shewn on another occasion, that such is the necessary fate of every close corporation, whose constitution obliges candidates for admission to conform themselves to the prejudices of the already elect. Intellect, in all such bodies, must, in every succession, be expressed by a rapidly decreasing series. One of the finest pictures ever shewn in London, is now on public view at Bullock's Rooms, in Piccadilly. It is by M. JERRICAULT, an artist of the French school, and represents the survivors of the crew of the Medusa hail ing the ship which saved them. It rivals Thierry's "Judgment of Brutus;" and far, very far, excels any picture of the English school, while it conveys a good idea of the grand style which has obtained in France since the Revolution. We do not recommend our ambitious artists to imitate it; but we advise them to emancipate themselves from their own puny, gingerbread, and glaring style, and to give us Nature, with more thought, and less colour. In M. Jerricault's there is no appeal to the miraculous; no mawkish sentiment; no dazzling lights; but every thing is chaste and natural, while the picture is effective and grand.

Mr. CHARLES MILLS, author of the History of the Crusades, is engaged in preparing for publication, Travels in Europe, during the Pontificate of Leo the Tenth, a work similar in plan, but different in subject, to the Abbé Barthelemi's Travels of Anacharsis.

Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Religious Connexions of John Owen, D.D. sometime Dean of Christ-Church, and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, are in the press; comprising also Notices of the leading events of his Times, of the State of Religion and Religious Parties, and of some of the most celebrated of his Contemporaries, &c. ; by the Rev. WILLIAM ORME, of Perth.

Letters written for the Post and not for the Press, small 8vo. will speedily appear.

Mrs. GRAHAME, author of an Account of a Residence in India, is now publishing an Account of a Residence during Three Months in the Mountainous Country East of Rome, with engravings of the Banditti and Peasantry of the Country.

Mr. HONE is publishing, in one volume, the Apocryphal Gospels and Epistles, and all the other pieces now extant, attributed to Jesus Christ, his Apostles, and their companions, not

included in the New Testament.-They are translated from the original tongues, and are now first collected together, and divided into Verses for convenient reference, with short introductory No tices, and a Table of all the Apocry phal pieces no longer in existence.

We never remember so few works of consequence announced in the press as at the present period. On the whole, the late season has not been favourable to the sale of that maccaroni literature under which the presses of London and Edinburgh have groaned for some years past. The purchasers of such works having been unable to obtain their rack-rents, are less able to indulge in luxuries, and therefore a general deadness of home-trade, except in articles of real use and necessity.

One of the greatest Bibliographical curiosities which for a long time has claimed public attention, is the Catalogue of Rare Books connected with the Discovery and History of America, lately printed at Paris by Mr. WARDEN. The Books are on sale at Paris, but the Catalogue is in possession of the Editor, and may be had of the French booksellers in London.

The author of the "Widow of Nain" intends shortly to publish a new poem, under the title of The Outlaw of Taurus -to which will be appended a few specimens of a free translation of the "Edipus Colonos" of Sophocles.

A translation is printing of Travels in England, Wales, and Scotland, in the Year 1816, by Dr. SPIKER, Librarian to his Majesty the King of Prussia.

Capt. PRIOR is printing, in one volume, with one hundred Engravings, Narratives of all the Voyages round the World, from Magellan to Kotzebue. Such a volume must at once be inte resting and popular.

A Comic Poem is preparing for the press, on the Royal Coronation Claims, by J. BISSET, Esq. author of The Descriptive Guide of Leamington Priors, &c. &c.

A Biographical Class-Book is announced, on the plan of Blair's well known General Class-Book. It will consist of 365 lives of eminent men, from Homer to Grattan.

Speedily will be published, Popular Observations on Regimen and Diet; in which the Nature and Qualities of our common Food are pointed out and explained; together with practical Rules and Regulations in regard to Health, adapted to various situations and cir cumstances, from Infancy to Old-Age;

by

by JOHN TWEED, Surgeon, Bocking, Essex. "Many people who are ailing, eat and drink improper things, from a want of knowing the nature and properties of what they take; to obviate this inconvenience, the different qualities of our common food will," says Mr. Tweed," be pointed out, so far as relates to the animal economy.'

Mr. STEVENSON, Engineer, has executed a model for a bridge of bar or malleable iron of 100 feet span for a piece of water at the seat of Airthrey Castle, and has also presented a plan to the Road Trustees for a bridge of malleable iron, to cross the River Almond, for the improvement of the great north road between the city of Edinburgh and Queensferry. Chain bridges have long existed both in China and America; have been projected for various parts of this kingdom, and three of them are executing; two from designs of Mr. Telford; the other is executing on the River Tweed, a few miles above Ber. wick, by Captain Brown, of the Royal Navy.

We cannot help commending the plan adopted by the Durham Chronicle, in devoting a regular portion of his Journal to Critiques on the Literature and Fine Arts of the day, and it would afford us much pleasure to see other country papers follow the example.

The Rev. WILLIAM SNOWDEN, perpetual Curate of Horbury, near Wakefield, has in the press, a volume of Sermons, Doctrinal, Practical, and Occasional.

An Arabic Vocabulary and Index for Richardson's Arabic Grammar, in which the words are explained according to the parts of speech, and the derivatives are traced to their originals in the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Syriac Languages, with tables of Orienta! alphabets, points, and affixes, by Mr. JAMES NOBLE, of Edinburgh, will be published in July next.

Mr. FRANCIS LATHOM, author of many esteemed novels and romances, will soon publish The One Pound Note, a Tale of Mid Lothian; and also new editions of some of his works that have long been out of print.

The author of Redmond the Rebel, who is a Scotch gentleman of rank, announces a new work, entitled St. Kathleen, or the Rock of Dunnismoyle.

Miss STANHOPE'S (author of the Bandit's Bride, &c.) historical romance of The Crusaders, on which she has

been employed the last two years, will appear early in July.

The Final Report of the Commissioners appointed for inquiring into the Mode of Preventing the Forgery of Bank Notes, recommend for adoption by the Bank the plan brought forward by Messrs. Applegath and Cowper, which was originally submitted to the Directors a short time only before the appointment of this commission, and received immediate encouragement from them; and upon which some improvements have since been made. The directors have readily complied with this recommendation, and the necessary machines are in a state of forwardness.

An ingenious mechanical invention has lately been completed, called a Duplex Typograph, which enables the blind to receive and communicate ideas by means of letters. The inventor is Mr. J. Purkis, brother of a well known musical character, who, by the aid of a skilful oculist, obtained the blessings of sight, at the age of thirty, after having been blind from the time of his birth. On the same subject it is just to add, that Dr. EDMUND FRY has printed a sheet, on which the letters are raised on the paper, and capable of being felt and read by the fingers' ends.

Sermons by Ministers of the General Associate Synod, are in the press, in 2 volumes.

Mr. KEAT, author of Endymion, has a volume of Poems in the press.

The Rev. H. K. BONNEY will publish, in course of the summer, Historic Notices in reference to Fotheringay, in an octavo volume, with engravings by Storer.

Memoirs of the Rev. MARK WILKS, late of Norwich, by his Daughter, is printing in a duodecimo volume.

The Rev. Dr. J. P. SMITH will soon publish the second volume of Scripture Testimony to the Messiah.

The Rev. F. HODGSON has in the press, Sacred Leisure, a Collection of Poems, in a small volume.

Shortly will be published, Outlines of Midwifery, developing its Principles and Practice, by J.T. CONQUEST, M.D. F.L.S. &c.

Speedily will be published, a fourth edition of A Treatise on Symptomatic Fevers, including Inflammations, Hemorrhages, and Mucous Discharges, by A. P. W. PHILIP, M.D. F.R.S. Ed. &c. This work, with that on Idiopathic Fevers, by the same author, includes

the

the various species of fevers, and all diseases of which fever forms a part.

A new edition being demanded of the pocket Natural History, entitled The British Museum, numerous emendations are making by its former editor, Mr. BADCOCK, and the work will form four or five volumes, most handsomely printed, and embellished with a great number of plates coloured after Nature.

FRANCE.

M. Remusat, Chinese professor, and a member of the Academy of Inscriptions, &c. at Paris, has lately published an article, entitled "the Description of the Country of Camboge, in the 13th century of the Christian Era." It is wholly collected and translated from a number of Chinese works, and especially from the narrative of travels made in that country, at that time, by a Chinese author. A new geographical chart forms an important addition to a work which may be considered as truly interesting.

A work has been published at Paris, entitled "Memoirs, Historical and Geographical, relative to Armenia,” accompanied with the Armenian text of the history of the Orpelian Princes, by Stephanus Orpelian, Archbishop of Sionnia; and also with other pieces of a similar character. Small has been the number of treatises relative to this country; and this seems to be more complete and learned, as to the Armenian history, chronology, and geography, than any other that has hitherto appeared. The History of the Orpelian Princes was written about the end of the 13th century. Among other researches, it is demonstrated that China, properly so called, was well known to the ancients, and that the country and government were distinct from tliose of India. It appears that there is no Armenian text or work that can be traced higher than the fifth century of the Christian æra. The Armenians have printingoffices in several cities of Asia, and some in Europe; there is one at Madras, but their chief establishment of this kind is at Edchmiazin, where the head of their church resides. There is a French translation to the whole, with curious notes.

NORWAY and SWEDEN. In the "Annals of Literature," published at Vienna, by M. Gerold, is a notice relative to the Norwegian, Swedish, and Iceland language and literature. The Norwegians both speak and

write the same language as the Danes; but in both countries the people have retained words of the ancient Scandinavian language, more or less. These words are not in use in the politer classes, which, in both kingdoins, speak the Danish language, just as it is written. Since the Reformation, the Norwegians have not been without their men of letters. The first great Danish literateur, Baron Holberg, the dramatic poet, was a native of Bergen, in Norway, and the names of Pram and Steffens are advantageously known as living authors. To these may be added that of Heilberg, who has resided in Paris the last 20 years, and has been styled the Aristophanes of the North.

The Swedish language, in its construction and inflections, bears affinity to the ancient Scandinavian, though it has adopted many foreign words. The pronunciation is somewhat like that of the German, while that of the Danes more strongly resembles the Iceland language. The merits of Linnæus, Celsius, and other learned Swedes, is well known. Kellgren now holds the first rank among the poets. Lidner is in great esteem for his lyrical productions, and Bellman for his anacreontics. The metrical translation of Horace and Virgil, by the Baron Adlarbeth, is considered as a master-piece.

The Iceland tongue is the true Scandinavian, and forms the principal basis of the Danish and Swedish languages. The inhabitants speak it in a degree of purity, both in conversation, and in their public acts. In Denmark and Sweden, a few Runic inscriptions are the only monuments remaining of the ancient primitive language, but in Norway, certain ancient codes of law are yet extant, written in the pure Icelandic language, before it underwent any changes. The grammar of this language is not at all complicated; simplicity and precision mark the syntax; the rules are easily known and observed, the slightest solecism will detert a stranger. The Sagas, which recount the historical facts of Iceland, are the favourite reading of the inhabitants. They have now a distinguished author in that kind of literature, M. Espolia, whose sagas have brought down the Icelandic history to our own times. Its poetry has, in all times, been held in great esteem.

GERMANY.

A quarry of marble of extraordinary beauty

beauty has been lately discovered, near Meran, in the country of the Tyrol. In the whiteness and fineness of its grain, it will bear comparison with the best marble of Carara, which now growing scarce, this discovery acquires additional importance. It is found in great abundance, and the proximity of the Adiga renders its transportation easy to the Adriatic, while, in another direction, the river Gun is only two days' journey distant from it, by land.

Dr.TH. HEINSIUS, the learned Berlin Professor, has finished for the brothers Hahn, the Court booksellers of Hanover, the Volkthümliches Wörterbuch der Deutschen Sprache für die Geschafts und Lesewelt. What modern literature has gained by the publication of Johnson's Dictionary, and by its learned improver, Todd of Canterbury, the indefatigable and elaborate editor of the immortal Milton, may at least be expected from this national work, of which two volumes already printed have obtained the most unqualified praise among the German literati.

RUSSIA.

The University of Moscow is now rebuilt on a better plan, and in a style of greater magnificence than before the conflagration. The Emperor, besides his other bounties, has consigned the sum of 400,000 roubles for the erection of an hospital close to the University, for the purposes of a Clinical school, wherein, at present, at his charge, are 200 medical students, besides others intended for the Academy of Chirurgery. The new cabinet of natural history is progressively augmenting, under the assiduous direction of Professor Fischer. During the two last years, the collection has acquired a number of minerals, conchites, and birds, with the rich herbary of Dr. Trinius.

A Society for the amelioration of prisons has been established at Petersburgh. The Prince Gallitzin is president, and one object of their sittings has been to instruct such of both sexes as wish to relieve the prisoners, in the regulations best adapted to the purpose. It appears that a similar society has been formed in France.

A number of convents having been suppressed in Poland, all their libraries have been removed to the University of Warsaw. In the same city, in the library of the Piarists, an Arabian astrolabe, made of copper, has been lately found. It is supposed to have been brought to Warsaw by some religious

Piarists, who arrived thither from Spain in the year 1642. It pretty nearly resembles those which are in the cabinet of Kircher, at Rome, and in the Observatory at Paris. M. Chiarmi, professor of Oriental languages in the University, rightly conceiving its importance for the history of letters, has made it the object of a dissertation presented to the Royal Institute of Sciences at Warsaw. Hipparchus, according to Pliny, was the inventor of the astrolabe. Ptolemy and others, in succeeding ages, have laboured to bring it to perfection.

EGYPT.

On the subject of subterranean researches for antiquities in Egypt, we learn from recent advices, that the objects disinterred hitherto are very inconsiderable, in comparison with what remain to be discovered. A rivalship exists between the Arab inhabitants and the Europeans, as to the art of successfully excavating the mountains of sand, wherein have been buried, for· ages, the porticoes, buildings, and subterraneous galleries of every description. The Arabs have pierced into the earth to the depth of several fathoms, and are continually collecting vases, mummies, and other remains of antiquity; and, though ignorant enough in other matters, can now distinguish objects that are rare and in good preservation, from others of an ordinary sort. The Arabs of Gournon are zealously attached to this occupation; so much so, that, considering the address with which they execute these labours, it is thought the Europeans will have no occasion to undertake them, but for money may procure whatever the bowels of the earth shall disclose.

GREECE.

M. KOUMAS, first professor in the Great College at Smyrna, and distinguished by his learning among the Greeks, has just published, at Vienna, the two last volumes of his " Course of Philosophy." The whole work is a methodical abstract of all the best compositions of the German philosophers. Its object is to instruct the Greeks in modern philosophy, and its circulation is likely to be very considerable.

The printing-office established at Chios has commenced its operations, and is now in full activity. Its first production is an excellent discourse of M. the Professor Bambas, read the year before last, at the opening of the course of the Great College of Chios.

This discourse is so elegant in its typography, that it might seem to come from the presses of Paris or London. This office will gradually spread, throughout Greece, a number of valuable works, that may contribute to the regeneration of this once classical land. A college on a large scale is about to be founded at Zagori, in the province of Epirus. The voluntary donations for this establishment amount already to 60,000 francs. M. Neophytos Doucas, a learned Greek ecclesiastic, has contributed himself the sum of 10,000 francs.

BRAZIL.

The corvette Le Bayardere, and the brig Le Favori, sailed from a port of France, on the 14th of Feb. 1819, under the orders of M. Roussin, captain, on a voyage of discovery or survey, along the coasts of Brazil. They arrived at the island of St. Catharine, the first mark of their operations, on the 9th of May, and from that point they began to coast along all the shores, islands, rocks, sand-banks, and every dangerous passage as far as to St. Salvador, where they anchored on the 16th of August.

They have hereby collected all the materials requisite for the construction of a new set of charts. On their entrance, June 6, into Rio Janeiro, M. Roussin was received with much distinction and cordiality by the Court. His Portuguese Majesty expressed to him, in public, that he should, with pleasure. encourage an expedition, the object of which was interesting to every nation; and added, that he should give orders that the vessels of M. Roussin should be entertained in all the ports of his dominions, with suitable marks of benevolence to a mission so useful in its tendency. Every where he has found these orders executed. M. Roussin was expected to spend about six weeks at St. Salvador, to refit his ships, to refresh and recruit the crews, &c. till the sun had passed the zenith, when the observations would assume a greater degree of precision, and he should be enabled to draw up charts of 400 leagues of lands and coasts that he had visited. By the end of October, he calculated on pursuing his route to the North, to complete his survey of the coasts of Brazil.

THE discovery of the alkaline properties

THE

of Morphia, has excited the attention of chemists to other vegetable substances, capable of neutralizing acids, and hence it is presumed possessed of alkaline properties. M. M. Pelletier and Caventon, have particularly distinguished themselves in their researches. In addition to l'auqueline and strychnine, another has been lately discovered, to which the name of brucine has been given, from Mr. Bruce, the Abyssinian traveller, having first made known the tree, the false angustura, or Brucea antidysertericus, from the bark of which, the new alkaline substance is obtained. The crystals of brucine, when obtained by slow evaporation, are oblique prisms, the bases of which are parallelograms. When deposited from a saturated solution in boiling water by cooling, it is in bulky plates, somewhat similar to boracic acid in appearance. When in this state the water may be forced out of it by compression. It is soluble in 500 times its weight of boiling water, and 850 time its weight in cold water. Its taste is exceedingly bitter and acrid, and continues long in the mouth. Given in doses of a few grains, it is poisonous, and acts upon animals in the same way as strychnine. It is not altered by exposure to air; it may be melted by heat at a little above 212, without decomposition, and thus appears like wax. When

exposed to a strong heat it is decomposed. It combines with the acids, and forms neutral and bisalts. All these salts easily crystallize.

Delphine is another of these alkaline salts, obtained by M. M. Laisseigne and Fenuelle, from the seeds of staves acre, Delphinum staphisagria. The seeds deprived of their husks and rinds, are boiled in a small quantity of distilled water; then pressed in a cloth, and the decoction filtered, and then boiled for a few minutes with pure magnesia; it must then be refiltered, and the residuum left on the filter: when well washed, it is boiled with highly rectified alcohol, which dissolves the alkali, and by evaporation, it is obtained as a white pulverulent substance, presenting a few crystalline points. It dissolves in a small quantity in water, but very readily in alcohol. With the acids it forms neutral salts, which are very soluble. qualities of this substance yet remain to be examined.

The