ARNOLD'S LIGHT OF ASIA.-The King of Siam, who might be styled "the Defender of the Faith" of Buddhism, has read Mr. Arnold's poem through, and expresses himself delighted with it; it is the first long English poem he has ever troubled himself to read, though he has read many prose books, and in some instances translated them into Siamese. His Majesty has sent Mr. Arnold, for his poetic exposition of Buddhism, the First Class of the Exalted Order of the White Elephant, with an autograph letter which we here append :

Grand Palace, Bangkok, December 5th, 1879. Sir,-My father devoted much time to the study and defence of his religion, and although I, being called to the throne while young, had no time to become a scholar like him, I, too, have interested myself in the study of the sacred books, and take a great interest in defending our religion and having it properly understood. It seems to me that if Europeans believe the missionary preaching that ours is a foolish and bad religion, they must also believe that we are a foolish and bad people. I therefore feel much gratitude to those, who, like yourself, teach Europeans to hold our religion in respect. I thank you for the copy of your poem, The Light of Asia,' presented to me through my minister in London. I am not a sufficiently good scholar to judge English poetry, but as your work is based upon the similar source of our own information, I can read it through with very much pleasure, and I can say that your poem the Light of Asia is the most eloquent defence of Buddhism that has yet appeared, and is full of beautiful poetry; but I like Book II. very much and am very much interested in the final sermon. I have no doubt that our learned men would argue with you for hours, or for years, as even I can see that some of your ideas are not quite the same as ours; but I think that in showing "love" to have been the eminent characteristic of the Lord Buddha, and Karma, in Siamese Kam, the result of the inevitable law of Dharma, the principles of existence, you have taught Buddhism, and I may thank you for having made a European Buddhist speak beautifully in the most wide-spread language of the world. To mark my opinion of your good feeling towards Eastern peoples, and my appreciation of your high ability, and the service you have done to all Buddhists by this defence of their religion, I have much satisfaction in appointing you an officer of our Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, of which you will soon hear further from Mr. D. K. Mason, my Consul General in London.-I am, yours faithfully,

To Edwin Arnold, Esq., C.S.I., etc., etc.

Translation of the Diploma.-Somdetch Phra Paramindr Maha Chulalonkorn, Phra Chula Chom Klao King of Siam, Fifth sovereign of the present Dynasty, which founded and established its rule at Katana Kosindr Mahindr Ayuddhya, Bankok, the capital city of Siam both northern and southern, and its dependencies, Suzerain of the Laos and Malays and Koreans, etc., etc.-To all and singular to whom these presents shall come. Know ye, we deeming it right and fitting that Edwin Arnold, Esquire, author of the 'Light of Asia, should be appointed an officer of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant of Siam, do command and appoint him to be decorated with the insignia of the Bhúsanabhorn (officer) of Our Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant to his honour henceforth. May the Power which is most highest in the universe keep and guard him and grant him happiness and prosperity. Given at our Palace Parama Raja Sthit Maholarn, on Tuesday, the 11th of the waning of the Lunar month Migasira, the first month from the cold

season of the year Toh Ekasok, 1241 of the Siamese Era, corresponding to the European date 9th of December, 1879, of the Christian Era, being the 4046th day or 12th year of our Reign.-(Manu Regiâ), CHULALONKORN, R. S.

The members of the London Machine Managers' Literary Improvement Club met on Feb. 2nd, to hear a lecture on The Light of Asia; or, the Romantic History of Buddha.' The lecture, which was listened to with marked attention, treated of both the probable and the legendary history of the great Asiatic reformer, and was illustrated with readings from translated Chinese Buddhist manuscripts, by the Rev. S. Beal, and with selections from Mr. Arnold's new epic poem, "The Light of Asia.' At the close of the lecture, several members put questions, showing that they had been greatly interested, and sought for further information. The usual vote of thanks brought the meeting to a close.

It may interest the readers of the Light of Asia to hear of the escape of its author from an untimely end while on a voyage on the Nile. It is thus related in the Egyptian Gazette:- Mr. Edwin Arnold, C.S.I., with his wife, daughter, and son, are in Cairo, and have had a remarkable escape from a hurricane on the Nile, in which their dahabieh was capsized. The vessel was struck by the storm near Girgeh, under a lofty cliff, and overturued, throwing all the nineteen souls on board into the rapid stream. Mr. Arnold supported his wife until she could be drawn up on the wreck: his son was shut in by the water, but sprang clear, and swimming well reached the keel; Miss Arnold, a young lady of eighteen years, whom her father, while swimming, believed to be too surely lost, as she was in her berth when the vessel capsized, escaped by wonderful presence of mind through her cabin window, and was found by her father, to his unspeakable delight, sitting on the wreck in her night dress only. The ship seemed sinking, and the small boat was fast; it took Mr. Arnold many minutes of effort with a little penknife to sever the rope attaching it. When this was done, Mr. Arnold, controlling his Arabs, who would have crowded into her, put three strong rowers on board, the two ladies, two Nubian boys, and an invalid sailor, and sent the felucca off, remaining himself and his son, who behaved very firmly, with the rest of the crew. The wreck thus lightened remained afloat till the felucca came back, and all were eventually taken off alive, except the cook Achmet, who had first fallen overboard, and whom Mr. Arnold made a desperate effort to save just before he was himself hurled into the river. The English party are well and safe at the Hôtel du Nil, and have received the warmest congratulations on all sides. Arab sailors are helpless in peril. Many lives must probably have been lost but for the firm conduct of the English gentlemen, and the quiet courage of the two ladies, who were afterwards obliged to walk six miles over the mountain barefooted and half-dressed.

BOOKS, ETC., RECEIVED.-Reports of the Mining Surveyors and Registrars, Victoria. Quarter ending 30th June, 1879.— Twenty-sixth Annual Report of the Public Free Library and Museum, Bolton, 1878-9.-Report of the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, part 5, for 1877.-Miscellanies by John D. Caton, LL.D., etc.-Annual Report of the Comptroller of the Currency, U.S. December 1, 1879.-Her Lover's Friend, and Other Poems, by Nora Perry.-An Earnest Trifler.-Reader's Handbook of the American Revolution 1761-1783, by Justin Winsor.-Dramatic Persons and Moods, with other new Poems, by Mrs. S. M. B. Pratt.-The Twins of Table Mountain, and Other Stories, by Bret Harte.-The Summer and its Diseases, by J. C. Wilson, M.D. (American Health Primers, No. 3).-Winter and its Dangers, by Hamilton Osgood, M.D. (American Health Primers, No. 6).—In Memoriam of George Long.

BOHN.-We regret to have to record the death of our old friend Mr. James George Stuart Burges Bohn, who of late years has been a constant contributor to the pages of our Record. He was born December 20th, 1803, and died of bronchitis on Sunday the 4th of January this year, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. Mr. Bohn was educated at Winchester College and Göttingen University. He made Bibliography his study from the time he had finished his education, and few living bibliographers were better versed in black-letter literature and early printed books. He was in business for some years as a bookseller, and most of the libraries of the book-buying nobility of the time of Dibdin contain books which were once on his shelves. Before the advent of the late Mr. Panizzi to the librarianship of the

British Museum, Mr. Bohn was promised the post by the then Archbishop of Canterbury; but the late Lord Brougham having secured the votes of the other trustees, Mr. Panizzi was appointed. Mr. Bohn was the working editor of the Reader, a literary paper now discontinued, during the greater part of its existence. He has also been for the last twenty years a contributor to the Family Herald. We have before us "A Catalogue of Modern Books in all Languages on Sale by James Bohn, No. 12, King William Street, Strand," dated 1840. This Catalogue contains 792 pages, with notes culled and original; it is illustrated with 46 appropriate woodcuts of antiquarian interest, to use the compiler's own words, "to relieve the tedium attendant upon the enumeration of a dry list of titlepages." In the advertisement to this catalogue Mr. Bohn

begs of his customers "a continuance of that patronage which has been accorded him during the last eight years.' In 1857, when Mr. Bohn was no longer in business for himself, he compiled for the late Mr. David Nutt, of 270, Strand. "A Catalogue of Theological Books in Foreign Languages, including the Sacred Writings; Fathers, Doctors of the Church, Schoolmen, and Ecclesiastical Historians, to the death of Boniface VIII. A.D. 1303; Jewish and Rabbinical Commentators, etc." This catalogue of 704 pages contains notes by Mr. Bohn, pointing out many facts connected with the books catalogued which were not generally known. Mr. Bohn, who was well acquainted with the status of the Library of the British Museum, some years ago wrote and published an interesting pamphlet upon it, and he gave important evidence before the Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry into the condition and working of the British Museum Library, which we believe will be found printed in the Blue Book issued by that Committee. Amongst Mr. Bohn's numerous bibliographical labours we must not forget to mention the catalogues he compiled for Messrs. Trübner and Co., viz. twelve numbers of A Catalogue of Choice, Rare, and Curious Books," published from Jan. to Dec.1874; "A Catalogue of a Valuable and Choice Collection of Rare, Curious, and Important Ancient and Modern Books," published in 1876: also one published in 1877; two Catalogues en "Wines, Vines, and the Grape;" six Catalogues relating to "Portugal," "The Portuguese Language," and "Portu""Bibliotheca Brasilica," guese History," A Catalogue of Works on Egypt and Egyptology, Assyria and Assyriology," and also "A Catalogue of a complete Library of Camoens Literature and Camoniana." Mr. James Bohn will be remembered for his genial disposition; in his days of prosperity, it was his delight to see his friends around his hospitable board.

DEVAUX.-M. Paul Louis-Isidore Devaux died at Brussels on the 30th January this year. Born at Bruges in 1801, M. Devaux was destined to play an important part in founding the Belgian kingdom. He commenced his political carreer as one of the writers on the "Mathieu Laensberg," which paper he founded in conjunction with MM. Rogier and Lebeau. This newspaper made a determined stand against the Dutch Administration, particularly after it had changed its name to the more appropriate one of "Politique." Esteemed by his contemporaries for his well-balanced learning, his political acumen, and firm character, it was natural that he should possess the confidence of Prince Leopold, at whose solicitation he took part in the deliberations of the Congress which framed the Belgian constitution. M. Devaux, who has often been called the "Royer-Collard" of Belgium, was summoned as the head of the "Doctrinnaire party" to the cabinet formed by the Regent Surlet de Choquier, and as a member of that cabinet took an influential part in the election of Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg to the throne of Belgium. A true patriot and sound statesman, M. Devaux cared little for political popularity earned by meretricious means, and when, through his blindness, he retired from public life, his influence was always felt in questions relating to the home or foreign policy of his country; and his advice Bought by his political friends on all national questions. During his retirement M. Devaux quietly devoted himself to historical and philosophical studies, and in 1875 he published his "Etudes Politiques sur l'Histoire," in the preparation of which he was assisted by an estimable daughter, part of the work being dictated to her and part to a secretary. Since that time he has prepared "Etudes sur l'Histoire Ancienne des Romains," which has not yet been published. In 1840 he founded the "Revue Nationale," which was for many years a leading Liberal organ. The deceased was a brotherin-law of M. Jules Van Praet, the Minister of the Royal Household, and the father of M. Jules Devaux, Chief of the Royal Cabinet. He was formerly a member of the Belgian Congress; Representative of the Belgian Government at the London Conference; Member of the Council of Ministers; Member of the Chamber of Deputies; and Member of the Town Council of Bruges. He was also a Member of the Royal Academy of Belgium, Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold, and of the Iron Cross of Belgium. A staunch old Flemish patriot, who, through a long and useful life, had preserved inviolate the traditions of his country, he died peacefully in his 79th year.

DIXON.-Mr. William Hepworth Dixon died suddenly of apoplexy on Saturday, December 27th last, at his residence in the Regent's Park. He was of Quaker descent, being the son of Abner Dixon, of Kirkburton, in Yorkshire, and was born at Manchester on June 30th, 1821. In 1850 he was appointed Deputy Commissioner to the Royal Commission

a hundred Committees out of the three hundred that were started. In the Exhibition year appeared his Life of William Penn, to rebut the charges which Macaulay brought against the founder of Pennsylvania in his History of England. In 1852 he wrote a pamphlet entitled "The French in England," which appeared anonymously. In the same year he made a tour of Europe, and on his return became editor of the Athenæum in 1853-which charge he held till 1869, when he resigned it. He was left Lady Morgan's literary executor, and published her "Memoirs" conjointly with Miss Jewsbury. Mr. Dixon in early life courted the Muses, and wrote a five-act tragedy, besides contributing several poems to Douglas Jerrold's Magazine; but later on he devoted himself to prose literature and topics of especial social interest at the time he wrote. The first effort he made in this direction were letters to the Daily News, later on published under the title of Literature of the Lower Orders," and afterwards he penned for the same newspaper "Letters on London Prisons," which led to his publishing a "Memoir of John Howard." In 1866, Mr. Dixon travelled through the United States, and as the result of his observations published "New America" and "Spiritual Wives." He was a most prolific writer; but his chief works, besides those we have mentioned, were: "The Holy Land" 2 vols., "Free Russia,' "Her Majesty's Tower," "The Switzers,""A History of two Queens" (Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn), 4 vols., "White Conquest" 2 vols., two novels, viz. Diana, Lady Lyle," and Ruby Gray," British Cyprus," also "Royal Windsor," of which two vols. had appeared, and the third and fourth he was at work on when he died.

HAVEN.-The Rev. Gilbert Haven, Methodist Episcopal Bishop of Georgia, Author of Mental and Moral Philosophy, and other works, died January 2nd, at Malden, Mass.

LESLIE.-Frank Leslie, well known all over the world for his illustrated periodicals, died at his residence in Fifth Avenue, New York, on Saturday, the 17th of January, of a cancerous tumour of the neck. Henry Carter, whose nom de crayon was Frank Leslie, was born at Ipswich, England, in 1821, where his father, Joseph Carter, was a glove manufacturer; his son had no taste for the glove trade, but gave his mind and energies to the study of wood engraving, and got an engagement on the Illustrated London News. In 1848 he went to America, where, taking the name of Frank Leslie by an act of the legislature of New York, he started several illustrated periodicals, and in 1855 Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, now in its 25th year.

MORDTMANN.-Dr. A. D. Mordtmann, M.R.A.S., formerly Consul-General for the Hanseatic Cities at Constantinople, and a distinguished Turkish scholar, died in that city at the end of December, 1879, aged 68. He was a long and valued contributor to Ueber Land und Meer, the Journals of the Royal Asiatic Society and the German Oriental Society. He was the author of the following works:1. Kurze Beschreibung von Magrib el Akssa, oder Schilderung der Staaten von Marokko in geographischer, statistischer und politischer Hinsicht. With a lithographed map. Hamburg, 1844. 2. Belagerung und Eroberung Constantinopels durch die Türken im Jahre 1453. Nach den Originalquellen bearbeitet. With a lithographed plan. Stuttgart, 1858. 3. Erklärung der Münzen mit Pehlvi-Legenden. (Reprinted from the Journal of the German Oriental Society.) With ten lithographed plates. Leipsic, 1854. 4. Die Amazonen. Ein Beitrag zur unbefangenen Prüfung und Würdigung der ältesten Ueberlieferungen, Hanover, 1862.

MUNSELL.-Mr. Joel Munsell, publisher and printer, of Albany, New York, who might with justice be called the Baskerville of America, died on the 15th of January last, in his 73rd year. He was born at Northfield, Mass., in 1809, and was apprenticed to the printing trade at Greenfield, Mass., from whence he went to Albany, in 1827. After acting as clerk in a book business there for some time, he started the Albany Minerva, a semi-monthly paper, of which paper he was both compositor and editor. In 1834 he published the Microscope, with Mr. H. D. Stone; this venture was a success, and enabled him in 1836 to open a bookselling and printing establishment at 58, State Street, Albany. He subsequently removed to 82, in the same street, where he remained till his death. Mr. Munsell, under the pseudonym of" Arthur Prynne," wrote and published a work on the Conquest of Mexico," and under this name he edited the "Munsell Almanac." Amongst other ventures he edited and published the "New York State Mechanic," 1841-3. Compiled the "Annals of Albany," 10 vols. 12mo., 1850-59. "Chronology of Paper-making," which went through several editions. Every-Day Book of History and Chronology," 1858.