burghead, one extremity of the Isle of Mainland, the largest of the Shetland Islands, in 59° 52′ North latitude, and 1o 28' West longitude. It is about twenty miles SW. from Hangcliff Head, on the Isle of Noss. The light will be visible to all ships sailing in the southern parts of the Shetland Islands, between Foula island and Nosshead. The flame will be fixed, but accompanied with reflector lamps; the elevation 300 feet above the mean level of the sea. At the distance of six or seven leagues, it will appear like a star of the first magnitude.

IRELAND.

The works for the construction of the Port of Dunleary, consist of two jetties, the eastern is already 3000 feet in length, by 200 in breadth; the western, commencing near the old port of Dunleary, is about 500 feet in length. Behind the eastern jetty, ships may at present find shelter against the rough easterly winds, if the tide or other causes hinder the approach to Dublin. The depth at the extremity of this jetty is 23 feet at low water, and 38 at high tides. The materials of the jetty consist of rocks and huge blocks of stone in two lines from SW. to NE. Dunleary lies in the bay, about four miles and a half from Dublin.-It appears from a public notice, that beacon towers are erecting on Brownstown and Great Newtown Capes, in the county of Waterford, to point out the situation of the bay of Tramore. The intention is to warn mariners to keep at a certain distance, as a strong dangerous current frequently sets into the bay.

FRANCE.

The French clergy consists of three cardinals, with appointments valued at 90,000 francs; 9 archbishops and 41 bishops, 912,198; Royal Chapter of St. Denis, 200,000; 109 vicars general and 416 canons, 867,500; 2885 parish priests, 2,940,000; 26,152 inferior offieiating ministers 15,500,000; about 4000 vicars with 3500 binages, i. e. where mass is said twice a day, 1,840,000; 1216 Diocesan Bourses (a sort of fellowship) and 2218 demi-bourses, 940,400; 183 pastors of Calvinists, and 174 do. of Lutherans, 485,000. Of these 18 bourses and 36 half bourses.

A public notice is given in the French Maritime Journal, in case of ships being wrecked on the coasts of Barbary, or Fez and Morocco, that no resistance be made to the Arabs, which would be useless and very dangerous,

but that an account of their situation be expedited to the French agent at Mogadore, accompanied with a promise of twenty piasters payable by the agent to whom the letter is addressed. The shipwrecked persons are counselled not to separate, as it would be almost impossible to reassemble them if dispersed in the desarts.

A prize being offered for the discovery of an horizontal direction in aerostation, M. Mingreli, of Bologna, M. Pietripoli, of Venice, and M. Lemberger, of Nuremberg, have each assumed the merit of resolving this problem. It does not appear, that any one of these has come forward, to establish by practical experiment, the validity of his claim, but a pamphlet has been lately reprinted at Paris (first printed at Vienne) on this subject, addressed to all the learned societies of Europe. The following passage appears in the work: "Professor Robertson proposes to construct an aerostatic machine, 150 feet in diameter, to be capable of raising 72,954 kilograms, equivalent to 149,037 pounds weight (French). To be capable of conveying all necessaries for the support and safety of 60 individuals, scientific characters, to be selected by the academicians and the aerial navigation, to last for some months, exploring different heights and climates, &c. in all seasons. If from accident or wear, the machine elevated above the ocean, should fail in its functions, to be furnished with a ship that will insure the return of the aeronauts.”

ITALY.

Some further interesting discoveries of lost works have been made by M. Maio, among which are several parts of the mutilated and lost books of Polybius, of Diodorus, of Dion Cassius, some fragments of Aristotle, of Ephorus, of Timeus, of Hyperides, of Demetrius of Phalaris, &c. some parts of the unknown writings of Eunapius, of Menander of Byzantium, of Priscus, and of Peter the Protector. Among the unedited works of Polybius are prologues of the lost books, and the entire conclusion of the 39th, in which the author takes a review of his history, and devotes his 40th book to chronology. The fragments of Diodorus and of Dion are numerous and most precious. Among them is a rapid recital of many of the wars of Rome; a narrative of the civil, Punic, Social or Italic, and Macedonian wars; those of Epirus, Syria, Gaul, Spain, Portugal,

and

and Persia. Parts of the history of the Greeks and other nations, and that of the successors of Alexander, &c. are among these. They were discovered in a MS. containing the harangues of the rhetorician Aristides, from a large collection of ancient writings, made by order of Constantinus Porphyrogenetes, of which only a small part are known to be extant. The writing appears to be of the 11th century. M. Maio has also met with an unedited Latin grammarian, who cites a number of lost writers, and a Latin rhetorician now unknown; also a Greek collection containing fragments of the lost works of Philo. He has also found writings of the Greek and Latin fathers prior to St Jerome, with other valuable works, all of which he intends shortly to publish.

NETHERLANDS.

Brussels can boast of some of the best conducted literary establishments in Europe. Among others that of M. DE MAT of the Grand Place claims our respectful notice. This establishment contains under one spacious roof an extensive collection of modern literature in all languages-a magazine of classical and scarce old books, almost unrivalled in value and extent-a printing office of great perfection and capability-a copper-plate establishmentand a book-binding shop. In its way it resembles a bee-hive in activity and industry, and cannot fail to excite the surprize and pleasure of all who are permitted to view it. M. de Mat is chiefly engaged in reprinting standard French works, which the low price of labour and materials in the Netherlands enables him to offer to foreign countries full 30 per cent cheaper than the Paris editions. He is besides engaged in many original works of the Belgic literati; and above all, in a Catalogue Raisonnée of his own stock of old books, which will extend to three or four vo lumes in octavo.

ASIA MINOR.

A letter from Mr. M'Connor, Oriental Syrian Missionary, dated Acre, Feb. 28, 1820, states as follows: "My last informed you of my transactions in Cyprus, and that I was ready to set out for Syria. I arrived at Beyrout, on the 13th inst. and there met with the Archbishop of Jerusalem, who had arrived the evening before from Europe after passing through Egypt. The inhabitants of Beyrout are in number about 10,000, of whom 3000 are Turks,

and the others Christians of different denominations. On the 16th early, I set out for Said, where I arrived at night, after travelling by the foot of Mount Libanus. Said contains about 15,000 individuals, of whom 2000 are Christians, chiefly Maronites, and 400 Jews. I gave a psalter in Arabic, to a Maronite for a small service which he had rendered me. He sat down and began to read it: he was soon surrounded by a number of persons, among whom was M. Bertrand, the first physician in the city. This gentleman is a native of Said, but of French origin; with great alacrity he offered me his services to promote the distribution of the Bible in Arabic, and expected great effects from it in Syria. On the 18th at night, I arrived at Sour, the ancient. Tyre, and lodged there with the Catholic Greek Archbishop, From him I learn that there are at Sour, 1200 Greek Catholics, 100 Maronites and 100 Greek schismatics, 2000 Motualis or sectators of Ali and about 100 Turks. Every where are seen remains of ancient splendour, magnificent aqueducts, and a number of superb columns overthrown or half buried upright in the sand, which has been accumulating for ages. On the 21st I repaired to Acre. Here are about 10,000 inhabitants, of whom 3000 are Turks; the rest consist of Arabs, Jews and Catholics, which last, however, form the majority. After passing through the villages of Sephoury and Cana in Galilee, I entered Nazareth, which contains about 3000 inhabitants, 500 of whom are Turks, and the rest schismatic Greeks under the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

EAST INDIES.

A letter from a missionary at Amboyna has the following: At my entering a large negari (village) called Lileboo, N.E. of Amboyna, 800 persons and more came to meet me, and to convince me of their believing in one only God, they had brought all their idols, confessing their superstitions. I desired them to pack the whole together in a large chest, heaped up with stones, and throw it into the sea, in my presence.

The following appeared in a late number of the Boinbay Courier, in a letter dated, country of Guzurat, Oct. 1819. The Jaina Banias have a practice of fasting eight days in every year. One of them took the resolution of fasting for thirty days together. He began July 26, and finished Aug. 25. He then took some nourishment during

four

four days, but afterwards declared he would henceforth entirely abstain from food. On the 30th of October he died, after fasting 66 days (with the exception of the four above mentioned) in the whole of which time, all he allowed himself to take was a little warm water. His body, as may well be imagined, was merely a skeleton, but he retained all his intellectual faculties to the last. Having hereby acquired the title of saint, his corpse was attended to the funeral pile by all the Banias of the city, with the pomp and ceremonies usual on such occasions.

PACIFIC OCEAN.

About 30 miles northwest of Nooahevah, one of the Marquesas Islands, Capt. Powell, of the Queen Charlotte, brought away from the top of a rock a man who had lived there nearly three years, like Robinson Crusoe. In the beginning of 1814, this man proceeded thither from Nooahevah with four others, all of whom had left an American boat, in order to collect certain feathers which are highly valued by the inhabitants of Nooahevah. The boat being wrecked on the rock, three of his companions shortly died of hunger and especially thirst, there being no other water than the rain when it fell. The fourth remained with him a few weeks, when he determined to make for the island by swimming, supported by a piece of wood which remained of the boat, but he must have inevitably perished. He himself attempted to escape from his desperate situation by making a raft, but he failed in the undertaking, and lost the means of renewing it. From the first, they had brought away fire from Nooahevah, and he had always taken care to preserve it, but one day, having moved to a little distance, the fire went out, and he could not have rekindled it, but for some grains of gunpowder and part of a musket which he had broken while making his raft. His only sustenance was the flesh and blood of wild fowl; the blood quenched his thirst, and the skulls of his dead comrades were his drinking vessels. A mere chance discovered him to the Queen Charlotte, as the rock was known to be desert and barren; but a fire being observed at night, as the vessel was passing by, search was made, and the inhabitant of the rock taken up. Capt. Powell conveyed him to Nooahevah, and left him in the care of an European named Wilson, who had resided in that island

several years, and who had been personally acquainted with him previous to this his adventure.

Letters from Calcutta report the establishment of a British colony in the island of New Zealand. It appears to have assumed a regular form, and is considered as dependant on the government of New South Wales. Mr. J. Bullier, the missionary, is authorized by Governor Macquarrie, to act as justice of peace and magistrate. Mr. Marsden, first missionary in New South Wales, has proceeded with other missionaries to New Zealand, to provide the means of instruction and prosperity for the establishment.

as

A letter from Mr. Samuel Leigh, missionary in New Zealand, says, I was walking on the beach in conversation with a chief, my attention was arrested by a great number of persons coming from a neighbouring hill. Enquiring into the reason of such a concourse, I found that they had killed a young man, whom they were going to roast and eat. I repaired instantly to the spot, and coming to the village where the people had assembled, I asked to see the body; I was shewn a great fire at some distance, and was told I should find it there. When arrived, I found the place besmeared with blood, where the head of the wretched victim had been cut off, and drawing near the fire. beheld with horror, a fierce looking man of gigantic size, wholly naked and armed with a large hatchet. This cook, for that was the cannibal's trade, shewed me the young person half roasted, holding him up by the legs. I then returned to the village, where I found a number of persons seated in a circle, preparing potatoes, and waiting for the body being roasted. Among them was the mother of the young person, who like him was a slave, and had been made a prisoner of war. This unfortunate mother would perhaps have been obliged to take a share in the horrible feast, if I had not succeeded in persuading the people to bury the corpse."

UNITED STATES.

The Abbe Inglesi, after several months travelling through all North America, has been so affected with religions compassion for the uninstructed native tribes, that he has resolved to share in the pious labours of M. Dubourg, missionary of Upper and Lower Louisiana, and those of his companions. (M. Dubourg left France in 1817, on

this mission.) M. Inglesi has been deputed to solicit in Europe, the means of further propagating Christianity among the Indians, and to engage other religious characters to join them in the dis charge of their sacred duties.

WEST INDIES.

A letter from M. Plee, dated Fort Royal, Martinique, May 31, 1820, says: "I am pursuing my tour through all the different parts of the island, and constantly a pedestrian, although the heat (in April and May) is excessive. The thermometer of Reaumur is at 210 at five in the morning; at 26°, 27' and but seldom at 28o at noon. It is never below 20 throughout the night. On the peaks of the Carbet, the Vauquelin, the Hot Springs, St. Pierre, &c. not higher than 140, 150, 16o. I have not been able to meet with the viper known by the name of fer de lance, though I have traversed considerable distances, at all hours of day and night. This reptile, denounced by an author of celebrity as the most dangerous of any in our sugar islands, is not so common as has been reported, in the paths and high roads of Martinique. Not an individual is to be found in Guadaloupe. This serpent chiefly haunts the cane plantations, and especiallywhere the rats are in the greatest numbers. No planter is without his sovereign remedy against the bite of this animal, which shews that the wounds it inflicts are not so fatal as is believed. Besides the remedies which the heads of families are in possession of, there are negro conjurors, or a sort of old men sorcerers, that are looked up to with a confidence almost unlimited by the blacks, and even by many of the whites; and it must be admitted that very rarely a negro dies under their treatment, unless, as is frequently the case, with hydrophobes, terror has so overpowered the senses of the patient that no remedy can reach the true seat of affliction. More recent news from this naturalist, dated July 31, report his having expedited for the Jardin du Roi, a large collection of ob jects in natural history, intrusted to the care of his younger brother, who is obliged to return to France, the cli

mate not agreeing with his constitution. The yellow fever had not then commenced its ravages; some sailors had died, but all the rest composing a part of the expedition, were in good health.

Population of Demerary and Essequibo. Male African Slaves 24,526. Female do. 14,385. Male Creole Slaves 16,458. Female do. 17,556. Other colonists, males 2005. Females 1,999. Births in the three last years 4,817. Augmented population since 1817, 763 males and 977 females. 12 slaves from 90 to 100 years of age, and three from 100 to 110.

Don Manuel S. Badia, a missionary residing some time in St. Lucia, has published the discovery of a remedy for the bite of serpents, and sting of scorpions, which he had learned from the Indians of Venezuela and Santa Fé. Eight years trial on different inhabitants of the colony leaves no room to doubt of its efficacy. It is required to collect grains of Gombre perfumed with musk; these to be dried and reduced to an impalpable powder; then to be sifted or bolted, and put in a bottle, to fill one third of it, which is afterwards to be filled up with rum (tafia), If an individual or animal has been bit or stung, the bottle to be well shaken, and when the liquor is thoroughly tinctured with the grosser substance, the patient to swallow a glassfull. Scarifications to be made in the place bitten; the same to be rubbed slightly with a cloth well soaked in the liquid, which is then to be laid over the wound, and as it dries, to be wetted four or five times more. Half an hour after the first dressing, a second glass of the liquor to be taken (internally). If some time has elapsed after the bite, and the vomiting has commenced, the patient to keep drinking, almost incessantly, till the vomiting be stopped. This remedy has not failed in a single instance. Two gen tlemen, Messrs. Bernard and Dianet, of the Old Fort, and Laborie, St. Lucia, have themselves wrought more than forty cures. Every negro may easily carry about with him this preparation in a vial, and keep it in a state of preservation.

IN

"N the West India Colonies different articles of iron ware soon get spoiled and rusty, from the humid climate of the Torrid Zone. Among other improvements to accelerate the progress of rural and

manufacturing industry, the following is given as an effectual preservative from rust and all oxidation, and prepared at a trifling expence :-A very simple process will suffice for instruments, utensils, &c.

of

of small dimensions. Let them be heated red hot, and rubbed over in that state with wax. This substance will close the pores of the metal which the fire has dilated, and thereby preclude the action of the oxigen of air upon it. For other iron implement machines, &c. not susceptible of the above process, a similar effect may be obtained from varnish, discovered after six years research, by M. Lampodius, professor of chemistry, at Freyburg in Saxony. This varnish is not to be heated; it resists the action of humid air, and even that of acid vapours. It is made in the manner following:-Reduce an ounce of plomba gine (lead and silver ore) or ambracite to an impalpable powder; mix with it four ounces of sulphate of lead and one ounce of sulphate of zinc; add to this gently (or a little at a time) a pound of varnish prepared with linseed oil-heat the whole to boiling. This varnish will close up the pores, &c. very speedily. The sulphate of lead is prepared by putting a dissolution of acetate of lead into twelve ounces of water, with a dissolution of seven ounces of sulphate of soda (Glauber's salts) into fourteen ounces of water. The precipitate from this mixture is a sulphate of lead, to be filtered, edulcorated and dried. The Annales Maritimes report the discovery of a new method to determine the latitude, by a single non-meridian height, deduced from two other heights taken in a very short space of time.

The Mnemosyné, a Finland Journal, makes mention of a singular stone, (therein called meteorological) in the northern part of the province, which serves there as a sort of public barometer. At the approach of rain it takes a black or greyish black colour, and when the weather changes to fair, it becomes covered with white spots. It is probably an argillous substance, containing rock salt, or ammoniac, or saltpetre, and absorbing more or less of moisture, as the atmosphere is more or less charged with it. In the latter case, the saline particles crystalising, will become visible to the eye and form the white spots.

Capt. HENRY KATER, F.R.S. has published the following notice respecting a volcanic appearance in the moon :-“On Sunday evening, the 4th February, I observed a luminous spot in the dark part of the moon, which I was inclined to ascribe to the eruption of a volcano. The telescope used was an excellent Newtonian of 6 inches aperture, with a power of 74. The moon was exactly two days old, and the evening so clear, that I was able to discern the general outlines in the dark part of her disc. Her western azimuth was about 700, and her altitude about 10 degrees. In this position at 6 hours 30 minutes, the volcano was situated (esti

mating by the eye) as in the accompanying sketch [distant from the northern limb of the moon about one-tenth of her diameter.] Its appearance was that of a small nebula subtending an angle of about three or four seconds. Its brightness was very variable; a luminous point, like a small star of the 6th or 7th magnitude, would suddenly appear in its centre, and as suddenly disappear, and these changes would sometimes take place in the course of a few seconds. On the evening of the 5th, having an engagement which prevented my observing it myself, I arranged the telescope for two friends, who remarked the same phænomena as the night before, but in an inferior degree, partly perhaps in consequence of the evening not being so favourable. On the 6th I again observed it; it had certainly become more faint, and the star-like appearance less frequent. I could see it very distinctly with a power of 40. As the moon approached the horizon, it was visible only at intervals when the star-like appearance took place. On the same evening I had the pleasure of showing it to Mr. Henry Browne, F.R.S. I regret that I had no micrometer adapted to my telescope; but I have reason to believe the distance of the volcano from the edge of the moon was about one-tenth of her diameter, and the angle it formed this evening with a line joining the cusps was about 500. Iremarked near the edge of the moon, a well-known dark spot, from which the volcano was distant, as nearly as I could estimate, three times its distance from the edge of the moon. In a map of the moon published by Dr. Kitchener (and which is the best small map with which I am acquainted,) there is a mountain sufficiently near the situation of the volcano, to authorize the supposition that they may be identical. On the 7th I could still see the volcano, and the occasional star-like appearance; but I do not think it was sufficiently perceptible to have been discovered by a person ignorant of its precise situation. I am inclined however to think, that the difficulty of seeing it is rather to be attributed to the increased light of the moon, than to the diminished action of the volcano. The spot in which I observed the volcanic appearance is that named Aristarchus. This spot was particularly examined by Hevelius, who calls it Mons Porphyrites, and who considers it to be volcanic. If his drawings are to be relied upon, it has undergone a considerable change in its appearance since his time. Sir William Herschel has recorded in his Philosophical Transactions an observation of three volcanoes, which he perceived in the moon, April 19, 1787, at 10h 36m, sidereal time. One of these, which he says showed "an actual eruption of fire or luminous matter," was distant from the northern limb of the moon 3' 57"-3, the diameter of the burning

part