54 India, must produce among the Hindoos, who annex so profound a veneration to the barbarous carvings of their gods, a degree of respect for the arts of England, which can scarcely fail to be as operative in securing our ascendency among á semi-barbarous people, as our feats of arms, many of which prove that we are greater barbarians than themselves.

Literary and Philosophical Intelligence.

The Exhibition of the Birmingham Academy of Arts was well attended, and its public reception equalled the most sanguine expectations of its projectors. The accomplishment of the ultimate intentions of the academy depend on public support; but, if a general opinion of the public feeling may be inferred from a few instances of un. solicited liberality, the society may in. dulge the hope of erecting a permanent establishment. The pictures, drawings, and models, exhibited in the first year were 118, by 30 local artists. Of these fourteen were landscapes, by Mr. J. BURDEN, of Cook Hill, near Alcester; seven were models by Mr. HOLLINS, of Birmingham; and twelve were portraits, flowers, &c. by Messrs. BARBER; four, cattle, &c. by Mr. FUSSELL; and four portraits by Miss HEAPE, all of Birmingham.

PROFESSOR MAITHUS announces two works of considerable interest at this crisis; one, an Enquiry into the nature and origin of Rent; and the other on the Corn Laws, and on the question relative to Importation. The public cannot fail to derive instruction from the luminous views of this writer, on topics so materially affecting our national prosperity.

Miss HANNAH MORE has nearly ready for publication, in two volumes, an Essay on the Character of St. Paul.

The Hon. R. B. BERNARD, M. P. &c. has announced a Tour in France, Switzerland, Germany, and Belgium, during the last autumn.

Mr. RALPH DODD has printed for private circulation, a report on the very evident advantages which would result from a collateral cut from the Grand Surry Canal at Camberwell, to the Thames at Vauxhall,

An Historical Account, is nearly ready for publication, of the Episcopal See and Cathedral Church of Sarum, or Salisbury, comprising biographical notes of the bishops, the history of the establishment from the earliest period, and a description of the monuments. The work is to be illustrated with engravings by Messrs. COOKE, WOOLNOTH, BYRNE, I. and S. MITAN, LEE, PORTER, ROFFE, SKEL

[Feb. 1,

TON, and HAWKESWORTH, from drawings
by F. NASH; and will be compiled froin
the best authorities, particularly from
the episcopal and chapter records, by Mr.
W. DODSWORTH.

Mr. BRANDE is proceeding with a new
course of chemistry, at the Royal Insti-
tution; and Mr. SINGER with a course
of electricity, at the Russell Institution.
Mr. MILLINGTON, a manufacturer, late
of Hammersmith, is delivering a general
course of natural philosophy, which
he accompanies by a very luminous
exposition of its application to the
useful arts, at the Rolls and Crown ta-
vern, in Chancery Lane. Dr. SPURZEIM,
having finished his course on the skull
and brain in London, is delivering one
at Bath.

The Prince Regent, on behalf of the King of Hanover, has sent to the library of the University of Gottingen, a copy of the principal works which have issued from the English press since Hanover was occupied by the French and Prus sians in 1803-4. They amounted to upwards of 3000l.

The St. David's Society offers premiums for the best Essay on the Evidence that St. Peter never was at Rome; and for another on the British Proverbs and British Proverbial Poems.

The Spring Course of Lectures at the Medical School of St. Thomas's and Guy's Hospitals, will commence the beginning of February, viz.-At St. Tho mas's-Anatomy and the Operations of Surgery, by Mr. Astley Cooper and Mr. Henry Cline; Principles and Practice of Surgery, by Mr. Astley Cooper.-At Guy's Practice of Medicine, by Dr. Babington and Dr. Curry; Chemistry, by Dr. Babington, Dr. Marcet, and Mr. Allen; Exper mental Philosophy, by Mr. Allen; Theory of Medicine and Materia Medica. by Dr. Curry and Dr. Cholmeley; Midwifery, and Diseases of Women and Children, by Dr. Haighton; Physiology, or Laws of Animal Economy, by Dr. Haighton; Structure and Diseases of the Teeth, by Mr. Fox.

Bp. HORSLEY'S Sermons on ancient prophecies of the Messiah, di-persed among the heathens, and four Discourses on the nature of the evidence borne to the fact of our Lord's resurrection, are printing in an octavo volume.

Charlemagne, or the Church delivered, an Epic poem, in twenty-four cantos; by LUCIEN BONAPARTE, Member of the Institute of France, &c. &c. translated into English verse, by the Rev. Samuel Butler, D.D., and the Rev. F. Hodgson, will be published in a few days.

Di

1816.]

Literary and Philosophical Intelligence.

Dr. HOLLAND's Travels in the Ionian Isles, in Albania, Thessaly, and Greece, in 1812 and 1813; together with an account of a residence at Joannina, the capital and court of Ali Pasha; and with a more cursory sketch of a route through Attica, the Morea, &c. illustrated by plates; will appear on the 20th February. A work by that entertaining, but superficial, philosopher, the late BERNARDIN ST. PIERRE, is expected to appear at Paris in the present month, under the title of "Harmonie de la Nature." It presents an illustration of the wisdom and beneficence of Providence in the works of Creation, by exemplifying many coincidences and aptitudes which do not occur to ordinary observers. A translation into English, from the proof sheets, Is in progress.

Mr. JAMES JOHNSON has read to the Linnæan Society, an account of some fossil bones found in the cliff near Lyme; of which, an intelligent correspondent, has given an account in this Magazine. The cliff abounds in belemnites, nautili, and the remains of other sea animals. The bones in question have been supposed to belong to the crocodile; but Mr. Johnson thinks they constitute the bones of a new and unknown species of amphibious animal. He is of opinion, that the animals whose remains were found here, lived and died upon the spot.

Sir HUMPHRY DAVY lately discovered in the Appennines, a jet of gas burning with great brilliancy, and forming a colamit of flame six feet high. The gas was pure carbureted hydrogen. It would be of importance to know, whether any coal exists in the neighbourhood of this flaming jet of gas, or whether it proceeds from a great depth under the surface.

The second and concluding volume of the dull Travels of Professor Lichtenstein, in Southern Africa, is nearly ready for publication, and will comprize the continuation of the Journey through the Karoos to Cape Town, a Journey to Bosjesweld and Gulbach, and the Return by St. Helena to Europe. Of all heavy German compilers, this professor is one

of the heaviest.

Mr. WESTALL's Illustrations of the Lord of the Isles, will be finished early in March.

A Visit to Paris in 1814, by Mr. JoHN SCOTT, Editor of the Champion, will appear early in February.

Early in the spring, will appear, Bibli

otheca Anglo-Poetica, or, a Descriptive Catalogue of a singularly rare and rich Collection of Old English Poetry; illus trated by occasional extracts, with notes critical and biographical. It will be elegantly printed in royal octavo, and ornamented with capitals and about twenty portraits, finely engraved on wood.

Dr. GREGORY, of the Royal Military Academy, has in the press a third edition of his Treatise on Mechanics, with considerable improvements, especially in the volume devoted to the construction of machines.

Dissertations and Letters are printing. by DON JOSEPH RODRIGUEZ, the Cheva lier DELAMBRE, Dr. THOMAS THOMSON, Dr. OLINTHUS GREGORY, and others, tending either to impugn or to defend the Trigonometrical Survey of England and Wales, carrying on by Col. MUDGE, and Capt. CALBY; with notes and observations, including a reply to Dr. Thom son, by Dr. GREGORY.

The second volume of Mr. SOUTHEY'S History of the Brazils is nearly ready for publication.

A new edition of Mr. WORDSWORTH'S Lyrical Ballads, &c. with additions, will appear in a few days.

Mr. JOHN SCOTT is preparing for the press, a History of Europe, from the commencement of the French revolution to the restoration of the Bourbons.

A third and fourth volumes of the tedious Biography of the Margravine of Bareith, are printing.

G. J. PARKYNS, Esq. is reprinting his Monastic Remains, in two octavo volumes, illustrated by numerous engra, vings.

Proposals have been circulated for re-publishing 100 copies of the Censura Literaria, containing titles, extracts, and opinions of old English books, espe cially those which are scarce; by Sir EGERTON BRYDGES, K. J., in ten vols, 8vo. at twelve guineas.

A new Cover is printing to the Velvet Cushion.

Mr. EUSTACE is in Italy collecting materials for a third volume of his Tour.

A Supplement is printing to Mr. NORTHCOTE's elegant and interesting work on the life of Sir Joshua Reynolds.

A variety of catchpennies continue to be announced about the Bonaparte fa mily.

Mr. I, JAMES, of Bristol, has in the press, Pilgrim's Progress in verse, the first part of which may be expected in about a month.

The

1815.T Literary and Philosophical Intelligence.

published with merited patronage at Haddington, has announced a new periodical miscellany, on a plan of similar utility, to be called The Monthly Monitor, or Philanthropic Museum; the chief object of which is to prevent crimes by stimulating virtue.

The Rev. JOHN EVANS, author of a collection of valuable Essays called "The Ponderer," and master of Park-row Academy, Bristol, proposes to publish by subscription, in one volume 8vo. Memoirs of the late William Reed, of Thornbury; including extracts from his Correspondence, and Selections from his Poetical Productions. As an author, Mr. Reed is known only by a few songs, and by two papers in the Ponderer; he has, however, left several productions in MS. in addition to an extensive correspondence.

A work is about to appear, entitled Dialogues, Moral, Satirical, Critical, Biographical, Philosophical, and Specu lative, between Pompey and Caesar, two dogs of London, as overheard under the Piazzas in Covent Garden; taken down verbatim by Comus Cerberus, esq.

A translation is announced in 8vo. with a plan and map, of Giraud's Campaign of Paris in 1814, to which is prefixed, a Sketch of the Campaign of

1813.

An improved edition of Mr. Bourn's Gazetteer, with references to Authorities, will speedily be published.

Guy Mannering, or the Astrologer, by the author of Waverly, in three volumes, will appear in the course of February.

A new method of operating for the cure of Popliteal Aneurism, has been employed in Dublin, by Mr. Crampton, Surgeon General at the King's Military Infirmary, with the most complete success, which seems to open new and important views with respect to the treatment of diseased and wounded arteries in general.

L

Beautiful specimens of flax and hemp were lately exhibited to the Linnæan Society, prepared by machinery invented by Mr. Lee, without water-steeping, or dew-retting. The advantages of the plan are, that the produce is greater and better; and the green part of the plant is preserved, which furnishes very good food for cattle, and is an excellent manure. The seed also is preserved.

Dr. BREWSTER has made some im portant discoveries on the depolarisation of light by different bodies, animal, ve getable, and mineral. It appears that MONTHTY MAG, No. 265.

57

bodies capable of depolarising light, may be divided into seven classes:→ 1. Those that have a neutral axis, and produce a double image; with respect to which the theory is evident. 2. Those that have a neutral axis, but produce only a single image, as the human hair. In these bodies he supposes that two images are really produced, but that they coincide with each other. 3. Those that have no depolarising axis, but depolarise light in every direction, as gum arabic. These he conceives to be com posed of layers, placed one over the other, each of which has a depolarising axis; and as these axes are placed in every direction, the body acquires the property of depolarising in every direc tion. 4. Those bodies that have an approximation to a neutral axis, as gold beater's skin. 5. Those that have an approximation to a depolarising axis. 6. Those that allow the light nearly to vanish, but not quite, at every alternate sector, as oil of mace. 7. Those that allow it to vanish entirely at every alternate sector, as calcareous spar, when the light passes through the shorter axis.

Mr. SALT, in his Voyage to Abyssinia, says, as he approached the Peninsula of Aden, he was much struck with the singular appearances which the sun put on as it rose. When it had risen about half-way above the horizon, its form somewhat resembled a castellated dome: when three parts above the horizon, its shape appeared like that of a balloon; and at length the lower limb, suddenly starting up from the horizon, it assumed the general form of a globe flattened at the axis. These singular changes he attributed to the refraction produced by the different layers of atmosphere through which the sun was viewed in its progress. The saine cause made the ship in the bay, look as if it had been lifted out of the water, and her bare masts seemed to be crowded with sail; a low rock also appeared to rise up like a vessel, and a projecting point of land to rest on no other foundation than the air; the space between these bjects and the horizon having a grey pellucid tinge, very dis tinct from the darker colour of the sea.

4

In the Red Sea, Mr. Salt says, all the islands are composed entirely of maring alluvies strongly cemented together, and forming vast and solid masses, which may not improperly be termed rock, the surface being covered, in parts only, with a thin layer of soil. The larger portion of these remains consists of corallines, I madrepores,