The Enquirer

Literature will gladly turn aside to contemplate the success of the labors of Mr. Hayter, who it will be recollected, was sent several years ago to Naples, by the Prince of Wales, for the purpose of unfolding the ancient manuscripts preserved in the ruins of Herculaneum. To aid this worthy design, Parliament made a grant of several thousand pounds which was placed at the disposal of the British minister at the Neapolitan court, and all Europe has since become witness to the indefatigable zeal of the learned agent of the Prince of Wales.

With a view to gratify public curiosity in the most ample manner, Mr. Hayter lately received the commands of his royal master to prepare a report of his transactions at Naples, and an account of the numerous manuscripts unrolled under his superintendence, &c. brought by him to England. This task Mr. Hayter has just completed; and having had the honor to present a copy to the Prince Regent at a late levee, this interesting work is now on public sale.

We shall not attempt to anticipate the gratification which the perusal of this splendid volume will afford to every scholar, antiquarian, and lover of literature; but referring our readers to the work itself, we shall content ourselves with observing, that it contains an account, with specimens and extracts, of ninety-four manuscripts or facsimiles of Greek and Latin manuscripts, presented by the regent to the University of Oxford, and which are about to be given to the world under the supervision of Mr. Hayter, and the munificent patronage of the regent, and the erudite chancellor of that university.

In order to confer the requisite completeness on the report, its publisher, Sir Richard Philips, has enriched it with an engraved portrait of one of the manuscripts, and with five splendidly colored engravings of the Papyrus plant, in different stages of its growth, the curious drawings of which have likewise been deposited by Lord Greenville, with the ninety-four fac similes at Oxford.

For public information we shall add that it appears by this curious work, that when the French entered Naples, a considerable part of the Papyri were removed to Palermo, at the repeated and earnest solicitations of Mr. Hayter; but so supine or so corrupt were the agents employed, that the greater proportion of the manuscripts were left behind together with many other of the curiosities of Portici. The French irruption and the consequent confusion of the manuscripts, & of the Neapolitan court itself, necessarily interrupted the peaceful labors of Mr. Hayter; & having shipped for England the ninety four fac-similies which he had copied & fortunately secured, he returned, as is well known, from his mission early in the last winter.

Since that time, he has been employed in preparing for publication, the account of his mission and labors, which we have now the satisfaction to announce.