His country was also indebted to Cesarotti for a number of valuable prose works. The Course of `Greek literature was his chief undertaking ; but the _ plan on which he had commenced was too vast to be completed. His Essays on the Sources of the plea sure derived from Tragedy, and on the Origin and Progress of the Poetic Art, are distinguished by ele 'gant and ingenious criticism ; while • his treatise's Sulla Filosofta delle Liisgue, et Sulla Filosofla de Gusto (the last of which is 'principally intended as an apology for the peculiarities of his own style), show considerable acuteness and strength of standing. In 1797, an Academy of Sciences and Belies Lettres had been established at Padua, of which Cesarotti was nominated perpetual Secretary. It was part of the duties of this situation to read at the stated meetings of the Academy the various essays which had been prepared by its members. Frequently, however, these were of such extent, that the Secretary found it expedient merely to give, in his own language, a gene account of the object of the author, and the result of his investigations. These readings produced his Reports, entitled /Ulan oni Academiche, each of which reports is divided into three parts ; the first containing the Essays on Experi mental Philosophy, the second on Mathematics, and the third on Belles Lettres. The whole, however, may be regarded as a literary composition, since the de. partments of mathematics and philosophy exhibit Only general views of the subjects of inquiry. Al.
most all the prose works of Cesarotti are distinguish. ed by extensive erudition and a philosophical spirit, while his style is lively and forcible. But the Italian prose of the eighteenth century was very different from that written by Giovanni Della Casa, Ditaddavd, and their contemporaries in the sixteenth; and those critics, who have deplored the recent innovations on the ancient purity of the Tuscan tongue, chiefly at tribute to Cesarotti the introduction of those Gal licisms and 'new modes of expression, which have corrupted the language of the golden age of Leo.
All the works of Cesarotti above mentioned, chiding several volumes of correspondence, have been published in a complete edition, which vs commenced at Padua in the year 1800, under the author's own direction. It has been continueisince his death by Joseph Barbieri, who was his sucrose in the chair of Greek and Hebrew at Padua, and who has also published Memoirs of the Life and Writings of his deceased friend, printed at Padua, 1810; 8vo.
It has been the fate of most literary men to be ranked either higher or lower by their own age than by posterity. Cesarotti will probably belong to the former class, who, perhaps after all, enjoy the plea Banter sort of reputation. But, though the prise of great and original genius may in future times be denied him, every age will admit his learning and talents, and the meritorious assiduity of his literary researches.