the earlier part of the summer, and of the alarming state of Portugal at that time, Don Pedro determined to invest his brother with the office of Regent; and accordingly, he wrote him a letter to that effect. The Sovereign, however, was by no means certain, that, with this arrangement, the charter would be preserved. He, therefore, wrote to the English Government, requesting them to use their influence with the Infanta, that the char tered rights of the people might be kept entire. - Great preparations were now made at Lisbon for the reception of the new Regent, who was expected to arrive in the end of the year. Count Villa Real, the Portuguese ambassador to England, arrived at Vienna in the beginning of Octo ber. He was authorized by the Cortes, to make arrangements with Don Miguel, in regard to his return to Portugal; but his Royal Highness stated, that he had no intention of setting out for Lisbon, till he received farther instructions from his bro ther. As complete arrangements, however, had been made with the English Government by Don Pedro, and as the full concurrence of the European powers had been gained, the new Regent left Vienna on the 29th November, for Paris, on his way to London. On his arrival in the Eng lish capital, his Royal Highness received the most polite attention from the Government. Before his departure for Lisbon, which took place towards the end of December, it was generally understood that he had received an assurance from the Ministry, that the British troops should be withdrawn from Portugal as soon as he arrived in that country.

What may be the result of the elevation of Don

Miguel to the Regency, is somewhat doubtful; but it is to be hoped, that, by a strict adherence to the Constitutional charter, he will preserve the peace, and promote the prosperity of Portugal. Should the I new government realize the expectations entertained by all classes, it will heal the dissensions which for some time past have harassed the country, and unite the people in one combined effort to support the constitutional principles on which their government is established, against the insidious attempts of Spanish influence from without, and internal dissensions from within.

In the distracted state of the country, literature has made little or no progress in Portugal. The only scientific institution holds its sittings at Lis bon; and though it ranks among its members men of high attainment in science, their labours have been almost wholly suspended by the political events of the last few years.

EUROPE IN 1827.

VII.

GERMANY AND SWITZERLAND.

THE political state of Germany seems to have undergone little or no change, during the last year. The proceedings of the Diet at Frankfort, as far as we know of them, have turned upon nó extensive object or matter of general importance. No alteration has taken place in the constitutions of any of those countries of the confederation, which already enjoy this privilege; and those to which it was denied, still remain deprived of it. The convocation of the Prussian States, (Landstände), and their proceedings, may, however, be considered as a step towards accomplishing the objects of a representative constitution.

The death of the aged King of Saxony has made no change in the state of that country. He was a man by no means of eminent qualities or talents, but of great honesty, and much beloved by his subjects. Saxony is the only country in Germany, in which complete equality in civil privileges, is not extended to every denomination of Christians; and here, this exception seems to arise from the singular circumstance, that a country wholly Protestant, has a Catholic Sovereign, When the Elector of Saxony, in 1697, was

chosen to be King of Poland, he embraced the Catholic faith; but provisions were made to prevent any farther encroachment upon the Protestant interest; and those who belonged to the same Church with the Sovereign, were subjected to disabilities, which have not yet been removed. The present Sovereign, brother of the late King, is said to be more inclined to bigotry, or at least to proselytism, than his predecessor; but the spirit of the country, and the perfect religious liberty which is insured to all classes in it, would make such an inclination of the King, though existing, altogether harmless.

The progress of literature and the arts, in Germany, during the last year, has, upon the whole, been satisfactory; and we may record several efforts made by various governments, as well as by societies and private individuals, which afford pleasing evidence of a stirring and active spirit. Germany has been always distinguished among the States of Europe, by the diffusion of learning and information over the whole country, by the establishments formed for this purpose in numerous middle-sized and small towns, and the absence of a point of concentration, such as England, France, and other countries, possess in their capitals. No such metropolis, exercising a general sway over literature and the arts, could exist in Germany, which, for many centuries, has been subdivided into various States, the people and the governments of which, have been actuated by different, and often even by opposite interests; and although such a division has been always considered as injurious to the country, as far as its

external political relations are concerned, it has, on the other hand, undoubtedly excited a spirit of independence and emulation, and consequently, a more general distribution of knowledge, even in the most remote parts of the country. From this remark, however, we must make an exception, with regard to those parts of Germany subjected to the Austrian dominion, where the progress of the mind is checked by censorship, prohibitions, and an exclusive attachment to one particular system of education.

There have been about twenty universities existing for many years in Germany, of which the greater part are in small towns. The cheapness of living in most of the towns, which are the seats of universities, or of the minor colleges, (Gymnasia), place the means of acquiring learning, within the reach of a far more numerous body of men, than can be the case in Great Britain. To these establishments are generally attached more or less extensive public libraries, which afford easy access, not only to the stu→ dents, but to all those who are desirous of information.

Some of the Germanic States having, in later years acquired a greater political importance, it has been found advisable to institute in their capitals extensive seminaries for the cultivation of the sciences and arts; among these we may mention, first, the University of Berlin, founded in the year 1810, which may fairly be said to be at this moment, the most extensive scientific and literary establishment existing. To support this opinion, we shall give here a brief account of the courses of lectures, which were delivered there, in the sum