In the same library there is a Sommaire des voyages faits par Charles V. depuis 1514, jusques 1551, recuillez et mis par escript, par Jean Vaudenesse, controlleur, ayant suivi sa Majesté en tour les dicts voyages." This journal is dedicated to Cardinal Granvella. The author afterwards continued it to 1560. Though written in the simple stile of a diary, it contains many remarkable, unknown facts.

Very little use has been made of these MSS. by the late Mr Dieze, who corrected Guthrie and Gray's History of Spain and Portugal, which correction is to be found in the German translation, or rather transformation of that work, in the 12th vol., published at Leipsic 1774.

It cannot be too much regretted, that there exists no where in Europe an independent literary press for the publication of such books as are not to be hazarded by a bookseller, on account of their not being sufficiently popular.

Two hundred and fifty copies of a book in general indemnifies the publishers.

If 250 subscribers could, therefore, be obtained, of such as have handsome fortunes and form libraries, delighting likewise in employing their leisure in the reading books of real erudition, to give five guineas a-piece annually, to support a press at Edinburgh, which is a cheap mart for the printing of books, the subscribers would be indemnified, by receiving the books coming from such a press, and

the active part of such a society might be enabled to form a fund for the purchase of valuable MSS. for their press, to the great enrichment and delight of the republic of letters. I beg leave to propose this noble and liberal undertaking, which, by whomsoever it shall be put in execution, will immortalize the founders, and lay a foundation for the future glory of literature. ature ideasms

sent ALBANICUS.

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Hints to the Learned.

IN the famous convent near Chalons, in France, where the unhappy Abelard fell a sacrifice to the love of the fair Heloise, there is a folio containing representations of the British monasteries about the middle of the 15th century, or about 1450, wherein a gentleman informed me he had seen some of our Scottish convents represented as they were when entire.

The present state, of France is favourable to the dispersion of these curious monuments of antiquity, which ought to be bought, if they shall come to sale, for public libraries in other parts of Europe, that they may not run the risk of going to the cartridge pouch,

These conventual libraries may contain re mains of the Greek and Roman classics, hi therto inedited, and they ought to be looked for. Mons. de Peiresc of Aix, in Provence, was the last of the successors of Petrarcha whe diligently sought for the inedited classics in conventual libraries, and he was successful in obtaining some of them in Germany.

Fragments of the Decades of Livy were found, not very long ago, on battle-doors for shuttle-cock!

Many fine things were lost at the Refor mation in England, and probably many valu able MSS. afterwards went to the snuff-shops, when James I. of England was publishing his silly blast against tobacco. O what a blast of tobacco, if copies of the immortal Livy, or Polybius, have gone to wrap up that wretched poison of America!

Spain certainly contains many unknown valuable remains of literature, Greek and Ro1i man, in its provincial convents, that ought to be diligently explored, and it is entreated of the worthy brethren of these houses in Spain, that they may convey to the Bee a general description of such MSS. as are hitherto unregistered and undescribed in their conventual libraries. Where there are illuminated MSS. of an historical nature, and still more where they are geographical or biographical, it is entreated that such old pictures may be described.

The ancient Roman library, now unfold

ing at Portici, goes on so slowly, that a century may be required to give the public a list of its contents.

It would be humane and noble, if the King of the Two Sicilies would permit foreign potentates and foreign societies to employ poor learned brethren to unfold these interesting. volumes, which would prove a comfortable aid to these unfortunate men, who see the church crumbling under their eyes all over Europe. The volumes should be all partially unfolded, to know and taste their merit and importance, before the immense labour of recovering them should be attempted.

The Vatican library and Castle of St Angelo contain treasures of historical and clas sical knowledge hitherto unimagined, and which might be obtained, if funds were found for exploration; since nothing can exceed the liberality and goodness of the reigning, pontiff, or of the Sacred College, in opening the avenue to useful curiosity, as has been experi enced by the author of these hints.

moja au marron 929 la in pov na valtow agi in veg a 99 at 01 VAN, 780 Yarı Jedi

-Derg (1, 19yladı gutement., 159dret of bayub 91 E9Gleanings of Literaturepost skin

Volagi 1 TO THE EDITOR OF THE BEE.{{ V197,Ā

*

RETURN you, with many thanks, the numerous volumes of political economy, from which it appears the excellent Adam Smith drew a great part of the materials for his noble treatise on the Causes of the Wealth of Nations.

I have read that book with great attention, and have had recourse, at all the passages you had marked, to the authors from which you justly suppose he drew his first impressions of political conviction, on the subjects of his argument; and entertain no doubt that Dr Smith would have quoted those authors, if he had any where followed them so closely as to render it necessary. But the truth is, as I know from having had the happiness to live Long and much with him, that he reasoned, spoke, and wrote from complex results of logi cal induction, conversation, and reading, that rendered it almost impossible for him to retrace the sources of his knowledge. Perhaps he, should have been fuller in a preface, to mention the various writers on his subject who

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