148 Foreign Intelligence-France. the early ages of the world, to have been exclusively devoted to war; and Dr. Jarrold might have added, that the breeding a separate and heavy variety of the horse expressly for the purposes of draught, is a project of modern date. Such variety has in this country, and in the opposite districts of Belgium, entirely superseded the use of the ox for labour. As the ox was habituated to labour before the ingenuity of man was assisted by science, the implements made use of must necessarily have been rude; but it is inexplicably singular, that the carts first invented bave never been improved upon, or adapted to modern purposes. Elevate the sledge on which the Indians of America draw home the game they have killed, make the wheels larger, and the common cart is nearly complete. Cæsar speaks with approbation of the tumbrils of the Gauls, which differ from the cart in nothing but in the shafts, which are not fastened to the body, but secured by a bolt, which being removed, suffers the body of the cart to fall back. Nor is there any improvement in the structure of carts; indeed they were invented for oxen, and are adapted to the slow motion of that animal; but the horse loves speed, and should be accustomed to a machine suited to his dispo sition, instead of which, all attention has been paid to adapt the horse to the old unwieldy cart. About sixty years since, a mechanic at West Bromwich invented and applied springs to carriages; previous to that period the coach was in construction a cart. Now, some stagecoaches, drawn by four horses, have weighed nearly four tons (on ordinary occasions three tons,) and with that weight the horses travel six or eight miles per hour; while the utmost weight of a broad-wheeled waggon, with eight large horses, is four tons. The meditated improvement then, at the instance of Dr. Jarrold, and it is about to be tried upon a large scale, is, to set carts and waggons upon springs. The doctor's farther recommendation is to replace oxen in their ancient station, as labourers in husbandry. In both projects he writes, not only like a good mathematician, but like a man who has also practically and well considered his subject. Mr. ISAAC OLDACHE, gardener to the Emperor of Russia, offers to the public bis method of forcing mushrooms, practised by him for many years in the imperial gardens at St. Petersburg with never failing success even in the most rigorous winters of that severe climate, at [Sept. 1, the price of one guinea for the printed receipt, provided 300 subscribers can be obtained. The bed prepared by Mr. Oldacre's method will, if kept dry, retain the power of producing mushrooms for many years; and this power may at any time be brought into action by means that will be disclosed to the subscribers. The mushroom shed, if made of a sufficient size, affords also the best protection for brocoli, which so seldom escapes unhurt by our winters. Tender and palatable salads may be raised in it during the most severe weather in garden pots or boxes. Also asparagus and sea-kale may be forced to the best advantage, by substituting mould instead of dung on the shelves. In every northern country, England alone excepted, no well-ap printed garden is without a cellar or other sheltered room for preserving the most tender vegetables from the effect of severe frost; Mr. Oldacre's shed will, if made sufficiently large, answer all the purposes of a winter shelter, and will, it is presumed, be found a very valuable addition to the horticulture of Britain, independent of its principal use, the raising of mushrooms in winter. He refers to the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, in whose garden at Spring Grove, near Hounslow, a crop of mushrooms, raised under his management, is now growing, and may be seen by any gentlenian who will call there. FRANCE. M. Sedaine, architect at Paris, is satisfied, after much reflexion, that the celebrated antique torso belonged to a figure representing Philoctetes left behind on the Isle of Lemnos, seated on a rock, and upon the lion's skin which belonged to Hercules, whose companion and heir he was. From the appearance of the muscles and the shoulder-blades, he conjectures that the hero was represcnted taking aim with an arrow at a bird flying over his head. Three quartz veins, containing tin ore, have recently been discovered in the commune of Piriac, in Bretagne, near the sea-shore, running through a granite mountain. The veins were examined by Daubuisson, and the ore assayed by the Council of Mines at Paris, and foun as rich as tin ore usually is. The Physical and Mathematical Class the Institute has proposed for the secon time, as the subject of an extraordina prize for the present year: The Cheo of the Oscillations of Elastic Lamin Two essays only were received, and be 1814.] Foreign Intelligence—Germany. having been deemed unworthy of the prize, the same subject is again proposed on the same conditions, viz. a gold medal of the value of 3000 francs, to be awarded on the first Monday in 1816.The same class has proposed as the mathematical prize question, also to be decided in January, 1816, the following Subject: The Theory of the Propagation of Waves on the Surface of a PondeTous Fluid of Indefinite Depth. The prize will be a gold medal of the same value, and adjudged at the same time as the preceding, but papers for the competition must be transmitted before the 1st of October, 1815. Lalande's annual medal for the obserration of most interest, or the memoir of greatest utility to astronomy, has been adjudged to M. d'Aussy, jun. for an extensive work on the perturbations and elliptical elements of the planet Vesta. Several learned societies in the departments have offered prizes for the best memoirs describing the most efficacious preventives of choke or fire-damp in coal and other mines. GERMANY. Klaproth, the traveller, who now resides in Berlin, will speedily publish the narrative of his extensive tour through Siberia, the country of the Mongols, and along the Chinese frontiers. As his route lay chiefly through regions but little known, and he travelled in the retinue of the embassy sent by the Russian Government to China, it was easy for him to collect perfectly new and authentic information. His knowledge of the languages enabled him to give complete descriptions of the unknown countries of Middle Asia, as also of Thibet, Little Bucharia, Dsungaria, and of the Mongols, and their habitations in the deserts. The commercial relations which have long subsisted between Russia and China will be placed by this work in the clearest light; and respecting the internal regulations, and the real political constitution of the Chinese empire, it will furnish accounts derived from authentic sources, which cannot but excite a favourable prepossession, by their not bordering upon the incredible and the extravagant. The Philological and Philosophical Class of the Royal Bavarian Academy of Sciences at Munich, has proposed the following subject for the prize question of 1815: "As the writings and doctrine of Plato have been hitherto the abject of numerous philological and NEW MONTHLY MAG.-No. 8. 149 philosophical inquiries, and their success especially depends on a correct knowledge of the authenticity and chronological order of the writings of this philosopher, the Academy wishes the learned to direct their attention to this subject." All men of letters are, therefore, invited to state what treatises that go under Plato's name are of doubtful authenticity, and in what order those wore. written which are undoubtedly genuine. The prize is 50 ducats, and memoirs must be transmitted before the 20th of March, 1815. The Baroness de Lamothe Fouqué has published a refutation of Madame de Stael's work, De l'Allemagne. A small volume of poems, under the title of the Lyre and Sword, by Lieut. Körner, a native of Mecklenburg Schwerin, who fell during the late campaign, have recently been published by his father. His pieces breathe the most ardent patriotism. One of the most interesting was composed and written by the author in his pocket-book when severely wounded, and left behind in a wood, where he expected to perish in the night of the 17th June, 1813.-The Duke of Mecklenburg offered to his father to remove the body of the warrior-poet to the vault of his own family; but the old man chose rather that it should remain beneath the oak where it had been deposited by his companions in arms. His highness has, therefore, resolved to inclose the spot, and to erect a monument decorated with a lyre and sword, to the memory of the heroic bard. Professor Ebeling, of Hamburg, has published Dr. Wendeborn's Recollections of his own Life, in two 8vo. volumes. The Doctor resided upwards of 26 years in London and its neighbourhood till his decease about two years ago, and was the author of Travels in England, and several elementary works for the instruction of youth, in which profession he was long engaged. Dr. Beckmann, who died at Hamburg about the end of June last, has left a rare and truly valuable collection of works of art, which was pronounced by the late Sir William Hamilton, when he visited that city in 1800, to be worthy of a place in the first cabinets in Europe. It was left him by his uncle, formerly chief officer of the Dutch East India Company in China, where he himself collected these curiosities, at Canton. They consist of numerous oilpaintings, chiefly landscapes, by Chinese masters, the colouring beautiful, the perVOL. II. X 150 Foreign Intelligence-Switzerland-Russia-Italy. spective correct, and the keeping good. From their composition, these, and many others of those pieces, are, at the same time, illustrative of the public and private life of the Chinese. This cabinet also contains numerous models of buildings, carved with infinite pains, and expressive figures and groups, of ivory, enamel, porcelain, terra cotta, and other materials; and lastly, an admirable collection of crystals and precious stones both rough and cut, which formerly belonged to the late naturalist, Dr. E. C. Schütz of Hamburg. The plan of erecting a monument in honour of the heroic veteran Blücher in his native town, Rostock, in Mecklenburg, has been seconded with extraor dinary enthusiasm. In less than an hour the tradesmen alone of that place subscribed 2500 rix-dollars. The plan is at once simple and elegant. It is proposed to convert the old market place, which is tolerably spacious, into a public promenade, and to erect the monument in the middle of it Strauss, bookseller, of Vienna, has announced the speedy publication of an important military work, in three voJumes, from the pen of the Archduke Charles, under the title of Grundsätze der Strategie. It will be illustrated by an account of the campaign of 1796, in Germany, and by maps and plans. The first edition, printed last year, was reserved by the illustrious author for his own disposal. SWITZERLAND. M. Deschamps, an agriculturist and botanist of Lausanne, has communicated to the Society of Agriculture, Natural History, and the Useful Arts, of Lyons, some interesting experiments on the culture of the tea-tree of Japan, which have convinced him that it will succeed perfectly well in Europe, if the seed be sown in a proper soil and climate. He accompanied his paper with directions how to gather and prepare the leaves for use. Having analysed tea of his own raising, he found that it contained neither tannin nor gallic acid, which com [Sept. 1, at the village of Niktreh, near Siniscropal, in the Crimea, principally with a view to collect all the indigenous plants of Russia, and also for the reception of the most curious vegetable productions from all parts of the world. One hun dred acres have been enclosed for the purpose. ITALY. The Pope devotes considerable atten tion to the reorganization of the establishments for public instruction. The college della Sapienza will be opened one of the first. The Academia ecclesiastica, where so many celebrated prelates received their education, will soon be restored to its former footing. The college of la Propaganda, for the gratuitous instruction of persons destined for the foreign missions, is rising again from its ruins. M. Cancelieri is at the head of this institution: he is described as a man eminently qualified for the post, and combining in a very high degree a knowledge of all human sciences with the most exemplary piety The printingoffice of this establishment, which has rendered such important services to the oriental languages, will be set to work again as soon as the state of the finances shall permit. A great number of antique vases have recently been discovered at Canosa in the kingdom of Naples in a most magnificent tomb. Two of these vases are peculiarly interesting to the antiquary. One of them is of extraordinary size, and its equal has never yet been discovered. It exhibits thirty-six painted figures, besides many emblems in various compartments, probably alluding to the labours of Hercules. On the neck are two elegant cars, those of the Sun ard Aurora, drawn by four beautiful white horses. At the bottom is a tetrastyle temple of the Tuscan order, in which, as in a niche, are two persons, of dignified appearance, who scem intended for Pluto and Proserpine. Lower down is Hercules fighting Cerberus with his club, besides various other figures not yet ascertained. This vase, though fine, is interior in design and workmanship to the other, which is smaller, and exhibits twenty-eight figures, also in different compartments, and likewise the cars and temples as described above: but on the architrave of the latter appears in excellent Greek characters the word KPEONTEIA. On the left is a figure, under which is inscribed IrтOTHE, and on the right a female, over whose head apA botanical garden has been formed pears written MEPOTн. On the left is mon tea contains, and to which is ascribed the property of affecting the nerves, and producing trembling. RUSSIA. A literary and philosophical society has lately been established at Riga, with a view to the promotion of political economy, natural history, chemistry, and The members meet twice a commerce. month. 1814.] Foreign Intelligence-America, also an interesting image of Death with the words EIASAON AHTOY over it. This figure is accompanied by another with a menacing countenance, and wrapped in a black cloak. On its head is a kind of two-curled wig, In the centre of the inner compartment is a figure representing Fury OIETPOE, and on the two sides are two other figures, that on the left representing Jason, IAZ2N, who is in the act of falling, and that on the right Medea MHAEIA. All the amateurs and antiquaries who have seen these vases pronounce them to be the most valuable in Europe, both for their size, the variety of the figures, and the delicacy of the design. The tomb in which they were found is hollowed out of the solid stone. In the inside are basso relievos repre-, senting hunting-matches, and there were also found two helmets, a cuirass, two pieces of leg armour, and an ornament for the cuirass, all of which were gilt. Vases were likewise found without figures or decorations. The excavations of Pompeji are prosecuted with unremitted diligence by the Neapolitan government. The latest discoveries are three magnificent tombs adorned with sculpture, and a hall, supposed to have been a court of justice, adorned with a triple row of columns. Bronze stoves were also found in the same place, of an elegant form, with a faun and Bacchus two feet high, and exquisitely formed; and lastly a small gladiator of bronze, precisely similar to that which has already been so much admired, and which is in the attitude of begging his life from the spectators. Not long since was also found a beautiful silver vase apparently used in religious worship; it is covered with figures in relievo, and resembles in form that in the royal cabinet of France, described by Caylus. There is a third of the same kind in the cabinet of the late Cardinal Borgia. AMERICA. Mr. David Brown, a native of Baltimore, has lately exhibited near that place, a newly invented mode of setting are to a ship of war. In the centre of a circle was erected a mast about 99 feet in height, on which 37 barrels were arranged two abreast at equal distances from each other, the whole length of the beam. The combustible substance was then discharged from an ordinary fireengine at the distance of 90 feet from the 151 mast. A lighted match was applied, when the combustible inatter was thrown from the spout, and a tremendous sheet of liquid fire, wrapped in clouds of pitchy smoke, issued from the orifice. The barrels were all consumed, and the sudden involution of light and darkness added much to the grandeur of the spectacle. In a future number we hope to give a general outline of the boat in which this new engine of destruction is to operate. The Americans, as it appears, design to employ it against our shipping. One of their torpedo boats was lately wrecked in Boston harbour, and while ashore burned by our seamen, A useful publication is just announced at Boston under the title of "The Political and Historical Register," devoted to every branch of science as well as politics and commerce. It will be something like our Annual Registers, but more local in its nature, being principally calculated for the state of Massachussets-and be continued annually. There will also be attached to this work an almanac on a new plan, with all the religious and masonic, political and literary observable days during the year. The period embraced by it is from Midsummer to Midsummer. On the 10th June was announced a "School Geography," by D. Adams, A. M. at 10 dollars per dozen, or one dollar for a single copy. This work will be divided into three parts:-1. Geographical Orthography, divided and accented. 2. A Grammar of Geography to be committed to memory. 3. A Description of the Earth, Manners, and Customs of the inhabitants, manufactures, commerce, government, natural and artificial curiosities. It will be compiled from the most approved English authors, and be accompanied with maps of the world, North America, United States, New England, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. A complete edition of Dr. Lardner's works, in eleven volumes 8vo. is also preparing. The publisher remarks that it will consist of about 6000 pages, and be copied from the only complete English edition, which sells in England for eleven guineas, whereas this edition, which will be most carefully printed, will be charged to subscribers three dollars per volume. Lord Byron's Corsair sells in America for 50 cents. [ 152 ] NEW PUBLICATIONS IN AUGUST, WITH CRITICAL REMARKS. [Sept. 1, At the request of many Correspondents we have been induced, though at a considerable additional expense, to give a new feature to our Literary List, by raising it above the form of a dry catalogue. Without arrogating to ourselves a high judicial character, we shall endeavour to point out the real merits of the leading productions of the day as they are published, steering equally clear of the partiality of friendship, and of the splenetic spirit of satire. Early communications of new works will ensure a speedy notice of their properties in this department, which we trust will prove far more useful, as well as more agreeable, to readers in general, than the former plan, of merely giving extracts from a few particular books. The articles marked with a will be further noticed in our next number. : BIBLIOGRAPHY. An Introduction to the Study of Bibliography to which is prefixed, a Memoir of the Public Libraries of the Ancients. By Thomas Hartwell Horne. Illustrated with engravings. Two volumes, 8vo. pp. 758, and an appendix of clvi pp. 11. 85. Every attempt to facilitate the knowledge of books, with respect to their editions, properties, and authors, has a claim to encouragement. It is but of late that we have had any work of value upon bibliography, and though some splendid and useful performances have appeared on the subject, yet there was still wanting such a systematic treatise as that contained in the present volumes, which are evidently the production of one who is conversant with general literature, and particularly well acquainted with that useful branch of science in which he has undertaken the office of a guide. Longman and Co.'s General Catalogue. Part II. 1s. 6d. A Catalogue of Books selling by T. Albin, Spalding, 1s. 6d. A Catalogue of Books selling by D. Speare, Southampton-street, Strand, 8vo. 2s. BIOGRAPHY. Memoirs of Lord Cochrane. By James Campbell, esq. 1s. 6d. The interesting Narrative of the Life of Olandoh Equiano, or Gustavus Vasa, the African. Written by himself, 12mo. 3s. 6d. An Essay on the Life of Michel de l'Hôpital, Chancellor of France. By Charles Butler, Esq. 8vo. pp. 80. This is a short but admirable memoir of a truly great man and good magistrate, to whom France is indebted for any important benefits, not only in the administration of the law, but for preventing the reception of the council of Trent, and the establishment of the Inquisition. The chancellor was a zealous advocate for toleration; and as such his Life is now brought forward, we suspect, by his worthy biographer, to recommend, by the example here recorded, concession to the claims of the Roman Catholics. But l'Hôpital was more than suspected of being a Huguenot, and on that account a guard was sent to protect him from outrage during the massacre on St Bartholomew's day it was, therefore, natural for a man of his sentiments to exert all his iufluence on the behalf of the party to whom he was secretly attached. Memoirs by a celebrated Literary and Political Character, from the Resignation of Sir Robert Walpole, in 1742, to the Esta blishment of Lord Chatham's Second Adini 1 nistration, in 1757; containing Strictures on some of the most distinguished men of that time, 8vo. pp. 164, 7s. 6d. One object intended by the publication of these niemoirs is to make the world believe that Richard Glover, the author of them, was the renowned Junius, whose Letters have obtained a more per. manent celebrity on account of the mystery which surrounds their origin, than for any real value which they possess, either as political declamations or literary compositions. That the memoirs before us contain some information illustrative of the cha racters of public men, must be admitted, but at the same time every page manifests so much vanity hostility to the administrations which he opposed, on the part of the author, and such a violent that little credit can be given to his representations. When the editor endeavoured to impress upon the reader's mind a persuasion that Glover and Junius the strongest proofs of the identity may be drawn were the same, he should have added, that one of from the pompous inanity and scurrilous malignity pervading alike the Letters and the Memoirs. The indecent manner in which George the Second is abused in the latter, as fitter for a pawnbroker's shop than a thione, may be good evidence that Glover was Junius, but it will hardly be adduced as an instance, that he was either a man of wit or of liberality. DIVINITY. The Fruits of Perseverance; being three Sermons, on recent public occasions, most respectfully inscribed to his parishioners, by William Mavor, LL.D. Rector of Bladon cum Woodstock, Oxon, and Vicar of Hurley, Berks, 8vo. pp. 51. These three Sermons, though the first was preached on a fast day, and the others on days of thanksgiving, are all on the same text, (James v. 11.) and were intended to enforce the duty of resignation and the necessity of perseverance. Without possessing any peculiar merit, either in language of argument, the discourses are calculated to promote edification, and to beget in the minds of Englishmen just sentiments of gratitude for the blessings which they enjoy above all the nations of the earth. The preacher, however, would have acted prudently in omitting the puerile flight on the slave trade at the close of his last sermon: for to many of his hearers it must have conveyed the idea that we are at this moment engaged our. selves in that traffick. England's Glory and Duty: a Sermon. preached at the Parish Church of St. Cruz, in the City of York, July 7, 1814, being the day appointed for a General Thanksgiving. |