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with those who affirm that there is in the general physiognomy of these people, any striking resemblance to the Chinese features. Many of the women we saw, especially at Bhatgong, had a remarkable florid tint about their cheeks; for the most part however, their complexion like that of the men, is somewhat between a sallow and copper-colour; the ordinary cast of their features corresponds with that of the males, notwithstanding which, there are said to be many handsome women among them. The illicit progeny of a Newar female and a Chetree, another Purbutti (for they cannot intermarry) might almost be taken for Malays, at least, that is the physiognomy by which it appears to me the features of this mixed race may, on the whole, be best illustrated; though, perhaps, the faces both of Bajoo Sheer, and Rodur Beer (who are the issue of Rajepoots, by Newar women,) approach still nearer to the Tartar or Chinese. It is remarkable enough that the Newar women, like those among the Nairs, may, in fact, have as many husbands as they please, being at liberty to divorce them continually on the slightest pretences.'-p. 187.

In an appendix, we meet with an interesting view of the trade which it is supposed this country might maintain by the way of Nepaul, with Tibet. The following is an extract:

Both the Tibets are extremely elevated regions, and therefore excessively cold. It is to the Upper Tibet, however, that we must principally look on this occasion; that being an infinitely more extensive and populous country, than the Kuchár, or Lower Tibet, which separates Nepaul and the mountainous tract, stretching to the eastward of that valley, from the Upper, or Tibet Proper.

The cold is so extreme in Tibet, that the inhabitants, for want of woollens of a proper kind, are said to be obliged to encumber themselves to such a degree with the clothing ordinarily in use among them, as absolutely renders it difficult for them to move under the load.

'They manufacture, it is true, some coarse woollen stuffs of the rug kind; but these would not appear to be well suited, in point of warmth, to the severity of the climate, or to be made in any great quantity.

'Be this as it may, I understand that our woollens, both fine and ordinary, are bought up in that country, whenever the Beoparies * carry them thither, with great avidity. The two-coloured cloths (particularly those having red on one side, and blue or yellow on the other) are preferred by the superior classes, to whom, it is probable, warm flannels of the finer sort would also be highly acceptable. For the poorer descriptions perhaps nothing would answer so well as our blanketing.'-p. 372.

Tibet exports part of its gold by the way of Nepaul, and it is this circumstance which has led to the erroneous belief, that Nepaul itself possessed that precious metal.

The several engravings which accompany this volume are of more than ordinary merit, and the whole publication is in a style of singular elegance.

'Travelling merchants. '

IN

INTELLIGENCE, LITERARY, PHILOSOPHICAL, &c.

Royal Institution-Lectures on Geology.-LEC. I.

MR. DAVY, after some introductory observation, pointed out two distinct arrangements of rocks-one, characterised by a chrystalline texture, by a stratification approaching to the perpendicular in its direction, and by a total waut of organic remains; the other, known by the horizontal position of its strata, and by the intermixture of petrifactions and water-worn stones. The first arrangement constitutes the primary class of rocks, and the last the secondary. Both are traversed by veins, which were formerly empty fissures, but are now filled up, and become the repositories of metallic ores. As the same rocks, in all parts of the globe, are similarly associated, and contain similar metallic deposits, their relations and transitions form the most important part of Geology. Mr. Davy showed the excellence of the present order of things, and that the irregularities of the surface of the earth are wise contrivances. He pointed out the changes to which rocks are at present liable, from the action of the air, sun, and the vicissitudes of the seasons; and noticed the operations counteracting this destructive process, such as the formation of islands at the mouths of rivers, vast productions of coral, and islands, the result of submarine fires; and he showed, that the degradation of the solid rock itself had beneficial consequences; that it gave rise to new soils, to the fertilization of barren tracts, to the filling up of lakes, &c.

Mr. Davy deferred the examination of the different hypotheses advanced respecting the past alterations of the globe, to the concluding part of his course. The two principal hypotheses are the Plutonian and Neptunian. Hooke started the first, in which our continents are supposed to be in a continual state of decay and of renovation, the agencies of the elements being the destructive powers, and the action of a great central fire, on the detrition of our land accumulated in the bed of the ocean, the renovating power. The central fire, its principal engine, has been the object of great objection. Mr. Davy remarked, that the source of this imaginary fire might be attributed to the existence of the earths in their metallic state in the interior, acted on by air and water, and thus supplying fuel, and that the re-production of these metals might be owing to internal electrical currents. In the Neptunian hypothesis, otherwise called Werner's, or the Wernerian, water is the general solvent, and sapplies the place of fire in the Plutonian, and our continents are supposed to be derived from a fluid chaos, the primary rocks by christalization and deposition, and the secondary, by a simple deposition at a latter period, after the sea was stocked with inhabitants. Besides these two, many others have been resorted to. Leibnitz and Whiston, for instance, imagined a comet to have been concerned in producing the present appearances of things, by elevating the ocean, inundating the continents, and, by heating its waters, giving them new solvent powers. Mr. Davy pointed out two grand circumstances connected with this inquiry; 1st. Alterations produced in secondary rocks by causes acting from above, such as the opening of valleys, the sweeping away of strata, &c. without the parallelism of the remaining strata being altered. 2dly. The derangement of the primary rocks by causes apparently acting from below. He asserted that more than one system of causes was necessary to account for all the phenomena, and that the practice of assigning them all to one was faulty; he advanced several illustrative instances in which unity of effect is the result of a variety of causes. According to the theory of Werner, all the substances which compose the surface of the earth, were once dissolved in water. Those which chrystallized first, formed the primary mountains; the secondary were afterwards formed by mechanical deposition. This theory, Dr. Davy observed, was not recommended by its sub

E 4

limity,

limity, and was at variance with almost all the known properties of matter. -The theory of Dr. Hutton, as illustrated by Professor Playfair, was captivating by its simplicity, and the grandeur of its views; but he conceived it was not alone sufficient to explain the various appearances in the mineral world. Mr. Davy recommended to those who wished to become acquainted with Geology, the examination of geological collections, and the perusal of geological writings, particularly of those enlightened observers, De Saussure, Dolomieu, Humboldt, and Jameson. He remarked, that the science, independent of the healthy employment it gives to the mind, is of great importance in a practical point of view; that it very nearly concerns the miner, engineer, and drainer, and even the farmer and architect; that it discloses a variety of indications highly useful in their respective pursuits-to the miner, the rocks containing metallic veins and coals; to the engineer, the association of hard rocks with soft; to the drainer, the intersection of a country by hard dykes, or veins impenetrable to water; to the farmer the best places for finding limestone, marl, and clay, and to the architect, the most durable stones for buildings; and he mentioned several instances of the serious evils arising from a want of geological knowledge. The person who is attached to geological inquiries, says Mr. Davy, can scarcely ever want objects of employment, and of interest. The ground on which he treads-the country which surrounds him-and even the rocks and stones removed from their natural position by art, are all capable of affording some degree of amusement. And every new mine or quarry that is opened, every new surface of the earth that is laid bare, and every new country that is discovered, offers to him novel sources of information. In travelling, he is interested in a pursuit which must constantly preserve the mind awake to the scenes presented to it; and the beauty, the majesty, and the sublimity of the great forms of nature, must necessarily be enhanced by the contemplation of their order, their mutual dependence, their connection as a whole. The imagery of a mountain country, which is the very theatre of the science, is in almost all cases highly impressive and delightful; but a new and nobler species of enjoyment arises in the mind, when the arrangement in it, its uses, and its subserviency to life are considered. To the geological inquirer, every mountain chain offers decided proofs of the great alterations that the globe has undergone.

About the beginning of the present year, Phenis Adams, a private in the first Somerset Militia, applied for surgical aid in consequence of an ulcerated wound in his arm. On examination it appeared that the ulcer was occasioned by his own contrivance, and that consequently he would be discharged, he deserted from his regiment. Upon his apprehension, he was committed to the gaol at Wilton, where he was attended by a medical gentleman, in consquence of a wound which he then exhibited on his leg, which there is much reason to suppose was artificially produced. On the 24th of April last, he fell down a flight of steps, and was taken up with the blood oozing from his ears. Being conveyed to bed, he appeared to have suffered no material injury; but, in a day or two afterwards, he observed to the medical gentleman who attended him, that he thought he was getting deaf. Believing this to be a new stratagem to accomplish his purpose, the medical gentleman asked him in a low tone of voice," Are you very deaf?" To which the man replied, "Yes, very deaf?" Intimation was then given him that his object was understood, and would of course be defeated. Immediately after this, Adams fell into a state of profound insensibility, and has so remained down to the present period-a space of nearly three mouths. From that time, the sustenance he received has been very slight, consisting entirely of tea, broths, and Occasionally of small portions of bread and butter. On the 24th of April the accident happened; on the 25th the pulse was very hard, and indicated in

flammation

flammation of the brain, upon which he was bled, and the symptoms abated. The following day, in consequence of his pulse increasing, he was again bled; from which period he has remained in his present state. His head and back

have been blistered, without producing any sensible effect; and strong electrical shocks have produced no bodily sensation. His pulse is generally regular, but wants tone. The pupil of his eye is in a slight degree dilated, and his respiration is easy: nor has it been interrupted from the commencement. Every mode of arousing him from the insensible state in which he lies, has entirely failed. Snuff has been thrust up his nostrils, and pungent salts applied, neither of which have produced any other effect than that of a secretion from his eyes. On Sunday, the 14th, it was determined to try on him the nitrous oxyd gas; the operation of which is known to occasion so extraordinary a degree of mental and bodily excitation. The tube affixed to the bladder, containing the gas, was applied to the man's mouth; but his teeth were so firmly closed, that all efforts to open them proved fruitless. His nostrils and lips were then compressed, and every means taken to prevent his inhaling any air but the gaseous fluid. This attempt was persevered in until his pulse became interrupted, evidently from his desisting to breathe, and no effect in consequence resulted from the experiment. The man now remains in the same state of total insensibility.

A few weeks since, in ploughing up a field at Withington, six miles from Cheltenham, and two from Frogmill, the property of H. M. Brooke, Esq. a most beautiful tesselated pavement, more perfect than any hitherto found, was discovered. Mr. B. inmediately made known the important discovery to Mr. Lysons and other gentlemen conversant in this branch of antiquity, who are now employed in collecting and examining these fine remains. The scite of a villa, 150 feet in length, has been most accurately ascertained: seven different rooms have been clearly traced, and the pavements are enriched with drawings, in the highest state of preservation, of Neptune, Orpheus, auimals, birds, fishes, &c. An hippocaust, or sweating-room, with its flues, and several pillars of considerable magnitude, are to be seen. Whatever part of this interesting scene can be removed with safety, has been presented by Mr. Brooke to the British Museum.

Lately, a labouring man, engaged in ploughing in a field, in the parish of Bognor, in Sussex, found the plough obstructed by a heavy stone, when he obtained assistance and removed it; it is of marble, and beneath is a flight of steps of the same, leading to a large arched passage, where they discovered an entire Roman bath, with tesselated pavement in perfect preservation. The bath is of an hexagonal form, surrounded with seats, in the centre is a metaic pipe; the bottom of the bath is about two feet below the pavement, and fve feet wide; the tesselated floor represents various figures in dancing attites, most beautifully wrought. In digging further, they found a dolphin, various other antiquities of the most costly materials. It is supposed to le the remains of a Roman palace. A Roman road has also been discovered, leading through the field, and supposed to extend much farther. The tessera are about one foot below the surface of the earth, inclosed with foundations of stone buildings, forming different compartments, the extreme border composed of small red bricks, about one and one-fourth inch square; within this is a circle of various coloured stone, about two-tenths to four-tenths of an inch square; within the circle are Bacchanalian figures and vases, many of which are perfect and most beautifully coloured with the tessere, and other Symbolical devices. In the centre of the whole is the bath, of an hexagonal form, composed of stone, not commonly found in this country, the whole very compact, well made, and little injured by time, or the effects of the violence it underwent when filled up. The bath is about nineteen inches and a half

below

below the surface of the pavement, and two feet five inches in width, with a seat round it, and a metallic pipe in the centre; adjoining the circle above described is another, in the centre of which appears represented Ganymede, the beautiful youth of Phrygia, son of Tros, borne by Jupiter, in the form of an eagle, into Heaven, while attending his father's flocks on Mount Ida, most beautifully wrought; at the distance of twenty yards from the bath is another circle, a small part only of which is as yet opened, representing a dolphin, ⚫ with the letters T. R. in a triangle; parts of the intermediate space having been opened, the same perfect tessera are found, and indeed appear to extend over a great part of the field, forming at the same time the most considerable and beautiful remains of Roman grandeur hitherto discovered in England.

Mr. Sadler gives the following account of his aerial voyage from Cambridge, at the installation of his Royal Highness the Chancellor :-He ascended at fifteen minutes past two o'clock, and lost sight of Trinity College entirely in three minutes and a half, when he entered a mass of dark clouds, through which the balloon continued ascending, and in six minutes more was clear of the clouds. The observations which he made upon the clouds, were, that from the time occupied in breaking through them, they must have been nearly one mile in thickness. The balloon still continued ascending, and in a few minutes he observed its shadow on the clouds, the balloon was then moving with great velocity, in a direction nearly east, still rising about ten minutes past three o'clock.-The barometer at this time was 13. the thermometer 28. From the direction and velocity of the wind, at the only time there was an opportunity of observing the progress of the balloon, Mr. Sadler was apprehensive that he should be carried to the sea-coast; in consequence of this he began to evaporate the gas, and descended rapidly. The balloon took the ground at 50 minutes past three o'clock, in the midst of a barley field, rebounded completely over it, and, after dragging across a field, was for an instant arrested in its progress by a hedge. In a minute or two after the descent, a man came up, and assisted in endeavouring to secure the balloon, but the violence of the wind soon disengaged the car, which was dragged, with the man, to a great distance, until stopped by another hedge. The hoop then got entangled in a tree, the man holding on all the while. this moment another man came up, and shortly after he was followed by a vast number of people, by whose assistance the balloon was secured, but not until it had received great damage. In the descent Mr. Sadler encountered a very severe squall. From the time the balloon was in progress, Mr. Sadler conceives he must have travelled upwards of 90 miles, having taken a course at first due south, and then bore round to the eastward. He alighted in a field near Standon, in Hertfordshire, distant about 34 miles from Cambridge.

At

On the 12th of May, about five o'clock in the afternoon, a destructive phenomenon appeared at Bonsall, in the Peak of Derbyshire. A singular motion was observed in a cloud, of a serpentine form, which moved in a circular direction, from S. by W. to N. extending itself to the ground. It began its operations near Hopton, and continued its course about five or six miles in length, and about four or five hundred yards in breadth, tearing up plantations, levelling barns, walls, and miners' cots. It tore up large ash trees, carrying them from 20 to 30 yards; and twisted the tops from the trunks, conveying them from 50 to 100 yards distance. Cows were lifted from one field to another, and injured by the fall; miners' buddle tubs, wash vats, and other materials, carried to a considerable distance, and forced into the ground. This was attended with a most tremendous hail

storm;

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