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You will understand, sir, that I hint at this explanation with great deference, and as a mere conjecture only. Let it be judged by reason and candour, and whatever may be proposed as superiour by any of your learned correspondents, shall at least be accepted with all due respect, by sir, FIDELIS.

Yours, &c.

Conjecture as to the time of the second edition has already fixed on the period of the publication of St. John's Gospel; which was long after the other gospels were in circulation; when, we may suppose, the apostle revised and edited his "works," complete. As to the time of the first edition, we have very little to help our guesses. It is certain, however, that the third epistle of John was written many years before the date assigned to his Gospel, since Gaius, who was host of St. Paul, and of the whole church, was most probably a man advanced in life; and we cannot think it likely that he should live till towards the end of the first century. The first chapter of the first epistle, seems from its contents to have been the precursor of the introduction to the gospel.

DISCOVERY OF A NEW MEPHITICK GROTTO.

M. PULLY, a chymist of celebrity, in one of his excursions in the neighbourhood of Naples, has discovered a new grotto. It is situated on the banks of lake Agnano, not far from lake Averno, and consequently, at no great distance from the Grotta del Cane, to which it is in many respects similar. This grotto, from the name of its discoverer, has been called Grotta-Pully. It is necessary to keep the face as near the ground as possible, in penetrating into it, in order to avoid the deleterious vapours, which being kept in a state of great volatility by an intense heat, occupy the upper parts. After following many windings, M. Pully discovered at the extremity of the grotto a spring, so intensely hot, that eggs were boiled hard in fifty-seven seconds of time. Réaumur's thermometer, which at the outside was two degrees above 0, rose to sixty-one in the interiour, on being kept in an elevated situation; on bringing it within a foot of the ground, it fell five degrees; but on being stuck into the earth it rose to seventy-five. A barrometer in the same situation fell some degrees. Whoever penetrates into this grotto must be completely undressed; and there, as in the baths of Nero, the body is in a short time covered with water, either from the violence of the perspiration, or from the prodigious quantity of water in a state of evaporation which is always floating in this cavity. This grotto seems to have been unknown to the ancients, who have left us no description of it. Perhaps it has been formed by some of those late volcanick eruptions which have so materially altered the face of the country. The sides of the cave are covered with a variety of saline crytallizations; others hang in the form of stalactites from the roof, which is about ten feet high; its width is of above forty feet at the entrance, and fifty in the interiour. Its length is about 250 feet.

EXTRAORDINARY SAGACITY IN THE CANINE SPECIES.

A SHORT time since, a gentleman at Richmond, Surry, betted his friend a rump and dozen that his dog should go from Richmond bridge to Brentford, and return with half a crown, in two hours. The dog was accordingly taken to the entrance of Brentford, where his master placed half a crown under a stone, and then returned to Richmond. The dog was then despatched to perform his master's wager, and he went immediately to the

spot where the money was formerly placed, but the stone had been removed, and the half crown taken away.

Unable to find the money, the dog ran towards Kew-bridge, where he overtook a gentleman and followed him into his house near the Green. The gentleman endeavoured to drive the animal away, but Prince refused to quit him, and, struck by the singularity of the dog's attachment, the gentleman made no further efforts to part.

The time having elapsed for winning the bet, the owner of the dog expressed a belief that some accident had prevented the animal from returning, and requested his friend to go with him in search of the dog. They then walked to Kew Green, where they observed the gentleman before described coming out of his house, with Prince at his heels. The owner instantly accosted the gentleman, and requested to know how he came by the dog, observing, the dog was his. The gentleman described the manner in which the dog had followed him, and assured the party he had no wish to detain him. The owner then asked the gentleman if he had any thing about him that was not his own property? In answer to this interrogatory he exclaimed: "What do you mean, sir; do you take me for a thief?" The master of the dog replied: ""Pon my honour I mean nothing personal; but the dog has a wonderful sagacity in discovering any article that may have been in my possession. Pray, sir, have you found any thing?”—The gentleman returned: "Why, I have indeed found something of small value: returning from Brentford, I picked up half a crown by the road side." The dog's master, with a hearty laugh, exclaimed: "That half crown, sir has been the cause of my dog's attachment to you. My friend and I placed the half crown on the spot you found it to decide a wager, and sent the dog for it; not finding it, he has traced it to you, and, as a proof of the truth of what I assert, put the half crown down among twenty others, and if my dog don't pick it out from the rest, I'll forfeit 1001." The gentleman, with surprise, instantly laid down the half crown among five others. It had been previously marked, and the dog immediately selected it from the rest, and carried it to his master, to the great astonishment of all who witnessed the circumstance.

The dog has frequently done similar exploits, and is considered a most extraordinary animal by the surrounding neighbourhood.

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Yet when the silent evening sighs,
With hallowed airs and symphonies,
My spirit takes another tone,
And sighs that it is all alone.

The autumn leaf is sear and dead,
It floats upon the water's bed;
I would not be a leaf, to die
Without recording sorrow's sigh!

The woods and winds, with sullen wail,
Tell all the same unvaried tale;
I've none to smile when I am free,
And when I sigh, to sigh with me.
Yet in my dreams a form I view,
That thinks on me and loves me too;
I start, and when the vision's flown,
I weep that I am all alone.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

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THE whole Proceedings in the case of Olmsted and others, versus Rittenhouse's Executors-collected and arranged, by Richard Peters, jun.

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An Essay on the Principle of Population; or, a View of its past and present effects on Human happiness; with an Inquiry into our prospects respecting the future removal or mitigation of the evils which it occasions. By T. R. Malthus, A. M late fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge. 2 vols.

By Bradford and Inskeep, Philadelphia, published,

A new Novel, by the author of the Horrours of St. Domingo, entitled, "Laura.”
Die mutter starb, ich fand mich mit win selbst
Ein schwaches rohr, und in dem sturm allem.

Gothe in Sancred.

My mother died, I found myself deserted,

A feeble reed, and in the storm alone.

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By Farrand, Mallory, and Co. Boston, republished,

Letters to the Rev. Thomas Belsham, on some important subjects of Theological discussion referred to in his discourse, on occasion of the death of the Rev. Joseph Priestly, L. L. D. F. R. S. and member of the several British and foreign academies, and philosophical societies, by John Pye Smith.

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By Coale and Thomas, Baltimore, published,

An Ode from the poems of Ossian, with musick, composed by the honourable Francis Hopkinson, formerly judge of the court of admiralty in Pennsylvania. Mr. Hopkinson has selected the poem, beginning with these words:

"Pleasant is thy voice, Oh! Carrel, and lovely are the words of former times. They are like the calm showers of Spring, when the sun looks on the field and the light cloud flies over the hill.”

This is the first attempt to adapt the version of Ossian to musick, and Mr. Hopkinson has succeeded in a manner which reflects great credit upon his taste and judgment. He has displayed particular skill in the difficult task of making his tones expressive of the sentiment-an art which is rarely attained by the best composers.

PROPOSED AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS.

Levis and Weaver, Philadelphia, propose

To republish by subscription, A complete History of England, comprising the narrative of Hume, and the continuations of Smollet and Bisset, exhibiting a connected series of English history, from the invasion of Britain by Julius Cesar, to the treaty of Amiens in 1801.. Fifteen volumes 8vo. with engravings.

Philadelphia,

To publish, by subscription, a volume of Poems, entitled Pills, poetical, political, and philosophical. Prescribed for the purpose of purging the publick of Piddling Philosophers, of Puny Poetasters, of Paltry Politicians, and Petty Partisans. By Peter Pepper-Box, Poet and Physician.

No common medicines are fit
For patient by a mad dog bit;

And poison must, as Galen held,

By counter poison be expelled.

PARACELSUS.

William P. Farrand and Co. Philadelphia, to republish,

Bacon's Abridgment

Comyn's Digest

With the American Law incorporated.

Isaac Heister, M. D. Honourary Member of the Philadelphia Medical Society,

c. to publish, by subscription,

Memoirs of the State of Pennsylvania. This work will contain essays on the following subjects-On the present boundaries of the State-The climate, mountains, rivers and other streams of water-Animal, vegetable, and mineral productionsAborigines or first inhabitants of the continent of America, particularly of the northern part-Cities, counties, and towns-Population, military force, marine force, constitution, laws, colleges and other publick institution-Religion, manners, manufactures, commerce weights, measures and money-Public revenue and expenses, and finally miscellaneous historical facts.

The whole work will contain about 450 pages octavo size, printed on fine paper with a new and handsome type.

Collins and Perkins, New York, to republish,

John and Charles Bell's Anatomy of the Human Body, illustrated by 125 engravings, four volumes in two, price 10 dollars-The London edition of this highly important work sells at 24 dollars, although the engravings are not so well executed as those of the American copy.

An Abridgment of John Bell's Principles of Surgery, by John Augustine Smith, of the Royal College of Surgeons, London, and professor of anatomy and surgery in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the city of New York; in one large vol. 8vo. with numerous plates. Price 5 dollars.

Wilson's Treatise on Febrile Diseases, including intermitting, Remitting, and continued fevers, eruptive fevers, inflammations, hemorrhages, and the Profluvia ; in which an attempt is made to present, at one view, whatever, in the present state

of medicine, it is requisite for the physician to know respecting the symptoms, causes, and cure of those diseases. In two large volumes octavo, comprising the five volumes of the London edition, and including the Essay on the Nature of Fever.

Hamilton's Observations on the Utility and Administration of Purgative Medicines in several diseases, from the second London edition, greatly enlarged by the author, 12mo, price 1 dollar and 25 cents-The Latin Formula, which are numerous, are translated by Dr. James of Philadelphia. The English edition sells at 3 dollars and 50

cents.

Robert M'Dermut, New York, to republish by subscription,

The History and Practice of finding the longitude at sea or land: to which are added, various methods of determining the latitude of a place, and variation of the compass; with new tables. By Andrew Mackay, L. L. D. F. R. S. Ed. &c. In two vols. 8vo. improved and enlarged.

John Hagerty and John Kingston, Baltimore, to republish,

The History of Henry earl of Moreland. Two volumes. About 800 pages. Price $2. 50. Boards. The History of Napoleon Buonaparte, &c. Second edition. 12mo. About 350 pages. Price $1.

George Bourne, Baltimore, to publish,

The History of the United States, from the year 1801 to 1809. Two volumes 8vo. About 1000 pages. Price $5. Boards.

RECENT BRITISH PUBLICATIONS.

A Grammar of the Sanskrita Language, by Charles Wilkins, L. L. D. F. R. S. The Battle of Flodden Field: a poem of the sixteenth century; with the various readings of the different copies, historical notes, a glossary, and an appendix, containing ancient poems, and historical matter, relative to the event. By Henry Weber, Esq. With three engravings. Price 15s. boards.

for

The ancient poem of Flodden Field having become extremely scarce, is now, the first time, published in an authentick form, the text being established by the collation of the different manuscripts and printed copies. Copious notes are subjoined, as also an appendix, containing numerous ancient poems relating to the battle and its consequences, together with the minute accounts of the most credible English historians. The engravings of the two standards carried by the earls of Huntly and Marshall, and the sword and dagger of king James IV. are added as appropriate embellishments.

Astronomy Explained, upon sir Isaac Newton's principles, and made easy to those who have not studied mathematicks. To which are added, a plain method of finding the distances of all the planets from the sun, by the transit of Venus over the Sun's disc, in the year 1761: an account of Mr. Horrox's observation of the transit of Venus, in the year 1639; and the distances of all the planets from the sun, as deduced from observations of the transit, in the year 1761. By James Ferguson, F. R. S. The 12th edition, improved and corrected by Andrew Mackay, L. L. D. F. R. S. Ed. &c. One large vol. 8vo. with numerous engravings, price 12s. in boards.

Relicks of Robert Burns; consisting chiefly of original letters, poems, and critical observations on Scottish Son Collected and published by R. H. Cromek. In ●ne vol. 8vo. price 10s. 6d. in boards.

The Minor Minstrel; or, Poetical Pieces. Chiefly familiar and descriptive. By William Holloway. Price 48. in boards.

Modern State of Spain; exhibiting a complete view of its topography, government, laws, religion, finances, naval and military establishments, and of society, manners, arts, sciences, agriculture, and commerce in that country. By J. F. Bourgoing, late minister plenipotentiary from France to the court of Madrid. Translated from the last Paris edition of 1807. To which are added essays on Spain, by M. Peyron, and the book of Post Roads. In 4 vols. 8vo. and a 4to. atlas, price 31. 3s.

Lectures on Systematick Theology, and on Pulpit Eloquence. By the late George Campbell, D. D. F. R. S. Ed. Principal of Marischal college, Aberdeen. In one large vol. 8vo. price 98. in boards.

Woman; or, Ida of Athens. By Miss Owenson.

"Nul doyte qu'on ne s'elevat aux plus grandes choses si l'on avoit l'amour pour precepteur, et que la main de la beau te jetta dans notre ame les semences de l'esprit, et de la vertu."--Helvetins. In 4 vols. 12mo. price 21s. boards.

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