The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-07 00:00:00

STATE OF LITERATURE IN RUSSIA.

The northern parts of Europe are as yet, in
point of literature, almost " km: incogniter," whence
Ad nos vie tvntas pctia'iiiur aura.—V: sc.
A brief sketch, or " apprep rapid'," of the present
state of literature in those countries, will not, there-
fore, prove unacceptable to our readers.
Russia, unbretalized, if we may be allowed the
expression, by Peter I. and the Empress Anne, ac-
quired ender the propitious reign of Catharine IL
civilization and culture with a rapidity of progress,
only equalled by that of her political importance.
During a period of thirty-three years, that truly
great .rzipres- not only placed her regenerated em-
pire among the leading powers of Europe, but alsd
fostered and nursed up the arts and sciences in her
vast dominions to. an unprecedented degree of im-
provement. Leo X. Lewis XIV: Joseph I. Gusta-
vus 111. were g..:ner :::7 t,potft:ors of talent and ge-
nius; but she was fac .:irr friend of literature, and
the zealous patraners c'. • ',.: .7. learned. Her letters to
men of literary eri:;.e• ee breathed not the lofty
spirit of Imieriat p.n.' .:ion ; they are written in the
unassuming style of a -...ommcrier of the Republic of
Letters, who addres: Is his Peer. Her instructions
for the committee at.2oiated to prepare a new code
of laws are replete with profound legislative wis-
dom ; and her dramatic compositions, merely in-
tended for the. instruction of her grand-children,
conveyed sentiments the most pure and refined, in a j
style simple, elegant, and correct. Under the benign, 1
and yet powerful influence and animating example
of Catharine 11. was literature thus ereatedin Russia,
and attained no mean degree of culture duringher glo-
rious reign. By turns slighted, encouraged, and per-
secuted by her immediate successor, literature shared
in the ephemeral revolutions of the calamitous pe-
riod, on which commiserating tenderness for the
frailties incident to human nature readily throws the
veil of oblivion. Literature revived in full vigour
at the auspicious dawn of the present reign ; but
from the short time which has since elapsed, it can
hardly be expected to have made any material pro-
gress. The present state of literature in Russia
may, therefore, with equal propriety and truth, be
affirmed closely to approximate to that wherein it
was left by the great Catharine.
At that time Russian literature was not distin-
guished by any originality of charatier, nor has it
since attained any distinctive national features. The
uncommon richness of the Russian language, which
with peculiar felicity renders the sense of foreign
idioms, will, we fear, prove a powerful obstruction
to that attainment. Oa taking a survey of the pre-
sent state of literature in Russia, we find, according-
ly, numerous translations, but few original works.
Among the latter, not taking into account several
ingenious treatises inserted in the Transactions of
the Imperial Society at Petersburgh, there are some
of distinguished eminence. Such as, for instance,
the elaborate and instruairework on the Trade of
Russia, by Tschulkow ; the Description of Kamts-
chatka, by Kratscliennikow ; and Cadmus and Har-
monia, a highly finished composition of Cheraskow.
Yet, in common with all nations emerging from a
state of barbarity, the Russians count among their
national authors a greater number of good poets
than able writers ih prose. Lomonossow and Den-
chawin have composed odes sthich possess great me-
rit. Ssumarokow, whose poetical works were pub-
lished in 1767, in ten volumes in octavo, is the au-
thor of several fables, ingeniously conceived and
well told; and of a tragedy, intituled, The False
Demetrius, which has experienced a very favour-
able reception. Russia possesses also an epic poem
' of no inconsiderable merit, we mean the Ruasside,
by the same Chcraskow, whom we have already
had occasion to mention. To Wien his country is
indebted for several satyrical productions inßoileau's
manner; and Deznitrew, perhaps the most popular
of all the Russian poets, has published some charm-
ing compositions of the lighter species of poetry.
The works of Euler, Pallas, Nicolai, and other
foreigners; whose literary labours have illustrated
Russia, cannot for obvious reasons be classed among
those which form the subject of this rapid sketch.
But the measure of calling in their assistance to
forward the great work of enlightening her mighty
empire does infinite credit to the immortal Catha-
rine, whom some ill-advised admirers of that unri-
valled Empress mean to extol by the ridiculous
• appellation of the Semiramis of the North.

. The case of Francisco, the foreigner, convicted
a short time since at the Old Bailey, for discharg-
ing a pistol at Mr. Maryan, in his shop in Lom-
bard-street, was reported to the King on Wed-
nesday last, by the Recorder. The convict was
among those whose sentence his Majesty was pleased
to respite.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, FEL 4.
His Majesty's ship Cerium's is under orders to pro-
ceed to the Eastward.
Arrived the Camilla, Anderson, from Bermuda.,
with troops ; out eight weeks and three days in very
tempestous weather.
Arrived from the Northward, between forty and
fifty sail of laden colliers , some of which, bound
to this port, have anchored here ; the rest pursued
their voyage to the Westward.
Sailed from the Motherbank, the ships /Mine
and Pallor, for the West India; and Bacchus, for the
South Seas.
Remain at Spithead, his Majesty's ships as per
last. Wind N.E. and blows fresh.
By a letter received this day by a_very reputable
character in this garrison, we are happy in being
able to contradict a report of the death of Doctor
Blair, the Physician of the Fleet, which has pre-
vailed for some time, as the person drowned was a
medical gentleman of the same name, but a na-
tive or resident of the island of Jamaica. •
FALMOUTH, FIB. 2.
Sailed this day the brig. Mentura, Dennis, with
spirits • for Bristol ; the brig Venture, Dixon, fur
Newcastle ; the brig William, Earner, with sugars,
&c. for Havre de Grasse ; the brig Suir, Jones,
with provisions for London ; the Marc, Paterson, for
Hamburg ; the Venus, Jazer, with wine, &c. for
London ; the American brig D l.gence, Wats, with
sugar, &c. for London ; the American ship Marga-
ret, Lewis, for London ; and the Dutch ship Three
Sister., Rymers, with hullands, &c. for Guernsey ;
passenger on board her, the well-known Major
Semple, who has been here for several days, with
hopes of obtaining a passage either to France or
Portugal,
Arrived this day the brig Peggy, White, with
provisions from Dubliu for this port ; and the brig
Three Erotism, Wescott, with earthenware, &c.
from Liverpool.
Some of the packets, with Mails from Lisboa,
West Indies, and America, may be expected to ar-
rive in the course of to-morrow : the wind has
shifted this day very favourably for their arrival.—
Wind N.W.

DOVER, FEn. 4.
The Charlotte packet arrived last night from Ca-
.ais, with three Mails, and passengers ; also the Pria-
m: of Wale: packet, Capt. Sutton, and La Renommh
passage vessel, with a great number of passengev„,
amongst whom were the Hon. Henry Pierpoint, Sir
Thos. Clarges, Bart. the Hon. Mr. Knox, Lieut.
Colonel Shaiker, 60th regime: t, Capt. Cullen of
the 32d, Lieut. Newport of•the 4th, Lieut. Colonel
WaM, Mr. Dowering, and Mr. Chanereux.
The following vessels put into this port last
night :—Efizabeth, of and from Liverpool, laden
with sugar, Capt: Grayland, bound for Amster-
dam ; Wiliam, of Brixham, Capt. Bord, with but-
ter, bound to London ; Endeavour, of and from
Pv-ollhele, Capt. Jones, bound for London.
The brig Jason, Capt. Guerlie, of Nevis, from
Antigua, bound to Loudon, .was brought in here
this morning, laden with sugar and cotton ; ato
the brig Pierre Capt. Johan Barden of Gefte,
leaky and muchdamaged, laden with orange,
from St. Übes, bound to London.
The brig Robert and Sally, Capt. Charles Brown,
from Chester, laden with lead ore, bound to New-
castle, in coming for the harbour this morning, un-
fortunately struck on the bar, in consequence of
the water being Killen, and was afterwards driven
on shore near the South Pier Head ; her stern is
beaten in, 'and it appears -doubtful whether idie
will be got off, as she is very much damaged.
Sailed the Marie, of and from Hotter/ au, fur

St. Vallery, Capt. Vanderplas.
The Express packet, Capt. Dell, is expected to
sail to-morrow for Calais, with the mail and pas-
sengers.
-DEAL, FER. 4c.
Arrived the Fri..n://h;p, Glover; from Philadel-
phia, and remains with his Majesty's ships as per
last.

MEETINGS OF CREDITORS, AT GUILDHALL,
To-smuttier, Fan. 8. it. Is.
Fisher Jacson, of BASill gllall-itreet, factor I. 13.
J. Garwood, of Roy,unt, Hertfordshire, victualler
J. Allen, to. B trtlett's-buildings, Holborn, tailor
Robert Hugh,s, of Noble-sleet, warehouseman
• DIVIDENDS.
W. Butl*tn, of Plymouth-dock, linen-draper lO
T. Maltby and G. Maltby, of Size-lane, merchants
D. Maitland, of New Bridko-street, merchant • 10
J. Gerard, of Cannon-street, corufactur 1 is
F. Gardner, of Great St. Helen's, underwriter
J. H. Emmott and J. and F. Browne, of the Old Jewry,
brandy-merchants
William Ludby, of Pctworth, Sussex, shopkeeper
CF.RTIFICATES.
•
Thomas Neave an& Muses Neave, late of Bickton, South.
amptun, millers.
James Rawlins, of Red Lion-street,' Clerkenoell, ha.d ware-
William Turner, late of Floors, Northampton, baker.
William Makinson, of Bolton, Latica.stor, niusiiii manufac-
turer. . .
John Owen Harries, of Car lican, shopkeep6r.
William 'Wat:isn, of Fenchurch-street, merchant
' -

• BIRTHS. •
Yeste-day, the Lady of %V. Davies, Esq. of Gower-street, of.
a dau4ltter,
Lail wea,.at Ampton, in Sofialk, Lady Charles ?An', of
a daughter. • .•
MARRIED.
At Haulier, in the county of Flint, Lord Kenyon, to Miss
Handier, adugliter of Sir Thomas Monier, Bart. of Benisbei.d-
Park.
At BrlnVer, Kent, on Thursday latt, by the Rev. Dr. Sin
Mr. Edward Later, attorney theta, to Nis: Ruithison, of tie
sante place.

DIED.

On Thursday, at her house in Montpelier-row, Twist NI
ham, greatly lamented; Mrs. Vaughan, relict of Harry
Vaughan, •
Ye!derd.iy, at his house, Terrace, Spring-Garden2, after a few
days illness, the infant diingliter of Claude Hunter, EA. aged
time months.

BF-ST NEWCASTLE COALS, .475. per CIIALDRO.N.
Fri.lE NEWCASTLE COAL •COMPANY. re-
specttally aortaiut the Gentry, and Public,
that they Inv be supplied with tile 8....5t and LarosCoal, at
the above re:lueed price, for prompt payment, Twelve Sacki,
measured ander the inspection of Sworn Meteca.
Orders received for the Proprietors at No. 54, Mortimer-
greet, Cavendish-square ; .N0..826,•0Xf0rd-sueet, near Swa;-
low-strect ; No. 195, Piccadilly, opposite Suckville-street -and
No. 51, St. Martin's-le-tir:ud, will be punctually executed
N. W One Shilling per Mile per Cbaldron, of the Stones.

I

London: Printed by J. Gil tar, No 18, Crown-coot!,
Fleet-street; and pubitshked there ►y W. 1. CtEbt Er, of
Nu. 201, Stood.
Atbrecttsernents and Letters (post paid) must be addrefied tp
the Lafice, Nu. 13, Solskury square.

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