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VARIETIES, LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL.
Including Notices of Works in Hand, Domestic and Foreign.
Authentic Communications for this Article will almays be thankfully received.

NEW, much-improved, and enlarged edition, in twenty-eight volunes, riyal octo-decimo, is in the press, of Dr. Maven's Collection of Voyages and Travels, and will speedily be pubfish. The plates, instead of being designs by artists in the closet, will consist of copies from the prints published in the original works, and the maps will be numerous and on a large scale. The text of the principal works, as the Voyages of Anson, Byron, Wallis, Carteret, Cook, and Macartney, will be printed verbatimi from the orginal editions, without variution or abridgment, and many valuable works will be included which have appeared within the present century.

The splendid work of Mr. ROBERT KER PORTER, representing the manners and costume of Russia and Sweden, and comprehending a Journal of his Travels in Russia, will make its appearance in a few days.

In be course of the ensuing month it is expected that a volume, by, Mr. HGLY, will be ready for publication, entitled, Memoirs of British Quadrupeds. The which claims the merit of being an ormal work, and not merely a compilatum from the writings of other naturalsts, will be illustrated with seventy engrarings from original drawings, chiefly by Howtt, and in his best manner. All the species will be figured except three, of which it was found impossible to procore authentic drawings; and there will be representations of every variety of dug, and of considerably more than half the varieties of English cattle, sheep, and horses. The anecdotes of the habits of life, instinct, and sagacity, are in this work rendered entirely distinct from the descriptions. The latter are thrown into the form of a synopsis, on a plan sumewhat similar to that of Dr. Withering's botanical arrangement, and inserted, with the synonyms, ut the end of the votae. It is intended that two volumes Memoirs of British Whales and Fishies, dlustrated alm by a great number of ures, simil shortly follow; and afterwants others of the birds, amphibious inects, &c. till an entire system of British Zoology, occupying about seven volumes,

mpleted. In this work, which has ee any years in preparation, every

class will be rendered perfectly distinct from the rest.

The Rev. O. BELFOUR, the gentleman to whom we are indebted for the admired papers under the head of the Lyceum of Ancient Literature, has collected these papers as far as they have yet proceeded into a volume, forming the first of three, the extent of his design on this subject.

Mr. Lucas is preparing to publish the Travels of Humauius in search of the Temple of Happiness; an Allegory.

Mr. HILDITCH has issued proposals for publishing by subscription, the History and Antiquities of Tamworth.

Mr. EDGEWORTH's work on Professional Education, which will form a quarto volume, is far advanced at the press, and may soon be expected.

finished his History of the Germanic Em Mr. SMITH, of Dublin, has nearly pire, which will be speedily published in two volumes, 8vo.

Mr. JERNINGHAM will shortly publish `a work, called The Alexandrian School; being a narrative of the character and writings of the first Christian professors in that city, with observations on the influence they still maintain over the esta

blished church.

Mr. P. THOMPSON, of Boston, will publish in the ensuing spring a small vo lume, embellished with engravings, to be entitled, The Stranger's Guide through

Boston and its Environs.

In a few weeks will be published, the first part of a Treatise of Arches, Bridges, Domes, Abutment and Embankment Walls, by Mr. S. WARE, architect. The author professes to show a simple mode of describing geometrically the catenaria, and to deduce his theory principally from that line. Sections of Trinity Church, Ely; King's College, Chapel, Cambridge; Salisbury Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey, will be given, in curroboration of the principles advanced in the work.

Dr. DENNISON and Dr. BYAM DENNISON will commence their second Course of Lectures on the Theory and Prac tice of Midwifery, and the Diseases of Women and Children, at the London Hospital, on Monday, February the 6th.

Several correspondents have addressed us on the subject of the important mili tary invention described in our Varieties

for

for November, and it naturally excites surprise and indignation, that our army in Spain was not in possession of a species of ammunition which ensured destruction to any army, however nunierous, which might be opposed to it. We have the authority of the first military commanders for this opinion. We are tyld, indeed, that General Beresford took Buenos Ayres with a single regiment by means of it; that Sir David Baird took the Cape-by the same aid; and that Sir Arthur Wellesley found it equally efficacious at Vimiera, where an entire French regiment was swept away by it. The reason why the army of General Moore was not supplied with it at a time when it might have decided the fate of Europe, remains to be explained: but we fear "there is something rotten in the state of Denmark." This invention of Lieutenant-Colonel Shrapnell, of the artillery, falfils a prophecy of Frederic the Great, that the time would come when battles would cease to be decided by the musket or bayonet, but would depend in their issue solely on the artillery.

Dr. STANCLIFFE will commence, on the 2d of February, a course of eight Lectures on Chemistry, its principles and applications, at the King's Arms Room, 'Change Alley.

The Rev. Dr. VINCENT is preparing to publish the Greek text of Arriau's Indica and the Periplus, with a translation, to accompany his comments on those works. The History of the Dissenters, by Messrs. BOGUE and BENNET, is in such forwardness, that the two first volumes may be very soon expected.

Mr. WILLIAM RICHARDS has issued proposals for publishing by subscription, a History of Lynn, civil, ecclesiastical, commercial, biographical, political, and military, from its foundation, about the first age of the christian era, to the present time; interspersed with occasional remarks on such national occurrences as may serve to elucidate the real state of the town, and the manners, character, and condition, of the inhabitants at dif ferent periods; and prefaced by an account of its situation, harbour, rivers, inland navigation, the ancient and modern state of marsh land, Wisbeach, and the Fens, and whatever' is most remarkable in other parts of the adjacent country.

Mr. SOUTHEY has in preparation a Romance in rhyme, founded on the my thology of the Hindoos, to be intitled, The Curse of kefama.

The Rev. Mr. BELOE is proceeding with the fourth and fifth volumes of Anec. dotes of Literature and Scarce Books. At the end of the fifth will be given a general Index to the work.

A Life of the late Dr. BEDDOES has been undertaken, with the approbation of his family and friends, by Dr. STOCK, of Bristol.

The long-expected Reports of the Preventive Medical Institution at Bristol, have been left by Dr. Beddoes in some degree of forwardness. They will be completed and published as soon as possible by Mr. KENIG and Dr. STOCK. The former of these gentlemen has been surgeon to the institution since its cominencement; and the latter has been connected with it since March, 1804.

Messrs. LEIGH and SOTHEBY will sell by auction, during this winter and succeeding spring, the following libraries and collections; of the time of each sale due notice will be given. 1. A very rare and curious collection of prints and books of prints, the property of a gentleinan, well known as a literary amateur, containing some rare portraits, fine specimens of early masters, and a large collection of the works of Hieronymus Wierx, &c. 2. The large collection of botanical prints, drawings, and books of drawings, the property of the late Earl of Bute; comprising many hundred capital botanical drawings on paper and vellum; likewise all the plates, coloured and plain, of the botanical works then extant,forming a completefillustration of the Species Plantarum. 3. A select collection of books, in Greek, Latin, English, Italian, and Spanish, being a considerable part of the library of the Rev. Mr. Dutens. 4. The library of Dr. James Sims, of Finsbury-square. 5. The entire library of the late Earl of Clauricarde. 6. Part of the library of the late Lord Penrhyn. 7. The library of Sir Wm. Smyth, Bart. containing a very fine collection of classics, county bistories, &c. many on large paper. 8. Dr. Kitchener's musical library, consisting of the complete works of the best composers; to which is added a small miscellaneous selection from his library. 9. The library of James Stevens, Esq. of Camerton, containing a very capital collection of books on natural history, &c.

The following is an extract of the report of the committee to the court of directors of the East India Company, dated 21st December, 1808, on the subject of the committee's visit to the college at Hert

ford,

ford, for the purpose of attending the close of the third examination of the students, and for distributing the gold medals and other prizes, awarded by the college council to the most meritorious and deserving students, for their superior atfainments in the several branches of learning during the past year. The business commenced with the reading of two Essays, the one composed by Mr. Moloney, and the other by Mr. Stokes, on "the Influence of Commerce upon the Character and Prosperity of Nations."The compositions of both these gentlemen were highly creditable to their abilities and information. Several of the students then gave specimens of their proficiency in Oriental learning, by reading and construing various passages from different authors, in the Arabic, Persian, Sanscrit, Bengalee, and Hindustanee languages. A list of the names of students who have distinguished themselves in PerLian writing was then laid before the commuttee, and publicly announced; as was also a list of those who excelled by their progress in the French language. Specimens of drawing were likewise submitted to the inspection of the committee, who acquaint the court, that in all these branches of instruction, a degree of talent and industry has been displayed, equally honourable to the students and their teachers. The chairman previous to his presenting the prizes addressed the students. He expressed his gratification in performing the task which devolved on bin, represented the importance of the stations which they would be called to fill in India, where merit would be the surest pledge of preferment; communicated to them as a stimulus to equal exertion the case of Mr. Sotheby, lately a student at the college here, and honoured with a gold medal at the examination of 1807 for his proficiency in Oriental learning, and who had since received from the go. vernor-general in Bengal a similar mark of distinction for his superior attainments in the same branches there. The chair. man then presented the prizes as awarded by the college council:-gold medals w Mr. Moloney for his essay; to Mr. Auderson, jun. for his proficiency in Sanscrit; to Mr. Palton, jun. for Persian; to Mr. Stokes, for classical literaLure to Mr. Farish for mathematics; and to Mr. Stokes, for political economy, history, and law. Books were presented to Mr. Stokes and Mr. Russell for their essays on the above mentioned subject; 40 Mr. Sullivan, for his proficiency in

theology, &c.; to Mr. Parks, Mr. Ander son, 3 tertius, and Mr. Carter, for Bengalee; Mr Stokes, Mr. Anderson, jun. Sir James Home, Bart. and Mr. Macween for Persian; to Sir James Home, Bart. and Mr. Young for Hindustanee; to Mr. Holland, Mr. Anderson, jun. Mr. Young, and Mr. Trail, for classical literature; to Mr. Anderson, jun. Mr. Prinsep, Mr. Chase, Mr. Haig, and Mr. Hyde, for mathematics; to Mr. Bayley, and Mr. Prinsep for political economy Bayley, for law. The report concludes, and history; and to Mr. Prinsep, and Mr. with expressions of the great satisfaction which the committee experienced at the proofs given at this examination, of the utility of the institution, and of the benefits likely to be derived from it to the company's service.

nests in trees has lately been observed A species of wasp which builds its in different parts of this country and was frequently met with during the last Riding of Yorkshire. It appears to be a summer in different parts of the West' new introduction, and is supposed to have been brought across the Atlantic into some of the sports on the western shore of the island, and is gradually spreading itself through the country. The trees on which the nests have been most frequently observed, are the gooseberry and currant, and an instance of it has been met with on the common elder, to which insects in general are averse. This species is smaller than the common less easily irritated. wasp, but it is much less voracious, and

tural History Society of Edinburgh, held At the meeting of the Wernerian Naon the 10th of December, the secretary read a communication, from the Rev. JOHN FLEMING of Bressay, describing a narwhal or sea unicorn of the species denominated Le Narwal Microcephale, by La Cepède, which had been lately cast on shore alive, at Weisdale Sound, in Mainland, the largest of the Shetland Islands. The description was accompanied by a correct drawing of the animal, which is Dr. OGILVY, read a paper on the transi to be engraved. At the same meeting tion green stoue of Fassnet, in East Lo thian, which besides much valuable mineralogical information, contained a satisfactory answer to the query proposed some time ago by Professor Jameson, in regard to the geognostic relations of the rocks of this tract of country. The descriptions of the individual rocks and their general and peculiar geognostic re

lations

lations were detailed with ability; and the interest of the whole was increased by acute observations on the mode of examining and discriminating rocks-a bject of great importance, particularly for those who may be employed in examining the mineralogy of a country.

On the 12h and 19th of December, Mr.SOWERBY, author of British Minera Jogy, delivered his long promised lecture Chromatometry, at his house in Mead place, near the Asylum. This lecture, the object of which is, to point out a new and ingenious mode of ascertaining the arrangement, mixture, and measure of prismatic tints, and to shew their corspondence with material colours, was accompanied by an exhibition, in which the prismatic tints were produced, as from the sun, moon, and stars; the sun as seen from the different planets, and a productor, sixty feet long, measuring an Anite series: also the material and prismatic tints, forming mixtures in union, with the effect as from candles and flambeaus, and a sort of prismatic illumination, with different lustres from metals, &c. The whole was elucidated by appa. Iatus of a new and original kind, which promises to assist the philosopher in greatly extending our knowledge on this sabject. Mr. Sowerby continues to repeat the lecture every Monday, and has announced a work, illustrative of his discoveries.

Sir W. CLARGES, Bart, has constructed a life boat on an improved principle, the leading features of which, are, that she will not upset, sink, or be water-logged; that she affords cabin room, and is like a man of war's launch, well built for rowing, the oars not on a curve, but nearly in a right line and low to the water, of which she draws little. The description of this boat is as follows:-her length is thirty feet, her breadth ten, her depth three feet, six inches. The space hetween her timbers is fitted up with pine wood; this is done with a view to prevent the water lodging there: the pine wood is well caulked and paid; she is buoyed up by eight metal cases, four on each side; these are water tight, and independent of each other. They will serve to buoy up six tons, but all the buoyant paris of the boat, taken collectively will boy up ten tons. The cases are securely decked over, and boarded at the sides with pine; there is a scuttle to each case, to put goods in; the edges are lined with baize; and over each scuttle, in the case, is one of wood of a larger size, the mar

gin of which is lined in the same manner to exclude the water: between the cases are Norwegian balks, bolted to the bottom, fastened to each other by iron clamps, and decked over. The depth of her keel is mine inches below the gar board streak, the dead rising is four inches; her keel is narrow at the under part, and wide above, for the purpose of giving the timber a good bed, which will support the bolts, in case a necessity. should arise to encounter sand-banks. In sailing over a bar, or in places where the water is shallow, the rudder will, with ease, draw up even with the keel, and when in deep water, it will let down easily, and with equal facility a foot betow it, in consequence of which advantage the boat is found to steer remarkably well. The forecastle of the boat forms a cabin ten feet wide, six feet long, and four feet deep, into which women, children, and disabled persons may be put; it is amply supplied with air, by means of two copper ventilators; it is furnished besides with two grapnels, very proper to be thrown out on board a wreck, to ride by; the grapnel ropes will assist the sufferers to remove and escape from the wreck to the boat. She is likewise equipped with masts and sails, and is as manageable with them as any boat of her dimensions can possibly be: in a tempest, however, she must be dismasted and rowed by fourteen men, with oars, sixteen feet long, double banked; the men are all fastened to the thwarts by ropes, and cannot be washed from their seats. In his observations on this boat, Sir William says, "Having stated the leading features of my boat, I need not dwell on a few secondary points, which, however, it would be improper not to mention: these are her being provided with small ropes or lines fastened to hooks on the gun-wale, and each having a picce of cork painted red at the extremity; intended not only for persons who fall overboard, or swim fronta wreck, to sce and catch hold of, but to tow those for whom there may not be room in the boat; and her having a very powerful rudder. The copper cases, though affording additional security to those, who chuse to be at the expence, are no more a necessary point of my plan, than coppering her bottom. The wood work alone, if well executed and properly attended to, may be kept quite air-tight. If the as sistance of cork were to be called in, it appears to me that it might be better applied than in the other boats, by filling

the

the cases with cork jackets, to take to a crowded wreck; in going off to which the cases would not be wanted for any other purpose, and the jackets would not be an incumbrance. Every one must be aware of the importance of the side cabine or cases, for stowing valuable goods, from a richly laden vessel. A bout of this kind, but somewhat smaller di mensions, would be exceedingly useful to ships' on voyages of discovery; and, indeed, to any large vessels; as it would not unly answer for wooding and watering, but is peculiarly adapted for excursions up rivers or small inlets of the sea, or exploring clusters of islands. As a pleasure boat she answers extremely well; and with respect to her safety, I can say that I have sailed in her from Brighton, round the Cornish coast to Conway, in North Wales, without any accident, though we experienced some very dreadful wear her on the voyage."

Mr. WM. SKRIMSHIRE, Jun. has discovered a vegetable product of British growth, which, by particular management, may prove an excellent substitute for foreign coffee. This is the iris pseuducorus, flower de luce, or common yellow water flag, the seeds of which, being roasted in the same manner as coffee, very much resemble it in colour and flavour, but have something more of a sacehurine odour, approaching to that of extract of liquorice. When carefully prepared they possess much more of the aroma of coffee than is to be found in any of the leguminous and gramineous seeds that have been treated in the same manlier. Coffee made of these seeds is extremely wholesome and nutritious in the proportion of half an ounce or an sanice to a pint of boiling water.

The slate quarry, the property of the late Lord Penryn, situated on the side of a lofty mountain, within baif a uule of the great post road from Capel Cerig, to Banger, is one of the greatest curiosities of Carnarvonshire. The solid mas ses of slate, dug from the summit to the base, are from 80 to 100 feet; and when the sun reflects his beams on its aides, it gives the finest prismatic colors imaginable. The dividing of the stinta of slate frm the man body, appears to the stranger beholding the workmen, a service of langer, particularly when they are employed in splitting the rock fron the summit. This is effected by a small lean fistened to the top, with two ropes each end, na wlncir four, five, or six Gequently stain, and with their crows, and sledge-hammers, fluke

off the slate from the sides in pieces, from two to eight feet in thickness, and six to seven in length. In other places, the slate rock is divided by blasts from gunpowder. From the miners, the different pieces go to the persons who shape them. This is done on the spot, and when finished, they are put into small waggons that hold near half a ton cach, and conveyed along an iron railway, which runs on a gentle declivity for too miles and a half, to Port Penryn, where they are shipped to Ireland, Scotland, and many parts of England. The slate produced from this quarry, is of a remarkably fine quality, a close texture, very light, and of a bright sea-green colour in general. It is broken into pieces of different sizes according to the various purposes for which they may be designed; such as grave-stones, chimney-pieces, and covering for houses. The first are prepared with a high polish, about six in-, ches thick, and fit for the sculptor's hand;" these are generally sold by the ton weight. Others are only half finished, to be used for stairs, horse-blocks, &c. They are left in that state to be formed ac cording to the purposes for which they are wanted, and are also sold by the ton. The first are called imperial and are sold at about fifty-five shillings, and the latter at thirty shillings per ton. For the roofs of houses, are inade three sorts, known by the denominations of duchesses, coun tesses, and ladies. The first measure twenty-four inches by twelve, and sell for six pounds per thousand; the second twenty inches by ten, and sell for four pounds per thousand; and ladies, sixtecn inches by eight, sell for two pounds per thousand. At the port of Penryn, school slates are made and framed in a complete manner for use, and are exported in considerable quantities.

EAST INDIES.

To the various instances of spontane. ous combustion, which are probably much more numerous than could be supposed, is to be added the following. The ship Albion, Captain James Robertson, was burned in December, 1807, at Whampoa in China, under these circumstances:-On the morning of the 4th, the company's treasure left Canton, and Captain Robertson proceeded down the river with a quantity of money belonging to the owners, but did not reach the ship till about six in the evening. In going over the gang-way he observed to the officers employed in receiving the treisure, of which upwards of a million and

a half

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