conducted in a manner analogous to that of letter-press printing, and with little or no disparity in the expence of its execution."

ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, ARTS, &c.
AT CAEN.

A new discovery in the Fine Arts was communicated to this Academy in the sitting of the 10th November, of which the following announcement is given in the Moniteur, dated Caen, 12th Dec.

"An interesting discovery for the Arts has just been made in our department. It is a new process for producing, ad infinitum, a design traced on a plate of porcelain. In this respect it is a method analogous to lithography: but it has many advantages over it. By means of tablets of porcelain, impressions may be taken of the finest and most delicate sketches of the crayon or pencil; and long use of the plate will neither efface nor spread the touches, as too often happens in the processes of mezzotinto and lithography. We will not undertake to describe exactly the new process. We can only say that the lines traced with a particular metallic composition on the polished surface of porcelain become incrusted there by a second baking, without forming any indentation or relief, and without being in the least enlarged or deformed. The parts drawn have acquired a sort of asperity not sensible to the touch, but which retain the ink perfectly, while that substance slides off the rest of the plate. It will be seen from this, that the design is indelibly fixed. On the contrary, in lithography a thousand accidents, the action alone of the press, may stretch and render blurred the lines traced upon a stone, which, being porous, must remain always more or less permeable to an ink of the same nature as that with which the sketch is first made."

Mr. Tilloch, in the Philosophical Magazine, observes on the above discovery, "I strongly suspect that the writer of the foregoing letter knows nothing whatever of the discovery which he attempts to describe, excepting only that porcelain tablets are to be substituted for the stones now used in the lithographic art; and this I take to be the real discovery, namely, that porcelain plates may be used instead of stone, and the tracings be made with vitrifiable materials, instead of waxy or resinous. Every person acquainted with printing, knows that printers' ink will attach itself to any smooth surface (even to glass), unless the material be pervious to and imbibed with water. It is the water that prohibits the adhesion of the ink. Contrary to what the writer insinuates, it seems likely that the porcelain plates are used in their unglazed state, and that the only

glazed parts are those which exhibit the lines of the design. If this opinion be correct, it will follow that the porcclain plates are to be preferred to stone; because, should they get injured at any time with the touch of a greasy finger (which often ruins a lithographic design, by rendering the part adhesible to the ink, when the ball is applied to it), they may be perfectly restored to use by baking again in the kiln.".

RESTORATION OF PAINTINGS.

The white used in oil-painting is, generally, prepared from lead, and forms the basis of many other pigments; and is extremely liable to turn brown or black, when affected by sulphureous vapours. M. Thenard, of Paris, has restored a painting of Raphael's, thus injured, by means of oxygenated water, applied with a pencil, which instantly took out the spots and restored the white. The fluid was so weak, as to contain not more than five or six times its volume of oxygen, and had no taste.

ELECTRICAL LIGHT.

Professor Meynecke, of Halle, has invented a method of producing a beautiful illumination, by means of electrical light, with the help of artificial air enclosed within pipes of glass. As electrical sparks may be generated ad infinitum, a possibility exists, that by means of an electrical machine, and such an apparatus as M. Meynecke has invented, a whole city may be thus illuminated, and with very little cost.

ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

The late eclipse, contrary to the calculations of astronomers, was annular at Florence for the space of 1' 44". The end of the eclipse took place in that city at 4 26'6"; that is, 34" after the time predicted by the astronomer Carlini, and 28′′ after that calculated by Professor Linari.

A CURE FOR THE ASCARIDES. A Constant Reader gives the following recipe as a cure for the Ascarides. "Mix a dram of powder of tin in a tea spoonful of honey, or currant jelly if preferred, and take it twice a day for six days successively, making, altogether, 12 drams. The particles of tin act as a file upon the tender bodies of the ascarides, which it destroys. A little rhubarb, or any mild aperient medicine, should be taken every other night during the time of taking the tin. As the powder of tin does not act upon the bowels, the writer of this is not aware that the above quantity would be too much for a child, but it would be prudent to inquire of the chymist where it is purchased, respecting this circumstance."

DURING a long and eventful period our Publication has been unremittingly devoted to the pursuit of Antiquarian and Topographical knowledge. On commencing our Ninety-first Volume, it may not appear unseasonable to notice the successful result of our labours.

In taking a retrospective view of the numerous Volumes of the Gentleman's Magazine, we cannot but experience the most pleasing satisfaction, on perceiving the abundant stores of valuable information on this interesting subject. We may confidently, assert that no periodical Work extant can display so ample a field of antiquarian lore; neither does any Miscellany of the day possess resources sufficiently ample to compete with the persevering researches and useful discoveries of our numerous and learned Correspondents; to whom we return our grateful acknow, ledgments, for many curious papers and important communications on this abstruse, though curious depart ment of Literature. It shall be our unceasing study to merit a continuance of their favours; and whilst we enjoy the support and approbation of the Publick, in so liberal a manDer, our labours will receive the most ample reward. We still solicit the contributions of our erudite Correspondents in this particular Science; as we feel conscious that accurate and minute information, respecting Antiquarian discoveries, can only be obtained through the medium of indi

viduals immediately connected with the spot where antient relicks may exist. No pains or expense shall be spared in elucidating the curious remains of "the times of yore;" so that they may prove gratifying to the Antiquary in particular, and interesting to the Publick in general. We shall always adhere to facts and historical statements in preference to long and laboured Essays "signifying nothing,”—a fault too common with many contemporary Magazines, whose contributors are remunerated according to the extent of their Articles!-Thus we ardently hope to render this Publication a valuable store-house of useful knowledge, instead of allowing it to become a tedious melange of theoretical opinions. We have superior means of ensuring our pre-eminence over every literary Thersites of the day, by our ample resources. We have witnessed many who, for a short time, have "fretted their hour away" and then sunk into their primitive obscurity; whilst SYL

VANUS URBAN has stood like towering Atlas, when conflicting elements thunder over his head, and oceans break their billows at his feet.

We observe some nascent Productions, the mere ephemerals of a day, aspiring to a rivalship with our own, that have emerged from the ruins of their predecessors, as the fabled Phoenix of old sprung from its

ashes; but they also are ready to give up the ghost," and will soon "be gathered unto their fathers.”

The annexed is a drawing made from the back pannel of a carved Armed-Chair, purchased lately of a broker in the county of Nottingham, who was unable to give any account of its former possessors, or even of its last owner, further than that he was a poor cottager of a neighbouring village.

Our Correspondent thinks he has been able to trace out with some exactness for whom the Chair was originally made. The Arms can belong to no other person than to Henry, the last Earl of Essex of the name of Bourchier, who broke, his neck by a fall from his horse in the year

1529 (31 Hen. VIII.); having been elected a Knight of the Garter in the preceding reign; and whose only child (Anne) married William Lord Parr of Kendall, who was made Earl of Essex in her right, and died in 1571.

The Arms are quarterly; first, Bour. chier; second, Bohun; third, Woodville (or Widdevile); and fourth, Louvain : they can belong only to the before-named Fast Earl of Essex of the name of Bourchier, in this obvious manner:

William de Burgo-Caro, or Bourchier (created Earl of Ewe at Maunt in Normandy, by Henry the Fifth), married one

of

vile, the last Earl Rivers (executed at Pontefract), and died in the life-time of his father, leaving a son Henry (who suc-. ceeded his grandfather), and a daughter called Cecily, who married Sir John Devereux, whose great grandson Walter was made Earl of Essex by Queen Elizabeth, in right of this marriage with Cecily Bourchier.

This Henry Bourchier (who succeeded his grandfather in the title) was the last (of that name) Earl of Essex, and is the person for whom the Chair was made, as is evident from the Coats of Arms shown in this Drawing.

M• A ®

The first quarter is Argent, a cross engrailed Gules between four water bougets Sable, for Bourchier (his paternal Arms); the second Azure, a bend Argent between two cotises and in lions rampant Or, for Bohun (which belonged to him' in right of his great great-grandmother, one of the two co-heiresses of Humphrey de Bohun above mentioned); the third Ar gent, a fesse and canton Gules, for WidGENT. MAG. January, 1821.

devile (which belonged to him exclusively as the son and heir of Anne the co-heiress of the last Earl Rivers); the fourth checky, Argent aud Azure, a fesse Argent, for Louvain, but how derived to him it cannot be discovered, nor which of his ancestors first bore it. It can only be found that in Wright's History of the County of Rutland, an engraving of the Arms of Bourchier, quartering Louvain, is given

at

66

at page 101, as then remaining in the window of the chancel of Oakham Church (together with the Arms of Thomas of Woodstock, impaling Bohun.)

The Chair (thus appropriated) is a curiosity, and is doubtless upwards of three hundred years old; the owner being a Knight of the Garter prior to the accession of Henry VIII. in 1509. The pannel is too small for the carving to show the heraldic colours, and the bearings are all strongly given, but lines are added distinguishing the colours, for greater accuгасу. The corners of the square are filled by heads of cherubs and other ornaments.

ROMAN AND BRITISH COINS.

TASCIOV RIGON

Mr. JOHN BARNARD, of Harlow, Essex, has favoured us with a British Coin which is not in Mr. Ruding's Work; nor in Pegge's Essay on the Coins of Cunobeline." It was lately found near Epping; the metal is electrum; its weight 5 dwt. 10 gr.; on one side is represented a man in armour on horseback, on the reverse, TASCIOVRICON *.

Near Harlow, Essex, are the remains of a Roman station, not yet noticed by Antiquaries. The castellum, or place of strength, appears to have been in the neighbouring parish of Latton, on an elevated field which was formerly almost surrounded by the waters of the river Stort. The works are not now visible, but a few feet below the surface are the foundations of very strong walls.

It is not improbable that this was one of the forts formed by the Romans, to defend the Trinobantes from the Cateuchlani; as the Stort here, and, for some distance up its course, divides the counties of Essex and Herts. This conjecture is rendered more plausible by the appearance of four of these Stations on the Essex side of the river, in the short space of nine miles; viz. this at Harlow, or Latton; one at Hallingbury, called Wallbury, distant four miles; one at Bishop's Stortford, three miles; and another at Stansted Mont-Fitchet, two miles further.

Perhaps some of our Antiquarian Readers can assist in discovering the Roman

"In consequence of the connexion between the names of Cunobeline and Tascio, those coins which bear the latter name, without the former, are usually attributed to that Monarch."-Ruding on Coinage, vol. I. p. 200.

[Jan.

name of this Station at Harlow; it is distant from London 23 miles, from Cheshunt 12 miles, and from St. Alban's or Verulam 24 miles.

Among the antiquities found here (most of which are in Mr. Barnard's possession), are, a small bronze head of Silenus, of very good workmanship; a large bronze broach, and fragments of a cup of highly polished red ware, on the outsides of which are figures of a cock and a triton, found in a grave eight or ten feet deep.

British Coins.-A helmetted head with CVNOBELINI; reverse, a hog †, and TASCIIOVANIT.-Another, with a head on one side; on the other, a man striking upon an anvil ;-one with a star, between the rays of which are the letters VERLAMIO; reverse, an ox ;-another similar, except that the head of the ox is turned the contrary way; and two or three others not intelligible.

Roman Coins.-Silver, of Sabina, Faustina the elder, and Constantinus jun. Brass, various sizes and various Emperors, from the first Claudius to Valentinian, in all upwards of 200.

ROMAN COINS.

The Rev. M. D. DUFFIELD, of Caston, near Watton, in Norfolk, (who has undertaken the History and Antiquities of the county of Cambridge) has supplied us with an account of the following discovery.

On the 28th of Oct. 1820, as some labourers were digging in a clay-pit in the North-west part of this parish, they found, about five feet below the surface of the ground, a silver ring, and nearly 200 Roman coins, chiefly silver. It is most pro

bable that they had been buried in a purse or box, as no vessel was found with them. M. D. has nine of the silver coins in his possession, which have these inscriptions :

1. "Imp. Otho Caesar Arg. Tr. P." Caput Othonis sine laureâ. Reverse, "Secvritas P. R." Fig. mulieb. stans dext. laureolam, sin. hastam tenens.

2. "A. Vitellivs Germ. Imp. Avg. Tr. P." Caput Vitellii laureatum.-Reverse, "XV. Vir. Sacr. Fac." (Quindecim vir sacris faciendis.) Tripos cum Delphino suprà & avicula infra seden. The tripos was a table in the temple of Apollo, to which Deity both the Dolphin and the Crow were sacred. Vitellius was one of those whose office it was to keep the Sybill's books, and make certain sacrifices.

3. "Imp. Caes. Vesp. Avg. P. M. Cos.\ IIII." Caput Vesp. laureatum, — Reverse, “Victoria Avgvsti." Victoria stans

Engraved in Ruding, Pl. 5, fig. 23. Ibid. fig. 3.

5. "Antoninvs Avg. Pivs. PP. TR. P. XV." Caput Anton. laur. Reverse, "Cos. IIII." Fœmina stans dext. ampullam, sin. statum. There were several of Antoninus with different inscriptions. 6. Avgvsta Favstina." Caput Faustinæ. Reverse, Sæcvli Felicit." Duo pueruli (Commodus & Antoninus, gemini) sedentes in lectulo.

7." Favstina Avgvsta." Cap. Faust. - Reverse, "Jvno." Juno stans dext. pateram, sin. hastam tenet.

8. "Diva Avg. Favstina." Caput. Faust. - Reverse," Pietas Avg." Ad. stat Pietas aræ.

9. Diva Favstina." Caput Faust. Reverse," Augusta.' Fœmina stans in sinist, hastam tenet."

Of the Coins here found, the oldest which Mr. D. has seen or heard of, is that of Otho; and the latest, those of Faustina. -About seven years ago, a little to the South-west, an urn and some coins were found, among which was a gold one. These discoveries seem to prove that here was a Roman station, from which the vil lage took its name, Caston [Castrum].

COIN OF TITUS.

A silver coin of Titus was found in the rubbish of an old house, which was lately pulled down in Eastgate-street, in the city of Chester. In digging the foundation for the new building, a pavement was discovered at about eight feet below the present level of the street. This gives strength to the prevalent opinion, that the level of the city was originally that of the floor of the Cathedral, to which persons have now to descend by several steps.

HUMAN SKELETONS.

The workmen of Mr. Stevens, surveyor, of Bury St. Edmund's, whilst raising gravel in the hill, near the Priory, have discovered at a small depth from the surface of the earth, the skeletons of 24 human bodies, of rather gigantic size, but in every respect perfect. Numerous persons have been to view them, and it is supposed they are a part of the bodies slain in the bloody battle fought on that spot during the reign of Henry II. and when the differences existed between that Monarch and his son, when, to aid the latter, the Earl of Leicester was marching through Fornbam, from Framlingham, with an immense army of Flemings (principally artificers and weavers); but were attacked by the King's troops, who dispersed them in an instant, and put 10,000 of them to the sword, and took their Commander prisoner. This engagement took place in 1174, upwards of 600 years since.

COL. MACDONALD, ON THE NORTH-WEST

MAGNETIC POLE.

I rejoice to see it announced, that the Discovery-Ships are to proceed again to explore the Polar Basin, to the West of Baffin's Bay. From accounts, as far as they have been as yet published, it does not appear to me that the vast accumu lation of thick ice will admit of proceed. ing Westward on the parallel of latitude of the newly-discovered Georgian Islands; which, however, ought to be completely explored, in order, if possible, to ascertain the precise position of the Northwest Magnetic Pole; and also to find what advantages the Whale Fishery may derive from these discoveries.

It has not been made manifest that there is no passage from Repulse Bay, into the Polar Basin. This would be the shortest course to the Hyperborean Coast, along which alone, there seems to me to be the best chance of getting to Behring's Straits; and this on nearly the parallel

of 70°. Should the ice oppose a Western progress along this inhospitable coast of about 85 degrees of reduced longitude, no resource will remain but to achieve the object by land. As the Country is inhabited by several tribes of Indians, whose dispositions are unknown, a certain cautious mode of procedure is indispensable.

Under these circumstances, European nations, interested in the object to be accomplished, should join in the expense of establishing a chain of small posts of the blockhouse description, as otherwise, progress, combined with safety, would be quite impossible. The Posts (as distant as possible from each other) might be constructed of such materials as the country afforded. It is probable that the Fur trade might be materially benefited by this measure, requiring time and resolute enterprise.-Even if a North-west Passage is effected by sea, through Bhering's Straits, navigation will derive little advantage from it, as far as regards

the