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The chief diseases of the more perfect plants, he stated are produced either by parasitical vegetables, or by insects. Wet seasons conduce most to the propagation of mildew or blight; and dry weather to the increase of the turnip fly, and other analogous destructive insect tribes.

THE eighth and concluding lecture of the course, was upon the mode of the dissemination of seeds, and upon the progress of vegetation, in a state of nature. Rocks, according to Mr. D. by their decomposition, form asoil; different species in very different periods. Lichens and mosses are their first productions, and lastly a mold is formed capable of supporting grasses. Peat he considered as chiefly arising from the destruction of forests, exposed by the early cultivators of different countries by thinning their outskirts. Mr. D. made some general observations on the nature of different soils, and recommended new enquiries on this subject as peculiarly important to the agriculture of the country.

THE REV. Mr. DIBDIN, in his second lecture on English Literature, devoted the greatest part of it to extracts from Froissart; which tended to illustrate the characters of Edward, and his Queen Philippa, and afforded anecdotes of the civilization and literature of the age. An interesting anecdote was men-. tioned of Lord James Audley and the Black Prince, taken from the 1st volume of Mr. Johnes's edition of the Chronicles.

Mr. D. then gave a sketch of Froissart's life, chiefly from the biography of Monsieur de St. Palaye: he also alluded to the poetry of the historian, for it appeared that Froissart had composed not fewer than 30,000 verses! The abode of the celebrated GASTON, EARL of FOIX*,

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* The Count,' says Froissart, when I put any question to him, answered it most readily; saying. that the history I was employed upon would, in times to come, be more sought after than any other; because', added he, my fair sir, more gallant deeds of arms have been performed within the last 50 years, and more wonderful things have happened, than in 800 years before'. Johnes's edit. vol. iii. ch. 22.

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the zealous patron and admirer of Froissart, was next described; and the character of that nobleman given, from the French of Monsieur de St. Palaye, in the following words:

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THE Count de Foix', says M. de St. P. was surnamed Phoebus, on account of his beauty; and Froissart could not have fixed upon a patron or a residence more congenial with his feelings and views. Although in his 59th year, he was esteemed the handsomest, the bestproportioned, and most powerful man of his age; dexterous in all athletic exercises, valorous, consummate in the art of war; noble and magnificent. No war rior visited him without carrying away proofs of his liberality. His castle was the rendezvous of all the brave captains of the age, who were distinguished in fight or in tournament. The only discourse heard there, was that, which related to skirmishes, assaults, sieges, and pitched battles; and the only amusements encouraged, were those of wrestling, hunting, tilts and tournaments!'

THE character of Froissart as an historian, was largely entered into; and among other observations, descriptive of his excellencies, were the following: 'All the events,' said Mr. D. are described with a minuteness which bespeaks fidelity, and in a manner highly spirited and entertaining. You are introduced to, and become acquainted with, his heroes, before you accompany them to the field. You hear them express their gallant sentiments at the festive board, rise up with them from table, see them buckle on their armour, brandish their spears, and rush into the thickest ranks of the enemy, &c.' 'In one respect,' continued Mr. D. Froissart is eminently happy he never labours at the description of his heroes; one anecdote, or speech, gives you full information of the character he describes; and, like the master-touch of an eminent artist, makes the picture complete without toiling at subordinate parts.'

THE lecture was concluded by a distinct notice of all the editions of Frois

sart extant, from the black-lettered edition, in the 15th century, by Antony Verard, to the recent one of Mr. Johnes. Mr. D. observed, that Mr. Johnes was in possession of a unique and magnificent copy of an edition, printed by Eustace, in 1514, and struck off upon vellum, of which all the French bibliographers were ignorant,

DR. CROTCH has concluded a course of 13 lectures upon music. In the analysis of this course, it will be only necessary to notice its more prominent features.

In his introductory lecture, after recommending the cultivation of taste, Dr. C. proceeded to a consideration of the origin of melody and harmony. In the music of the antients, he considered whether it had any harmony, and whether the effects of this music were not in a great measure, owing to its union with poetry. He compared the effects of music with those of other arts, and in dividing it into styles, he particularly il

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