prived by accident, disease, enfeebled faculties, or declining life, of the power of literary exertion."

"The objects of the Fund include a very extensive class. It is unquestionable, that in the present age some branches of Literature have obtained signal remuneration. But its graver provinces are still but a barren inheritance; while works of imagination are munificently encouraged, all that vast and -lofty region which belongs to Science and Learning is comparatively unproductive. The Philosopher, the Mathematician, the Classical Scholar, the Divine, stand but on the verge of that opulent stream which swells round the more favoured Literature. "Many of the applicants are members of the leading professions, holding, in earlier life, considerable rank in the public eye, and cast down from the fairest prospects of competence and honour by irresistible calamities. Many are still more painfully entitled to assistance; females known as authors, or the destitute widows and orphans of men of ability and virtue.

All suppression of names, and of circumstances which might lead to names, is obviously essential.

"The state of the Society's finances will be best understood from a slight notice of its history.

"The first suggestion of the Literary Fund is due to the late Mr. David Williams, who brought forward the subject so early as the year 1773. The death of a learned individual, Floyer Sydenham, under peculiarly afflicting circumstances, in 1788, gave additional interest to his plan. A private subscription was collected, the public attention was drawn by an appeal from the founder's pen, and in 1790 the first annual festival was held, and the Institution fairly took its place amongst the most distinguished instruments of public benevolence.

"In 1797 a Permanent Fund was formed, and a beginning was thus made for securing the Institution against future casualty. In 1803 its claims were introduced, by the late excellent Earl of Chichester, to the notice of His present Majesty, then Prince of Wales, by whose munificent patronage it was immediately adopted, established in a house, and has continued to be sustained and honoured.

"The distinction of his Royal Highness's patronage was followed by an eyent of striking interest-the legacy of Thomas Newton, the last representative of the great philosopher. On hearing the statements of the Society, he exclaimed, with justified enthusiasm: This is the Institution for the Representative of Newton,' and bequeathed his estate to the Literary Fund.

A CHARTER was now judged necessary, and after experiencing considerable difficulties, which were combated by the intelligent and zealous perseverance of Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, to whose services the Society

has been deeply indebted since his first coa nexion with it; this instrument, so important to its consolidation and permanency, was in the year 1818 obtained.

"It is not the purpose of the Literary Fund to reward able authorship, which should look for its reward to the Nation; nor to encourage bad authorship, nor to sustain the idle, nor to indulge the profigate; but to interpose, as far as it may, between the meritorious and those calamities against which no rank of merit can be always a security; to lift up the honourable and cultivated mind crushed by misfortunes that defy human prudence; to save those from falling whose fall would be a scandal to the literary honour of the country; to help those who cannot help themselves; to save the half ruined from being wholly ruined; to prevent casual poverty from being de graded into desperate privation; sicknessfrom being turned into death; and, where death is inevitable, to soften the dying hour, by the feeling that the widow and orphan of the man of genius will not be cast loose to the bitter chances of the world.

"Since its commencement in the year 1790, the Literary Fund has distributed no less a sum than 12,000l. among upwards of one thousand cases; some of them of a remarkable nature, and in which the result of the relief was immediate and public. But the few instances which may have thus escaped into observation, can furnish no estimate of the actual extent of service. How vast a mass of lonely misery the bounty of the Fund may have lightened, or even extinguished; how many sinking spirits it has cheered to new exertions; what sickbeds it has made the beds of health; what years of helpless decay it has made years of comparative comfort; what agonies of mind among a class of men whom the habits of their whole lives, their education, and intelligeuce, render most vulnerable in the mind, have been healed; must be beyond human record but they will not be forgotten where it is most important for men, and even for Institutions, that they should be remembered."

LONDON UNIVETSITY.

April 30. This ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of this University took place. The spot which has been selected for the building is situated at the end of Gower-street, and comprehends a very extensive piece of ground, which is enclosed by paling. Gower-street and the adjacent streets were this day crowded with passengers and carriages moving towards the place. At a quarter past three o'clock, the Duke of Sussex arrived upon the ground. In about ten minutes afterwards the Royal Duke, attended by the committee and stewwards, went in procession to the platform, upon which the foundation-stone was depo

sited. The stone had been cut exactly in two, and in the lower half there was formed a rectangular hollow, in which the medals, coins, &c. were to be placed. The architect then read the following inscription engraved upon the copper-plate which was to be placed inside the stone:

"Deo Opt. Max. Sempiterno Orbis Architecto Favente, quod Felix Faustumque sit Octavum Regni Annum Ineunte GEORGIO Quarto Britanniarum Rege, celsissimus Princeps AUGUSTUS FREDERICUS SUSSEXIE Dux, Omnium Bonarum Artium Patronus, Antiquissimi Ordinis Architectonici Præses apud Anglos summus, primum Londinensis Academiæ Lapidem, inter Civium et Fra trum circumstantium Plausus Mauu sua

locavit Prid. Kal. Maii. Opus diu multum que desideratum Urbi Patriæ commodissimum tandem aliquando inchoatum est Anno

Salutis Humanæ MDCCCXXVII. Anuo Lucis Nostræ MMMMMDCCCXXVII. Nomina Clarissimorum Virorum qui sunt e Concilio, Henricus Dux Norfolciæ, Henricus Marchio de Lansdowne, Dominus Johannes Russell, Johannes Vicecomes Dudley et Ward, Geor-. gius Baro de Auckland, Honorabilis Jac. Abercrombie, Jacobus Mackintosh, Eques, Alexander Baring, Henricus Brougham, Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, Georgius Grote, Zac. Macaulay, Benjaminus Shaw, Gulielmus Tooke, Henricus Waymouth, Georgius Birkbeck, Thomas Campbell, Olinthus Gregory, Josephus Hume, Jacobus Mill, Johannes Smith, Henricus Warburton, Johannes Whishaw, Thomas Wilson; Gulielmus Wilkins, Architectus."

The upper part of the stone was then gradually raised by the help of pullies, and the Duke of Sussex having received the coins, medals, and inscription, deposited them in the hollow formed for their reception. On the golden trowel, with which the mortar was laid, was inscribed the following words:"With this trowel was laid the first stone of the London University, by his Royal Highness Augustus Duke of Sussex, on the 30th of April, 1827. Win. Wilkins, architect; Messrs. Lee and Co. builders."

Amongst the company present, werethe Duke of Norfolk, Earl of Carnarvon, Lord Auckland, Sir Robt. Wilson, Mr. John Smith, M.P., Mr. Brougham, M.P., Dr. Lushington, M.P., Mr.Watson Taylor, M.P. the Hon. Captain Dundas, the Hon. Douglas Kinnaird, Colonel Jones, Mr. Alderman Venables, &c.

The mallet used in the above ceremony, was the one used in laying the first stone of St. Paul's Cathedral, and presented by its great architect, Sir Christopher Wren, to the Masonic Lodge of Antiquity, of which he was a member.

INTERLINEAL TRANSLATIONS.

At the Philosophical and Literary Society of Bristol, May 17, the Rev. Mr. Éden read a paper on Translations from the Learned

Languages. He particularly dwelt on the utility and advantages of interlineal translations, in conveying the true sense of an author, and facilitating the acquisition of a language. His reasons for considering our most popular translations, those in rhyme especially, as but ill calculated to give just and accurate ideas of the originals, appeared to be extremely well founded.

Previous to the reading of the Rev. Mr. E.'s Essay, some observations on Literal Translations were read by Dr. PRICHARD, who introduced to the notice of the meeting a curious specimen of an Interlineary Literal Translation of the Scriptures, by Xantis Pagnini, published as early as the year 1528, at Lyons, in France. The volume which Dr. P. laid on the table was printed in the year 1584. It was calculated to show at how early a period that method had been resorted to as a means of facilitating the acquisition of the dead languages. The work consisted of the Old Testament in Hebrew, and the New, in Greek, with an Interlineary Translation in Latin to each. "I may observe," said the Dr." that although this translation of Pagnini's obtained great celebrity, it has shared the same fate to which a diversity of opinion condemns all literary productions; and by some of the most learned men it has been treated with strong censure."

NORTH WEST EXPEDITION.

The

Letters have been received at the Admiralty from Captain Beechey, of the Blossom frigate, which detail the particulars of the voyage of that ship into Behring's Straits. It appears the vessel arrived in the harbour of St. Peter and St. Paul, in Kamtschatka, in June last, and there learnt of the failure of Captain Parry's expedition; and after refitting and taking in such stores as could be procured, sailed to the northward. Blossom entered Kotzebu's Inlet, and then proceeded to Behring's Straits, and reached the latitude of 72.30., when all further progress was put an end to, by an impenetrable barrier of fixed ice, which extended in an entire mass as far as the eye could reach. After several fruitless attempts, and remaining as long as it was prudent, Capt. Beechy returned, and again entered Kotzebu's Inlet, the shores of which are represented as having a most inhospitable and dreary appearance. They had several interviews along the coast with the natives, but could not from them, or by any other means, obtain the least information of Captain Franklin or any of his party, who, it was understood, were to proceed in the course of last summer from the mouth of the Mackenzie river to the westward, in the hope of being able to reach some part of the coast in the neighbourhood of Icy Cape or Kotzebu's Inlet. The officers and men were all well, but the ship had suffered some damage from the pressure of the ice.

THE BRUCE MANUSCRIPTS. The fine collection of Ethiopic, Arabic, and other Oriental manuscripts obtained by Bruce, the celebrated traveller in Egypt and Abyssinia, (an account of which was given in vol. xcv. ii. p. 66) have been brought to the hammer, by Mr. Christie. They consisted of nearly 100 volumes. Among the Biblical manuscripts was an Ethiopian version of the Old Testament, in 5 vols. containing the whole of the sacred books, except the Psalms, made from manuscripts used by the Greek church at Alexandria, ata remote, but unknown period. This copy is considered unique. Each page is divided into three columns, and the manuscript has a considerable number of marginal variations. It is written on vellum, in very clear and beautiful characters. It includes the book of Enoch, which was first brought into Europe by Mr. Bruce. The three copies of it, originally belonging to him (one of which is at Paris, and another at Oxford), are all that are known to exist of it on our Continent. There are also in this collection two copies of the four Gospels, in Ethiopic; and the Epistles and Acts of the Apostles, in two volumes, on vellum. The Constitution of the Apostles, or a Collection of the Canons made by the first General Council (which is the Statute Book of the Church of Abyssinia), in one volume; and the Synaxar, or History of the Saints venerated in Abyssinia, in four large volumes. Among the historical manuscripts is the celebrated Chronicle of Axum, on vellum, in double columns. It professes to have been compiled from materials or records found by Damatious (Damascus), Bishop of Rome, in the Church of St. Sophia, and read at the first council of Nice to the 318 Fathers assembled there.-There were also a variety of Arabic MSS. relating to the histories of Syria and Egypt, and the conquest of Spain by the Saracens; a Topographical Description of Egypt, the Course of the Nile, &c.; several works on Medicine

and Natural History; and an unique Coptic MS. on papyrus, said to have been found in the ruins near Thebes, in the former residence of some Egyptian monks. It contains 76 leaves, in small folio, of papyrus, of a dun colour, and exceedingly brittle. The character is neat, of the uncial kind, and, consequently all in capitals, without points or spaces. This manuscript is supposed to have been composed in the 2d, or the beginning of the 3d, century. It was brought from Scotland by Mr. Bruce, for the purpose of its being inspected by Dr. Woide, whom he permitted to copy it. Mr. Christie, on introducing this extraordinary collection to the notice of the company, observed, that if Europe derived no other benefit from the travels of Bruce, she had been greatly enriched by his labours in obtaining these valuable MSS. which ought to be purchased by the nation. There were several booksellers and literary men present, but no advance was made upon the sum at which the collection was put up on behalf of the proprietor-viz. 5,500l.

GERMAN LITERATURE.

In Germany, among the unaccountable number of non-political journals, there appear at this time-a morning-a mid-day-an evening--and a mid-night Gazette. The latter, so far from being sleepy, is the most lively and spirited of them all; being edited by the celebrated poet Müllner. There is also announced as nearly ready for publication, at Berlin, the Fool's Gazette (die Narrenzeitung), to appear three times a week, for the benefit of every description of fools.-Professor Beck states, from an authentic account lately published, that from 1814 to 1826 there have been printed in France 33,774 books, and in Germany, within the same period, 50,303. The University of Gottingen counts at present 1460 students, of whom 352 study theology, 652 the law, 284 medicine, and 172 the philosophical sciences. The University of Munich had on the 23d of December last 1342 students.

SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES.

April 23. The annual Election of Officers took place, when the Earl of Aberdeen was re-elected President; and James Heywood Markland, Esq. F.R.S. was elected Director, in the room of W. R. Hamilton, Esq. F.R.S. promoted to be one of the Vice-Presidents. The Society afterwards dined together at the Freemasons' Tavern, the President in the Chair.

May 3. The President in the Chair. The President's appointment of William Hamilton, Esq. F.R.S. as his Deputy, was read.

A communication was read from the Rev. J. Hunter, F.S.A., addressed to Mr. Ellis, enclosing an original letter from Lenthall, the Speaker of the House of Commons, to Sir Thomas Fairfax, respecting Col. Hammond's government of the Isle of Wight, and charge of Charles I. in Carisbrook Castle. It was formerly in the hands of the historian Rushworth, and is adlluded to in his "Collections."

The reading of Dr. Meyrick's notices from Military writers on Hand Fire-arms was continued. The portion of this paper now read, related to the Tricker-lock, the Fire-lock, the Self-loading gun, the Musket

arrow, the Match-box, the Fancy-gun, and some other subjects. Musket-arrows were arrows discharged from muskets, especially used in naval warfare. The Match-box was invented by one of the Princes of Orange: it consisted of a metallic tube, in which the burning match was placed, perforated with small holes so as to admit the air, but prevent the light of the match from betraying the troops to the enemy, in the night.

May 10. Henry Hallam, Esq. V.P. in the

A communication was read from the Rev. Thos. Rackett, F. R. S. and S. A. accompa nying the exhibition of five pieces of ancient sculpture in stone recently purchased in France. Three of these relics of antiquity were bought at a village in France, on the borders of Flanders, to the Church of which they are supposed formerly to have belonged. They are superior in execution, however, to the dry style of the Flemish sculptors, and were probably the work of an Italian artist. One of them, representing Christ bearing the Cross, strongly resembles in the arrangement of the subject, the celebrated altar-piece at Magdalen College, Oxford, though it was certainly executed anterior to that picture. The other two of this series represent, respectively, the Resurrection of Jesus, and the Adoration of the Shepherds. They were formerly painted in oil-colours and gilt, and furnish an additional proof that the art of painting in oil was known before the time of Van Eyck. The subjects of the remaining two sculptures, are, Moses striking the rock, and the Presentation in the Temple. They once formed part of the Abbey of St. Bertha at St. Omers, and were obtained at Dunkirk.

Mr. Ellis, in a letter addressed to the President, communicated a transcript of a manuscript by Sir Gilbert Talbot, Master of

SELECT

THE DUKE OF YORK'S MONUMENT. By W. HERSEE.

"There never was a charaeter, in this or any other country, that merited better than that of his Royal Highness, that his memory should be conveyed to posterity with respect."-DUKE OF WELLINGTON. WHY would ye raise a monumental fame? Is love the offspring of the sculptor's hand?

the Jewel-house in the reign of Charles II. giving a detailed account of the duties, privileges, fees, and perquisites of that office. May 24. Henry Hallam, Esq. V.P. in the Chair.

A communication was read on the Progresses of King John.

OPENING OF A MUMMY.

Paris, April 26.-The opening of the mummy which makes part of the collection of Egyptian antiquities which M. Passalacqua has just sold to the King of Prussia, took place to-day in the grand hall of the Sorbonne. After the removal of the outer envelope, composed of linen, hardened with animal glue, the whole of the body was found wrapped with bandages, which had completely kept their forms; these bandages unrolled, laid open a second set of envelopes of brown linen, impregnated with a strong aromatic bituminous odour, and adhering, in a great degree, one to another. At length, on the removal of these, the body was discovered, with the hands joined, the position ordinarily observed in the embalming of young females. Between the knees were two small rolls of papyrus, in perfect preservation. Beside these rolls was a kind of little bag, wrapped up in bandages, like the mummy itself, in which it was hoped that something curious and important would be discovered; but it contained nothing but grains of wheat, a number of which had germinated. The chest was covered with an inscription on papyrus, which could neither be removed nor read, which is so much the more to be regretted, as it was from that papyrus that the most important discoveries were expected. The last thing examined was the cranium, which it was thought would be filled with bits of linen and bitumen, as in other mummies, but it was empty. The head was furnished with flaxen-coloured hair, in perfect preservation; and as the whole of the teeth were found complete and very small, it was naturally concluded that the person must have been a young man. The inscriptions found on the envelope, and the circumstances observed in the opening, prove that this mummy was one of a priest of Isis, who had died in his 30th year.

POETRY.

Can silent stone give honour to his name
Beyond the praises of his native land?
A grateful people knew his living worth,
Prov'd and regarded through a length of
years-

And when he clos'd his eyes upon the earth,
They freely gave their tributary tears.
And what more pow'rful eloquence can
speak?
[tains crave?

What more than this would even chief

What more would Honour or would Virtue seek,

Than love in life, and tears upon the grave? Yet raise the monument-and thus record

Truth's noblest lesson for all future days That, of all gifts, a Prince's best rewardLiving or dying, is—a Nation's praise! Let not the marble's purity be taught

To speak in flattery of the royal dead: Tell not of battles that he never foughtNor place the crown of falsehood on his head!

Where was his greatness? Has there never

been

A nobler prince beneath the smiling sun? In ages past has England never seen

A Chief who more resplendent honours won?

Was he renown'd for eloquence of speechAnd did the senate echo with his voice? Did his mind soar beyond the common reach? Did raptur'd hearers listen and rejoice? Are there not living princes, chiefs, and men, With greater pow'rs than FREDERICK e'er possess'd?

Yes-and the country knows it!—Aim not, then,

To make his monument a nation's jest! Yet raise the marble to an honour'd name— And let the artist all his aid impart; That future ages may behold the fame A Prince may gain by virtues of the heart!

Let sculptur'd Truth and Friendship inter[praise,

twine

O'er the fair tablet that shall speak his And there, with Justice, gracefully combine To crown the statue with unfading bays. Beneath where this exalted group appears, There let a meek assemblage lowly bend, Paying the tribute of their grateful tears

To him-the Widow's and the Orphan's friend!

What nobler tribute, if it be but just ?

Can laurels give more honour to the brave? When princes mingle with their kindred dust,

What purer incense for the royal grave? With all the candour of a soldier's heart, Well did the Chief his dignity maintain; And, when his pow'r a blessing could impart,

To him did merit never plead in vain! Then let this simple record mark the spot : "His country dedicates this sacred stone To him whose virtues ne'er can be forgot While truth shall speak in Nature's nuine tone."

MODERN COURTSHIP.

ge

Conceitedly answer'd she would try her best. "Bonnie Doon" was so old, with its tune she was tir'd,

But she'd warble a song which was now much admir'd.

Then flying with speed to a neighbouring rill,

To dip in its waters so limpid, her bill, After coughing and hemming she took up her fun

To screen her sweet face, and politely began.

"Fly to the forests, fly with me, Our English woods are rude for thee. But oh the choice what heart can doubt Of glens with love or meads without."

She ceas'd, with a look of such confident grace, [face, And display'd to her beau so bewitching a He with rapture confess'd all her notes rich and rare,

And declar'd that no Songstress with her could compare,

Which vastly delighted the artful young Fair.

Thus secure of her conquest in acting her part,

He too hastily offer'd his juvenile heart; And she promis'd her beau should no evils betide, [bride. That a very short time should make her his

Bright Phoebus at length usher'd in the

fair day, [array And the couple appear'd deck'd in splendid A pair of sweet Doves too, as bridemaids

were seen,

Who gaily were winging it over the green.. Yet amidst all their smiles some were inwardly vex'd,

But each ardently hop'd that her turn would

be next.

alert,

Away from all fowlers or mischievous men,