rels; of course, deterring visitors, ruin ing the tradesmen, and destroying the property of the proprietors of the houses, walks, &c. The gain will be, instead of a thousand good customers, about half a dozen unphilosophical blockheads, and ill-natured bigots. (To be continued.)

9. The Claims of Sir Philip Francis to the Authorship of Junius disproved, in four Letters. By E. H. Barker, Esq.

MR. BARKER argues the question very closely and shrewdly, but in this case, as in many similar, his arguments only show what could not have been, more than what was. In fact, the puzzle about the authorship of Junius proves only two things, viz. that there are questions which circumstantial evidence cannot decide; and that the author, whoever he was, was perfectly indifferent to literary fame, an indifference quite unusual, except in men of high rank. It is a fair presumption, that he only intended to write down certain men in office; perhaps could not speak in Parliament, or did not like replies. The tracts before us are intended to show that internal evidence confutes the claims of Sir Philip Francis, though he might have been the amanuensis, and the author seems to favour Mr. Loyd's pretensions. One circumstance seems utterly to have escaped the investigators, viz. that Junius might have died suddenly, or of an acute disease, and his secret have thus perished with him; but it is far more probable that he was expectant of office and court favour, and that the discovery of his secret would have ruined him. He was not found out, and that emboldened him to write the letter to the King, and other personal things, &c. &c. which could not have been for

given. He therefore lay snug.

10. A Popular Commentary on the Bible, in a serie of Sermons, following, in the Old Testament, the course of the first Lessons at Morning and Evening Service on Sundays, designed for Parish Churches, or for reading in private families. By James Plumptre, B. D. Vicar of Great Gransden, Huntingdonshire, &c. 2 vols.

8vo.

MR. PLUMPTRE intends to in struct his readers by means of these sermons on Bible history; and by

bringing the parallel texts under one head in the several discourses, and adding useful concatenations, he cannot fail of conveying much valuable information. But farther we cannot say; for great is our astonishment that a commentator on Scripture can publish the following passage.

"The Second Epistle of St. John was written to some Lady of rank and piety, called the Elect Lady." i. 24.

This Lady was a Church (see both Hammond and Whitby). The latter says, the Church of Jerusalem. There is also some erroneous philosophy in p. 313, concerning Mr. Malthus's doctrine of Population; but Mr. Plumptre's work is of the Simeon school; of which school it seems to be a literary principle, that, provided there be plenty of Scripture texts, it is quite indifferent what is the literary character of the other materials. state this on good grounds. Mr. Simeon recently made a speech; a Clergyman who was present found errors in it, and replied to it. Mr. Simeon left the room, and the Clergyman was told, that he had acted wrong, because it was not usual to reply to Mr. Simeon in any form.

We

"that

11. Prospectus of the Patent Biangular Pavement for streets and roadways. By Mr. McCarthy, of the 1st Reg. Foot. THERE are certainly very great imperfections in the existing mode of paving streets; and it appears, in a narrow street, only wide enough to admit of one carriage passing at a time, Mr. McAdam's plan, executed in his best manner, would not remain conveniently, passable six hours of a busy day." The principle of the biangular pavement is, that

"It is formed of granite or other hard paving stones, of the ordinary size, but each stone is laid or ranged in such a manner, with reference to the several contiguous stones, as that neither can be displaced the eighth part of an inch by any pressure or percussion, howsoever great, in the ordinary use of streets.' p. 9.

Trinity College, Dublin. The subject for the Vice-Chancellor's prizes at the next commencement, is, "In Obitum Frederici Principis illustrissimi."

Ready for Publication.

The Second Part of the Rev. S. T. BLOOMFIELD'S Recensio Synoptica Annotationis Sacræ; or, Critical Digest of the most important Annotations on the New Testament. In 5 vols. 8vo.

A Vindication of the Character of the pious and learned Bishop Bull, from the unqualified Accusations brought against it by the Archdeacon of Ely, in his Charge for the Year 1823. By the Venerable CHARLES DAUBENY, D. D. Archdeacon of Sarum.

The Works of the Right Hon, EDMUND BURKE. Vol. VIII.

Biographical History of the Christian Church, from the commencement of the Christian era to the times of Wickliffe the Reformer. By J. W. MORRIS.

A Letter to the King on the Coronation Oath. By. JOHN COLLYER, AM. Barrister at Law.

A Letter to a retired Gentleman on the Spirit of the New Ministry, and the Spirit of the Age.

Short View of the recent Changes in Administration.

The First Volume of a new History of London. By T. ALLEN, Author of the History of Lambeth, with numerous engravings.

Mr. WALLIS's Lectures on Astronomy, with Engravings.

The Plea of the Midsummer Fairies, Hero and Leander, Lycus the Centaur, and other Poems. By T. HOOD.

A Translation of the Life and Writings of the German Patriot and Poet, Koerner, with Engravings.

A Narrative of the Capture, Detention, and Rausom, of Charles Johnston, of Botetourt County, Virginia, who was made Prisoner by the Indians, on the River Ohio, in the year 1790.

Lieut.-General the Marquis of Londonderry's Narrative of the late War in Spain and Portugal.

Questions in Roman History, with Geographical Illustrations and Maps. By Mr. BUTLER, of Hackney.

The Pulpit, Volume VIII. containing five Portraits, and upwards of two hundred Sermons, by the most eminent and popular Divines of the day.

Mechanic's Magazine, Volume VII. with a Portrait of the King, and two hundred Engravings on wood.

Preparing for Publication.

The History of Portugal, from the earliest times to the commencement of the Peninsular War. By Dr. SOUTHEY.

A History of England, from the earliest Period to the present Time, in which it is intended to consider Men and Events on Christian Principles. By a Clergyman of the Church of England. To be published in Monthly Numbers.

An Apology for the Waldenses, exhibiting an Historical View of their Origin, Orthodoxy, Loyalty, and Constancy. With an Appeal to several European Governments on their Behalf. By the Rev. T. SIMMS,

A Memoir relative to the Operations the Serampore Missionaries, including a succinct account of their Oriental Translations, Native Schools, &c,

The Influence of Apathy, and other Poems. By HENRY TREVANION.

creon.

A New Translation of the Odes of AnaWith a Sketch of his Life. Cameleon Sketches. By J. TIMBS, Author of the Picturesque Promenade round Dorking. Also, by the same Author, Historiettes of Reigate, in Surrey.

Twelve Instructive and Familiar Lectures to Young Persons on the Intellectual and Moral Powers of Man; the Existence, Character, and Government of God; the Evidences of Christianity, &c. With a Concluding Address on Nonconformity. By the late Rev. JOHN HORSEY.

The Fourth Part of Mr. THOMS' Series of Early Prose Romances will contain The Merry Exploits of Robin Hood; and the Curious, MS Life of that Outlaw, preserved in the Sloanean Library at the British Museum, will be printed for the first time in the Appendix.

Professor Clampi has discovered in the Magliabecchi library at Florence, a manuscript which proves to be the note-book or memorandum of the readings of the celebrated Boccacio. This curious manuscript, besides throwing great light on various circumstances in the life of that great writer, shews how learned and laborious he was. It also contains a number of interesting particulars with respect to an epoch which was the dawn of the discovery of America,. and of the revival of letters in Italy. Professor Clampi has published the manuscript, with notes full of erudition.

A very valuable musical manuscript, by Guillaume de Machault, who was valet-dechambre to Philippe-le-Bel, in 1307, has been discovered in the Royal Library at Paris. It contains several French and Latin anthems, ballads, &c. and concludes with a mass which is supposed to have been sung at the Coronation of Charles the Fifth, in 1364, and which proves that at that time they were acquainted with the art of composition in four parts.

ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA.

The copyright of this great national work, with the whole copper-plates, forming part of the literary property belonging to the sequestrated estate of Messrs. Constable and Company, was purchased by Mr. Black, bookseller in Edinburgh, and there is now some prospect of the magnificent design which had been entered into, for incorpo rating the valuable matter in both works under one alphabet, being carried into effect. A few years after the completion of the French Encyclopédie, the Encyclopædia Britannica began to be published, and the first edition, consisting of only three quarto volumes, was completed at Edinburgh in the

[July,

year 1776. This was merely the nucleus or germ of the work; and though constructed on a better and more philosophical plan, it possessed no superiority in point of execution over other works of the same kind previously published in England. In the second edition, however, which was published between the years 1778 and 1783, the work was extended to ten volumes; and it was further distinguished by the addition of two departments not hitherto embraced by any similar publication, namely, Biography and History. In this edition the plan of the Encyclopedia was completed, in its general outline at least; nor can there be any question that its success was materially promoted by its being so extended as to include the departments in question, which had been, in a great measure, omitted in the national work of France. The third edition, which was completed in eighteen volumes in 1797, rose, in several of its departments, greatly above the level of the preceding one; and in that of Physical Science particularly, it acquired, through the valuable assistance of Professor Robison, a very high degree of scientific eminence. His accession did not, however, take place till the work was advanced to the thirteenth volume; a little before which period it had been committed, owing to the death of the editor, Mr. Colin M'Farquhar (a printer, and one of the original proprietors of the work), to the direction of the Rev. Dr. Gleig. In a supplement of two volumes, also executed under his direction, Professor Robison completed that series of articles which he had commenced in the principal work; the whole, to use the words of Dr. Young, "exhibiting a more complete view of the modern improvements of physical science than had ever before been in the possession of a British public." In the fourth edition, which was completed in twenty volumes in 1810, under the superintendance of Dr. Millar, the work assumed a form more consistent with the principles of its plan than it had yet done in any preceding edition; and it was enriched with a number of new articles in various departments of science and learning; among which those of Professor Wallace, in the department of pure mathematics, hold a distinguished place. Almost immediately after the fourth edition was finished, another ime pression was called for, and a fifth edition in consequence issued, but without any material change. The sixth edition, lately completed, has the advantage of references to many of the articles contained in the Sup plement in six volumes quarto, edited by Professor Napier; which work stands in the same relation to the three last editions of the Encyclopædia Britannica. While the fifth edition was in progress the work' became the property of Mr. Constable. He conceived the design of a Supplement, calculated to afford scope for large additions

and improvements, and to recommend itself to the general attention and assistance of the literary world. The Supplement was com← pleted in 1824, in six volumes quarto.

LONDON UNIVERSITY.

The following is a list of the Professors already elected:

Greek Language, Literature, and Antir quities.George Long, Esq. A.M. Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, Professor of Greek in the University of Charlotteville, America.co

Natural Philosophy and Astronomy-The Rev. Dionysius Lardner, LLD. F.R.S.E. of Trinity College, Dublin.

Jurisprudence and Law of Nations.-J. Austin, Esq. Barrister at Law.

English Law.Andrew Amos, Esq. of the Middle Temple, Barrister at Law, late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Political Economy.John B. Mac Cul loch, Esq.

Botany and Vegetable Physiology. William Jackson Hooker, LL.D. F.R.S. F.LS. Professor of Botany in the University of Glasgow.

Zoology. Robert E. Grant, M.D. F.R.S.E. F.L.S.

Anatomy and Physiology, Morbid and Comparative Anatomy, Surgery. Charles Bell, Esq. F.R.S. F.L.S. Professor to the Royal College of Surgeons. John Frederick Meckell, M.D. Professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the University of Halle, in Saxony. Granville Sharpe Patteson, Esq. late Professor of Anatomy and Surgery in the University of Maryland, U. S.

Nature and Treatment of Diseases.—J. Conolly, M.D.

Midwifery, and the Diseases of Women and Children.David D. Davis, M.D. M.R.S.L.

the chalk than on the adjoining substrata. The same indications of dryness in the air were also indicated by this instrument when on limestone. However, as all experiments made with the hygrometer are subject to great uncertainty, for although De Luc's, Whalebone's, and Daniel's, are as correct as any, yet no positive dependence can be placed on any results from instruments so uncertain in their nature, unless confirmed by other observations. On looking at chalk that has been laid down on a field, it will be observed, that although the chalk when first put down is dry, yet in the course of twentyr four hours it will be saturated with moisture, even in the dryest weather. Now this moisture can only be obtained from the at mosphere. The same observation applies to lime, when laid on land as a dressing Again, let any one observe the turf grass in a dry summer on chalk and limestone-it will always appear green and flourishing, when at the same time the turf grass on gravel or clay will be parched up and quite brown. Whence can this extraordinary difference arise, but from the absorption by chalk and limestone of the atmospheric moisture, which, by being constantly absorbed from the atmosphere into the substratum below, keeps the roots of the grass in a moister state than when such absorption does not take place, as it does not on clay or gravel As chalk and limestone are quite as powerful reflectors of the sun's rays, or even more so than gravel or clay, it can only be by this power of absorption that such a green and healthy vegetation on chalk or limestone can be accounted for. For the same reason it is observable, that houses built on a chalk foundation are seldom dry, from the dampness arising in that substratum from the moisture of the atmosphere; for the same reason a house built of chalk is damp.

The tendency of chalk and limestone to absorb atmospheric moisture has been lately confirmed to the writer of this hypothesis by his friend Mr. Davies Gilbert, who observed that the chalk hills on the coast seemed to pour out more water from the rills that run from them into the sea, than could be expected from the quantity of rain that fell on them; and his friend Dr. Wol laston has also suggested to the writer, that with druggists it is a common thing to place any substance from which they are de sirous of extracting moisture on a lump of chalk. All further observations made on the subject of chalk or limestone tend to confirm this remark,

How far the physical qualities or disposi tions of people may depend on the dryness or dampness of the atmosphere, is more than the writer will pretend to determine; but it cannot be denied that in general a dry at mosphere is favourable to the animal spirits, and productive of other causes.