Robert Chambers has generously paid over to Mrs. Begg, the surviving sister of the poet Burns, the sum of £200; being the first profits derived from his Life and edition of the Works of the poet. A SHAKSPEARIAN EPITAPH. According to a recent correspondent of the Athenæuin, there is an epitaph in Tongue Church, Shropshire, ascribed in positive terms to Shakspeare, by William Dugdale, in his Visitation Book. It is on Sir Thomas Stanley, who died about 1600: Among the various art-treasures accruing to this continent, the Athenæum thus comments on one acquisition in terms that seem to indicate our neighbours in the States have borne off from the dispersion of the Rogers' collection, only "an empty oyster shell!" Its interest, however, is considerable when regarded biographically, whatever be its actual artistic value, and on this account we may refer to it now that it is to be at so accessible a distance as New York. "Sir Joshua Reynolds used to regret he had not enjoyed the advantages of an academical education in his youth, and always felt that he was unable to draw. The difficulties he laboured under are very apparent in three curious little books recently sold at the Rogers' sale. Two of them were the sketch-books Reynolds used in Italy, and contain notes and sketches of some of the most celebrated pictures and works of art, together with records of dates, places, travelling expenses, and frequent memoranda of colour. They were purchased by Rogers at the sale of the painter's effects, and are now on their way to America, where they can only be valued as having been the actual property of our great painter. Many of the pages, containing merely lead-pencil outlines, display such weak and uncertain drawing as a child would produce, rather than the notes of an experienced artist. Where broad shadow occurs the power of Reynolds may be seen. He worked in masses, not lines, and it is curious, where he was confined to the latter, to observe how he proceeded, adding one line upon the other until he arrived at something like his intention. He floundered, and was anything but academic. These peculiarities, however, were a part of the man, and never thoroughly overcome. In studying the individual artist they form an inseparable part of his character, and afford an insight into his mind. By these books we observe what pictures, scenes, and objects he thought most worthy of treasuring in his memory, and therefore it is to be regretted that they have passed so far from us into private hands where they become mere curiosities. He frequently designed and completed his composition on one and the same canvas, so that the masterly brush strokes at last concealed the wavering pencilings of the beginning. Such weaknesses are not discreditable to Reynolds; and it would be a pity for those who are jealous for his fame to anxiously endeavor to conceal them, since we know that by labour and perseverance these difficulties were at last overcome. He rarely quitted a subject till nothing more was to be desired." Compared with his pictures, adds the writer in the Athenæum, these books are but a sorry introduction of Sir Joshua to Brother Jonathan. Where his pictures are, his sketch-books ought to have been preserved. CANADIAN INSTITUTE. SESSION 1855-56. SEVENTH ORDINARY MEETING-9th February, 1856. E. A. MEREDITH, Esq., LL. B., Vice President, in the Chair. R. M. BOUCHER, Esq., Colborne. EDWARD GOLDSMITH, Esq., Toronto. W. R. WRIGHT, Esq., Toronto. The following Papers were then read : 1. By Rev. PROFESSOR YOUNG, M.A. : "Brief Notes on Certain Statements of Sir William Hamilton, regarding the Validity of our Primary Beliefs." 2. By PROFESSOR WILSON, LL.D.: "Remarks on a Singular Conformation of the Land produced by the Confluence of the St. Louis and Nemadji Rivers into Lake Superior." 3. By PROFESSOR CHAPMAN, Curator: "A Report on the Minerals lately received by the Canadian Institute from the Toronto Athenæum." EIGHTH ORDINARY MEETING-16th February, 1856. G. W. ALLAN, Esq., President, in the Chair. The following Papers were then read: 1. By JAMES BROWNE, Esq.: "On the Manners and Customs of the Aborigines of Australia. Part Second. 2. By THOMAS REYNOLDS, M. D. : "On a Collection of Copper Implements and other Ancient Relics found in the neighborhood of Brockville." The copper implements were exhibited and a selection from them recommended to be engraved, to illustrate the paper in the Canadian Journal. On the motion of Dr. Wilson, it was remitted to Professor Croft to examine and report upon the character of the copper of which the Brockville implements are made, and on the supposed hardening process to which they have been subjected. 3. By G. W. ALLAN, Esq., President: "On the Migratory Birds of Canada." NINTH ORDINARY MEETING-23d February, 1856. The following Gentlemen were elected Members: GEORGE CRAWFORD, Esq., M. P. P., Brockville, FREDERIC KINGSTON, Esq., Barrister at Law, Toronto. The following Donations were announced, and the thanks of the Institute voted to the Donors: 1. From the Hon. J. M. Brodhead, of Washington: "The Army Meteorological Register, for twelve years, 1842 to 1854 inclusive. Compiled from observations made by the Officers of the Medical Department of the United States' Army. 2. From Dr. Carter, of Nelson : "Illustrations of Japan, by M. Titsingle, formerly Chief Agent to the Dutch East India Company at Nagasaki, The following Papers were then read: 1. By Sandford Fleming, Esq., C. E. "The Canadian Geological Survey, and its Director, William Edmond Logan, Esq., F.R.S." After the reading of this communication, it was moved by Mr. Fleming, seconded by Mr. Armour, and resolved: That the Council be requested to take into consideration the propriety of memorializing the various branches of the Legislature, setting forth the value and importance of the Geological Survey, and the services of Mr. Logan, as its Director, as well as the chief representative of Canada at the London and Paris exhibitions; and that the Legislature, in acknowledgment of the value of the Survey to the material prosperity of the country, and of his services in developing the resources of the Province, be solicited to place the Survey on such a liberal scale as will enable Mr. Logan to carry on to a satisfactory completion, at an early day, this important service; and that a Committee be appointed, with power to take such steps as may seem to them necessary to carry out the object of the proposed memorial. 2. By Professor E. J. Chapman :— "A Review of the Trilobites; their character and classification." 3. By the Rev. A. C. Geikie : “An Inquiry into the Causes of Deterioration in the Population of New England." TENTH ORDINARY MEETING-1st March, 1856. The following Gentlemen were elected Members: Donations were announced from Mr. W. Couper, of a mud-turtle, and a stone curiously perforated by the action of water, both found on "The Island," and the thanks of the Institute were voted to the donor. The following Papers were read: 1. By P. MacGregor, Esq. "On the Climate of Canada." 2. By Professor Wilson, LL.D.—— "On the Pictured Rocks of Lake Superior." 3. By Professor Croft, D.C.L. Analysis of Ancient Copper Relics found in the neighborhood of Brockville, Canada West." ELEVENTH ORDINARY MEETING-8th March, 1856. G. W. ALLAN, Esq, President, in the Chair. The following Gentlemen were elected Members: Rev. A. LORIMER, Librarian, University College, Toronto. GEORGE KENT RADFORD, Esq., C.E., Toronto. EDWARD C. RADFORD, Esq., Toronto. The following Donations were announced, and the thanks of the Institute voted to the Donors: 1. From T. C. Gregory, Esq., of Windsor: "Annual Report of the Board of Water Commissioners to the Common Council of the City of Detroit." 2. From the author, H. Goadby, M.D., of Detroit: "The Medical Independent and Monthly Review of Medicine and Surgery." 3. From the publishers, Messrs. Gould & Lincoln, of Boston: "Annual of Scientific Discovery, 1856, a Year-book of Facts in Science and Arts." 4. From the editor, E. Billings, Esq., Barrister at Law, Ottawa:"The Canadian Naturalist and Geologist." 5. From the publishers, Messrs. Phillips, Sampson & Co., of Boston:"Prescott's Philip the Second, King of Spain." 2 vols. 8vo." "American Almanack, 1856." 6. From the Hon. J. M. Brodhead, of Washington: "The Official Army Register of the United States, for the year 1856." "The Navy Register of the United States, for the year 1856." 7. From H. Bovell Hope, Esq. Fifty-five silver coins of Edward II. and III., Edward VI. and Queen Elizabeth. "Communications to the Society of Antiquaries of London, on Coins found at different places." Illustrated with engravings. The following Papers were then read: 1. By Professor Hind, M.A.— "On the Blue Clay of Toronto." 2. By Joseph Robinson, Esq. "On Fish Jointing' on the permanent way of Railroads." 3. By Professor Croft, D.C.L. "On a New Process for Preventing Explosion in the Camphine Lamp." TWELFTH ORDINARY MEETING-15th March, 1856. The following Gentlemen were elected Members: S. M. JARVIS, Esq., Toronto. The following Donations were announced, and the thanks of the Institute voted to the Donor: By the Hon. J. M. Brodhead, of Washington: "United States Official Register for 1855." Report on the principal Fisheries of the American Seas, by Lorenzo Sabine." 1. By the Rev. Professor Young, M.A.— "A New Proof of the Parallelogram of Forces." 2. By T. C. Keefer, Esq., C.E. "On Civil Engineering." THIRTEENTH ORDINARY MEETING-29th March, 1856. G. W. ALLAN, Esq., President, in the Chair. JOHN O. HATT, Esq., Hamilton. Rev. EDMUND BALDWIN, M.A., Toronto. A. N. MACLEAN, Esq., Toronto. F. P. HINCKS, Esq., Toronto. JOHN C. GEIKIE, Esq., Toronto. G. M. EVANS, Esq., M.A., Simcoe, C. W. The following Donations were announced, and the thanks of the Institute voted to the Donors: 1. By James Alexander, Esq. Suggestions for a Simple System of Decimal Notation and Currency." 2. By Mr. W. Couper. Six species of exotic Dytescidæ. Ten species of exotic Lamillicornæ. A Racoon Skin. The following Papers were then read: 1. By Colonel Baron de Rottenburg "Some Observations on the supposed Self-luminosity of the planet Neptune." 2. By Alfred Brunel, Esq., C. E.— The President intimated, by order of the Council, that at the following mee ting the Portrait of the First President of the Canadian Institute would be hung up in the Hall of the Institute, and that Sir William Edmond Logan-on whom, since the passing of the resolutions which were then to be carried into effect, Her Ma |