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1831.]

Miscellaneous Reviews-Fine Arts.

unless the qualification is high, and of course not too diffusive.

Mr. MAC BEAN's Force of Beauty, and other original Poems, may please the religious public; as may also Mr. CORKINDALE'S Sketches of Genius, and other Poems.

Mrs. LACHLAN's Agape, or the Sacred Love-pledge, though we do not like the title and the foolish frontispiece, is unobjectionable, because it consists of extracts from the Bible, under general heads; and therefore may be a very useful book of reference.

The Proposal for the establishment of Village Schools of Industry, is that of placing seminaries on waste or other lands, where boys are taught field-work and trades, and girls sewing and scrubbery, besides reading and religious instruction. It is also presumed, that they could thus maintain themselves. To such experiments upon a limited scale we have no objection; but in regard to an indefinite extent of pauperism, we beg to ask what is to become of infants under ten years old, which would absolutely swarm

like gnats? If in China and other coun

tries infanticide has been connived at, how absurd is it to instigate measures which imply unlimited pauperism; and in northern climates too, which nature never intended to be over-peopled.

The Didoniad, a semi-Virgilian nautic Epic, in nine Cantos. Edited by PAUL HEIDIGER, Esq. late Lieutenant of the Royal Navy. The mighty powers of Virgil could not elevate Eneas above what he really is, a sneaking fellow; but our author, with far better contrivance, has substituted for a hero a fine British Admiral, and converted Dido into a modern Circe.

FINE

Part XI. of the Landscape Illustrations of the Waverley Novels, contains Views of Fast Castle, by Copley Fielding, in which a shipwreck is appropriately introduced in the desolate scene; Castle Rushin, by Gastineau; Bothwell Bridge, by D. Roberts; and York Minster, that most "august of temples," as Sir W. Scott justly calls it. This View, by Nash, is taken from the City walls, and gives a good representation of the S. E. of the cathedral.

Part XII. contains Solway Sands, "illuminated by the beams of the setting sun," drawn by Copley Fielding; Stirling Castle, by Robson, but the artist has forgot to hang the Union Flag over the battlements; Wharncliffe woods, in Yorkshire, by De Wint; and Manor Glen, from a sketch by J. Skene, esq.

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The Rev. ROBERT GRANT'S Six Lectures on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, treat the subject in a new and more religious light than we have hitherto seen it. There are many happy passages.

Mr. WEBSTER'S Delectus Grammaticus is an elementary book, very serviceable in that difficult part of tuition, the advance of boys from the Latin grammar to construing.

Mr. PINNOCK'S Comprehensive Grammar of Sacred Geography and History is so excellently compiled as to place it among the first class of school-books; and so great is the merit of these in the present day, that ours is no small praise. In the event of a new edition, we beg Mr. Pinnock's attention to parallelisms, the chief form of Hebrew poetry, and which from p. 183, § 8, we think has escaped his recollection.

The Walks about Town, with Cruikshank's Illustrations, excite a smile. Some of the puns are very good.

The Emperor's Rout is a good imitation of the Butterfly's Ball, and in a story written in easy verse, with explanatory notes, much instruction to the juvenile entymologist is combined with amusement. The plates are tastefully coloured. Plates I. and III. are wrong numbered, being transposed.

ARTS.

The second Number of C. Heath's Historical Illustrations of Sir W. Scott's Novels, consists of six engravings of scenes in Rob Roy.

The plates are well designed by H. Corbould, H. Richter, and J. M. Wright, and finished in the highest style of line engraving by C. Heath, Rolls, Bacon, and Goodyear. They richly deserve success.

A fine line engraving of The Interior of Westminster Abbey (size 22 in. by 17) has been executed by Mr. W. Woolnoth, from a drawing by George Cattermole, esq. The view is taken from the Poets' Corner, across the Choir, and is terminated by the superb circular window of the N. Transept. This is a fine point of view for the exhibition of the noble proportions of this majestic pile, and from the entire omission of the

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Fine Arts.-Literary Intelligence.

monuments and screens, the original architecture is entirely unobscured. So far is well; but we cannot approve of the inconsistent introduction of a scene from Shakspeare in the midst of this architectural purity. The funeral of Henry the Fifth is represented, not as it actually took place, with the contemporary costume and contemporary pomp: hut as it might be exhibited with the paltry and inadequate means of theatrical display. How very_differently the Abbey was furnished on a Royal ceremony in Catholic times, is ingeniously imagined by our old friend John Carter, in the frontispiece to his "Ancient Sculpture and Painting." As an architectural View this print has the highest merit: but the only figures should have been a groupe of the monastic architects.

Our favourable opinion of Mr. Major's cabinet Edition of Hogarth is fully confirmed by the Second Part, which contains five Plates of Industry and Idleness; Pl. 3 of the Election; Pl. 3 and 4 of Marriage-ala-mode; Pl. 1 and 3 of Four Times of the Day; Enraged Musician; Distressed Poet; and Southwark Fair. The expression and character of the original engravings are uncommonly well preserved in these excellent miniature copies. We like Mr. Major's notes better than Dr. Trusler's text, and are glad to see him consulting the Essays of Mr. Phillips and Mr. Lamb. Some of the explanatory notes of Dr. Trusler might have been omitted; such for instance as " Wesley [misspelt Westley and afterwards Westly] a leader of a sect called Methodists."

Halfpenny's Gothic Ornaments in York Cathedral has always been allowed by artists and amateurs as a work of high authority on the subject of Gothic architecture; exhibiting a great variety of ornaments, drawn with much precision from the finest specimens of the art. We are happy therefore to announce that this valuable collection of Plates is re-publishing in Numbers. Six have already appeared. Several of the subjects in these Numbers are particularly graceful; and some knots of figures in the cieling of the choir, which were burnt and have not been restored, but merely replaced by leafy tracery, will be found pre

[April,

served in Mr. Halfpenny's work. We are glad to see the work patronized, amongst others, by both our Archbishops.

Pompeiana.

Part VI. of Sir W. Gell's Observations on

Pompeii contains four Plates. 1. Fac-simile of a juvenile head, supposed by Sir W. Gell original, when first found," had the transto represent Achilles. The colouring in the parency of Titian." 2. Venus and Cupid angling, two graceful figures, engraved in Mercuries; 4. The Pedestals in the Forum ; these are two interesting and good plates. 5. Section of a Caldarium or Warm Bath.

outline. 3. A view of the Street of the

The English School.

Nos. XI. and XII. of this pleasing little include Pictures from West, Wilkie, Louwork have been imported from Paris. They selection is judicious and the execution of therbourg, Flaxman, Chantrey, &c. &c. The these diminutive copies commendable.

SALE AT MEREWORTH CASTLE, Kent.

Lord Le Despencer's superb collection of Pictures, which has long and justly been celebrated, was lately dispersed by the hammer of the auctioneer. The focus of attraction was Correggio's Sigismunda, said to be worth 5,000 guineas; but for some unknown reason it was not put up for sale. There were above one hundred very excellent pictures. Lots 19 and 22, Ruins in Italy, by Pannini, were splendid specimens of the picturesque, and sold for ten and twelve guineas. Lot 21, Portrait of Van Dyck, by himself, known as "the Sunflower," which brought only eight guineas. Lot 25, The Temptation of St. Katherine, by Teniers, 401. The purchaser has been since offered 200l. for it. Lot 41, A View of Mereworth Castle, by Tennant, painted on the spot for 50l. was sold for ten guineas and a half, about the cost of its splendid frame. Lot 59, Portrait of Catrini Hoogh, painted by Rembrandt in 1657, sold for 108. A Saint Francis, by Guido, in that master's best style, brought only 167. One of Claude's most excellent Landscapes, bought by Mr. Alderman Lucas for 24 guineas only; its companion fetched 301.

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE.

Books announced for Publication.
The first Part of the History and Antiqui
ties of the County of Buckingham. By G.
LIPSCOMB, M.D. 4to.

A new History and Description of the
Town of Woburn, its Abbey and Vicinity.
A Biography of the Russell Family; and a
Guide to Woburn Abbey, with an Account

of the Paintings, Sculptures, and Conservatories. By J. D. PARRY, M.A.

The Life of the Rev. John Wesley, including Notices of the Rev. C. Wesley. By RICHARD WATSON, Author of "Observations on Southey's Life of Wesley," &c.

Letters on Prophetic Subjects, Part I. By J. H. FRERE, Esq.

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Gospel Truth accurately stated and illustrated. By the Rev. Messrs. HoG, BOSTON, ERSKINE, and others; collected by JOHN BROWN.

Journal of a Voyage round the World; undertaken to promote the objects of the London Missionary Society, during the years 1821 to 1829, inclusive. By the Rev. D. T. TYERMAN and G. BENNET, Esq. Compiled from the Original Documents, by JAMES MONTGOMERY, Esq. Author of "The World before the Flood," &c.

Evangelical Spectator. By the Author of the Evangelical Rambler.

Counsels for the Communion Table. By JOHN MORISON, D.D.

History of Christianity to the Age of Constantine.

Essays on Church Polity.

The Canon of the Old and New Testaments ascertained; or, the Bible complete without the Apocrapha and unwritten Tradition. By ARCHIBALD ALEXAnder, D.D. with Introductory Remarks by JOHN MORISON, D.D.

Sermons on the Amusements of the Stage, preached at St. James's Church, Sheffield. By the Rev. T. BEST.

Life and Diary of the Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, A.M. of Stirling, Father of the Secession Church. By DONALD Frazer.

Omnipotence: a Poem. By R. JARMAN. A Series of Essays on the Evidences of Natural and Revealed Religion. By Mr. R. AINSLIE.

The History of Medicine, Surgery, and Anatomy, from the earliest period to the present time. By Dr. HAMILTON.

The Utility of the Knowledge of Nature considered; with reference to the introduction of instruction in the Physical Sciences into the general Education of Youth. By E. W. BRAYLEY, A.L.S.

Pylus Malus Brentfordiensis; a Descriptive Catalogue of the most valuable sorts of Apples. By HUGH RONALDS. coloured Figure of each.

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Joseph Hodgson, Esq. of Birmingham, was elected Fellow.

The concluding portion of Colonel Pasley's paper on Artificial Cement was read; as was also a paper by J. W. Lubbock, Esq. V.P. and Treas. "On the Meteorological Observations made at the apartments of the Royal Society during the years 1827, 1828, and 1829."

His Royal Highness the President informed the Meeting that he had received communications from Lord Melville and Sir Robert Peel, desiring to resign their seats on the Council, on account of their parliamentary duties. April 21.

Sir Astley Cooper, V. P. Sir Martin A. Shee was elected Fellow.

A paper was read, "On the errors in the course of Vessels, occasioned by Local Attraction, with some remarks on the recent loss of his Majesty's ship Thetis, by Peter Barlow, Esq."

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

April 11. A most interesting communication was read, containing an account of a visit to Morocco and the Atlas mountains, by Lieut. Washington, R.N., made in the beginning of 1830. The population of Morocco was estimated at nearly 100,000, 5,000 of whom are Jews. The height of Atlas is stated to be 11,400 feet above the level of the sea. Its geological structure consists of hard sandstone strata, dipping to the southward, and lying east and west. Limestone and schist were present. There were no traces of primitive formations or volcanic agency.

ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.

April 10. A paper on the obliquity of the ecliptic, and new tables on the sun's declinations, were submitted. A paper, lamenting the backward state of optical science in England, with remarks on the progress

and desiderata of the manufacture of achroWith a matic lenses, was also read, with some other important papers on the formation of telescopes, and their improvement. Several associates and fellows were admitted.

A System of Endowments for the Provident Classes in every Station of Life, exemplified by the Rules of the Southwell Endowment Society. By the Rev. J. T. BECHER, M.A. Vicar-general and Prebendary of the Collegiate Church of Southwell. A familiar Summary of the Law of Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes.

The Laws relating to Benefit Societies and Savings' Banks; being a familiar Summary of the two consolidating Acts on these subjects.

The Freemason's Pocket Companion.

The Bridal Night; the First Poet; and other Poems. By DUGALD MOORE, Author of "The African," "Scenes from the Flood," &c.

ROYAL SOCIETY.

April 14. The Duke of Sussex, President.

HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF LONDON. On Monday, the 21st of March, the Highland Society of London held their anniversary meeting and dinner, which was conducted with the usual national observances, the company being entertained with the ancient martial music of Caledonia.

The silver medal, and unanimous thanks of the Society, were given to Mr. Logan, for his interesting work on the manners and customs of the Scottish Gaël, and other branches of the Celtic race.

KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON.

The following additional appointments have recently taken place in this institution: -J. Anstice, esq. to be Professor of Classical Literature; Charies Lyell, esq. to be

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professor of Geology; Gilbert T. Burnett, esq. to be professor of Botany; and the Rev. Joseph Edwards, B. A. to be second master in the school.

NEW METHOD OF DYEING BLACK CLOTH.

A discovery has been made by Messrs. Watson and Son, Leeds, of a method of dyeing black in the wool, in such manner as to allow of its being manufactured as well as any other wool-dyed colour, and to remedy the complaint against English blacks of their wearing white in the seams. So fast is the colour, that, when tested with one part of the strongest sulphuric acid to two parts of water, it remains unchanged, whilst the colour of black cloth dyed in the manner at present in use is completely destroyed. The experiment was made in the presence of Dr. Hunter, and several other gentlemen. Tested with equal parts of muriatic acid and water, the effects were equally decisive: the process is rather more expensive.

DUCHESSE DE BERRI'S LIBRARY.

Since the dispersion of the renowned Roxburghe Collection, no book sale has attracted so many visitors as prevailed during the recent sale of the Library of the Duchesse de Berri, by Mr. Evans. We do not remember so gaudy a display of splendid books, decorated in the most costly bindings by the best artists in Paris; still far inferior to the substantial workmanship and high polish of Lewis, and other bookbinders in London. Perhaps the best specimen of binding was a variorum edition of Rabelais, in nine vols. Paris, 1823, purchased by Prince Cimitile, for 201. Two Albums were bought by Col. Dubois for 2001. and 280l. The Congress at Vienna, a series of drawings in bistre, produced 951. The matchless collection of Roses, painted to imitate nature, upon vellum, were purchased by Major Thompson at 420l. The Campaigns of Napoleon Buonaparte, an oblong folio, brought 291. Renouard's edition of Voltaire, in 66 volumes, 50l. Répertoire du Théâtre Français, with all the plates, in three states, and original drawings, 35 volumes, bought by Mr. Dibdin for 641. Ostervald's Picturesque Voyage in Sicily, 2 vols. Payne and Foss, 70l. The noted Herbier de l'Amateur, bought by Major Thompson, at 346l. The Musée Français, 6 vols. folio, Prince Cimitile 125l. Audebert's Natural History, 2 vols. large paper, Payne and Foss, 100 guineas. French Classics, in 57 vols. 791.

ACOUSTIC CHAIR.

The science of acoustics, in a practical point of view, has been strangely neglected in this country, and, in fact, in modern times generally. The ancients appear to have been better acquainted with the doctrine of sounds, and to have applied it to

[April,

more useful purposes than ourselves; for we learn that Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse, had a cavern excavated in a rock, in the shape of the human ear (which is of course best adapted for the reception and transmission of sounds) in which he coufined his state prisoners, and by tubes leading from it to his chamber, he was able to catch even their softest whisper, and thus to discover their designs, &c. This idea seems to have been lost sight of till now, when we are agreeably surprised to find that Mr. Curtis, the well-known aurist, has invented a chair with an acoustic barrel and tubes, something on the principle of the Invisible Girl, for the benefit of the deaf, and for old persons who are hard of hearing, and who, while sitting in it at their leisure, may hear conversation or reading in a low tone of voice, carried on by an individual in any part of the room. By means of pipes, also, a person whispering in a distant apartment can be distinctly heard. We have ourselves been seated in it, and were astonished at the ease with which we distinguished the different voices of those engaged in conversation in an under tone, and also a tune played by a small musical box (which was as audible as if it had been standing on a table before us), in a room separated by a hall, &c. from the one in which the chair is placed. Upon the whole, we consider this invention as one of the most ingenious applications of the principles of acoustics with which we are acquainted.—Lit. Gaz.

A very interesting paper has been read before the Society of Arts, in which it was proposed to connect the Mediterranean with the Red Sea, by means of a railway across the Isthmus of Suez, which should be capable of allowing vessels of the largest burthen to be propelled along it by means of locomotive steam-engines.

TITHES.

At the Chester Assizes an important case was tried, involving the right of Tithes to the amount of about 2,000t. a-year. The plaintiffs were the Rev. Dr. Drever, the Rev. T. Maudesley, and W. Turner, as Trustees of the late R. Leigh, esq. of Adlington-hall, and the defendant was Col. T. Parker, of the Cheshire militia. The action was brought under the Statutes of Edward VI. and Henry VIII. to recover treble the amount of the tithe on hay on lands in the occupation of Col. Parker, in the parish of Prestbury, claimed by the plaintiffs as trustees of the lay impropriator of the whole parish. The defendant pleaded the general issue and the Statute of Limitations. The Tithes of the extensive parish of Prestbury, which is fourteen miles by eight, and in which the town of Macclesfield is situate, formerly belonged to the monastery of St. Werburgh, in the City of Chester, but at the period of the Reformation reverted to

1831.]

Literary Intelligence.-Antiquarian Researches.

the Crown; and in the 22d of Elizabeth were granted by the Queen to Thomas Leigh, esq. the ancestor of the Adlington family, and remained in their possession from that time to the present. Being an extensive parish, the Tithes

were never

taken in kind, but always in money, and the Tithe on hay was 1s. per acre on the uplands, and 6d, on the lowlands. The Tithes of that part of the parish of Prestbury which constituted Col. Parker's estate, were leased to the defendant until 1816, when the term expired, and during that term neither Col. Parker nor any of his tenants paid any Tithes at all. At the expiration of the term a dispute arose as to the liability to pay Tithe on hay where corn was grown, and the corn

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set up in the kivers, on the ground of a modus; and a Bill was filed in the Court of. Exchequer in the year 1817, by the plaintiffs, against Col. Parker, the result of which was a decision against him, in the year 1820, and subsequently confirmed in 1827, on bringing the case by a Writ of Error before the House of Lords. The Tithes on corn, &c. were paid as usual after the expiration of the lease, by the defendant among others; thus establishing the right of the plaintiffs to the Tithes of the parish generally. The jury now found for the plaintiffs for 3091. treble the value of the Tithes on hay for the last six years, any further arrears being barred by the Statute of Limitations.

ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES.

SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES.
April 14. Hudson Gurney, Esq. V.P.
Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart. one of the
Auditors, read a statement of the Society's

accounts.

John Britton, Esq. F.S.A. exhibited several large drawings of the architecture of ancient Greece.

Henry Ellis, Esq. Secretary, presented copies of two bird's eye Views in the British Museum : 1. the town of Brighton, when attacked and fired by the French in 1545, as described by Holinshed under that year; North, West, and East Streets are represented, with a field in the centre where the market is at present. In the common accounts of Brighton, it is stated that Henry the Eighth, to protect the town from attacks similar to that here represented, built a block-house in 1539; but as no such building is represented in this view, it is probable too early a date is thus given to its erection. The village of Hove is represented as a single street, with the church standing, which has now almost entirely disappeared. 2. A View of the Country round Dieppe (including the chateau d'Arques in its original state), and the battle of St. Etienne, in which Henri IV. beat the Duke of Mayenne, Sept. 21, 1589.

The reading of the paper on Classical Chronology, by Henry Montagu Grover, Esq. was then continued.

April 23, being St. George's Day, the President, Vice-President, and Officers were re-elected; and the following Fellows were placed on the Council:-the Duke of Sussex, Edward Blore, Esq., Joseph Gondall, D.D., Sir Alexander Johnstone, F.R.S., Alfred John Kempe, Esq., Henry Gally Knight, Esq., Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart, F.R.S., W. Robinson, Esq. LL.D. Robert Smirke, jun. Esq. R.A. and Edgar Taylor, Esq., in the room of C. F. Barnwell, Esq. F.R.S., John Britton, Esq., T. Crofton

Croker, Esq., Frederic Madden, Esq., J. H. Markland, Esq., F.R.S., J. H. Merivale, Esq., Sir George Staunton, Bart., F.R.S. and Major-Gen. Sir B. C. Stephen

son.

SCEPTRE OF MARY OF SCOTLAND.

The partial draining of Loch Leven has been the means of bringing to light two highly interesting relics of the days of the beautiful but unfortunate Mary. The first is a small marble figure, delicately sculptured, which was found near the island of St. Serf, and is supposed to have decorated one of the niches of its famous monastery. The other is a handsome sceptre, appparently of cane, hilted with ivory, and mounted with silver, upon which latter the letters of the words, "Mary Queen of Scots," are almost wholly legible, although both the ivory and silver are much decayed. The sceptre was found near the "Mary Knowe," the supposed landing-place of the fair Sovereign, in her memorable escape from the Castle of Loch Leven.

SKELETONS FOUND NEAR BASINGSTOKE.

Several skeletons have been discovered while making the new road over Rook's Down, in the parish of Sherbourne St. John, near Basingstoke. That a battle had formerly been fought on this spot is by no means improbable, as within lialf a mile of the Down there is a very extensive and very ancient camp, known by the familiar appellation of Bury Bank, or Winklow's Barrow, though no tumulus exists on which to found the latter description. The area is surrounded by a single rampart and a ditch on the outside, partly filled up by the labours of the agriculturist. The height of the rampart, reckoning the slope, may be in some places 25 or more feet. From its simplicity, it may be inferred that this was a work of the antient Britons. A great battle was fought at Basing by King Etheldred and his brother Alfred, against the Danes, in 871.

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