strata, altogether forming a mass sixty feet thick, of a tuff having the characters of those tuff's formed by water. From the facts just stated, it is conjectured that the cities were destroyed by a rising of the waters, which deposited over them the stratified rocks, and not by matter thrown from Vesuvius. It is also said, that no eruption of Vesuvius took place in the year 79.

MANUSCRIPTS OF HERCULANEUM.

A letter from Naples says " Among the manuscripts discovered at Herculaneum, there is a copy of Justin, and one of Aulus Gellius, in such a state of preservation that the persons appointed to decypher these manuscripts are able to read them almost without any difficulty. This discovery is the more valuable, on account of the afterations that are known to have been made in the texts of these two authors; and because the eighth book of the Noctes Attica of Aulus Gellius, which was lost, is now recovered.

- NEW COMET.

A new comet has been discovered in the constellation of the Swan. It was first observed on the 26th of December last, by M. Blanpain, at Marseilles, who has communicated to the Bureau of Longitude at Paris his observations upon it down to the 18th of January. The astronomers of Paris have been since constantly on the watch; but, in consequence of a very cloudy state of the heavens, they have not yet been able to discern it. The movement of the comet, as described by M. Blanpain, is very slow, its right ascension increasing only seven minutes in twenty-four hours, and its declination, in the same time, not diminishing more than from thirty-three to thirty-five minutes. The observations of M. Blanpain embrace but a very small arc. M. Nicollet has, however, deduced from them a parabolic orbit, which, though only a mere approximation to correctness, may enable observers for some time to trace pretty exactly the course of the comet. According to his calculations it would pass its point nearest to the sun on the 3d of March last, at fifteen minutes past eleven. Its periheliel distance will be equal to 1-12567, that of the earth to the sun being taken for unity.

The inclination of its orbit to the ecliptic

Longitude of the ascending

node

Longitude of perihelium, calculated by the orbit

88° 38'

= 68 5

=187 32 Its heliocentric movement is direct. As yet, there is nothing very interesting in its physical appearances. In the first days of January it resembled a small nebulous body, not of any determined form, and of a very feeble light. On the 18th it appeared sensibly augmented, both in size and brilliancy.

POLAR ICE.

Professor Parrot, in Dorpat, has written on the freezing of the salt water, in respect to the origin of the polar ice. Though navigators say that the polar ice contains no salt, yet the author thinks and proves that mere tasting cannot decide the problem. If the ice in the polar regions contains no salt, it cannot be frozen sea water, but ice of glaciers, which cover the pole of our earth, and to which our European glaciers are mere mole hills. The unsalt water flowing from the glaciers is fighter than the sea water, and consequently keeps on the surface, makes the latter less salt, and thus more liable to freeze. Therefore, the ice which covers the polar regions must increase, and continue to increase, every year, in height and extent; for this reason the climate of Iceland and Greenland becomes continually more severe, and those countries lose more and more of the inhabitable surface, &c.

COUNT VON KUNHEIM.

The following article is from a German Journal:

Lieutenant-general count Von Kunheim, an officer in the Prussian service, the last branch of the family of Dr. Martin Luther, died recently at Koningsberg, at the advanced age of 88. The general was descended in a direct line from the daughter of Luther, who, in 1555, married George Von Kunheim, lord of Mulhausen, Sasseineu, &c. by whom he had nine children. It is well known that the line of the male descendants of Martin Luther became extinct with Martin Gottlob Luther, an advocate of the regency of Dresden; but there still remain in Prussia several descendants of Margaret Luther, the only daughter of the reformer, from whom general count Von Kunheim descended in a direct line. Margaret Luther was born in 1534, and was twelve years of age at the death of her father. She herself died in 1570.

PHYSICAL PHENOMENA.

The storm of the 23d of February, from the effects of which our shores were exempted, spread its ravages over the greatest part of Europe. At Turin, it was attended with two shocks of an earthquake. Genoa, Savona, Alanco, and San Remo, were thrown into the greatest consternation for two days by repeated concussions, and several houses were partly demolished at Alazes, but happily no lives lost. At Antibes, in Provence, the whole day (the 23d of February) had been very tempestuous.-About four minutes past seven in the evening a most tremendous rush of wind took place, and was followed by an instantaneous calm. A dull subterranean noise was heard, the sea suddenly dashed against the rocks, and in the space of three seconds three oscillations of the earth were felt in a direction from the S. E. to the N. W. The wind then rose again, and all the violence of the storm

RUSSIAN EMBASSY TO PERSIA.

Extract of a Letter from Captain Moritz von Kotzebue, in the Imperial Russian General's Staff (attached to the Russian Embassy in Persia), to his Father, dated from Sultanie, Che summer residence of the Schach of Persia) the 14th of August, 1817.

Persia, which we had imagined to be so beautiful, is, as far as we know it, a dreary desert, inhabited by famished and unhappy people. The best description of Persia is that given by Chardin, about one hundred and fifty years ago. It does not contain any thing remarkably interesting, but the splendour of the court was at that time unequalled in its kind. Now, an old man who is in every respect superannuated, seeks only to amass treasures in his coffers. The character of the nation seems to us to be rather unamiable. How should it be otherwise, since they not only do not value the women, but even despise them?

On the 17th of April we left Tiflis, in a heat of 25°. The trees were already out of blossom; but after a march of three days, we came near the mountains, where nature was still in her winter's sleep. The highest mountain of this chain forms, with another which lies opposite to it, a kind of gate, which the inhabitants call the Great Mouth. But we ourselves made great eyes (a Germanism for staring,) when a whirlwind, which is very common in these mountains, seized the whole embassy, and almost obliged them to dance a waltz. It is sometimes so dreadful, that neither men nor horses can stand against it.

On the 25th we passed a cavern close to the road, which is large enough to afford shelter to some hundred cattle. Not far from this frightful cavern stands a simple white tomb-stone on an eminence; which is surrounded by several other graves. Here rests a brave soldier, colonel Montresor, who was in our service eighteen years ago, when Prince Sizianoff blockaded Eriwan. Provisions became scarce among the block ading troops, and the next magazine was in Karaklis, one hundred and sixty wersts dis tant. The way was very mountainous and intersected, and swarming with enemies. Meantime it was necessary to send a detachment thither, and the prince appointed, for this purpose, colonel Montresor, with 200 grenadiers and a cannon. Amidst incessant skirmishes, the little troop approached the above-mentioned cavern within ten wersts of Karaklis, reduced to one half of its original number, and with but one shot left in the gun of each soldier, which was reserved for the last necessity. Unluckily there was a Tartar among the troops, who escaped during the night, and betrayed Montresor's desperate situation to the Persians. They attacked him at day-break with the more boldness, and sustained the single fire, and after a desperate resistance the Russians were all cut to pieces just as relief came from Karaklis, (where the firing had given

notice of their approach,) but alas! only to bury those that had fallen. I have been' made acquainted with several examples of incredible bravery, of which Georgia was the theatre; but the distance is so great, the European papers have made no mention of them. In order to obtain glory, much depends upon the place where glorious actions are performed.

On the 29th we reached the Persian frontiers, and for the first time saw mount Ararat. Here we were received by Asker Chan, (formerly ambassador at Paris) at the head of some thousand men on horseback, who introduced himself to the ambassador as our Mamendar, that is, as our purveyor, during our stay in Persia. This, however, costs the government nothing, because all the villages on the road must fur nish us gratis with what we want; if they fail, the peasants get beat, or have their ears cut off. We had till now slept in our kibitki (carriages); we now received handsome tents.

A day's journey from Eriwan, we put up at a splendid and extremely rich Armenian convent, where the patriarch resides. The convent must pay dear to the government for its protection; it is squeezed and pressed on every occasion, and sighs for its deliverance. It is said, that on this spot Noah planted his first vine. We were magnificently entertained, and it must be con. fessed that the wine we drank does honour to Noah's memory. On the 3d of May, we went in state to Eriwan. About half-way 4000 cavalry met us, and manœuvred before us. Some thousand infantry, with cannon, paraded near the city, in spite of violent rain, by which we were here surprised.

The governor of the province (Serdar) received us at the gate. This man is accused of various peccadillos: for example, that a short time before our arrival, he had a merchant hung up by the legs, in order to obtain possession of his money and wife, (a beautiful Armenian.) Such things are said to happen daily. I cannot vouch for them; only so much I know, that he not only is lodged very well, drinks well, and is richly dressed, but, to my astonishment,' that he sleeps very well. Our quarters were the best in the town, yet wretched. We dined with the Serdar, where every thing was in abundance; but I sought in vain for the celebrated Asiatic magnificence. Three little tumblers danced themselves out of breath, and performed various feats to amuse us. On the second day we entertained each other in a newly erected summer house, where our music, our punch, our ice, and our liquors, illuminated the Persian heads. The doctor of the governor had chosen a little corner for himself where he enjoyed himself at his ease. The Serdar is said to be in secret a great friend to Bacchus; at least, he asked the ambassador for eight bottles of liquors, which he most likely emptied in the company of his sixty wives and twenty-four

* *

After we left Eriwan, the heat increased considerably, but the nights were insup portably cold, and occasioned every kind of sickness. On the 13th of May, we passed the celebrated river Araxes, which is now remarkable for nothing, except that, as they say, the plague never extends beyond it.

On the 15th we arrived at Meranda, where it is said that Noah's mother is buried. The good old lady, I fear, does not enjoy much rest in her grave, for there is a public school built upon it. On the 19th we arrived at Tauris, the residence of Abbas Mirza, Crown Prince of Persia. A mile from the town we were received by 1000 troops, besides artillery. It is well known that Persia, with the help of the English, has lately introduced regular troops. It is scarcely possible to refrain from laughing, on seeing the long-bearded awkward Persians, in half English costume, presenting arms, while "God save the king" is played. Some English officers followed our suite at a distance; among them was major Lindsey, a kind of war minister to Abbas Mirza. Fainting with the sultry heat, and suffocated by the dust, we arrived at Tauris, where the first minister had given up his house for our abode.

After the visits of ceremony, the Crown Prince gave a display of fire-works, in honour of the embassy, and also reviewed several thousand cavalry. One afternoon we drank tea in a newly-erected summerhouse, when he pointed out to us a small habitation, which projected into the garden, and disfigured it very much, but which the possessor would not sell on any terms, and Abbas Mirza would not take it from him by force. This indeed does him great honour. He is in general highly spoken of, for the good qualities both of his mind and heart, and it is to be hoped that he will one day make Persia happy.

Though we were allowed to walk freely about the city, yet the importunities of the beggars on one hand, and insults on the other, caused us to refrain from such indulgences. When, indeed, a fellow who had insulted us was taken, he was half beat to death; but this gave us no pleasure, and we therefore rather remained at home. We received from Teheran the unpleasant in telligence, that in consequence of the fast (of Ramasan), the Schach could not receive us till the expiration of two months; on the other hand, he would welcome us in Sultanie, which lies ten marches nearer to Tauris. As we longed for the fresh air, being, as it were, shut up in Tauris, Abbas Mirza offered us his own country house, for which we joyfully departed on the 26th, and took possession of our new habitation on the 28th.

Persia is altogether dreary and mountainous, and one rejoices like a child at seeing some green trees. It very seldom rains, but constant winds fill the air with clouds of dust. The villages and towns have a

melancholy appearance; the mode of building is miserable; the low houses are made of kneaded clay, and some chopped straw mixed up with the clay, that they may not fall to pieces in the first rain, or the wind blow away a whole village. After every rain, there is a general patching of houses throughout Persia. The country seat of Abbas Mirza is an exception, owing to its being built with the help of the English. The whole is very pretty, only the trees are yet small, and in this month the winds still too cold to inhabit it with pleasure. We however remained there till the 5th of June, and then went two marches farther, to the village of Sengilabat, where water fit for drinking, and shady trees, are found. Here, to our great joy, there arrived a convoy from Tiflis, which brought our own wine; for it is very difficult to get wine here, and yet it is indispensible, on account of the bad water. In Persia, a place which has good water, is famed far and wide.

The surrounding villages were soon cleared of provisions. We left Sengilabat on the 20th, made several short days journeys, and passed the town of Miana on the 24th, which is celebrated for its bugs, the bite of which proves mortal in a few hours, but is said not to affect the inhabitants. They only show themselves by night, are of an ash colour, quite flat, and have eight feet. They are not mentioned in any natural history. We have taken some of them with us in spirits. We quickly passed through this town of bugs, and did not stop till we reached a large and beautiful bridge, built by Schach Abbas, 5 wersts further.

The following day we passed over the Caplantic mountains, and enjoyed the beau tiful prospects, among which I particularly remarked the Virgin's Castle, which was built by Artaxerxes, and is said to have received this name from a beautiful but haughty virgin, who was here imprisoned. Beyond the mountains we met with another handsome bridge over the river Kosilusan. Every thing worth seeing in respect to architecture, is from the time of Schach Abbas the Great. His successors have ruined much, but built nothing.

The country now became more desolate, the heat greater, and we thanked God when we arrived on the 30th in the town of Sangan, where Abdul Mirza, another son of the Schach's, governs. The people here seemed less shy than those in Tauris. We saw many women, though wrapt up in veils; yet they knew how to throw them aside on occasion. But they would have done better to have let it alone, for then we should still have fancied them beautiful: we thought their large black eyes handsome, although they have more of a savage than a feeling expression. Their dress, especially their pantaloons, spoils their figure. Our habitation was close to that of the prince, whose women appeared every evening on a tower, to hear our evening music; but the tower was

so high, that we could see nothing but painted eye-brows.

On the 5th of July, we left Sangan, and encamped five miles further on, near the ruins of a village, where we had good water, and cool breezes. We were now ten wersts distant from Sultanie, and the ambassador determined to wait here for the Schach. The second minister came to compliment us. During our stay here, I took a ride to Sultanie, and found the palace miserable, the neighbourhood dreary and desolate, but covered with most magnificent ruins, such as are no where else to be found, except at Persepolis. I have myself counted the trees round the country seat: there are no more than fifteen.

On the 19th of July, the Schach came with 10,000 men, and two Englishmen, (Wilok* and Campbell.) On the 26th we repaired to a great camp, half a werst from the palace. On the 31st we had the first audience, when the ambassador received an honour, which it is said was never before conferred in Persia, namely, a chair was placed for him, and we all appeared in boots. [Here the writer gives an account of the audience, in substance the same as that which has already appeared in the newspapers.]

The scene was in a great tent at the bottom of the mountain on which the palace stands: round about was an open space surrounded with curtains, on which were painted some thousand of Persian soldiers. From hence to the tent stood the persons of distinction, in two rows, broiled by a sun in 28° of heat. At the entrance of the tent stood a long-bearded fellow, with a thick silver staff. The form of the throne resembles our old arm chairs. At the right side of the Schach stood one of his sons, a child, by whose appearance it might be judged that his elegant dress was too heavy for him. Seventeen older sons had nothing particular in their physiognomy.

When the ambassador was personally presented to the Schach, he paid us all the compliment of saying, that we were now as good as in his service, as eternal friendship was made with our monarch. To young count Samoitoff, he said, he was a handsome boy; and to our doctor, that he should now be his doctor. He always spoke in the third person; and to me he said, when he heard that I had sailed round the world, "The Schach congratulates you, now you have seen every thing." He then mentioned, that as our emperor was a friend to travelling, he should expect him in Persia. "I will even go and meet him!" cried he repeatedly, very loud.

Among the presents, a large toilet glass pleased him so much, that he said, "If any body was to offer the Schach his choice between 500,000 (most likely pieces of gold,) and this looking-glass, he would choose the jatter."

Evidently misspelt. Ed.

A great saloon is to be built at Teheran, purposely for this glass, and the first who brings the welcome news of its safe arrival is to have a reward of 1000 Tuman, (2500 ducats.) But on the contrary, who ever breaks any of the presents, is to have his cars cut off. It is not yet settled when we shall return home. The Schach goes daily a hunting, and very often sends us game, which he has shot with his own royal hand. We made the whole journey on horseback, and have suffered very much from the beat. I endured the most from the astronomical watches, which I have in my care, and which will absolutely not bear the horse to go more than a walking pace.

THE GREEK CHURCH.

Although the following extract may not convey any novelty to a number of our readers, yet as it embraces, within a short compass, information of an useful kind for others, less conversant with such matters, we take the liberty of quoting, from the Bishop of Landaff's work, an account of the chief tenets of the Greek Church. It is contained in a letter to an English lady, whose conscience was tender, whatever her heart might be, on receiving a proposition of marriage from a Russian prince.

"The Russian Greek Church does not use in its public service what is commonly called the Apostles' Creed; nor what is improperly called the Athanasian Creed; but simply that which we use in our communion service, which is usually denominated the Nicene Creed; though it is not, in every point, precisely that which was composed at the Council of Nice, in Bithynia, in the year 325. I do not presume to blame the Russian Church for the exclusive use of the Nicene Creed in its public service, especially as it does not prohibit the private use of the other two. Nor do I blame it for differing from the Romish Church in one article of this creed, respecting the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father alone; though all the reformed churches agree with the Church of Rome in maintaining the procession of the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son, notwithstanding its being well known that the words--And the Son, were only added by a pope in the tenth century, without the authority of a council. The doctrine may be true; but not being a part of what was established at the Council of Nice, it is not admitted by the Greek Church.

"The Russian Church differs from the Romish Church, in not acknowledging a purgatory; in not denying the sacramental cup to the laity; in allowing their priests to marry; in explaining transubstantiation in a mystical manner; in not invocating saints

* The decision of the same Council, in regard to the reckoning of time, is also still adhered to in Russia, which has not adopted even the Gregorian approximation to accuracy.