Another character, Peter Placid, is subsequently introduced; one frequently met with in the world; easy, good natured, and a general favourite; but possessing none of that firmness and energy, which is necessary for an efficient discharge of the various duties of life. The bad effects of this disposition are exhibited on a variety of occasions, particularly in the education of his children, who are ruined by thoughtless and indiscriminate indulgence. From this sketch, our readers may be enabled to form an idea of the nature and object of Mr Macneill's performance. It cannot be confounded with the ordinary class The Depreciation of the Paper Currency of Great Britain proved. By the Earl of Lauderdale. Svo. 6s. Tales of the East, comprising the most popular romances of Oriental origin; with imitations and translations. To which is prefixed an Introductory Dissertation. By Henry Weber, Esq. 3 vols royal 8vo. L.3. 18s. The poetical and dramatic works of Colin Maclaurin, Esq. Advocate, and of the late George Maclaurin, Esq. Writer, Edinburgh, 2 vols. small 8vo. 10s. 6d. Literary Intelligence. MJ Treatise on the Miner R JOHN MAWE, the author alogy of Derbyshire, is about to publish a Narrative of his Voyage to the Rio de la Plata, and of his Travels in Brazil, during a period of six years, from 1804 to 1810. The principal part of this work relates to the interior of Brazil, where no Englishman was ever permitted to travel, and particularly to the gold and diamond districts, which the author investigated by order of the Prince Regent. From the high sanction under which he began the undertaking, and the length of time he he devoted to it, his narrative may ry, Doctrines, Opinions, Discip line, and present state of Catholicism. It will contain also a Summary of the Laws now in force against Papists; and a Review of the Origin and Progress of the Catholie Question. The work is to consist of a thick octavo volume. be expected to throw considerable light on a rich and extensive colony hitherto little explored, and, at present, highly interesting, as it is likely, through recent changes, to become the seat of the empire of our oldest and most faithful ally. A splendid original work, delineating the Border-Antiquities of England and Scotland, is in great for wardness. The first part will be published on the 31st of March, and a part will be continued regularly every three months. It is intended to exhibit specimens of the Architecture, Sculpture, and other vestiges of former ages, from the earliest times to the union of the two crowns, accompanied with descriptive sketches and biographical remarks, together with a brief historical account of the principal events that have occurred in that part of Great Britain. Mr. James Smyth, of the Custom-House, Hull, intends shortly to publish, in one volume octavo, a Treatise on the Practice of the Customs, in the entry, examination, and delivery, of goods and merchandize imported from foreign parts; with a copious illustration of the warehousing system, intended for the use of merchants, officers, and others, concerned in this branch of the business of the customs. Mr. Bransby, of Ipswich, author of some useful publications on astronomy and geography, who has been an attentive observer of the comet of 1811, with the most accurate instruments, will, within a few days, publish a correct delineation of its path, and a full and distinct account of its elements, &c. In the plate will also be exhibited the path of the comet of 1807. The Rev. J. Nightingale proposes to publish a Portraiture of the Roman Catholic Religion; or, an unprejudiced Sketch of the Histo M. de Guignes, author of a Voyage to Pekin (3 vols. Svo. with 1 vol. folio of designs and charts), has just prepared an answer to the critics who have attacked his History of that empire. He has also read to the Institute an historical exposition of Chinese astronomy, from the earliest times, until the year 1776; and, to crown his labours, he is now about to publish a Chinese Dictionary, under the sanc tion of the French Emperor Napoleon. M. Charles Villiers, who has already obtained renown from the historical class of the French Institute, lately published a work in which he greatly praises the system of education pursued in the protestant schools in Germany, particularly those of Westphalia. In the present age, when political metamorphoses succeed each other with such astonishing rapidity, the deaths and births of Universities are likewise become common events in Germany---those venerable institutions which in former times did not arrive at maturity in less then a century, and were never extinguished, except by great public convulsions, or by the decay of decrepitude.---The once-celebrated universities of Helmstadt, Altdorf, and Rinteln, have expired within about two years, and many others are fast approaching towards their dissolution! Ruchsz, one of the most assiduous professors of the University of Greifswald, says, in the preface to the fourth volume of his new History of Sweden: "The school of learning, of which I have been for three centuries and a half, and which has by various means diffused knowledge and science through the world, and which the last sovereign of Pomerania considered as established by his fostering care for ever, is now threatened with annihilation." been a member, which subsisted in Berlin; and the venerable Chancellor Hardenberg promotes their success as much as present circum stances permit. Prince Henry's Palace, of which the King has made a present to the new university, will be the most magnificent, as well as the most convenient, Temple of Science in Europe: containing no less than ten spacious halls for lecturing, exclusively of a large assembly-room, to which the students may retire during intervening hours. Other parts of this palace are designed for Galleries of works of Arts, and Museums of Natural History. Here the famous Moitheric Cabinet of Anatomy, in conjunction with Liberkunic's Preparations, the Great Mineral Cabinet, the Hoffman and Geresheim Cabinet for other departments of Natural History, and various other collections, have been deposited in spacious and convenient rooms. A similar fate doubtless impends over the long-established seat of learning at Erfurt; that university containing, a few weeks ago, but thirteen students; and one of the professors, Dominicus, whose learning and writings have spread his fame into foreign countries, having recently changed his vocation in the universsty into a stewardship in the now insignificant house of Er furt! This melancholy state of ancient establishments is however happily relieved by the effulgent appearance of new luminaries, which are calculated to give fresh weight to the cause of learning in that part of Europe. The lover of literature, therefore, must derive satisfaction from the assurance published in the German papers, that the New University of Berlin was positively to be opened about the middle of October, when courses of lectures in the four faculties were to be read. This spirited revival of learning in a state which politically labours under heavy embarrassments, cannot fail to interest, not only the natives of Germany, but every wellwisher and promoter of science, whether he live on the banks of the Danube, the Rhine, the Elbe, or the Thames. All those to whom the King entrusted the management of this concern, have, it appears, individually done their duty, with praiseworthy solicitude. It is indeed to be regretted that Humboldt has recently returned to politics: yet he is neverthelsss solicitous to advance the public lectures Care has likewise been taken to select judicious and experienced professors and superintendants, who, with appropriate lectures and proper collections and demonstrations, will be able to give animation to those immense stocks of dead rareties and treasures. In comparative Anatomy and Zoology, the celebrated Rudolphy, of Greifswald, has been appointed, who, in his late work on insects, opened a new field in Zoology. The excellent Mineral Cabinet at Berlin, that precious relic of Karsten, will likewise be removed to the University-Palace. Professor Weiss, from Leipsic, is appointed its superintendant and lecturer. Far from insignificant or trifling are the presents of the patriotic Count Hoffmannsegg, author and editor of the splendid Flora Lusitanica. More than thirty chests of the rarest natural curiosities from the Brazils and the tropical countries of America, which is yet to be enlarged by exchanges made for articles articles from New South Wales and other southern countries, constitute the basis for a grand Museum of Natural History. Dr Gersenheim, from Dresden, has, with the assistance of his late friend Pallas and others, collected a Zoophytic Cabinet, no less valuable than comprehensive, which he has presented to the King of Prussia, for the use of the new university. The care of this collection has been committed to the learned Illger, a profound explorer of nature, who has been called from Brunswick to the new university, as particularly capable of rendering this collection of curiosities useful. The King has likewise, for the same museum, recently purchased of Herbst, a clergyman at Berlin, his famous collection of crustaceous fish; and negociations for various other collections have been set on foot. If to these be united the regularly classified botanical-garden, under the care of the great Wildenow, the whole will not fail to be productive of the most gratifying results in the study of physiology. Enough, if simply, yet to nature true, Our wandering bard his sketch dramatic drew, To shew how sternly rival minstrels strove, Stung by the jealousy of fame and love. EPILOGUE. Is times like these, when British travellers find Their foreign tours, that narrow limits bind, Through France and Italy forbid to roam, They seek familiar wonders nearer home; Gigantic snakes are cast on Orkney's isle, And mermaids rise in Caithness and Argyle; These spread their toilets, (wondering shepherds swear) And comb with ivory fingers, emerald hair. If more informed observers sally forth, They find fresh wonders somewhat farther north; Tis not enough the Iceland traveller tells Of burning mountains and of boiling wells; His moral marvels too, you find he brings, Minstrels that for preferment sing to kings; Ladies that keep their virgin vows so nice, (As if like salmon, vows were kept in ice.) For three long years wait in their native isle, And dare not flirt with mortal all the while. Do you believe the wonders they relate ? No, sure, if our experience carry weight. No courtly Lords, now rival rhymes rehearse, Or claim blue ribbands for their skill in verse; No Ladies now, when lovers leave their side, Wish seas between them and their destin'd bride; No modern Ladies sit, to pine and mope, And wait three tedious years the wan derer. Hope; But if the careless beau forgets his belle, These find another answer quite as well; Too happy should her Edgar disappoint her, To find some Haco with a larger jointure, But, (for our author frowns) all jokes apart, If in his scenes you trace the human heart; If to your view these artless scones may give Passions in every latitude that live; Ambition towering like the cliff's that rise On Iceland's coast to meet the angry skies; Love! ardent love! that burns like Hekla's fire, |