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LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE,

GREAT BRITAIN.

&c. &c.

In the press-A View of the Scripture Revelations concerning a Future State ;Satan, a Poem; by the Author of "The Omnipresence of the Deity;"-The History of England; by C. St. George.

The subject of the Norrisian Cambridge prize-essay for the ensuing year is, “The Christian Religion the last Revelation to be expected of the will of God."

An analysis was lately made at the London University, of some water brought from the Dead Sea, which gave of mineral contents, omitting decimals, nine, five, and three, parts respectively, of the chlorides of sodium, magnesia, and lime, with one part of sulphate of lime.

The rapidity of steam navigation has led to the importation of various articles which formerly could not be brought to this country. A projector has formed a Baking Establishment on the Dutch coast, from which loaves are conveyed in twentyfour hours to the banks of the Thames.

The National Society has printed a little book on needlework curiously illustrated, by actual miniature specimens of the articles to be cut out or made. All the articles and directions are accurately to scale. We can assert on better authority than our own that the instructions are admirable, and the illustrative specimens skilfully wrought. The importance of encouraging habits of industry, and particularly teaching needlework, among the girls in our National and Parochial Schools, has been too often overlooked by many who were anxious for the mental and religious instruction of children. We trust that this useful publication will be the means of calling the attention of the friends of education to the subject. It argues little for the comfort of a poor man's family, that a woman was first monitress at a national school, if she cannot repair her husband's apparel, or cut out garments for her children.

At a recent meeting of the Geological Society, Dr. Buckland exhibited a collection of fossil bones of a newly discovered enormous extinct animal of the lizard species, to which the name has been given of the iguanidon. It almost realizes the fable of Apollo and the Python; for if the primeval ooze produced crocodiles like

this, the sun was indeed a public benefactor in drying it up to exterminate them. A bone of one of the digital joints of the animal is six inches in length; four times as large as the corresponding bone of the elephant Chunelah's skeleton at Exeter Exchange, by the side of which Dr. Buckland found it placed for contrast.

The public acts of last session were sixty-three in number, and occupy six hundred and nineteen folio pages. In addition to these public acts, there were one hundred and thirty-six local acts, declared public, and fifty private acts, and nineteen private acts, not printed.

Among the remarkable bequests mentioned in the Reports of the Education Commissioners, is one of Richard Dovey, who, in 1659, founded a free school at Claverley, Salop, and directed the sum of eight shillings to a poor man, who should undertake to awaken sleepers, and to whip out dogs from the church during Divine service. John Rudge, in 1725, left various bequests to the parish of Trysull, Staffordshire; amongst others, an annuity of twenty shillings to a poor man, to go about the parish church for the same laudable purpose.

We mentioned in our last Number the admissions of the Unitarian Monthly Repository, relative to the unpopularity of their cause. It appears, further, that not one number more of that journal is sold now than was sold twenty years ago; while in the Church of England, and among the orthodox Dissenters the aggregate sale of religious periodical publications has increased manifold. Theological reading, even Unitarian, does not appear to be to the taste of the Unitarian body. FRANCE.

The Baron de Sacy, in a learned memoir lately read before the Academy of Inscriptions, respecting the controversy on the origin of the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, contends they were written in Syria, certainly not in India; that they were never completed; that many interpolations and imitations crept into the manuscripts; and that they are not very ancient, though probably more than four centuries old, as no mention is made in them of tobacco and coffee, which now constitute the staple entertainment of oriental nations.

M. Flourens, with a view to ascertain the effect of climate on pulmonary consumption, procured twenty-three chickens of a month old: six he kept in a mild regulated temperature; the remaining seventeen he exposed to wet and cold; the lungs of fifteen of these soon became inflamed; six of them he then sheltered: of the eleven left exposed, nine died of pulmonary consumption, and only two recovered not one of the six original sheltered ones became diseased; and of the six partially diseased, but afterwards taken in, two died, and four recovered. The lungs of these four were examined some months after, and the remains of disease, even to suppuration, were visible. Their recovery M. Flourens attributes entirely to a timely removal to a mild atmosphere.

More than a hundred and fifty years since, a species of Bible Societies existed in France. They were conducted by members of the Church of Rome, at the head of whom was the Abbé de Barneville, whom the Abbé Gregoire calls "the real inventor of Bible Societies." The object of these institutions, Barneville says in the preface to his translation of the New Testament in 1749, was "to distribute the word of God to rich and poor throughout the kingdom." Is it not strange, he asks, that so many persons who pride themselves on praising the Bible have never thought how they might circulate it for their own benefit, and that of others? Is not this, says he, like reading the poor a lecture on the excellence of pure unadulterated bread without endeavouring to provide it for them? This society, which was patronized by some of the French bishops, distributed great numbers of copies gratuitously, and made a rule to sell no copy for more than the prime cost. These institutions disappeared about the middle of the last century. It is stated in one of the society's editions, that of 1731, that the chief part of the donations for circulating the New Testament had been received not from the rich but the poor. De Saci's translation of 1758 would appear also to have been circulated by a Bible Society, as the frontispiece represents persons taking Testaments from a chest, and distributing them to the people with the motto, "Sine sumptu ponam evangelium."

ITALY.

The new Pope Pius VIII., in his circular letter, published the 21st of last May, the very day of his inauguration, strongly urges his clergy to be on their guard

against Bible Societies, which, he says, publish at great expense false translations for popular and gratuitous distribution ; and also against religious tracts, which he says circulate poison. He tells his clergy that the Council of Trent ordered that translations of the Scripture should not be allowed in the vulgar tongues, at all events, unless approved by the pope, and accompanied by notes from the fathers, and that no person should trust to his own private judgment, but follow the sense held by the church. He recommends his clergy to use the arms of their enemies to combat the evil. We wish nothing better: Protestantism has nothing to fear, Popery every thing, from free discussion. RUSSIA.

Professor Kupfer, of Casan, has succeeded, after a very laborious struggle, in climbing to the summit of one of the loftiest peaks of the Caucasus ; about 1000 feet higher than Mont Blanc. From his observations on the decrease, in proportion to the elevation, of magnetic intensity, he concludes that the magnetic power of the globe cannot arise from the existence of a central magnetic nucleus.

GREECE.

The Greek government, much to their credit, refuse to allow the sale or removal of their national antiquities.

Dr. Howe, who was sent out by the New-York and Boston committees for the relief of the Greeks, immediately on his landing set the people to work, instead of distributing food gratuitously. Among other plans, he has cleared an ancient harbour in Attica; and at Megara has provided the people with beans for seed for their fields, on condition of their returning one third of the crop to found a school.

EGYPT.

"In

M. Champollion has sent home the following curious intelligence. We must deduct something probably for the warmth of the writer's imagination, in forming conclusions on his favourite subject. the valley called Biban-el-Molouk, we admired the astonishing freshness of the paintings, and the delicacy of the sculpture of the tomb of Ousirei. I have had drawings made and coloured upon the spot of the richest pictures. I have also had drawings made of the series of nations represented on one of the bas-reliefs. We have the image of the several races of men known by the Egyptians. They are represented to the number of twelve, but belonging to four very distinct families. The first three are of a dark-red colour,

well-proportioned figures, mild countenances, a nose slightly aquiline, long braided hair, and white garments; and their legend designates them as the race of men, that is to say, the Egyptians. The second three have a very different appearance: their skin inclines to yellow or tawney, the nose is much curved, they have black thick beards, and short garments, and bear the name of Namou (Asiatics). The next three are Negroes, designated by the name of Nahasi. The last three have skins of what we call flesh-colour, of the most delicate whiteness, the nose straight or slightly arched, blue eyes, fair or red beards, tall and very slender figures; they are clothed in oxhides with the hair on, and are real savages, tattooed in various parts of the body. They are called Tamhou (Europeans)."

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UNITED STATES.

There are constructed, or constructing, 3508 miles of canal and rail-road in the United States; mostly by the public authorities; not more than one-fourth by companies. Our American friends naturally vaunt themselves a little on their achievements. 66 Our population of twelve millions," says the American Quarterly Review, "have attempted one-fourth more than England with twenty-three millions, and infinitely more than the population of the continent of Europe: according to the population, we are doing nearly as much again as England; and New York has done proportionably to her population eight times as much England. But notwithstanding so much is done and doing, we feel that the spirit of the country is only just awakened; we speak confidently of more than doubling all this within the next ten years. These efforts are developing our coal, iron, and other resources; founding upon them arts, manufactures, and commerce; amalgamating the people, and imparting to them a community of interest, and a celerity of movement, that will insure to us wealth, a polish, and a political influence worthy of such a people, possessing such a country."

He

Dr. Franklin, in his will, left 1000l. sterling to the city of Philadelphia, to be lent to young married artificers in small sums, to assist them in business. calculated that, at the end of one hundred years, it would amount to 131,000%. sterling-100,000. of which he appropriated to supply the city with water, and the balance to go on another one hundred years, when the capital would be 4,081,000l. which he also appropriated; but the present whole nominal amount is only a few

thousand pounds, and a very large proportion of this sum will never be repaid.

The American Sunday-school Union has published a life of Mr. Legh Richmond, for Sunday-school libraries. It is not an abridgment of Mr. Grimshawe's Memoirs but a new work compiled from the memoirs and other documents.

A gentleman at Bennington, Vermont, writes: "Twelve merchants in this town

all there are-signed a writing yesterday, pledging themselves to purchase no more ardent spirit, and to sell no more, when the small quantity now on hand is expended. Thus is the plague stayed."

Attempts are making to introduce waltzing into Philadelphia-the city of Penn !— This is of a piece with the introduction of masquerades and French operas in New York.

A large number of people assembled at Greensburgh in West-Chester county to witness the ceremonies at the erection of a monument to the memory of Isaac Van Wart, one of the three captors of the unhappy Major André. The inscription states that Van Wart, who was an elder of Greensburgh church, “lived the life and died the death of a Christian ;" and panegyrises him and his friends as having "nobly disdained to release their captive and sell their country for large bribes of gold." It is mournful that such things were; and it is doubly mournful that at this distance of time there are those who seem to embrace every occasion for renewing those unhappy animosities which every good man would wish to bury in oblivion.

The following characteristic account is given of General Washington's first appearance in public after his retirement from office. 66 He attended the inauguration of the elder Adams, in the simple garb of a Virginia planter-a great coat buttoned up to the chin, with buckskins and white top boots. But neither the splendour of the foreign ambassadors, nor the distinction with which the chief magistracy of the Union invested the new president could divert from him the public attention. All eyes were fixed on him even during the ceremony of the inauguration; and when it was over, he left the party, and withdrew to his private lodgings; the whole multitude following him with accla

mations."

A work is in the press entitled Personal Narrative of J. Stephanini. The author is a young Greek, who escaped a few years since from Turkish captivity; and his object in publishing this book is to raise money sufficient to ransom his mother

two brothers and two sisters, who are still held in captivity by the Turks in Albania. He is the son of a wealtby merchant at Patras, and was in that city when the first insurrection was made against the Turks, in April 1821. He was taken prisoner, severely beaten so as narrowly to escape with his life, and afterwards sold in the market to a Turkish master, from whom, after undergoing great privations on account of religion, he effected his escape in an Italian merchant vessel: and, after numerous vicissitudes, arrived in America. CANADA.

The Roman Catholics have lately erected a cathedral at Montreal, which is said to excel in architectural skill, size, and beauty of design any church on that side of the Atlantic. It is 256 feet in length, and 123 in breadth, and contains five altars. Let Protestants redouble their vigilance if they are idle, there are those who are not.

INDIA.

The government of Bombay has lately issued an order to forbid the practice of impressing native porters and guides by English officers and travellers. It is pleas

ing to witness the endeavours of the government of India at home and abroad to support the rights and promote the welfare of the natives: is it not then a strange anomaly, that nothing effectual has been done to put a stop to the atrocities alluded to by one of our correspondents in the present Number, and which it is proved might be easily and effectually abolished? The burning alive of hundreds of women is surely as important a matter for the interference of government as the forced requisition of coolies. We do well to rescue the natives from the oppressions of our own countrymen; but how little do we do to deliver them from the overbearing tyranny of their own spiritual bondage and wicked customs!

JAPAN.

It is stated that Japanese translators are rendering Dr. Morrison's Chinese Dictionary into the Japanese dialect, and that the work pleases the natives so much, that it has become common at Nangasaki to write a column of characters, with their definitions, on fans, as a present to friends.

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THEOLOGY.

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Church Reform. By a Churchman. 6s. 6d.

Family Classical Library. Vol. I. 4s. 6d. Christian Education. By E. Biber. Henry and Antonio, or the Proselytes, from the German of Dr. Beetchneider. By the Rev. M. Morgan. 6s. 6d.

Rudiments of Music. By D. E. Ford. Is. The Right of the Church of England to her Endowments.

Examination of Recent Works on Church Reform.

Apology for the Church of Ireland. By the Rev. H. Newland. 5s.

Infanticide in India. By the Rev. J. Peggs. 1s. 6d.

The Spirit of Philosophy. By the Rev. J. Davies. Is.

Memoirs of Professor J. Martyn, and the Rev. Professor T. Martyn. By the Rev. G. G. Gorham. 10s. 6d.

A Glance at London, Brussels, and Paris. By a Provincial Scotsman.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

POPERY IN NEW ENGLAND. "THE Romish Church," says the Christian Sentinel," is making great exertions to extend its influence through this country; and it may soon become a question of some importance, whether the divisions and struggles of the various sects of Protestants do not afford to the Papal See facilities for the execution of its purposes, by which, if it be faithful to the character it has ever borne, it will not be slow to profit. Who would have believed it? What would the father pilgrims have done, if they could have looked into the futurity of two centuries? The Roman-Catholic Church, in New-England, with its houses of worship surmounted by the cross, its hours of mass announced by the pealing bell, its bishop, and its mummery! Who would have believed it? What would the monks of the fifteenth century have said could they have foreseen a Sunday-school where Catholic children were taught to read the Bible, and a weekly journal devoted to the vindication of Catholic principles? Strange to tell, all these wonders have come to pass. Here, in the capital of Puritanic New-England, all these may be found. We lifted our eyes in amazement, when a few weeks ago we met with a little paper, called "The Catholic Press," published in Hartford; and much did we marvel, to learn that in Connecticut, the very citadel of stern Protestantism such a thing should have dared to shew itself. But with greater astonishment did we contemplate the title of a full quarto sheet, which fell into our hands last evening. "The Jesuit!" printed in this good city

of Boston, and to be issued weekly. What the friends of Rome or their indefatigable bishop expects to accomplish, we know not, and have not sufficiently recovered from our surprise to form any speculation on the subject; so that we can only notify our readers of the fact, that they may se preparing for whatever shall follow."

MARYLAND EPISCOPAL

CONVENTION.

The Maryland Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church closed its annual session with a second fruitless attempt to elect a bishop. It however adjourned in harmony; thus forming a pleasing contrast to some of the scenes which have wounded the peace of the Church, and particularly to the late unhappy controversy in Philadelphia, on the election of an assistant bishop. We declined the request of some friends on both sides, who wished us to review the pamphlets which passed on that occasion, and which, omitting the vehement personal reflections that deformed them, were only a renewal, with bitterer words, of the controversies in our own church. We conjure our episcopalian friends in the United States, by the love they bear to our common Christianity, and our common church, to refrain from hostilities which injure both. Their vine is too tender to bear such tempests. We must confess that the working of the system of the election of bishops, by ballots of lay and clerical votes, does not make us anxious, defective as is our own system, to see it in action among ourselves.

There is no public Intelligence of any importance from any quarter.

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