capital, appear destined only to promote Philological studies, and those of Antiquities and the Fine Arts. We remark the Roman Memoirs of Antiquities and the Fine Arts, edited by MM. L. Cardinali, Melchiori Visconti, and C. Cardinali. The Arcadian Journal is consecrated particularly to literature and poetry, and it also devotes considerable attention to the Medical Sciences. Astronomy is cultivated with great success. The Opuscula Astronomica, published sometime ago by MM. Calandrelli, Conti, and Ricchebach, are very valuable. It must be considered as a fact of no small interest and importance, that the Elements of Optics and Astronomy, by M. Setele, where the truth of the Copernican System is demonstrated, has been adopted as a Text-book in the principal Gymnasium at Rome. Considerable efforts have been made to revive the celebrated: Academia dei Lincei; but very little can be expected from the new Academicians, in a place where they are not permitted publicly to honour the memory of their ancient founder, Prince Cesi.

The political doctrines taught in the States of the Church, are perverted and illiberal. M. Fea has attempted to revive, the obsolete and absurd notions, in regard to the direct and indirect temporal supremacy of the Pope. It is asserted, that in a seminary for ecclesiastical law, which has been recently established at Rome, the professor, a lawyer of the order of Theatins, uses all his efforts to persuade his pupils, that all legitimate power is derived from the Pope-a doctrine which Gravina ably refuted in the same town, in the earlier part of last century.

Of all the towns in the States of the Church,

Bologna is least affected by the influence of the Roman spirit, and the sciences and literature are there held in honour. A Medical Journal is published, which devotes its pages to the illustration of the medical doctrines of M. Rasori. The works of Orioli, Mondini and others, contribute much to the progress of the physical sciences. Bologna has never neglected the interests of literature and poetry.

Several works on Medicine, Mathematics, and Mineralogy, especially on the productions of Vesuvius, prove that the sciences are cultivated by the Neapolitans. Although various literary societies are in operation, they have produced nothing of any importance.

The same observations might be made in regard to Sicily, as the number of authors and their productions, are less numerous than in any of the Italian States. The works of Scina and Ferari, and the different pieces of M. Fodera, show the high character of Sicilian Literature.

Music and Poetry have long been the favourite objects of admiration in Italy; and they are still cultivated with the greatest enthusiasm. The dispute between the romantic and classical poets is carried on with remarkable keenness. The journals are divided in their opinions, as to the two classes; the Antologia of Florence advocating the cause of the romantic, while the Giornale Arcadica adopts the sentiments of the classical poets.

EUROPE IN 1827.

X.

GREECE.

THE struggles of the Greeks have, from the commencement of the war, awakened thoughts and feelings of no ordinary interest in every generous and philanthropic breast. Nearly seven years have elapsed, since that people first began to resist the authority of their Turkish oppressors, and to display in the eyes of Europe, an intrepidity and undaunted courage, worthy of the better days of an, cient Greece. From that time the ferocious Mahmoud, aided by his active and more intelligent tributary the Pacha of Egypt, was incessantly pouring in hordes of ruthless barbarians to massacre the unfortunate Greeks, while the European Governments, whom humanity, interest, and religion should have roused, were spectators of the disgraceful scene.

In the opening of the seventh campaign in 1827, the state of Greece was extremely critical. Missolonghi, their western capital, had been levelled

with the dust; the houses in the surrounding country, had been pillaged and destroyed, and the woods were the only refuge of the wretched inhabitants; the fate of Missolonghi seemed now to be impending over Athens; the enemy were in possession of the fertile plains of the Morea, and threatened to occupy the islands. In these circumstances, the Greeks were completely discouraged; their cause appeared to be hopeless, and was rendered still more so, by their internal dissensions. Two legislative assemblies at Astros and Egina, were reproaching each other; opposing factions prevailed through the country; suspicion, jealousy, and want of confidence, beset the minds of both soldiers and chiefs.

The war in the course of 1826, had assumed an aspect so alarming as to threaten the complete extermination of the unhappy Greeks. The sa vage Arabs plundered and burnt, almost every vil. lage in the Morea, and chased the inhabitants into the mountains; the Greek soldiers were discontented from want of pay and provisions; the people were worn out by the sufferings of a six years' war; and the country appeared an easy prey to the relentless Turks. Griziotti, at the head of 1000 soldiers, had been blockaded in the Acropolis of Athens from the 30th of June, by Kurschid Pacha, who commanded 15,000 Turks in Eastern Greece. The brave and generous Fabvier having heard that the besieged were in want of powder, had the courage to force his way to them on the 1st of December, accompanied by 50 Philhellene officers and 500 soldiers, having their knapsacks filled with powder. Though this gallant band accomplished their purpose, they could never

succeed in escaping from the citadel, but were doomed to endure the rigour of a severe winter, and the horrible privations of a protracted siege.

In the early part of the past year, though the capital of Eastern Greece was still besieged, the hopes of the Greeks were somewhat revived by the intelligence that Lord Cochrane, who had been so long and so anxiously expected, was on his way to assist them. The powerful and effective aid, which this brave Admiral had afforded to the South Americans, in their glorious struggle for independence, had so raised his fame, that the highest expectations were entertained from his preeminent skill in naval affairs.

About the same time, England, France, and Russia agreed to treat with the Turkish Government in behalf of the unfortunate Greeks. Previous however, to the combination of the three powers, the Russian Emperor Nicholas commissioned his Charge d'Affairs at Constantinople, to present to the Porte an energetic remonstrance, against continuing the war with his Christian subjects. This step evidently showed, that the Russian Emperor, much to his honour, was anxious to put an end to hostilities in the Morea, and to obtain security in future for the oppressed Christians. Upon the refusal of the Porte to accept the mediation of Russia, the ambassador was sent from St Petersburgh to Constantinople, with express orders to join the French and English ambassadors, in one combined effort in behalf of the Greeks. The propriety of interference in the internal affairs of any country, is at best a doubtful question; but this is one of those extreme cases in which the ex