabic origin, it is termed Cubbut, i. e. the language of poetry; and is nearly the same as the Bakha, or Brij'h Bhasha, the popular dialect of Ajmere and Oude. The Tamul nation retains an ancient learned, or poetical language, subject to very complicated laws of versification, which is termed Elikana; and which has not any connection with Sanscrit. From the Elikana Tamul springs the popular Tamul dialect of Coromandel, and the Malayalam, both of which are indiscriminately termed Malabar. The Telinga is intimately connected with both the Canara, and Ma'abar, but adopts numerous Sanscrit and Hindustani flections, and thus, borrowing from all sources, is the sweetest and most melodious of all the pepular dialects. In both Canara and Tilenga, the most ancient works are composed in a learned or poetical style, which differs fully as much from the modern popular dialects as Saxon and Provençal differs from English and French. The Mahratta language seems connected, on opposite sides, with Sanscrit and * Of this language Captain Drummond, of Bombay, wrote a grammar. Hindustani, borrowing numerous vocables from both Hindustani and Persic. The purest dialect of it is termed Concanar. The Tamul alphabet does not coincide with the Sanscrit, properly called Samscruta, for which reason, books in the Sanscrit language are generally written in a character termed Grundum, which has great affinity with the popular character of Purana Canara, i. e. ancient Canara. Both the Canara and Tilenga nation write the Sanscrit language in their popular character. The Mahratta alphabet differs a little from the Sanscrit in the sound of the letters. Therefore, that nation employs a character termed Balabund, which is nearly connected with the Deva Nagari, or proper character of Casi and Be nares. the present produce of wool encourage the French manufacture, beyond the supply of cloth, &c. necessary for home consumption, to a large export, an export of rivalship? If the raw commodity is produced only to a certain amount, how much of that amount is disposable, after the nation itself is sup plied? M. Sauvegrain, a considerable butcher in Paris, has lately published a respectable work on these subjects, from which we have extracted the following calculations. (Our readers will compare them with the account of the Smithfield sales. Panorama, Vol. I. p. 930.) The basis of M. S's. calculation is, the number of cattle of every description existing in France, including Piedmont, with all the countries united, excepting only the late republic of Genoa, and the island of Corsica. By official returns made in the month of September, 1803, the number appears to be of 6,084,560 Horned cattle Sheep. sumed in the departments of this kingdom, The average weight of horned cattle conis 450 lbs. viz. oxen, 550, cows, 300 lbs. But the average weight in the market of NUMBER OF CATTLE IN FRANCE, AND QUAN- Paris, is 600lbs., owing to the superior size of TITY OF MEAT CONSUMED IN PARIS AND On the authority of Col. Thornton, we stated, Panorama, Vol. II. p. 487, that the number of sheep in France in the year 1801, was only eleven millions, some hundreds. Having had an opportunity of acquiring further knowledge on the subject, we think it our duty to communicate this also to our readers. Circumstances of this nature, are not only entitled to attention as included in the history and manners of a great people, but as forming points of comparison between ourselves and our opponents, which it is part of the wisdom of enlightened statesmen to be acquainted with. It needs no proof that the supply of animal food must bear a proportion to that of the animals which yield it. If the navy of France required à double quantity of salted beef, for instance, can the stock of the country supply it, without feeling a diminus tion? What effect would such a demand have on the markets to which the population resorts? If the seamen of France use a proportion so much greater of vegetable food on long voyages than the English, as we know they do, how is their general health affected by this kind of diet? Are they equally able, when extraordinary efforts are required, to continue them for an equal length of time? Again, what proportion does the fleece of French sheep bear to that of English? Does the cattle, selected and sent up to the capital, and to the very small number of cows slaughtered there. The average weight of sheep, in the departments, is 26lbs. per head in Paris, 36. The average weight of calves in the Paris market, is 90 lbs.: in the departments, not more than 55. France, is not supposed to exceed one pound The quantity of veal consumed in all for each inhabitant in the year; comparing the number of calves slaughtered, with the amount of the population. The population of Paris, by returns of the sanie date as those of the cattle in France, is stated at 547,756: and including travellers, and temporary sojourners, of every description, at 650,000 persons. The consumption of this city, is daily 400 head of horned cattle, 850 sheep, and 400 calves; which at the averages stated, gives yearly, to each consumer, 67;ibs. of beef, 10lbs. of veal, and 17lbs. of mutton; in all, 94lbs.-d. of butchers' meat, yearly. These results, compared with the books of the collectors of toll-duties, are found pretty correct; and accord nearly enough with the numbers for which duty is paid, at the bar riers. By the calculations of M. Lavoisier, 600,000 inhabitants, within the walls of Paris, in 1788, consumed each, yearly, 138lb.-4d. of butcher's meat. The number of cattle consumed in the departments is grounded rather on approxima-munity, and they may in time be led to the tion, than on official returns; yet taking for a basis the whole number of cattle, with due regard to the time of their growth, and to their proportionate reproduction, no great error can happen. It is stated at, Oxen and cows . 668,570 5,751,270 Sheep Each of these aggregate accounts, multiplied by the average weight already stated, and divided by the amount of the population, will give each individual in the departments yearly, 8lbs. of beef, 4lbs. of mutton; which, with the pound of veal already alluded to, makes 14 lbs. of butcher's meat, yearly, for each inhabitant of France, Paris excluded. We are not at present prepared to state, in like manner, the average consumption of animal food in Britain; there, can be no doubt, but that it greatly exceeds what is estimated for France. We must, however, observe, that pork is not included in the foregoing that fish can be only a partial supply in France; as the fresh waters can yield but a small proportion, and the sea coast of France is not, as that of England is, extended all around the kingdom, but on the west side only, so that the eastern provinces can receive no benefit from any supply of food derived from that source. ADDITIONAL INSTANCES OF CHRISTIAN PAGANICS IN FRANCE. The publication of Mr. Millin's paper on the absurdities attached to the commemoration demi-sacred demi-profane of the Ass, given p. 585, has been followed by further instances of equal follies, selected by the antiquaries in France. Some of them are extremely offensive to decency, and piety; these we have omitted: others are confirmations of the remarks we thought proper to add by way of conclusion to the former article. Whatever may be thought of the incorrectnesses of sects of different and even opposite descriptions, which obtain in the present day, we are not acquainted with any which are so openly contradictory to the decencies of christianity, as those which had been sanctioned by establishment and patronage in a church that affected to be considered as paramount over all others. We hope that many of such conspicuous improprieties do not now exist, under even the toleration of the Catholic priesthood, much less under its approbation, and we hope that what remains will gradually be weeded out, till at length that church also shall approach more generally to the sentiments of genuine christianity. This we know is the fact with regard to the best informed, and most eminent members of that com perception of their duty, in boldly avowing their principles to the world, and disseminating them among the mass and population of the nations under their care. It will appear that former ages, on which we very charitably bestow the epithet of dark, are not only chargeable with these absurdities, but that they existed even, as it were, to our own times; and it will be remembered that they are acknowledged by French writers, as having formed part, so very lately, of the superstitions of their own country. It may be said in apology for some of these practices, that their intention was good, and that they commemorated christian events and incidents. For instance, on Easter-Day, a lamb was led in great solemnity entirely covered with wax tapers; on Whit-Sunday, the dove was in its turn the object of superstitious veneration, and descended from the roof of the church on the officiating priest.-But this excuse, if available, does not apply generally, as is evident from the slightest examination of the following instances. Under the reign of Philip the Fair, King of France, there was in Paris a procession, called "the Fox's procession." An aniinal of that species, clad in a kind of surplice, with a mitre and tiara on its head, figured in the middle of the whole clergy. Care was taken in this ceremony to consult the inclinations of the performer, and fowls were purposely laid in his way. This indeed was attended with some neglect of his devout functions; for he would now and then run after a hen or a chicken, and eat it most carefully. The King was very fond of this procession, pretending that the depredations of cunning Reynard bore a strong affinity to the exactions of the Pope. However ridiculous these pious extravaganzas may appear, they can be matched by others, in almost every Church in France. At Rheims, on the Wednesday before Easter, the whole clergy went in a pilgrimage to St. Remi. The canons, preceded by the cross, marched in two files, each dragging after him a herring, fastened by a ribbon. The sole care of the venerable fathers respectively, was, to tread on the fish of the person whom each followed, and to save his own, with most watchful diligence, from the attacks of his follower. The clergy of Rheims were so persuaded that some respectable mystery was couched under this childish ceremony, that it was found impossible to make them abandon their herrings, till the procession itself was suppressed. The inhabitants of Corbie were for a long time highly delighted with a truly edifying dog who always assisted at mass with them. On great festivals, the principal seat in the church was kept for him, and he never failed |