found the institution in the best train. It is hoped that he will soon obtain permission from the king of Bavaria to visit Greece, with a view to the establishment of a beneficial intercourse with that country. A new discovery in aërostatics is soon likely to be exhibited to the public, by S. J. Pauly, civil engineer; and D. Egg, 132, Strand. A balloon, which they have for some time been preparing, will be capable of being steered at pleasure, similar to vessels at sea, in a horizontal or vertical direction, without losing either gas or ballast. It is in the shape of a fish, being intended to act upon the air in the same manner as a fish acts on the water, and will carry three or four persons with safety. Should the day of ascension prove calm, they purpose to shape their course in a circular direction round London: but, if the wind should blow hard, they intend to steer a different course; but, in both cases to return to the place of ascension. The whole of the apparatus is preparing at Knightsbridge, on a large and expensive scale. It is the design of government to render the recently discovered demi-British colony in Pitcairn's Island, the descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty, every possible assistance. They will be amply supplied with implements of husbandry, and of useful handicrafts, and with all those utensils of European manufacture which can contribute to their comfort or increase their happiness. It affords us great satisfaction to observe, that the matchless trophy of art, the Cours Historique et Elémentaire de Peinture, ou Galerie complete du Musée Napoléon, is finished, by the publication of the 120th number. This precious and elegant collection represents 720 pictures and statues, which give it a great superiority over the Musée Français, published by Robillard, which contains but 380. Since the dispersion of the celebrated gallery of the museum of Paris, the lovers of the fine arts will eagerly seek for a collection which recals to their minds that wonderful union of the chefs-d'œuvre of Europe. Complete copies, in 120 numbers, fine proofs, are offered in London for £60. It has been lately remarked, that it is probable, that during heavy gales, the violent shocks sustained by the ship from the waves may momentarily check the regular passage of the sand, through the small opening of the glass. This eventually may cause an error in the ship's reckoning, which might be rectified by simply suspending the glass, as a compass, so as uniformly to maintain its perpendicular position. Mr. Ludwig, a surgeon at Naufung, has cured by vaccination a chronic inflammation of the eyes, that had lasted many years. A mode superior to that hitherto in use, has been invented at Paris for making gunpowder. It is manufactured more rapidly than the former; the grains are spherical, of the size of swan-shot, well glazed and composed of concentric coats. To contrive a cypher which shall be at once secure from detection, and easy in its application, has been considered a problem of some difficulty; that proposed by Dr. Rees, has been decyphered by Mr. Gage. Another cypher contrived with great ingenuity, was proposed by professor Herman, about the year 1750. It was offered with great confidence as a challenge for the learned of Europe. It was however decyphered by Mr. Beguelin, and was published in the transactions of the Academy of Sciences, at Berlin. A new cypher has been proposed in which each character represents a letter; so that the number of characters does not exceed the number of letters. M. Leoni, of Milan, has translated several tragedies of Shaks peare. This is the first attempt in Italy to clothe the works of that admirable dramatic genius in the language of that country, in which many of his scenes are laid. A new edition of all the works of Homer is about to be submitted to the learned world, by the celebrated Ambrosian Librarian of Milan. It will contain all the fragments and new readings which have recently been discovered. Dr. Busby is engaged in the attempt to prove, that Junius is no other than De Lolme, the celebrated author of the work on the English constitution. A curious phenomenon has been lately observed in Switzerland, about nine miles distant from Lausanne. The whole surface of the snow was covered with a species of caterpillar different from any which are usually observed in that country. These animals appear dead; but when brought near a fire they soon recover animation. Mr. Holmes is about to publish a Treatise on the Coal Mines of Durham and Northumberland, containing accounts of the dif ferent fatal explosions which have taken place within the last twenty years, and the means proposed for their remedy; illustrated by plates of safety-lamps, &c. Dr. John Clarke, of Cambridge, is about to publish by subscription two sets of Songs, Duets, or Glees, with original poetry, written expressly for the work by Messrs, Joanna Baillie, Walter Scott, William Smyth, James Hogg, John Stewart, esqrs. and Lord Byron. |