public subscription for the purpose of ascertaining how far the principle of balloons, supporting heavy burdens in the air, may be made useful as a medium of conveyance. Mr. J. TATUM has found, from recent experiments, that vegetables, like animals, convert the oxygon of the atmosphere into carbonic acid gas; and that those very gases which are fatal to animals are equally so to vegetables. By observations on the effects of fruits, flowers, new-cut grass, &c. on the atosphere, he has found that in most cases the whole of the oxygen was converted into carbonie acid gas in a few days. FRANCE. M. CHAMPOLLION FIGEAC has published the inedited Letters of Fontenelle from MSS. in the library of Grenoble. A relation of that celebrated writer lately died in the department of the Orne, leaving to his son some valuable manuscripts, among which is a work by Fontenelle, and a considerable collection of Memoirs and Letters of Marshal Catinat, who was uncle to the deceased. Among the effects of the late eminent astronomer, M. Messier, sold after his death, was a map exhibiting a curious specimen of Chinese geography. It was engraved at Pekin about the beginning of the last century, and comprises that part of Asia situated between 35 and 55 de grees of north latitude and $1 and 33 degrees of longitude. It is fourteen feet long and six wide; the characters to the north of the great wall of China are Tartar Mongol, and those to the south of the wall Chinese. The map was sent from Pekin by some Jesuit missionaries, and conveyed by Mr. Lange to Petersburg in 1720. ITALY. M. MICHELE LEONI has lately transJated Goldsmith's Traveller into Italian verse. In the preface to this version, which was published at Florence, the translator endeavours to vindicate Italy against what he terms the prejudices of the British poet. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. From a list lately published of the instructors and officers of the University of Cambridge, it appears that they consist of the president, twenty professors, two tutors, a librarian and assistant librarian, registrar, five proctors, a teacher of the French and Spanish languages, a private teacher of the mathematics, &c. George Ticknor, Esq. now in Europe, has been appointed professor of the French and Spanish languages and literature in the University of Cambridge. The Rey. Joshua Bates, of Dedham, Mass. has been appointed president of Middlebury College, Vermont; and Joel H. Linsley, Esq. professor of the learned languages in the same institution. The Rev. E. T. Fitch has been ap pointed Professor of Divinity in Yale College, New-Haven. Benjamin Allen, L. L. D. formerly a professor in Union College, Schenectady, and lately principal of the Albany Acade my, has opened a select and private Classical School at Hyde Park, Dutchess County, New-York. This institution is designed to unite with a classical and English education, the modern languages. The classical course will comprise the Latin and Greek languages, ancient histo Y, and mythology, Roman and Grecian clude English Grammar, elocution, eleantiquities. The English course will inpenmanship, mathematics, and the outments of history, rhetoric, geography, lines of natural philosophy. Of the mo→ dern languages, the French, Spanish, and Italian, will be taught. The pupils of the institution will be members of the principal's family, and under his immediate care and government. The high and deserved reputation of Dr. Allen give an importance to this establishment. We understand that Mr. George Frederic Bushy, late editor of the London CarTICAL REVIEW, and son of Dr. Busby, the well known translator of Lucretius, intends giving, in the course of the ensuing month, a series of PUBLIC LECTURES in New-York, on poetical literature. Mr. Busby has but recently arrived in this country. ART. 2. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. GREAT BRITAIN. Methodist Conference. T the 74th Annual Conference of the United Kingdom, were present. The most cordial affection and unanimity prevailed amongst them; and they had the satisfaction to find that, during the last A people called Methodists, nearly 300 year, the work of God had generally Preachers from different parts of the prospered in their Societies, both at home and abroad. Thirty-six young men having their probation of four years, were received into full connexion. The sight of such a number of men, in the prime of life, possessing genuine piety, fervent zeal, and considerable learning, devoting themselves to the work of the Ministry, and solemnly set apart for the service of God, was deeply effecting. The President, the Rev. John Gaulter, with his usual zeal and activity, dispatched the business which came under consideration with such promptitude and ability, that the Conference concluded at an earlier period, than it had for many preceding years. On the following day the Preachers who were present received the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper from the hands of the President, assisted by some of the senior brethren. The several Preachings, during the whole time of the Conference, were attended by crowded congregations; and the powerful and impressive Sermons which were delivered, not only commanded deep and silent attention, but excited the most lively feelings of devotion, and elevated the Soul to a blessed participation of those pleasures which are at God's right hand for evermore. Eight additional Missionaries are to be sent to the East Indies, Ceylon, India, and other parts of the world the ensuing year. The number of Travelling Preachers is as follows: In England, Isle of Man, Norman Isles, On Foreign Missions in Asia, Africa, the West-Indies, British America, Newfoundland, &c. 585 46 RUSSIA. A college for teaching the Oriental language has been established at St. Petersburg; and the Emperor Alexander is a subscriber to a new Russian religious newspaper, called the Messenger of Sion. FRANCE. A periodical work is about to commence at Paris with the title of The lations of select portions of the Bible, French Israelite, to contain :—1. Transextracts from works of Jewish theology, biographical accounts of doctors of the law, and other eminent Israelites : 2. accounts of events and facts interesting to the Jews, and analyses of works concerning their civil and moral situation: 3. researches into the history, antiquities, laws, and literature of the Jewish people. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, composed of Delegates from Religious Congregations in the States of New-York and New-Jersey, assembled at Kingston, Ulster County, in October last. The occasion of this meeting is understood to have been in reference to the Theological School connected with Queen's College, at New Brunswick. The decision of the Synod was unanimously in favour of the continuance of this connexion. The Hampshire Bible Society held its Anniversary Meeting at Northampton, on the 15th October. It appears from 27 the report of the Directors the receipts 104 for the last year amounted to $1096 70; 5 of which $400 had been paid over to the 7 American Bible Society. The number of Bibles purchased by the Society within the year was 800, of which 506 98 had been distributed. The following Societies, (says the Total 872 Christian Herald,) have lately become auxiliary to the National Institution : Besides, Supernumeraries, The total number of members in Great Britain is In the West-Indies, Nova-Scotia, and the other Missions, 77 viz. 193,685 22,897 6 The Bible Society of Fredericks. burgh,' (Va.), Rev. E. C. M'Guire, Cor. Sec'y. "The Vermont B. S.' 'The Aux. B. S. of Ashville,' (N. C.), Francis H. Porter, Cor. Secretary. "The B. S. of Columbia County,' (N. Y.), Rev. James Strong, Secretary. The Female B. S. of Wilkesbarre." (Pa.), Mrs. Mary Bowman, Secretary. "The Female B. S. of Dutchess County,' (N. Y.), (formerly the B. S. of Amenia ;) become auxiliary 1st Oct. 1817 Mrs. Sally Hyde, Principal; Mrs. Eliza- stalled Pastor of the Church and Socibeth Reynolds, Secretary. ety in Trumbull, Conn. The above additions make the number of Auxiliaries known-one hundred and eighteen. The Rev. Reuben Taylor has been in The Rev. Messrs. Wheelock and Colman, Missionaries, have sailed from Boston in the ship Independence, for Cal cutta. "Such were the deeds that round th' admiring world Bore the proud tidings of Hellenic fame: Where'er Achaia's standard was unfurl'd The gladden'd nations hail'd with loud acclaim The fostering glories of her conquering name. For not alone in arms was she renown'd With her the heaven-descended muses came; And where the cords of slavery she unbound, She pour'd with freedom's light, the light of art around." Thus would I muse upon the glorious days Of ancient fame, and my quick pulse would beat To livelier measures, while I told their praise, The mountain-echoes would the sound re peat, And to my ear restore them. From my seat Among the rocks, I viewed the gray-rob'd heaven; For now the westering sun had gone to greet Atlantic skies, and virgin-vested Even A soft and blending tint to all the scene had given. And from behind her cloudy rampart rose Ere life its keener edge of bliss had lostWhen carelessly I wander'd mid the bowers Of blameless infancy, and cropped their tender flowers. And when the mild sultana of the night Climbed her high arch of noon, and from her car The pure effulgence of her pearly light Stream'do'er the heavens, and dimm'd each weeping star, (Weeping to see itself eclipsed) and far In her white beams the dark-green foliage shone, And sparkling rivers o'er their beds of spar Rolled their transparent waves-to rove alone Was my supreme delight-nor have I ever known A purer joy than such enchanting scenes Yield my transported heart; when all is still, When soothing quietness the breast serenes, And the soft murinurs of a brawling rill, Gurgling beside some green and moonlight hill, Makes music to the ear-and whispering winds The atmosphere with dewy fragrance fillOh! contemplation every instant finds Some new attraction still for elevated minds : You heavens that clasp in their cerulean arms crees The universe fulfils-whose mandates chase The breath of life-or chain the dire disease-Heave all the waves in storms, or hush the raging seas! For the American Monthly Magazine. TO THE WESTERN MUMMY. O stranger, whose repose profound And call thee from beneath the ground What wonders of the secret earth Thy race by savage war o'errun, By friendship's hand thine eyelids clos'd, The stars have run their nightly round, And wilt thou not one moment raise Thy name, thy date, thy life declare Perhaps a queen whose feathery band A thousand maids have sigh'd to wear, The brightest in thy beauteous land. Perhaps a Helen, from whose eye (O! not like thee would I remain, But, has thy soul, O maid! so long Or has it in some distant clime Or lock'd in everlasting sleep Or exil'd to some humbler sphere Whoe'er thou beest, thy sad remains M. C. ART. 10. DRAMATIC CENSOR. NEW-YORK THEATRE. SINCE INCE the departure of Mr. Incledon, who contributed so much to the pleasure of the last month, the lovers of musick and the drama have been regaled with a succession of rich entertainments, by Mr. Phillips, another melodist of high reputation, who has recently come among This gentleman has, we believe, been greeted with a more unqualified approbation than any person of his profession who has ever appeared on our boards. He sings with an accuracy that proves his science, and a taste and expression that go straight to the heart. His voice is fine, though by no means |