six in the same bed. Since the commencement of the present century, these inconveniences have been remedied; new halls have been constructed, better divided, and better aired; and the consequence has been a considerable diminution of the mortality. Generally speaking, there die in the hospitals 1 in 7 1-2, and in the hospices 1 in 6 1-2. The patients remain, on an average, a month and ten days in the hospital.

The Lying-in Hospital received in 1814, women to the number of 2700, of whom 2400 acknowledged themselves not to be married.

The Foundling Hospital, from 1804 to 1814, received 23,458 boys, and 22,463 girls; in all, 45,921; of this number 4130 were supposed to be legiti

mate.

The average annual expense of the hospitals is about 2,300,000 francs, (7. 110,000.) The number of patients received is about 35,500. The hospices receive only about 5900, but they receive them to remain for life.

In regard to aids given at home, the number of poor persons thus relieved amounted, in 1804, to nearly 87,000; in 1813, to 103,000; and this last may be considered as nearly the medium term of the ten years.

Reception of the Russian Embassy in

Persia.

On the 31st of July, the Russian Ambassador, Lieut. Gen. Yermoloff, was admitted with great solemnity, to a first audience of the Sovereign of Persia, Feth Aly Schah, in a magnificent tent. The ambassador having with him a band of music, strong detachments of Cossacks, and a brilliant suite, was received by a body of 3000 Persian horsemen, of distinction, and by a guard of honour of 200 men. He was then received by the brother-in-law of the Schah, as well as by the late Persian ambassador in Russia, Muza Khan, who wore the insignia of the orders of the Lion and of the Sun, and the Portrait of the Schah.

There was in the tent of the Schah, and in the neighbourhood, a great number of troops and spectators, as well as four Rasaka Shy, or Lictors, in the exercise of their functions, having steel axes, incrusted with gold, and the handles ornamented with precious stones. The ambassador having made three

salutations, the Schah, seated on a magnificent throne, called out to him. "Be welcome." Among them was captain Kotzebue. The Schah was told that this officer had passed three years in a voyage round the world, but that he had, above all, desired to see the great sovereign of Persia. The Schah took it as a pleasantry, and said, smiling, "Well, then, now you have seen every thing." The crown of the Schah is formed of the most costly jewels, and from the shoulder to the girdle he was covered with rich jewels; his dagger was also adorned with them, which looked incredibly brilliant in the sun. At the back of the tent were the fourteen sons of the Schah, in the most respectful attitude. When the ambassador pronounced the name of Feth-Aly-Schah, all the persons present made a profound inclination.

Three days after the grand audience, the ambassador was invited to a public fete, which the Schah himself honoured with his presence.-The arrival of the sovereign was announced by the firing of five hundred small guns. As soon as he appeared, the heralds at arms wished him a long and happy reign. The prince then addressed some flattering expressions to Nachy-MomediHysseim Khan, the Court Poet, who instantly delivered a long panegyric upon the Schah, extempore. The fete consisted of exercises in the eastern manner. After the fete, the Schah retired to prayer, and then returned to see the presents sent him by the emperor of Russia. He was greatly astonished to find that the presents in porcelain, crystal, velvet, and cloth embroidered with gold, were the produce of Russian art. He was particularly struck with a pyramid in precious wood and ivory, which, opening by means of a spring, presented a lady's complete dressing apparatus. This was one of the presents to the queen of Persia, which the ambassador took that opportunity of laying before her, with letters from the empress of Russia. The Schah also beheld with great admiration, a Psyche mirror, in which he seemed to take great pleasure in contemplating himself. The second audience went off as agreeably as the first.

Lit. Pan.

Death of Kosciusko.-The celebrated Polish general Kosciusko died at Soleure, in Switzerland, on the 15th ult.

A life full of virtue, and brilliant with glory, was terminated in calm tranquillity. He had lived for several years in retirement, the object of much veneration, surrounded only by the recollection of his fame, and by some faithful and unfortunate friends, to whom he was a constant benefactor. It was his wish that his funeral should be conducted with the utmost simplicity, and he expressed a desire that his mortal remains should be carried to the grave by the poor. The death of this celebrated general has excited the deepest regret; his friends wept bitterly over his tomb, and the name of the bero whose ashes it incloses, will be for ever considered as allied with inflexible virtue, with patriotism, and the love of true glory.

ib.

Timber to be Steamed in Salt Water. The Eden that was lately sunk by way of experiment for the dry rot, has been minutely surveyed to ascertain the result, which appears to answer every expectation. The Mersey is to undergo the same treatment, and is preparing for that purpose. In future all timber and plank are to be boiled or steamed in salt instead of fresh water, as has been the general practice of late years. Lit. Pan.

Newly-invented Life Buoy.-Mr. Thomas Cook, Admiralty midshipman of the Rochefort has invented a lifebuoy, for the preservation of the lives of seamen who may happen to fall overboard at sea during the night. It is so constructed as to contain a quantity of unextinguishable matter, which on letting go the buoy from the stern of the ship, is set fire to, and continues to burn for a considerable time above the surface of the water, thereby pointing VOL. XI.

out to the person overboard a place of safety until further assistance can be sent to him. Trial was made of it alongside the Rochefort, on Wednesday last, in the presence of admiral Sir Edward Thornborough, K. C. B., captains Sir Archibald Dickson, Carteret, Boger, and Falcon, when it is represented to have answered the purpose intended extremely well. ib.

An experiment was lately made at Portsmouth, on board his majesty's ship Wellesley, of a newly invented Syphon, which is intended to water ships from a tank-vessel, instead of pumping. The instrument is two feet and a half diameter, and it discharged twenty and a half tons per hour, which was considered a most satisfactory proof of its efficacious power. It is the invention of Lieut. Rodgers. Asiatic Jour.

NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

On Sir Humphrey Davy's Safety Lamp. By M. Biot.-M. Biot in the present article gives a succinct account of this admirable invention, now well known in this country and accompanies it with the following observations:

"As long as the human mind remained a stranger to the benefits of experimental philosophy, that is to say, from the remotest times down to the age of Galileo, it was naturally believed that chance alone could make useful discoveries; and, by a necessary consequence, the observation of natural phenomena was regarded as a purely speculative branch of inquiry; but since theoretical considerations have given place to the careful and exact study of the properties of matter,-since the art was known of creating new phenomena, with the view of investigating the concealed qualities which we wish to know, an art of which Galileo and Newton first gave such memorable examples,-the sciences have acquired genuine wealth. Science, ably interrogated, has answered with precision; her answers have been benefits; even the vulgar have comprehended her power; they have learned to esteem these great men whose speculations had secretly prepared so many useful consequences.

The processes by which Sir H. Davy has found the means of protecting the life of miners against the attacks of

22

their most terrible enemy, present a new and memorable example of the advantages of that plan by which, from the most abstract principles of science, practical applications are drawn of the highest importance, but which, from the complicated nature of the elements on which they depend, chance could Dever have discovered.

The lamp of Sir H. Davy, for the lighting of mines, is more wonderful than the enchanted lamp of Aladdin. Here the gas itself is made to give warning of the danger which it threatens. This formidable enemy is not only conquered by science,-it is forced to serve; it becomes a sure guide, a submissive slave. Already in England, this lamp has preserved the lives of a great number of miners. So useful an invention we hope will soon be adopted in France, in the numerous coal-mines which are worked in that country. Ed. Mag.

We have great pleasure in announcing to our readers, that professor Leslie is at present engaged in a series of very curious and important experiments, which will throw new light on the constitution and phenomena of our atmos phere. In the prosecution of his views, he has been led to construct a delicate and powerful instrument, on which he has bestowed the name of Ethrioscope. Ed. Mag.

Germany. The emperor of Austria, desirous of advancing useful knowledge, and transplanting to his dominions some of the valuable natural productions of the new world, has availed himself of the opportunity of the marriage and departure of his daughter the Archduchess Leopoldine, to send to Brazil a number of men of science, who, with the permission of the king of Portugal, are directed to explore the most remarkable parts of that country, to examine the different productions of the three kingdoms of nature, and to enrich the European collections with specimens of them. His imperial majesty has granted the sums necessary for the expedition, and given the chief direction of it to prince Metternich. The persons appointed to proceed to Brazil for this purpose are:-Dr Mikon, a physician, and professor of Botany at Prague; M. Gatterer, belonging to the cabinet of Natural History; M. Enders, landscape painter; M. Schott, botanical gardener at the palace of Belvedere; Professor Pohl, advantageously known by several works on mineralogy; M. Buchberger, painter of plants; and M. Schick as librarian. The first four sailed from Trieste in the frigates Austria and Augusta, and the other three will embark at Leghorn with the Archduchess. M. Schreiber, director of the imperial cabinet of Natural History, is appointed to write the account of the voyage. Messrs. Spix and Martens, members of the academy of sciences at Munich, have joined the expedition.

Ed. Mag.

Russia. The university of Dorpat in Livonia now numbers 300 students,

some of whom come from very remote parts of the empire, as well as from the provinces bordering on the Baltic. The buildings for the university are finished. One is occupied by a philosophical cabinet, and another by the library, containing nearly 30,000 volumes. In these buildings have also been provided halls for public orations, and other solemn acts of the university. The professors hold their lectures in a fine and spacious edifice, situated on the Dornberg; the anatomical theatre is arranged with taste. From amidst the ruins of the ancient cathedral rises another superb structure, one part of which contains the museum, and the other serves for the university church. Professor Jasche and Morgenstern are distinguished by their worth and erudition. In the Lounge, or reading-room, a stranger meets with all the scholars of Dorpat, and also the foreign literary, political, and philosophical journals.

ib.

Works in demand; for Honour.-The French Academy, prior to the late elections, adopted a singular rule with respect to the candidates for the vacant seats among that distinguished body. They made them produce all the literary works of which they had been the authors. This was in fact to call for a number of publications that had long sunk in obscurity, and many of which indeed were totally destroyed; for the confounded grocers and trunk-makers have no compassion. The malicious have given this affair a certain political character, which may be play to them, but is death to the subjects of it. They go so far as to say that the following story, has at least its foundation in truth: if it were less caustic it would more readily command credence.

One day, one of the most forgotten of the living French poets, was, in consequence of this rule, walking on the quay of the Louvre, and narrowly spying into every second-hand bookseller's shop. Suddenly, oh, mortifying spectacle, he observes on the pavement, huddled among other things, one of his fugitive pieces; and anxious to relieve it from its state of degradation, he asks the price of it. "That, Sir, replies the bookseller, "that is six-pence." "What do you mean by six pence?" exclaims the author, piqued to find the productions of his genius estimated at

so low a rate, "you do not know what you are selling, friend." Pardon me, Sir, I know very well that it is not over and above clever, but then the paper is worth four-pence." "Hold, blockhead!" replied the indignant poet, "here are fifteen-pence for it.-You deserve that in order to teach you your trade, I should give you thirty."

Political Summary.

France is tranquil. Louis XVIII appears to be engaged in admitting to con fidence the old military of Bonaparte's army. Marshal Davoust, who, since the capitulation of Paris, has been in disgrace at the Thuilleries, was lately presented to the king, and received from his hands the baton of a marshal; and general Debelle, condemned to death for his adherence to Bonaparte, on his return from Elba, whose sentence was afterwards commuted to ten years imprisonment, has now been restored to liberty by a full pardon from the king. The royal family pay particular attention to the duke of Orleans, who, till lately, was not well received at court, and he seems intended for employment.

Throughout Great Britain, trade is reviving. The death of the princess Charlotte has engrossed much of the public attention. The question of the succession to the throne is affected by that event. The duke of York tendered his resignation as commander in chief, but has been solicited to continue in that capacity.

From the Netherlands we have nothing new, if we except the retirement of the hereditary prince of Orange from the command of the army, in consequence of a dispute with the minister of war, arising out of the young prince's public disrespect to the memory of the princess Charlotte of England, who had refused him for a husband. It is said he threw off his court mourning immedi ately after the church service performed in honour of the deceased, dressed himself in regimentals, and went to a public ball.

Ships continue to be equipped in England for the purpose of convey ing officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, to aid the patriots in South America. One vessel has on board officers, fully equipped, and 200 privates, to form a rifle corps. Another is in a forward state of preparation, and has appointments for a cavalry regiment

600 strong a third is freighted with the equipments of a lancer's corps, 400 strong. The officers are all men who have seen active service, and are of every rank, from lieutenant colonels to ensigns. The organization and arrangements are so complete, that they will be ready for immediate service on their arrival in America. Notices have been posted up in several coffee houses in London, inviting passengers to go on board vessels waiting to sail direct for South America; thus the circuitous route by St. Thomas's, formerly taken, is now dispensed with, and a great saving, both of time and expense, will be effected. Thirty thousand stand of arms had been shipped, minutely inspected by the agents for the independents, and are in general of the best description of materials, and well got up.

The acquisition of Florida by the United States is agitated, but nothing decisive appears to be concluded. The occupation of Amelia island, by a detachment of troops of the United States army, seems to be the fore-runner of events in that quarter. Whatever negociations are pending, it is probable they will terminate amicably, as there seems a disposition generally prevalent among the different powers, cautiously to abstain from committing themselves in fresh hostility.

FOREIGN LITERATURE.

The fourth and last Canto of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, with considerable notes, comprising Observations upon Society, Literature, &c., made during his Travels and Residence abroad. By the Right Hon. Lord Byron. 8vo.

The Dramatic Works complete, with the Poems, &c., of the late Right Hon. Richard Brinsley Sheridan. To which will be prefixed an Essay on the Life and Genius of the Author. By Thomas Moore, Esq., Author of Lalla Rookh. 4vols. 8vo.

The Selected Beauties of British Poetry, with Lives of the Poets, and Critical Dissertations. To which will be prefixed, an Essay on English Poetry. By Thomas Campbell, Esq., Author of the Pleasures of Hope. 4 vols. post 8vo.

This work will contain a number of excellent little poems, which have been

but partially noticed-known only to amateurs, and transcribed in their common-place books; but most of them rarely, and some of them never, introduced into any collection of poetry. In the biographies, the editor has exerted the main part of his strength on the merits and writings of each poet as an Author, rather than in little anecdotes, and discoveries of his residence and conversation as a man, unless such things are striking, and can be obtained without sacrificing the great object of his efforts.—To make a complete body of English Poetical Criti

cism.

New Encyclopædia.

This is the age of Encyclopædias-a new work of this kind is announced in the London journals, termed the Encyclopædia Metropolitana on the novel plan of an alphabetical and philosophical arrangement of subjects. This method was suggested some time since by Mr. Maxwell, printer, of this city, as combining the advantage of accommodation to purchasers of separate volumes, specially useful in their several spheres, and a division more agreeable to the organization of science, as well as more commodious for reference. It is proposed to comprise under each main division of subjects, every branch into which it can possibly diverge, instead of scattering in alphabetical fragments through successive volumes, published at distant periods of time, the various attributes that belong to it. This will be attended with the evident advantage of compact connexion, and will unquestionably be founded on more rational and systematic principles than have hitherto been observed in these important works.

DOMESTIC LITERATURE.

The Necessity of Protecting and Encouraging the Manufactures of the United States, considered in a Letter to James Monroe, Esq., President of the United States. By John Melish. Philadelphia. Published by John Melish. 1818. pp. 30.

This is a well meant endeavour to call the attention of the executive to the important subject of encouragement to domestic manufactures. In the late commercial treaty between the gov ernments of the United States and Great