☞ In the following Preface, our Author, Mons. Mallet, extols the late King of Denmark, Frederick V. as a great patron of literature and promoter of knowledge: it is therefore but justice to that Monarch to mention a few of the literary undertakings which owe their rise and establishment to his bounty and love of Science.
I. He instituted a Society, consisting of four or five gentlemen, who have a salary of 400 l. per annum assigned them, purposely for the cultivation of the Danish Language, and illustration of the Icelandic and Northern Antiquities. They have in their possession a great quantity of manuscripts relative to the latter; and, among the rest, the intire Voluspa. This Society has already published two volumes upon Miscellaneous Subjects; in which are two Dissertations relative to the Icelandic Antiquities.
II. He directed and enabled his Professor of Botany, Dr. Oeder, to publish that magnificent work, the Flora Danica; of which he commanded presents to be made to all the principal clergy, engaging them to contribute their assistance towards perfecting an undertaking so useful and extensive: And, in order to promote the same design all over Europe, he commanded this work to be printed in the Latin and French, as well as German and Danish Languages; and to be carried on till it shall be found to contain the figures and descriptions of all the plants which grow within the limits of the polar circle, and the 53d degree of latitude.
III. He sent the celebrated Mission of Literati to explore the interior parts of Arabia, and to give us a more perfect account of that now almost unknown country, which was once the seat of learning and science: as also to collect whatever reliques could be found of the old Arabian books, history, &c. These Missionaries were Five in number, viz. Mr. Professor De Haven, for Philology and Language: Mr. Professor Forskal (a Disciple of Linnæus) for Natural History; a lieutenant of engineers, Mr. Niebuhr, for Geography and Astronomy: Dr. Cramer, for Medicine, and Mr. Paurenfeind for Drawing and taking Views, &c. The whole design and plan of their voyage may be seen in Mons. Michaelis’s “Recueil des questions proposées a une Societé de Savans, qui par ordre de sa Maj. Dan. font le voyage de l' Arabie, &c." Francf. 1763. 12mo. Of these Five Literati, only one is returned alive out of the East. Their joint observations, however, are in the hands of Mr. Niebuhr the survivor, which he is preparing for the press in the German Language. As some of the travellers died early in their tour, we must not expect to find the original plan entirely compleated. The work will be found most perfect in what relates to Geography and Natural History: but though it must, from the circumstances above mentioned, prove somewhat defective, the world may nevertheless form considerable expectations of it; and it will, as we are assured, be given to the Public in the course of this present year, M,DCC,LXX.
