sity, it may be worth while here to describe the arrangements, as they exist since the regulation of 1824. It will thence appear, that if in that country the administration of the universities corresponded fully to their constitution, the state of literature and the sciences would not indeed be equal to that in Germany, but still would not remain so far behind it, as is now the case; when the power of custom and of long established usage, either does not suffer new and better arrangements to be introduced, or else renders them, when introduced, immediately ineffectual. There exists a Congregazione degli studj, by which all matters relative to study are directed. To this congregation belong the Cardinal Secretary of State, the Camerlengo or Chamberlain of the Roman church, the Vicar of Rome, the Prefetto dell' indice, who makes out the catalogue of prohibited books, and several other cardinals. A legate from this congregation visits now and then the literary establishments. The ecclesiastical states have two principal universities, the archigymnasium at Rome, and the university of Bologna. In each of these there are said to be not less than thirty-eight professorships. Universities of the second rank are at Ferrara, Perugia, Camerino, Macerata, and Fermo ;-in each of them at least seventeen professorships. These universities cannot bestow degrees, without a previous visitation on the part of the 'sacra congregazione.' The number of chairs, and the subjects which are to be lectured upon, are printed by each university, and cannot be altered. The office of archchancellor is held at Rome by the cardinal chamberlain; in Bologna, by the archbishop. archchancellors have jurisdiction over all offences, which occur within the bounds of the universities. Only crimes of a higher nature, are referred to the ordinary courts. Each university has a rector, whose duty it is to watch over the discipline, religion, and morals of the professors and students. The rector makes out the catalogue of lectures. He remains in the university so long as the lectures continue, and notes every professor who does not fulfil his duty. In each university are four colleges, corresponding to the four faculties, which have functions in examinibus, in the choice of professors, and in the bestowment of degrees. They are, as it were, the mediators between the universities and the sacred congregation, to which they make report when required. To the theological college (or faculty) in Rome, belong regularly, among others, the commissary of These the Holy Office (Inquisition), the general procurators of the Dominicans, Augustins, Carmelites and Servites, etc. It was formerly the case, that professors received their places regularly through favoritism; and sometimes the professorships were even regarded as an honorable provision for invalids of merit. That in this respect the late pope introduced a new order of things, deserves particular acknowledgement; although the trial of the professors, established by him, is by far too much after the school-boy fashion; and besides, it must be remarked, that according to report, even in spite of this mode of proceeding, notwithstanding it was directed particularly against the system of favoritism, the old and established usage has at length triumphed, and favoritism has again assumed its sway. The new arrangement consists only in this, that henceforth every professorship shall be open to competitors. The candidates shall come together in the chambers of the library, and here, with closed doors and within six hours, write a Latin composition on one of thirty themes laid before them. Then follows an oral examination in Latin; and afterwards the archchanceller, rector, and college proceed to the choice. This competition, however, does not take place for the theological professorships in the university at Rome. And generally speaking, an exception is made from such a trial, when a candidate has distinguished himself in some other way, and particularly by any learned work. But in such cases the pope chooses alone. Every professor must use a printed synopsis, which he explains during the first half hour; the other half hour is spent in questioning and exercising the students. In reference to religion and morals, he receives prescripts from the sacred congregation, which he may not exceed. In case of sickness he must give the rector notice, and send his deputy in his place. Each faculty, namely, has an extraordinary professor, who in cases of sickness takes the place of the ordinary ones; he has the same privileges as the others, but no salary. Each university has a library, an observatory, a museum, and a botanic garden. Each has also its beadles. The revenues are managed by the rector. The university year is divided into three terms or trimesters. Each professor keeps a book, in which all his pupils inscribe their names. In banishing students from the university, the rector cannot act alone; but others must also give their votes. No student is permitted to loiter up and down in the university building, either before or after the lectures; nor to attend any other lectures than those which he has regularly commenced. Each university has its church or oratory. Every trimester is begun and closed with public worship. They sing: "Veni creator spiritibus-deus qui corda fidelium-deus omnium fidelium pastor." It would be well, were this custom imitated in protestant universities. Mass is read every day. On Sundays and festival days, the students meet in the oratory, listen first for half an hour to the reading of some pious book and afterwards to a sermon. During the fast of Lent, the students subject themselves annually to certain exercises,―solitude, fasting, prayer, and corporeal penance. Whoever withdraws himself from these religious exercises, or exhibits an habitual want of a devotional spirit, is cut off. In respect to the conferring of degrees, the student, after the completion of the first year, and after examination, receives the first or Bachelor's degree; and after a course of three years, and regular examination, that of Licentiate. Whoever will obtain the degree of Doctor in Theology, must for two years at least have heard lectures on the Holy Scriptures and ecclesiastical history. This degree of Doctor of Theology is conferred publicly and with the greatest solemnity; sometimes even the pope himself is present, in order to increase the splendor. This took place in 1827 at the promotion of a young Irishman, Cullen, a member of the Propaganda. The young doctorandus had given out no less than 224 theses, of which the following are specimens: Thesis 165. Religio Christiana, ubi primum praedicari coepit, singulari prorsus celeritate propagata est. 166. Hujus autem propagationis adjuncta fuerunt ejusmodi, ut inique et ignorantur faciant, qui Mohammedanismi et Lutheranismi progressus cum ea comparant. 182. Gravissime falluntur illi (Basnage, Mosheim, Voltaire) qui negant, Constantinum bellum Maxentio inferentem crucis signum coelitus objectum vidisse. 183. Quae vero J. A. Fabricius (Exercitatio crit. de hac re, Hamb. 1704. Biblioth. Graecae Vol. VI. 1, 5.) protulit argumenta, minime probant visionem illam naturalibus causis esse adscribendam. 224. Est etiam falsa Villersii sententia, qua statuitur, progressus, quos proxime elapsis saeculis scientiae et literae humaniores in Europa habuerunt, Lutheri, quam vocant, reformatione acceptos referri oportere.-The first theses defended the genuineness of the Pentateuch, Daniel, the first chapter of Matthew, the Apocalypse, as also the divine origin and authority of the Apocrypha. Reference was also had to works written in German, as Lessing, Eichhorn, etc. ART. VII. LITERARY NOTICES. By the Editor. It is not the intention of the Editor in the present article, nor in future articles of the same character, to give a complete view either of literary intelligence in general, or even of that which relates more particularly to Theology. His plan embraces only notices of the more important works which shall from time to time appear; so as to keep the theological scholar well informed (so far as it lies in the Editor's power) not only as to the actual state of literature and science, but also in regard to works which may hereafter be expected. Of course, works on biblical literature will constitute the first and chief object of attention. I. Literature of the Old Testament. 1. Hebrew Bibles. Among the great variety of Hebrew Bibles, the student is often perplexed which to choose; and while he wishes to obtain one which shall combine excellence with cheapness, he is most commonly obliged to sacrifice one of these points, and either gratify his taste at the expense of his purse, or, if compelled to be economical, he must put up with an edition which he would not otherwise have chosen. The most beautiful edition of the Hebrew Bible yet published, though not the most correct, is that of Van der Hooght, Amsterd. 1705. It is now rare, and bears in proportion a very high price. That of Michaelis, Halle 1720, is the most correct edition, and at present the cheapest of all, the price having been reduced not many years since. But the type is bad and unpleasant to the eye; and it is moreover encumbered by marginal notes and references to such a degree, as to make it inconvenient for common use. Jahn's edition is valuable, because it gives the books of Kings and Chronicles in a sort of Harmony, and exhibits the Psalms divided into orizo according to the parallelism; but for this very reason it should not be the scholar's only Hebrew Bible. It is moreover, now out of print. The reprint of Van der Hooght in London has no special value, except that of comparative cheapness. The same may be said of the edition of Simonis, several times reprinted at Halle, and recently under the superintendence of Rosenmüller. This is now the cheapest Hebrew Bible, with the exception of that of Michaelis; but the type, and especially the points, are bad. Under these circumstances it may interest Hebrew scholars to know, that Mr Tauchnitz, the celebrated printer in Leipsic, has a new edition in the press, which he intends to make superior to all others, so far as correctness and beauty are concerned. It is a stereotype edition; and the utmost pains are taken, both by the ordinary proof-readers, and by a Jewish Rabbi employed for this very purpose, to make it perfectly correct. The type is beautiful; being almost entirely of the same character and form as that in Professor Stuart's Chrestomathy, though of a larger size. The work is superintended by Prof. Hahn, who gives a revision of the text, with the necessary various readings. Mr Tauchnitz informed the writer, that the retail price of the work would not exceed 4 rix dollars in sheets, or about $3,25. From this price a large discount is usually made. The edition is expected to appear at the great Leipsic fair in April next.-The writer also learned at the Orphan-house in Halle, that a new edition of Simonis' Bible would soon be necessary, which would be printed with a new and beautiful type. 2. Hebrew Lexicons of Gesenius. The first Hebrew Lexicon of this author appeared in Hebrew and German, in two volumes octavo, in 1810-12. This was intended at the time to be a complete critical dictionary of the Hebrew tongue. An abstract of this work by the author was afterwards published, under the title of a Manual Hebrew Lexicon, of which three editions have appeared, the last in 1828. For several years past, as is generally known, Gesenius has been making preparations for a full and complete Thesaurus of the Hebrew language, in Hebrew and Latin, to be published in quarto, and intended to go down to posterity as the chief labour and memorial of his life. The first three letters of the alphabet were completed and printed so long ago as in April 1827; since which time various other avocations, and perhaps a modification of some of his views through the labours of Ewald and Winer, have caused a suspension of the work. In the interval, however, he has brought out the third edition of his Manual Lexicon, |