ing an historical account of the noble families of Denmark, with an engraving of their arms; the society of Icelandic literature, which has for its object the instruction, especially in economical knowledge, of the Icelanders, by publishing its memoirs in their language; the society of Scandinavian literature, established to unite the learned of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, by alternately publishing their labours; and lastly, the new society of literature, All these societies publish works, propose prizes, and prosecuting with zeal and perseverance, their several objects, continually diffuse a variety of knowledge, which has already efficaciously contributed to the state of splendour which has been attained by a small country so little favoured by nature, and which has had to struggle against more than one powerful obstacle. The superb library of the King is endowed with a fund of three thousand rix dollars per annum, for adding to it new and rare books, and has been enriched with two magnificent collections of prints. It may reasonably be presumed, that in a city containing so many men of learning, and in which the study of foreign languages is more cultivated than perhaps any where else, there must be many excellent private libraries, as also, circulating libraries, and reading societies, which subscribe for almost all the new works and journals published in Europe. The cabinet of curiosities formerly enjoyed a very great reputation, which in fact it still deserves from the valuable things it contains. It therefore is frequently visited by strangers, and receives the encomiums of amateurs. There are also several private collections of curious objects, which there is reason to believe will soon be added to the cabinet of the King, to form a national museum. In fine, if we wish to have a general but precise idea of the present improved state of literature at Copenhagen, it will be suffi cient to know, that there are now in that city seventeen or eighteen printers, nearly the same number of booksellers; and that there are pubJished about twenty journals, and almost as many gazettes and periodical publications. likewise Petersburgh may oppose some celebrated arists; but these are phenomena which may be compared to planets surrounded by two or three satellites, which may be too easily confounded among the infinite number of common stars. It is, however, enjoined to all persons, whose profession requires a knowledge of drawing, to send regularly their pupils to take lessons at the aca demy. They cannot even obtain their freedom in these professions till they have submitted to the examination of the academy a drawing made from the work of some eminent master. The last public exhibition of pictures was in 1795. The private collections of paintings are much too insignificant to merit notice, though we sometimes find in them very interesting pic tures, principally among the portraits, a taste for which is much the most general. The King's library contains more than eighty thousand engravings, as also a superb collection of flowers and fruits, painted on vellum, forming four large volumes in folio, and one of a smaller size, monuments of the industry of the last age. There are at Copenhagen two equestrian sta tues, one of which decorates the square of the new town, and represents Frederick V. It is a superb piece of sculpture, the work of Saly, who at the time of its erection, published the description of it in French. The writer of the present article saw this Colossus conveyed to the place where it is erected, and is convinced that it is necessary to have witnessed such a spectacle, to form an idea of what may be effected by the aid of machines, and the hands of men, directed by genius. It was a scene the most truly granů and majestic that can be imagined. At a small distance from the city, is a very beautiful obelisk, erected in memory of the ato lition of the feudal rights. One of the most cu rious edifices is the observatory, finished in 1656, after the plan of the celebrated Longomontanus. Its height is one hundred and fifty feet, and its diameter sixty. A winding ascent, gentle and almost insensible, without a single step, leads to the top, supported on one side by a column of stone, and on the other by the wall of the tower, It is of such a solid construction, and the declivity is so easy, that there are instances of its having been ascended in a carriage. To give an idea of the commerce of Copenhagen it will be sufficient to say, that in the year 1798 there were three hundred and thirty-eight Notwithstanding all the efforts of the govern ment to encourage the fine arts, notwithstanding the ancient and admirable establishment of the academy of painting and sculpture, it must be confessed, that with the exception of music, it is not at Copenhagen that we find the greatest number of amateurs and real connoisseurs. It appears that, in general, the less temperate cli-ships, carrying twenty-six thousand one hundred mates of the north are unfavourable to the cultivation of painting and sculpture. From Dres den to Petersburgh these arts are reduced, it may be said, merely to vegetate. Sweden, indeed, hoas.s her Sergell; to whom Copenhagen, and and eighty-three lasts, and navigating in every part of the globe. In 1745 there were only reckoned one hundred and three, but the number has been continually increasing progressively. In the year before last, five thousand nine hun dred and ninety-four ships entered the port of Copenhagen, of which two thousand and sixty six were from different foreign ports, two thousand four hundred and ninety from Danish ports, four hundred and fourteen from Norway, nine hundred and twelve from the two duchies, and ninety-two from the East and West Indies.From 1797 to 1799 more than forty vessels have been annually sent to Iceland. However advantageous to Denmark this commerce may appear, it would doubtless be more so were it not all concentered in the capital, which by attracting to itself every kind of industry prevents its exertion in the provinces, which are in consequence condemned to a languor fatal to the general prosperity. panies are therefore so mixed that even in, those which might be expected to consist only of courtiers, we find merchants, literary men, artists, and vice versa. The lines of demarkation between the different ranks are very indistinctly drawn. I have seen ministers in the same party with artists, and their ladies with the widow of an apothecary. The brother-in-law of a chamberlain is frequently only a common clerk, and the wife of a marshal of the court, has visited almost every day at the house of the minister of the parish."-But when we come out of Copen. hagen we expect to find the environs full of small inns and ale-houses. They are indeed sufficiently numerous, but are neither wretched for dirty; though they do not present the same cheerfulness nor convenience which we are ac customed to find in the neighbourhood of many other great cities. There are, however, a number of handsome country houses, in which strangers are the better received, as the inhabitants of Co foreign languages, are extremely hospitable; and it is not necessary for a foreigner to speak the language of the country to be well received; it is sufficient to be able to explain him.self in French or German. As to the mechanical professions they do not here afford any subject for praise, nor do the abilities of our artisans merit any particular notice. The establishment of corporations forming a long and fatal chain, which extends from the extremity of the empire far into the north, in-penhagen, being generally able to speak several cessantly presents obstacles to the progress of industry, At Copenhagen, indeed, the example has lately been given of the means which should be employed to destroy this monstrous production of the ages of ignorance, and the moment approaches, when, after considering and regulating the interests of the poor, attention will be seriously directed to the measures proper for favouring the developement and perfecting of talents. A particular society has undertaken to execute the plan which will lead to so desirable an object. This city, within these ten years, may boast an establishment, the parallel of which is scarcely any where to be found except in some parts of Germany. This is a school for forming tutors for the country schools. The number of pupils which have been sent out or still remain in it amounts to one hundred and fifteen. These apprenticed-preceptors are taught, boarded, &c. at a price extremely moderate. Another establishmeat is soon to be formed for the instruction of those who are to exercise the functions of masters in the Latin schools. The plan of this latter institution has been approved by the King. As to society and visiting, we may refer to the testimony of Mr. Ramdohr. "In the choice of associates," says that judicious writer, "no regard is had to rank or birth. Every one chuses a circle at his pleasure, and without consulting any thing but his connections and inclinations. Com Travellers, likewise, should not omit to visit Cronenburg, Elsineur, the manufactory of arms of Count Schimmelmann near Fredensburg, and the cannon foundery of the Prince of Hesse, which are superb and delightful situations. If we would entirely vary the scene, and turn our view to a soil, manners, and customs absolutely different, we have only to go to the Isle of Amag, which communicates with the city by a bridge, and of which a small part is incorpo. rated with the city itself. This island, which is sevaral leagues in cireuit, is perfectly level, and only embellished with two or three small copses, forming as it were one entire kitchen garden, which furnishes Copenhagen with vegetables, and some fine meadows which supply it with milk. The inhabitants of the Isle of Amag are descended from Batavians, who settled there at the beginning of the sixteenth century. Those of the country parts of the island, though they may be said to be at the gates of the city, have preserved their ancient dress, customs, and even, in some villages, considerable remains of their language; without, however, retaining either all the industry or all the economy for which their. ancestors were so commendably distinguished. LI 2 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK, WILLIAM MARKHAM, LL. D. Archbishop of York, was born in Ireland, we believe, in the year 1718. He was the son of an officer, at that time with his regiment in Ireland, and who was of a Nottinghamshire family: he sent this his eldest son to Westminster school for education. From Westminster he removed to Christ Church, Oxford, where he took the degree of bachelor of arts in 1742, and that of master in 1745. At school and at college he was distinguished by the elegance of his exercises, and particularly of his Latin verses. About the year 1750, Dr. Markham was appointed first master of Westminster school; and he continued to discharge the laborious duties of that useful and honourable employment until January 1764. During his being master of this school, we can truly assert, that none who preceded him was more truly beloved, || of held in greater respect by the youth of that highly esteemed seminary of learning: indeed we have heard numbers of those who were under his care, and who are now in the first situations in the country, mention Dr. Markham with the utmost regard and veneration. An able first master of Westminster is too prominent a person to be overlooked by those who have the disposal of perferment. We find ac cordingly that in 1759, Dr. Markham was promoted to the second stall in Durham cathedral, while he held the mastership, and in 1765, to the deanery of Rochester, after he had resigned it. Both promotions were most probably owing to patrons, to whom he had been recommended by his public services. In 1767 he vacated the deanery of Rochester, and was created dean of Christ Church. The deanery of Christ Church is a dignity of very great importance and responsibility, involving the care both of a college and a cathedral. by darkening and perplexing the human under standing, and bringing into contempt whatever had been esteemed sacred in religion, science, or government. The Concio was published, together with a Latin speech made on presenting Dr. Thomas as prolocutor to the higher house of convocation. In January 1771, Dr. Markham was conse crated Bishop of Chester, and in the succeeding month was, in the first establishment for the edu cation of the Prince of Wales, chosen preceptor to his Royal Highness. Dr. Cyril Jackson, the present Dean of Christ Church, was at the same time appointed sub-preceptor. In June 1776, a new establishment was formed, when Dr. Markham was succeeded by Dr. Hurd, the present Bishop of Worcester, and Dr. Jack. son by Dr. Arnold, tutor of St. John's College, Cambridge. Why Dr. Markham and Dr. Jackson were not allowed to complete the education of the Prince of Wales, is not generally known: their successors had been celebrated tutors at Cambridge, and they had been distinguished at Oxford. It seems, therfore, that it was intended to afford his Royal Highness the united advan tages that might be expected from those who excelled in the different pursuits of the two universities. This at least is known, that Dr. Markham, in the discharge of his duty, gave great satisfaction to the King, who personally superintended the education of his son, and that he has always retained a very enviable portion of the royal favour. The following anecdote may be men tioned in proof:-Mr. Pitt promised to a friend the deanery of York, when it should become vacant by the death of Dr. Fontayne; but he was obliged to revoke the promise, having found that the King, in consequence of an application from Dr. Markham, intended it for his second son, the Rev. George Markham, who now en In 1769 he was chosen to preach the Concio ad Clerum to the synod of the province of Canter-joys it. bury. On this occasion he demonstrated, with great force of argument and elegance of language that whatever in human knowledge is vain and fanciful, has always been contrary to true religion; while it never opposed that learning which is conformable to reason and nature. He bestowed a just encomium on the character of Newton and his views in philosophy; and at the same time lashed, with deserved severity, the metaphysicians of the French school, who were then attempting to carry their designs into execution, On January 20, 1777, Dr. Markham was translated to the Archbishopric of York. His life, as it can be viewed by a distant observer, appears to have been an uninterrupted series of uncommon felicity. Distinguished at a great school and an eminent college, over both of which he was after wards called to preside, and over the former at a very early period of life; advancing in prefer ments and reputation until he was promoted to a bishopric, and selected for an employment, with the due execution of which the future håg. piness of his country was intimately connected; afterwards rewarded by the second dignity of the English Church, which he held nearly thirty-one years; the father of a numerous and prosperous family, and continued till within a year or two of his death, in an extreme but vigorous old age, able to feel all the happiness of his situation; what has he not enjoyed of those things which are supposed to constitute the splendid or the¦ solid satisfaction of life? These satisfactions he did enjoy, and he enjoyed them worthily. and graceful; in his manners and address, extremely dignified; and in his conversation, instructive, entertaining, and lively our best encomiums, however, must fail in delineating his character; yet it is but justice to his memory to assert, that he passed an honourable life in the service of his King, his County, and the Church, with the additional lustre of every social and private virtue; and closed the scene, with a death worthy that high and sacred office which he had so long and deser In his person the Archbishop of York was tall vedly filled. ESSAY ON LEARNING. "Perhaps in the same open basket laid, with sundry articles of trade that have little connection with classical fragments, whilst the tradesman, like the Sibyl, cares not a farthing what becomes of them. Nunquam deinde cavo volitantia prendere saxo THE following Essay is written by the Rev. H. Kett, author of the celebrated work, entitled "Elements of General Knowledge."It was written in the year 1786, and published in the Olla Podrida, a work orginating and pub-ceiving a pound of sugar from my neighbour lished at Oxford. I was led into this train of thought by re Tim Tear-tile, the grocer, wrapt up in a sheet of letter-press. Tim deals so largely in books, that he has many more than are sufficient for his own use, with which he very bountifully obliges the literati in foreign parts. I remember, just before the American war broke out, my curiosity was excited to know what a large hogshead, which stood at the door contained. I found, on examination, that it was filled with old pamphlets, most of them on subjects of liberty, non-con IT it melancholy to reflect on the unhappy circumstances which have frequently attended the death of authors. If we turn over the pages of literary history, we shall find that although many have enjoyed the gratification of hearing their own praises, and some have been basked in the sunshine of opulent patronage, yet their deaths have been often obscure, and sometimes disastrous. Cicero fell a victim to party-formity, and whiggism, which Tim was going to rage; Sidney expired in the field of battle; ship of for a Yankee shopkeeper in New-Eng Crichton fell by assassination; and Otway perish-land. Whatever sage politicians may have said ed by famine. to the contrary, it it not at all to be doubted, that the importation of this cargo spread the wild-fire of rebellion among the Bostonians, and was the sole cause of the late bloody and expensive war. Although my neighbour Tim is no scholar by profession, yet it is astonishing what a progress he has made in books. He has finished a complete set of the General Councils, and is now hard at work upon the Ante-Nicene The fate of books is oftentimes similar to that of authors. The flattery of dedication, and the testimony of friends, are frequently interposed in vain to force them into popularity and ap. plause. It is not the fashion of the present day to indulge the hangman with the amusement of committing books to the flames; yet they are in many instances condemned to a more ignoble destiny. The grocer, the chemist, and the tallow-Fithers, whom he cuts up with greater expedichandler, with "ruthless and unhallowed hands," tear whole libraries in pieces, and feel as little compunction on the occasion, as the Thracian ladies did, when they dismembered Orpheus. The leaves are distributed among their customers tion than Dr. Priestley himself. Perhaps more logic and metaphysics have passed through his hands than Lord Monboddo ever saw. He would have been a long time dispatching a set of French Reviewers, had he not begun upon them when the price of coffee was reduced. The other day for his beloved Dapple. On my arrival at an some young sparks, who belong to a cele-inn, after having studied the most curious manubrated academy, where every thing is taught, script in the house, the bill of fare, I unlock my brought him a parcel of Latin classics. He tore magazine of linen, and feast upon delicious off the covers with as much sang froid as a scraps of characters, until more substantial food is nymph of Billingsgate strips an oyster of its set on the table. When I travel in company, my shell, and bought Horace and Virgil for three-associates complain of my taking an unreasonhalfpence per pound. He observed, with a able time to equip myself. They are not aware, sapient look, "That as for your Virgil's transla-that frequently whilst they think I am fluctuat tion into Latin, I reckon it no better than waste paper; but if it had been Mr. Dryden's history of the Trojan Horse, I should have kept it for my own reading.". ing between boots and shoes, I am conjecturing what the initial letters of my fragment stand for, and that instead of changing my linen, I am shifting from the Duke of Marlborough to Lord Chatham. I have been told by learned men, that it is a question much debated in the Universities, To those who wish not to forget all that their whether or no the place ought to agree with the school-masters taught them, this sort of light thing placed. Now after all that serious medita- reading is to be recommended. It would be no bari tion, which so abstruse a point requires, I am de- plan if all genteel people would furnish their termined to decide in the affirmative. For who can- trunks, portmanteaus, caravans, and band-boxes not see the propriety, or rather (as Parson Square with the beauties of some author that suits their would say) the fitness of things, in wrapping up taste. If the beau monde should be afraid of ina cheesecake in pastoral, sugar candy in a dedi-juring their eyes, by these studies, Mademoiselle cation, or gun-powder in a sermon on the 5th of Abigail, or Monsieur Valet de Chambre, had November? better be deputed to read trunk-lectures to them. There never was a time when learning forced Hoyle on Whist will answer extremely well for itself so much into notice as it does at present. old ladies; Tom Jones, or Joseph Andrews for You can no more walk a hundred yards in the boarding school misses; Ecton's Thesaurus, of street, or go into any house, without seeing the Art of Shooting flying, for parsons; Patersome display of it, than you can turn a corner inson's Book of Roads, for lawyers on the circuit; London without seeing a beggar, or hear a sailor and Phillidor on Chess, for the gentlemen of talk without swearing. A man of fashion im- the army. perceptibly keeps up his acquaintance with his Pedants may object, that if the above plan alphabet, by playing at the noble game of Te- should become general, the works of the totum, or risking his fortune at an EO table. learned will be no longer treasured up in the Book-stalls furnish history; the walls of houses libraries of the great. But let them not be alarmpoetry; hand-bills medicine; fire-screens geo-ed; for they may be certain, that whilst books graphy, and clocks morality. These are the are considered by a refined age as a species of channels which convey to the porter the know-ornamental furniture, and supply the place of ledge of the constitution, to the apprentice the the classics in wood, they will not be driven from art of rhyming, to Members of Parliament an their present posts. There is, it must be conacquaintance with our India settlements, and to fessed, great reason to be alarmed at the destructhe fat alderman, wise sayings. tion which threatens some branches of litera. ture. Innumerable enemies are constantly on the watch, to annihilate insipid novels, scurrilous satires, party pamphlets, and indecent songs. If they chance to attract the public eye for a week for two, they cannot escape that destiny which their authors were too much dazzled with their own charming productions to foresee. As weeds by their decay fertilize the soil from which they sprung, so these flimsy and noxious publications is lined with several sheets of the Royal Register, do great service to society, by lighting a pipe, em and of course contains much edifying information.bracing a tallow-candle, or forming the basis of During my travels, I watch my trunk with the a minced pie. For my own part I am not satisfied with such vulgar means of growing learned, but love to follow literature into her more secret recesses. Fortunately chance has furnished me with the means of doing this, without being driven to the immense bore of poring over books, which would only produce the effects of a dose of opium. 1 have a trunk, which, like the dagger of Hudibras, may be applied to more purposes than one. It same fond anxiety which Sancho used to feel |