12 Barleria cristata. Barleria comes very near to justicia; even two of the four stamens are early abortive. This plant is likewise from Mr. Evans's collection, as are the three following: Geodorum citrinum, a delicate plant of the family of the orchidea. Begonia evansiana; said to be discovered by Mr. Evans's collector in the island of PuloPinang. We believe, however, that this plant has been long in the collection at Kew. Clerodendrum pyramidale; supposed to be a new species, also from Pulo-Pinang. Volkameria and Clerodendrum are very unsatisfactorily defined, and several species seem to have been indiscriminately referred to either genus. Desmanthus natans of Wildenow; Mimosa natans of Roxburgh's Coromandel plants; Neptunia natans of Loureiro. To the character, as here given from Wildenow, the flowering spikes of this plan do not correspond, being neither oblong, nor interrupted, but oval and compact: The roots in Mimosa natans have no attachment whatever to the soil, but are produced in fibrous bunches along the stems, which are likewise furnished with a spongelike substance as it is called, but which must be more of the nature of cork than sponge, for the purpose of preventing the plant from sinking in the water. There is no appearance either of the roots or of this buoyant cork in the figure, nor any mention made of it in the description, nor of its mode of growth. These circumstances leave some doubt in the mind whether the plant here figured be really the Mimosa natans of Roxburgh, or the Neptunia natans of Loureiro. The specimen from which the drawing was taken, was communicated by Mr. Milne from Mr. Beckford's collection, at Fonthill. Ardisia litteralis, discovered on the shores of Puto-Pinang by Mr, Evans's collector, and introduced at the same time with Ardisia elegans above mentioned. This is probably the same as Ardisia solanacea of Roxburgh. Styrax officinale. An old, but still a rare, shrub in our gardens. Cytisus elongatus. The first account we have of this elegant species, is in the rare plants of Hungary, published by Count Waldstein and Dr. Kitabel. Introduced to this country by the indefatigable and skilful, curator of the botanic garden at Cambridge. Liatris odoratissima. Introduced by the late Mr. Fraser, of Sloane-square, from North America. This intrepid and zealous traveller has at last sunk under the infirmities induced by his laborious exertions in the acquisition of new plants. Its value consists in the fragrance of the dried foliage, exactly resemb ing that of the Tonquin bean, and equally durable. Being a native of South Carolina, our summers seem to have too little sun to bring it into Aower. The drawing was made from a specimen which bloomed in Mr. Lambert's stove at Boyton. As a fwering plant, it is not superior to our common hemp agrimony, which it somewhat resembles; but if it should thrive well in the open air, and produce its foliage Freely, it will prove a very valuable acquisition. Peliosanthes bumilis; a diminutive species from Mr. Evans's collection, native of Pinang. Celosia cernua; a new species, introduced from the East Indies by Dr. Roxburgh. It is a very ornamental annual, and may be raised with our Cockscombs and Balsams. To the former it has a near affinity, but is more elegant in its growth. Ipomea insignit. This most splendid bindweed has been for some years cultivated in the stove of Mr. Benyon, at Englefield, where it extends over the trellis-work for about thisty feet, producing numerous bunches of large bell-shaped flowers, of a purplish colour, with a dark centre. Its native country and time of introduction are totally unknown. We have been informed that it was long erroneously supposed to be the Wew Indian yam. The second part of the tenth volume of the Transactions of the Linnean Society is just published. MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. SOWING the spring corn being generally finished, the farmers have been since busied in working their fallows, providing manure, weeding their wheats, and hoeing drilled crops. The turnip fallows never worked more kindly, nor promised a finer tilth. Some forward Rutabaga, or Swedish turnips, are already above ground, and very strong plants. Clovers, and artificial grasses, are under the scythe, for the first crop of green food. It is probable, the wheats never before exhibited a more universally promising appearance than in the present season, since there most necessarily always be some drawbacks. Thus, as has been before stated, a part of the wheat crop, chiefly upon ordinary light lands and cold clays, was injured for want of a cover of snow in the winter, and the wire-worm did afterwards considerable damage; upon such land, the wheat planted thin; but so favourable has been the succeeding spring, that the luxuriant tittering, or branching of the plants, may produce an ample crop of corn. Beans, pease, barley, potatoes, hops, are equal in appearance to any thing ever witnessed by the oldest farmer living; the same in fact may be said of all the productions of the soil. The grass promises a forward crop, and the bottoms will be greate The forwardness of keep abroad has been extremely fortunate, considering the short stock of ⚫ld hay. In the north, the weather was very severe during the early part of the spring, but has been since so favourable that the Lent corn was got in very early, in the best cultivated districts of Scotland, and their crops wear the finest appearance. Some complaints are made in the north, of damage to the fruit-crops; also in the south, where however the damage is partial; and from the immense quantity of blossom, of no great account. Good wheat begins to run short, in those counties, which have so liberally supplied the London market. Live stock in general dearer, pies excepted. Smithfield: Beef, 5s. Od. to 6s. 4d.-!—Mutton, 5s. 4d. to 6s. Od. ;-Veal, 6s. to 7s. 63. ;— Lamb, 103. to 1s. 14. per lb.;-Pork, 55. 6d. to 7s.'4d.;-Bacon, 6s. 8d. to 7s. 2d.—Irish ditte, 4s. 6d. to 53. 8d. ;-Fat, Ss 6d. ;-Skins, 15s. to 25s.-Oil cake, 121. Middlesex, April 25, 1811. METEOROLOGICAL REPORT. Observations on the State of the Weather, from the 24th of April, 1811, to the 24th of May, 1811, inclusive, Four Miles N.N.W. St. Paul's. THE quantity of rain fallen since our last Report, has been considerable; the number of days in which it has tained, either in greater or less quantities, equal to 21, and the quan tity measured by the rain-gauge, is equal to full 5 inches in depth. Thunder and lightning have been more frequent than usual for the month of May, they follow, of course, the sultry weather, which has been some days experienced. On the 16th the noise of distant thunders was incessant from noon to four o'clock in the afternoon, and on the 228 in the evening, the storm raged for a short time with considerable fury, till a heavy rain scemed to clear the atmosphere. The wind has been most frequent in the westerly points, though this is the season when we look principally to the east for winds. Vegetation is remarkably forward, and large quantities of grass have been cut for more than a week, but, owing to the heavy rains which have continued almost from day to day, there is probably not a single load carried. Dry and warm weather is now wanted to complete and accomplish what a favourable spring has brought forward. As far as our recollection serves, this is the most early spring since the year 1794, when pease were cried in the streets of London, on the 19th of May, at eighteen pence the peck Highgate, May 24, 1811. N.B. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Numbers 74 and 83 of THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE being out of Print, and wanted to complete Sets constantly in demand, Two SHILLINGS and SIXPESCE per Copy will be given for any of those Numbers which may be brought to No. 7, New Bridge Street. In page 402, for "the stones in three columns," read in these columns."-In p. 404, for "external characteristics," read "external characters,"In p. 406, for sunite,” read “* sierin.” Idem, for "soft marble,” read “soit marle.” " As long as thofe who write are ambitious of making Converts, and of giving their Opinions a Maximum of THE SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER. Hitherto our Supplementary Number has been partly occupied with imperfect critical accounts of current English literature, confessedly and necessarily compiled from those fallible, partial, and corrupt mediums, the periodical anonymous Reviews, aided by occasional originality; in future, however, it is proposed to substitute in. place of those wholesale criticisms, interesting characteristic extracts from the principal works published within the half year, adapted at once to gratify our readers, to qualify them to judge of every work for themselves, and to stimulate them to purchase those possessed of evident merit. The Supplement published on the first of August, will be compiled on this plan; and, to assist our design, we shall feel ourselves obliged to authors and publishers, who will accommodate us with the loan of books published between Michaelmas and Lady-day last. PIMLICO, May 8, 1811. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. For the Monthly Magazine. MANUSCRIPTS in the IMPERIAL LIBRARY at PARIS. D URING the short peace of 1801-2, the editor of the Monthly Magazine made arrangements for presenting to his readers, extracts from the curious historical manuscripts contained in the National Library at Paris, particularly from those relating to English affairs. The revolution and its wars, having been the means of bringing together these interesting remains, from public and pri vate collections, and religious houses in every part of France, Flanders, and Italy, such extracts could not have failed to prove interesting to the public; but the friendly relations of the two countries having been so unexpectedly interrupted, the plan was arrested, and the only papers received by the editor were the following: I. The prey of death, deep in the hollow tomb! She lived, she died; and now like her un seen, A PAPER FOUND IN THE TOME OF LAURA, Wit, genius, eloquence, all share her doom. WHEN OPENED BY ORDER OF FRANCISI. QUI riposan quei caste & felicia ossa Di quell alma gentile, & sola in terra- Oh! charms divine! Oh! sad remembrance keen, That still consumes my mind, by sorrow torn! II. MSS. On which is written that it belonged to Christina, Q. of Sweden, afterwards to the Vatican, and now to the Imp. library, containing original letters from Henry VIII. to Anne of Boulen. HE reasonable request of your last Tlettre, with the pleasure also that I take to know them true, causeth me to send you now this news; the legate whyche we most desyre aryvyd att Parys on Sunday or Monday, last past, so that I trust by the next Mnday to here of hys th 10 aryvall at Cales, and then I trust w a wyle after to enjoy that whyche I have so long longyd for to God's pleasur, and our both coforts; no more to you at thys present myne own darlynge for lake of tyme, but that I wold you were in myne armes, or I in your's, for I thynk it long syns kyst you; writtyn affter the kyllyng off my hart at xi off the kloke, myndyng wth God's grace to-morow mytely to kyll another by the hand of him whyche 1 trust shortly shall be yours. H. ERLYNG, thes shall wonly to adver Diyce you that thys herer and hys felow be dyspecyd with as many thyngs to eo passe oure mater and to bring it to pas, as I trust by theyne dylygence it shall be schortly, you and I shall have oure desyryd ende, whyche shulde bee more to my hart's ease, and more quiettnes to my mynd than any other thyng in thys worlde, as wth God's grace shortly I trust shall be performed, but nott so soon as I wolde it were, yet I wyll ensure you ther shall be no tyme lost that may be wone, and farther cannot be done for ultra posse no est ce kepe hym nott to long with you, but desyre hym for your sake to make the more spede, for the soner we shall have worde frome hym, the soner shall oure mater come to pase, and thus upon trust off your short repayre to London, I make an ende off letter myne owne swette hart; wryttin wth the hand off hym whyche desyryth as muche to be your's, as you do to have hym. III. my H. MSS. Lettres de Marie Stuart Reyne d'Ecosse veuve du Roy Franç. 11. a Monsieur le Due de Nemours, &c. Au Duc de Nemours. PAR l'advertisement que jay eu dail lieurs les anglois ont bien fait menon de l'amitie que la Royne dangleterre ma sœur me porte ce que elle ma fait entendre par tant docasions que ie nen veulx ou ose plus doubter et iespere bien que elle men faira quelque plus seure desmonstiation si nous voions ce que jay difere pour ceste annee pour etre trop aduancee mays ie matent's di recouvrer lautre quoyquil en soit le mie scuts osbligee a vous du bien que me souhaites. Au Duc de Nemours. MON cousin mestant permis meinte nant ce que lavois ili a long temps desiray cestoit de fayre mon devoir vers le Roye la Royne et tous messieurs mes bons amys et parans du nombre des quels ie vous ay tousiours tenu et trouvee des prinsipaulx ie nay voullu faillir de vous fayre ce mot pour vous prier de donner credit a ce porteur qui vous declarera focasion de son voiasge et lestat de mes affayres tant issi quen non malheureuls pays et pour ce que ie le connois fidelle et doubte quel inconveniant pourroit venir aux lettres ie ne les feray plus longues ayns me remetant sur lui a vous fayre ample discours du tout ie vous priray me fayre part de vous nouvelles que le prie a diea ettre tous jours aussi bonnes que les scauries souhayter et apres vous amiou besay les mains ie feray fin avoir. De Winkfield ce ix de Juin, vo tre-affec. bon Cousine MARIE. IV. EXTRACT from MANUSCRIPT BOOK, No. 7834, in the MANUSCRIPT CATALOGUE. A booke contayninge the most singulare secrets in the arte of distillation, whearby is easily brought to pass things of great moment, when are obscuerely set down by learned auethors of divers nations and tongs: but hear interpreted and layd open to the views of my mutch honored frende, and therefor caled hidden secrets revealed. By Robert Walenysley, P.M. a.d. 1609. To the right worshipful and mutch honored knyght Sirr Barnard Greenvill, grace, mercy and peace, in oure Lord Jesus. UNDOUBTEDLY God hath cre ated medicins to tak away the gout, palsi, dropsie, quartan fevers, and other diseasis, which the trop of vulgar phisitions do iudg incurable, but the caus whi phisitions know them not: is, first ther impieties and infidelitis; for the till regard ther neghbours-next is ther absolut negligens in searctching the wounderous works of God and secrets of natur. How can they seek after the wonderous secrets of his works: wch believe him not to be or know kim not; er litill care to know him? so that they have a voluble tong: it is sufficient for them, unto title and to grace ther pompe. They should hurt ther tender hands with cools, if they should seartch the secrets of nature: it sufficeth them to wast and consume all ther time and adg in cauilations and contentions in words. 0 blind mortall men! do we not know that we ought rather to seek the truth of the cause, then the ornament of speatch? This is most true, nothing is so contrary to the rules of true philosophie, as that which savoureth of uniovutedness and banti proud speatch; and for this cause Philosophi presents herself naked ap. parent on all parts; she caryeth all under the eyes subject to judgment; she shewes her self playnly. Cicero doth not requier elequens in a philosopher, mutch les Celsus in phisick: but that it may manyfest the truth of things and excellencies of doctrine, it is our duties rather to have our minds well composed, then our words curiosly adorned; to provide rather that reason err not, then speatch; and yet elequens, a gift of God given by the same spirit that prophesis healing, and the gift of tongs are, but it must be but the handmayd of truth. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, F all the labours incident to the editor of a there none that more interests the public, or for the due execution of which he ought to be more strictly responsible, than dramatic and theatrical criticism. In the details of news and politics, he is obliged, in some respect, to adhere to accounts received; and his opinions and obser vations are universally known uot to be his own, but those of the party under whose banners he is enlisted. If he announce falsehoods, retail absurdities, or reason extravagantly, all is set down to his employers, whom it is perfectly understood he must obey, or lose their patronage. It is also notorious, that these patrons themselves occasionally condescend to write, and that, not being broken into the trammels of newspaper composition, their productions are often crude and absurd; but they are sacred, and dare not be touched by the profane haud of their servile editor, whose bu siness is only to extol to the skies, in which he is assisted by the writer's po. litical friends. The public, however, are little influenced by either these rhap sodies, or those of the editor himself. Almost every man attaches himself to one party or other; and as the most preposterous statements and dogmas will be swallowed, if of the favorite side; so, if an angel were to write on the reverse, his facts, arguments, and cloquence, would be unavailing. A reader of the Post or Courier? will not be convinced by the statements, however ingenious, of the Chronicle or Statesman; nor will the boldest assertions of the former journals, find credence with the adinirers of the latter. But, although, as already observed, every man thinks decidedly with the party he has espoused, yet, unless he be a professed politician, or personally interested in the success of his party, he is apt to lose a relish for the everlasting rou tine of political discussion: when he takes a newspaper into his hand, he rather looks for something to amuse him, than the repetition of what has become like a course of physic; and, among the first of such articles, he eagerly examines the theatrical intelligence. The reports of a new play, or a new performer, interest him more than those of an engagement in Spain or Portugal, or of a debate in the House of Lords or Com mons. Such being the case, it were to he wished that editors should be a little more circumspect; and, I may be per mitted to add, a little more candid, impartial, adherent to truth, frequently are. I do not dispute that they may be, in some degree, subservient to a manager, or that they may be influenced by or against an author or a performer; but here they are not so ticd down, but if they chuse they may have a will and opinion of their own, the due and honest exercise of which is of much importance, as they are, in fact, the Supreme dictators of the taste of the town. The theatre is divided into three compartments, pit, boxes, and galleries: but as in politics we have often heard of an influence behind the throne, greater than the throne itself; so here, besides the constitutional divisions of the audience, there is a fourth description of visitors, paramount to all the rest. They in go neral seat themselves snugly in the boxes; but, on the occasion of a new performance, they pervade the whole house, to give the greater force to their dicta. These are editors and reporters of news papers, |