and the species defined, from practical observation; and it is hoped the expectations of British botanists will not be disappointed.

Balloon speculations are again in activity, but managed with such small dexterity, as to prove, either that the parties were pretenders, or that the art retrogrades. The plan of filling with gas from the street-pipes much facilitates and cheapens, the process, yet several failures in time, or ascent, have recently taken place, and even common accidents have not been guarded against. Never theless it appears, that, however high the parties ascend, and however low the barometer falls, the gas is still sufficient for the purposes of respiration; and the most remarkable, and perhaps unaccountable phenomenon, is the rapidity of progress compared with the ascertained velocity of winds, one of our recent aeronauts having gone over thirty-five inites in eighteen minutes.

Lithography and engraving on wood are working great changes in the general features of literature. We have just seen a small map from the office of Mr. WILLICH, from writing on stone, which proves the great capabilities of that art in a new line. And in regard to wood, in which Mr. BEWICKE, the reviver, was a few years since the only artist, there are now in London twenty or thirty masters, and twice as many apprentices, in full work. Steel engraving, introduced by Messrs. PERKINS and HEATH, is also becoming general for school and popular books, which require tens of thousands of impressions; and we are indebted to Mr. READ for the introduction of a metal harder than copper, and not so susceptible of the action of oil, from which 10 or 20,000 good impressions may be taken of delicate subjects. In fact, between stone, wood, steel, and Read's hard metal, the old material of copper plates seems likely to be abandoned. The great work of "Nature Displayed," which has just appeared, contains no less than 260 plates; but the whole are fine specimens of steel, hard metal, or wood, and calculated to yield 50,000 good impressions; whereas copper would not have afforded above 2000. Hence we get richly-ornamented books 100 per cent. cheaper than heretofore.

The shops of Messrs. MILLER and of SOUTER, who import American books, prove, by the variety and importance of the povelties which they exhibit, that MONTHLY MAG. No. 387.

American literature is beginning to stand on its own legs. Thus far it could not be avoided that the transatlantic presses should merely reflect the literature of the mother country; but the improved capital of American booksellers begins to enable them to encourage original works, and, although the names of the writers are seldom classical, and their prenomens are often puritanical, consisting of Zachariahs, Emanuels, Elkanabs, Jedidiahs, Hezekiahs, and the like, yet their good sense and originality will surmount these difficul ties, and the genius of liberty do the rest.

Speedily will be published, Telyn Dewi, the Poetical Works of the Rev. D. DAVIS, of Castle-Howel, Cardiganshire, chiefly in the Welsh Language, including translations from Gray, Cowper, Addison, Barbauld, &c. with a portrait of the author. The author's reputation as a classical Welsh poet of eminent merit, has been for many years established by his translation of Gray's Elegy, which is universally considered as equal to the original.

An Essay on Human Liberty, by the late DEAN MILNER, is in the press.

Mr. GODWIN has for some time been engaged on a work, to be entitled, the History of the Commonwealth of England. There is no part of the history of this island (says Mr. G. in his prospectus), which has been so inadequately treated as the History of the Commonwealth, or the characters and acts of those leaders who had for the most part the direction of the public affairs of England from 1640 to 1860. When the Commonwealth of England was overturned, and Charles the Second was restored, a proscription took place in this country, resembling, with such variations as national character and religion demanded, the proscriptions in the latter years of the Roman Republic. This severity had its object, and the measure might be necessary. That the restored order of things should become permanent, it might be requisite that the heads of the regicides should be fixed on the pinnacles of our public edifices, and that the exercise of every form of worship but that of the church of England should be forbidden, as it was forbidden. The proscription however went further than this. The characters of the men who figured during the interregnum were spoken of with horror, and their memoirs were composed after the manner of the Newgate Calendar. As the 2 L

bodic

bodies of Cromwel and Pym and Blake were dug out of their graves to gratify the spleen of the triumphant party, so no one had the courage to utter a word in commendation either of the talents or virtues of men engaged in the service of the Commonwealth. The motives for misrepresentation are temporary; but the effects often remain, when the causes are no more. This is in most cases the result of indolence only: historians follow the steps of one another, with the passiveness and docility of a flock of sheep following the bell-wether. What was begun by the writers who immediately succeeded the restoration, has ever since been continued.. The annals of this period are written in the crudest manner, and touched with hasty and flying strokes, as if the authors perpetually proceeded under the terrors of contamination. No research has been exercised; no public measures have been traced to their right authors; and the succession of judges, public officers, and statesmen, has been left in impenetrable confusion. All is chaos and disorder. To develop this theme is the object of the work it is proposed to write. The purpose of the author is to review his materials with the same calmness, impartiality, and inflexible justice, as if the events of which he is to treat had happened before the universal deluge, or in one of the remotest islands of the South Sca. He will not consciously give place in the slightest degree to the whispers of favour or affection, nor fear to speak the plain and unvarnished truth, whoever may reap from it honour or disgrace. Such is the homage that ought to be paid to the genius of history; and such a narrative is the debt that future ages have a right to demand."

A prospectus and specimen are in circulation of a Scientia Biblica, or a Copious Collection of Parallel Passages for the illustration of the New Testament, printed in words at length: the whole so arranged as to illustrate and confirm the different clauses of each verse; together with the text at large, in Greek and English, the various readings, and the chronology.

A Geognostical Essay on the Superposition of Rocks in both Hemispheres, by M. de HUMBOLDT, translated into English under his immediate inspection, will be published next month.

Capt. A. CRUISE, of the 84th regt. has just ready for publication, Journal

of a Ten Months' Residence in New Zealand.

A new work, from the pen of Miss PORTER, author of "Thaddeus of Warsaw," &c. will shortly appear, in three volumes, entitled Duke Christian of Luneberg, or Traditions from the Hartz.

Mr. SHARPE is preparing engravings from Mr. Westall's designs, for the British Anthology, or Poetical Present, designed, with considerable variation of materials and arrangement, as an exemplar of the once popular "Dodsley's Collection."

The next volume of the Methodical Cyclopedia will consist of Geography. It will include an attempt to fix the pronunciation of names of places; and, in that respect, be superior to every existing geographical dictionary.

The regular publication of the Encyclopedia Edinenses will be resumed, and the work completed within the original limits. Part XIX. will be ready in October.

The author of the "Peerage and Baronetage Charts," "the Secretary's Assistant," &c. is preparing a Dictionary of English Quotations, in three parts. Part the First, containing Quotations from Shakspeare, will appear in a few days.

A Treatise on the Law of Libel, is preparing for publication, by RICHARD MENCE, esq. barrister-at-law, in which the general doctrines will be minutely examined, and logically discussed.

A Print is announced from the bust of the late Mr. CHARLES WARREN.

The eighth volume of the Annual Biography and Obituary, comprehending memoirs of most of the celebrated persons whose decease has taken place, or may take place, within the present year, is in preparation, and will be published on the 1st of January, 1824.

The Star in the East, with other Poems, by J. CONDER, is printing.

Mr. CHARLES WESTMACOTT is about to publish a humourous work, called Points of Misery, with designs by the ingenious Cruickshank..

Mr. SHIEL, the Irish dramatist, is printing an Epic Poem.

Sir EVERARD HOME has discovered that high notes do not affect animals, but that they are much stimulated by the low notes played on musical instruments.

Dr. CONQUEST will soon publisb, Outlines of Midwifery, for the use of Students.

Dr.

Dr. URE is preparing a new and Tevised edition of Berthollet on Dyeing. Mr. LAMBERT is engaged on a Supplement to his splendid work on Pines.

A novel, called the Spacwife, by Mr. GALT, is in the press.

The Newspapers are beginning to notice the Lansdown manuscripts, from which we published a series of selections ten years ago.

The Library of Napoleon was lately sold in London. Many of the books had notes by himself, and they fetched high prices. His ornamented walkingstick fetched thirty-seven guineas.

At the sale of Mr. Nollekin's works, his head of Sterne fetched 58 guineas, and of Fox 145 guineas.

The Golden Cross, Charing Cross, and the adjoining buildings, are to come down, and a splendid building erected on its scite like the Pantheon at Rome.

Mr. BRISTOCKE is preparing the Life of Howell Harries, esq. founder of the establishment of Trevecka; and Mrs. BRISTOCKE is about to publish a translation of the Athaliah of Racine.

An edition is printing in London of the Entire Works of Demosthenes and schines, from the text of REISKE, collated with other editions.

The Rev. D. WARR is printing a Course of Lectures on Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, illustrating its original characters, &r.

Mr. COTTLE, of Bristol, will soon publish, Observations on the Orestor Caves, with engravings of the fossil remains of fourteen different animals.

Memoirs are printing of the late Capt. J. Neale, by the Rev. G. BARCLAY. Mrs. J. TOWNLEY is printing a Letter to the Council of Ten.

An Account of a Visit to Spain in 1822-3, by MICHAEL QUIN, esq. will appear in a few days.

Mr. BRAYLEY, jun. announces the Natural History of Meteorolites.

A Translation of all the Greek, Latin, Italian, and French, Sentences, Phrases, &c. which occur in Blackstone's Commentaries, and also in the notes of Christian, Archbald, and Williams, is in the press.

Speedily will be published, Extracts from various Greek Authors, with EngTish notes and lexicon, for the use of the junior Greek class in the University of Glasgow.

A new edition of Shirley's Works, by Mr. GIFFORD, is in forwardness. All the Plays are printed, and a portion of the Pocms.

Early this month will appear the Classical-monosyllabical Explanatory Spelling-book, containing near 5000 primi tive monosyllables, arranged rhythmically, and furnishing materials for the instructive diversion called Crambo.

A new edition of Ford's Plays are also in preparation, by the same editor. The Night before the Bridal, and other Poems, by Miss GARNETT, is about to appear in an octavo volume.

An interesting tale will appear shortly, entitled the Stranger's Grave.

JAMES L. DRUMMOND, M.D. surgeon, professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the Belfast Academical Institution, has in the press a duodecimo volume, entitled First Steps to Botany, intended as popular illustrations of the science leading to its study as a branch of general education, illustrated with numerous wood-cuts.

Hurstwood, a tale of the year 1815, is in the press.

A novel is in the press, entitled Country Belles, or Gossips Outwitted.

RUSSIA.

The Academy of Sciences of Petersburgh, authorised by the Emperor, has made purchase of the magnificent cabinet of ancient medals, of General Suchtelen. It consists of more than cleven thousand pieces, in gold, silver, and bronze, selected with care and taste, by an enlightened amateur.

A special Institute for the study of the oriental languages has been lately created, as an adjunct to the College of Foreign Affairs. It admits twenty young persons, intended to serve as interpreters to the Russian legations in the Levant. The two professors are Messrs. Demanges and Charmoy, éleves of the Royal Oriental School of Paris; their annual appointments amount to six thousand roubles.

The Assembly of Rabbis and Elders of Plosko, in Poland, came lately to a determination to allow the Jews to colebrate their Sabbath on the Sunday, The Polish Israclites are generally allowed to surpass their brethren of other countries in intelligence, attending to moral and useful instruction, rather than to cabalistical and talmudical dogmata.

From an official return published of the births, marriages, and deaths, occurring in Paris in the year 1822, it appears, that of 26,880 children born, no less than 9,751 were bastards; or more than 36 illegitimate children out of every 100: the marriages were 7,157, and the deaths 23,269: in every instance there is, in these returns, a near approach to equality between the males and the females, except as to the stillborn children, of which 795 were males, and only 626 females, which seems a singular result.

A commission from the Academy of Sciences at Paris, who have been deputed to inquire into and report on the liability to accidents from steamengines, remarks justly, "that every mechanic method carries with it dan gers; and, for persevering in the employ ment of it, it is sufficient that these dangers do not excced, notwithstanding their possibility, a very slight degree of probability."

The Society of Christian Morals of Paris have proposed a prize of one thousand francs, to be adjudged to the author of the best memoir, on the following question: What means are to be adopted to ensure the final abolition of the Slave Trade, between the coast of Africa and the French colonies?" Memoirs to be addressed, before the first of July 1824, to the president. The views of the Society are detailed in its very extensive Program.

An inhabitant of Chaumont, in the department of Aube, turned up lately, while labouring in his field with his plough-share, an ancient earthen pot, containing about four thousand Roman medals in bronze. They bear the

effigies of several Roman emperors, of the third century, (from 250 to 260.) some of whom were only acknow. ledged by the armies which they commanded. Among others, appearGalienus; Victorinus the elder; Posthumus the elder; Marinus, surnamed Mammurius; Flavius Claudius; and Salumna, the wife of Galienus. The medals do not appear to have been ever in circulation, and are very well preserved.

ITALY.

M. ANGELO MAI, prefect of the Vatican library, has just published a second edition of the fragments of the works of Frontonus. These he had discovered originally in the Ambrosian library of Milan, but he has now considerably augmented them, by fresh discoveries, made in the treasures of the Vatican. The literary public will be highly gratified to learn, that among these augmentations, are more than a hundred letters of Marcus Aurelius, Frontonus, and others. This edition is dedicated to the Pope.

It is intended to establish at Rome an English Academy of the Fine Arts. The English Academy of London, of which Sir THOMAS LAWRENCE is president, has already allotted a certain sum for this embellishment, which is to be kept up by annual subscriptions.

UNITED STATES.

Repeating guns have been invented in America, containing from five to twelve charges each, which may be discharged, in less than two seconds to a charge, with the same accuracy and force as the ordinary fire-arms. The number of charges may be extended to twenty, or even forty, if required, without adding any thing to the incum brance of the piece. The principle applies equally well to muskets, rifles, fowling-picces, and pistols. These guns possess all the advantages of the ordinary fire-arms, for loading and firing single charges, with the additional advantage of priming themselves, and keeping in reserve any number of charges that may be required to meet any emergency, which charges are as completely under the distinct and scparate control of the gunner, as a single charge in the ordinary gun. We wish the patriots in Spain and Greece had a monopoly in them.

BRITISH

CAR

NAP. I. To indemnify such Persons in the United Kingdom as have omitted to qualify themselves for Offices and Employments, and for extending the Time limited for those Purposes respectively, until the 25th Day of March 1824; to permit such Persons in Great Britain as have omitted to make and file Affidavits of the Execution of Indentures of Clerks to Attornies and Solicitors, to make and file the same on or before the 1st Day of Hilary Term 1824; and to allow Persons to make and file such Affidavits, although the Persons whom they served shall have neglected to take out their Annual Certificates.

Cap. II. To amend an Act of the last Session of Parliament, for regulating the Trade between his Majesty's Possessions in America and the West Indies, and other Parts of the World.

Cap. III. For continuing to his Majesty for One Year certain Duties on

Sugar, Tobacco, and Sanff, Foreign

Spirits, and Sweets, in Great Britain; and on Pensions, Offices, and Personal Estates in England; and for receiving the Contributions of Persons receiving Pensions and holding Offices; for the Service of the Year 1823.

Cap. IV. For raising the Sum of Twenty Millions by Exchequer Bills for the Service of the Year 1823. Cap. V. Marriages. Cap. VI. For applying certain Monies therein mentioned for the Service of the Year 1823.

To render valid certain

Cap. VII. To regulate the Appointment and Swearing into Office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland. Cap. VIII. To continue until the 25th Day of July, 1824, and from thence to the End of the next Session of Parliament, an Act made in the 54th Year of his late Majesty, for rendering the Payment of Creditors more equal and expeditious in Scotland.

Cap. IX. To repeal the Rates, Duties, and Taxes payable in respect of Male Servants, Horses, Carriages, and Dogs, in Ireland.

Cap. X. To rectify a Mistake in an Act, intituled an Act for making and maintaining certain Roads and Bridges in the Counties of Lanark and Dumbarton, in so far as relates to the Application of certain Exchequer Bills therein mentioned.

Cap. XI. For repealing certain of the Duties of Assessed Taxes; for reducing certain other of the said Duties; and for relieving Persons who have compounded for the same.

Cap. XII. For the regulating of his Majesty's Royal Marine Forces while on Shore.

Cap. XIII. For punishing Mutiny and Desertion; and for the better Payment of the Army and their Quarters.

Cap. XIV. To continue for Five Years, and from thence until the End of the then next Session of Parliament, Two Acts made in the 47th and 50th Years of the Reign of his late Majesty King George the Third, for the preventing improper Persons from having Arms in Ireland.

Cap. XV. To continue for Five Years, and from thence until the End of the then next Session of Parliament, and to amend the Laws relating to Yeomanry Corps, in To explain so much of Ireland. Cap. XVI. the General Turnpike Act, as relates to the Toll payable on Carriages laden with Lime for the Improvement of Land.

Cap. XVII. To repeal certain Provisions of an Act passed in the Third Year of his present Majesty, intituled an Act to amend certain Provisions of the Twenty-sixth of George the Second, for the better preventing of clandestine Marriages.-March 26.

1. Whereas by the Act of last year it is amongst other things enacted, that no licence for any marriage shall, from and after the 1st day of September in the year of our Lord 1822, be granted by any person having authority to grant the same, until oath shall have been made by the persons and to the effect required by the said Act, from and after the passing of this Act, the herein-before recited provision of the said Act, and all and every the enactments and provisions contained in that part of the said Act which is subsequent to such herein-before recited provision, shall be and the same are hereby repealed; and licences shall and may be granted by the same persons, and in the same manner and form, and in the case of minors with the same consent, and banns be published in the same manner and form, as licences and banns were respectively regulated by the provisions of the said recited Act of his late Majesty King George the Second.

§ 2. All