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Intelligence in Literature and the Arts and Sciences. [Dec. 1,

graved in the line manner, by Freeman; intended to illustrate Bibles, Common Prayer Books, and all works of Scripture history, is preparing for publication, in 8vo. and 4to.

Miss BETHAM has announced, by subscription, the Lay of Marie, a poem, to be published in the ensuing spring.

Mr. C. BLUNT is preparing for publication a Descriptive Essay on Spectacles, and the Apparatus used to assist Imperfect Vision, in one small volume, illustrated with plates. It will be the object of this publication to explain the many misconceptions and serious errors committed in the construction of spectacles; to expose some notoriously empirical pretensions; and to reduce to its proper level the discreditable practice of purchasing patents for unimportant alterations, with a view to make the improve ment, as it is termed, an object of monopoly.

The Rev. A. MACAULEY, Vicar of Rothley, in Leicestershire, is preparing for publication a Life of Melancthon, connected with the History of Lutheranism, and of the Protestant Reformation in Europe, during the 16th century. The first volume, terminating with the close of the Diet of Augsburg, in 1530, may be expected in the course of the ensuing year.

Lieut. W. E. PARRY, R. N. will speedily publish Nautical Astronomy by Night, illustrated by engravings; intended chiefly for the use of the navy, and calculated to render more familiar the knowledge of the stars.

. Mr. EDWARD BELL has been a considerable time engaged in a work, intended shortly for publication, entitled Sabrina Depicta; consisting of 100 original Drawings of all the principal Cities, Towns, Bridges, Ferries, Entrance of Rivers, &c. both Interesting and Picturesque, on the River Severn, from its Source in North Wales to the Bristol Channel; which will also include correct Drawings from Nature of all the various Fish, Fishing Implements, &c. peculiar to the Severn: accompanied with a handsome Letter-press descriptive account of every view and subject: form jug a handsome and entertaining volume, combining the topographical and natural history of the finest river in England, in point of length, produce, and romantic

Revivals of Religion from the earliest periods down to the present time, and in every part of the world.

Mr. TYERMAN has also in the press an Essay on Evangelical Hope, which will be ready for circulation in a few weeks.

A new monthly publication for the ladies will make its appearance on the 1st of January, 1815, entitled The British Ladies' Magazine. It is an endeavour to supply the sex with a journal of a decided and original character; and aims at becoming a respectable literary me dium for the more cultivated order of females.

The late Mr. PRATT left ready for the press a small volume of poems, under the title of Pillow Thoughts, written during his confinement in consequence of being thrown from his horse.

The second volume of the interesting Travels of Professor LICHTENSTEIN in Southern Africa, is in the press, and will be published early in 1815. It will be accompanied by a new and valuable map of the country, in which the inaccu racies of former travellers are pointed out.

A new novel, entitled The Hero, will appear early in January, from the pen of E. S. BARRETT, esq. the witty author of the Heroine; the third edition of which is now in the press.

A new edition, with many useful additions, is in the press, of the Art of Preserving the Sight to Extreme Old Age. Also of Depping's Evenings' Entertain ments, in French and English, and Boud ly's Conseils a ma Fille.

A third edition of St. Oswald and other Poetical Tales is in the press.

Mr. BAKEWELL is preparing for the press a second edition of his Introduc tion to Geology, which will be consider ably enlarged particularly by informa tion acquired during the Author's recent examination of different parts of Eng land and the Eastern Coast of Ireland. It will contain a notice of the most im portant Geological Discoveries and Observations, which have been made the Continent of Europe, and in various parts of the globe, since the publication of the former, and is intended to com prise a view of the progress and present state of the science.

Lieut.-Gen. G. COCKBURN will shortly publish a Narrative of his Voyage p the Mediterranean in 1810 and 1811, containing an account of a tour in Sicily, Malta, and the Lipari Islands, undertaken at a very interesting period. It will be accompanied by numerous well

Foreign Intelligence-Germany.

440

Foreign Intelligence-Prussia,

plaster of Paris, exhibitions, and other purposes, besides a hall for the lectures of the professors. Mr. Böttiger, to whom the superintendance over the two principal museums, the gallery of antiques and Mengs's museum, is confided, has, during the last summer, held lectures on archeology, in the anti-room of the gallery of antiques, to the pupils and inembers of the Academy of Arts, about 50 in number, and thereby endeavoured to enhance the utility of this much-neglected institution.

The Vienna papers mention, that Professor Schmid is delivering lectures in that city, on a universal system of writing, which he denominates Pasigraphy, and explains in eight lectures. This system, we are told, is very simple and easy of comprehension, and therefore nothing but a little practice is required, on the part of the hearers, to obtain a considerable readiness in the art. It is added, that the influence of this method, both in the study of languages in general, and in the instruction of the deaf and dumb, cannot fail to be very great and highly advantageous.

Charles Witte, a youth of 14, son of Dr. Witte, of Lochau, has received from the philosophical faculty of the university of Giessen, the degree of doctor of philosophy and master of arts. A work composed by bim will be speedily published at Lüneburg, under the title of, Introduction to a complete knowledge of Trigonometry. A book by a doctor of philosophy no more than 14 years old, and upon such a subject, is certainly an extraordinary literary phenomenon.

Various plans for a pational monument, to commemorate the recovery of German independence, have been published in the journals of this country.On this subject, a writer observes, that all these plans might, perhaps, answer for an individual state, but as they are all designed for some particular spot, the proposed memorials will never be seen by the great majority of the nations who took part in the gigantic contest. Another consideration, continues he, seems at this moment to dissuade from their execution: the national resources have been too long drained by wars, and therefore, in future undertakings, they ought so much the more to be exclusively applied for the benefit of the people. No monuments can be of such general advantage to all the nations who have been engaged in this struggle, as good communications by land and water. Connect, for example, by means of camals, the Danube with the Rhine and the

[Dec. 1,

Elbe, the latter river with the Weser, and the city before which the fate of Europe was decided, Leipzig, with the Saale construct new roads, and thus facilitate intercourse, and promote the civilization of nations. These canals would traverse the heart of Germany, and be highly beneficial to all the neigh bouring countries. A great canal presents a series of successive monuments in its sluices, bridges, and other works, in which art triumphs over the difficul ties opposed by nature to human inge nuity. Let then to these canals, their sluices, and most difficult parts, be given the names of the illustrious monarchs, generals, and officers who decided the grand contest; and of those princes who joined the European confederacy before the battle of Leipzig. By the side of these roads and canals, where they enter towns, let bronze statues of the most ce lebrated generals be erected; and along them in appropriate places, pyramids of cast iron, or other metal, with the names of those who fell, without distinction of nations. Thus, every traveller would esjoy the benefit of these new works, and call to mind with grateful feelings, the heroes whose valour won the victory in the last great struggle. These useful monuments would transmit to posterity the sublime sentiments of the monarchs leagued for the happiness of the world. On each pyramid might be inscribed some emphatic sentence. Ap lished people is pleased to meet with frequent monuments; the Greeks and Romans, therefore, erected them along the high roads, and in public places; but did not shut them up in buildings or in closures, The execution of this plan would combine utility with the expres sion of gratitude, and millions would be daily reminded of the most important event of the present age.

PRUSSIA.

At the anniversary of the Academy of Sciences of Berlin, Professor Buttimaan reported, that only one essay had bees received for the following prize questio proposed by the historico-philological class" Is it possible so far to eluci date, by a critical examination of the ac counts of the ancients, and their compa rison with existing monuments, the rela tions in which the Greeks stood to the Egyptians, in regard to religious notions, customs, and especially to arts and sc ences, that we should be justified in considering any matters that we may and among the Greeks in these departments, as the original property of the Egyptians.

1814.]

Foreign Intelligence-France-Italy.

If such a view can be obtained, what are the limits beyond which it ought not to be extended? and what conclusions may be deduced respecting the ways and time of the introduction of such matters into Greece."-As the class agreed that the only essay transmitted was not satisfactory, the prize of 100 ducats was a second time proposed. The time for the reception of answers is limited to the 31st March, 1816.

M. Nose, Counsellor of Legation at Endenich, near Bonn, has enriched the cabinet of the university of Berlin by a present of his collection of fossils of the Lower Rhine, comprizing upwards of 1000 specimens.

FRANCE.

The Chevalier Badia, better known by the name of Ali Bey, who spent several years in visiting various parts of Asia and Africa, and now resides at Paris, is preparing a narrative of his travels for the press, for which purpose the government has promised him 15,000 francs. An extract of this work was communicated to the first, third and fourth classes of the Institute in November, 1813. It is likely to prove highly interesting, not only on account of the narrative itself, but also from the views, maps, and plans with which it will be accompanied." The whole forms a kind of Odyssey, not only on account of the footing upon which the author found means to live with the sovereigns and princes of the countries which he visited, but also the romantic adventures in which he was involved, and which would appear incredible, were they not confirmed by the European agents and merchants in those countries. The historical and descriptive part of Ali Bey's travels will speedily appear in three volumes, with an atlas, and be followed as early as circumstances allow the traveller to arrange his collections by the result of his copious, scientific, ineteorological, and astronomical observations.

A fine picture by Giorgione, representing the allegorical table of Cebes, has lately been offered for sale at Paris. It is executed in exact conformity with the description of the Greek writer, and is said to have formerly belonged to the gallery of paintings at Verona, in Italy. How it came into private hands we are not informed.

Mr. Plowden, who left his country some years since, as we believe, to avoid the payment of damages, for an attack on the private character of a respectable individual, in his intemperate history of

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Ireland, is represented in the foreign journals as being engaged at Paris in printing a History of the disturbances in that portion of the United Kingdom, because he had not sufficient liberty to express his sentiments in England. This, they remark, is the first time that an English author has sought liberty of the press in France.

Mr. Melville, the inventor of a new diving-machine, made some curious experiments with it at Paris, on the 22d of October. He descended twice in the Seine, near the Port Royal, to the depth of from ten to twenty feet, and passed fiftysix minutes at the bottom. He took with him two swans, two ducks, and some bread and wine. He let loose the aquatic animals while under the water, went from the Pont Neuf to the Swimming School, and came out dressed as usual, without being in the least wet. The machine does not resemble any thing of the kind hitherto employed-it is neither a barrel nor a beli, but has rather the form of an egg. It is not bulky, since it contains only five cubic feet of air; this air is prepared in such a manner that pressure can do it no harm, but it is kept pure and fresh. Mr. Melville says, that he has taken with him different animals as cats, rabbits, dogs, &c. but the latter cannot bear this kind of air longer than five minutes, as they go mad in it; but he declares that he could stay half a day under water without the slightest inconvenience. He has the use of all his limbs, and can do what he pleases, saw wood, bore gimlet-holes, and pick up the smallest objects. Though his pulse rises from 120 to 160, he asserts, that he feels from it an agreeable sensation, a kind of electrical effect. He promises several other interesting inventions; for instance, that he shall, this winter, make a little carriage, in which two persons may, next summer, take the most pleasant excur sions at the bottom of the Seine, in the ponds of Versailles, or in any river.

ITALY.

Baron Schubart, Danish envoy to the Italian courts, has given, in a letter to the Academy of Sciences of Copenhagen, of which he is a member, some interesting particulars relative to the Herculean M.S.S. It is well known, says he, what extreme patience is requisite for unrolling these M.S.S. which almost fall to dust during the process. It is seldom that the literary value of a roll can be determined till this tedious and difficult task is finished and you come to the end, where the title is placed; thus after

New Publications, with Critical Remarks.

NEW PUBLICATIONS IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER,

WITH CRITICAL REMARKS.

At the request of many Correspondents we have been induced, though at a constderable 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 pro ductions 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 fur more useful, as well as more agreeable, to readers in general, than the former plan, of merely giving extracts from a few particular books.

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