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motion of the sap in vegetables was rendered as conspicuous as the circulation of blood in the frog. He illustrated his observations by some very interesting facts, and proved that the appearance presented was not an optical illusion.

CAMBRIDGE, Jan. 4.

The subject of the Seatonian Prize Poem for the present year is, "The plague stayed." -Numb. xvi. 48.

The subject for the Hulsean Prize is, "The advantages which have resulted from the Christian Religion being conveyed in a narrative rather than a didactive form."

PRESS IN INDIA.

A parliamentary paper has been published, containing the number of periodical publications and printing-presses under the licence or sanction of the British government, at the several Presidencies:-Bengal: Europeau publications in 1814, 1; 1820, 5; and 1830, 31; Native publications in 1814, not any; 1820, not any; 1880, 8. Fort St. George: European, 1814, 5; 1820, 8; 1830, &; Native, not any. Bombay: European, 1814, .4; 1820, 4; 1880, 12; Native, 1814, not any; 1820, 2; 1830, 4. Bengal, European printing-presses, 1880, 5; Native printingpresses, 1830, 1. Fort St. George: European, 1830, 2; Native not any. Bombay: European, 1880, 6; Native, 2.

JOURNALS IN EGYPT.

After the example of Constantinople, where there has been a printing-office for above a century, which has been productive of much good, the present Pasha of Egypt founded, as is generally known, a similar establishment, about ten years ago, at Bulah, near Cairo where Persian, Arabic, and Turkish works are printed. The Arabic language is spoken by the natives in general; the Turkish is the mother tongue of the Pasha and of most of the members of his government; and the Persian is cultivated by mauy Turks and Arabs. From this office there have issued, up to this time, nine grammatical works, three dictionaries, three historical works, four on the Mahometan religion, four poetical, three rhetorical, six mathematical, two medical, three commercial, eleven military and naval, one of which is in the Turkish language, from the French of the present Admiral Truguet, who wrote it at Constantinople by order of Louis XVI. The printing-office at Bulah was organised according to the directions of Don Raphael, formerly professor of vulgar Arabic in the school of the living oriental languages at Paris, in the Royal Library. The superiutendent of the establishment is an Egyptian, who studied in 1819, at the same tine with Osman Bey, now major-general in the Egyptian service. There also a journal at Canea, in the island of Candia, published in

the Turkish and modern Greek languages :
the Turkish title is Events in Crete; and
the Greek title, Cretan Ephemeris. The
Egyptian government had hardly established
itself in Candia, when it introduced this
means of public communication.

GRESHAM PRIZE MEDAL.

The Gresham Prize Medal, for the best composition in Sacred Vocal Music, has been awarded to Mr. Charles Hart, Organist of St. Dunstan, Stepney. We understand, that the composition, a Jubilate for four voices, is to be performed in the ensuing spring, in the Church of St. Helen, Bishopsgate, where Sir Thomas Gresham was buried.

HISTORY OF LIVERPOOL.

The great want of a general history and description of Liverpool, embracing, in a correct and appropriate manner, every part of the subject, has long been very apparent; and numerous as the attempts of authors have been, to produce a full and complete essay upon this subject, there is not one who has so far attained the object, as to admit of an amended edition of his work to serve for the present era.

Dr. Enfield, the first who attempted the undertaking, in his arrangement of the papers of a deceased friend, is very ingenious upon many points, but while he descants largely upon some topics of minor importance, lie entirely neglects others of great moment.

Sir John Preswick, it appears, had prepared a history of Liverpool, but he abandoned it on becoming acquainted with Mr. John Holt's design; while the latter suffered his work to give place to the interests of agriculture, and bequeathed his papers to Matthew Gregson, who deposited them in a closet, and their contents were never brought to light. Probably, the period of his life-time did not suffice for their arrangeinent. The work he has published affords, however, great insight into the history of the town; and his arduous labours must be acknowledged to merit a tribute of praise to

his memory.

Subsequently, an account of Liverpool, from the pen of Mr. H. Smithers (published in 1825) adds to the number; but, with the exception of the biographical department, little is added to the matter of former works; and it is wholly without illustrations,-the very essence of a topographical essay.

An excellent little work "The Stranger in Liverpool," has passed through ten editions, and no similar work of proportionate size exhibits more fullness of matter, put together in so concise a form.

With the view of forming a substantial
work, free from the objections mentioned,

we have learnt with satisfaction that Mr. J.
G. UNDERHILL of Liverpool, has been en-

* See Gent. Mag. for June, vol. ci, p. 544.

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Steam Carriages.-Adversaria.

gaged for more than three years in preparing a history of the town; and has made such progress that the work is now nearly ready to be brought forward.

STEAM CARRIAGES.

The Select Committee appointed last session, on the motion of Colonel Torrens, conclude their report with the following summary of the result of their inquiries :- 1. That carriages can be propelled by steam on common roads at an average rate of ten miles per hour. 2. That at this rate they have conveyed upwards of fourteen passengers. 3. That their weight, including engine, fuel, water, and attendants, may be under three tons. 4. That they can ascend and descend hills of considerable inclination

with facility and ease. 5. That they are perfectly safe for passengers. 6. That they are not (or need not be if properly constructed) nuisances to the public. 7. That they will become a speedier and cheaper mode of conveyance than carriages drawn by horses. 8..That as they admit of greater breadth of tire than other carriages, and as the roads are not acted on so injuriously as by the feet of horses in common draught, such carriages will cause less wear of roads than coaches drawn by horses. 9. That rates of toll have been imposed on steamcarriages which would prohibit their being used on several lines of road were such charges permitted to remain unaltered.

ADVERSARIA.

Shah Abbas, Sophi of Persia, having conquered Armenia, transported a number of the inhabitants to Giulfa. Many of them escaped into Poland, and there became graziers. At this day they are still a distinct race, and preserve their language and physiognomy, with their olive tint and black hair, although they have existed for more than two centuries in a country that pro duces fair complexions. They are principally found in Austrian Gallicia, but they rent lands in the neighbouring principality of Moldavia, for the purpose of rearing their oxen and horses. The tyrannical nature of the Moldavian government has proved injurious to their commerce; but the Austrian agent has secured to them some important privileges, and since his intercession, their condition is more easy, and their business less disturbed.-Voyage en Valachie et en Moldavie, Paris, 1822.

The Zigans, or Gypsies of Moldavia and Wallachia, are the most expert persons at catching bears and teaching them to dance.-Ibrd.

Mr. Hazlitt supposes, that the publication of the Bible in England called forth the literary fervour of the Elizabethan age, by opening new sources of the sublime. May not the beautiful idea in ShakspeareShe never told her love, But let concealment, like a worm i' th' bud, Feed on her damask cheek,

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Ye dwarfling authors of a vile Review,

Who think yourselves Apollo's priests and Try to improve your style a little, do, [sages, Or cease to criticise another's pages. To trace a fault you sift our books for ever, But cannot find a passage to decry; We traverse yours with kindlier endeavour To praise, and nothing laudable can spy.

The equestrian statue of Peter the Great at St Petersburgh, by Falconnet, is a model of ingenuity; the hind feet only of the horse are fixed on a rock, from which the animal seems to be springing.*

M. de Bourrienne, in his Memoirs of Napoleon, vol. ii. c. 15. remarks, that at the siege of Acre, the women excited the inhabitants to the defeuce, by running about, and throwing dust into the air, according to the custom of the country. This illustrates Acts xxii. 23.

Among the original laws of Portugal, passed at the accession of Alfonso I. is a re markable clause, that such nobles as were convicted of disguising the truth from the king, should be degraded from their rank. In theory this approaches very near to the perfection of government; in practice it is impossible to be realised.

There are two passages in our translation of the Bible, in which man ought to be printed in italics, Acts xiii. 38, and Heb. x. 12. neither unp nor avgwmos occurs in the text, and the sense would more properly be expressed by person.

It is said, in Daniel vi. 1. that Darius ap pointed a hundred and twenty governors, and in Esther i. 1. that Ahasuerus reigned in a hundred and twenty-seven provinces. Does not this afford a clue toward ascertain

ing who this Ahasuerus was? The period seems to have been, when Egypt and the Indian provinces (perhaps also the Thracian acquisitions), were under the power of Persia, to which the reign of Darius Hystaspes or of Xerxes answers best.

Civilization will be found to depend mainly on climate. The inhabitants of middle latitudes do not lose their time in retreating from heat or cold, but are able to pursue their occupations without any physical hindrances.

Hence the superiority of the Greeks over other nations. The Orientals, whatever progress they have made in luxury, retain the ferocity of barbarians.

An inveterate Nicotian, who could not begin the day without a mouthful of weed,

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used to say that he resembled Lucan's hero in that particular,

Nil actum reputans, dum QUID superesset agendum.

Mons. Duval, the present curate of Pleurtuit, near St. Malo in France, has formerly been both soldier and sailor. The parish is full of seamen, and as he is well acquainted with their peculiar style of conversation, he generally uses it. When, for instance, he is exhorting any of them to come to confession, he says, "you have arrived from a place where it was bad weather; you let yourself drive before the wind; let me help you to tack about." The following is part of a sermon preached by him on the accession of Louis Philip. My good friends, while you were, fishing at Newfoundland, many things have happened here. The state ship went badly;

one was always obliged to be crying, 'take
care!' for every minute they incurred some
damage. Faith one day the crew being
quite tired out threw the captain and princi-
pal officers overboard. But with all their
skill the sailors did not know how to steer,
and so they nominated a new captain, whom
they call Louis Philip. He has been writ-
ten about to Rome, and is approved of.
have asked the fitters at St Malo about him,
and they say he is very good. And now my
lads, we are going to pray for him, and you
shall answer me with your fine Newfoundland
voices." Having said this, the curate gave
out the Domine salvum fac Regem, and a
chorus of seven hundred sailors replied to it
in their loudest tone.-Almanach de Mat-
thieu Lensberg, Rouen, 1832.

ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES. SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. Jan. 12. H. Hallam, esq. V.P. in the chair. The following gentlemen were elected Fellows: James Wigram, esq. of Portlandplace; the Rev. William Phelps, M.A. Vicar of Mere; John Benjamin Heath, esq. of Russell-square; and Richard Reece, esq. of Cardiff.

John Gage, esq. Director, exhibited to the Society a very beautifully illuminated Saxon manuscript, belonging to the Duke of Devonshire. It was executed by an artist named Godeman, for Etholwulf, the first Abbot of Abingdon, and Bishop of Winchester from 963 to 983. It is a Benedictional, or collection of forms of episcopal benediction, for the several feasts through out the year. This blessing of the Bishop took place at the fraction of the Host; and was the most solemn of three several benedictions which occur in the ancient Romish liturgy. It was remarked that the ritual of the Greek church is much less altered from the most ancient formularies than that of

Rome; and the forms of benediction were traced through that and all the other ancient_modifications of Christian worship. Mr. Gage incidentally described the derivation of the word mass from a passage in the Service, where the deacon exclaimed, "Ite, missa est." It appears, from the writings of St. Augustine and St. Isidore, that the Missa Catechumenorum derived its name from the dismissal of the catechumens, which took place after the exposition of the Gospel. The part of the liturgy which preceded that dismissal was thence called the Mass of the Catechumens, and that which followed, until the dismissal of the faithful at large, was called the Alass of the Faithful. The illuminations of this invaluable MS., which are characterized by excellent drawing for so early an æra, as well as the greatest splendour of colour and gold, are thirty in number, and represent the

CYDWELI.

usual subjects of the gospel history. They are
only rivalled by another Benedictional, now
at Rouen, which was executed, probably by
the same artist, for Robert of Jumieges,
successively Bishop of London and Arch-
bishop of Canterbury. All the illuminations
of the Duke of Devonshire's volume, and
some specimens from that at Rouen, will be
engraved for the next volume of the Archæo-
logia.

Jan. 19. Mr. Gage's paper was conti

nued.

Jan. 25. Mr. Hallam in the chair.

William Knight, esq. F.S.A. presented two large lithographed prints of the old houses at either end of the new London Bridge, as they appeared in May 1830, and many of which have since been removed, in order to form the approaches.

Sydney Smirke, esq. F.S.A. communicated a plan and drawings of a cellar belonging to the ancient palace of Whitehall, and supposed to be part of the buildings erected. by Cardinal Wolsey. In a plan temp. Charles II. the wine-cellar appears near the place. It still remains under a house called Cromwell-house, it is conjectured, from having been the part of the palace occupied by the Protector, and which is now used for the custody of the records of the Exchequer. The principal architectural features are, flat arches supported by hexagonal pillars; in the spandrils of a door-way are two mouldering shields displaying a cross, and what is presumed to be the arms of the see of York impaling Wolsey. The pavement has been. raised five feet, on account of the floods, which were formerly troublesome. Among some general remarks on the palace of Whitehall, Mr. Smirke mentioned, that according to the magnificent plan of Inigo Jones, it would have occupied twenty-four acres. The palace of the King of Naples stands on twelve acres and a half; Hampton Court, ou eight or nine; St. James's, on

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Antiquarian Researches.

four and Buckingham House, on two and a half.

W. R. Whatton, esq. F.S.A. communicated, from the records of Cheetham Hospital, Manchester (for the history of which he is making collections), two letters: 1. One to Mr. Cheetham, from an anonymous correspondent in London, dated May 16, 1648, and containing, among other particulars of the unpoplarity at that period of the army and the parliament, an account of a tumult in Westminster Hall, in which some countrymen, who came to petition the House in favour of a different course of conduct towards the King, had been severely used by the soldiery, no less thau seven killed, and above a hundred wounded. 2. A. letter of Charlotte de la Tremouille, Countess of Derby, giving a melancholy picture of her necessitous circumstances after the confiscation of her husband's estates. The lands with which Cheetham had endowed his hospital were part of those estates; and the Countess was reduced to petition for an annuity from them for her maintenance.

FOSSIL FORest.

A fossil under-ground forest, about forty feet in thickness, and extending for several miles, has been lately discovered by a pedestrian tourist in the immediate vicinity of Rome. The petrific matter is a calc-sinter, and the discoverer of this colossal phenomenon in natural history is of opinion that it has heen occasioned by an earthquake, the memory of which is lost-probably long prior

to the foundation of Rome. Not less singular than the phenomenon itself is the circumstance of its having escaped the observance of the scientific for so many ages.

THE WITCHES' CAULDRON.

In the vestry of Frensham Church, Surrey, hangs a huge cauldron, hammered out of a single piece of copper, supposed by Salmon to be a remain of the autient parochial hospitality at the wedding of poor maids. Aubrey supposes it to have been used for the Church Ales. Tradition reports it to have been brought from Borough Hill, about a mile hence; if any one went to borrow any thing, he might have it for a year or longer, provided be kept his word as to the return. On this hill lies a great stone, about six feet long: the party went to this stone, knocked at it, declared what was desired, and when they would return it; and a voice answered appointing a time when they would find the article wanted. This kettle, with the trivet, it is said, was so borrowed, but not returned at the time fixed; and though afterwards carried, it would not be received, and all subsequent applications have been fruitless. Another tradition ascribes the place whence it was borrowed to have been the neighbouring cave called Mother Ludlow's Hole.-Tymms's Family Topographer, Vol. I.

69

CLEANING ANCIENT MEDALS. Professor Lancelotti, of the Royal Institute at Naples, read at a late sitting of that Society an account of the process which he employs to remove from ancient silver medals the rust that covers and often renders them illegible. He first lays the medal in oxydated acid of salts, afterwards in a solution of sal-ammoniac for a short time; then rubs it with a piece of linen until all the rust disappears. His experiments have always been attended with success, and the discovery is of importance to those who study numismatics, since a great number of silver medals, hitherto not legible, may now be rendered so.

EXCAVATIONS AT POMPEII.

A private letter from Naples, dated Dec. 18th, states that Professor Zahu has for several weeks past been engaged in exploring the ground at Boscotre Case, between Vesuvius and Pompeii, and there is now no longer any doubt that a town lies buried in that position. It is thought that this town was called Toro. One of the excavations made has already produced objects of interest. It is commenced at the point in the Boscotre Case called the Annunziatella. The perforation decends about thirty palms, at the bottom of which you find yourself in a vast portico, from thence subterranean galleries are cut towards Naples, Vesuvius, Sarno, and Pompeii. In the first line several chambers have been entered, containing paintings and bas-reliefs, which promise a rich harvest. In that towards Poinpeii an ancient street has been discovered. In the two others, various paintings and objects in terracotta, iron and bronze, with some human skeletons, and a quantity of carbonized wood.

MALLEABLE GLASS.

Several ancient authors relate, that in the reign of Tiberius, au architect who had been banished from Rome on account of his great popularity, having, in his retirement, discovered the means of so far altering the nature of glass as to render it malleable, ventured to return to Rome, in the hope of securing both a remission of his sentence and a reward for his invention. This discovéry not agreeing, however, with the supposed interests of the tyrant, who feared lest the value of gold might be lowered through its means, the architect was beheaded, and his secret died with him. This discovery is said also to have occurred in France, in the time of Louis XIII., and is recorded by Blancourt. He says that the inventor, having presented a bust, formed of malleable glass, to the Cardinal Richelieu, was rewarded for his ingenuity by perpetual imprisonment, lest the vested interests" of French glass manufacturers might be injured by the discovery.-Dr. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia, Vol. xxvi.

SELECT POETRY.

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He was distressed-each fond retainer then Softened his voice to whispers-each pale face Did but reflect the sadness fixed in his :

Save where the two-two fair and lovely ones, Too young for guilt or sorrow, or to know Such words as worldlings know them-save where they,

Pranking in childhood's headlong gaiety, Sent the loud shout-like laughter through the tomb

And mocked his anguish with their joyousness.
Oh, that in sleep, some cry of joy or pain
From forth those lips had bursten piercingly,
When that sad Man his daring hand had lain,
Maddened with hours of musing, on his
death!
[heart
Then would great Nature, o'er the soldier's
Her power have all recovered; his seared soul
With gushing tears enflooded, been restored;
Mistaken Honour, false chivalric Pride,
Flown with the Tempter;-life have been
preserved,

And unendangered an immortal soul.
EDW. BREWSTER.

VILLAGE OF DOWDESWELL,

NEAR CHELTENHAM.

HAIL! favoured spot, with nature's bounty crown'd,

Smiling in verdant pasture, hill, and dale : With sylvan foliage encompassed round, Where sweetly sings the lonely nightingale. Scene behind scene of deep and varied hue In all directions admiration yield: There-Malvern terminates the distant view; Here-cattle herd beneath the cooling weald.

If fabrics brown with wind and tempests' rage, Piled by ancestral skill in days of yore, Are themes the inmost feelings to engage,

As works of men who've liv'd, but are no

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MOMENTARY THOUGHTS, No. V.
To the Memory of ·

THE spirit of Agnes is gone,

To a region as pure as her breath;
And brightly her loveliness shone
In nature's last struggle of death.
T'was feverish bloom on her cheek,

And her lips were of coralline hue,
Her hair in bright ringlets and sleek,
And faint shone her full eye of blue.
But ah! how dead pale was her brow,

Her shrunk hand by death had been grasp'd,

The pulse once quick throbbing was slow, Her lips were eternally clasp'd.

As when the sun setting a beam

Of glory first casts, and is gone, Thus nature's last brilliant dream, Serene through death's first slumber shone, Shrewsbury. H. P.

MORNING.

HOW lovely is the hour of Morning
Smiling on the mountain's head,
With beauty Nature's face adorning,
O'er the hills and vallies spread!
The golden light around is beaming,

Wak'ning birds, and plants, and flow'rs; While sparkling dewdrops, brightly gleaming, Deck the meadows, groves, and bow'rs. The sunbeam plays upon the waters,

Like a brilliant eastern gem,—
Reminding Nature's sons and daughters
Light celestial beams on them!
Oh how sweet is this reflection

To the care-worn anguish'd heart!
In the hour of deep dejection

Still will Heaven its smiles impart. The child of sorrow, sadly mourning Through the silence of the night, May see the smile of Hope returning With the morning ray of light.

Though life be but a scene of saduess

Oft to human nature giv'n, A Morn will rise of joy and gladnessOp'ning the glorious day in Heav'n! W. HERSEE

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