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1825.]

Antiquarian Researches.-Select Poetry.

of about eighteen inches. On the end next the head, that is, on the convex front, there are five figures, two of which are in a sitting posture. Below these two, near the middle, and immediately below the carving which surrounds the hieroglyphical inscriptions, is engraved the figure of a scarabaeus within an engrailed disk. Triangular bodies placed in twelve rows, to the number of five in each row, seem to fall like drops of rain from this disk. Though these triangles, or drops, do not increase in number, as they do in size and in width of space according as they are more removed from the disk, the last rows become more separated from each other, and the whole viewed together resemble the shape of a fan. On the plain surface which occupies the foot of the sarcophagus, there are only two principal figures, which are surrounded with emblems or hieroglyphics; these are two jackals or wolves placed facing each other, and resting each of them on a pedestal. The long sides of the monument represent a sort of procession, composed of mystical figures, the greater number of which have heads of animals: their legs are closely jointed together, and they hold in their hands the knifeshaped instrument so common in Egyptian

SELECT

Extemporaneous Lines to Mr. W. Hersee, on receiving from him a pair of Spectacles, accompanied by some Verses. By the late W. Hayley, Esq. the Biographer of Cowper.

MY double thanks accept, my friend,
For two pure sources of delight;

Not only perfect eyes you send,
But with those eyes a pleasing sight!
truly find-

For such your verse we

Where Nature reigns with graceful art; Speaking at once a cultured mind,

And, Nature's gift, a feeling heart.

Lines addressed to the River Derwent, on the Author's departure to America, in 1800. WHILE the broad Sun's retiring beam, With purple paints each well-known

view,

I hail thy banks, dear native stream, Thy much-lov'd banks, and bid adieu. Ah long ere yet the green hill's side,

Where fragrant breezes love to play; The cowslip dale, and woodlands wide, Again shall tempt my feet to stray! Yet oft shall faithful Memory tell,

While the blue Ocean rolls between, Of each sweet scene I love so well;

And fill the hours that intervene.

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symbols. They all face the head of the sarcophagus; and at the extremity, near the part where the surface begins to curve, a figure with the head of a man, and its legs spread wide, and turned in a contrary direction, seem as if waiting to receive those who form the procession. Rows of hieroglyphics hang down from the upper border between the heads of the figures. The weight is about six thousand pounds, and the lid almost equally heavy. It is of an uncommon shape, and of the most beautiful simplicity; it is cut in the form of a prism, and its surface forms nine longitudinal mouldings, the centre one of which is horizontal, and is entirely covered with a hieroglyphical inscription. Tenons have been left in the two small sides for the purpose of enabling the lid to be placed on the urn. The material is hard stone, of a very fine grain; the ground is a dark green, like the shade of bronze, and is marked with dark red spots. In addition to these spots, which are spread almost uniformly over the entire sarcophagus, it is shaded in three or four places by broad streaks of a bright yellow, which also extend wholly over it: these variations serve to relieve the dark colouring of the ground in a beautiful manner.

POETRY.

My soul each day my voyage explores With rapture, and each night in sleep I go to visit distant shores,

And cross the unseen hoary deep. Fancy, gay spirit, never coy,

With magic spell now brings to view Her varied scenes of future joy,

And ready Hope declares them true. But flattering Hope no longer cheers, And Fancy's blooming visions fly, When I behold my Mother's tears,

And mark my Father's mournful eye. Now every tree, each haunt, and all

The lovely scene seem doubly fair, My sportive hours of youth recall;

Delightful times, devoid of care. Dear native stream, whose peaceful tide Is yet unknown to Poet's lay; No more adown thy waves I glide,

Me rougher waves thall bear away. The Sun's last rays forsake the glade, While echoing rings the Curfew bell; Mild Eve extends her pensive shade, Dear native stream, farewell, farewell. Richmond, Aug. 15.

THE SOUL.

O HOW mysterious is the Soul! The seat of Misery and of Bliss! Wonders extend from pole to poleYet none so great as this.

LEO.

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It is an ever-living flame,

With pow'r expansive as the skiesIt lives in every human frame

Unseen by human eyes.

O how mysterious is the Soul!
The conscious witness of a God,
Who sees the wide creation roll
Obedient to His nod!

Those who deny His pow'r, as well
Their own existence may deny;
And 'tis an awful thing to tell-

Select Poetry.

The Soul can never die ! W. HERSEE.

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LINES AFTER VISITING INDIA.

SONS of the frigid North, away!

Ye shall not judge the ardent lay
By beaming suns inspir'd;
When Fancy fed on views sublime,
And souls congenial to the olime
My kindred song admir'd.
Born where along Italia's skies
The Sun in cloudless splendour flies
I breath'd poetic fire;
Beside Vauclusia's fount I slept,
O'er Virgil's sacred bay I wept,
I sung to Tasso's lyre.
A child I lay on Arno's side,
And saw the silver Naiad glide

To lave Lorenzo's towers.
The velvet pansie form'd my bed,
The olive waving o'er my head

Strew'd me with snowy flowers. I've seen the marble domes expand, The wonders of Palladio's hand,

Built for a race sublime; There echoing thro' the princely walls, I've heard the swell and dying falls Of music's thrilling chime.

Majestic Florence, seat divine,
When shall I view again thy shrine?
There Titian's colours flame;
Urbino's awful forms are there,
And sculpture still in mute despair
Adores the sea-born Dame.
Taught by the storied arch or urn
Sacred to ancient worth, to spurn

At souls of baser hue,

How wept I when thy hallow'd earth
Parent of science, taste, and worth,
Receiv'd my last adieu.

I've seen the burning suns of Ind
Condense the almond's turgid rind,
The odorous nard refine;
Th' anana's pulp, nectareous swell,
And in the cocoa's ample shell

Secrete the milky wine.
I rov'd on Arcot's sandy shore,
And heard the distant lion roar,

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Driv'n from his promis'd spoil;
I trod the jungle's deep recess,
And trembled lest my feet should press
The serpent's twisted coil.
Where, by a thousand rivers fed
Swift Ganges fills his spacious bed,
While self-devoted widows flam'd,
I pac'd the hallow'd sod;
And tortur'd Fakirs, blind and maim'd,
Appeas'd their cruel god.
Orissa's sullen genius cull'd
Her poppy wreaths, no torpor lull'd
My bosom's ardent glow;
Where base Ambition's selfish aim

Enkindles discord's endless flame
1 felt Love's nobler woe.
Yet life's dull calm delights not me;
The rushing storm, the swelling sea,

Suit my august desires;
Give me the cavern's horrid maze,
The butting precipice, the blaze
Of pale volcanic fires.
Thus too in man, creation's prime,
I gaze but on those forms sublime
Which hold a lofty soul;
Thus noble Avondel I see
Greatness personified in thee,
And own its full controul.

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Amongst the liberal parties, and opponents of the old regime, there seems to prevail a terror of Jesuitism. Of all topics, it is the most awkward or perilous that could be touched on in a mixed company. The word "Jesuit" instantly excites fear and trembling, or a violent sortie against the crimes and dangers of the order past and present. Such is the hatred and terror with which the Liberals are inspired by the Jesuits, that contrary to their own theories, they take part with the Anti-Catholic side

of the British Cabinet. Persons in clerical costume, and especially friars and students, have within a few years increased vastly, both in the capital, and the principal towns of the departments. In Paris they are met in the streets at every turning, and seen grouped, like rooks, with their black sordid uniforms, in the fields outside the barrier. At Rouen they have multiplied excessively, under the auspices of his Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop; and at Amiens they have a large College, in which there are some English and Irish students. Another curious circumstance relating to the Jesuits, is the hatred borne them by the rest of the French clergy. The priests cannot keep their tempers, if the Jesuits be but named. The latter were so well aware of the odium attached to their name, that they "abandoned it, and assumed that of Pères de la Foi-Fathers of the Faith. But the old name sticks to them, and will not be allowed to drop.

'SPAIN.

ITALY.

Intelligence from Rome, dated September 24th, states that his Holiness has named Mr. Calandrelli, a celebrated astronomer, a Canon in the Church of St. John di Lateran, dispensing him from attending in the chair. The greatest part of the Neapolitan exiles, who lived at Rome, and in the environs, have received from their Sovereign permission to return to their own country.

On the 18th of August a law respecting the Censorship of the Press was published. A Council of Revision, cousisting of four Members of each of the five Colleges of the University, is formed, for the purpose of examining the works intended to be printed, to see that they contain nothing that may lead to disputes with a foreign Government. This Council is also to revise all public inscriptions. All printers and booksellers are to procure, within a month's time, licences to continue their business, and annually to deliver in a list of the prohibited books which they have in their possession. Prohibited books are to be delivered to the public libraries, the inspectors of which are to have a part of the fines imposed on the transgressors of the law. No private presses will be allowed.

RUSSIA.

The Russian gold mines are represented as likely to become very productive. Not less than ten thousand pounds weight of this precious metal are expected to be obtained in the course of the present year. Among the mines discovered on the domains of the The revolt of Bessieres, which had for its crown, one gold, and the other platina, are object the deposition of Ferdinand and ele-worthy of notice. The gold mine was disvation of his brother Charles to the throne, ~was not an unconnected event. It was followed by intelligence of an insurrection in Valencia, headed by Gen. Chambo, and one in La Mancha, excited by General Locho. Ortiguela, in the province of Burgos, and another Chief in the province of Grenada, have followed the example of Locho, and proclaimed Charles V. On the 26th of September the Royal Consultative Junta of the Spanish Government, presented to Ferdinand an Exposition on the arduous situation in which Spain is at present placed.

The Custom-houses in Spain now produce little more than sufficient to pay the ~clerks employed in them; and such is the penury of the state, that all the charitable institutions of Madrid, depending upon the public revenue, have been closed.

covered in 1824, by M. Soiridoff. It is situated in the district of Zlatuust, in the government of Orenburg, in the province of Zroitsk, on the left bank of the Ouya, two versts from the copper mine of Polikoff. In 100 pounds of sand it gives from 1 to 14 zalotuiks of gold. The mine has not been much examined. On June the 14th the sand was first washed, and in two days 1p. 8st. zolotuiks of gold were obtained. On account of its abundance, this mine has been called Blahodatne. The platina mine, containing a small quantity of gold, is in the district of Goroblahadat, government of Perm, two versts from Kouchversk, and 12 from the Isa. It was discovered last March. The metallic sand lies about one archive and a half below the surface, and the thickness of the strata is about two archives and

a half.

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a half. In five pouds of the sand half a zolotuik of gold and five parts of platina have been obtained. The strata has been examined for a considerable distance, and is found to be very rich, containing at least ten zolotuiks of metal to every 100 pouds. During this year 33 strata of gold sand have been found in private property in the government of Perm, which in general give one zolotuik of metal to the 100 pouds. The most remarkable are those belonging to M. Demidoff, and to the heirs of M. Pierre Yakouileff. The latter gave from four to five zolotuiks of gold to the 100 pouds. Traces of gold have also been discovered on the estate of M. Mias, merchant, at Rotsoff, situated in the district of Kourgam, government of Tobolsk.

In consequence of a report from the Finance Minister, the Emperor has sanctioned the establishment in Moscow of a Technological Institution, the object of which is to promote the sciences necessary to the prosperity of manufacturing industry. Young people in a liberal condition, from sixteen to twenty-four years of age, are to be admitted into it, and to receive instruc tion gratuitously.

The Russians are not now allowed to go and study in a foreign country, until they have attended for at least three years one of the Russian universities. Young men are not admitted into the army until they have undergone examination at one of these universities.

GREECE.

According to advices from Corfu of the 17th of September, corroborated by the Greek Chronicle from Missolonghi of the 4th September, it appears that the Greeks made a sally which spread great confusion among the invaders, and in this engagement the Turks lost 700 men. One of their batteries was also entirely destroyed. The Greeks had 20 killed and 40 wounded. The letters from Missolonghi also state, that Ibrahim Pacha has again lost, in different engagements, 800 Arabs, and that he himself had abandoned his troops at Trippolizza, and had taken refuge at Neocastro. Missolonghi has again been supplied with provisions, &c. Fresh victories have been obtained, it is added, by the Greeks in the Island of Candia, which will be an obstacle to the Pacha of Egypt's sending his newly threatened expedition. The above is said to be confirmed by letters from Leghorn of the 3d October, mentioning, in addition, that Admiral Miaulis, with thirty-two vessels, was cruising between the coasts of Albania and those of the Morea, waiting to intercept the Egyptian fleet.

EAST INDIES.

The official details of the capture of Arracan have reached this country. It ap

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pears from them that the enemy made little resistance, and that our loss was only 32 killed, and 122 wounded. Arracan is the capital of a very extensive territory of the same name, constituting one of the component kingdoms of the Burman empire. Another of the integral states of this empire (the kingdom of Assam) has long since submitted to our authority; and Cachar and Pegu, subordinate states of the same rank, have manifested unequivocally their disposition to declare for England against their late tyrant. A letter from Calcutta, of 30th May, mentions that the whole of the province of Arracan had fallen into our possession subsequently to the taking of the capital, and that the determination had been formed by the Governor-General to annex the entire province to our Indian empire, as a security for the good behaviour in future of his Burmese Majesty; which purpose would be effectually answered by its possession, as the province lines nearly the whole of the sea-coast to the westward.

While these transactions at Arracan were carrying on in the western part of the empire, General Cotton, with a comparatively small force, attacked the Burmese General, called Maha Bundoolah, in the south. Maha Bundoolah with a large force (some say 14, some 30,000 fighting men) defended Donabew, a place strongly stockaded, and furnished with 100 cannon. General Cotton was repulsed in the first instance, but being joined by Sir Archibald Campbell and Gen. M'Creagh, Donahew was taken, and Bundoolah's army dispersed. Official intelligence from India comunicates the important fact, that Sir Archibald Campbell entered Prome without opposition on the 25th April, after having made himself master of Donabew. Overtures indicating a real desire for peace, had been made by the Court of Ava; the war party at Court being left, as was supposed, without the means of carrying on hostilities.

AFRICA.

We are enabled (says the Glasgow Courier) to lay before our readers the following important particulars regarding Major Clapperton's discoveries in Africa. From the information which he obtained, he considers it certain that the mighty Niger terminates in the Atlantic Ocean in the Bights of Benin and Biafra. Sockatoo, the capital of a considerable state, and at which place he turned back, is situated in 12 degrees North latitude, and in about 7 degrees East longitude, and upon a river which flows west by it, into the Joliba (the Niger) of Mr. Park, distant about 40 miles from the city mentioned. The inhabitants of Stockatoo told Major Clappertou that they traded up the Joliba with Timbuctoo, and down it with the Europeans who frequented the sea

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coasts at the mouth of the river. Upon turning to a map of Africa, the reader will perceive that Sockatoo is about four hundred miles from Timbuctoo, and three hundred and fifty from the Rio de Formosa, very near Bouta, where Park lost his life. It is with considerable satisfaction we are enabled to state that, by the activity and attention of the Colonial Office, Major Laing has been furnished with an abstract of Major Clapperton's important discoveries to guide him in his researches and his journey, and that this abstract reached him a few days before he left Tripoli. He is by this time at or near Timbuctoo, and has taken with him four or five carpenters, blacks, from the United States of America, in order to assist in building a vessel (of sufficient strength to pass the rapids in safety) at Timbuctoo, in which he means to descend the Niger to the sea. The period of the year, and the state of his health are such as leave the most sanguine hopes of his early and complete

success.

It is calculated that he might be in the Bight of Benin by the month of March next; but, taking into account the delay and difficulty of travelling in Africa, whether by land or by water, we think this period too early.

An English establishment has been formed in the island of Mombassa, on the east coast of Africa, where a trade in ivory and gum copal is extensively carried on. It appears that Capt. W. F. Owen, of the Leven, who has two surveying ships under his orders, put in there in February 1824 for water, when he found the place under strict blockade by the Imaum of Muscat's vessels. On his landing, the chiefs and principal inhabitants of the place escorted him to the castle, when they solicited from him permission to put themselves under the flag and paternal government of His Majesty George the Fourth; with which request Captain Owen complied (until His Majesty's pleasure should be known), as a measure most likely to conduce to the total suppression of the slave-trade on the coast, where it had been carried ou to a most lamentable excess. Lieut. Emery, R. N., with a party of men, was left in command, since which several dows have been captured, the poor slaves released, and the cargoes of the vessels, consisting of grain, cocoa-nuts, and ivory, restored to the owners. The following account of this new establishment (extracted from a private letter just received) must prove acceptable to our readers :

"Mombassa is an island in 4o 3' South Lat., and 39o 41' East Long. about 14 Imiles in circumference, situate at the mouth of two rivers, distant from the nearest part of the main about two hundred yards; at low water you are able to walk across it very fertile and very high. It was at one time in the possession of the Portuguese, GENT. MAG. October, 1825.

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who fortified the place very strongly; but now the fortifications are going fast to decay, they having been driven out by the Arabs in the year 1720; and I firmly believe that nothing has been done to the battlements since that time. The Arabs are now intermarried with the Sochilles, the native tribe of the place. The harbours are very fine: the chief commerce is ivory and gum copal, which articles are brought into the island by an inland tribe called Whanekas. On the main we have numbers of wild beasts, but none on the island, excepting hyænas: the hippopotami are in great numbers up the rivers.'

The Emperor of Morocco has put to the sword the whole of the inhabitants of the city of Mekenez, aud entirely destroyed the city, in consequence of the late revolt. His Majesty has recently assumed an attitude rather more ludicrous than alarming, by threatening to declare war against all European powers who have not Consuls at his court!

UNITED STATES.

New York papers of the 26th of Sept. contain information calculated to excite much reflection. It appears that the nation of the Jews has been re-established in America, with the sanction, and under the protection of the Government of the United States. A beautiful and valuable tract called Grand Island, a few miles below the port of Buffalo, in the Niagara River, has been purchased in part by the friends of Major Noah, of New York, avowedly to offer it as an asylum for his brethren of the Jewish persuasion, who in other parts of the world are much oppressed. It is intended to erect upon the island a city of refuge called Ararat, for the revival of the Jewish government, after the dispersion of that ancient and wealthy people for nearly 2,000 years; and Major Noah is to be named Governor and Judge of Israel. He issued a very pompous proclamation on the occasion.

A school has been established at the New York Navy -yard, for the purpose of instructing seamen in the service of the United States in the manner of rigging a ship. The old steam-ship Robert Fulton, has been purchased for the purpose, and her engine taken out altogether. Sailors when first employed are put on board, when competent masters decide whether they are qualified as seamen. If unacquainted with the different duties, they are to receive the necessary instruction, and to be kept at work in making, arranging, and taking down the different parts of the rigging, until wanted for service on board some of the vessels of the Navy. Every month the Fulton is to present the appearance of a full-rigged ship, and again that of a dismasted one.

The American papers describe a most tremendous

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