Sept. 27, 1817.]

35

Life of Sir William Jones, in which it is related, that Sir William saw the Chumulary mountains from Bangal. pore, a distance of 244 miles. P. H. Bruce (Memoirs, p. 282,) saw Mount Ararat from Derbabent, a distance of 210 geographical, or 240 British miles.

Literature. On the farm of Mr W. Hall, of Landbeach, in Cambridgeshire, a leash of white partridges were killed on Tuesday week; these birds were part of a covey of four. teen, the remainder of which were of the usual colour. Geography of Insects.-M. Latreille has published, at Paris, a work on the distribution of insects. This is intimately connected with the distribution of plants, and, in reality, the same insects are found upon the mountains of a warm country that inhabit the plains of colder countries. The difference of 10 or 12 degrees of latitude, at an equal height, brings with it particular insects; and when the difference amounts to 20 or 24 degrees, almost all the insects are different. There are analogous changes corresponding to the latitude, but at distances much more considerable. The old and the new world have genera of insects peculiar to each. Even those which are common to both present appreciable differences. In the western parts of Europe the domain of southern insects appears very distinctly, as soon as, in going from North to South, we come to a country favourable to the cultivation of the olive. This change of temperature is marked by the presence of scorpions.

Geography of Plants.-Humboldt has published, at Paris, a work on the geographical distribution of plants, according to the temperature, latitude, elevation of the soil, &c. In this work, he opens up some new and interesting views with regard to vegetable forms. On comparing, in each country, the number of plants of certain well-determined families with the whole number of vegetables, he discovers numerical ratios of a striking regularity. Certain forms become more common as we advance towards the pole, while others augment towards the equator. Others attain their maximum in the temperate zones, and diminish equally by too much heat and foo much cold; and, what is remarkable, this distribution remains the same round the whole globe, following, not the geographic parallels, but those which Humboldt calls isothermic, that is, lines of the same mean temperature. These laws are so constant, that if we know in a country the number of species of one of the families, we may nearly conclude from it the total number of plants, and that of the species of each of the other families.

Number of known Vegetables.-The number of plants yet known amounts, according to the calculation of Baron Von Humboldt, to 44,000, of which 6,000 are cryptoga mous, that is, plants which have no obvious parts of fructification, such as champignons, lichens, &c. Of the remainder there are found,

Lake of Geneva-On the 11th ult. was observed the phenomenon peculiar to this lake, known under the name of seiche. The water rose with such rapidity for about five minutes, that it reached the highest point which it had attained this year, and in some places even above it. The rise was between 26 and 33 inches. The water, in falling again, left a great quantity of fish on the shore. Some strangers, who were unacquainted with this phenomenon, were drawn along by the receding water. It seems to be now agreed, that the cause of these sudden increases is a momentary pressure of the atmosphere upon the surface of the lake, which, as it contracts itself near Geneva, is there much more sensibly raised than elsewhere.

Hints for the Improvement of Prisons, and for their better Regulations; by James Elmes, architect. 6s.

Civil Architecture of Vitruvius, comprising those Books of the Author which relate to the Public and Private Edifices of the Ancients; by Wm. Wilkins, jun. M.A. F.A.S. fellow of Gonvil and Caius College, Cambridge, member of the Society of Dilettanti, and Author of Antiquities of Magna Græcia. With 27 engravings, by

W. Lowry. Part II. £.3 « 3s. in elephant 4to.-or £.6 68. royal

folio.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

T. Key's Catalogue of new and second-hand Books on sale at 53, Coleman-street consisting of French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, Dutch, &c.; Greek and Latin Classics, with French and English translations; also dictionaries, gram

mars, and elementary books, in all Languages. Part IV.
General Catalogue of Old Books for 1817. 2s. 6d.

A Supplement to Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown's

Catalogue of a Library now selling at Perth, in Scotland, con.
sisting nearly of 20,000 volumes of scarce Books, and many rare
Prints; by Mr Morison, bookseller there.
BIOGRAPHY.

The Sexagenarian, or Recollections of a Literary Life. 2 vols. 8vo. £.11.

Historical Anecdotes of some of the Howard Family; by Charles, tenth Duke of Norfolk. 8vo. 7s.

ridan; the second and concluding Part. 4to. £.1.116.

Dr Watkins' Memoirs of the Right Hon. Hichard Brinsley She

EDUCATION.

Ancient History, abridged for the Use of Schools; by the Rev. John Robinson, L.L.D. stereotyped, with engravings, 6s. 6d.

The Schoolmaster's Assistant; or, the First Introduction to Geography. 4to. 7s. containing twelve half-sheet copper-plates. A New School for Adults; with three hundred instructors, called pictures: being a new plan, whereby grown persons may learn to read almost without a teacher. Also a book to teach children to read; by John Goss, of Hatherleigh. 1s. 3d.

Chrestomathia: Part I. Explanatory of a school for the exten sion of the new system of instruction to the higher branches, for the use of the middling and higher ranks: 1816, 8vo. Part II. Essay on Nomenclature and Classification: including critical examination of Bacon's Encyclopedical Table, as improved by D'Alem

bert; 1817: by Jeremy Bentham, Esq.

A Key to Dr Noehden's Exercises for writing German; by J. R. Schultz. 3. 6d.

Eight Familiar Lectures on Astronomy, intended as an introduction to the Science, for the use of young persons, and others

Sept. 27, 1817.]

TOPOGRAPHY.

American Literature.

The History and Antiquities of the Parochial Church of St Saviour, Southwark; illustrated by sixteen engravings; by W. G. Moss. With historical and biographical delineations: by the Rev. J. Nightingale. Part 1. 10s. 6d. or 21s.

An Excursion to Windsor, through Battersea, Putney, Kew, Richmond, Twickenham, Strawberry Hill, and Hampton Court; by John Evans, jun. A.M. 9s.

37 berg, Prussia can never attempt to defend any territory north of the Oder, and her line of fortresses on that river is now the only rampart of Gerinany; a rampart too of no value, if there are not | supporting armies in the field equal, or nearly so, to the attacking force, and especially in the arm of cavalry, which is almost impossible; since Russia, without any extraordinary exertion, could bring one hundred and twenty thousand (regular and irregular) ca. valry into action on the Prussian_frontier. The Russian frontier having reached the Pruth, continues along that river (so disas trous in her history) to its confluence with the Danube; when this great artery of Austria, and main support to the Turkish Uni-frontier, rolls its stream, now also tributary to the flag of Russia, into the water of the Black sea. In this position Russia is distant only 100 miles from Transylvania, about 250 from Constantinople by water, and 300 by land, in a direct line; whilst the two interjacent provinces of Moldavia and Wallachia are in fact regulated by her policy, though the Ottoman Porte retains the nominal sovereignty.

The Gentleman's Guide in his Tour through France; by Henry Coxe, Esq. 7s.

Walks in Oxford: comprising an original historical and descriptive account of the colleges, halls, and public buildings of the versity with an introductory outline of the academical history of Oxford; by W. M. Wade. 2 vols. 8vo. 16s.; 12mo 8s.

Having traced the extensions of this gigantic power in other directions, the author shews that Russia, if attacked at every assailable point, could not only defend herself, but would still have a greater disposable force remaining than any other power possesses-He says, "After posting 30,000 men, with artillery, &c. in Finland, 80,000 on the frontier of Gallicia, 60,000 in Moldavia, 30,000 on the frontier of Armenia, as many in Persia, and

Sketch of the Military and Political Power of Russia in the year 1817. This work is understood to have proceeded from the pen of Sir Robert Wilson. The population of Russia, according to the St Petersburg Almanack for 1808, amounts to 42 millions: but since that period Alexander has added 193,800 square miles to the empire, including the duchy of Warsaw, Finland, Georgia, &c. Of this population not above five millions are Asiatic. Not withstanding a destructive invasion, and wars of great waste and expenditure, out of an establishment of 1,200,000 men, exclusive of militia, Tartar cavalry, &c. she can range in order of battle 640,000 men. But the formidable nature of the power of Rus-leaving a reserve of 100,000 men to sustain these armies, she still sia does not so much arise from the great population, and the ar. possesses a disposable force of above 200,000 infantry, 80,000 mies which she can keep up, as from the peculiar strength of her cavalry, and 1,200 guns, better horsed for service than any artilsituation." In forming the van of Russia, (says our author,) shelery or cavalry in the world; an army than which there is none either enjoys tranquillity, or, if she marches, is certain, from the more brave, and with which no other can march, starve, or suffer weight of supporting force, and the offensive advantages of her physical privations and natural inconveniencies." salient position, to carry her ravages into a foreign territory.” The view of what he calls the profiles, the points, the pinnacles of the vantage ground on which Russia now reclines, the bold line of her frontiers, and the domineering influence which her station gives her over the whole world, is executed with great spirit.. After describing the geographical situation of Russia in 1810, the author gives a sketch of her position at the present period.

Difference of opinion.The following extract from Lady Morgan's work on France, accompanied with the succeeding critique, ap. pears in the 33d number of the Quarterly Review.

"Bastiles, lettres de cachet, mysterious arrestation, and solitary confinement, started upon my sacred imagination, and I had already classed myself. with the iron mask and caged Mazarine, the Wilsons, Hutchinsons, and Bruces.-p. 136.

"This is the lie by implication.Wilson, Hutchinson, and Bruce, had grievously violated the Jaws of France:-they were openly arrested, legally confined, publicly tried, leniently sentenced, and generously pardoned.”—Review, p. 260.

The Colonies and Colonization.-The Colonial Journal, just pub

cerned in the trade with South America-to those who contemplate a removal to North America-to those who think that one of the most effectual remedies for the distresses of the poor, and for the heavy burden of the poor's rate, is in colonization--and, not least, to those connected with the British West Indies.

AMERICAN LITERATURE.

In the year 1817, the right of the frontier still rests on the Northern ocean, but, advancing 160 miles, touches the frontier of Norway, and bends round it for 190 miles, until it reaches a dine drawn due north from the Torneo, when it descends on that river, and continues running parallel until it falls into the gulf of Bothnia... A line is then drawn through the gulf of Bothnia, which sweeping round Aland, regains the continent in the province of Livonia, thus giving to Russia the ports of Abo and of Swea-lished, contains several articles of the first interest to persons con. burg, which was the great naval establishment of the Swedes on the coast of Finland, and all the numerous islands which cluster between Aland and the main land, and which are inhabited by a rich and happy population. But the island of Aland is distant from the shore of Sweden only 24 miles, from the archipelago of islands in advance of Stockholm not above 30, and not above 70 from Stockholm itself; while the intervening sea is frequently frozen, so that carriages may pass. Thus Russia has completely changed her relative position with Sweden. On the Niemen, the frontier remains in statu quo for about 100 miles; when it traverses the Memel or Niemen river, and running along East Prussia, strikes the Vistula near, Thorn, from whence Dantzic is distant about 70 miles, and Berlin nearly 170. The line then crosses the Vistula, and advances to Kalish, a point nearly equidistant from Dresden and Berlin; thence taking a southern direction, and passing within 30 miles of the Oder, it bends in an eastern course along the district of Cracow, which it respects; but at this point its distance from a third capital, Vienna, is again only 170 miles ; the Gallician frontier is then rounded, when the line traverses the Dneister, allongates the Bukovine frontier, until it reaches the river Pruth; thus circumventing all that part of Poland, except the duchy of Posen, which belonged to Prussia by the partition-On our arrival, the king proposed to us, that we should each choose treaties. In this position, which may be called the very heart of Europe, she rides alongside the Brandenburgh possessions with the lofty and fearful superiority of one of her 120 gun ships over a Prussian galliot, when there is no escape from pressure, and when the weaker must be crushed or overwhelmed. Notwithstanding the possession of the fortresses of Dantzic, Graudentz, and Col

Character of the inhabitants of the Pelew Islands, from the Voyages and Travels of Amaso Delano, published at Boston 1817.-There is one trait of character, for which the Pelews were remarkabletheir fidelity in the engagements of friendship. They carried their ideas of the sacredness of this virtue to a very great extent, and doubted whether it were proper to make a profession of it, in the first degree, to two persons at the same time. In this they were probably tee scrupulous; for it belongs not to the nature of true friendship to justify an alliance in guilt, or to force an individual into a confederacy against the interests of society or religion. Personal attachments are entirely compatible with general benevolence, and ought always to be regulated by it. He only is a genuine friend who imbibes this spirit, and regards it in his intercourse with those to whom he is bound by specific promises and pledges.

a friend. We answered, that we intended to be the friends of them all, and hoped that they would all be our friends in return. This, however, did not meet the sentiments of the king. He spoke to us of the pleasure, the peace, and the mutual safety which would arise from the kind of confidence required by their laws of particular and inviolable friendship. We complied with his wishes,

and the commodore chose Abba Thule, each of our officers chose a chief, and the crew made selections from among the people, according to their judgment or caprice. For myself, it is my prayer always to find as faithful a friend as he was whom I chose at Pelew. This man was always watching for opportunities to do me service, anticipating my wants, and giving me information of every danger. When I was about to leave the Pelew islands for the last time, and for ever, I found it difficult to persuade the friend whom I had chosen to accept of the presents which I had purchased for him in a previous voyage, and which, I knew, were particularly agreeable to his taste. My fellow-officers found the same disinterestedness in their intercourse with others.

[Sept. 27, 1817.

many virtues as we have, they certainly had at first fewer vices.→→ And even if the proportion between their virtues and vices, when compared with the proportion among us, should be found, as 1 think it would, in our favour, still one cannot help lamenting, that the machinery of civilization, the means and motives for extensive improvement, should develope as many selfish and base passions, and destroy, in as many instances, the simplicity and confidence which gave such a peculiar charm to the character of the natives of the Pelew islands when they were first visited by the English. But man seems to be destined to taste of the tree of the knowledge of evil as well as of good, in order to learn how to taste of the tree of life and live for ever. Vice and virtue, misery and happiness, are not relative terms more than they are relative states of the mind and the character. That good appears never to be fully estimated and permanently secured, till the evil has been felt, and, after a painful trial dismissed; the simplicity, amiableness, and confidenee of natives are never proof against the temptations to an abuse of their intercourse with the inhabitants of civilized countries, in the efforts which are at first made to meliorate their character and condition. The innocence and loveliness of children must suffer great changes in the transition from youth to manhood, and must be frequently assailed and tried, before confidence can, in all situations, be reposed in them. An experiment of our weakness is sometimes necessary to persuade us to adopt the means of obtain

of individual or national character, are frequently attended by er rors and excesses, not witnessed before or afterward, but which are the proof of the previous feebleness of virtue, and the parent of its succeeding force and dignity. Unhappily for the Pelew islanders, they have lost much of their early simplicity and goodness, and have not yet gained the intelligence and virtue of a civilized people. They have mixed their native character and habits with those of the Europeans, and have not now the excellencies or the enjoy ments of either. Had their virtues been as vigorous and permanent, after their intercourse with the Europeans, as they were un affected and genuine at the period of their discovery, and had they continued to be happy under an increase of relations and wants, with the means of gratification, we might now acknowledge it to be our duty to study their history more minutely, in order to arrive at the secret of their moral worth and social blessings. But their failure under the experiment places them upon a level with other savage nations; and while it warns the agents of civilized com munities not to repeat for ever the same injudicious plans of improvement upon the aborigines of the soil, it teaches us also, that if our vices are more numerous than theirs, our virtues are not only more various, but are much stronger, better guarded, more fruitful, and more elevated.

In regard to the religion of these people, I learned that they believe in one God, in the unlimited extent of his government, in the most important morał distinctions and religious duties, as taught by the light of nature; in the immortality of the soul, and in future rewards and punishments. They have very few forms of religion, little ceremony in their worship, and no houses or temples devoted to this purpose. That their creed was not merely speculative, and that the want of houses of worship did not proceed from a disregard of God or his laws, may be inferred from the benevolence and humanity of their hearts, from the honesty and fidelity of their lives, and from the actual fruits of their principles in their mutual confidence and happiness. I have several times heard some pious hymns, which will serve to give more precise ideas of their devo-ing and confirming strength. The critical stages, in the formation tion. I have often seen the men and women sitting together after sunset, particularly in moonlight evenings, and heard the women chant their prayers and praises, while the men would listen, and at intervals join in the chorus. The meaning of the words was not always the same, but always included a prayer for Abba Thule. I remember one instance, in which the impression made upon my mind by their devotion was deep and interesting. It would not be in my power to give an adequate translation of the hymn, but it began with thanksgiving for the serene and beautiful evening; for the peace which they enjoyed under Abba Thule; for health and prosperity; and then it offered a prayer for his continuance in life, for his success in war, and his wisdom in government; for their parents, children, and friends; for good seasons, abundant fruit, and tranquil days; for their enterprises on the water, and the collection of fish and food; for deliverance from civil war and domestic contentions; and for the fruitfulness of the women and the prosperity of the islands. The Panther carried two women and a Pelew man to Macao; one of them was the daughter of Abba Thule, who had formed the design of visiting China. While we were lying in the harbour of Macao, and on the passage back to the Pelew islands, it was a custom with these women, as it likewise was with the women whom we afterwards carried to New Guinea, to take their seats in some retired part of the deck, and sing a reli. gious hymn in a peculiarly plaintive and touching manner. We were often listening to them, while we appeared to be engaged only about our own concerns. We could plainly distinguish many of the sentiments which they sung, and heard prayers to the Deity, that he would protect and bless their fathers, their mothers, their sisters, and their brothers; that he would keep them in health, and make them happy; that he would allow themselves to return to their native islands in safety, and make glad the hearts of their friends to receive them; that he would be kind to Abba Thule and the people; and that he would send them fruit, and give them peace. It was a frequent petition in their prayers, that they might have an abundance of arra root, the principal bread of the country, and the chief object of their cultivation. There was also a great aversion to barrenness among the females, and their prayers often ascended with an earnest entreaty that they might have children.

In looking at such a state of society as that which prevails among the inhabitants of Pelew, although it is unquestionably, inferior to ours, yet we are sometimes tempted to regret that the .contentment, which appears to accompany a people of so few wants, cannot be preserved more perfectly amidst the relations and interests of civilized life. The increase of wants, while it often, and perhaps generally multiplies virtues and blessings, and calls out a greater variety of talents and sympathies, does also too often lead individuals to the use of dishonest means of gratification, and to vices which render a portion of polished nations more miserable than any savages. If the inhabitants of the Pelew islands had not as

By the most recent accounts from these islands, adds the author, the inhabitants were still friendly to the white people, but had lost all spirit of confidence among themselves, and were the victims of alternate stupidity and the violence of contest. It makes me melancholy, whenever I think of the unhappy alteration in the character and conduct of this people since they became acquainted with the Europeans. It is a wise provision of nature, that savages should be limited to few and simple weapons of warfare, till they have acquired the habits, and have entered into the pursuits of civilized society, by which their passions shall be checked and regulated. This system of things ought not to be violated by us, as it is when we give them our instruments of mutual destruction, without giving them, at the same time, the arts, the institutions, and the employments, which are necessary to render the instruments a safe possession, and to convert them into means of lawful defence and supply.

Ewell's Account of the Capture of Washington.-The following anecdotes of the capture of Washington are selected from Dr. Ewell's account of that event. The doctor is a gentleman of character and respectability, and his statement may be relied upon. It will do us good occasionally to take a peep at the fair side of the enemy's character. We have been feasted long enough with British perfidy and atrocity, dished up in as many savoury and enticing shapes as a calf's head. The marauding Cockburn, and the bloody red coats, have had their full share of execration. But the war is now over-never, we pray Heaven, to be renewed. Let us then have the manliness to be ashamed of