preparatory exercises in scanning; it contains practical exercises in versification, progressively accommodated to the various capacities of youth, in the successive stages of scholastic education; the whole calculated to produce correctness of ear, and taste in reading or writing poetry. For the convenience of teachers, a Key to the Exercises will be added. Dr. Carey is also preparing for the press, an Easy Introduction to Latin Versification, on a nearly similar plan. Letters of Mrs. ELIZABETH MONTAGU, with some of the letters of her correspondents, will shortly be published by MATTHEW MONTAGU, esq. M.P. her nephew and executor. The Travels of Lycurgus, the son of Polydectes, into Greece, Crete and Egypt in Search of Knowledge, is printing. The Rev. THOMAS GISBORNE has in the press, an octavo volume of Sermons, chiefly designed to illustrate Christian Morality. Dr. EDWARD POPHAM, of Chilton, Wiltshire, has nearly ready for publication, Remarks on various Texts of Scripture, in an octavo volume. A Series of Letters on Canada, will shortly appear from the pen of a gentleman lately resident some years in that country. Mr. GRAHAME, author of the Sabbath, and other Poems, has in the press a new poetical work, to be entitled, The British Georgics. At a general meeting of the subscribers to the African Institution, held at the Freemason's Tavern on the 25th of March, the EARL of MOIRA, in an impressive speech, informed the company of his having recently learnt, that Sir Sidney Smith had been presented by the Prince Regent of Brazil,with an estate, and with a number of negro slaves, to be employed in cultivating it; and that the use which he had made of this gift, was immediately to liberate the slaves, and to allot to each of them a portion of this estate, to be cultivated by them as free laborers for their own exclusive benefit. On the motion of Mr. Wilberforce, it was unanimously reSolved: that his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester (patron and president) be requested to communicate to Sir Sidney Smith the high sense entertained by this meeting, of his admirable judgment and liberality in the above instance, and to return him thanks for a line of conduct which is so truly honorable to the British name and character, and which MONTHLY MAG, 184. may be expected to be productive, by the way of example, of the happiest effects. In the year 1774, the Rev. W. HETHERINGTON enabled the governors of Christ's Hospital, London, to pay annuities of 101. each to 50 blind persons. Other benevolent individuals have since made such additions to this fund, that the governors are now enabled to extend this annuity to four hundred other persons. The governors have recently advertised, that from the 15th of October to the 3d of November, in every year, they are ready to issue from the countinghouse of their hospital, upon the application of a friend, petitions for any blind persons duly qualified; the great extent of the charity rendering it impracticable to attend to letters. The petitioners must be persons born in England, to the exclusion of Wales and Berwick uponTweed, aged fifty or upwards; who have resided three years or more in their present abode; who have been totally blind during that period; who have never begged, nor received alms, nor been deemed objects of parochial relief; but persons who have been reputably brought up, and who need some addition to what they have, to make life more comforta ble. Mr. PARKINSON has discovered in several species of marble, which he treated with muriatic or nitric acid, membraneous substances, which hung from the marble in light, flocculent, elastic membranes. These marbles were of a species formed by tubipores, madrepores, and corallites. In Kilkenny marble, the structure of the madrepores, and other testaceous substances which enter into its composition, is beautifully conspicious, from the ground of the marble in which they are imbedded being of a deep black. This circumstance, in Mr. Parkinson's opinion, proves that two distinct lapidifying processes must have occurred in the formation of this marble; and that its coralline or testaceous part had acquired a strong concretion previous to its being unbedded in the including mass of calcareous matter. A specimen of this marble, which Mr. Parkinson examined, in conformity with this opinion, exhibited no membranes when treated with diluted muriatic acid; but a black matter was deposited during the solution of the marble, which being dried and projected on melted nitre, immediately deflagrated; which circumstance shews the curious fact, that charcoal in substance entered 3 D into into the composition of this marble. Mr. Parkinson supposes, that it must have been animal charcoal, from shells and corallines being visible in the marble; but this does not prove the absence of vegetable coal; nor is it, indeed, easy to determine the nature of the coaly substance, since we know that vegetable coal, lying in contact with animal substances, acquires all the characters of animal coal, sufficiently to be mistaken for it. The composition of calcareous cements may derive improvement from these discoveries of the real state, in which the component parts of marbles and limestones exist in them. that the fiorin grass should not be known in England; at least no mention is made of it by any English agricultural writer: but Dr. Richardson thinks it highly probable, that it is the same grass which has been so much admired in the celebrated Orcheston meadow, near Salisbury, which was first noticed by Ray, who says its shoots were twenty-four feet long, and which so many botanists have visited without making any attempt to cultivate it. ginous, argillaceous sandstone, through Mr W. WELDON has analized the water of a mineral spring, two miles to the south of Dudley, in Worcestershire, which has been famous from time immeDr. WILLIAM RICHARDSON has morial, in the surrounding country, for called the attention of the public to the its efficacy in various scrofulous and valuable qualities of the fiorin grass, cutaneous diseases. In scrofula, in parwhich have long been known to the com- ticular, it has been considered an almost mon farmers of Ireland, but have hitherto infallible remedy. The spring flows into escaped the notice of scientific agricul- a well, about thirty-six feet in depth, and turists. This grass is indigenous in Ire-74 in diameter. The bottom is a ferru land, and is found in the greatest abundance, naturally, in the morasses and mountains, because on rich soil, the other grasses contend with it to advan. tage, but are not hardy enough to endure the wet and cold, in which the fiorin grass thrives. It sends out long white strings, after the manner of the strawberry; these bud at the points, and produce green shoots, which soon form a sod completely impenetrable to weeds and every other species of grass. Some experiments made by Dr. Richardson, prove that cold sour bottoms may at a small expence be converted into the most valuable pasture or meadow, by the fiorin grass. On a thin dry soil also, it thrives as well as on a wet one: it grows spontaneously very far up the bleakest and wettest mountains of Ireland, and this is perhaps the most important fact relating to it. This property must certainly render it peculiarly applicable to the improvement of vast tracts of thin, elevated soil, in the west of England, which are at present little more productive than the deserts of Africa. The extensive forest of Dartmoor is mostly of this description, and great part of Exmoor is nearly in the same state. There are also many other tracts of land in England, where it would be found beneficial; but in Scotland, of which so large a portion consists of land of the above nature, the introduction of the fiorin grass seems to promise more proportional advantages, than in any other division of the United Kingdom. It appears rather extraordinary 483. 311. -lime -iron Of carbonate of iron 26. 9. .75 Of earthy carbonates about 45. cub. in. 23.785 12. Mr. W. Cook, of Birmingham, has published some ingenious observations on the benefits that would result from the employment of an indigenous material, as a substitute for mahogany and other other costly woods, used for furniture, and the finishing of houses. The substitute, which he proposes is iron. In bedsteads for instance, the posts, as well as the frame might be cast hollow; the former might be beautifully wreathed with flowers, festoons, or clusters of fruit, or embossed with numberless fanciful ornaments, which the workman might touch up with his graver and chisel, to clear them from the sand, and to make them sharp and neat before they go to the finisher. The painter might colour them, so as to give them a more handsome and elegant ppearance, than it is possible to give to carved wood. This would furnish employment to numberless hauds, and afford ample scope for ingenuity. Chests of drawers, bookcases and bureaus, might all be made of sheet iron. Such furniture would be made at a considerably less price, than articles of mahogany, it would not be heavier than wood; it would be more beautiful, and exclusive of the convenience for removal, as it might easily be taken to pieces, and all the parts screwed up again without injury, it would afford a great security against fire. The sheep lately sent over from Spain, as a present to his Majesty, are of the flock of PAULAR, one of the finest in point of pile, and esteemed also above all others, for the beauty of the carcase. The fleeces of these sheep, as well as those of the flocks of Negrete and Escurial, were formerly withheld, from exportation, and retained for the royal manufactory of Guadalaxara. The flock or cavana of Paular, consisted of $6,000 sheep. It originally belonged to the rich Carthusian monastery, of that name, near Segovia. Soon after the Prince of the Peace rose into power, he purchased the flock of the monks, with the land belonging to it, both in Estremadura and Leon. Accordingly, all the sheep are marked with a large M. the mark of Don Manuel. The sheep sent to England, were selected from eight subdivisions, in order to choose young, well-shaped, and fine-woolled animals. The total number embarked, was 2,214. Of these, 214 were presented by the Spaniards to some of his majesty's ministers, and 427 died on the journey, either at sea, or on the way from Portsmouth to Kew. Ilis Majesty was pleased to take upon himself the whole of the loss, which reduced the royal flock to 1573, and several more have since died. The ewes were full of lamb when they embarked; several of them cast their lambs when the weather was bad at sea, and are in consequence so weak, that it is feared more will die, notwithstanding the great care that is taken of them. A few have died of the rot. This disease must have been contracted, by halting on some swampy district in their journey from the mountains, to the sea at Gijon, where they were embarked, as one died of it at Portsmouth. There is every reason, however, to hope, that this distemper will not spread, as the land, on which they are now kept, has never been subject to its ravages, being of a light and sandy nature. HOLLAND. M. DELHY, a chemist of Amsterdam, has discovered a composition which he conceived, from its superior strength, would supersede the use of gun-powder. While lately employed, however, in some experiments, a large paper exploded, and tore off his left arm, also most of the fingers of his right hand, and otherwise wounded him so severely, that his life is despaired of. No more than 361 ships arrived at Amsterdam, from sea, during the year 1808. Within the same period, 8,962 persons died in that city. The number of the poor there increases daily, and that of the physicians appointed to attend them, has been augmented from four to twelve. 1 which unites with a portion of the potash, and forms sulphate of pot-ash. The remainder of the free pot-ash retains some antimony oxided to a minimum. The white powder is the same as that sold by the name of Dr. James's. M. Pully asserts, that he has analized his powder to compare it with the other, and has found it to contain the same principles, and in the same proportions. TARTARY. The missionaries at Karass have printed several small tracts, in which the absurdities of the Koran are exposed, and the leading doctrines and duties of the gospel concisely but forcibly stated. The circulation of these over a great extent of country, has already produced a considerable sensation among the natives. In the district round Karass, a general attention to the subject of religion has been excited; the violent prejudices against Christianity are greatly abated; many do not scruple to express doubts respecting the truth of Mohammedisin, and there is every reason to believe, that not a few would openly renounce it, were they not restrained by the dread of their chiefs. An effendi, whose nanie is Shelling, and who is allowed to be one of the most respectable of their priests, has frankly acknowledged, that he is unable to answer the objections against bis religion; and though he still professes to be a Mohammedan, he disco vers a high veneration for the gospel, and a decided attachment to the missionaries. ABDY, the old priest, died in October last, of the plague, to the infection of which his incautious exertions had exposed him. There cannot be a doubt, say the missionaries, that he too was speculatively convinced of the truth of Christianity, and frequently did not hesitate to expose the absurdity of the Mohammedan religion; but he was so much influenced by the fear of the chiefs, that he continued to the last to exercise the office of priest among his countrymen. The young natives, whom Mr. Brunton has ransomed from slavery, continue to give the greatest satisfaction. The progress which they make in their education, is exceedingly encouraging; some of them can already read the Bible. During the last year, several were baptized. Among these was Katagerry, the young Sultan, whose history is particularly in teresting. He i lineally descended from the Khans of the Crimea, and is allied to some of the greatest families in the East. His father being one of the chiefs near Karass, he became acquainted with Mr. Brunton soon after his arrival, and has ever since manifested the strongest attachment to him. The missionary, engaged by his amiable disposition, began to instruct him in the principles of Christianity, and it was not long before he perceived its superiority over his own religion. It is now two years since he renounced Mohammedism; and ever since, he has not only adhered stedfastly to the profession of Christianity, but zealously endeavoured to spread the knowledge of it among his countrymen. He loses no opportunity of recommending it to their attention, boldly defends it whenever it is attacked, and discovers the most earnest concern for their conversion. Nor is it with the common people only, that he takes these pains; he frequently argues with the mollas and the effendis, labouring to expose their absurd opi nions and wicked practices, to their deluded followers. Hitherto, neither promises nor threats have caused him to waver in his attachment to Christianity. At his own earnest request, he was publicly baptized in the month of July, and was soon afterwards induced, by the wish to do something for his own support, to offer his services to the governor of Georghievsk, by whom he was immediately employed to write in one of the offices of the Crown. It is well knowu that Christianity was once the religion of many countries in the East, that are now overspread with Mohammedan darkness. century has scarcely elapsed since the Abazas, the Kabardians, and other Circassian tribes, were compelled at the point of the sword to exchange the doctrines of Christianity, for those of Istamism. But though the majority of the mountain tribes submitted to the mandate of their conquerors, some successfully resisted, and these, it is said, still profess to be Christians. It is also reported that some of the old churches are yet standing; and that these people possess books, which none of them understand. One of the most powerful of these tribes, is the Sonna, of whom the missionaries have received many interesting accounts. WEST INDIES. A Colonel BROWNE, of St. Vincent's, has represented to government, that a quantity of hemp, pitch, tar, and turpentine, may be manufactured in the Bahama Islands, equal to the consumption of all the navy and merchantmen of Great Britain. REVIEW OF NEW MUSICAL PUBLICATIONS. Three Grand Symphonies for the Piano-forte, TH A certain strength of conception, clear ness of judgment, and spirit of style, not often displayed even by veteran composers, pervade the compositions before us, and inark the singular prematurity of mind from which they have einanated. The elegance and delicacy of the slow movements evince a free imagination, aided by a refinement rarely obtained but at the expence of long experience and close and elaborate observation, while the accompaniment bespeaks a knowledge of effect that cannot but surprize those who know the youth of the author. In a word, these symphonies, though by no means easy of execution, will well repay the assiduity of the emulous practitioner, and afford no small delight to the tasteful auditor; and whatever we might naturally anticipate from the son of Dr. Busby, the countenance and pa tronage of so sound and respectable a musician as Mr. Salomon must serve to 4s.) is to contain a complete concerto, Six Variations for the Piano-forte on a favourite This Roman air is simple and pleasing in its style, and the variations, which are taste and ingenuity. If any thing is left six in number, do credit to the composer's us to wish, it is, that the execution had been more equally distributed between the two hands; not that the bass part has been slighted, but that some inviting have not perhaps been embraced to their opportunities for displaying the left hand full extent, Sonata for the Piano-forte, with an Accompa niment for the Violin or Flute (ad libitum). Composed, and dedicated, by permission, to Mr. Woelf, by J. F. Burrowes. 4s. The style of this sonata is distinguished by its taste and ease. The passages, though neither bold nor striking, are con ceived with facility, and proceed with a connected, flowing effect, that will not fail to please the lovers of smooth and chaste music. It would be injustice to Mr. Burrowes, not to notice particularly the high polish of many passages in the second movement, and the very agreeable subject of the concluding rondo. Tre Duetti, con Accompagnamento di Pianoforte. Composti da Vincenzo Martini, Maestro di Capella della Corte Imperiale di Russia. 2s. 6d. confirm the public opinion of Mr. B.'s extraordinary claims to applause and encouragement. No. I. of Mozart's Concertos. This is the first number of a work to be edited and conducted by Dr. Crotch, to appear in eighteen monthly parts or portions, and to contain all the most celebrated concertos of Mozart, arranged from the scores of Dr. C. for the pianoforte. This promises to be a valuable work to piano-forte practitioners. Dr. Crotch has commenced his task with ability, and will, we doubt not, conduct the publication to its conclusion with credit to himself and the liberal proprietors and publishers, Messrs. Sperati and Cianchettini. The undertaking is patronized by a subscription. Each Number (price These duets are written in a light faelegance, will be found simple in their miliar style; and, though conceived with general construction, and easy of execution. The first and third are particularly attractive, whether the boauty of their passages be separately considered, or the attention be directed to the general ef fect. The First of May, or "Awake the Lute, the Fife, the Flute," a Glee for three Voices, with an Accompaniment for a Piano-forte and Harp, or Two Performers on One Pianoforte. Composed by T. Attwood, Esq. 35. 6d. A kind of aërial sprightliness pervades this composition, which cannot but delight every tasteful hearer, because it is at once sweetly playful and highly characteristic. The parts blend with much happiness of effect, and the accompaniment leads the mind to those |