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keep pace with their moral improve ment. Should the event, which I can now only speak of as contingent, be ever realized, this consideration will not fail to have its proper weight with the political economist. But I would by no means have the colonists composed of such characters as form the European population of New South Wales. The convicts there are the most profligate and abandoned description of people in existence, and those crimes and vices for which they have been expatriated, adhere to them in their exile with pertinacious delinquency. Such men would rather defeat than promote the object in view, by introducing a factitious contamination of morals among the natives, and instructing them in the most de praved practices by their own example." Vol. I. pp. 344-347.

We have only to remark, in conclusion, what must have already sufficiently appeared from the foregoing observations and extracts, that these volumes are extremely well worth perusal as an authentic narrative of a voyage to a country of which very little has been hitherto known to the European world. The author's chief failure is where he intends to be ornate

or sentimental, and forsakes the simple narrative style, for the didactic or pathetic. In two or three instances also, he relates with a kind of flippancy or pleasantry, what, if related at all, should have been clothed in a style of the most severe gravity, in order to render its introduction admissible into the winter evening family party. We should not, perhaps, have noticed this in an ordinary traveller: nor do we mean to intimate, that Mr. Nicholas is any great offender in this way; but the narrator of a missionary voyage ought to be peculiarly careful, that in a narrative intended for miscellaneous perusal, not a single passage should occur, in which gross vice is exposed to our laughter rather than our abhorrence. As this observation is applicable to the present volumes in only a very limited degree, and even this evidently unintended by the author, whose aim throughout is highly benevolent and virtuous, we shall conclude with recommending the work to the attention of our readers.

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE,

&c. &c.

GREAT BRITAIN. PREPARING for publication:-Letters from the Honourable Horace Walpole to George Montague, Esq.;-An overland Journey from India, by LieutenantColonel Johnson;-Statistical Account of the principal Shores of the Pacific Ocean, by Captain M‘Konochie-Essay on the Prolongation of Life and Conservation of Health, by Dr. James Johnson; -Tasso's Jerusalem, translated by J. H. Hunt; - A Journey to Rome, &c., by H. Sass; Original Letters from Baxter, Prior, Bolingbroke, Pope, &c., edited by Mrs. Warner;-A Guide to Families; or Sacred Truth Unfolded for their Use; in a Course of Practical Lectures on the Principal Doctrines of Christianity, and the Relative Duties of Life; with appropriate Family Prayers

for Morning and Evening, for young Persons; by the Rev. S. Piggott, A.M.;Memoirs of the Life, Character, and Ministry of the late Rev. William Goode, A.M., Rector of St. Ann, Blackfriars; by Charles Bowdler, Esq.; to be prefixed to a volume of his Discourses on the Names and Titles given to the Redeemer.

In the Press-Essays on the Wisdom of God, by the Rev. D. Tyerman;—Life of Right Honourable Philpot Curran, by C. Phillips, Esq.; — Biographical Works on English Topography, by W. Upcott;-Transactions of the Association of King and Queen's College of Physi cians in Ireland;-A Work on Natural Theology, by the Rev. Thomas Gisborne, in which those topics are considered which have not been touched upon by Paley.

re

A monthly periodical work is projected at Paris, to be entitled "Archives duChristianisme au Dixneuvième Siècle." It is intended to comprise essays on Christian doctrines and morals, short dissertations upon Ecclesiastical History, Biblical criticism, and Oriental antiquities; critical and analytical notices of new religious works; ports of religious societies throughout the world; with religious biography and poetry. The importance and necessity of such a work in France is very great; and we sincerely hope the intended publication may be conducted in such a manner as to secure a respectable degree of patronage, and thus to answer the high ends which such a work, if well executed, may be expect ed to attain. The publication will be assisted by subscriptions, which will be received by M. Viault, Notaire, Rue d'Antin." Letters and communications may be addressed to "M. Juillerat Chasseur, Pasteur, Rue de Tournon, No. 10."

Cambridge.-The following subjects are proposed for the Chancellor's Prizes, for the ensuing year :-For Latin Verses; Titus Hierosolymam expugnaus."-For an English Essay; "Biography."-For a Latin Essay; "Quam Vim in Moribus Populi conformandis exhibeant Rerum publicarum subitæ Mutationes?"-Sir Roger Newdigate's Prize; for the best composition in English Verse, not containing more than fifty lines, by any Under-graduate who has not exceeded four years from the time of his matriculation; "The Coliseum."

A patent has been obtained for a new mode of expelling molasses from sugar, by means of atmospherical pressure. This is performed either by withdraw ing the air from the under surface of the sugar, or compressing the air on the apper surface. When done by the former method, a trough or box is employed open at the top; and containing at a few inches from the bottom, a partition made of sheet copper, or any other proper material, and thickly perforated with small holes. On this partition is laid a cloth or web, made of hair or other fit material, and over it is spread the sugar, previously moistened with water or lime-water. The air under the partition is then partially exhausted by means of an air pump, in consequence of which the pressure of the atmosphere, and its passage through the sugar, in CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 192.

order to supply the vacuum, expel the molasses, which passing, through the web and the perforated partition, is conducted by a pipe into a receiver below. The operation of pumping the air con. tinues till the molasses is sufficiently expelled from the sugar. The second method is upon the same principle, only instead of atmospheric pressure, the air is compressed by means of a forcing pump or bellows for the purpose, which avoids the necessity for producing a

vacuum.

It

The original diamond ring of Mary, Queen of Scots, upon which are engraved the arms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, quartered, and which was produced in evidence at the trial of the unfortunate Mary, as a proof of her pretensions to the crown of England, was in the possession of the late Mr. Blachford, one of the lords of the Admiralty, at the time of his death.-The history of this fatal ring is curious. descended from Mary to her grandson Charles I., who gave it, on the scaffold, to Archbishop Juxon, for his son Charles II., who, in his troubles, pledged it in Holland for 300l., where it was bought by Governor Yale, and sold at his sale for 3201, it is supposed for the Pretender. Afterwards it came into possession of the Earl of Ila, Duke of Argyle, and probably from him to the family of Mr. Blachford. At the late sale of his effects, it was said to have been purchased for the Prince Regent.

Mr. McLeod, in his Narrative of a Voyage to the Yellow Sea, lately published, gives the following particulars respect, ing the habits of a Boa Constrictor, which died on board the Cæsar, on the passage to England:-During its stay at Ryswick it is said to have usually consumed a goat every three or four weeks, with occasionally a duck or fowl. The live stock provided for its use during the passage consisted of six goats; five being considered a fair allowance for as many months. At an early period of the voyage one of the goats was thrust into its cage. The piercing cries and agonies of the unfortunate animal were dreadful; yet amidst all his terrors he began instinctively butting at the serpent, who fixing a deadly and malignant eye on his victim, darted out his forked tongue, and seizing the goat by the leg encircled it in his horrid folds. The act was so instantaneous that it was impossible for the eye to follow the convolutions of the serpent's

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body, which was overlaid rather than wound round in such a manner as to add the greatest weight and muscular pressure. The half stifled cries of the goat became fainter and fainter, till the unfortunate animal expired. For a considerable time after this period the snake still retained his hold, till at length, unfolding himself slowly and cautiously, he began to prepare for the repast. Placing his mouth in front of the dead animal, he began lubricating the head, and at length, by means of his two rows of strong hooked teeth and prodigious contractile muscular power, he gradually sucked in the head and horns, and at length the whole body, without separation or mastication. At the end of the operation, which occupied about two hours and a quarter, the terrific animal appeared prodigiously distended, like a serpent's skin stuffed to bursting. The protuberances caused by the goat's horns were very conspi cnous. The serpent now coiled himself up, and lay quietly in his usual torpid state for about three weeks or a month, when his last meal being apparently dissolved, the cruel experiment was repeated with similar results. This animal died on the passage home, between the Cape of Good Hope and St. Helena, and upon dissection appeared to have digested every part of his prey even to the bones, except a part of one of the horns. The facts thus obtained, if correct, are doubtless curious; but no words can be too strong to express the horror of every feeling mind at the cruelty that permitted the experiment.

UNITED STATES.

ASYLUM FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB.

We have recently been favoured with a copy of the First Report of this Institution.-In the year 1815, the Rev. T. H. Gallaudet, a clergyman of the Congregational Church of the United States, visited this country with a view of qualifying himself to become an instructor of the deaf and dumb, of whom it is estimated that there are not less than two thousand in these States. We are grieved and mortified to find that neither in London nor in Edinburgh did he meet with that encouragement which his benevolent purpose merited. He sought in vain, from the conductors of the valuable institutions for the deaf and dumb in those cities, the information which we should previously have assumed with absolute confidence, they

would have been forward to impart. Great Britain has often been reproached by its neighbours with being a selfish nation; and perhaps, in the eager pursuit of commercial advantages, we may have sometimes given ground for the imputation: but the last thing we should have anticipated in the enumeration of our defects, would have been the exercise of a niggardly and exclusive spirit in the adaptation of any benevolent discoveries with which the providence of God might have blessed our happy land to the wants and weaknesses of the universal family of man. We should as soon have expected a churlish refusal of vaccine virus to our Trans-Atlantic brethren from the National Institution for promoting its diffusion, as a moment's doubt or hesitation in communicating to them the blessed art of making the dumb to speak and the deaf to hear.

Disappointed and repulsed in Great Britain, Mr. Gallaudet repaired to Paris, where he met with a very courteous and favourable reception from the Abbé Sicard; and after spending a short time in receiving lessons from that celebrated instructor, he obtained the consent of the Abbé to take with him to America Mr. Laurent Clere, himself deaf and dumb, one of the teachers in the institution of Paris, and well known in London (where in 1814 he passed some time) as a most intelligent pupil of his illustrious master. Mr. Gallandet having procured this important auxiliary, was enabled to return to his native country much sooner than he expected. He arrived there in August, 1816, and immediately visited some of the larger cities, for the purpose of soliciting funds for the formation of an establishment. In a short time, the contributions amounted to nearly 18,000 dollars. An act of the legislature of Connecticut was passed, incorporating the institution, and that body afterwards granted 5000 dollars in aid of its funds. The establishment was opened at Hartford, in Connecticut, on the 15th April, 1817; and on the 1st of June, the date of the Report, it al ready contained twenty pupils. Many of these are of full age, and some of them have expressed much interest in the attempts which have been made, though stated to be as yet very imperfect, to explain to them some of the simplest doctrines of Revelation. We shall have much pleasure in watching the progress of this excellent institution,

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THEOLOGY.

Sermons on the Death of her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte, by the Rev. J. W. Cunningham, M. A. Vicar of Harrow.

C. J. Hoare, M. A. Vicar of Bland-
ford.

E. Craig, B. A. Curate of Watton.
S. Crowther, M. A. Vicar of Christ
Church.

― G. C. Gorham, M. A. of Queen's College, Cambridge.

R. P. Beachcroft, M. A. Rector of
Blunham.

James Rudge, M. A. Rector of
Limehouse.

Thomas Scott, Rector of Aston
Sandford.

Robert Gray, D. D. Rector of
Bishop Wearmonth.

Thomas Chalmers, D. D. Minister
of Glasgow.

H. G. Watkins, Rector of St.
Swithins.

The Trials and Encouragements of the Christian Missionary, a Sermon preached before the Church Missionary Society, Oct. 28, 1817, on Occasion of the Departure of Missionaries to various Parts; by the Rev. J. W. Cunningham, M. A. Vicar of Harrow, &c. 1817.

"To provide a Refuge for the Criminal is to give a Bounty on the Crime."This Principle examined, in its Application to the Guardian Society, and other similar Institutions; in a Sermou preached for the Benefit of that Society, Oct. 25, 1817; by the Rev. J. W. Cunning. ham, M. A. Vicar of Harrow, &c. 1817.

The New Testament of Our Lord Jesus Christ, translated into pure Biblical Hebrew, for the use of the Jews in every part of the world. common-11. 6s. fine.

11. 1s.

Scripture Portraits; or, Biographical Memoirs of the most distinguished Characters recorded in the Old Testament; by the Rev. Robert Stevenson. 2 vols. 12mo. 8s.

A Sermon on Regeneration and Conversion; by John Napleton, D.D. 1s. Two Sermons on the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper; by the Rev. Charles Coleman, M.A. M.R.I.A. 1s.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Personal Observations, made during the Progress of the British Embassy through China, and on its Voyage to and from that Country, in the years 1816 and 1817; by Clark Abel, physician and naturalist to the embassy. 1 vol. 4to. Memoirs on European and Asiatic Turkey, from the manuscript journals of modern travellers in those countries; by Robert Walpole, A.M. With plates. Tour through the Netherlands in 1816-17; by J. Smithers. 8vo. 9s.

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The Code of Agriculture: including Observations on Gardens, Orchards, Woods, and Plantations; by the Right Honourable Sir John Sinclair, Bart. 8vo. Il. 1s.

The Chinese Grammar; by W. Morrison. 4to. 1. 11s. 6d.

An Universal History, in twenty-four Books; translated from the German of John Müller. 3 vols. 8vo.

History of New South Wales; by P. O'Hara, Esq. 8vo. 14s.

A History of Europe, from the Treaty of Amiens, in 1802 to the Pacification of Paris in 1815; by Charles Coote, LL.D. 8vo. 12s.

History of Ancient Europe, from the earliest Times to the Subversion of the Western Empire; with a Survey of the most important Revolutions in Asia and Africa; by Dr. Russell. 3 vols. 8vo.

21. 2s.

A History of Saint Domingo, from its Discovery by Columbus to the present Time.

The Northern Courts; containing Original Memoirs of the Sovereigns of Sweden and Denmark, since 1766, including the extraordinary Vicissitudes of the Lives of the Grandchildren of George the Second; by John Brown, Esq. 2 vols. 8vo. 11. 1s.

Russia, being a complete Picture of that Empire, including a full description of their government, laws, religion, com merce, &c.; byC.G.Hunter, Esq. 10s.6d.

A Table of the Moveable Fasts, Feasts, and Terms; the Cycle of the Sun, Dominical Letter, Golden Number, and Epact for twenty-five Years. 1s. 6d.

Considerations on the Poor-Laws; by John Davison, M. A. Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. Svo. 4s.

An Explanation of the Principles and Proceedings of the Provident Institntion at Bath for Savings; by John Haygarth, M.D. F.R.S. and F.R.S.E.D. one of the Managers.

Reflections on the Blacks and Whites, being Remarks upon a Letter addressed by H. Mazeres, a French Ex-colonist to J. C. L. Sismonde de Sismondi, containing Observations on the Blacks and Whites, the Civilization of Africa, the Kingdom of Haity, &c. Translated from the French of the Baron de Vastey, Knight of the Royal Military Order of St. Henry, Secretary to the King, Member of the Privy Council, &c. By W. H. M. B. 18. 6d.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

UKASE OF THE EMPEROR OF
RUSSIA.

SELDOM have we had occasion to pub.
lish any state paper which has given us
more sincere pleasure than the following
Ukase of the Emperor of Russia, ad-
dressed to the Legislative Synod at
Moscow, dated Moscow, October 27,
1817.

"During my late travels through the provinces I was obliged, to my no small regret, to listen to speeches pronounced by certain of the clergy in different parts, which contained unbecoming praises of me-praises which can only be ascribed unto God. And as I am convinced in the depth of my heart of the Christian truth, that every blessing floweth unto us through our Lord, and Saviour Jesus Christ alone; and that every man, be he who he may, without Christ, is full only of evil; therefore to ascribe unto me the glory of deeds in which the hand of God hath been so evidently manifested before the whole world, is to give unto men that glory which belongeth unto Almighty God alone.

"I account it my duty, therefore, to forbid all such unbecoming expressions of praise, and recommend to the holy Synod to give instructions to all the diocesan bishops that they themselves, and the clergy under them, may, on similar occasions, in future, refrain from all such expressions of praise, so disagreeable to my ears, and that they may render unto the Lord of Hosts alone thanksgivings for the blessings bestowed upon us, and pray for the outpouring of his grace upon all of us; conforming themselves in this matter to the words of Sacred Writ, which requires us to render to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, honour and glory for ever and ever.

"ALEXANDER."

In noticing this valuable document, we shall so far obey its injunction as to refrain from doing more than transiently expressing the strong and favourable opinion it has given us of the just religious views and Christian humility of the imperial author; and shall content ourselves with "rendering unto the Lord of hosts," who alone" tnrneth the hearts of princes," our most earnest and sincere thanksgivings, for having raised

up in the late season of war and infidelity a monarch whose power and influence have been in so many instances employ. ed in a manner eminently conducive to the interests of Christianity and the human race. His conduct, with reference to the Bible Society and other plans of moral and religious utility, has been on many occasions mentioned, and that justly, as an illustrious example for the imitation of his brother potentates throughout Europe; and if Great Bri tain also will condescend to learn a lesson from a foreigner, we think the present document may be of essential service, in teaching us to modify the language of our own occasional state papers, which are in several instances flagrantly marked by the fault which the Emperor of Russia so justly censures. We need not produce examples, but will refer our readers generally to the forms of prayer and thanksgiving which have been issued by public authority for several years past, and of which it is but stating the truth to remark, that courtesy to earthly powers has been often quite as conspicuous as piety and humility towards Him who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. On no occasion ought the language of prayer to be employed as the language of compliment, whether direct or indirect; and it is perhaps as much in this respect as in any other, that, generally speaking, the forms in the Book of Common Prayer are distinguishable from later compositions; though even in the Prayer-book itself some of the occasional services which are of a date subsequent to the rest, are, perhaps, justly liable to a degree of animadversion. We shall not pursue the subject; but shall simply express our hope that the increasing good sense and right feeling of the nation, in matters connected with religion, will banish from our future formularies every thing that may be construed into human adulation, or a spirit of revenge and party; in short, every thing that ought not to be legitimately found in a really sincere and honest address to Him who "searcheth the hearts and trieth the reins," and who "giveth not his glory to another,"

While we are on this subject, we may add, that Maria Louisa, Duchess of Parma, has issued an edict forbidding

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