Gum Arabic. The duty on Guin Arabic is augmented 5 piastres per quintal. PERSIA. Ambassador to India.-The Persian Goternment has appointed an Ambassador to Bombay, to convey to the India Company assurances of its friendship. The Minister, Mirza Riza Cooly, has been nominated to this mission, for which great preparations have been made.-His Excellency the late Persian Ambassador, left Calcutta January 13th, to embark on the Varuna, lying at Aedgerce, on his return to Persia. member of the Academy and University of Moscow, has lately presented to the museum of the university 332 new articles of value. They comprise precious stones, instruments of natural philosophy, antiques, drawings, Looks, &c. of natural history and science. Among other books is the New Testament printed by order of Peter the Great in Slavonic and Dutch. The university has directed that these gifts be all placed in the same apartment, to be called by the name of the Donor. SPAIN. Sundry new Species of Quinquina.—The government has lately transmitted to the botanists who are engaged in completing the Flora of Peru, eleven drawings, highly finish Commerce with Tartars.--Two Tartar chiefs have lately arrived at Delhi, in order to roncert measures with that government for establishing a system of commercial inter-ed and coloured from nature, in that country course with that province, by a new and less circuitous route. We understand the native traders, who have hitherto met with many interruptions and delays from duties and inposts exacted on the frontiers, will now have eir grievances redressed, and for the future enjoy particular privileges of which they have ong been deprived. POLAND. of so many new species of quinquina [Bark] sent from Peru in January last, by Don Juan Tafalla, and Don Juan Mazanilla, naturalists. These are really new species, not varieties only. We have now, therefore, delineations and descriptions of twenty-nine species of quinquina. About thirty other kinds are known to exist in Peru, of which further information is expected. Imminent Danger from Gunpowder, at New Discoveries.-Madrid, August 15. Thorn.-This city has narrowly escaped the The Royal Hydrographical Office of this city same calamity as befel the city of Leyden. A has published, by command of the Prince of loat loaded with gunpowder blew up this Peace, in the gazette of this city, the followmorning (August 7) at 8 o'clock; the explo-ing notice, relative to a discovery recently son has killed 60 persons, and wounded many others. It is attributed to the wife of the boatman, who boiled her kette near the place where the powder was stowed. It appears that this boat was loading with military stores and that the powder magazine near which it lay was damaged by the shock, but bappily the powder, amounting to 100,000lbs., did not explode. PRUSSIA. Pensions. On the subject of pensions it is settled, that those who have only 200 crowns, will retain that sum; those who have 300, will be reduced to 250 and from all sums above that value 50 crowns per cent. will be deducted. Opera. An order of council has suppressed the royal opera at Berlin. RUSSIA. Pensions to Widows of Officers.-The emperor of Russia has ordered that the widows of all officers killed in the late war should enjoy the whole of the appointment received by their late consorts: when these widows die, these pensions shall descend to their children, till they attain the age of 16 years, unless they have sooner entered into the service. The daughters will receive the same advantages till they are placed in some house of education, or are married. This order is to be executed by the college of war. July 15, 1807. Donations to Moscow University.-The Princess Catherina Romanowna Daschkow, made in the South Sea.-The frigate La Pala, belonging to the Phillippine Company, and commanded by Don John Baptiste Monteverde, on her voyage from Manilla to Liina, discovered on the 18th of February, 1806, a group of islands, the southernmost of which is situated in 3 deg. 29 min. north latitude, and 102 deg. 5 min. east longitude, from Cadiz.-These islands, 29 in number, occupy a space of 10 leagues from N.E. to S.W. and are separated by channels, one or two leagues in breadth. They are low, woody, and intersected with rivers. Their inhabitants are of the most pacific disposition. They first approached the frigate to the number of 21, in two canoes.-When they had come within nonsket slot, they ceased rowing, and held some cocoa-nuts towards the Spaniards, shouting and making signs. The frigate clowed her sails, and hoisted the Spanish colours. This manoeuvre having apparently excited some apprehensions in the islanders, the Spanish colours were struck, and a white flag was hoisted, the crew, at the same time, calling and making signs to the canoes to approach. They, accordingly, came alongside, and gave the Spaniards some cocoa-nuts, without demanding any thing in return, but none of them could be persuaded to come on board. The crew of the frigate then distributed among them some old knives, ironrings, and pieces of red cloth; and this liberality excited such joy and gratitude in these good people, that they immediately stripped their canoes to make presents to the Spaniards; their nets, their fish-hooks, their cocoa-nut shells, which served them for cups, their enormous hats, made of the leaves of the palm-tree, were all in a moment renoved on board of the frigate; and they at length proceeded to strip themselves of their only garment, fastened round their waist, in order to testify their gratitude to their benefactors. Still they were not content with themselves, and gave the Spaniards to understand that they would return to their island to fetch other presents, and requested that the frigate would wait for them.These Indians are tall, well-made, robust, and active. They are of an olive colour, have flat noses, black curled hair, but of considerable length. In each canoe was a venerable old man, naked like the others, and who appeared to be their chief. One very remarkable circumstance is, that these two old men were white, and had aquiline noses. They had rather the air of Spaniards than of savages. Captain Monteverde adds, that these islands, and their aged chiefs, bore a considerable resemblance, in their features and conduct, to the Indians of the Islands of St. Bartholomew, and those of Cafa and Ibectis, where he landed in 1800, with the frigate La Philippine, commanded by Don Juan Ibarguitia. SWITZERLAND. Damage by the Fall of the Ruffiberg Mountain. (Compare Panorama, Vol. I. p. 419.)-From the observations made by M. de Saussure on the fall of the Rufliberg in Switzerland, which were read at the Society in Geneva on the 30th of Oct. 1806, we find that the damage done is as follows: 484 persons killed; 170 cows and horses killed; 103 goats and sheep killed; 87 fields entirely destroyed; 60 do. injured; 97 houses entirely destroyed; 8 do. rendered uninhabitable; 160 out-buildings entirely destroyed; 190 injured. The total damage is estimated at 1,173,479 florins of Schwitz, or about £118,000 or £120,000.-The neighbouring cantons have shewn their patriotism by offering and furnishing as many men as they could spare, to drain off the waters and open the roads. Ecclesiastical Immunities.—In spite of the act which suppresses all privileges of place, birth, and station, it is remarked that the ecclesiastical immunities are re-establishing in silence in certain cantons. This renders some jealous spirits uneasy, and they call on government to examine into the fact. of troops, and an immense crowd of people, went in state to the mosque of the conqueror of Constantinople, Mahomet II., where he offered his prayers. He has caused himself to be inscribed on the first rank of the 61st company of Janissaries, famous for its exploits : he drank the health of the corps in a golden cup, which he afterwards filled with golden coin and gave it to the Aga of the corps. General acclamations of joy accompanied the procession, and the Grand Seignior and his attendants, went with great solemnity to the Great Mosque of Ejub (Job) where the Sultan was girt with the sabre of the Prophet, with the address, "Go forth, with this thou shalt vanquish all thine enemies." 66 NEW SOUTH WALES. Sidney Gazettes.-By the last arrival of dispatches from Botany-Bay, Sidney Gazettes have been received, dated as late as July 13, 1806, from which we extract the following. Cattle. The most important of the do mestic articles of intelligence in these papers, respects the management of the cattle. It has been found to be of the greatest consequence to the subsistence of that remote country, that restrictions should be imposed on killing the animals suited to the support of man; and the fortunate result has been, that they are now so abundant, as to prevent any probability of future deficiency. Interior Discoveries.-Every account concellence of Port Dalrymple for the purposes of firms our former report of the apparent ex our extensive settlements, as from the surveys already taken, some very fine tracts of land from the site of the town, on the western arm, a heavy fall of water, from mountainous precipices, has received the name of the smaller cascade; there being another of prodigious magnitude and height, fifty miles further distant. are discovered. Not more than twelve miles Shyness of the Natives.-The natives appear still to be but little disposed to frater nity, but, on the contrary, always disappear when approached. No accident has, however, occurred from any act of aggression on pursuing one or two stragglers to the confines their part, which has never gone further than of the encampments: they are in general more robust than the native inhabitants of this part of the country; but, from the construc tion of their weapons, it can hardly be supposed they accustom themselves to hostility against each other. Their spears, though of prodigious length, are not barbed, and quite smooth at the point; they are thrown without the assistance of the wamerah, which adds considerably to the velocity of the wea pon; yet such is their dexterity that at a considerable distance they strike and frequently kill the game they pursue. They carry neither clubs nor shields. OBSERVANDA INTERNA. heat of the sun. Westminster Abbey.-Those two lumbering monuments which were erected in Westminster Abbey to the memory of captain Montague and of captains Hutt and Harvey, are taken down, and having been curtailed of half their ponderosity are now erecting in the north and south-west angles of the Abbey. From their enormous size, when placed in the opeu arcades on each side of the centre aisle, they were disfigurements; as, indeed, are many others, the erection of which has totally destroyed the beauty of the arcades. Although every person of good taste and patriotic sentiurents is concerned in what relates circumstance sand situation allowed, supposing the comet as far distant as the sun, or about 12,000 diameters of the earth, it must be Summer Season of 1907.-We have paid moving in the present stage of its perihelion, particular attention to the extraordinary heats nearly a million miles in an hour, or upwards. of 16,000 miles in a minute!-October 21. at, of the present summer on the continent, and 7 o'clock, P. M. the coinet was one degree to might have enlarged that article, by repeating the east of the star marked Y on Hercules's the accounts of many tremendous storms, of right shoulder, its declination being nearly hail, rain, thunder, and lightning, which twenty degrees north, and right ascension 243 in various places have done incredible damage; degrees, being 16 hours, and 12 minutes. Set about half past nine, at 33 degrees to the but these we have only alluded to. In our north of the west; having increased its dethe among own country, the season has been clination 14 degrees, and its right ascension hottest ever known, and great ravages have 23 degrees in fifteen days. The sun having been occasioned by storms and tempests: passed over fifteen degrees of right ascension Several fatal accidents have occurred by light-in the same time, and made five degrees of ning in various places, and many lingering dis-southern declination: wherefore the comet has orders have been produced by exposure to the increased its distance from the sun by about 18 Even to the close of the degrees, and appears to be returning from month of October the weather has continued the sun, which, in that case, it must have gone round, i. e. must have passed its perihe unusually dry, and fine with no other ap-liou, before it was discovered. pearance of the approach of winter than what is connected with the autumnal change of hue in the trees, and the shedding of their leaves. We do not enlarge on this subject, because by means of the newspapers, &c. it is probable our readers are acquainted with sufficient particulars: we insert this notice for the reference of posterity. What becomes of such theories of the weather (lately published) as attempt to account for the increasing moisture and humidity of the climate of Britain, from the increase of cultivation, vegetation, canals, &c. throughout the island? Comet. The comet lately discovered has been observed by many persons in various parts, for several nights past, particularly in the evening of Monday the 12th October, and Wednesday 21st, when the following It became phenomena were distinctly seen. visible immediately after twilight, at a considerable elevation in the heavens, nearly due west, and set about half past eight o'clock, The nuwithin a few degrees of north west. cleus, or body, when viewed through a small telescope, appeared about the size of a star of the first magnitude, but less vivid, and of a pale dusky colour. The atmosphere of the comet, owing to the limited power of the telescope, was barely perceptible. The daily increases in magnitude and splendour it is extremely brilliant, seeming to be a vibration of luminous particles, somewhat resembling the Aurora Borealis, at other times it almost disappears; this variation is caused by terrestrial vapours. From the arc described by the cornet in the heavens, in the short space of two hours, its velocity must be immense. By the nearest computation which tail to this truly venerable repository of the illus Monument to Thomson.-Sept. 16, Several gentlemen in the neighbourhood of Kelso, met at Ednam, for the purpose of celebrating the birth-day of Thomson, the poet, when many appropriate toasts were given, and the meeting was conducted with a degree of harmony and social mirth worthy the occasion. A subscription was opened, at this meeting, for erecting a monument to his memory, Fonthill Mutability.-The attractive auc- | approbation, both of the regulations and artion at Fonthill closed with the pictures and rangements of the Society, and the spirited porcelain, after lasting seven days. The and extensive plans of Mr. Curwen, the Preamount must exceed £20,000. The mir-sident. The different specimens of stock rors produced near £5000. Three of them exhibited, were said, by judges, most of sold for 400 guineas cach. This distinguish them to be excellent of their kinds. The ed edifice is now dismantled of all its interior beauty of Mr. Sitwell's bull and sheep elegance, and is to experience demolition, (Leicestershire and Southdown) in particular, having been advertised for sale in detail, and attracted the notice and admiration of l is supposed not likely to produce more than beholders. On the day on which the diffe £20,000, although erected by the late Alrent prizes were awarded, Mr. Curwen gave derman Beckford, at an expense exceeding a dinner to upwards of 580 gentlemen and £150,000. respectable farmers.—Compare Panorama, Vol. II. p. 1126. New Forest.-An act was passed in the reign of William III. for the increase and preservation of timber in the New Forest; by the authority of which act, 200 acres of the Forest were inclosed for the growth of timber for the public service. As the timber be comes past danger, from the browzing of deer, &c. the inclosures are thrown open, and more waste land inclosed to keep up the continual number of 2000 inclosed acres. The London Gazette has given notice, that 1032 acres so planted, are become past dan ger, and are thrown open; and that an equal quantity of waste land is to be inclosed in lieu thereof. New Light-House.--The Trinity House in London have it in contemplation to erect a new light-house upon Spurn Point, on a plan recommended by Mr. Mills, the collector of customs at Bridlington; the light to be of such power as to throw its rays to a very considerable distance in the thickest fog. The wont of a better light at the entrance of the Humber has long been the subject of complaint with nautical men. The new erected and vivid lights upon Flamborough Head are found highly beneficial to vessels making for land, from Greenland, the Baltic, &c.-Compare Panorama, Vol. I, p. 836. Turnips.-The thanks of the York Agricultural Society were lately voted to Mr. Rocliffe, for a turnip sent by him, with a letter, informing the Society, that it was of the new Suffolk red kind, which at this early season, measures 13 inches in circumference, and was drawn from a ten acre field, which was sown the last week in May, and the first week in June, on ridges 24 inches distant; the soil, a loose grey sand, lies rather low, and the fee simple cost nine guineas per acre. Workington Agricultural Society.--At the annual meeting of the Workington Hunt and Agricultural Society, almost all the principal families of Cumberland, and some of the adjacent counties, were present. Sir John Sinclair, President of the Board of Agriculture, the Rev. St. John Priest, with a great number of distinguished agriculturists and amateurs from different parts of the kingdom, honoured the meeting with their presence, and were pleased to express their highest | New House of Correction.-A new House of Correction for the county is erecting at Exeter. The foundation stone was laid August 22 by Samuel Frederic Milford, Esq. attended by a number of magistrates and other gentlemen of the county, in the presence of a great concourse of spectators. The building is on an extensive scale, being calculated to contain 150 prisoners, with their different cells, work-rooms, &c. The plan is a master-piece of the kind; Mr. Monypenny, the architect of the new gaol at Winchester, is also the architect of this building. Copper Mines.--At the last sale of copper ore at Redruth, 883 tons of Wheal Alfred maine sold from 51. 5s. to 141. 15s. 6d.-419 tons of Penberthy Crofts, from gl. 7s. 6d. to 111. 4s. 6d.-448 tons of Godolphin, from 71. 16s. 6. to 361. 16s. 6d.-238 tons of Wheel Dolphin, from 31. 6s. Odi to 141. 11s.-And 455 tons of other mines, from 51. 12s. 6d. to 141. 9s. 6d. per ton.the standard price of ore fell to 120-2 at the above sale, in consequence of the India Company having taken a much smaller quantity at their late contract than was expected. Wheal Lushington in Illogan, has lately cut a rich lode of tin, which promises soon to remunerate the adventurers for the whole of their costs. It has turned up 2,000l. worth in the course of the last fortnight. Consi derable quantities of copper ore are also rais ing from Wheal Lushington, on the Wheal Towan lode, which runs through this mine. Wheal Damsel still continues very rich in copper. Treskerby also continues rich. It was lately in contemplation to give up working Camborne Vean, but the late salts have encouraged the adventurers to proceed. A good discovery has lately been made in Wheal Chance. Copper Ore. A vein of copper ore has been discovered on Colonel Brigstocke's estate, between Llanelly and Kidwelly, in Carmarthenshire, which has every appearance of being what is technically termed a strong vein: several tons of the ore have been already raised, and the quality is found so good, that 7 per ton has been offered and refused. Discovery of Human Skeletons.-Lately some labourers digging the foundation of a new building near the Thames side, at Kingston, came to two human skeletons, lying face to face, one upon the other; the surface of earth covering them was five feet in depth, and consisted of a hard bound street dirt, which becoming firm as the soft parts of the bodies decayed, had left a cavity or mould for the skeletons to rest in, as compact as stone itself. No buttons nor any other ornament could be found in the cavity, which must have been the case had they been buried with their clothes. On examining the skeletons, they must both have been at least six feet in height, and considerably under thirty, as neither had cut their dentes sapientiæ, and what is very remarkable, besides these every tooth was perfect in all the jaws. Mr. Roots, a gentleman conversant in antiquarian pursuits, who has preserved the jaws, is led to think they must have been deposited here after some engagement, as fifteen years ago an old fashioned sword was taken up, eight feet under the surface, within twenty yards of the same spot. The last engageinent near this place was in 1648, when Charles the First was a prisoner in the Isle of Wight, and in which Lord Francis Villiers was pursued to the banks of the river and killed; and it is very probable that many of his adherents died in this engagement, which ended in the entire defeat of the royalists; and that part of the river where the bodies were found is in a direct line with the place where the battle was fought, called Surbiton Common. The bridge being lower down the river, and in the possession of the Parliament's forces, under Colonel Pritty, it is most probable that many of the vanquished, endeavouring to ford the river, were slain and buried on its bank; and as Kingston, indeed, has been, from its proximity to the metropolis, the seat of many engagements even prior to this, no doubt seems to remain but that they were the bodies of men slain in battle; and from the circumstance of the sword having been found so near, many other bodies in all probability rest in quiet hard by, until accident shall once more throw up their remains to set con Earl Stanhope's new-invented Vessel.—| The first experiment with this vessel was made on Monday, October the 12th, in the pond in Kensington Gardens, opposite the Palace. The vessel is 30 feet long, by 7 ftet wide: it has a round bottom, both ends being sharp, something like a weaver's shuttle. The sides were painted yellow, with the port-holes on the sides, and windows at each end painted to imitate real. On each side, towards each end, as it was made to sail either way without putting about, were three gills, which opened out or closed, by means of pulling an iron rod on the deck, which was cased with copper, in such a manner as to render it water-proof: instead of the bottom being pitched outside, it was covered with a composition, an invention of the noble Earl's, which, as soon as spread on quite hot, became so hard that a chissel could not cut it, and had the quality of resisting any force, by its being elastic, so as to answer the purpose of a copper covering. About a quarter past three it was launched into the water, by means of rollers placed on deal planks. Previous to this there was a temporary ruder fixed to one end, in order 19 ascertain which answered best, that or the gills. As soon as it was launched, one ton and a half of ballast was taken on board; his Lordship, a Licutenant of the Navy, and some sailors, went on board; having no sils, they rowed up and down the pond, and then twice round; the men at the oars kept pulling regularly; when it was found that the gills beat the rudder in velocity, and turned coastways with greater ease, having the advantage of returning back without puting about ship. After the first trial there was another ten of ballast taken on board. After being an hour on the water the second time, about five o'clock the masts were put on board, and the car vass spread, with the Union Jack at the main-mast head; when she said most majestically with a light wind. She returned with the other head foremost, | without ever putting about. It is supposed that from this mode of building, one-third of the expense will be saved in the construction of a 74; that on account of being rather flat-bottomed, it will carry more tonnage,jecture afloat. and will navigate in very shillow water, and over breakers or sunken locks, without the rish that a ship with a keel runs, as on approaching any rock or coast, it can immediately retire, without loss of time in putting about; it does not require half the sails now used, all of which can be worked by the men on deck, without going aloft; the composition which covers it is infuitely cheaper then copper, and answers the same purpose; it can also sait nearly against the wind, by working the gills. The next trial is to be made in the presence of the Admiralty Lords. Hull Armoury-The Armoury at the citadel at Hull, which has lately undergone several alterations and repairs, is now completely fitted up, and is capable of containing arms and accoutrements for 15,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry. The roof of the old block-house, at the west entrance of the citadel, has been taken off, and the interior walls pulled down, and it is about to be fitted up for a naval store-house, in which it is proposed to keep a constant supply of stores capable of furnishing six sail of the line and twelve frigates, in case of any emergency. |