1826. Varieties. Great Britain. and Gundorp, passed over from Oxford into Italy; and, either together, or at no great interval of time from each other, became pupils of Guarini; of which celebrated teacher it is related, as a striking evidence how deeply interested his feel ings were in the learned pursuits in which he was engaged, that having, while studying in Greece, under the celebrated Chrysoloras, collected two large boxes of manuscripts, the loss of one of them, by the shipwreck of the vessel in which he was returning to Italy, caused him such profound concern, that his hair became grey in a single night. Tiptoft brought back with him to England, whither he was accompanied by the Italian scholar Ludovicus Carbo, a valuable collection of manuscripts, intended both for his private use, and to enrich the Humphredian library at Oxford. These, after his execution, upon the restoration of Henry VI., were, with some difficulty, secured to the University by George Neville, Archbishop of York: under Edward VI. they followed the fate of the rest of Duke Humphrey's library. Tiptoft left several works in Latin and in English; at the end of his impression of one of which, a version of two orations of Banatusius Magnomontanus, the printer Caxton has paid a tribute of enthusiastic affection to the memory of the accomplished earl. Of Free, we are told, there remain high encomiums, from the pen of Guarini himself, in the collection of his epistles preserved in the library of Baliol College. Johannes Anglicus (so Free was styled; by the by, he shared the title with more than one other Englishman of about the same period,) stood so high in the estimation of the accomplished scholars of Italy, that, when time or accident had effaced the original monkish epitaph upon the tomb of Petrarch, he was requested to compose an inscription, to succeed it, more consonant with the approved Latinity of the age. It was that, the begin ning of which is given by Leland and Warton: "Tuscia me genuit," &c. Several distinguished panegyrics upon this scholar are collected by Mr. Tytler. Some of his works, deposited in Jesus' College, Oxford, have perished: those which remain, are-" Cosmographia Mundi," consisting of extracts from Pliny; a translation of some parts of Xenophon; a collection of ten Latin epistles, and a little poem, "Carmen ad miraculum usque elegans," (says Leland) addressed to Tiptoft. It is the opinion of Mr. Tytler, that we may reckon among the causes which operated in the introduction of Greek literature among us, the intercourse which necessarily took place between the 61 orators, assembled from different nations of Europe, at the various papal councils. At the council of Constance, for instance, in 1415, the four eminent ecclesiastics sent out as representatives of England, had an opportunity of conversing with Chrysoloras, the father of Greek learning in Italy, and with Poggio Bracciolini, one of its most ardent restorers; which, from the known literary taste of some individuals among them, it is to be supposed they would not wholly neglect. Linnæan Society. This society met on the 1st and 15th of November, when the following paper was read: "Observations on the Unimpregnated Vegetable Ovulum;" and on the "Nature of the Female Flower in Coniferæ and Cyadeæ," by Robert Brown, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. Respiration. The two processes of inspiration and expiration generally alternate with each other, while the body is at rest, about twenty times in a minute. If, therefore, we adopt, from Dr. Menzies' experiments, forty cubic inches, as the average bulk of air inhaled and exhaled, it will follow, that a full-grown person respires 48,000 cubic inches in an hour, or 1,152,000 cubic inches in the course of a day; a quantity equal to about 79 hogsheads. Royal Medals.-Mr. Peel, at the last anniversary dinner of the Royal Society, announced that his Majesty had placed two annual medals, of the value of 50 guineas each, at the disposal of the council of the Royal Society, to be distributed by them as rewards for scientific discoveries. Duration of Life. From the most accurate Life Annuity Tables, it appears that the duration of life a century ago, in England, was only three-fourths of what it is at present, and that this is true in respect to each sex. It also appears that the life of a woman is vastly superior to that of a man at every age above infancy, and that the consequence of this difference is enormous in pecuniary interests depending on lives; for if two persons, a man and a woman, of the same age, for instance 30, were the one to purchase an annuity of 100l. to be enjoyed by the other in widowhood, if the male purchased in behalf of the female, the pension would cost 4661. 14s. 6d.; whereas, if the female purchased in behalf of the male, it would cost only 3171. 1s. 7d. One fact is of a surprising nature; it appears that the waste of infant life among the poor of the metropolis is most frightful. Out of every 1000 born only 542 are alive at the mother's next pregnancy-that is, scarcely more than half survive nursing. Lerebour's Achromatic. -The diameter of its object glass uncovered by the cell (in English measure), is rather better than 9.2 inches, of which 8.4 inches only are in actual use: its focal length is 11 feet. The magnifying powers with which I used it, on the night of the 15th of March last, are 136. 153. 224. 240. 420. and 560. With all except 560. (which by some forgetfulness was not applied,) Venus was extremely well defined during dark night; of course, Jupiter and Saturn were well shown. The two stars of Castor, of y Leonis, of Orionis, were exhibited with 240, 420, and 560, as round as possible; Leonis presented by its side a light blue star with 420, which could not be overlooked by the most careless observer, and with 560 both stars were admirably defined. Measures of position and of distance might have been gotten with the greatest facility, but for want of a micrometrical apparatus. It was my intention to have submitted the instrument, which was placed at my disposal by our amiable and ever-toiling friend, Mons. Bouvard, in the most unreserved manner possible, to other and more severe tests; but in elevating the telescope to e Bootis, the stand became deranged, and the instrument was rendered unmanageable. On a subsequent night, a similar accident also foiled us in our attempts to investigate its power. Discovery in Natural History. In the month of October last, Mr. Wiltham, of Lartington, near Greta Bridge, in the North-Riding of Yorkshire, whilst taking a survey of that district of country, discovered cockles (the cardium edole) of different ages, in a living state, at the bottom of drains, in a peat moss, at a place called Cocklesbury. This establishes a fact in Natural History, that the common sea cockle has long been and does now exist, in a living state, in sand and small gravel, saturated by common fresh water. This position is above 40 miles from any sea, and much above its level. Thorina, not a distinct earth.-M. Berzelius has ascertained that the substance which he described 10 years ago, as a new earth, does not merit that distinction, being merely a sub-phosphate of Yttria. We are glad of this correction, and think, that in the present state of chemistry, the man who strikes an earth or metal off the list, deserves more thanks than he who puts one on. Lunar Iris. A very brilliant lunar iris was late observed, about 6 in the evening, from the Shields road, at Newcastle, extending from south-west to north-east, whose curve seemed an altitude from 28 to 30 deg. It took about three minutes to form, and remained perfect and vivid for four minutes more. It then began to break in different places from the crown of the arc towards the north, but the southern extremity was still visible at the end of the eleventh minute. A heavy shower of hail and rain followed for a quarter of an hour; when the moon again became clear, a second perfect rainbow was formed, whose duration was not more than three minutes and a half. This was succeeded by a shower for twelve minutes. The moon cleared again, and a third was formed, not so brilliant as the first, but more vivid than the second. This was followed by a very fierce shower of hail and rain; and a fourth appeared fainter than the second. After another slight shower, a fifth appeared; and at a quarter before eight, a sixth was seen, whose curve did not reach half the altitude of the first, and was only a pale lead colour. North American Expedition.-Letters from America state, that Captain Franklin and his party had arrived safely at Lathaboche, where they proposed to winter. Synoptical View of the New Weights and Measures, according to Act of Parliament, 1824, showing how to reduce the Old into the New, et vica versa, as calculated by Professor Wallace.-I. The Imperial Standard Yard, 3 feet, the foot, 12 inches; the pole, 54 yards, the furlong, 40 poles, the mile, 8 furlongs, or 1760 yards. The English chain of 100 links, 22 yards, or 66 feet, the link, 7.92 inch-the modern Scots ell, 37 inches, the modern Scots fall, 18.5 feet, the modern Scots chain of 100 links, 74 feet, the link, 8.88 inches; 36 modern Scots ells 37 yards, 33 modern Scots falls, 37 poles, 33 modern Scots chains, 37 English chains. The ancient Scots ell, 37.2 inches, the ancient fall, 18.6 feet, the ancient Scots chain of 100 links, 74.4 feet, the link, 8.928 inches ; 30 ancient Scots ells, 31 yards, 55 ancient falls, 62 poles, 55 ancient Scots chains, 62 English chains, II. The Imperial Standard Acre, 4 roods, the rood, 40 square poles, the square pole, 30.25 square yards. The acre 4840 square yards, the English square chain of 10,000 square links, 484 square yards, 10 square chains, 1 acre-The modern Scots square fall, 342.25 square feet, the modern Scots rood, 13690 square feet, the modern Scots acre, 14760 square feet; the modern Scots square chain of 10,000 square links, 5476 square feet; 1296 modern Scots square ells, 1369 square yards, 1089 modern Scots square falls, 1369 square poles, 1089 modern Scots roods, 1569 English roods, 1089 modern Scots acres, 1369 English acres. 1089 square links, 1369 English links, 79547.1 modern Scots links, 1 English acre. The ancient Scots square fall, 345.96 square feet, the ancient Scots rood, 1826. Varieties. Great Britain. 13838.3 square feet, the ancient Scots acre, 55353.6 square feet; the ancient Scots square chain of 10,000 links, 5535.36 square feet; 900 Scots square ells, 961 square yards, 3025 ancient Scots falls, 3844 square poles, 3025 ancient Scots roods, 3844 English roods, 3025 ancient Scots acres, 3844 English acres; 3025 square links, 3844 English links, 78694 6868 ancient Scots links, 1 English acre. III. The Imperial Standard Cubic Yard, 27 cubic feet, the cubic foot, 1728 cubic inches. A cubic foot of distilled water at 62 degrees, weighs exactly 997.136969 ounces Avoirdupois; and at the maximum density, 999.2777 ounces Avoirdupois. IV. The Imperial Standard Troy Pound, 5760 grains or 12 ounces, the ounce 29 dwts.; the dwt. 24 grains. A cubic inch of distilled water at 62 degrees therm. bar. 30 inches, weighs 252,458 grains; and at the maximum density, 253 grains. V. The Imperial Standard Avoirdupois Pounds, 7000 grains, or 16 ounces; 1 lb. Avoirdupois, 1-10th of the weight of the new imperial standard gallon of distilled water at 62 degrees.-751 Troy ounces, 192 Avoirdupois ounces, 175 Troy lbs., 144 Avoirdupois lbs. The standard Scots Troy or Dutch lb., 7620 grains, 350 standard Dutch lbs. 381 Avoirdupois lbs -The common Dutch lb. 174 Avoirdupois ounces, 32 common Dutch lbs. 35 Avoirdupois lbs. -The Tron lb. 234 Avoirdupois ounces, 32 Tron lbs. 47 Avoirdupois lbs. The Glasgow Tron 15. 224 Avoirdupois ounces, 32 Glasgow Tron lbs. 45 Avoirdupois lbs., but 5 Tron stones, 1 cwt. Avoirdupois. The Edinburgh, &c. Tron lbs. 22 Avoirdupois ounces; 8 Edinburgh Tron lbs. 11 Avoirdupois lbs.; the Ayr &c. Tron lb. 24 Avoirdupois ounces, 2 Ayr lbs., 3 Avoirdupois lbs. The country Tron lb., 23 Avoirdupois ounces, 16 country Tron lbs. 23 Avoirdupois lbs. VI. The New Imperial standard Gallon, 10 lbs. Avoirdupois of distilled water at 62 degrees therm. barometer 30 inches, or 277.274 cubic inches. The gill 5 ounces Avoirdupois of water; the pint, 1 lb. 4 ounces; the quart, 2 lbs. 8 ounces; the peck, 20 lbs.; the bushel, 80 lbs., or 2218.192 cubic inches; the quarter of Corn, &c. 640 lbs. The old Wine gallon, 5-6ths of a new gallon nearly, or 6 old wine gallons, 5 new gallons, with a loss of about 1-37th per cent. in the old, or 37 in 138637; 115500 new gallons, 138637 old wine gallons exactly. The new gallon, 59-60ths of an old ale and beer gallon nearly, or 60 new gallons, 54 old ale and beer gallons, with a loss of about 1-106th per cent. in the new, or 13 in 138650; 141000 new gallons, 138637 old ale and beer gallons exactly. The old English 63 corn gallon, 32-33ds of a new gallon nearly, or 33 old dry gallons, 32 new gallons, 33 old bushels, 32 new bushels, with a loss of about 1-37th per cent. in the old, or 37 in 138637; 134400 new gallons, or bushels, 138637 old dry gallons, or bushels exactly. The old standard Scots pint, 22-59ths of a newgallon nearly, or 22 new gallons, 59 standard Scots pints nearly, with a loss of about 1-75th per cent. in the new, or 202 in 1525209; 51702 new gallons, 138937 standard Scots pints exactly.---The standard Scots Wheat firlot, 105-106ths of a new bushel nearly, or 105 new bushels, 106 standard Scots wheat firlots, with a loss of about 1-317th per cent. in the new, or 35 in 1109131; 2197335 J. N. B., 2218192st S. W. F. lots exactly. The new bushel, 92133ds of the standard Scots barley firlot nearly, or 133 new bushels, 92 standard Scots Barley firlots, with a loss of about 1-27th per cent. of the Old, or 994 in 2634103; 801381 new bushels, 554548 standard Scots barley firlots exactly. VII. The Imperial standard Heaped Bushel, 89 lbs. Avoirdupois of water as above, 3 bushels, 1 sack, 12 sacks 1 chaldron. The bushel is to be a cylinder of 294 inches in diameter, and heaped in the form of a cone to the height of six inches. Bibles. The following list of the principal English Bibles, with their respective dates, may serve to assist the collector of them in his researches; (it is to be observed, that printing was in use 57 years before any New Testament was printed :) - 1526 and 1530, Tindal's Bible; the first printed.-1535, Coverdale (Miles) Bible. -1537, Matthew's Bible.-1540, The Bishop's Bible; printed by Grafton.1562, The Geneva Bible.-1568, Great English Bible. The same in 8vo, reprinted 1572.-1552, New Testament; printed by Jugge.-1584, Rhenish Testament.1610, King James's Bible. Simple mode of obtaining Meconiate of Morphia. The following process is by Dr. Giuseppe Meneci: reduce good opium to powder, put it into a paper filter, add distilled water to it, and slightly agitate it; in this way wash it till the water passes through colourless; then pass a little diluted alcohol through it; dry the insoluble portion (now diminished to one half), in a dark place; digest it, when dry, in strong alcohol for a few minutes, applying heat; separate the solution, which, by cooling and after evaporation, will yield well crystallized meconiate of morphia of a pale straw-colour.-Gior. di Fisica, viii. 218. Distance to which minutely-divided matter may be carried by Wind. - On the morning of the 19th of January last, Mr. Forbes, on board the Clyde East Indiaman, bound to London, in lat. 10 deg. 40 min. N. and long. 27 deg. 41 min. W. and about 600 miles from the coast of Africa, was surprised to find the sails covered with a brownish sand, the particles of which, being examined by a microscope, appeared extremely minute. At 2 P. M., the same day, some of the sails being unbent, clouds of dust escaped from them, on their flapping against the masts. During the night, the wind had blowed fresh N. E. by E. and the nearest land to windward was that of the African coast lying between Cape de Verd and the river Gambia. May not the seeds of many plants, found in remote and newly-formed islands, have been thus conveyed ? Variations in the composition of the Atmosphere.-Mr. Dalton states that he has found the oxygen in the atmosphere vary from 20.7 per cent. to 21.15 per cent. The latter was the case on the 8th of January last, the barometer being 30.9, wind N. E. and very moderate, after three days of calm and gentle frost. The general state of the atmosphere yields only 20.7 or 20.8 per cent. of oxygen.-Ann. Phil. N. S., х. 304. Fernando Po. In the absence of the details and the results of the late journey of discovery into Northern Central Africa, from the proper channel, says a Cork paper, we are enabled, from a sure source of information, to lay before our readers the following important particulars regarding Clapperton's discovery. From the information which he obtained, he considers it certain that the Niger terminates in the Atlantic Ocean in the Bights of Benin and Biafra. Sockatoo, the capital of a considerable State, and at which place he turned back, is situated in 12 deg. N. lat. and about 7 deg. East longitude, and upon a river which flows West by it, into the Joliba (the Niger) of Mr. Park, distant about forty miles from the city mentioned. The inhabitants of Sockatoo told Major Clapperton that they traded up the Joliba with Timbuctoo, and down it with the Europeans who frequented the sea-coasts at the mouth of the river. Sockatoo is about 400 miles from Timbuctoo: 350 miles from the mouth of the Rio de Formasa, very near Houssa, where Park lost his life, and within a short distance of the position, as nearly as it can be laid down, of the great city of Wassannah, mentioned to Captain Riley, by Sidi Hamet. It is with considerable satisfaction we are enabled also to state, that, by the activity and attention of the Colonial Office, Major Laing was furnished with an abstract of Major Clap perton's important discoveries to guide him in his researches and his journey, It is and that this abstract reached him a few days before he left Tripoli. He is by this time at or near Timbuctoo, and has taken with him four or five carpenters, blacks, from the United States of America, in order to assist in building a vessel (of sufficient strength to pass rapids in safety) at Timbuctoo, in which he means to descend the Niger to the sea. The period of the year and the state of his health are such as leave the most sanguine hopes of his early and his complete success. calculated that he might be in the Bight of Benin by the month of March next; but taking into account the delay and difficulty of travelling in Africa, whether by land or by water, we think this period too early. It is only necessary to unfold a map of Africa, to perceive the commanding position of the Island of Fernando Po, and to appreciate its value, whether as a station to suppress the slave trade, or a point and fortress from which to commence and protect all our future operations in Africa, whether these be commercial or political. It is besides a very healthy and fertile spot, and on this account ought to claim a decided preference over' all our present ill-chosen and sickly stations on the coast of Africa; but when we take into account the commanding geographical positions, commanding alike for every purpose, Fernando Po sinks every other place on the coast of Africa into insignificance. No efforts of Europeans can ever overcome the pestileutial swamps and damps of disease which abound in Sierra Leone and the Gambia. From the neighbourhood of the former (Bulama) came that fearful fever called the Yellow Fever, whichravages the West Indies and the United States. The terrific accounts lately received from Sierra Leone, show that these shores are not become more salubrious; and the fatal fever which the crew of the Bann contracted there some time ago, and which neither medical skill nor change of climate could subdue, imperiously calls upon this country to remove her African head-quarters to a spot more healthy. Nor is the state of matters better at the Gambia. The Cherub, Chaddock (late Brownrigg), which arrived at Cowes lately, lost her master and all her crew in that river. Another master and crew were procured with difficulty to bring the vessel home. Geology of the Severn. -The Rev. C. P. N. Wilton, F.C.P.S., &c., has lately been engaged in making a geological survey of the shores of the Severn, in that part of its course which passes through the parish of Clure, in Gloucestershire, to an extent of about seven miles. In this examination several interesting discoveries were 1826. Foreign Varieties.-France. made, of which detailed accounts will shertly be laid before the public. In one place a stratum was found of a sort of carbonized wood, much resembling Bovey coal, in which occurred, disseminated in small pieces, a white substance not hitherto met with in that matrix, and which, upon examination by Mr. Brande, was found to be sulphate of barytes. A fossil species of alcyonium was met with in blue lias: a circumstance regarded as extremely curious, when mentioned to that zealous naturalist, Mr. Miller of Bristol (author of the Natural History of the Crinoidea, &c.) With this were found immense specimens of cornu ammonis, &c. Near the same spot a great number of bones were met with in diluvial gravel; a large fragment of a gigantic stag's horn; seven fragments of immense jaw-bones, and teeth in great quantities. At no great distance some remains of antiquity were discovered. A sort of buryingplace has been distinctly traced out. Wood ashes, iron nails, and rude implements, with portions of red and black pottery, were dug up, and at about two miles' distance, fragments of the same pottery were found mixed with a quantity of iron-slag. In another spot on the banks of the Severn, in a bed of clay, nine feet below the surface, was dug up a sort of iron shovel, much corroded, accompanied by fragments of red pottery, and wood in a state resembling coal. Surveying. The Pelter, Lieut. Adams, lately arrived home, was all the last spring and summer employed in surveying the shores, protecting the British trade, and FRANCE. 65 visiting the Moravian settlements on the coast of Labrador, from Cape Charles to Cape Chidley-an extent of 700 miles of coast, between the latitudes of 50 and 60 North. She visited Sandwich Bay, Canytetoke, Ogbucktake, and Nain, the natives of which places are Esquimaux, and appear to live in the greatest state of privation and misery; their sole reliance is on the seal fishery, which animal furnishes them with food, clothing, light, boats, and boots: the Moravians themselves are little better off. The Pelter has brought home a large quantity of curiosities, with four Kyacs, or seal skin boats, spears, dresses, &c. She had also specimens of all the animals of those parts, of which, however, they catch but few, but they perished in the gale of wind which she encountered in her passage. Horticultural Society. The large silver medal was lately presented to Mr. William Greenshields, a corresponding member, for a communication "On the Culture of the Pine Apple," which is printed in the Transactions of the Society; a paper was also read, "On the Management of the Amaryllis Vittata," by Mr. Johu Brown, gardener to Chandos Leigh, Esq. F.H.S. On the 4th of October a paper was read, "On the Cultivation of the Passiflora Quadrangularis," by Mr. John Mitchelson; and another, "On the means of obtaining an abundant second Crop of Melons," by Mr. Charles Harrison, F.H.S. and on November 1st, an account was read, of "An easy and successful Method of destroying Wasps," also by Mr. Harrison. FOREIGN VARIETIES. Literary Property in France. The king of France has appointed a commission to prepare a law for the protection of literary property. The members are, the Marquis of Lally-Tollendal, Viscount Lainé, and Count Portalis, peers of France; RoyerCollard, the Count de Montbron, and Par-dessus, deputies; Bellart and de Vatimesnil, privy counsellors: Delaville and Villemain, magistrates; Auger, Raynouard, Andrieux, Parseval-Grandmaison, Picard, Al. Duval, Michaud, Dacier, Baron Cuvier, Baron Fourrier, and Quatremère de Quincy, members of the four Academies; and Baron Taylor, royal commissioner at the Théâtre-Français. To these are to be added Messrs. Lemercier, Etienne, Moreau, and Champein; who, on the royal requisition, have been elected by the dramatic authors as delegates, to take a share in that part of the Feb. VOL. XVIII. NO. LXII. discussions of the commission which will relate to the interests of dramatic literature. At the first meeting of the commission it was also unanimously resolved to invite the attendance of M. Talma, in consequence of the close connexion between the interests of dramatic authors, and those of actors. A long projet of a law has been submitted to the consideration of the commission, divided into twenty distinct heads; which, after they have been thoroughly discussed, will be formed into the four following chapters:On the property of literary works in general; on the property of dramatic works; on the property of works of art; on the property of musical compositions. The complete works of Mr. Mackenzie, author of "The Man of Feeling," &c. have been translated into French, by M. Bonnet, son to the advocate of that name. K |