in Palestine, but the difference of appearance must, if his account be true, be at least forty days sooner at Jerusalem than at Natches, and yet near the former place the date-tree becomes rare and unpro ductive. : "I travelled in Syria and Phoenice in December and January, and therefore had not a proper season for botanical observations. However the whole country looked verdant and cheerful and the woods particularly, which abound chiefly with the gall-oak, were strewed all over with a variety of anemones, ranunculuses, colchicas, and mandrakes. Several pieces of ground near Tripoly, were full of the liquorice-plant; and at the mouth of the famous Grotto near Bellmont, there is an elegant species of the blue lilly, the same with Morison's Lilium Persicum florens. There are so many dangers and difficulties which attend a traveller through the Holy-Land, that he is in too much haste to make many curious observations, much less to collect the plants, and other curiosities of that country. However, in the beginning of March, I could not avoid observing, that the plains between Jaffa and Ramah, and indeed several other places in the road to Jerusalem, were particularly distinguished by several beautiful beds of fritillaries, tulips, and other plants of the same class. subsist, and the musa, which some authors have supposed to be the (dudaim 777) mandrakes of the Scriptures, is equally wanting; neither could it, I presume, ever grow wild and uncultivated, as the dudaim must be supposed to have done. What the Christian inhabitants of jerusalem take at present for that fruit, are the pods of the Jelathou, a leguminous plant, that is peculiar to the corn. fields; and, by the many descriptions I had of it, (for it was too early when I was in the Holy Land to see it,) should be a species of the winged pea, perhaps the hierazune or the lotus tetragonolobus of the botanists. It is certain that the bloom of all or most of the leguminous plants yields a grateful smell; a quality which the Scriptures attribute to the plant we are looking after. "The bocôre,* as I have before observed, was far from being in a state of maturity in the latter end of March: for, in the Scripture expression, the time of figs was not yet, or not before the middle or latter end of June. However, it frequently falls out in Barbary, and we need not doubt of the like circumstance in this much hotter climate, that, according to the quality of the preceding season, some of the more forward and vigorous trees will now and then yield a few ripe figs a month, six weeks or more before the full season. No sooner does the bocôre draw near to perfection, than the kermez, or summer fig, (the same that is preserved and sold by the grocers,) begins to be formed, though it rarely ripeneth before August; about which time the same tree frequently throws out a third crop, or the winter fig, as we may call it. This is usually of a much longer shape and darker complexion than the kermez, hanging and ripening upon the tree even after the leaves are shed: and provided the winter proves mild and temperate, is gathered as a delicious morsel in the spring. "The mountains of Quarentania afford a great variety of yellow polium, and some varieties of thyme, sage and rosemary. The brook likewise of Elisha, which flows from it and waters the gardens of Jericho, together with its plantations of plum, and DATE-trees, hath its banks adorned with several species of brooklime, lysimachia, watercress, bettany, and other aquatic plants; all of them very like those that are the product of England. And indeed the whole scene of vegetables, and of the soil which supports them, hath not these particular differences and varieties, that we might expect in two such different and distant climates. For I do not remember to have seen or heard of any prolific plant doth always precede the plants, but such as were natives of other "It is well known that the fruit of this places. The balsam-tree doth no longer *Bocôres likewise, or first ripe figs. p. 364 leaves; and consequently when our Saviour saw one of them in full vigour, having leaves, (Mark xi. 13.) he might, according to the common course of things, very justly look for fruit, and haply find some of the former or latter kind in perfection. "Several parts of the Holy Land, no less than of Idumea, that lies contiguous to it, are described by the ancients to abound with date-trees. Thus Judea, which denoted the whole country of the Jews, is typified in several coins of Ves New-York and St. Petersburgh. pasian's, by a disconsolate woman sit- Chas. G. Haines, Esq. During the last summer, two American nour. Α Samuel L. Mitchill, a citizen of the United States of America, to Alexander, Autocrat of the Russias, &c. MAY IT PLEASE THE EMPEROR, I have been induced to offer for the acceptance of his imperial majesty, a PLOUGH, which is considered generally in these parts of America, superior to any instrument of the kind that has ever been invented. 1 Previous to taking this step, I consulted my friend, the honourable Andrew Daschkoff, his majesty's minister plempotentiary in the United States, who feels a lively interest in every improvement that can be useful to his country. As the time of his departure was uncertain, be recommended that the plough should be intrusted to Mr. Campbell, the new minister to the imperial court of St. Petersburgh, who could, with propriety, bring it to his majesty's notice, through the secretary of state, or the agricultural society. Mr. Daschkoff also encouraged the persuasion, that it would receive the approbation due to its merit. Application was then made to the konourable John Quincy Adams, secretary of state, at Washington City, for leave to send the plough to its destination, in the public ship, now bound to Russia. The matter was submitted to the president of the United States; who consented that directions should be given to the commander of the Guerriere, that the plough for the emperor of Russia might be received, for conveyance, on board that vessel, now lying at Boston. The inventer is Mr. Jethro Wood, a respectable farmer, residing in the county of Cayuga, and state of New-York. The constructor is Mr. Thomas Freeborn, a very worthy artist, living in the city of New-York. They both request me to express their earnest hopes that this Georgical Utensil, contrived by the genius of the former, and manufactured by the skill of the fatter, may be graciously considered by his majesty. The advantages of this plough are manifald, but may be referred to the follow ing principal heads: 1. Its greater aptitude to penetrate the soil, and form a furrow. 2. A simple and desireable fitness in the mould-board, by means of the spiral form of its inclined plane, to raise the sward from its horizontal bed to the perpendicular, and to turn it upside down. 3. The substitution of a cast-iron plate, of the cost of half a dollar, to be screwed to the low and fore edge of the mouldboard, instead of the heavy, expensive, and old-fashioned share. 4. The use of cast-iron, instead of hammered iron for the mould-board itself, and the several land-irons. 5. The construction of the intire plough, with the exception of the beam and handles, of cast and wrought iron, whereby every part is properly bracedand secured. 6. Its moderate price, its strength, and durability; and the small expense of time, labour, and stuff, requisite for repairs. 7. The saving of a considerable portion of the labour of the beasts who draw, and of the man who conducts the plough. 8. The handsome and workmanlike appearance of a field prepared for planting and sowing by this instrument. Inspection and practice will disclose the other conveniences of WOOD'S FREEBORN PLOUGH, which is thus placed at the foot of the Imperial Throne. SAMUEL L. MITCHILL, Late Senator in Congress for New York, Professor in the University, Member of the Agriculturdi. Society, &c. New-York. June 22d, 1818. 1 ART. 8. LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. DOMESTIC. ORIGINAL works recently published by the principal booksellers: Medical and Surgical Register, consisting chiefly of cases in the New-York Hospital. By JOHN WATTS, Jun. M. D. Professor V. Morr, and A. STEVENS, M. D. The American Journal of Science, more especially of Mineralogy, Geology, and the other branches of Natural His tory including also Agriculture, and the Ornamental, as well as Useful Arts. Conducted by BENJAMIN SILLIMAN, M. D. Professor of Chemistry, Mineralogy, &c. in Yale College; author of Travels in England, Scotland, and Holland, &c. The Self-taught Penman. By B. D. HEWET. A discourse on the connexion between Chemistry and Medicine, delivered in the University of Pennsylvania, November 5th, 1818. By THOMAS COOPER, M. D. Rules and Regulations for the Naval Service of the United States, prepared by the Board of the Navy Commissioners, with the consent of the Secretary of the Navy. A Sermon delivered September 22, 1818, at the Dedication of the New Edifice, erected for the use of the Theological Seminary, in Andover, by E, PORTER, D. D. Bartlett Professor of Sacred Rhetoric. Statistical Annals, embracing views of the population, commerce, navigation, fisheries, public lands, post office establishments, revenues, mint, military and naval establishments, expenditures, public debt, and sinking fund, of the United States of America; founded on official documents, commencing the fourth of March, 1798, ending on the twentieth April, 1818. By ADAM SEYBERT, M. D. Member of Congress. 1 Vol. 4to. Second edition of A Manuel of Botany, for the Northern and Middle States-containing generic descriptions of the plants to the north of Virginia, with references to the natural orders of Linnæus and Jussieu; specific descriptions of the Indigenous lants, which are well defined and established, and of the Cultivated Exotics. By AMOS EATON, A. M. Lecturer on Botany, Mineralogy, Chemistry, and Corresponding Member of the Lyceum of Natural History of New-York. The Kaleidoscope, a new weekly miscellaneous publication, quarto form, from the press of Messrs. Hews and Goss, Boston, has been commenced. In Press. Observations on the State of Ireland, principally directed to its agricultural and rural population, in a series of letters written on a tour through that country. By J. C. CURNEN, Esq. M. P. Letters from an Hindoo Rajah. By Mrs. HAMILTON. The Political state of Lower Canada, and Memoirs of the Administration of the Government of that Province, by Gens. By PAUL engravings of the signatures. ALLEN, Esq. To be published in ten half volumes, 8vo. at 2 dollars 50 cents each. A Table of Post-Offices in the Umted States, with the names of the Post-Masters, the Counties and States in which they are situated, and the distances from the city of Washington. By direction of the Post-Master General-with many additions. By ANTHONY WILEY, of the Post-Office, New-York. The Speeches of the Governors of Massachusetts, from 1765-1775, and the answers of the House of Representatives, &c. A weekly "National Chronicle, devoted to Literature, Science, and the Arts," By E. in sixteen pages, royal 8vo. FRENCH, Baltimore. The following works, some with notes and additions, by American authors, have been republished: Sermons on Practical Subjects. By WILLIAM BARLASS, Minister of the Gospel; with the correspondence between the author and the Rev. John Newton, late Rector of St. Mary Woolnorth, Lombard Street, London; never before published. And a Biographical Sketch of the authour, prefixed by PETER WILSON, L. L. D. and Professor of Languages in Columbia College, New-York. Dum tacet, hac loquitur.-MARTIAL. Be instant in season and out of season.— 2 TIM. 4. 1. Aphorisms on the application and use of the Forceps and Vectis, &c. By THOMAS DENMAN, M. D. Reprinted from the sixth London edition, under the inspection of THOMAS C. JAMES, M. D. Professor of Midwifery in the University of Pennsylvania. New Family Receipt Book, containing eight hundred truly valuable Receipts in the various branches of Domestic Econo my, selected from the works of British and Foreign writers of unquestionable authority and experience, and from attested communications of scientific friends. Travels in Canada and the United States, in 1816 and 1817, by Lieut. FRAN CIS HALL. The Edinburgh New Dispensatory, with large additions, relating principally to the vegetable productions of the United States, By JACOB DYKMAN, M. D. Member of the Lyceum &c. Among the contributors to the Analectic Magazine, (Philadelphia,) for the next year, will be ROBERT WALSH, Jun. Esq. Dr. COOPER, GULIAN C. VERLANCK, Esq. and J. K. PAULDING, ESQ. COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY. At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the College of New-Jersey, it was Resolved, That after September, 1819, no student shall be admitted into the freshman, or lowest class, in this college, unless he be accurately acquainted with the grammar, including prosody, of both the Greek and Latin tongues, unless he be master of Cæsar's Commentaries, SalJust, select parts of Ovid's Metamorphoses, Virgil, the orations of Cicero contained in the volume in Usum Delphini, the Evangelists of the Greek Testament, Murphy's Lucian, or Dalzel's Collectanæa Græca Minora, the three first books of Xenophon's Cyropædia, and of Mair's, or Clarke's Introduction to the making of Latin; and unless he be well acquainted with Arithmetic, English Grammar, and Geography. Resolved, That no student shall be admitted to an advanced standing, unless he be found, on examination, to be equal to the class for which he is a candidate. Extract from the Minutes of the Board of Trustees of the College of New-Jersey. P. LINSLY, Clerk. Princeton, Dec. 1, 1818. N. B. The Catechism of the Church to which the candidate belongs, is also required as a qualification for admission. The Northern Canal-The digging and excavating of the Northern Canal, in its whole extent from fort Edward to Whitehall, with some trifling exceptions, have been completed; and a doubt no longer remains, that the canal will be finished, and a water communication will be opened between Lake Champlain and the Hudson river, before the close of another season. Steam-Battery. The Navy Commissioners have agreed with Messrs. Robert McQueen and Co. proprietors of the Columbian Foundry and Steam-Engine Manufactory, of this city, for the Engine and Machinery for a new Steam-Frigate, which government have authorised to be built under the law for the gradual increase of the navy. The model of the vessel which they have had prepared, and which has been forwarded to the commissioners, is entirely different from the Fulton battery, and will pos 'sess all the qualities of ordinary ships of war. New Improvement. ALEXANDER BLACK, has obtained a patent for heating the oil in all kinds of lamps, by the flame of the same lamp. FOREIGN. Republished in England. A Narrative of the Wreck of the ship Oswego, on the coast of South Barbary, and of the sufferings of the Master and Crew while in bondage among the Arabs. By JUDAN PADDOCK, her late Master. Dr. HENRY is publishing a new and improved edition of his valuable Elements of Chemistry. Mr. VOGEL, an eminent German chemist, has announced, to the Royal Society of Munich, the existence of the boracic acid in tourmaline and axinite. TH ART. 9. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. DOMESTIC. HE Rev. TIMOTHY WOODBRIDGE, a gentleman who has had the misfortune of being, for many years, deprived of sight, was lately installed as pastor of the church and congregation at Green River, Hillsdale, N. Y. At Hartwich, N. Y. a society has been established for the promotion of Christianity in this state. The Rev. J. LEWIS was recently installed as pastor of the church and congregation in Greenwich, Connecticut. In November, the new Episcopal church at South Kingston, R. I. was consecrated, by the name of St. Paul's Church, to the service of Almighty God, by the Rev. Bishop GRISWOLD. From the minutes taken at the annual conferences for the year 1818, it appears, that the number of members of |