ART. XX.-1. The Lyre; Fugitive Poetry of the Nineteenth Century. 12mo. pp. 360. London: Sharpe. 1830.

2. The Laurel; Fugitive Poetry of the Nineteenth Century. 12mo. pp. 368. London: Sharpe. 1830. THESE are two delightful pocket volumes, containing, in a clear and beautiful type, a judicious selection from periodical and other works, fleeting in their nature, of all the poetical gems by which they were adorned. The British Journals have contributed, of course, the great mass of the compilation, but we are glad to observe that those of the United States of America are also adequately represented in this congress of the Muses. We do not know a pleasanter brace of volumes to take upon a journey, or into the fields, or to deposit in a parlour window, or on a drawing-room table, than the 'Laurel' and the Lyre ;' they serve so well as companions, and furnish so excellent a fund of rational entertainment, that we do not hesitate to recommend them both, most cordially, to the attention of the public.

prime necessity to life; should be treated as such articles are in our fiscal code: and it is to the fact, that in the northern counties coal, which is so important an instrument in the manufactures is really free from duties, that the extraordinary superiority of the inhabitants of those counties in manufactures, as compared with the southern counties where coal is taxed, is to be attributed. The effect of this inequality of duty is manifested at Norwich, which has been deprived of its 5000 spinners by the dearness of coals. Our author then proceeds in a forcible manner, to shew the injustice and evil consequences of this partial tax, and contends that the consequences of its removal would be very much to the advantage of the State, in point of prosperity and even political safety.

ART. XXII.-Satan in Search of a Wife; with the whole Process of his Courtship and Marriage; and who danced at the Wedding. By an Eye Witness. 12mo. pp. 36. London: Moxon. 1830. We suspect this imitation of The Devil's Walk,' to be from the pen of Mr. Charles Lamb, the Mecænas of Moxon. It is a poor affair. The Devil, who has been leading the life of a bachelor, some twenty thousand years, feels his heart moved with tender yearnings towards a tailor's daughter, whom he marries in preference to all the spirits of hell. We discover neither moral nor meaning in such a story as this, and the poverty of the subject borrows no charm, that we can see, either from the verse in which it is told, or from the plates by which it is illustrated.

WE were not prepared for any conduct on the part of the French Press, like that which one of the contributors to the Revue Encyclopedique has been repeatedly guilty of towards us. There is not a number of the Revue, which does not contain a very large portion of our articles, translated into French, in many instances faithfully and literally. This is done without the slightest acknowledgment of the obligation. In the Revue for October a version appeared of our paper on the Liverpool and Manchester Rail-road, in which we were followed by the translator in our erroneous representation of Messrs. Braithwaite's boilers. Again, when we corrected this error in a subsequent number, the Revue adopts our correction, but the terms in which it does so, involve not only a repetition of the injustice to us, but a very great inconsistency with truth. It says, "We take this opportunity of correcting a mistake which crept into the explanation that was sent to us from England," (qui nous avait eté transmise d'Angleterre). We now give notice to the parties concerned in this wholesale piracy that we have the effectual means of stopping it in our hands.

The preliminary proceedings necessary to the execution of a Railroad between London and Brighton, are now in active progress. The road is to commence at the top of Kennington Common, and the length is calculated to be about 47 miles.

We perceive in the regulations of the Banff Literary and Scientific Institution, one rule, the generosity

:

and utility of which, are so obvious, that we hope to see it extensively imitated by the liberal Societies of the country this rule relates to the discovery and encouragement of native genius and talent. The candidate is first to be proposed for the encouragement of the institution, by some member; the council is then to examine the candidate,and upon their favourable report he is to appear before the general body. If the case be deserving of attention, the council shall then give a certificate and recommendation to the applicant, stating his qualifications: and it shall be the object of the Institution, by means of recommendation and otherwise, to procure the applicant every facility for prosecuting such studies as may be necessary to develope and perfect his particular talent. And as the mere gift of money may lead to abuse, and prove an incitement to mercenary views, it is appointed that no money, from the funds of the Institution, shall be given to the applicant; but if any be voted, it shall be applied, under the control of the council, for such purposes as shall be deemed most proper for the improvement of the applicant, viz. the fees of college, of teachers, purchase of books, instruments, &c.

Dr. Wollaston, we are informed, left behind him in MS. a series of observations, to facilitate the determination of the relative brightness of the sun and stars, which opens entirely new and more magnificent views than we are yet acquainted with, of the universe.

On the 30th of November, the election for President and Council

of the Royal Society, took place. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex was chosen President, the votes being, for Mr. Herschel, 110, for the successful candidate, 119. The following are the Council: those names printed in Italics are those of the members who were on the last Council. Duke of Sussex, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Melville, Sir George Murray, Sir Astley Cooper, Col. Fitzclarence, Messrs. Barrow, Cavendish, Children, Lubbock, Peacock, Vigors, Barlow, Ellis, Faraday, Gilbert, Kater, Philips, Pond, Rennie, and Dr. Roget.

M. Andrieux, the author of a French tragedy, entitled Lucius Junius Brutus, which was acted for the first time at Paris in September last, lately published his work, with a preface containing some very singular details of its history. It appears that he began the tragedy in the spring of 1794, and that it was finished in 1795, and was read by the author in the green-room of the Theatre de la Republique, before all the performers. It was well received, but it was not acted for some reason or another. However, M. Andrieux contented himself with retouching the piece now and then during the reigns of Napoleon, and Louis, and in the year 1828 resolved to produce it. It was read in the presence of the company of the same Theatre as before, and nothing was to hinder its enactment but the consent of government. The author therefore boldly laid the tragedy before the Minister of the Interior, who happened to be Mons. Martignac, the advocate who lately defended the ex-ministers of France. "The Minister," says Andrieux, "sent me an answer of three pages and a half in his own hand, remarkable for its acuteness and kindness. He spoke very favourably of my work as a

VOL. XVI.

literary composition, and eulogized my talents as a poet in a way which I durst not repeat-but the upshot was that he could not license the performance of my play, as the subject was inadmissible at the existing era, and he cited some dozen lines which he said could not be allowed to be repeated on the stage." There is nothing for which we envy the French so much as for that amiability of manner which is exemplified so delightfully in the conduct of Martignac in the present case. When shall we hear of a minister and a dramatist corresponding in this manner in England? If we change the scene in our imagination, and suppose George Colman to be the licenser applied to ; Morbleu ! how Andrieux would pay for it.

M

A very singular specimen of a fossil tree was recently discovered in a quarry at Craigleith near Edinburgh. The trunk of the tree is nearly completely converted into Carbonate of lime, which is conjectured to possess a slight admixture of Silicious earth. But the most curious circumstance in this discovery is, that the gummy exudation on the external part of the tree appears with all the characters of perfectly formed coal. An Edinburgh paper (the New North Briton) giving an account of this specimen, adds that it is destined for the College Museum," where it will be carefully preserved from the public." What! do they devour such things in the modern Athens?

A distinguished naturalist in writing lately to a country friend who promised to be active in procuring specimens, thus expresses himself -I am more in want of some of our British fishes than birds. Among others, I want our anchovy, which is likely enough to be taken on our Southern shore, when small meshed nets are used. Specimens

of small size suit me best, and to preserve them it is only necesary to put them into a wide mouthed bottle or jar, add as much common gin as will cover them, and cork or bung up tight, adding a fish and more spirit as opportunity offers.

There are now not less than six newspapers published in India, in the Bengalee language, for the use of native readers.

As an instance of individual liberality, which deserves to be generally applauded; we have to mention that Dr. Tomlinson, of Newcastle on Tyne, has recently announced that his Library is free to the public, every day from seven o'clock in the morning, to one in the afternoon.

We find from the St. Petersburgh Almanack for 1830, that the Russian ecclesiastical computation gives no less than 7338 years as the age of the world!

A project is at present on foot at Paris, for the erection there of an American College, principally destined for the general education of young men natives of South America.

We trust that in this age of intelligence the necessity of extending the studies of the guardians of the night throughout the country will be duly appreciated, for it seems that in the city of Bristol a few weeks ago, the watchmen, mistaking the brilliancy of the Aurora Borealis for one of Swing's nocturnal bonfires, sprang their rattles and produced indescribable alarm in a very peaceful district!

It is a very singular fact that in the Island of Cuba, which belongs to a monarchy the most absolute almost in Christendom, and the most averse to the existence of a free press, there are no less than ten periodical publications, every one of them more or less the organ of public opinion.

The Cambridge Prize subjects for the ensuing year are as follow :Chancellor's 3d Medal, for English Poetry-" The attempts to discover a North-west Passage." - Members' Prizes for Latin Prose:-Bachelor's" Utram boni plus an mali hominibus et civitatibus attulerit dicendi copia?"-Undergraduates"Utrum fides Punica ea esset qualeam perhibent scriptores Romani?" -Sir William's Browne's Gold Medals for Undergraduates :-Greek Ode-" Granta Illustrissimo Regi Gulielmo quarto gratulatur quod in solium Britanniæ successerit."-Latin Ode-" Magicas accingitur artes."-Greek Epigram-" Magnas inter opes inops."-Latin Epigram

"Prudens simplicitas." The Porson Prize, for the best translation into Greek Verse:-" As you Like It," Act 2, Scene 1, beginning, "To day my Lord of Amiens and myself," ending, "Native dwellingplace."

A Journal, entitled the Watchman and Jamaica Free Press, conducted by free men of colour, and, having for its object to maintain the right to all the civil and political privileges of English subjects, has been just established at Jamaica.

A Botanic Garden was opened at Manchester, on the 19th of October last. The ground extends to ten Lancashire, or sixteen statute acres, being more than three times the size of the Liverpool Botanic Garden, which is only five statute

acres.

One of the finest specimens of ornamental architecture which this metropolis can boast of, as the work of what may be called private enterprize, will be the noble portico, now nearly completed, of the Law Institution in Chancery Lane. Four fine Ionic columns of Portland stone, and two Antoe, of the same materials, all raised on pedestals of

granite, support the handsome entablature and pediment. But the fatality of all these beautiful structures of London is, that they cannot be seen. In front of the building in question, and between it and the opposite houses in Chancery Lane, there is about as much standingroom as will enable a good steady gazer to get a glimpse of the volutes of the columns. If he wants

to see as far as the pediment, we advise him not to make the attempt, unless his neck possesses the suppleness of that of an Indian juggler.

The inscription on the monument," which ascribes the burning of the city, in 1666, to the papists, has been ordered to be erased by a vote of the common council of London. Since it has been a point of angry dispute, to whom the credit is due of having first shewn that the erasure was only an act of justice, we must state, that Mr. Charles Butler was the gentleman who originally made the proposition to that effect, and many of our readers will remember that he made it in the mayoralty of Alderman Waithman.

Very much to their honour, the London Zoological Society have sent some of the duplicates occasioned by His Majesty's present to them of the Sandpit-gate collection, to the Irish Zoological Society. We also notice with pleasure that the Duchess of Northumberland has lately presented to the Royal Dublin Society a collection of rocks, made from the mountains Tor and Sinai, which Lord Prudhoe, on his visit to the museum, was kind enough to promise. The collection consists of 75 beautiful and wellselected specimens, with a catalogue, written in French, made up in conformity to the principles of the Wernerian school.

We have already mentioned a plan submitted to the navy for con

centrating and controlling the fire of ships of war. Two inventions for this purpose have been described, which, however, do not interfere with each other. Mr. Kemmish's object is to effect the simultaneous fire of a broadside at a moment, when, by the roll of the ship, the guns previously laid for concentration, shall bear with the desired elevation on a given object. Captain Simmons's design is to render the training of the guns unnecessary, and to place the pointing of them beyond the control of the seamen working them, enabling an officer on the quarter-deck either to produce a fire from all the guns on the same side parallel to the fire of a gun which he may personally superintend, or to effect a conver gence of fire on the line of fire of a particular gun; thus the precision of the fire between decks will not be affected either by darkness, by fog, or by the smoke of the guns, but must correspond with the intention of the officer commanding.

At the adjourned meeting of the West of England Agricultural Society, which was held last month, some very fine specimens of straw plait were introduced, and formed the subject of some interesting observations. It was observed that the wheat plant, of which the foreign plait was made, would grow on soils where nothing else would thrive. The method of making it fit for the required use was to seed it down twice, and the third time it came up weak and "spindly," fit for the intended purpose. The worst of land would do for this species of plant. It was said to be a better article than any English grass. The seeds might easily be had from Italy or Germany.

Marshal Marmont is, we understand, engaged in a narrative of the recent scenes in Paris.