Place the contents immediately after the title. Observe fheet H H has the signature N N.-It begins with p. 241 Engraved for the Bee. JOHN BROWN PAINTER. From an Original Drawing by themself, Published by J. Anderson May 8*193. 127. ARTS WEDNESDAY, MAY 8. 1793. CRITICAL REMARKS ON SOME CELEBRATED AUTHORS. FROM A GENTLEMAN OF LITERARY EMINENCE LATELY DECEASED, TO A YOUNG GENTLEMAN WHO HAD REQUESTED HIS ADVICE IN REGARD TO THE PROPER MODE OF CONDUCTING HIS STUDIES. LETTER V. Continued from vol. xiv. p. 310. Italian literature,-Machiavel, Guacciardini,-Bentivoglio, Davila,- Italian poetry, Goldoni,-Tafso, Ariosto,-Guorini,-Metastasio. THERE are many excellent book's written in the Italian language, and it is so pleasing an acquirement, that I think it will add much to your enjoy VOL. XV. + ment through life to make yourself completely master of it; and now that you know the French, you will find the study of it rather an amusing exercise than a tiresome task. In a very few weeks you will be able to read it with pleasure; and under the tuition of a good master you will find the pronunciation very easy. The best histories of the early periods of modern nations were originally written in the Italian language. Before the discovery of the passage to India by the Cape of Good Hope, the Genoese and Venetians were the most active and enterprising nations on the globe, both for trade and manufactures. They were of course wealthy and powerful, and their language for some centuries was the most fashionable in Europe. The struggles they made to preserve their power against the incroachments of the Turks, the Spaniards, and the French; and the internal convulsions among the little independent states in Italy itself, afford abundant matter for the historic page; and many books have been written on these subjects. Among their distinguished writers, Machiavel justly holds a very conspicuous rank. His history of Florence is written with a clearness and perspicuity, which on a subject so much involved in the deep machinations of violently contending parties, could never have been done but by the exertion of talents of a most superior kind. I know no book which is more proper to be read by those who are desperately in love with republican institutions, if they wish to consult experience as their guide: If |