Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors][merged small]

The extensive collection of the standard weights of foreign countries, which were some time since transmitted to the British Government and compared with English standards, has been lately deposited at the London Mint, for permanent reference. They form a most important national treasure. The experiments were made by Robert Bingley, Esq. the king's assay-master of the mint; and the calculations by Dr. Kelly. Sir Humphrey Davy, in a paper on the cause of the corrosion of copper used for covering the bottoms of ships, has pointed out a method of remedying this evil. The cause, he ascertained, was a weak chemical action, which is constantly exerted between the saline contents of sea-water and the copper. He finds that a very small surface of tin, or other oxidable metal, any where in contact with a large surface of copper, renders it so negatively electrical, that sea-water has no action upon it; and a little mass of tin brought even in communication by a wire with a large plate of copper, entirely preserves it. By the desire of the Lords of the Admiralty, he is now bringing this discovery to practice on ships of war.

At a late meeting of the Bristol Philosophical and Literary Society, the Rev. W. D. Conybeare communicated information he had received from Professor Buckland, of the recent discovery of the fossil skeleton of a most remarkable animal, somewhat resembling the Ichthyosaurus, but distinguished by the extreme length of its neck, which consists of about forty vertebræ, and which would enable the living animal to extend its head to its tail. The length of the whole is about five feet. It will be recollected that, on the return of Captain Ross from Baffin's Bay, much surprise was excited by the account of the red snow (as it was called) which covers some of the snow mountains near the coast in those high latitudes. "It is a little remarkable," says a recent traveller in Switzerland, "that it should have escaped public attention at the time, that the same phenomenon occurs every year in the Alps, though at a season when it is not often exposed to the view of travellers. Several persons informed me that they had seen this red snow, and, on referring to Saussure, I find he has given a very full account of it, as occurring in Mont Breven, and on the great St. Bernard. Saussure was inclined to believe that the red pow

der was the pollen of some alpine plant; but it is a subject still involved in obscurity, as there is no plant known in Switzerland which yields such a powder."

A very interesting communication was lately read before the Royal Society of Literature; namely, Observations on the River Euphrates, by Sir William Ouseley. In journeying from Persia to Constantinople, through Armenia, Sir William stopped on the Euphrates at Satan's Valley (so called from abounding in scorpions and noxious creatures), a spot of verdure and beauty. Here he swam across the river, and found it to be from three to six feet in depth, broad, winding, and rapid, over a stony and rugged bed. During his travels along its channel, especially during the last twenty, or seventy miles, he remarked that it flowed between steep rocky banks, finely clothed with wood, and displaying such willow trees as are mentioned in that melancholy strain of the Hebrew captives, in which they describe their griefs, suspending their harps, and weeping while they thought on Jerusalem. In its course, the river utters a loud and hollow noise; the effect of which is increased by the silence prevailing around. The Euphrates} was styled "Great" by ancient authors, and also emphatically "The River," (Hebrew Book of Joshua, Greek Apocalypse of St. John, Lucan, &c.); and several of its appellations serve to mark it as consisting of several streams, and having been cut into artificial canals. The etymology of the word Euphrates is unknown. Sir W. Ouseley directed his inquiry towards the source of the river in Armenia, and endeavoured to ascertain what name it had borne and continued to bear in that region. The highest period at which he could arrive was the fifth century, when Moses of Chorene, in his History of Armenia, calls it Ephrat, or Efrat; very slightly differing from the Greek. At the present day, many Armenians and Turks upon its banks, pronounce it as written in Arabic, Frát, or Forát, sometimes softened into Forád, and sometimes with the first letter changed into a mingled sound of M and V. The concluding portion of the essay related to the site of the terrestrial paradise, of which the four rivers were, the Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel, and Phrath, of Moses. There are a multitude of hypotheses on this point, of which we instance a few:1st, The Garden of Eden existed between that place where the Euphrates and Tigris unite their streams, and the spot where now stands the city of Basrah. [Huet, Bishop of Avranches;

Dr. Wells; &c. &c.] 2. In Armenia, among the fountains of the four rivers, Phasis, Araxis, Tigris, and Euphrates. [Reland's Dissert. de Parad. Terrest. &c.] 3. Near a town called Edneissar (in lat. 41, and between 72 and 73 long.), at the foot of the mountain on which has been erected the city of Mardin.-[Father Angelo, who travelled in Asia between the years 1661 and 1678, and describes this situation, as being called in Turkish "the thousand fountains;" whence, says he, issue the four rivers, Tigris, Euphrates, Kouksou, or Bluewater, and Nahar-gilics, or Sword-river; which two latter, equivalent to the Gihon and Pison, fall respectively into the two former.] 4. In the territory of Canaan, Palestine, or the Holy Land. 5. Near Damascus in Syria. 6. On the tract now covered by the Caspian Sea. 7. In Egypt. 8. In the Island of Ceylon, or Serandib.

Besides these various conjectures, each of which has had its advocates. it has been maintained by others, that the terrestrial paradise was on the banks of the Ganges, under the equator in Africa, in Europe, and even in America. And even beyond this, Huet tells us, "There have been some who would place paradise in the third or fourth heaven; in the heaven of the moon; in the moon itself; in a mountain adjoining the lunar heaven; in the middle region of the air," &c. The Mohammedans confound it with their bowers of bliss; and the Jewish Rabbis have held that it reached to the seventh heaven, where the four rivers were of milk, wine, balsam, and honey. Sir W. Ouseley, with all his learning and intelligence, does not presume to determine which is right.

It appears from the Reports of the National Vaccine Board, that the applications for lymph have been more than usually numerous. Since the last Report, lymph had been dispatched to the East and West Indies, to Ceylon, to the Cape of Good Hope, the island of Mauritius, the coast of Africa, New South Wales, and to France and Italy, &c. The Report states, that it has been distributed in this kingdom with great success, "for the smallpox has prevailed as an epidemic with more than ordinary malignity in various parts of this island lately, and has committed great ravages in those districts where it found victims unprotected against it by a previous process. The advantages of vaccination in places subject to these severe visitations have been confessedly decisive and remarkable; those who had used this

resource being observed to remain gene rally unhurt in the midst of danger; and if there were any whom the contagion was able to infect, these were remarked, almost universally, to have the disease in that mitigated form which is not attended with danger." The total number vaccinated from 1818 to 1822 in the United Kingdom (excepting the capital) is 327,521 ; and the total by the stationary vaccinators for the same time, 34,275. In 1821 there were 90,000 persons vaccinated in Ceylon; 20,149 in the presidency of Fort William, and 22,478 in that of Bombay.

The Common Council of London have resolved to place in their court a marble bust of that eminent patriot, philanthropist, scholar, and Christian, Granville Sharp. GERMANY.

The number of students at the university of Tubingen amounts to 789, distributed into different departments of instruction, as follows:-Protestant theology, 189; Catholic theology, 66; jurisprudence, 154; medicine and chirurgery, 110; philosophy, 196; principles of legislation and government, 74. The King, who had already founded certain prizes to stimulate the students, remarking the neglect of pulpit eloquence, has recently created two new prizes for its encouragement; one in Protestant, and the other in Catholic, theology.

SWITZERLAND.

TheGovernment presiding in the canton of the Valais are prosecuting with diligence the repairs of the grand route of Le Simplon, throughout the parts where it crosses their territory. Its extremities, on the side of Piedmont call loudly for reparations and finishing works.

Since last winter, the condition of the Monks of St. Bernard has been greatly ameliorated. These men, so useful to the traveller in the bleak and dangerous regions, were accustomed to pass the winter in cells, in which the thermometer of Reaumur was sometimes as low as fifteen degrees below zero. We are happy, however, to learn that the subscription set on foot for their relief has provided the means of warming their inclement retreat with stoves and pipes; so that their winter residence will in future be very tolerable.

SWEDEN.

In the Royal Library at Stockholm is a remarkable manuscript, entitled the Codex Giganteus, or the Giant. It was brought away from a Benedictine monastery at Prague, in the thirty years' war. In height it rises to about two Swedish

ells, with a proportionable breadth. Besides the Latin Vulgate, it contains a collection of Jewish antiquities, by Josephus, Isidorus, and others; as also the Comes Prayensis, and Chronicon Bohemiæ; together with a Treatise on Magic, accompanied with a coloured figure of the devil.

RUSSIA.

The university of Moscow has proposed the following subject for a prize competition: The Florentine copy of Justinian's Pandects is considered as the most correct and ancient of all. at present known in Europe; the others being for the most part transcripts of it. It is proposed, therefore, to trace the means and course of its arrival at Florence, which has been a litigated point among the learned. The prize is 250 roubles. The essay is to be in Russian, Latin, French, or German, and is to be sent in by April 1825. GREECE.

In the island of Scio, the remains of the population, not discouraged by their afflicting circumstances, are zealously promoting the publication of the ancient Greek classics, under the direction of M. Coray, who is considered as the patriarch of ancient and modern Greek literature. In the Anthology of Florence, appears a letter from a Greek correspondent, detailing the prosperous state of the island previous to its vicissitudes:-a population of 100,000 souls; a public library, enriched with 12,000 volumes; schools of literature, philosophy, and the sciences; a printingoffice; and various other establishments of a benevolent and enlightened description. It was likely to become a sort of capital of Greek learning. The population is now reduced to 8000; their sufferings arising from no other cause than endeavouring to put themselves on a level. with civilized nations, in the cultivation of useful and tranquil studies.

SYRIA.

A stratum of coal, of considerable thickness, it is said, has been discovered in Syria, a few miles inland from the coast; and a pit opened, from which the Pacha of Egypt is preparing to draw supplies for the steam-boats which he is intending to employ on the Nile and its branches.

SIERRA LEONE.

An Agricultural Society has been established at Sierra Leone; and an extensive tract of land, in the province of Hastings, is devoted to experiments, with cotton, ginger, pepper, and indigo, which grow wild.

The roads opened into the interior have conducted native trader to Free

town; and, instead of cofilahs of slaves, caravans of gold merchants now visit that place. One of the richest ever known in the colony lately arrived from Melicouri, and the trade with the interior increases daily. The number of stone houses in Freetown is 107, and twelve more are in progress.

INDIA.

A Missionary in India gives the following illustration of the debased and superstitious character of the native mind, even among the more intelligent classes :

The son of the expounder of Hindoo law in Burdwan came to me, accompanied by another Brahmin who highly extolled his learning. In the course of the conversation I told him, that I could not possibly conceive how men of learning could degrade themselves so much as to prostrate themselves before cows; and, lying upon their faces, pay divine worship to these beasts. He replied, that cows were. worthy of such honour because they were sprung from a deity. I said, But you see that man's excellency consists chiefly in his reasonable soul, but a cow is entirely devoid of reason: what difference is there then between cows and other beasts?' Hereupon he exclaimed, No! highly venerable, highly venerable are the cows! their want of reason excepted, they are, in every other respect, the representatives of God:' and then he proceeded, with the most fervent zeal, to ascribe to cows a far greater value than he could put upon himself. One of our school-boys, who had been present at this conversatron, said, after they were gone-' It is really the case, that the people esteem the cows so highly; for if a man of a moral character dies, they are used to say, 'Oh! what a good man he was! He was as virtuous as a cow.'"

[ocr errors]

The Diana steam-boat, built at Kidderpore, near Calcutta, was launched on the 12th of July last; and on the same day made, on the Ganges, between Calcutta and Chinsurah, the first trip ever performed in India by the aid of steam. As the vessel passed up, the banks of the river were crowded with natives, gazing with wonder on this novel scene. A vessel stemming a furious tide, without the aid of oar or sail, and sending forth from a black column, standing in the usual place of a mast, a volume of smoke, was a sight on which they could not gaze without silent amazement, or loud expressions of astonishment, utterly unable as they were to divine the power by which the vessel was impelled with such velocity.

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THEOLOGY.

Observations on the Religious Peculiarities of the Society of Friends; by Joseph John Gurney.

Christian Philosophy; or an Attempt to display by Internal Testimony the Evidence and Excellence of Revealed Religion; by the late Vicesimus Knox, D.D. Svo. 9s.

The Object of Revelation, the present as well as eternal Happiness of those to whom it is addressed.

A Sermon on Gaming, occasioned by recent deplorable Events; by the Rev. J. L. Chirol, A. M.

The Aged Pilgrim's Triumph; a Series of unpublished Letters; by the Rev. J. Newton. 4s. 6d.

A Dissertation on Slavery under the Levitical Law, and among the Hebrews, till the Coming of Christ; by the Rev. B. Bailey, M. A.

Christianity against Deism, Materialism, and Atheism; by R. Hindmarsh. Is. The Three Capital Offences of the Church of Rome; the Sale of Indulgences, the Murder of Heretics, and the Deposition of Princes; by Rusticus.

A Selection of Two Hundred Revised Prayers, for Family Devotion, exclusively from Works of Divines of the Established Church; by Rev. John Sheppard, M. A. in ten monthly Numbers, 6d. each.

Bishop Heber's Missionary Hymn, set to Music for Voices, and the Organ or Piano Forte; by the Rev. W. H. Havergal, A. M. 2s. 6d. The profits will be given to the Church Missionary Society.

Remarks on Dr. Henderson's Appeal to the Members of the British and Foreign Bible Society, on the Subject of the Turkish New Testament; by Professor Lee of Cambridge.

A Discourse on Edification; by the Rev. C. Davy. 2s. 6d.

A Speech delivered before the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr, in the Case of Principal M'Farlane, on the Subject of Pluralities, by T. Chalmers, D.D.; with a Preface by Dr. Macgill. 6d.

An Appeal on the Subject of Church Patronage in Scotland, with a Plan for its Amendment.

Tactica Sacra; an Attempt to exhibit by tabular Arrangements, a general Rule of Composition prevailing in the Holy Scriptures; by the Rev. T. Boys, A. M. 4to.

10s. 6d.

The History of the Jews, from their Origin to their Dispersion, with Notes; by M. Mayers.

The Anti-Slavery Magazine, and Recorder of the Progress of Christianity in Countries connected with Slavery, published monthly. 3d.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Pompeiana; by Sir W. Gell and J. P. Gandy. 2 vols. 8vo. with 100 engravings. 61. 6s.

Essays on Belles Lettres; by D. Scott, M.D. 12mo. 7s.

Peace and War, an Essay, in two parts. 8vo. 2s. 6d.

Baynes's General Catalogue of Books in all Languages, for 1824.

Memoirs of Amos Green, written by his late Widow. To which are prefixed, Suggestions on Christian Education, &c. with a portrait. 8vo. 10s. 6d.

Secret Memoirs of the Court of Louis XIV. and of the Regency. 8vo. 14s. The Life of Salvator Rosa; by Lady Morgan. 2 vols. 28s.

A Praxis on the Latin Prepositions; by Sam. Butler, D.D. 7s. 6d.

History of the Darker Ages; by C. Chatfield. 8vo. 7s. 6d.

Memoirs of the Court of Henry the Great. 2 vols. 1. 4s.

The Character of the Russians; by R. Lyall, M. D. 4to. 4. 4s.

Sicily and its Islands; by Capt. W. H. Smyth, R. N. 4to. 2. 12s. 6d.

The Civil and Literary Chronology of Greece; by H. F. Clinton, M. A. 4to. 22s.

Letters to an Attorney's Clerk; containing Directions for his Studies and general Conduct; by W. H. Buckland. Fcap. 8vo. 7s.

Remarks on the Folly of Gambling; by J. Hawkshead. Svo. Ils.

Memorials of Columbus; now first published from the original MSS. 8vo. 18s.

Batavian Anthology, or Specimens of the Dutch Poets; by J. Bowring, and L. H. S. Van Dyk. Foolsc. 8vo. 7s. 6d.

The Fifth Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline, and the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders, 1823. 8vo. 5s.

An Address on the State of Slavery in the West-India Islands, from the Committee of the Leicester Auxiliary AntiSlavery Society. 8vo. 1s.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

CEYLONESE SUPERSTITIONS. A MISSIONARY, lately returned from Ceylon, has drawn up the following account of the superstitious worship which prevails in that island. Every such concurring testimony to the debased and awful nature of the faith and ritual of heathenism, adds a new claim upon the sympathies and zealous assistance of Christians to diffuse around the world the knowledge of the one true God, and of Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.

"In Ceylon, there exist at least five systems of heathen idolatry-Brahminism, Buddhism, Capoism, Baliism, and Yakadurism. A minute description of these different forms of idolatry, the nature and tendency of the ceremonies connected with them, and the demoralizing effects which they severally have upon the native inhabitants, would excite the deepest sympathies in behalf of these benighted heathens.

"The literal meaning of Yakadurism' is, the expulsion of devils;' but when the whole round of its ceremonies is considered, it properly means the 'worship of devils.'

"Whether such a form of idolatry does really exist in any part of the heathen world, has, I am aware, been called in question. That people, at a distance from the spot where such scenes are practised, should entertain doubts, is not to be wondered at; for, on the first annunciation of so deplorable a fact as that of the devil being worshipped, the thing appears altogether so shocking, that very strong testimonies are required to make such a relation of human woe at all credible. But this paper will be filled up with a statement of a few facts, collected by one who has been many years resident in the country, and has availed himself of every means of information on the subject; and, for the purpose of satisfying his own mind, has often done violence to his feelings, by being present on occasions when these horrid ceremonies have been performed: and it is hoped that a testimony of this kind will give additional weight to similar statements, which have been often made in missionary and other communications from that part of the world.

"Therefore I now state, and I wish it to be heard in every corner of the Chris

tian world, that the devil is regularly' systematically, and ceremoniously worshipped by a large majority of the native inhabitants of the island of Ceylon!

"The established, heathenism of this island is Buddhism, which both condemns and prohibits the worship of devils: at the same time, the essential principles of Buddhism are such as open the way for the introduction and establishment of the degrading notions which have established this species of satanic adoration in this country. Buddhu was an atheist, in the most absolute sense of the word: his` writings, or, more properly, the writings of his learned followers, which are very voluminous, exhibit a most complete and sophistical system of atheism. In these writings, the eternity of matter is asserted -the existence of a Creator is unequivocally denied—every idea of the existence of one Eternal Almighty God, the maker and upholder of all things, is banished from the minds of the reflecting Buddhists: they are truly left in the state described by the Apostle-without God in the world. They have no⚫ Universal Father' no Divine Superintending Power: the world has no moral and righteous Governor; and, consequently, no final Judge! It is an awful fact, that, in every part of the world where Buddhism has established its atheistical influence, the inhabitants are left to the uncontrolled dominion of the devil! And in such regions, presenting so few obstacles to the usurpations of the grand adversary of mankind, Satan has established his throne-usurped universal empire-legislated for his own dominions-dictated the form of his own government-and prescribed the religious ceremonies (if such words can be used) that are most congenial to his own mind!

"It is an humiliating fact, that, while Buddhism has made so many successful efforts to erase from the minds of men all ideas of the existence of a God, their writings every where abound with accounts of the devil: for during the three hundred and fifty transmigrations of Buddhu in the different bodies which he assumed, the existence of the devil is acknowledged, and Buddhu meets him at every turn as his grand and chief adversary; and a mative painting, made in the Burman empire, is now by me, representing Buddhu's

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »