same author has also just published a Collection of Letters on the Politics, Literature, and Manners of the Year 1823. It is not without a good sprinkling of choses bonnes et piquantes.

The Academy of the Fine Arts has lately elected the six following foreign associates, viz. Messrs. Alvarès, sculptor; Lunghi, engraver; Rossini, musical composer; Schinckel, architect; Thorwaldsen, sculptor; and Zingarelli, musical composer. French Dramatic Review of 1823.-Two hundred and nine new pieces compose this budget; and be it observed that the Panorama Dramatique, which used to furnish its fair share, suddenly closed in the month of July. It is true that a great number of these productions are already laid on the shelf. Of 360 living dramatic authors (including the contingent of the departments) whom France has had the happiness to possess, the works of 161 were represented at Paris in 1823; only 151 enjoyed that benefit in the preceding year, and 129 in 1821. It appears, therefore, that in time there will be enough of them for the whole world. Of the 209 novelties, 36 were performed by the indefatigables of the Gymnase; the Vaudeville had 33; the Variétés stopped at 24. Thou sleepest, Brunet! The mania for arrangemens has diminished this year. In 1822, among the pieces called novelties, about forty arrangés might be reckoned. The imagination of authors has been much less idle in 1823. Seven tragedies and sixteen comedies, of which only three were in five acts, have appeared in the two Théâtres Français. To make amends there were 163 vaudevilles hatched in these 365 days, that is, almost half a one every evening; leaving altogether out of the question the Spectacle of M. Comte, M. Seveste's theatres, &c. The most brilliant success in the high class has been that of l'Ecole des Vieillards, Pierre de Portugal, la Neige, les Deux Cousines, and the ballet of Cendrillon; at the secondary theatres. Julien, l'Interieur d'un Bureau, l'Heritiere, les Cuisinieres, les Grisettes, Polichinelle Vampire, la Fausse Clé, and l'Auberge des Adrets. The most striking failures have been those of l'Homme aux Scruples, l'Intrigue au Chateau, la Fille du Commissaire, M. Raymond, le Major, la Folle des Alpes, and Adelie. M. Scribe's fertility has increased this year. In 1822, 16 of his pieces were performed, and 17 in 1821. This year he has produced 18 works, one in four acts; and only one (le Bourgeois de la rue Saint Denis) has failed. M. Carmonche, to whom belongs the accessit, is not much behindhand. He has produced

no less than 17 vaudevilles in the course

of the year. By M. Armand-Dartois there have been only 13; by M. Francis, 10; by Messrs. Frederic de Courcy and Brazier, 9 each; Messrs. Desangiers, Mélesville, Henri Dupin, and Théaulon, have reached only to their 8th.

THE NETHERLANDS.

The six Universities in the kingdom of the Netherlands contain the following proportion of students. Liege, 446; Leyden, 402; Utrecht, 377; Louvain, 326; Ghent, 286; Groningen, 290; Total, 2127. Whilst in France every effort is made to check the progress of general education, in the Netherlands the Government fosters and encourages it by building and endowing schools of all kinds. In the last year no less a sum than 242,246 florins was wholly devoted to these objects, out of a revenue by no means over-abundant. This amount is entirely independent of provincial and local expenditure for the same purposes.

GERMANY.

Heyne. This celebrated philologist has left behind him a valuable collection of drawings illustrative of Homer. They are executed by Tischbein, and accompanied with explanations. After the death of Heyné the publication was interrupted, but it is now recommenced under the direction of Dr. Schorn. Two parts have already appeared, and the third will be ready in the course of the present month. The commentaries are such as every archæologist must value. The drawings themselves are full of spirit, and the engravings most carefully executed.-The collection of paintings belonging to the brothers Boisserie, at Stuttgart, is generally known to be the most perfect in Germany in respect to its specimens of old German art. The best pictures in the gallery are publishing in the lithographic style. The execution is uncommonly beautiful, and marked with a precision, clearness, and truth, not common to this branch of art. The prints afford a very fair specimen of the style, character, and merit of the original masters. M. Boisserie has at the same time accompanied them with some instructive and erudite remarks. The whole publication does honour to the liberality of the publisher, and the talent and diligence of the author.

The celebrated work of Professor Creuzer, entitled "Symbols and Mythologies of the Nations of Antiquity," is at length completed. In no other work (not even in that of Jacob Bryant) has the mythology of the ancients ever been so completely and intelligibly explained. scholar of Professor Creuzer is at present

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occupied with another work on the mythology of the Northern nations, in the same spirit and manner. The first volume has already appeared, which relates to the fabulous creeds of the people adjacent to the Baltic.

Tieck, the distinguished German critic and poet, whose studies upon old English dramatic literature are so well known, has within a very short period published a work called "Shakespeare's Vorschule" (the Predecessors of Shakspeare). It contains a long preface and three dramatic pieces, viz. "Robert Green's Wonderful Saying of Father Bacon;"" Arden of Feversham," and "Haywood's Lancashire Witches." The former translations and writings of Tieck upon the subject of the old English stage have not only extended the reputation of Tieck, but have also taught the Germans that all the genius and talent of England were not engrossed by that mighty and all-accomplished genius. Tieck's labours in this respect have already had a beneficial effect in Germany. The introductory preface is full of interesting and ingenious remarks, but contains many critical errors. Immermanze. This young poet, in whom is centred much of the hope of Germany, has recently published a new tragedy, with the title of "King Feriander." It is founded on a passage in the Thalia of Herodotus. It is clever, and promises greater things; but the defects are many and palpable.

ITALY.

In the Giornale Arcadico there is an account given by M. Giov. de' Brignoli di Brunnhof, of the result of the search for Antiquities undertaken since 1817, in the ancient Forum Julii, near Udine, in Friuli. It speaks first of the extraordinary success of the measures adopted under the direction of Count Mich. della Torre e Valsassina. They sought for the probable boundaries of the ancient town, according to the well-known principles and ceremonies of Varro with which colonies were usually founded, and every thing was found as it ought to be. ("Fisso egli i punti dove doveano farsi i scavi e ciò che in ciascun punto, ricercare doveasi. Il fatto ha pienamente corrisposto alle meditate indicazioni. La vanga e la marra non vennero mai profondate indarno, nè mai fù altro ritrovato che quanto in quel sito ritrovarsi dovea.") They soon found the Astiludium, the Campus, and Circus of Flora: Temples of Rubigo, of Jupiter Viminalis, of Mercury, of the Fratres Arvales; the Market-place, Public Magazines, &c.-The various things already dug up form a Muscum. Among

them is the ploughshare that served to trace the extent of the city, "which appears from its having been found in a beautiful Mosaic room, where the insignia of the Supreme Magistrate were to be seen." In an adjoining court-yard a Temple was discovered, in which stood a marble basin, the drain from which was connected with two leaden pipes, and ornamented with a dog's head. The Mosaic floor represented a beautiful mask of a river god, probably of the river Naetison, which flows through the town: the basin was perhaps used for the purification of the priests after the sacrifice. A staircase in the same temple led to a lower apartment, from which a narrow perpendicular issue led to an opening in the upper room, perhaps for the use of the oracle. Many pipes were found, forming a connexion between the hill and the town; also large bricks with inscriptions, among which are those of the families Vettidia and Gavia; many pieces with encaustic painting; cinerary urns of chalk and terra cotta, urns of glass, with bones wrapped in amianthus ; glass lachrymatories; some also of earthenware, which may therefore be referred to the time of the Republic. Lastly, sacrificial vessels: one of these is of marble, a few inches in circumference, and resembles in its form what is called the grave of Antenor at Padua. On a spot called Laterano a large building was discovered, containing many rooms adorned with Mosaic; perhaps it was the public granary, corn having been found in some of the rooms, in others beans and millet, undamaged, only turned black, In the same place (which should rather indicate it to have been a sepulchre) were found sixty-two sarcophagi of terra cotta, partly in the walls, partly in the floor. One of these has been opened, and carefully closed again. A figure in relievo is recognised as Jupiter Viminalis by the triangular head-dress, by the stiff hair (capelli paludosi), the thick beard, the dress, which is a kind of twisted mail; by the legs, which are spread out like those of a horseman, though the eagle between them is wanting. Near it were found stones with bas-reliefs, "con le sempega di che mangiano il nettare," (?) with dolphins and wild animals—all symbols of the same divinity. A very beautiful alabaster head of the bearded Bacchus appears to belong to a Cippus. An Isis may be considered as extremely remarkable, on account of its small size. In the little town of Rualis (called in the middle ages Arvalis) the Temple of the Arvalian Priests has been discovered: this is shown by a great number of graves regularly ar

ranged, in which bodies were found on the one side with the flask, on the other with corn. A considerable building, in which hand-mills were found, is supposed to have belonged to the Magistratus annonarius. Another, which was adorned with very beautiful Mosaics and encaustic paintings, was probably the residence of the civil magistrate; at least an inscription found in it, M.AVLO.... M.III. AC. III, .... is interpreted to mean, Menses tres acta causa tertio. A Mosaic in another building represents the ludus latrunculorum: the ground resembles a chessboard; the divisions are triangular, alternately black and white; and on a red border a house, a bridge, a triangle, &c. An altar bears the inscription Jovi sacrum. Fasces, with charred rods, are on a very beautiful Mosaic like that found in Saltzburg. On an altar of burnt stone there was a Mosaic, likewise of burnt stone: upon it were a small bronze Mercury and an Assis Calpurnica. Farther, a very elegant Genius of bronze, various medals of gold, silver, and bronze gilt, struck in honour of the Britannic and Pannonian Legions. The discovery of these precisely indicates the place where the battle was fought between Emilianus and Volusianus, near to a little stream which even at this day is called Rivo Emiliano. The Ordo equestris of the Republic, perhaps that of the above-mentioned P. Vettidius, in whose inscription are the words Equo publico; l'ordine sacerdotale del porcelleto, (?) both provided with two buttons to fasten them to the chlamys; many pateræ, one of which is of metal with a handle, another without a handle, of Corinthian brass; lamps, some with figures, one with circles round it, and therefore belonging to a patrician family; little square bells, two currycombs, many styles for writing, of bronze, iron, silver, and Corinthian brass. There are numerous gold, silver, and bronze coins, from the times of the Republic down to the latest Emperors; many also of the Goths, the Lombards, and the Patriarchs of Aquileia. Among these coins are many that are rare, and some inedited; many ornaments, as bracelets, ear-rings, necklaces, jewels, pastes; numerous weapons of all kinds, and stones of various sizes, such as were thrown from the Ballista. The statue of the Divinity in whose honour the Ludus Rubiginis was performed, is

badly preserved; it is of Parian marble, and was found in the little town of Rubignaco, near the city, in the very same place where, above 200 years ago, an inscription was discovered with Deo Rubigini sacrum. The figure is nearly of the size of life, and the Temple, according to custom, near the Circus of Flora; it decides the question whether Rubigo is a god or a goddess, the gender being different in different authors. The statue is evidently a female figure; she holds one hand on the left breast, and the other hand supports a basket of fruit on her head, which has a wreath of ears of corn and leaves. At the same place were found likewise extremely beautiful Corinthian capitals, with olive leaves; the abacus of one ends exactly as in the Temple of Vesta at Rome. Other architectural remains give evidence of a richly-decorated edifice. In some fields, which are still called le corti, i. e. coorti, the ancient Campus Martius was found, full of military insignia, of a quadrangular form, according to the Roman custom, and about four miles long. (Can this be correct?) In others was the Astiludium, or Castrametatio, with all the divisions of the legions, and a large pavement of bricks, which was between the infantry and the cavalry. On the spot allotted to the latter were many bridles, a quantity of iron trappings belonging to the harness of the horses, and complete sets of shoes. Many Lombard and Gothic monuments are of the times of Totila and Narses, Vitiges, Belisarius, and still later.

In a place in the present town, Giudecca, or according to the pronunciation of the country, Zugiata, Count Mich. della Torre conjectured there might be Hebrew monuments, and found accordingly, at the depth of five metres (about fifteen feet,) nine large beautifully written Hebrew and Chaldee inscriptions, which, according to Abbé Venturi, in Verona, and the assurance of German Rabbis, are far more ancient than our era, and must be dated, according to one, 900 years, and according to others, 1600 years before the birth of Christ.

The Museum which has been collected by means of these researches is very well arranged, in a large gallery in the building formerly belonging to the Clerici regolari somaschi, near the Gymnasium of the town.

Upon the Culture of the Pine-apple, with out Bark, or other Hot-bed. By T. A. Knight, Esq.-I had no intention whatever to attempt to raise pine-apples till the autumn of 1818, when I received from one of my friends some seeds of the mango, and soon afterwards some more seeds of that and other tropical fruit-trees. I then resolved to erect a hot-house, chiefly for the purpose of attempting to cultivate the mango; but I had long been much dissatisfied with the manner in which the pineapple plant is usually treated, and very much disposed to believe the bark-bed, as Mr. Kent has stated it, "worse than useless," subsequently to the omission of roots by the crowns or suckers. I therefore resolved to make a few experiments upon the culture of that plant; but as I had not, at that period, (the beginning of October,) any hot-house, I deferred obtaining plants till the following spring. My hot-house was not completed till the second week in June, at which period I began my experiment upon nine plants, which had been but very ill preserved through the preceding winter by the gardener of one of my friends, with very inadequate means, and in a very inhospitable climate. These, at this period, were not larger plants than some which I have subsequently raised from small crowns (three having been afforded by one fruit) planted in the middle of August, were in the end of December last; but they are now beginning to blossom, and, in the opinion of every gardener who has seen them, promise fruit of great size and perfection. They are all of the variety known by the name of Ripley's queen-pine. Upon the introduction of my plants into the hothouse, the mode of management, which it is the object of the present communication to describe, commenced. They were put into pots of somewhat more than a foot in diameter, in a compost made of thin green turf, recently taken from a river-side, chopped very small, and pressed closely whilst wet into the pots; a circular piece of the same material, of about an inch in thickness, having been inverted unbroken, to occupy the bottom of each pot. This substance, so applied, I have always found to afford the most efficient means for draining off superfluous water, and subsequently of facilitating the removal of a plant from one pot to another, without loss of roots. The surface of the reduced turf was covered with a layer of vegetable mould obtained from decayed leaves, and of sandy loam, to prevent the growth of the grass roots. The pots were then placed to stand upon brick piers, near

the glass; and the piers being formed of loose bricks (without mortar), were capable of being reduced as the height of the plants increased. The temperature of the house was generally raised in hot and bright days, chiefly by confined solar heat, from 95° to 105o, and sometimes to 110°, no air being ever given till the temperature of the house exceeded 95°; and the escape of heated air was then only in a slight degree permitted. In the night the temperature of the house generally sunk to 70°, or somewhat lower. At this period, and through the months of July and August, a sufficient quantity of pigeon's dung was steeped in the water, which was given to the pine plants, to raise its colour nearly to that of porter, and with this they were usually supplied twice a day in very hot weather; the mould in the pots being kept constantly very damp, or what gardeners would generally call wet. In the evenings, after very hot days, the plants were often sprinkled with clear water, of the temperature of the external air; but this was never repeated till all the remains of the last sprinkling had disappeared from the axillæ of the leaves, It is, I believe, almost a general custom with gardeners, to give their pine plants larger pots in autumn. I nevertheless cannot avoid thinking it wrong; for the plants at this period, and subsequently, owing to want of light, can generate a small quantity only of new sap; and consequently the matter which composes the new roots, that the plant will be excited to emit into the fresh mould, must be drawn chiefly from the same reservoir which is to supply the blossom and fruit; and I have found that transplanting fruittrees in autumn into larger pots, has ren dered their next year's produce of fruit smaller in size and later in maturity. I, therefore, would not remove my pine plants into larger pots, although those in which they grow are considerably too small. As the length of the days diminished, and the plants received less light, their ability to digest food diminished. food was in consequence dissolved in the water, which was also given with a more sparing hand; and as winter approached, water only was given, and in small quantities. During the months of November and December, the temperature of the house was generally little above 50°, and sometimes as low as 48°. Most gardeners would, I believe, have been alarmed for the safety of their plants at this temperature; but the pine is a much hardier plant than it is usually supposed to be; and I exposed one young plant in December to a tempe

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rature of 32°, by which it did not ap pear to sustain any injury. I have also been subsequently informed by Sir Harford Jones, who has had most ample opportunities of observing, that he has frequently seen in the East the pine-apple growing in the open air, where the surface of the ground carly in the mornings showed unequivocal marks of a slight degree of frost. My plants remained nearly torpid, and without growth, during the latter part of November and the whole of December; but they began to grow early in January, although the temperature of the house rarely reached 60°; and about the 20th of that month, the blossom, or rather the future fruit, of the earliest plant became visible; and subsequently to that period their growth has appeared very extraordinary to gardeners who had never seen pine plants growing, except in a bark-bed, or other hot-bed. I believe this rapidity of growth, in rather low temperature, may be traced to the more excitable state of their roots, owing to their having passed the winter in a very low temperature comparatively with that of a bark-bed. The plants are now supplied with water in moderate quantities, and holding in solution a less quantity of food than was given them in summer. In planting suckers, I have, in several instances, left the stems and roots of the old plant remaining attached to them; and these have made a much more rapid progress than others. One strong sucker was thus planted in a large pot upon the 20th of July, and that is beginning to show fruit. Its stem is thick enough to produce a very large fruit; but its leaves are short, though broad and numerous; and all the gardeners who have seen it appear wholly at a loss to conjecture what will be the value of its produce. In other cases, in which I retained the old stems and roots, I selected small and late suckers, and these have afforded me the most perfect plants I have ever seen; and they do not exhibit any symptoms of disposition to fruit prematurely. I am, however, still ignorant whether any advantage will be ultimately obtained by this mode of treating the queen-pine; but I believe it will be found applicable with much advantage in the culture of those varieties of the pine which do not usually bear fruit till the plants are three or four years old. I shall now offer a few remarks upon the facility of managing pines in the manner recommended, and upon the necessary amount of the expense. My gardener is

an extremely simple labourer: he does not know a letter or a figure; and he never saw a pine plant growing till he saw those of which he has the care; if I were absent, he would not know at what period of maturity to cut the fruit; but in every other respect he knows how to manage the plants as well as I do; and I could teach any other moderately intelligent and attentive labourer, in one month, to manage them just as well as he can; in short, I do not think the skill necessary to raise a pine-apple, according to the mode of culture I recommend, is so great as that requisite to raise a forced crop of potatoes. The expense of fuel for my hot-house, which is forty feet long by twelve feet wide, is rather less than sevenpence a-day here, where I am twelve miles distant from coal-pits; and if I possessed the advantages of a curved iron roof, such as those erected by Mr. Loudon, at Bayswater, which would prevent the too rapid escape of heated air in cold weather, I entertain no doubt that the expense of heating a house forty-five feet long and ten wide, and capable of holding eighty fruiting pine plants, exclusive of grapes or other fruits upon the back wall, would not exceed fourpence a-day. A roof of properly curved iron bars appears to me also to present many other advantages; it may be erected at much less cost, it is much more durable, it requires much less expense to paint it, and it admits of more light.-Tran. Hort. Soc.

Eggs and Potatoes.-The Scotch method of preserving eggs, by dipping them in boiling water, which destroys the living principle, is too well known to need farther notice. The preservation of potatoes, by similar treatment, is also a valuable and useful discovery. Large quantities may be cured at once, by putting them into a basket as large as the vessel containing the boiling water will admit, and then just dipping them a minute or two at the utmost. The germ, which is so near to the skin, is thus "killed," without injuring the potatoe. In this way several tons might be cured in a few hours. They should then be dried in a warm oven, and laid up in sacks or casks, secure from the frost, in a dry place. Another method of preserving this valuable root is, first to peel them, then to grate them down to a pulp, which is put into coarse cloths, and the water squeezed out by putting them into a common press, by which means they are formed into flat cakes.