The papers written in Latin or French, are to be sent to the secretary of the Academy before April, 1820.

The following prize subjects are announced by the French Academy.

For the Poetical prize, which will be adjudged the 25th of August, 1819, 'the Institution of the jury in France.' A gold medal, value, 1500 francs.

A man of letters, who wishes to remain unknown, has placed at the disposal of the Academy, a medal of 1200 francs value, as a poetical prize for the following subject: the advantages of mutual instruction.' It will be adjudged at the same time.

A gold medal of 400 francs value will also be given at the same time to the author of that work which, having been published during the year 1818, shall be judged the most useful to manners.'

None but works written in French will be admitted. They are to be addressed to the secretary of the institution, in the usual way, before the 15th May, 1819.

Notice is also given that the prize question of eloquence to be proposed next year for 1820, will be to distinguish and compare the kinds of eloquence and the moral qualities proper for the Speaker at the Bar, and at the Senate.' ib.

London Institutions.-The following is an estimate made of the means of intellectual improvement in London. There are 407 places of public worship; 4050 seminaries for education, including 237 parish charity schools; eight societies for the express purpose of promoting good morals; 12 societies for promoting the learned, the useful, and the polite arts; 122 asylums and almshouses for the helpless and indigent, including the Philanthropie society for reclaiming criminal children; 30 hospitals and dispensatories for sick and lame, and for delivering poor pregnant women; 700 friendly or benefit societies; about 30 institutions for charitable and humane purposes; about 30 institutions for teaching some thousands of poor children the arts of reading, writing, and arithmetic, on the plans of Mr. Lancaster and Dr. Bell; and these several establishments, including the poor's-rate, are supported at the almost incredible cost of one million per

Russian Voyage of Discovery.-The general results of the voyage of discovery, made by the Russian ship Rurick, captain Kotzebue, is stated to be the discovery of several single islands, and whole groups of islands in the south; the more exact determination of the east coast of Behring's Straits, or of the northwest coast of America, where a very extensive bay has been discovered; the correction and confirmation of previous geographical observations, with many important new ones, and a rich collection of natural history.'

A very singular ice berg was fell in with by this vessel during its voyage. It was of great magnitude, and partly covered with earth and mould, so that herbs and trees were growing on it. On one part of its water line a shore had been formed, by matter washed down from above, and on this a landing was made good. A great quantity of the remains of a mammoth were found on it, in a very putrescent state. These had probably been preserved for many ages in the cold regions of the north, and were no doubt co-equal in age to those remains which the geologist finds in his later strata, and merits therefore, in a geological sense, the name of organic remains. The vessel brought away a number of the tusks and other parts of these animals. ib.

Gas from Turf.—It has been proposed in Holland to substitute turf for coal, as a material, from which to obtain a gas for illumination. The experiments that have been made promise much success; and the apparatus required may be of far simpler construction than those used in the distillation of coal. The products do not require that careful and elaborate process of purification which is necessary for the gas from coal. It is said also, that the light is better. The light may be better, than that from coal gas badly made, or carelessly used; but it is not likely that, with equal precautions, the first should surpass, or even equal the latter. ib.

plete collection of Greek literature that had perhaps ever been in the possession of any individual. It was not necessary for him to enlarge on the expediency of not permitting such a collection to be dissipated: a collection which it might require many centuries again to accumulate. This part of the late Dr. Burney's library was enriched with manuscript remarks by himself, Porson, and other eminent and distinguished scholars.

Mr. Curwen, considering the pecuniary embarrassments under which the country laboured, felt himself bound to oppose the grant.

Mr. Douglas stated, that 3,5001. of the money required would be supplied by the sale of books now in the British Museum, which the acquisition of Dr. Burney's library would render superfluous, and that the remaining 10,000l. should be furnished by suspending the usual annual grant to the British Museum, until the advance of that sum had been paid.

Mr. Lockhart said, the cases in which the State should interfere to make purchases of the kind now proposed, should be when the things to be purchased were at once of extreme rarity and of extreme utility. In the case of the Elgin Marbles it had been alleged that the possession of those rare examples would inspire our sculptors with the genius of Grecian art. If any thing was to be found in this collection not elsewhere to be obtained, either fragments of history, or treatises of morals, or examples of oratory, he should be willing to pay money for its preservation; but as for the varieties of verbal criticism, it might well be left to the enthusiasm of virtuosos, while the interference of the State was confined to that which was really useful to mankind.

Sir J. Mackintosh rose to enter his protest against the sentiments of the Hon, member for the city of Oxford (Mr. Lockhart)-it was well he was not member for the University, who had expressed such contempt for classical learning, which was the foundation of education in this as well as every other polished nation of Europe. What would the inmates of that University which was seated in the city which the honourable gentleman represented, say, when they heard that they, and all others who studied classical learning, were trained

in frivolous questions respecting minute and unimportant distinctions? Was not the honourable member aware, that in that classical education to which so many superficial objections might be made, was comprised a course of indirect, but not the less forcible moral and political instruction, which had the greatest effect in the formation of the character and the mind? (hear, hear!) Where the lawgivers of this and other countries mere drivellers, when they recommended a degree of minute accuracy in these studies? But did not this accuracy form the criterion of a perfect familiarity with those authors who were the models of thought, the masters of moral teaching and of civil wisdom, and, above all things, of civil liberty! (hear!) He was ashamed to hear any part of knowledge treated as a luxury or an amusement. (Hear!) Classic learning was in reality much more important than others which had more direct connexion with the business of life, as it tended more to raise high sentiments, and fix principles, in the minds of youth than the sciences. In such a country as this, at least, it was strange to talk of money laid out on science as a waste-in this country in which Mr. Watt, who had lived to see an application which he had made of one principle of science, add more to the wealth of this country than it had ever happened to an individual to add before. They had seen, too, an individual who had changed the whole face of science -Sir H. Davy, by an admirable, though simple invention, saving annually a number of human lives. He estimated as highly the Elgin Marbles as his own ignorance would permit him; but if an artist who restored the smallest portion of an ancient statue was worthy of praise, a Bentley or a Porson, who illustrated one obscure beauty, or chastened one incorrect line of the models of ancient eloquence, was also to be valued. The vote was agreed to without a division. Gent. Mag

New Bank.-We are informed that an immense bank covered with Cod has been discovered, extending from Papa Westra, in Orkney, along the west coast of the Shetland Islands. Already the fishing has been great. Next season it is expected that this hitherto hidden treasure will afford lucrative employment to several hundred sail of fishing vessels. The fishermen report,

that from 150 to 200 sail of vessels can fish on it, and out of sight of each other. We expect, in a future Number, to communicate a full account of this important discovery. Ed. Mag.

New Medical Instrument.-A new instrument has been introduced into medical science at Paris; and, from the favourable report which it obtained, on being subnitted to the Academy of Sciences, would appear to be somewhat more than a chimerical improvement.

Dr. Laennec, physician to the Necker Hospital, supposed it likely, that the various sounds which are formed in the interior of the body, as in the breast, &c. might become, from the variation induced on them by disease, indications of the state of health; and that the sounds produced by the action or motion of any particular organ, as of the heart or lungs, would point out any change in the state of that organ; and taking advantage of the superior conducting power of solid bodies, with regard to sound, he formed an instrument which should convey these indicatory sounds more readily and distinctly to the ear. This instrument is a cylinder of wood, which, in some cases, according to the nature of the examination, is solid; in others, perforated lengthways by a canal; and in others, hollowed like a horn.

The voice, the respiration, sounds in the throat, and pulsations of the heart, are general indications to so many different kinds of diseases; and by one of these, among others, it is said, that the existence of ulcers in the lungs, their extent, their state, and the nature and consistence of the matter within them, were ascertained.

ib.

Total. 71,851,835 61,675,327 51,629,609

By a report of a committee of parliament, it appears that the turnpike roads of England and Wales extend 19,755 miles, and the other highways 95,104, making a total of 114,859 miles; also, that 1,415,8331. is expended per annum on them; and that the area of England and Wales is 57,960 square miles, or 37,094,400 acres.

By another report, we learn that pauperism is still on the increase. At Bermondsey, the number in 1812 were 400, but in 1817 they were 600. At Manchester, the rates in 1797 were 16,9417. but in 1817 they had amounted to 65,912l. In many places the poorrates exceed the rentals.

One hundred and ninety-three new members have been returned to the new parliament.

Severity of collection has augment1,400,000l. compared with the quarter ed the revenue in the past quarter above of 1817. The customs also have increased; and, on the whole, the prospects of industry are improving. The bankruptcies also have diminished from 427 to 217 in corresponding quarters of 1817 and 1818. ib.

France-The observations of the editor of this miscellany made during a recent visit to Paris, enable him to state, with precision, that France is divided at present into two great parties

THE REPUBLICANS and

THE NAPOLEONISTS.

The intelligent and educated part of the community are devoted to liberty; and, having no security in the faith of kings or emperors, desire to revive the repubconceive no difficulty exists within lic of 1798; a project against which they France, if the kings of Europe forbear to interfere.

On the other hand, the mass of the population, or the muscular strength of the French nation, dazzled by the glory, talents, and patriotism of Napoleon, would, under very slender securities of civil liberty, prefer to see him again at the head of the nation.

In regard to the Bourbons, they have no party among the French people.

Forced on the throne by foreign bayonets, equivocating in regard to the charter, and faithless in their pledges to the patriots and the army, they have no interest in France, except among the Swiss guards, the English visiters, the returned emigrants, and a few despised priests. The king temporizes, and has sought to find protection in the name of Henry IV.; but, as it appears that Napoleon II. is, by his mother's side, more nearly related to Henry than the dynasty on the throne, so Louis XVIII. has lost his hope in that association. Respect for their pledges to France is the only chance of the Bourbons; but they are too proud, too bigotted, and too much blinded with rage, to play their game with success.

ib.

Ireland.-A contagious epidemic has for the last two years entailed more misery and distress upon the poor of Ireland than any former combination of causes. Plague, pestilence, and famine,' have united to afflict the land; and a cabin is scarcely to be found in the island which has not to deplore 'à father, mother, or first-born slain.' The mendicants, who, in consequence of bad seasons and want of employment, since the peace, have greatly increased in number, and who, from their habits, the filth of their persons, and their vagrant life, were supposed, and with good reason, to be highly instrumental in propagating contagion, are now avoided as the plague. From the calculation made by some eminent physicians in Cork, grounded on the known prevalence of fever in that city, and on official statements made in other quarters, it would appear that scarcely less than one million, or one fifth of the whole population, have been already attacked by the disease. Not a single county in the whole island has been exempted from the ravages of the fever; the county of Wexford, which had been unaccountably free from this visitation, being now afflicted by it; nor have the towns been more fortunate.

ib.

Vienna Reviews.-The first number of the Vienna Jahrbuch der Litteratur' appeared lately at Vienna. It is a journal established under the auspices of the Austrian government, with prince Metternich for its patron, and intended to be continued quarterly; after the manner of our two leading Reviews.

The work cannot fail of a paramount degree of interest, as being the vehicle of the sentiments and views of the Austrian government, on topics of great importance to Europe, in the present state of affairs. An article on the liberty of the press in England; from the pen of Genz, forms one of the leading attractions of the present number. The editor is Collin, the tutor of the young Napoleon. Von Hammer, the orientalist, and other men of eminence in literature, are contributors. Ed. Mag.

Wellington Testimonial.-The first stone was laid on, 18th of June 1817, the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, in the most eligible situation in the Phoenix park, Dublin. This pile is composed wholly of that very durable stone called granite, and will occupy the attention of the artists for another year, viz. till the 18th day of June in the next year, on which day it will be presented to public view. Its base is 100 feet square; sloping upwards it forms itself into a pedestal 50 feet square, with another pedestal in front, on which stands an equestrian figure of the illustrious Duke. Then above that rises the shaft of the obelisk, which is 30 feet at the base. The whole rises 210 feet.On each of the four sides will be engraven, in brass letters, the names of the different victories, cast out of the cannon taken in India, Spain, Portugal, and France. A subscription of L. 20.000 (the whole raised from private funds, and every subscriber an Irishman) was completed in the course of a few weeks. Mr. Robert Smirke finished the design.

VOLTAIRE UPON ROUSSEAU.

ib.

From the Journal of Belles Lettres. MR. EDITOR-I send you what is in some measure a literary curiosity, Voltaire's analysis of Rosseau's Eloise. The French wit, who could bear 'no brother near the throne,' was naturally roused by the celebrity of the Swiss romancer; and the critique on his profligate and popular work, has the power of envenomed genius. It instantly ran through Switzerland and Europe in manuscript. But as it is, I believe, scarcely known to the later readers in this country, and as it deserves to be known, from its fine and fair development of the most unprincipled work that ever pretended to morality, I wish to see it take a place in your journal. LUIGI.