402 Of the Age in which Quintus Calaber flourished. lines in a topographical or other work of the monkish days? If so I shall be obliged by information respecting them, as also to any gentleman who can inform me who was the author of some verses introduced soon after the above, begin ning: Fair Nottingham with brilliant beauty graced, In ancient Shirewood's south-west angle placed, and where they were first printed. I am, &c. NOTTINGHAMIENSIS. Nottingham, April 10, 1818. To the Editor of the New Monthly Magazine. IN pursuance of my promise I shall now resume my comments on the Paraleipomena of Quintus Calaber. In the conclusion of my last letter I had entered upon the arguments of those who endeavoured to ascertain the age in which our author wrote from an examination of his writings, and shall now proceed accordingly. The first that I shall investigate are those which tend to establish the probability of his having existed about the time of the revolution which placed Cesar at the head of the Roman empire. The passage on which they rest their proof is the following: Ισχεσθ' Αινείας κατ' φθεμενοιο καρήνει 'Gainst great Æneas cease the fruitless war, And seek Hesperian Tiber's yellow tides: shall rise, And rear its sacred turrets to the skies. And western regions bow submission dread. Now this is a passage that would of itself be sufficient to decide the question: but unfortunately for those who wish for that event, it is quoted from what is not the acknowledged production of the Calabrian, besides which the [June 1, passage itself is said to be very incorrect and corrupted as to the text. But even supposing for a moment that it was the original work of our author, the great similarity between it and a passage in the Eneis would render it liable to the suspicion of being an interpolation- a charge which is brought against it as it is. Let the reader compare it with the following lines of Virgil, and he will doubtless acknowledge the justice of the suspicion:— Hic vir, hic est, tibi quem promitti sæpius Augustus Cæsar, divum genus: aurea condet Proferet imperium: jacet extra sidera tellus, En. lib. 6. v. 791. If our author was Quintus Eunius, the Calabrian poet, as Barnes positively asserts, in his usual manner, without the least authority, or if he was a Roman, as others seem to believe from his name, such a sentiment might emanate from a spirit of nationality; but if he was a Greek, an eulogy of the Roman empire must come from him with a very ill grace. For the Greeks had been repeatedly defeated in their endeavours during that time to throw off the Roman yoke, and their attempts had only served to fix it more firmly; they could not, therefore, feel any veneration for those who had reduced them to a state of vassalage, and had deprived them of their ancient laws and forms of government. On this account, so fulsome a compli 1818.] Of the Age in which Quintus Calaber flourished. ment to the Roman nation cannot with Αινείαν δ' έκλεψε και Ανχίσην Αφροδίτη Tryphiodori. Il. Ex. v. 651. But Venus, mindful of the secret love Such Heaven's high will, and such was That, placed far distant from their native Their martial line a lasting throne should raise, And stretch their empire thro' a length of days. Merrick. Yet Tryphiodorus is supposed to have written at a time when the Roman einpire was still in a flourishing state, although its golden age was past, and therefore could not be ignorant of its power. Even Virgil, when he makes Æneas relate his adventures to Dido, a narrative in which every thing that could influence the feelings is interwoven with a masterly hand, has forgotten so very important a circumstance as the prophesy of Chalcas and the events which attended it. The prophetic consolation of Creusa is nothing in comparison. Is it credible then that the flatterer of Augustus would have abandoned so fair an opportunity to compliment, or that he would have omitted to place in the mouth of his hero that circumstance, the relation of which was almost sufficient of itself to assist his views, and excite the interest of Dido in his favour. I must therefore agree with De Pau in pronouncing this an interpolation, while at the same time I regret that such is the case, as its authenticity would be of the greatest import ance. Notwithstanding the failure of proof in the passage last quoted, I am still induced to believe that that was the probable time at which our author wrote. I could adduce two passages in support of my opinion, which appear to me to have hitherto escaped the research of commentators; but as one of them occurs in the fourteenth book, it is liable to the 403 same objection which has been urged in Και δ' Αχιλλευς αλίασσον εν ενετείρετο θυμω Mourned o'er that lovely form, whose beau- In sacred union might have bless'd his arms, meads; Phthia distinguished for its race of steeds: - μεγα δ' αχνυτο Πηλέος υιος But plunged in deepest woe the chief beheld Not thus he griev'd when by the fatal dart The passage in Propertius is this:Ausa ferox ab equo quondam oppugnare sagittis Mæotis Danaum, Penthesilea rates. Aurea cui postquam nudavit cassida frontem Vicit victorem, candida forma virum. Lib. 3. El. 9. v. 13. As once the martial queen with furious pride Urged her swift courser to the Ocean's side, And 'gainst the Grecian navy dar'd to wage The arrowy war, and roused their utmost rage; But when the falling helmet had displayed I have met with no author who lived anterior to the time of Augustus, by whom the circumstances attending the combat between the Amazonian queen and Achilles are at all mentioned. There is no other source existent then from which Propertius could derive his information than from the poem of Quintus. Now Propertius was contemporary 404 Gallery of Dulwich College-Public Instruction in Russia. [June 1, with Horace, and therefore the poem of our author must have been something before that time; and it is more than probable, that fond as he was of Grecian literature, he had perused it, and in so doing became acquainted with the circumstances attending the death of the Amazon, which he afterwards transferred to his own poem. There are other passages which I could also adduce in support of my argument, but as they are very long I shall content myself by referring to them, and request the reader to compare together first-Quintus Calaber, lib. 2. v. 254 et sequentes, with Pindar, Pythia carmen 6, Ant. 2, and Virgil, neis 10, v. 786, et seq. ; second, Quintus Calaber, lib. 5, v. 128, et seq.; and Ovid Metam. lib. 13. To the Editor of the New Monthly Magazine. THOSE would have but a very incorrect idea of the civilization of the vast Russian empire who were to judge of it solely from the reports of persons by whom the country has been visited in the last ten years, or from the different works published during that period.— Such is the rapid progress of the several branches of public instruction, that the face of scientific Russia changes not only every year, but we might say every moment. This circumstance seems to have escaped most foreigners; it therefore behoves the natives to rectify and complete from time to time the statements collected in silence by the friend of humanity. I regret that I am prevented from entering into more minute details; and shall here indicate the aim alone, confining myself to what relates to the medical art. It is my intention at some future time to enter more largely into the subject, and to pay a just tribute of gratitude and admiration to one of the most worthy of princes, to Alexander, whose great and liberal actions as well as sentiments, have long rivetted the attention of Europe and the hearts of his subjects. Peter I. one of the greatest monarchs of the 17th century was the reformer of his people. Catherine II. excited among them the desire of individual instruction by maintaining young Russians at her own expense in the most celebrated seminaries of Europe, and by inducing the nobility to send their children upon foreign travels. But it was reserved for Alexander to crown what his predecessors had so happily begun, and to open the sources of public instruction in his dominions. Solely intent on the prosperity and civilization of his subjects, he founded the universities of Casan, Charkow, Dorpat,Wilna, and the Medico-chirurgical Academy of Moscow, and infused new emulation into those of Abo and Moscow, and the Medico-chirurgical Academy of St. Petersburg. He metamorphosed the gymnasiums and inferior schools into nurseries for the Universities; and has recently introduced the Lancasterian system of education into his States with such success that the smallest country town will soon have a school upon that plan. With a view to diffuse instruction among all classes of society, by offering it to them in these public schools, he encouraged those founded by private persons, and to give still greater effect to all these efforts, he attached civil dignities and certain prerogatives to academic degrees, and directed that such only as have undergone the strictest examination shall be capable of holding any employment civil or military. Thus honour and interest, the two most powerful motives of human actions inflame and cherish the noblest emulation. Writers of genius receive not less encouragement than the professors. How paltry appears the vaunted liberality of the late oppressor of France, when com pared with the munificence of Alexander! It will be recollected with what ostentation the French journals announced that to reward M. Picard the dramatist, Buonaparte appointed him a member of the Institute and of the Legion of Honour, and conferred on him a pension of two or three thousand francs, and a gratuity of a similar sum. No sooner was Alexander acquainted with the great talents of Karamsin, author of the excellent History of Russia, than he appointed him historiographer of the Empire, counsellor of state, grand cross of the Order of St. Aune, assigned him a 1818.] M. de Gribkow on the State of Public Instruction in Russia. 405 pension of 2000 rubles, and made him a present of 60,000. Numerous instances of this kind attest the incessant solici tude of this generous prince for the general diffusion of the blessings of education. It is from Alexander's reign that the study of the belles lettres takes its date. Though the universities have been frequented by a great number of pupils, it requires four years to complete their courses, and some farther time to mature the knowledge which they have gained. The events of 1812 chiefly affected the universities of Moscow and Wilna, and by repercussion those of Dorpat and Charkow. The recent establishment of her schools, and the immense extent of her territory, explain the reason why Russia cannot yet possess a number of literati proportionate to that of other neighbouring nations, her elders in civilization. In this respect, however, she is not poor. Many who availed themselves of the exhibitions founded by Catherine II. in the universities, especially of Germany, are employed as professors in those of Russia. Dorpat is the only one of the latter in which all the chairs are occupied by Germans, because instruction is there conveyed solely in their language. There can be no doubt that ten years will be sufficient to fur nish able native professors, and to reJieve us entirely from the competition of foreigners, but not from gratitude to them, especially to the Germans, who were the first, at the invitation of Peter the Great and Catherine, to diffuse knowledge throughout Russia. Among the circumstances which have prevented the Russian universities from being frequented in proportion to the population, vassalage has largely contributed. In Germany, for instance, the majority of the students in divinity, and generally one-fifth of the pupils are the sons of wealthy peasants or farmers. The other classes of society furnish a smaller proportion. In Russia it is just the reverse; the clergy, nobility, and citizens are almost the only classes whose children are educated at the universities. The state of servitude scarcely allows the peasantry to avail themselves of this advantage. This point has not escaped the attention of the enlightened sovereign. Convinced that there can be no profitable instruction without rational liberty, Alexander is paving the way to the progressive enfranchisement of his people, far more ambitious to NEW MONTHLY MAG.-No. 53.. reign over loyal and grateful subjects than to command slaves. Already no serfs are to be found in Courland and Esthonia. This fact alone would justify his claim to immortality had it not been long since established by glory and the love of his people. The university of Dorpat ought so much the more to congratulate itself on this happy event, as it will not fail to derive new lustre from the increased number of its pupils and consequently of the propagators of sound doctrines. The ecclesiastical profession is not a lucrative one in Russia: a parish is still less beneficial than a professor's chair; literary men accordingly devote themselves to instruction in preference to the church. In Catholic countries, on the contrary, where the ecclesiastical revenues are more considerable, the clergy attach the cleverest men to their own body by the highest advantages. The Church of England, which is very rich, pursues the same system. With the exception of the faculties of jurisprudence and medicine, from which the clergy derive scarcely any benefit, we rarely see in a Catholic country a man of distinguished talents who is not borrowed from the clergy in a professor's chair.— The Russian universities are still too young to admit of the application of this remark to them in regard to the professors, but it holds good in respect to the pupils. It is almost exclusively the sons of ministers who frequent those of Petersburg, Moscow and Wilna. The Russians are naturally endowed with a great facility of imitation. To them the study of languages seems to be mere play. They have their orators, their historians, their poets; and among the latter, the works of Lomonossow, Cheraskow, Karamsin, and Derschawine would be found in the library of every person of taste, beside those of Voltaire, Rousseau, and Göthe, if the Russian language were more widely diffused. This is a work of time. I had the pleasure to remark in 1814 at Berlin, that some persons there were studying our mother tongue. If we still have fewer good na tive writers, if we read less than other nations, what is read is more thoroughly understood and digested than if we were inundated with a profusion of insignifi cant publications. I shall now proceed to trace, what has never yet been given, a sketch of the Medico-chirurgical Academy of Petersburg, which is an excellent model. This VOL. IX. SG 406 M. de Gribkow on the State of Public Instruction in Russia. [June 1, sketch will serve to afford some idea of the other establishments of the kind, and those for the other sciences which are now cultivated in Russia as successfully as by the most flourishing nations. Foreigners are aware that such an institution exists, but they know nothing of its organisation, and of the mode of instruction pursued there. The principal object towards which all efforts are directed is solid information applicable to the wants of life, and free from all systematic speculation. This is but conforming to the taste of the nation, whose genius tends in preference to the study of the exact sciences. The Medico-chirurgical Academies of Petersburg and Moscow are destined to supply the army with skilful medical men, and I know of no institutions that more effectually fulfil the object of their foundation. From 250 to 350 of the pupils who have most distinguished themselves by their proficiency in the gymnasiums are supported at the Emperor's expence in the Academy of St. Petersburg. They are provided with every necessary except clothing, and have moreover a yearly stipend of 120 rubles; they reside in a magnificent edifice situated at the extremity of the capital in the midst of immense military hospitals which form of themselves a small town. An inspector (at present M. Encholm, counsellor of state, a gentleman of the highest merit) and four sub-inspectors also live in the building and preserve order. The course of study lasts four years. The first is devoted to mineralogy, zoology, natural philosophy, and the introduction to anatomy. In the second they are instructed in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, botany and pharmacy. The third is occupied with materia medica, pathology, therapeutics, and general surgery; during the same time they attend operations as mere spectators. In the fourth and last year they study pathology, special therapeutics and surgery, midwifery, legal medicine and medical police. At the same time they practise clinics exterual and internal under the inspection of the professors; and exercises or repetitions are held several times a year. In August there is a public examination and distribution of prizes. Those who fail to give satisfaction at this examination have to go again through the courses of the preceding year. At the expiration of the fourth year, the pupils are required to serve in the hospitals for a fifth, under the direction of the most skilful professional men who familiarize them more and more with the practice of their art. Those who most distinguish themselves by their talents and assiduity are employed in the Imperial Guards, the others pass into the service of the army for six years, and thus repay to the State the expences of their education.The Academy possesses an immense library, so liberally endowed as to admit of its being supplied with all the best ancient and modern productions. A magnificent anatomical cabinet contains all the beautiful preparations connected with the vessels and nerves, with which a Lieberkühn, Ruysch and Zogorsky have enriched that science. The cabinet of natural philosophy and likewise that of zoology, is one of the most complete in the world. The Russian cabinets of mineralogy comprize whatever is excellent in their kind, and hence it may naturally be concluded that nothing is wanting in that belonging to the Imperial Academy of Petersburg. These cabinets are open from morning till night to the pupils, who are even allowed to take away with them such works as they apply for, upon the responsibility of an Academician. At Petersburg the clinical professors are authorized to remove from any of the military hospitals of that capital such patients as present the most interesting cases. This regulation, which I have not yet observed any where but at Petersburg, not only spares the pupils the time which they would lose in going through extensive buildings, but brings under their view, at one point, whatever the professor deems most worthy of their attention, and best adapted to illustrate his lectures. He is particularly solicitous to show them subjects in whom the disease treated of in the preceding lecture is most clearly characterized. This method has the double advantage of addressing the senses and the understanding by the discussions to which it leads. The pupils examine of themselves the patients that have recently arrived; they question them and report their observations, always in Latin. The professor rectifies errors and supplies omissions: thus the pupils derive instruction from their very faults. In this manner indeed, they see fewer patients, but they obtain a much clearer insight into the nature and treatment of diseases. After this examination they proceed to the diagnostics. It is not sufficient to name the disease; reasons must be assigned for the opinion, and the symptoms which characterize and distinguish it from analogous dis |