performing any other act, according to his authority, and expressing that authority on the instrument executed, or in the other act performed, renders himself liable? If, in the wide range of precedent and authority, there be such an instance, we should be grateful for a sight of it. The doctrine of this case, if we comprehend the judge who gave the opinion, is this; that an attorney is liable for costs, if he puts his name on a writ, in any manner, as attorney, because "he is presumed to know the law and the obligation he assumes by indorsing the original writ, in the character of attorney." This may be reasoning, good reasoning, but we cannot feel it. Though it is asserted, that the case of Middlesex Turnpike Corporation v. Tufts, & Mass. Rep. 266, "cannot be distinguished in principle" from the case in question, we would humbly venture to suggest, that, as the statute of Massachusetts requires that original writs shall "be indorsed on the back thereof by the plaintiff, with his christian and surname, or by his agent or attorney," it might possibly have been supposed, even by Mr. Chief Justice Parsons and his associates, that a corporation aggregate was not within the first provision of the statute, and therefore that the indorsement, in that case, ut res magis valeat, must bind the agent who had indorsed his own name, as such. Nor do we perceive any thing very weak or unusual in such a notion. If we mistake not, there are other instances on record, in which an agent or attorney, failing to bind his principal, has found himself bound. Had the indorser, in this last mentioned case, written the christian and surname of the Middlesex Turnpike Corporation on the writ, and added, "by R. M. their agent," we admit the case could not be distinguished in principle from Davis v. MArthur.

Most of the cases in the volume now on our table, appear to have been carefully considered by the court, and well argued by the bar. We have always regarded Mr. Greenleaf's Reports as creditable to the State of Maine ás well as to himself. If we were inclined to hint at a circumstance, which we have habitually considered as a blemish in too many of the opinions of the court, as published in these volumes, we should refer to the reliance which seems to be placed on the accumulation of obiter dicta, in settling a new point, rather than on their own powers of analogical reasoning.

INTELLIGENCE.

Double-Stars. Professor Stune, of Dorpat, to whose hands Frauenhofer's large refracting telescope has been intrusted, has determined on a review of all the double-stars already observed, as well as on a minute examination of the heavens from the north pole to fifteen degrees of south declination, with respect to these objects. He has now accomplished one third of the labor, and has found one thousand double-stars of the first four classes; among which, eight hundred are new, and of these, nearly three hundred are of the first class. He extends the examination to all stars of the 8th and 8.9 magnitude.

Russia. Russian literature has made a rapid progress since the commencement of the century. From 1700 to 1800 only about three thousand works were printed in that empire, and, since the latter period, more than eight thousand volumes have appeared. Three hundred and fifty authors are now living, the greater part of them unknown, even by, name, to the rest of Europe.

Population. The population of the Netherlands appears to be increasing. The following is the state of the population for six consecutive

The proportion of male to female births is much the same as in England. In the Netherlands, it is as 1000 to 950; in England, as 1000 to 947; in France, as 1000 to 937; and in Naples, as 1000 to 955. This agreement, of the cause of which we shall probably always remain ignorant, is as remarkable for its singularity as for its constancy.

Longevity of Animals. A little treatise by Aristotle, on the length of the lives of animals, has recently been republished at Göttingen, with notes by Professor Schultz. These notes contain a summary of all that is known on the subject by the moderns. M. Schultz gives an account of some very curious experiments on cercaria ephemera; and, although, of all vertebral animals, birds are those which have the shortest lives, he brings forward, in opposition to these beings of a few hours, the instance of a paroquet, carried, in 1633, from Italy into France, which was still living in 1743, and which, consequently, was above one hundred and ten years old. He also quotes the no less remarkable fact of a fish, taken at Kayserslautern, in 1497, in a reservoir, where it had been deposited two hundred and sixty-seven years before, as appeared from a ring of copper with which its head was encircled. Whales, which, according to Buffon, live for one thousand years, are not forgotten; but M. Schultz prudently observes, that the celebrated naturalist may perhaps have been deceived on that point.

Voyage of Discovery. An English journal says, "The Board of Admiralty have determined on fitting out another expedition to the Arctic Seas. The direction and immediate objects of the intended expedition, however, are different from those of the former voyages, and the promotion of the interests of our fisheries forms a very material inducement for the present undertaking. Our knowledge of Spitzbergen is almost entirely confined to its western coast, and a wide field for discovery remains unexplored on the eastern shores of that island. The first object, therefore, of the intended expedition, is the survey of its eastern coast, where, it is expected, that new and prolific fishing-ground may be discovered, which will be attended with great benefit to our Northern fishery, the seas on the western side of Spitzbergen being nearly exhausted. Captain Parry has been selected for this interesting survey, and the Hecla is to be prepared for the performance of this service during the next year. An ultimate, and still more interesting object is subsequently to be attempted, which will require all the energy and enterprize of the distinguished officer to whom this service is to be entrusted. We understand the Hecla will take out with her boats or small vessels of peculiar construction, in which Captain Parry and a party of the Hecla's officers and men are to attempt actually to reach the North Pole, leaving the ship in the neighbourbood of Spitzbergen. This attempt is made at the suggestion of the Royal Society."

Ancient Coin A fine and well preserved gold coin of king Edward III. was lately found by George Bidgood, a gardener, of Axbridge, while digging up some ground near that ancient town. Its present weight is exactly one hundred and eighteen grains troy; and it is about the size of a modern half-crown in circumference. Edward III. is said by many historians, to have struck the first gold coins in England; but Hume says, they are to be found so early as Henry III's time, about a century before. Guthrie's Chronological Tables say, gold was first coined in 1344 (18th Edward III.); if they are correct, this piece may be one of the earliest, and most valuable.

Buried Forests. At Lawrence Park, four miles beyond Linlithgow, there is a piece of ground lower than the adjoining country, and covered with moss, but tolerably dry, which the proprietor opened with the view of forming a pond. About four feet under the surface, a great number of large trees were discovered, which were pronounced to be oak; the wood was still fresh and fit for use, and there was also found strewed upon the soil, among the trees, a vast quantity of nuts like those of the hazel.

Valuable Discovery. One of the most simple and useful discoveries in agriculture, is to mix layers of green or new-cut clover with layers of straw in ricks or stacks; thus the strength of the clover is absorbed by the straw, which, thus impregnated, both horses and cattle eat greedily, and the clover is dried and prevented from heating. This practice is particularly calculated for second crops of clover and rye-grass.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

ARTS AND SCIENCES.

A Compendium of the Flora of the Northern and Middle States, containing Generic and Specific Descriptions of all the Plants, exclusive of Cryptogamia, hitherto found in the United States, North of the Potomac. By John Torrey, M. D.

Authentic Key to the Art of Short-Hand Writing, by which the Language of a Public Speaker may be recorded as fast as delivered, in a style at once beautiful and legible. By M. T. C. Gould.

American Natural History, Vol. I. Part 1; containing Twenty-two finely engraved Copperplates. By John D. Godinan, M. D. Philadelphia. H. C. Carey & I. Lea.

DRAMA.

The Theatrical Contributions of "Jacques" to the United States Gazette; being an Account of the Performances at the New Theatre, Philadelphia, during the season of 1825-6. Philadelphia. Ash & Mason.

Oberon, or the Charmed Horn; a Romantic Fairy Tale. In Two Acts. New York. E. M. Murden. 18mo. pp. 58.

Paul Pry; a Comedy. In Three Acts. New York. E. M. 18mo. pp. 40.

Three Deep, or All on the Wing; a Farce. In Two Acts. Author of "Family Jars." New York. E. M. Murden. 18mo.

EDUCATION.

Murden.

By the pp. 44.

Kelly's First Spelling-Book, or Child's Instructer; designed for Sunday and Common Schools. Containing Lessons in Orthography, Reading, &c. By Hall J. Kelly, A. M. Boston. Lincoln & Edmands. 18mo. pp. 83.

Lights of Education, or Mr. Hope and His Family; a Narrative for Young Persons. By a Lady. Part II. Baltimore. E. J. Coaie.

An Introduction to Algebra upon the Inductive Method of Instruction. By Warren Colburn. Stereotype Edition. Boston. Hilliard, Gray, & Co. 12mo. pp. 276.

Geography for Beginners, or the Instructer's Assistant in giving First Lessons from Maps; with an Atlas, adapted exclusively to the Work. By Emma Willard, Principal of the Troy Female Seminary.

A History of the United States of America, on a plan adapted to the Capacity of Youth, and designed to aid the Memory by systematic Arrangement and interesting Associations. Illustrated by Engravings. By the Rev. Charles A. Goodrich. A New Edition. Hartford. S. G. Goodrich. 18mo. pp. 316.

Outlines of Modern Geography, on a new plan, carefully adapted to Youth. With numerous Engravings of Cities, Manners, Customs, and Curiosities; accompanied by an Atlas. By the Rev. Charles A. Goodrich. Second Edition. Boston. S. G. Goodrich. 18mo. pp. 252.

The Juvenile Scholar's Arithmetical Assistant, or a New CipheringBook, comprising a Series of Sums and Questions in the first Rules. By C. W. Bazeley. Second Edition, improved.

Manual of Mutual Instruction; consisting of Mr. Fowle's Directions for Introducing in Common Schools the Improved System adopted in the Monitorial School, Boston. With an Appendix, containing some Considerations in Favor of the Monitorial Method, and a Sketch of its Progress, &c. By William Russell. Boston. Wait, Greene, & Co. 12mo. pp. 131.

The First Book, or Spelling Lessons for Primary Schools. Boston. Munroe & Francis. 18mo. pp. 120.

Conversations on Common Things; or, Guide to Knowledge. With Questions for the Use of Schools and Families. By a Teacher. New Edition. Boston. Munroe & Francis. 18mo. pp. 288.

HISTORY.

The History and Present State of the Town of Newburyport. By Caleb Cushing. Newburyport. F. W. Allen. 12mo. pp 120.

Topographical and Historical Sketches of the Town of Lancaster, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; furnished for the Worcester Magazine and Historical Journal. By Joseph Willard. Worcester. Charles Griffin. 8vo. pp. 90.

This pamphlet on every page evinces in its author the true spirit of an antiquary. None but a man thoroughly imbued with the love of facts, could have collected such a mass of them as is here embodied. The laborious service, however, entitles the author to the thanks of the public; and the result must prove highly acceptable to those who are particularly interested in the ancient town, whose records have been so diligently searched, as well as to the future historian of this part of our country.

The act of incorporation of the town of Lancaster was prior to that of the county of Worcester. The author must necessarily, therefore, have consulted the records of Middlesex, to which Worcester once belonged. And, if we mistake not, it was prior even to the incorporation of Middlesex, which must have sent him to the records of Suffolk for some of his facts. Notwithstanding the difficulty of collecting information from such divers sources, and from records necessarily imperfect and almost illegible from their age, Mr. Willard has written out the civil and ecclesiastical history of his ancient town with great minuteness, and, we believe, with the most scrupulous regard to the accuracy of his dates. The history of the successive generations of several of the most ancient families of the town, will render the work highly interesting and valuable to the descendants of those families, now scattered over almost the whole of New England, and not merely New England, but the interior of New York, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

The statistics of the town are very full, and the whole is interspersed with interesting and amusing anecdotes, illustrative of individual characters and of ancient times. We wish others, as competent to the task as the authors of this pamphlet and of the History of Newburyport, lately published, could be induced to undertake similar accounts of all the towns in the State, whose particular histories have never been written. This, it seem to us, is the only way in which full and accurate materials can be collected for a general history of the State. And accurate histories of the States, are the best materials for a general history of the country.

Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Vol. I. Part II. Philadelphia. H. C. Carey & I. Lea.

LAW.

Reports of Cases argued and determined in the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. By Octavius Pickering, Counsellor at Law. No. II. Vol. III. Boston. Hiliard, Gray, & Co.