on the memory of their late-lamented Secretary, the Rev. John Brand. Dr. H. observed that, it was unnecessary to dwell long on the many excellent qualifications of the deceased, because he was addressing those who, for many years, had witnessed his unceasing exertions; and were, therefore, fully able to appreciate his zeal, fidelity, and perseverance in every thing connected with the interests and well-doing of the Society.'

British Museum.

A Catalogue Raisonnée of the very extensive and valuable collection of books, deposited in this celebrated national museum, is at present in contemplation ; and it is hoped the period will not be very remote before the public may be favoured with a specimen of it.

BUT the principal object which at present occupies the attention of the Trustees of the Museum, is, the arrangement of the famous TOWNLEY

COLLECTION of Statues, Busts, Inscriptions, &c. which are under the superin-. tendance of Mr. Taylor Combe. It is well known, that Parliament not only voted a considerable sum of money for these antient and truly valuable marbles, but also for an additional building to be exclusively appropriated to them.

THESE statues, busts, &c. are to be grouped, in separate compartments, according to their classification of Egyptian, Grecian, Roman, &c. so that the whole coup-d'œil, presenting an effect at once magnificent and correct, cannot fail to afford complete gratification to the lovers of antient art.

Royal Academy.

THE Schools for the study of the antique statues, and of living models, are open, and will continue so until the 23d of December. The school for the antique is very much frequented; owing in some measure to the attention of the.

keeper. Mr. Sheldon's lectures on anatomy, commenced on the 17th of November; being to be followed by those of Mr. Opie on painting, and of Mr. Soane on Architecture. The re-election of Mr. West, as President, does honour to the Academy, and to himself.

Royal Institution, Jan. 17.

THE Lectures commenced on the 19th of November, with Mr. DAVY's introductory lecture On vegetable and animal analysis, and on the experimental history of heat, light and electricity,' the subject of his present course. In this introductory discourse Mr. Davy gave a general outline of this department of science; its objects, its applications, and its uses. He recommended to his audience a course of general reading on the subject, as the only mode of acquiring the accurate elements of the study, and as necessary for understanding the experimental illustrations. The works that he particularly pointed out, were Grew's

Anatomy of Plants; Mirbel, Traité d'Anatomie et de Physiologie Vegetales; forming a supplement to L'Histoire Naturelle de Buffon; the Vegetable Chemistry in the 4th volume of Thomson's System of Chemistry; Mr. Knight's papers in the Philosophical Transactions from 1799 to the present year; and the various treatises of Physique des Arbres, par du Hamel; Ingenhouz, Sennebier, and T. de Saussure on Vegetation.

Dr. CROTCH has just repeated the lectures on music, which he gave last spring; and is now preparing a new course on that art, which will commence in the ensuing spring.

THE REV. Mr. DIBDIN has given a second course of lectures on the history of English literature. In his introductory lecture, Mr. D. began by observing, that a review of the first thirteen centuries would convince us, that we had many intellectual characters of eminence to boast of during that period. For legislative wisdom, we might notice Alfred, William, and Edward; for scholastic erudition, Bede,

Alcuin, Lanfranc, and Anselin; for historical research and veracity, Ingulph, William of Malmesbury, John of Salisbury, and Giraldus Cambrensis; and for chemical, and general scientific pursuits, the zeal of no one had exceeded that of the immortal Roger Bacon.

SOME observations were made on the rise and progress of our language, and on its fluctuation with the French, from the time of the conquest to the reign of Edward the Third. The subject was also illustrated by a few historical facts, or anecdotes, of celebrated public characters adopting the English or French language as their usual speech; and the statute of the 36th of Edward III. (for pleading of all pleas in the king's courts in the English language,) was particularly alluded to and explained.. Mr. D. then gave further illustrations of the introduction of our language into Deeds, Records, and Acts of Parliament*. Of the

* In his account of the introduction of our language into parliamentary proceedings and public depositions, Mr. D. read some passages from the Par

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