1819, 8vo. 12 vols.) be dismissed from a library, where previous and more elaborate performances have not a place. But probably, after all-and especially among young and timid Collectors-the possession of SISMONDI'S History of the Italian Republics, published at Paris, in sixteen octavo volumes, will be sufficient to satisfy the ordinary passion for the knowledge of Italian History; especially when the highly popular work by the same author, and by GINGUENÉ, relating the History of Italian Literature, have a contiguous place on the same shelf. I affix no prices to these latter works, because they are of common occurrence, and in a constant state of succession, and may be had in all forms and varieties of binding, at the principal French booksellers in London.

I am abundantly sensible that, on a subject of such variety, and even intensity of interest, as ITALY, the preceding remarks afford but feeble helps towards an exact knowledge of the best historians of that country; a country, to a contemplation of the future glories of which, the Sibyllëan prophetess roused the curiosity, and excited the noblest feelings, of the founder of the Roman empire...

Nunc age, Dardaniam prolem quæ deinde sequatur Gloria, qui maneant ITALA de gente nepotes

We have of late, indeed, witnessed two publications,

with a continuation, at Venice, in 1800, in 5 octavo volumes. The Abbé Jardin, translated it into French in 1771-5, in 8 duodecimo volumes. The History of Western Italy was also published at the same place, (Torino) and may be worth 17. 11s. 6d. in boards. Brunet says that, FANTIN DESODOARDS; (by whom a History of France appeared in 1808, see p. 304, ante) published a History of Italy, in 1803, 8vo. 9 vols. "which is indicated by him for want of a better."

which have rendered the shores of Italy extremely attractive to an English traveller: I mean, the publication of Mr. EUSTACE and of Mr. FORSYTH.* They are both too well known, and too generally

* One of the most beautiful, and really instructive, works of its kind, in this country, is that of " A Picturesque Tour of Italy," from the Drawings of JAMES HAKEWELL, Architect, and J. M. W. TURNER, R. A. of a quarto form-comprising sixty-three engravings. Those who possess proof impressions (on India paper) of this fascinating work, will have reason to congratulate themselves every time they open the volume to their admiring friends. The English scarcely visit any place but they adorn it. CAPTAIN BATTY's work, of a similar character, is extremely elegant and pleasing: less costly, and less partaking of the higher beauties of art: but sufficiently stimulant to send at least three score of English virtuosi every year scampering across the Alps!

But shall we ever publish any thing fully equal to the " Voyage Pittoresque des Iles de Sicile, de Malte, et de Lipari," of HoUEL? in 'four grand folio volumes, with 280 engravings, 1782-7: and of which a very fine copy, with prime impressions of the plates, may be worth hard upon 35 guineas!† Or, again, what is to be said of the yet more wonderful works of LABORDE-in the picturesque style; As thus: Tableaux de la Suisse, ou Voyage pittoresque fait dans les treize cantons du corps Helvétique." Paris, 1780-6, in four superb folio, often expanded into five-when the four hundred und thirty plates, with which they are embellished, are bound up with the text. I observe, in the catalogne of Messrs. Treuttel and Würtz, a UNIQUE copy of this work, "with the cuts coloured," valued at 1601.-but an ordinary copy, at 40l. And then, for the same traveller's 'Voyage pittoresque et historique de l'Espagne, in the same number of volumes-published in 48 livraisons, of which 46 are already extant at 17. 58. the livraison: but upon vellum paper, with impressions before the letter, at 51. 16s. each. Laborde's "Monumens de la France," is a work worthy of its precursors. It will be complete in 36 livraisons, or 3 folio volumes: at 21. 5s. the livraison. But, am I not wandering (though not very widely) from ITALY ?

+ The plates however, which are in bistre, are sufficiently wretched

admired, to render any eulogium of them here necessary; but I cannot help remarking, that the attic brevity of the latter may be of greater service to the majority of readers, than the sentimental expansion of the former. Italy is worth a hundred visitations, on a hundred different accounts and the treasures of her PUBLIC LIBRARIES, in particular, which are almost wholly unknown to the Scholar and Bibliographer, would afford materials wherewith to enrich many a comely volume, and to gratify many an enthusiastic reader.

An

And here, perhaps, ere we travel in a more northern direction, it may be as well to notice a few TRAVELS into GREECE, of which the greater number have been of comparatively recent accomplishment. SPON and WHEELER may be the first to be noticed. abridged account of their travels in Italy, Dalmatia, and Greece, appeared first in the French language, at Lyons, in 1678, in 3 duodecimo volumes; and afterwards at Amsterdam, in 1679, 2 vols. 12mo. This was the work of Spon. Wheeler then published his own journey into Greece, in 1682, folio; of which a good copy is worth 17. 18.; and of which copies on large paper are yet held in estimation. The name of CHANDLER is justly respected, in this department of Travels. Those into Asia Minor, appeared in 1775, 4to. and into Greece, in 1776, 4to. 2 volumes, which are not unfrequently bound together. They have been recently (1806) translated into the French language, in 3 vols. 8vo. The Ionian Antiquities, by the same classical traveller, appeared in 1769, folio: to which a second volume was added in 1800: while his Inscript. Antiq. in Asia Minori et Græcia, 1774, folio, renders the series of Travels complete.

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For a work of equal splendour and interest, secure the Voyage Pittoresque de la Grèce, par M. de CHOISEUL-GOUFFIER, Paris, 1782, 1800, folio. A fine copy of it is worth 187. 18s. SONNINI's Voyage en Grèce et en Turquie, published in 1801, 8vo. 2 vols. with an atlas 4to. volume. Sir WILLIAM GELL has been an ardent and indefatigable traveller in this land of interest and renown. His Itinerary of Greece, appeared in 1810, 4to. his Topography of Troy, in 1814, 4to. and his Geography and Antiquities of Ithaca, in 1807, 4to. But with the name of Troy, let MAJOR RENNELL'S erudite performance (Observations on its Plain, and the surrounding Objects, 1814, 4to.) be always close at hand to consult. Of a yet more recent date, and excellent in their kind, are Mr. HOвHOUSE's Travels through Albania,* &c. 1813, 4to. Captain LEAKE's Researches in Greece. 1814. 4to. Mr. DODWELL'S Classical and Topographical Tour through Greece, 1819, 4to. 2 vols. with a folio of plates; and Mr. HUGHES'S Travels in Greece, 2 vols. 4to. worth about 51. 5s. 6d.

* DR. HOLLAND published a quarto volume of Travels in the Ionian Isles, Albania, Thessaly, and Macedonia, &c. in 1815, 4to. All these publications will be found more or less elaborately reviewed in the Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews. I shall speak of STUart's Antiquities of Grecian Architecture, &c. in the second volume of this work, whenever published.

HISTORY OF GERMANY.

THE reader will at one glance observe, that this account of the Historians of Germany is not only very little proportioned to the magnitude and population of that country, but that it is, on a comparison with the accounts of preceding countries, brief, if not superficial. Two obvious reasons have led to the adoption of this plan the one, that, in the estimation of the English, the regions of Bavaria, Austria, Hungary and Bohemia, are, comparatively with those of France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, but sparingly visited :* and therefore, a detailed account of their best historians would be less likely to be perused: the other reason is, that the "number, weight, and measure," of these historians themselves, utterly defy enumeration. But, on the other hand, it ought to be readily conceded, that there is no country in the world which is divided into more important departments, enriched

* As a proof of this, I will mention that, in the lists of publications of Voyages, Travels, and Histories, furnished me by two of the greatest publishers in Europe-Messrs. Longman and Co. and Mr. John Murray-scarcely one in thirty (on a comparative estimate) relates to GERMANY. Indeed, with the exceptions of the Travels in Hungary, by Dr. Clarke and Dr. Bright, Mr. Jacob's View of Agriculture, Statistics, &c. and Society of Germany, (all admirable works) and an Autumn near the Rhine, or Sketches of Courts, Society, and Scenery, in Germany (of less magnitude, but very amusing) I am at present unacquainted with any which relate to the country in question: nor, strictly speaking, do the works of Mr. Jacob and the author of the Autumn, &c. appertain to Germany, in the view in which that country is considered in the above text.