try in the page of the historian, or the lament of the poet and orator, to require that we should now revive any of its details. But we applaud the spirit which has dictated the publication of such a biography, at a time when the triumph of those principles, for which Muir suffered, is about to be achieved, and when the glory of success ought to be fairly divided amongst those, whose heroic constancy laid the sure foundation of that success. Mr. Mackenzie has performed the duty of biographer, with a spirit and enthusiasm that very considerably increase the attractions of this work. HERE is as bad an attempt at a humorous novel as we have seen for some time, dressed up in Morocco and gold, illustrated by a variety of wood-cuts, and withal dignified by the title of A Dramatic Annual! The hero of the piece is a youth named Vivid, who, giving up his Coke upon Littleton for Shakspeare, and abandoning his chambers for the theatre, devoted himself, with little success, to the task of writing for the stage. Some of the incoveniences attending this mode of procuring a livelihood are, it must be confessed, touched upon by the author in a manner that occasionally provokes our laughter and our pity. But neither the experience which Mr. Reynolds has exhibited upon this part of the subject, nor the acquaintance which he has shown with the resources and practices of managers in general, can redeem his work from the dullness which, in the main, pervades it. After going through a series of improbable adventures, related with an affectation of levity, but without any genuine drollery or wit, the hero has the honour of being raised to one of the most responsible offices of the state! and of being married to the daughter of Lord Carisbrook! We are at a loss to conjecture, why such a composition as this should have been called an "Annual." We suspect that instead of being renewable for any number of years, it will not be able to live out the term of even one year-nay, nor of half that time ; for though published only a few weeks ago, it is already forgotten. The wood cuts are miserable productions. ART. XXVI.-Agapa: or The Sacred Love Pledge. By Mrs. Lachlan, Author of Leonora, &c. 12mo. pp. 567. London: Simpkin and Marshal. 1831. WHEN We state that under a numerous variety of general heads, appropriate verses from the Holy Scriptures are respectively arranged in this volume, we need scarcely add, that, as a work of daily reference, it deserves a place in every domestic library. Mrs. Lachlan has exercised admirable taste and judgment, in the selections which she has made, and no work that we are acquainted with, exhibits in so striking and practical a manner, the perfect applicability of the Sacred Writings, to every state and condition of life. The printing and embellishments are beautiful. ART. XXVII.--A Freemason's Pocket Companion; containing a brief Sketch of the History of Masonry, a Chronology of interesting events, &c. &c. 16mo. pp. 116. London: Washbourne. WITHOUT revealing any of the wondrous mysteries which appertain to Freemasonry, the author of this miniature volume, a Brother of the Apollo Lodge, 711, Oxford, has contrived to present to his fellow masons, in a neat and portable size, a very useful epitome of that venerable and far-famed institution. It is quite true, as he states, that Preston's work, though excellent, is much too long for general use, and that Oliver's is too closely confined to mere antiquarian discussion. He acknowledges, however, that it is chiefly to the labours of those indefatigable masons, as well as to an article in the Encyclopædia Britannica, he is indebted for the information which he has collected in a concise shape in this little manual. He traces the origin of the society from its commencement, that is to say from the beginning of the world, for he has no doubt whatever that Adam was a mason! With the greatest possible coolness he then proceeds- I pass on to the flood.' The builders of the tower of Babel were of course all brothers of the society, which next took root in Egypt, whence it crossed the sea to Europe, where it still flourishes in its pristine glory. It is pleasant to see grave men run wild upon a favourite theme. Let it not be supposed, however, that we wish to undervalue the Institution itself. Such a disposition we could not entertain for a moment, as we know that wherever Freemasons exist, they are always found the firm friends of humanity, freedom, charity, and peace. MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE, Scientific Congress.-Preparations have been making for some time, with the view of assembling in York, as the most central place, a number of scientific and philo-scientific gentlemen, from different parts of the united kingdom. The immediate object is, we believe, to establish a regular triennial meeting, at which French and German savans may also be induced to attend. It is manifest that the intercourse which would thus take place between the most enlightened minds of the most civilized countries in Europe, would be likely to lead to consequences of the most important character, connected with the progress of knowledge. Differences in matters of doctrine might be explained and reconciled, discoveries communicated and improved, new enquiries instituted, and intrusted to those best able to conduct them, rewards proposed, and other measures adopted, for the encouragement of science, which is at present held in too little esteem by our own government. We shall observe the operations of this Panhellenium with the most lively interest. We may mention, as a circumstance worthy of notice, that the society of German scientific men, which is now what may be truly called a great national congregation, and which monarchs emulate each other in honouring, was, at its commencement, just nine years ago, an association merely of twenty persons. Even these met almost in secret; they were openly opposed and secretly watched by certain of the continental governments: their meetings were limited to a few cities, and they were confounded with political associations. The German society owes its origin to Professor Oken, now professor of physiology at Munich. Scientific persons, who propose to attend the meeting at York, are requested to communicate their intention to John Robinson, Esq. Secretary to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Heat of the Earth. The result of the various experiments which have been made to ascertain the temperature of the interior of the earth, would seem to justify the opinion, that the nearer we approach the centre the greater is the heat that we experience; and that at the depth of 10,000 feet any where from the surface, we might be sure of finding a degree of heat that would be sufficient to boil water. The Census. We beg to remind our readers, that on Monday, the 30th inst., a census of the population of Great Britain is ordered by act of Parliament to be commenced. On the morning of that day, all the parish officers are to proceed to the various habitations in their districts, with papers, on which questions are printed for the purpose of being answered by the owners of the houses. It may be well to remember, that there is a penalty, either for a refusal to answer or for a false answer, of not less than 40s. and not more than 51. Paper from Wood.-A patent was lately taken out in America for manufacturing paper from wood. It appears that the shavings of any description of wood being boiled in water, with a quantity of any vegetable or mineral alkali, in the proportion of 12, 16, or 18 lbs. of the alkali to 100 lbs. of the shavings, will yield from five to seven reams of paper. Substitute for Oak Bark.-The husk of the grape from which the fermentive matter has been removed by distillation, is described, in a French periodical, as having been employed by a physician of Narbonne, as an excellent substitute for oak bark, in preparing leather. If the quality of the new be as good as that of the old, the saving would be immense by the discovery. Cultivation of Flowers.-An eminent botanist observes, that the objections to the climate of Britain, as regards the habits of plants that are natives of Chili or Peru, does not arise from any defect of temperature, but from the excessive humidity of this country. In cultivating such plants amongst us, it would be well to consider the progress of vegetation in the original soils. From May till October the rainy season prevails; the heaviest rains being in June and July. Dur ing the time the plants are in flower there is little moisture in the soil, and whilst they are seeding, the ground is perfectly dry and hard. Protection of Herbaria.-Herbaria are best protected from insects, by washing the specimens with oil of turpentine in which very finely powdered corrosive sublimate (murias hydrargyri) is suspended. Spirit of wine, so commonly used for this purpose, is found to extract the colour from the plants, and it also soils the paper to which the specimen is attached. Mortality of Infants from Cold. -It has been found upon minute and protracted inquiry in Italy, that out of 100 infants born in the months of December, January and February, no less than 60 die in the first month; of 100 born in Spring, 48 survive the first year; of 100 born in Summer, S3 survive the first year; of 100 born in Autumn, 58 survive the first year. The difference of mortality is explained by the circumstance, that the children, being brought to the churches to be baptized in the first month, become the victims to premature exposure to cold. Christian Converts in India.-In justification of the views which we have taken of the failure of our missionaries in the East, we beg to quote a sentence from the evidence of Mr. T. H. Baber, late chief judge of the provincial Court of Circuit and Appeal in India. He is asked by the Select Committee of the House of Lords, if he thinks the Christians are an increasing body by conversions? he replies, "No such thing is known as a convert by any of our English missionaries. I have heard of such a thing, indeed, as a person who has forfeited his caste, turning Christian; but otherwise, it is a thing quite out of the range of possibility." Out of the range of possibility! what volumes does this phrase imply! Taxes on Literature.-The importation of foreign books into this country, is subject to a duty of 51. per hundred weight. In France, this duty amounts to no more than six shillings for the same weight; and in Russia no duty of the sort is levied or even contemplated. The result of our policy in England is totally to exclude all foreign books, which are not likely to meet here a large and rapid sale; a description which we much fear applies to the most valuable of the continental publications. Old new Inventions.-The following inventions were published more than a century ago, but are commonly looked on as of recent date, because they were only lately brought into beneficial use. The hydraulic press; the lever watch; the kaleidoscope; the counting machine; the mangle rack. Wollaston Medal. The first Wol laston medal was recently awarded by the president of the Geological Society, to Mr. Wm. Smith, principally for having been the first in this country to discover and teach the identification of strata, and to determine their succession by means of imbedded fossils. Mr. Smith was born in Churchill, Oxfordshire, a place abounding in fossils, the playthings of his childhood; and no doubt it is to the bent which this accident gave to his mind, that we are to attribute the subsequent discoveries which render the name of this gentleman celebrated in the world of science. Noah's Ark.-A fellow of the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, has recently published a learned paper on the construction of Noah's Ark, in which he endeavours to prove that the vessel was formed of a rectangular base, having sides springing up from its edges and inclining inwards, till they met over its middle; the covering at the ends inclining inwards and upwards likewise. A cross section of the ark would thus form an isosceles triangle, resting on its longer side, and the two equal sides forming each an angle of about fifty degrees with the base. Societies. It has been calculated that there are now upwards of fifteen hundred societies for the promotion of arts and sciences in the civilized world; and that of these, more than one half are for the en couragement of agriculture, manufactures and commerce. Asbestos. A manufacture of this mineral into cloth has been lately established at Valleline: a papermaker in France has announced it to be his intention to employ this. substance in the fabrication of paper intended for theatrical scenery, in consequence of its well-known capability of resisting combustion. Eastern Travellers. Travellers in Turkey, Persia, and other oriental countries, should make it a rule never to stop at night in a large town, when expedition is an object. By going a stage or two further on, they will escape numerous impediments, which would delay their progress, and they will rather gain than lose in the way of accommodation. Patents. The following have been enrolled within the last few months. To Jeremiah Grime, of Bury, for a method of dissolving snow and ice on railways-to Dr. Burgess, of Northwich, Cheshire, for a drink for the cure, prevention, or relief of gout, gravel, and other diseases-to Richard Abbey, of Walthamstow, for a new mode of preparing the leaf of a British plant, for producing a healthy beverage by infusion-to John Phillips, of Arnold, Nottinghamshire, a servant man, for certain improvements in bridles-to Messrs. Peek and Hamnuck, of Tormshaw, Devon, for improvements in rudder-hangings and rudders for ships. The first improvement enables the rudder to rise upon its pintals in the event of the ship taking ground, in order to prevent the injury which rudders generally experience under those circircumstances: the other improvement prevents the rudder from being dislodged from its hanging, through any accidental external force. IN THE PRESS.-A series of Poems intended to illustrate the manners, customs, and institutions of Great Britain-The History of Poland-The Club Book, consisting of Tales by various authorsThe Parliamentary Pocket-BookA descriptive catalogue of Apples -Sketches in Spain and Morocco -The Lives of the Actors-The Columbia River, or a residence among tribes of Indians hitherto unknown-The Life of Wesley-Spain in 1830-American Ornithology. Novels. Philip Augustus-The Young Duke-The SmugglerBogle Corbet The Staff Officer -The Young Muscovite-Robinson Crusoe The Sister's Budget Arthur of Brittany-The Cat's Tail-Stories from the History of Italy. NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS ABROAD. It has been intimated to us, that our Subscribers in France have occasionally experienced inconvenience, from the irregularity with which THE MONTHLY REVIEW has been transmitted to them, especially to those who reside at a distance from the Metropolis. Mr. G. G. BENNIS, who has established a Library and News Rooms at No. 55, RUE NEUVE, SAINT AUGUSTIN, PARIS, having kindly offered all the assistance in his power in order to prevent a repetition of that inconvenience, our friends in France, who we are happy to say are by no means confined to the English residents, will, we trust, have no reason again to make complaints upon the subject. |