632 Literary and Scientific Intelligence.-Poetry. which is to last three years. The name of the experienced navigator who takes the command is already known by the discovery of a continent, or great group of islands, near the Antarctic Pole. Captain Pendleton forms likewise a part of this expedition, and commands the Seraph, a vessel of the same size. Amongst the singularities of the equipment, is a simple, elegant, and useful invention of two new piroques, constructed of whalebone, which can be changed at pleasure into commodious sledges, to pass the mountains of ice. Dr. James Eightly is engaged as naturalist to the expedition. Mr. Reynolds, who made every effort to fix the attention of the Legislative Assembly to this enterprise, accompanies these intrepid mariners in their commercial views. Captain Edmund Fanning, who spent many years of his life in those seas, trading with the natives of the country, has imparted the information necessary for such a voyage. EASTERN EXPEDITION. Dr. Gerard has lately visited the valley of Sulej, and made some curious observations at that place, which is the highest inhabited spot on the globe. The principal object of his journey was the introduction of vaccination into Thibet; but it appears. that the prejudices of the Rajah prevented him from succeeding in that humane enterprise. One of the villages where he stopped was proved to be 14,700 feet above the level of the sea. At this place, in the month of October, the thermometer, in the morning, marked 8° 33' centigrades below Zero; and during the day the rays of the sun were so hot as to be inconvenient, and yet the waters in the lakes and rivers were frozen during the night, but were free from ice at two o'clock in the afternoon. By [XCIX. means of artificial irrigation, and the action of solar heat, large quantities of rye were raised at this immense height, some of the fields being at 14,900 feet. Dr. Gerard gives his opinion, that cultivation might be carried as high as from 16 to 17,000 feet. The goats bred in this region are the finest in the country, and are of that species whose wool is used for the manufacture of shawls. At a height of 15,500 feet, quantities of fossil shells are found on calcareous rocks, upon strata of granite and pulverised schyst: they consist of muscle, and others of various forms and dimensions. To the north of the frontier of Konnaour, Dr. Gerard attained a height of more than 20,000 feet, without crossing the perpetual snow. In these regions, which for a long time were inaccessible, M. Gerard met with one of the most intrepid philologists known in Hungaria, named Csoma de Koros. This traveller, after advancing towards the centre of Asia, arrived at Kounaour, in Thibet, where he fixed himself in the monastery of Kanum, and lived amongst the monks of the Lamaic religion. Aided by a learned Lama, he made great progress in the study of the literature of Thibet, and discovered an encyclopædia in forty-four volumes, which treated of the arts and sciences. The medical part of this large work forms five volumes. The art of lithography has been practised at the principal city of Thibet from time immemorial, and it has been used to display the anatomy of the different parts of the human body. It appears that sciences and letters, flying from the tyranny of the caste of the Brahmins, abandoned the plains of Hindostan, and took refuge on the mountains of Thibet, where, until the present time, they remained totally unknown to the rest of the world. SELECT POETRY. THE TRIUMPH OF BENEVOLENCE. THE spirit, wearied in the day of care, Or broken by the world's unfeeling scorn, And 'twas the silent lonely midnight hour, around, And Labour nestled in the arms of Peace, eyes, Clad in celestial robes more pure than snow, "Attend, O mortal! to the voice of Heaver; Of love without distinction! Ev'n the hand weeds! But such is human frailty-such is man! Mark'd by Humanity from man to man. Can give or take away. She binds by ties Is felt by every living thing. To thee H peace, 633 Look up to thee and cry aloud for help. touch'd The glitt'ring golden chain that firmly binds A just conception of the gifts of Heav'n." rose, The vision fled-and trembling I awoke Thy seats of learning, sciences, and arts; O my loved country! chosen from the world! Save by the great High Priest whose pow'r Feels for affliction with a British heart. Of silent senators, that crowd to hear With mild persuasion, candour, and delight. This poem, which was intended to have been inscribed to Mr. Canning, was written during the life of that celebrated minister. To thousands held in slavery from their birth? Have lived in total darkness, lest the blaze, Thro' paths of danger, horror, and dismay! No longer shall the tender ties of love "Tis thus he speaks. With smiles of pleasure and with inward joy, Justly exulting in so great a theme. Friend of mankind, and thus my country's friend! O may the aid of Heav'n be giv'n to thee, And crown thine efforts with entire success! OH! for the bowret of some woodland vale ; Such are the scenes I love, for such delight My soul, and sooth it. Nor the less when night Comes o'er the landscape do I own the power SONNETS ON RURAL SCENERY. LET others speed to some lone Alpine rock [car, From man and man's dark destinies-the Own and delight in, is there no retreat The following Stanzas are written on a Sundial in Gainsford Church porch : MORTAL, while the sunny beam Winters pass, and Springs renew, In maturity advancing: Youth to pleasure sighs adieu, In the fields of childhood dancing. Manhood sinks to hoary age, And a night that has no morning; O let wisdom now engage, Hear her dictates, and take warning. Wisely still the moments use, Man is every moment dying; Whilst this tablet you peruse, O remember Time is flying. W. LAMB. part 11.] [ 635 ] HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. FOREIGN NEW S. FRANCE. The Paris journals have been recently occupied with reports of the proceedings in the Cour Royale, in the case of M. Bertin, proprietor and editor of the Journal des Debats, who appealed from the decision of the Tribunal of Correctional Police, which, in August last, found him guilty of a libel on the constitutional authority of the king. The cause excited great interest, both on account of the high respectability of the individual, and in consequence of the excitement which prevails in the public mind. M. Bertin, in the course of his address to the Court, enumerated the great sacrifices he had made for the Bourbons, in order to show that the charge preferred against him of hostility to that family was groundless, which he proved to the satisfaction of the Judges, who rescinded the sentence of the inferior tribunal. This decision was received by a crowded audience with the loudest marks of applause. A decision of some importance to dramatic authors in France, has just been made by the civil tribunal of Paris, by which authors are empowered every evening, if they think fit, to demand the share of the receipts allotted to them, notwithstanding any seizure or opposition made by creditors; and, in case of resistance, they may request the aid of the commissary of police and the gendarmerie. The distress of the vine-growers in France is represented to have increased to an alarining extent. No less than 150,000 proprietors, and 6,000,000 labourers, are said to be now reduced to the lowest state of destitution. A repeal, or at least a considerable diminution, of the heavy duties at present exacted, is considered the only method of remedying this enormous evil. The new suspension-bridge, between the Champ Elvsées and Gros Caillon, has been opened. Its length, exclusive of the abutments, is 380 English feet, and it is intended for carriages aa well as foot-passengers. The centre or widest opening is 219 feet, while the suspension-bridge over the straits of Menai is 580. AFRICA. Public attention has been lately directed to the attempt to colonise Fernando Po. The expedition which was sent to that island, under the command of Col. Nicholls, the Civil Governor, appears to have suffered According to recent intelligence, two extensive cotton factories were erecting at Calcutta, one of which was nearly finished; it was furnished with two steam-engines of fifty-horse power each, and would manufacture the cotton into twist, and complete the fabric of cotton cloth in the same manner as the most improved of the establishments in the vicinity of Manchester. Some extensive forgeries of the Company's notes have been discovered at the office of the Accountant-General. By the investigation which was going on at the PoliceOffice, it had already been ascertained that they amounted to nearly ten lacs of rupees, or 200,000. The Bengal Bank was expected to suffer in nearly one half of that sum, and there was about as much more in Government paper. The forgeries were committed by natives, two of whom (merchants of great wealth) were in custody. NORTH AMERICA. The Message of the President of the United States (General Jackson), delivered to Congress on the 7th of Dec., breathes throughout a kindly feeling towards this country, and is, on the whole, very satisfactory. The President enters, with busi、" ness like minuteness, into all the departments of the State, of which he is the official organ, and the responsible agent. He begins by congratulating "twelve millions of happy people' on the "most cheering evidence of general welfare and "With Great progressive improvement." Britain, alike distinguished in peace and war, we may look forward to years of peaceful, honourable, and elevated competition. Every thing in the condition and history of the two nations is calculated to inspire sentiments of mutual respect, and to carry conviction to the minds of both, that it is their policy to preserve the most cordial relations." In the course of his remarks 636 Foreign News-Domestic Occurrences. on the general politics of Europe, as they affect the United States, the President congratulates the Congress on the prospective benefits to their commerce from the un locking of the navigation of the Black Sea, by the Treaty between the Allied Powers and Russia. He next predicts the restoration of peace and internal quiet in the Southern Republics of America. With regard to commercial transactions with other nations, the existing Tariff is acknowledged to require modification in some of its provisions, the extent of which, however, is very limited. SOUTH AMERICA. BRAZIL.-Letters from Rio de Janeiro to the 27th of October, bring intelligence of the arrival there of the bride and daughter of the Emperor. The marriage took place on the 17th, and was celebrated with great splendour, the capital being illuminated in the evening, and the Emperor embraced that opportunity of instituting a new order, to be styled the Order of the Rose, and to be conferred on foreigners as well as natives; the Emperor to be the Grand Master, and the next dignities to be held by members of his family. BUENOS AYRES-The government of this province, since the termination of the civil war, is almost solely occupied in efforts to restore public credit, especially that of the paper currency; new taxes have been imposed, and other expedients resorted to, and a sinking fund established, for the general redemption of the bank notes. The new ministers have a difficult task to make head against the poverty and desolation which the late domestic war has occasioned. [XCIX. The party now in power is composed of what may be termed the moderate federals. The Topographical Commission appointed to examine the obstacles which oppose the opening of a communication between the Atlantic and the Pacific through the Isthmus of Panama, have informed the Government, that in their opinion one considerable difficulty has vanished in the discovery that the two seas prove the same level; but notwithstanding this, they consider the enterprise as not very easy to be accomplished. The present mode of communication would perhaps be preferable. The navigation of the river Chagres being improved by means of steam-boats, and a road constructed from Cruces to Panama, which is scarcely seven leagues, and can be made passable for carriages, the course to the Pacific would be very short. Even as the case is at present, Senor Hurtado, going with his family as fat as Panama, has travelled from Jamaica to Buenaventura, Popayan, in only twenty days. Whatever may be the mode, the Government of the Republic is disposed to encourage the projects which may be presented to facilitate the communication across the Isthmus, and will give the undertaking all the favour in their power, which shall be compatible with the security and defence of the country. Several Mexican manuscripts, brought some time ago to Europe, and forming part of the celebrated collection of Botturini, have been purchased for the Royal Library, Paris. Amongst the number is the report of the spies sent by Montezuma to the Spanish camp; a third manuscript represents the human sacrifices. DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES. IRELAND. The system of intimidation, particularly in the county of Ross, has become so overawing, that the outrages which heretofore were perpetrated only under cover of the night, are now fearlessly committed in the face of day; and, although the delinquents are well known, there is not to be found an individual who dares give the necessary information to ground a warrant for their apprehension. On Saturday, the 12th Dec. at noon day, a party of men, well armed, and apparently marshalled, computed at more than 200, assembled within view of the glebe-house, on the lands of Kilgiffin, and, being supplied with the necessary implements for felling timber, deliberately set to work, and cut down upwards of forty fine trees, the property of M. A. Mills, Esq., which surrounded and were contiguous to the church. On the night of the following Wednesday another armed party assembled in the demesne of Farymount, and cut down forty-seven fine ash and deal trees, also the property of Mr. Mills. One of the most atrocious and savage outrages ever recorded, was committed on the 19th Dec. at about two o'clock in the morning, at Dromelihy, within four miles of Kilrush, upon two men (brothers) of the name of Doyle, who were recently appointed drivers to the Westropp property, in which situation they succeeded persons of the name of M'Grath, who were discharged for misconduct by Mr. Westropp. This appointment, or the manner in which they conducted themselves in it, brought upon them the vengeance of Terry Alt's boys, who broke into their house, and brought out the two brothers, one at a time, and cut out their tongues! Another brother avoided a similar fate by hiding under a bed. |