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HISTORY OF PRINTING.

Stockbolm, also, was published in 1548, the first edition of the tiew Testament in the Fimmh toneue, in 4to. In 1551 the Psalmt, with other books of the Old Testament were published; but an entire Finnish Bible was not printed until 1642.

We hare already noticed that Stockholm was the first place throughout all Sweden into which the art of printing found its way; John Snell having here executed a work, entiUed Dialogui Creaturarum Moralizatus, so early as 1483, which is considered to be the first book printed within that kingdom. A copy of it may be seen in the university library of Upsal. Of John Snell, who probaUy was a German, nothing further appears. He was succeeded at Upsiu by John Fabri, whose death occurs in the year 1496. Panzer enumerates fire books printed in this city during the fifteenth century. In the year 1594, the office of typographer-royal was instituted, with certain privileges and a fixed salary from the government, the printing-mate- rials also being furnished by the king. The first printer who held this post was Anundus Olai. In the vear 1700, the Academy of Anti- quities, which had been established at Stock- holm by Charles XI., appointed a typographer of its own, who, as well as the lun^s, was honoured with particular privileges and immu- nities. The liberal policy of queen Christina introduced to this city one of the family of Jan- sons of Amsterdam as a printer, to whom she allowed an annual pension, and granted several privileges, amongst which was the valuable one, of importing all his paper duty-free. At Stock- holm the first Rimic types were used, in a Runic and Swedish Alphabetarium, 8vo, 161 1; they were cast at the expense of the king, and were afterwards purchased by the university : a new and more correct fount was cast at Lubec in 1702, by desire of the learned Periugskiold. Russian types were first used in Sweden, at Stockholm, by order of Gustavus Adolphus, in order to the conversion to Cbristiaqitr and in- struction of those of his subjects, who, living on the confines of Muscovy, were addicted to the superstitions of that nation. Peter von Seelen was appointed over this Russian press in the year 1625. — Dr. Cotton.

1521, Dec. 1, Died nope Leo X. The Cele- bris of this pontiff, and me intimate connection of his pontificate with the reformation by Lu- ther, may justify us in detailing at some length, the more prominent traits of his life and charac- ter. — John, or Giovanni de Medici, was a native of Florence, the second son of Lorenzo, styled the Magnificent, and grandson of Cosmo the Great. From his infancy he was destined to the church, and received an education suited to the high rank and ambitious views of his father, which produced a correspondent gravity of de- portment at so very early an age, that his bio- grapher says, " he seems never to have been a child."

At seven years of age he was admitted into holy orders, and about a year afterwards, was

appointed abbot of Fonte Dolce, by Louis XI. of France, who also conferred upon him the abbacy of the rich monastery of Pasignans. Yet we are assured that at this early period he " was not more distinguished from his youthful asso- ciates, by the high promotions which he enjoyed, than he was by his attention to his studies, his strict performance of the duties enjoined him, and his inviolable regard to truth." He, how- ever, bore "his blushing honours thick upon him," for when he was only thirteen years of age, he received the dignitr of a cardinal, from pope Innocent VIII.; and pope Julius II. em- ployed him as legate. On the 1 1th of March, 1513, being then only thirty-seven years old, he was electea supreme head of the church, on the decease of Julius, and assumed the name of Leo X. His election to the pontifical chair proved favourable to the general interests of lite- rature, but increased the licentiousness of the papal court, and spread a baneful influence over the whole of the Romish hierarchy.

The commencement of his pontificate seemed to realize the high expectations which had been formed of it, particularly by a general amnesty published at Florence, his native city, respecting those who had been die occasion of the violent civil commotions which had taken place in it : and by the recall of the banished citizens to their country. With considerable address and perseverance, he surmounted the difliculties which had prevented the enjoyment of peace between Italy und France; and composed the troubles which the ambition of the surrounding sovereigns, or the misconduct of his predecessors, had occasioned. Unhappily, however, the hopes that were entertained respecting him, and the excellency of his pontifical government, were never realized; his ambitious projects being ac- complished, by his advancement to the tiara, he became indolent and voluptuous; his assumed gravity gave way to the lowest buffoonery; his munificence degenerated into prodigality; and his attachment to truth was lost in the insince- rity of his political engagements : even in his literary pursuits, profane was generally preferred to sacred literature; and his disposal of ecclesi- astical dignities was frequently regulated by the aid afforded to his pleasures. " It seems to have been his intention," says one of his biographers, " to pass his time cheerfully, and to secure him- self against trouble and anxiety by all the means in his power. He therefore sought all opportu- nities of pleasure and hilarity, and indulged his leisure in amusement, jests, and singing.

An elegant writer* thus characterizes the court of Leo : " While Leo, with equal splendour and profusion, supported the character of a sovereign prince, he was too prone to forget the gra\-ity of the pontifi'. He ddighted in exposing to public ridicule, those characteristic infirmities of^ some of his courtiers, which his own penetration easily discovered. — But these were venial aberrations

chester, 1801, 8vo. See also, Roscoe's Life of Leo X. and IJfe of Lorenio de Medici.
 * OressweU'a Memoln of Angelas PoUtianos, &c. Man-

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