Manual of Experiments Illustrative of Chemical Science.

A more useful little volume on Experimental Chemistry than Mr. Murray's we do not remember to have seen. His work is, in every sense of the word, a manual; not, as is the case with many treatises bearing the same name, encumbering the student with a long preparatory dissertation, occupying half the space allotted to the subject, nor, on the other hand, presenting a mere collection of facts, without any reference to the laws to which they owe their existence. Every experiment is briefly but clearly accounted for, and the directions for its performance given as concisely as is consistent with perspicuity. By this means the practical chemist will find that he has a much greater quantity of useful matter in his hands than, from the size of the volume, he may have been induced to expect. Another ground for commendation is the real utility which characterises most of the experiments. They are not intended merely to amuse, but in a great variety of cases bear directly or indirectly on domestic economy, and the wants and conveniences of every-day life. The introductory pages of the volume are devoted to an explanation of the beautiful theory of definite proportions. To this succeeds a course of experiments illustrative of chemical affinity, the properties of caloric, combustion, &c., many selected from the best authorities, and a considerable number original. The most useful part of the work, however, as it appears to us, is contained in the chapter on the application of tests for the discovery of metallic poisons, with rules for the analysis of mineral waters. Unquestionably no part of chemical science is more valuable than this; and yet in how few works do we find a list of tests or directions for employing them! Poison is administered in so many shapes to the "discerning public," in this period of remorseless adulteration, that it becomes a law of necessity to place the means of detecting it, wherever this is possible, in everybody's hands. Mr. Murray has added a nomenclature of the substances most used by chemists under their ancient and modern names, upon which none, who are acquainted with the rise and progress of this fascinating science, will look without a feeling of interest, since it shows, at a glance, its past and present condition; while, at the same time, in regarding the fanciful names which we occasionally encounter, the memory will revert with respect to those ancient and indefatigable" philoso phers by fire," to whose labours, impeded as they were by the union of imaginary principles with real facts, we are so greatly indebted for the present advanced condition of material analysis. The remainder of the volume is devoted to a table of technical terms, a list of re-agents, and a description of some particular apparatus. Among these we have to mention Mr. Murray's invention to explain the phenomenon of the Geysers as particularly ingenious. This little work has already reached a third edition,-a sufficiently evident proof of its general usefulness; but we are warranted in anticipating for it a still more extensive circulation, from the ability with which it is compiled, and the very moderate price of its purchase.

Zenobia, a Drama; and other Poems. By J. Ford, M.D.

66

In "Zenobia" there is not much to admire, and as little to offend. It is a dramatic poem of that order for which the delicacy of our continental neighbours has found a very fit and appropriate title under the term vers domestiques." Towards literary productions of this description there is every reason why criticism should be exercised as gently as possible. There is nothing very exalted in their pretensions, and they may be safely suffered to pursue the noiseless tenour of their way, commended in the circle of the author's immediate friends, prized where he himself would most wish them to be valued, and secure from the noisy artillery of censors and reviewers by the limited publicity to which they attain. Dr. Ford has some taste of the "belles lettres," and is a very fair versifier; but candour compels us to state it as our conviction, that he is yet no poet. The subject which he has chosen for his translation is also unhappy. There is certainly not sufficient interest in the drama to pay for the labour of transferring it into a different tongue. The minor poems are of a rather better order; and in the little piece entitled the "World," a considerable degree of power, over a rather difficult stanza, is displayed. If Dr. Ford should continue to feel disposed to devote his leisure hours to the Muses, lyric verse is that in which he may most reasonably expect to succeed. To the more lengthened and sustained labours of poetry he is certainly unequal.

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Illustrations of Cooper's Surgical Dictionary. By W. P. Cocks. Vol. I., containing 119 Sketches. 8vo. 21. 2s. bds.; to be completed in 3 vols. Ditto, Amputations, 24 Plates. 8vo. 13s. bds. Ditto, Dislocations and Fractures, 45 Plates. 8vo. 11. 3s. 6d. bds.

Introduction, Notes, &c., to the New Edition of the Waverley Novels. 3 vols. fc. 8vo. 11. 4s. bds.

Mercantile Marine Architecture, or an Elementary Work on the Art of Drawing the Draughts of Vessels, with 6 large Plates of approved Merchant Vessels. By T. Richardson. 4to. 41. bds.

The Poems of Drummond of Hawthornden, with Life. By P. Cunningham. fc. 8vo. 9s. bds.

Newton's Principia, a new edition. By Le Seur and Jaquier. 2 vols. royal 8vo. bds.

17. 5s.

Lives of the most eminent Sovereigns of Modern Europe, written by Lord Dover, for the instruction and amusement of his eldest Son. Royal 18mo. 8s. bds.

Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers. By Benj. Franklin, edited by Jared Sparks. 12mo. 78. bds.

Journals of Excursions in the Alps. By W. Brockedon. Post 8vo. 10s. 6d. bds. Conrad Blessington, a Tale. By a Lady. 8vo. 7s. bds.

The History of Europe during the Middle Ages. In 2 vols., Vol. I., fc. 8vo. 6s. bds. (being Vol. XLV. of Dr. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia.)

Travels in the United States of America and Canada. By J. Finch. 8vo. 12s. bds.

Traditionary Stories of Old Families, aud Legendary Illustrations of Family History. By A. Picken, author of the "Dominie's Le gacy." 2 vols. 8vo. 21s. bds.

The Khan's Tale; a Tale of the Caravanserai. By J. B. Fraser. Being Vol. VII, of the Library of Romance. 12mo. 6s. bds. A Guide to an "Irish Gentleman in Search of a Religion." By the Rev. M. O'Sullivan. 12mo. 7s. 6d. bds.

Archbishop Cranmer's Works. 4 vols. 8vo. 21. 10s. 6d. bds.

Botanical Register. By Professor Lindley Vol. V. new series. 8vo. 21. 10s. cloth.

Mémoires du Mareschal Ney. 2 vols. 8vo. 18s. sewed.

Domestic Manners and Social Condition of the Population of the West Indies. By Mrs. Carmichael. 2 vols. 8vo. 21s. bds.

Old Bailey Experience, Criminal Jurisprudence, and the Actual Working of our Penal Code. 8vo. 12s. bds.

Demetrius; a Tale of Modern Greece, with other Poems. By Agnes Strickland. 12mo. 5s. bds.

LITERARY

A Work, by Lady Charlotte Bury, on the "Three Great Sanctuaries of Tuscany," is in the press.

"Principles of Geometry, familiarly illustrated and applied to a variety of the most useful Purposes, for the Instruction of Young Persons," by the Rev. Dr. W. Ritchie, F.R.S., Professor of Natural Philosophy at the Royal Institution and University of London.

"Herodotus, from the Text of SchweighæuIser, and Collation with the Text of Professor Gaisford," edited by G. Long, Esq., A.M. "Olympia Morata, her Times, Life, and Writings," by the Author of "Selwyn." "Mr. Agassiz's Journey to Switzerland, and Pedestrian Tours in that Country."

Mrs. Bray is preparing a uniform edition of her very popular "Historical and Legendary Romances," to be published in monthly volumes.

The Rev. Charles Tayler has commenced a Series of Narratives, in the same style and on the same subjects as Miss Martineau's Political Works, to be published quarterly, under

REPORT.

the title of "Social Evils and their Remedy;" the first No, is to be entitled "The Mechanic." "Hints for the Cultivation of Fruits and Flowers," by Martin Doyle.

"Ecclesiastical Establishments opposed alike to Political Equity and Christian Law," by the Rev. David Young of Perth.

The first Number of a New English Version of the great Work of Cuvier, "Le Règne Animal, or the Animal Kingdom."

"Deontology, or the Science of Morality," &c., from the MSS. of Jeremy Bentham, arranged and edited by Dr. Bowring.

Allan Cunningham, we hear, has a new edition and a new "Life of Burns" in hand. He has obtained, and is still obtaining, new matter, poems, letters, and anecdotes from many sources. The work will extend to six volumes: the first to contain the life, the other five, the poems, letters, songs, remarks, and memoranda, and each volume will be illustrated with two landscape vignettes, from drawings on which artists are at this moment employed, in the counties of Ayr and Dumfries.

THE DRAMA.

KING'S THEATRE.

A scena from Figaro, the opera of the Semiramide, and a scena from Anna Bolena, were the last pieces in which Pasta appeared. She was received with the utmost enthusiasm, although we think we have heard her sing with greater effect. Admiration, however, dwelt upon every note she uttered, and long-continued plaudits proclaimed how great a favourite was about to be lost. In that part of Anna Bolena, where the distant music announces a joyous ceremony-when the degraded and murdered queen fancies in her frenzy that she is again the partaker and leader in a regal festivity-and when she awakens from her treacherous dream by instinctively seeking for, and unhappily discovering, that the accustomed crown is no longer on her brow-her look of horror, her attitude of despair, were perfectly withering. She is, without exception, the most wonderful woman we have ever known to tread the Italian stage. So, too, the audience appeared to think; and on the dropping of the curtain she was loudly called for, and came to the front of the stage to receive their gratulations. Even in this the superiority of genius was evident. Her acknowledgments to the audience were made in no style approved by dancing-masters and boarding-school misses-they were the bendings of a grateful and delighted spirit, proud of the honour she had achieved for herself, and happy in perceiving its effects. Her graceful inclinations to the audience, made with a reverential respect and with all the dignity of feeling, were of the most sweet and winning description. When about to make her exit, a bouquet of flowers from a neighbouring box was thrown on the stage; and we should pity the want of feeling and taste in that man who witnessed the way the favour was received and acknowledged, and who failed to pronounce it one of the greatest of theatrical treats. The manner was altogether beyond anything that description could convey. "The world's good wishes went" with her; and the drama will to us be a dreary and desolate waste till Pasta returns.

VICTORIA.

The King's Fool has been the principal object of attraction at this theatre, and has most unaccountably produced audiences. It is a play of a certain merit; that is, there are certain portions of it that are interesting. The King's Fool is a villain par excellence, but a villain of a most unnatural kind, and such an one as never existed. There is a refinement of feeling and a delicacy of sentiment in his intercourse with his daughter that never yet appertained to a scoundrel; yet the Fool in this play is as malicious, designing, and heartless a rascal as ever infested the precincts of a court, and is therefore an unnatural character, as refined goodness and complete baseness cannot co-exist. Moreover the character is a failure in another particular. There never was about the person of a king, not even in the most glorious days of the follies of chivalry, so sensitive a gentleman and so witless an ass as the King's Fool Mr. Warde is compelled to personate. They were generally a little idiotic, very fanciful, and consequently witty, with a good deal of that malignity of disposition which delights itself in petty annoyances, but never rises to the height and dignity of a scheme of deadly malice. Again; the improbability of the matter makes it irretrievably bad. The Fool is made to entertain a design against the life of the king, Francis I.; and his hired assassins are madesuch is the poetical retribution-to slay the Fool's own loved daughter in his stead historically bad, and inexcusably so, for it is not founded on enough of fact to excuse the fiction. It is so revolting to the feelings, and, at the same time, so far removed from that degree of probability necessary to give that appearance of truth, without which the drama cannot be interesting, that we repeat our surprise that it should have attracted so much attention. The acting, too, of Mr. Warde is essentially bad; and, in saying so, we do not compare him with other actors, but with himself. In other characters he never appeared so much the actor and so little the character, as he does in the present piece. His malice is all proclaimed with a sneer in his countenance, when the commonest cunning would have induced the knave Mr. Warde personates to conceal his bad feeling. His affection, too, as exhibited towards his daughter, is all maudlin,-a mixture of wheedling, whining, and crabbed and stupid suspicion,-suspicion, too, expressed violently by the actor, where the author never intended half such intensity. In short, we never saw Mr. Warde to so much disadvantage; and we are happy in being able to add, that we think we are not likely to so see him again, as it must have been a strong

and original misconception of the character that induced the bad performance of which we complain; and this is a fault that Mr. Warde does not generally labour under. Miss Jarman, as the daughter, did full credit to her character, which was an excellent one as far as it went, though not far removed above the commonplace of stage heroines. Nell Gwynne continues a stock piece.

HAYMARKET.

Pyramus and Thisbe, a new one-act piece, by Mr. C. Mathews, has been as well received as such an agreeable sort of trifle should be. Mr. Buckstone, as the tailor in the piece, who courts his love through a wall, and whose conversation is "made up of shreds and patches," is particularly humorous and clever. The foundation of the story is stated to be from Kotzebue. The usual run of pieces has been gone through; and except the circumstance of Mr. Elton playing Shylock, there has been nothing of more than ordinary attraction. The house has been generally well filled. ADELPHI.

Nero, or the Roman-tick Fiddler, has been the last of the Adelphi squibs. Mr. Reeve is in this, as he is in most matters at the Adelphi, the chief prop. The same repetition of the same sort of punning, the same vulgar stage tricks, compose the machinery of the piece; and though they may be laughable, are not such as meet with sober approbation. Mr. Reeve, who is the very Silenus of fun, replete with joke, and teeming with notions of the ludicrous, is in this piece particularly happy, and particularly bad. He is happy, for laughter is a necessity upon looking at him, he is bad, for he puts out the other actors, and says more than is put down in the book." We should recommend this original and facetious actor to gag less, and to study some few characters of a higher order. To look at him is to laugh; his eye twinkles with wicked roguery, his very nose twitches with fun; the fat on his sides is shaking with the chuckling laughter of an exhaustless merriment; and he is the god of jolly, hearty, vulgar mirth, and not an actor.

VARIETIES.

Emigration.-Amongst the interesting papers laid before the House of Commons are the extracts of the Correspondence of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of Emigration, with official personages employed in the British Colonies. With reference to Canada, it appears that in 1832 the number of emigrants arrived and actually settled in the provinces during that year, amounted to 55,000 persons: and that they brought with them a capital of from six to seven hundred thousand pounds sterling-one individual alone having credit on the Quebec Bank for 16,000%. and another for 4000l. The reports speak of the great change observable in the condition of the latest emigrants, they being, for the most part, of respectable character and in good circumstances. The number of emigrants who perished by Cholera amounted to 2350 persons. The demand for labourers appears to be greatly on the increase, and varies from 2s. 6d. to 7s. 6d. per diem. The number of emigrants sent out by parish aid, for the year 1832, was 4988.

The number of persons employed in the department of the Customs in the year 1819 was 2,000; their salaries, 277,913/. 10s. 2d. In 1832 the number employed was 1654; salaries, 243,6787. 14s. 11d.; making a reduction, since 1819, of 346 persons and 34,134/. 15s. 3d. The gross receipt of revenue collected in the port of London for the year 1819 was 7,749,4637. at a rate of 37. 11s. 84d. per cent. 1832 the revenue was 9,434,154., at a rate of 21. 11s. 3 d. per cent.

In

The total amount of Bank Annuities standing in the name of the AccountantGeneral of the High Court of Chancery, on the 31st of May, 1833, was 39,285,887. 18. 6d. The total amount of the said Annuities, upon which no dividends have for the several terms of years after-mentioned been paid or applied to or for the benefit of any of the parties interested therein is as follows:-5 years and under 10 years, 108,0387. 14s. 11d.; 10 years and under 15 years, 74,6937. 9s. 4d.; 15 years and under 20 years, 29,2371. 8s. 6d.; 20 years and upwards, 140,2607. 18s.

The total expense of the Constabulary Force in Ireland, amounted in 1830, to 262,4617. 10s. 6d.; 1831, 273,9621. 7s. 2d.; 1832, 292,8201. 88. 24d.

The number of persons admitted as Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians, from the 1st of January, 1823, to 31st of December, 1832, is 41, and the number

admitted as Licentiates during the same period is 117. The fees paid by each Fellow amount to 957. 4s. including 401. for stamps, and those for Licentiates 567. 17s. The income of the College for the last four years has not equalled its expenditure, the first amounting to 4,115. 16s. 5d., and the latter to 4,8217. 12s. The original building for the meetings of the corporation was purchased and added to by the private subscriptions of the Fellows of that time; and when burnt down at the great fire of London, the edifice in Warwick Lane was built at the cost of the Fellows. The present building in Pall Mall East was erected at an expense of 25,000, raised by the sale of the premises in Warwick Lane, which yielded 9,000, a donation of 2,000/. from the trustees of Dr. Radcliffe, and the deficiency made up by subscriptions. The College has never received pecuniary aid from the crown since its foundation.

From the accounts laid before the House of Commons, relating to the establishment of the British Museum, it appears that in 1821 the library contained 17,937 MSS., and 16,423 charters, &c. In 1832, these were augmented to 21,604 MSS., and 19,093 charters. In 1821, the number of volumes of printed, books amounted to 115,925; in 1832 to 218,957; and 14,410 duplicate works have been disposed of to the Royal Society and at public auction. The publication of the fac-simile of the Alexandrian MS., and of which scarcely half a dozen copies have been sold, cost the public, from 1821 to 1833, the sum of 2,7727. 7s. 9d.; and 8,2047. 18s. 8d. was expended during the same period on the publication of the Gallery of Antiquities, of which 1,000 copies of each volume were printed, and for which there being no demand, are still in hand. The publication of the catalogue of maps cost 8077. 198. 3d.; of the Anglo-Gallic coins, 176/. 2s. 10d.; and of Mr. Payne Knight's collection of Greek coins, 2827. 10s. 9d. Of the Synopsis of the British Museum thirteen editions have been printed, comprising 39,290 copies, and the entire number almost sold. The cost of printing appears to be about 2,5397. and the receipts by sale about 3,8987.

The amounts of the gross and net incomes of parochial benefices in Ireland, as far as the returns have been received, are as follow:-Number of returns received: Armagh, 341; Dublin, 275; Cashel, 352; Tuam, 116; total, 1,124. Gross income: Armagh, 221,2977. 4s 1d.; Dublin, 102,256/. Os. 8d.; Cashel, 165,006/. 8s. 10d.; Tuam, 37,576/. 14s. 9d.: total, 526,136/. 7s. 4d. Net income: Armagh, 200,467. 16s. 9d.; Dublin, 91,943l. 3s. 5d.; Cashel, 152,0807. 17s. 8d.; Tuam, 33,854/. 9s.: total, 478,3467. 6s. 10d. Returns outstanding: Armagh, 66; Dublin, 70; Cashel 111; Tuam, 25; total, 272. Total number of returns: Armagh, 507; Dublin, 345; Cashel, 463; Tuam, 141: total, 1,456.

The number of persons who held situations in the public departments of the United Kingdom at the close of the year 1821 was 26,880; and the amount of their salaries was 3,772,805l. In 1832 the number was 21,305; salaries, 2,819,622; making a reduction of 5,758. and 965,2407. As vacancies occur, 114 places are marked for reduction, which have salaries amounting to 73,006/.

The sum laid out by the Board of Works upon the old and new buildings of the British Museum, from the 5th of January, 1821, to 31st March, 1833, is 227,6657. 10s. 9d.; and the probable expense of the north wing, now proposed to be carried into execution, according to the plan of Sir Robert Smirke, is 70,0007.

The quantities of coals, cinders, and culm, exported from the United Kingdom during the years 1830, 1831, and 1832, with the amount of duties thereon, are as follows:

Between the years 1800 and 1831, the Bank of England have paid upon indemnity for Bank notes wholly lost or destroyed, 64,2377. Post bills, 40,6627. 17s. 11d. Bank notes, partly lost or destroyed, 124,7677. Post bills, ditto, 12,2867. 4s. 7d., making a total of 241,9537. 2s. 6d. The Bank of England notes which have not been paid into the Bank so late as the 2d of November, 1831, and which were issued from its foundation in 1697, to the year 1764, are as follows:-Of 107., 2418; of 157., 892; of 207., 11,803; of 257., 3968; of 30., 3816; of 407, 2549; of 507, 8872; of 1004, 9632; of 200%, 2444; of 300l., 1023; of 500l., 3400; of 1,000/., nil.