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OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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And I have ventured to say , that I feel persuaded immbers would be found cheerfully to assist in the re-formation of their library . The inhabitants of Finland are almost universally poor , but as universally desirous of instruction 5 and of late many men have appeared among them who have done no inconsiderable services to science , philosophy , and the belles lettres . So much have even the
Finnish peasants been touched by the destruction of the Abo library , that l » some places where money is little known , they have subscribed the produce of their farms towards its restoration ; and among them the villagers of Wichtis sent fifty barrels of rye ; the University of Dorpat has contributed 394 scientific works , besides many
philosophical instruments and collections in natural history . One liberal Russian bookseller ( Mr . Hartmann of Riga ) has presented books to the value of 5357 silver rubles , or nearly 800 / . sterling . His townsman , Mr . German , sent 193 volumes . Dr . Hassar , of Petersburgh , 995 ; and Professor Storch ( whose works on political economy are so well
known ) , 269 . Many other useful and generous donations have been received ; and I confidently trust that examples so honourable will find many imitators here . Messrs . George Cowie and Co ., of No . 31 , Poultry , have kindly undertaken to receive and forward any works ,
instruments , &c , which may be liberally given to the Abo University Library . I shall be most happy to communicate any particulars I possess ; and if information be desired from the spot , the venerable . Archbishop of Finland , Dr . Tengstrom , or M . John Julin , will , I am sure , be eager to furnish it .
JOHN BOWRING . % * Transactions of Learned and Scientific Societies will be particularly acceptable .
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Sermons for Family Use . To the Editor . Sir , I think a correspondent lately made some inquiries and observations on the subject of sermons for family use . I have always been a great admirer of
Occasional Correspondence.
OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENCE .
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Destruction of the Abo Library . To the Editor . Sir , The dreadful conflagration by which the town of Abo was lately totally destroyed , and its inhabitants reduced to inconceivable distress , has been already made known to the British public , who , with their wonted benevolence , have subscribed between 800 and 9001 . for
the relief of these distant aud destitute sufferers . This amount has been judiciously distributed , and most thankfully received . When I visited Finland a few years ago , the University of Abo was in a most prosperous and improving condition . It had many distinguished Professors , and was the seat and the source
of the civilization of the wljole country . A literary journal was established there , and almost all the works published in Finland issued from the press of Abo . Attached to the University were a valuable Museum of natural history , extensive p hilosophical apparatus , and a library consisting of more than thirty thousand volumes , rich in records and unpublished manuscripts relating to the history of
Finland and Sweden . With the exception of about eight hundred volumes , of which not more than two hundred form perfect works , the whole of this interesting collection perished in the flames 5 and the circumstances were so much the more distressing , as the library funds had been wholly exhausted , and even anticipated for years , in order to gain possession of works which were then obtainable , and which were deemed of
great importance to the establishment . In a country like Finland , so little visited , so far removed from the attention and sympathy of the civilized world , the destruction of the only large public library is a calamity , the greatness and extent of which can hardly be estimated here .
I have been addressed by some valuable Finnish friends on the subject , and have been requested to ascertain whether many of the literary and scientific individuals of our country would not probably contribute their own writings or those of others to repair the dreadful loss with which Finland has been visited .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1828, page 486, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2562/page/54/
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