SCIENCE AND ARTS. ters-Luini, Pinturicchio, Correggio, Raphael and his school, Giulio Romano, B. Peruzzi, S. del PiNEW MERIDIAN INSTRUMENT OR SUN-DIAL.-On ombo, Primaticcio and others. Their number is a recent visit to Mr. Dent, chronometer maker, we forty-five; and Certosa near Pavia, the Monastery observed a small instrument on the mantle-piece, at Maggiore, the Library of Siena, the Camera di apparently a circular glass mirror about two inches St. Paolo at Parma, the Vatican, the Villa Madama in diameter, imbedded in a solid metallic frame, re- and Villa Lante and Farnesina Palace at Rome, and flecting the image of a lighted taper revolving on two palaces at Montova, supply the fruitful, the inthe opposite side of the room. Our curiosity was exhaustible subjects. It is not in our power to conexcited, naturally, and we inquired the object of vey an idea of the endless variety, elegance, beauthe experiment and the uses of the reflector. Mr. ty, and invention of these designs, which are suffiDent immediately placed us in a particular position, ciently colored by hand to afford a perfect idea of and we beheld two reflected images of the flame the originals. The harmony of these colors is exapproaching each other, coinciding and then reced-quisite, and the revelling of fancy in the forms ining, and so for each revolution of the taper. It was describable. It appears to us that suggestions for evident at once that here was a most simple and hundreds of book-ornaments, and patterns for that beautiful transitorial or meridian instrument. But purpose, for room-papering, for distemper embelwhat was its construction? merely such an arrange-lishments, and for many articles of furniture, such as ment of three reflecting planes, that they could be used as one single and one double reflector, and in such a manner that an observer may see two images of a distant object, when that object is near to an imaginary plane passing through the instrument; and by the coincidence of those images, the observer may know when the distant object is in that imaginary plan. The honor of this invention is due to James Mackenzie Bloxham, Esq., and to Mr. Dent jointly;-to the former, in whose name the patent is to be enrolled, for the original suggestion of the optical arrangement-and to the latter, who has become the legal patentee, for experimenting, carrying out, and perfecting the instrument to its present simple form, about one-fifth the size of the practical perfect sun-dial. The optical principles involved in the invention, however, and its construction and application, can only be understood by an illustrated description, which, together with a large woodcut of the full-sized instrument, through the kindness of Mr. Dent, we hope to be enabled to give in our next number.- Literary Gazette. DUVERNOY ON THE TEETH.-According to the theory of M. Duvernoy, the bulb, or soft core, is the producing organ of each simple tooth, at least of its principal dentary substance, or ivory, and impresses on it its form and dimensions. This bulb is composed of two distinct parts: the one, in immediate relation with the blood-vessels and nerves, which penetrate it, is a gland, the coats of which secrete and turn into the cavity which it contains the naterials of the tubulous substance; it is at once the preparing organ and the reservoir of these materials; the other part of the bulb envelops the first, and is the ground-work of the tubulous substance of the tooth, which hardens, so that the capillary tubes of which it is composed receive and absorb the materials prepared by the secretory organ of the bulb. The new work of M. Duvernoy is intended to develop this doctrine, and to demonstrate it by new preparations and new designs. The teeth of shrew-mice, (he says,) because of the transparency of their enamel and ivory, are peculiarly suitable for the study of these relations.-Ibid. candelabra, stands, chimney-pieces, carpets, curtains, &c., might be taken from these plates with admirable effect, and contribute to the wonderful improvement of our most refined efforts in those lines of taste and luxurious expenditure. But above all, at the period when we are proposing to adorn our public buildings with works of the same kind, the accomplishment of this rich treasure of what has been done by the greatest genius the world ever witnessed, is most apropos, and must be of inestimable value. We speak of it in terms of the high est panegyric that our language can compass, because we are certain that its examination will disappoint no lover of what is superb and charming in art. English descriptions are to accompany the publication, for which we certainly look with much impatience, believing that nothing could be better calculated to inform the public mind upon an art so little understood by those who have not travelled to the sites of these matchless decorations.--Ibid. THE NELSON MONUMENT.-The workmen are again employed a-top of this column, placing there the bronze leaves and volutes of the capital, cast for that purpose at Woolwich. After they are fixed the statue will be raised: it is said to be nearly finished, and to consist of two great blocks of stone, now wrought upon under the direction of Mr. Baily, R. A.--Ibid. DAGUERREOTYPE.-MM. Choiselat and Ratel think that in photography the accelerating substances only act by seizing on the iodine left bare by the action of the light, and the transformation of the iodine of silver into the subiodine. They have found by experiment that bodies deprived of sensibility in themselves greatly exalt the sensible layer, and especially carbon. Thus, by adding to bromine, employed as an accelerator, essential oils, naphtha, alcohol, &c., they have succeeded in obtaining pictures in two seconds. Their method of applying the accelerating vapor is very simple: they mix bromine and alcohol, for instance, in the proportion of 5 to 2; they draw with a small glass syringe about a demi-centilitre of the vapor which escapes from the mixture, and inject it into the box with FRESCOES.-At a time when fresco-painting is the bromine the plate exposed to this vapor is cov likely to work a grand revolution in the arts of Eng-ered again with it very uniformly and with great land, we have been much interested and delighted rapidity.-Ibid. by the sight of a number of plates designed for the illustration of a splendid folio work about to be produced by Mr. Lewis Gruner. They consist of fresco-decorations and stuccoes of churches and palaces of Italy, during the triumphant reign of painting in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and are selected from the principal performances of the great mas GALILEO.-M. Alberii announces, that among the Mss. of Galileo, collected for the edition which is being printed at Florence, have been found those relating to the satellites of Jupiter, and which works were thought to have been lost for two centuries.—Ibid. OBITUARY. NOAH WEBSTER, LL. D. May 27.-In New Haven, U. S., aged 85, Noah Webster, LL. D., author of the English Dictionary. He was in the prime of life, and surrounded by a numerous family. DR. HAHNEMANN.-July 2-Ataris, aged 88, gether with a printing press, which have been extensively useful in the translation and circulation of the Sacred Scriptures, and other Christian publications, amongst the Chinese. Mr. Kidd became the principal of the college, and his labors must Dr. Webster has been a long time before the pub-allowed to be the first Chinese scholar in this counhave been great; at the time of his death he was lic as a prominent individual in the various departments of society. He was born in West Hartford, try, and therefore eminently qualified for the seat Oct. 16, 1758, a descendant of John Webster, one of Professor of Chinese Language and Literature in of the first settlers of Hartford, who was a member the University of London, to which he was appointof the Colonial Council from its first formation, anded when the state of his health required his return subsequently Governor of Connecticut. Noah Web- to this country. His acquaintance with the literaster entered Yale College in 1774. In his juniorture of China comprehended a very wide range of years, in the time of Burgoyne's expedition from reading, and his position in University College, Canada, he volunteered his services under the com- which possesses a most valuable library in the lanmand of his father, who was captain in the Alarm guage of the celestial empire, appeared to be emiList. In that campaign, all the males of the fami- nently calculated for usefulness, now that our connections with the country are assuming a closer ly, four in number, were in the army at the same time. Notwithstanding this interruption in his stu- character. In 1841 he published a learned and indies, Webster graduated with high reputation in genious work, entitled "Illustrations of the Sym1778. During the summer of 1779, he resided in bols, &c., of China." the family of Mr., afterwards Chief Justice Ellsworth, at Hartford. He was admitted to the bar in 1781. Subsequently he engaged in the business of instruction, and, being strongly impressed with the defects of such books as were then used in elementary schools, published in 1783, at Hartford, his "First part of a Grammatical Institute of the Eng-of poor parents, and owed his education to the great lish Grammar." The great success of this work, aptitude for learning he gave evidence of at the little and of others of the same class prepared by him, is school where he was first placed. He was received well known. His "Sketches of American Policy," doctor in physic at Heidelberg in 1781, and dispublished in 1784, his writings in favor of the adop-covered in 1790 the new system which he aftertion of the Federal Constitution, in defence of Wash- wards designated homeopathy. He continued unington's proclamation of neutrality, and of the trea-til 1820 his experiments and researches, and then ty negociated with Great Britain by Mr. Jay, had published the results of his labors, under the title great influence on public opinion, and were highly of Matière Medica le Pure. In 1829 he published his appreciated. Various other topics during the same Theory of Chronic Diseases, and their Remedies, of period were publicly discussed by him. In 1793, which he gave a second edition in 1840. To those he commenced a daily paper in New-York, which works must be added his Organon de l'Art de Guèis now called the Commercial Advertiser and New-rir, which ran through five editions. He also pubYork Spectator. Mr. Webster removed to Newlished nearly 200 dissertations on different medical Haven in 1798, and 1807 entered on the great busi-subjects; and he did all this whilst occupied with ness of his life, the compiling of a new and com- patients, which took up from ten to twelve hours a plete Dictionary of the English Language. This day. He had the satisfaction of seeing his system, work he prosecuted amidst various difficulties and after half a century's existence, spread over every discouragements, and published the first edition of part of the globe; and just before his death he learnit in 1828. In the preparation of this dictionary heed that homeopathy was about to have a chair at was led to investigate to a great extent the subject the University of Vienna, and hospitals in all the of etymology, and the relations of various languages Austrian States, at Berlin, and at London.-Gentleto each other. This dictionary has been more fa-man's Magazine. vorably received, than, as is believed, the author ever anticipated. His other publications are nu merous. painter on that continent. MR. WASHINGTON ALLSTON.-At Cambridge, in Dr. Webster had enjoyed remarkably vigorous America, in his 64th year, Mr. Washington Allhealth till within a few days of his death. His dis-ston, Associate of the R. A., the most imaginative order soon took the form of pleurisy, and he gradually sank under the attack, till, in the full possession of his reason, he died with entire composure and resignation.-Gentleman's Magazine. Mr. Allston quitted England, and his works have Though nearly thirty years have elapsed since since but seldom appeared in our exhibition rooms, we have not forgotten some which remain in our principal collections: the Egremont, Jacob's Dream, REV. SAMUEL KIDD, M. A.-June 12. At Cam-and Elisha; Mr. Labouchere's Elijah in the Desden Town, of epilepsy, aged 42, the Rev. Samuel Kidd, A. M., Professor of Oriental and Chinese Literature at the University College, London. ert; and the Stafford Uriel. We have heard those curious in pedigree point to Mr. Allston as the first in that gorgeous style of perspective painting, which Martin and Danby have so richly adorned. A still elder artist, however, might be named, Paul Brill. Mr. Allston occupied himself with other graceful pursuits besides his own art. A volume of poems was published during his residence in England, and it is but a year or two since that we reported on his Monaldi, an Italian romance of considerable power. The suburbs of Hull had the honor of giving birth to this eminent student, who at an early age exhibited extraordinary powers for the acquisition of language, and a not less tenacious memory for literature in general, to which he was remarkably attached. These qualifications, joined to an ardent love of the gospel, recommended him to the notice of the London Missionary Society, and he was appointed to the important post of Malacca, where the He married a sister of Dr. Channing, whom he Society established an Anglo-Chinese College, to-survived several years.-Athenæum. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. Great Britain. translation of the Pilgrim's Progress into more than twenty languages. An event in a still greater cycle of dispensations, like the banishment of the Turk-puritans to America, had a meaning which we are circumstances like those which threw the key of now only beginning to comprehend. And lastly, the Mediterranean into the possession of a Protestant power, did the same with Malta-the bridge between the Oriental and the Occidental world-and, finally, opened one of the antique gates of Christen dom to the same nation, can only be understood when those future events have begun to march by succession, for which those previous steps of God's providence are so evidently taken."-Ainsworth's Magazine. 2.-History of the Westminster Assembly of Divines. By the Rev. W. M. Hetherington. Edinburgh : Johnstone. 1.-Claims of the Christian Aborigines of the ish or Osmanli Empire. By W. F. Ainsworth, F. G. S. &c. Cunningham & Mortimer. THE extent of the information, and the interest of the claims advocated in these pages are singularly disproportioned to the small size and low price of the work. The subject-the claims of the Christian Aborigines of the Turkish empire upon civilized nations-falls properly into the literary care of Mr. Ains-in worth, who, it may be remembered, had in charge the late expedition to the Chaldean Christians, from the Christian Knowledge Society. His object is to promote the interests, both spiritual and temporal, of a prostrate and often wronged and suffering people; and it appears that he purposes to devote some monthly effort, in a separate publication, to that philanthropic, though we fear not readily attainable Though Mr. Hetherington's is an extremely onepurpose. His present view of the subject includes sided account of the proceedings of this memorable three divisions, and he severally treats of the claims Assembly, it may be of use to many students of of the aborigines, the existing condition and pros- English Ecclesiastical History from its brevity. Its pects of the Osmanli empire, and the aspect and errors and partialities will probably be pointed out position of the missionary enterprise in Western in some of the religious periodicals under the immeAsia. It may be proper to remind the reader, as diate influence of the Independents or Congregathe first step to awaken his interest, that the only tionalists;-and this is required. Instead, thereright possessed by the Osmanli Turks to the rich fore, of meddling with the controversy as between and great countries (for the most part, Christian, the Presbyterians and Independents in the Assembly formerly) over which they rule, is that of conquest. or yet with the Erastian Controversy, we should, They rose to power within the country, but they at the present moment, prefer as a sample of the are not the aborigines of it. Mr. Ainsworth shows, History, the disputes concerning priests' vestments, we think, by bringing extensive reading and close and those other frivolities and fopperies which have argument to his aid, that there are many considera-come into vogue of late, and with more blame and tions affecting the welfare of these people which absurdity that in past times, as this superstitious non deserve to be entertained; and he forcibly advances sense is revived in an age claiming to be much more the suggestion which was once laid before parlia- enlightened than the sixteenth century. From rement, of the necessity of giving protection to our cent appearances, one might conclude that the Protestant brethren in the East. The French have Bishop of London would not be very loth to see long since taken under their protection the Roman the whole clergy of London summoned, as of old, Catholics of Turkey. But of course nothing in the to Lambeth, and compelled to assume the sacerdoway of permanent security and advancement could tal costume prescribed for them, or forfeit their liv be effected, but by all sects and classes of Christians ings, which thirty-seven out of a hundred ministers in the East making common cause, and exhibiting then did. This arbitrary order, however, was al in practice the brotherhood which should be the leged to be issued to enforce the great duty of conbond of their faith. Our zealous advocate perceives formity, and not from any intrinsic importance conin the establishment of Protestant sees in the Med-nected with the mere vestments and frivolous rites. iterranean and at Jerusalem, a circumstance which Both objects may now be contemplated by the Putends strongly to increase confidence in the proxi- seyite clergy.-Tait's Magazine. mate regeneration of the East. That he himself has enthusiasm, as well as confidence, is seen in a passage of considerable power, which we here sub-3.—The Universal Kingdom: a Sermon preached at join : "As it has been said that there are stars so distant, though their light has been travelling towards us ever since the creation, it has never yet reached ns, so there are meanings in God's dispensations, a light in events long past, which, through our imperfection of moral vision, or the thick medium through which we have to judge, may not yet have broken upon us, and may not, indeed, till far in the bosom of eternity. The meaning of the brazen serpent in the wilderness was not seen till the Son of man was lifted up on the cross; the purpose of David's education as a shepherd was not read till the publication of the Book of Psalms. There was a meaning in that three years' drought and famine in the time of Elijah, in the reign of Ahab, in the land of Judea, not known even to the church of God till the general epistle of James, after the crucifixion of our Saviour. An event like that of Bunyan s imprisonment for thirteen years had a meaning that could not be seen by that generation, indeed is but beginning to be known now, after the the request of the Protestent Association of London, May 4, 1843. By the Rev. G. Croly, LL. D. Pp. 27. Duncan & Malcolm. We seldom venture to offer opinions upon single sermons, and preached for peculiar occasions; but the eloquence of this discourse pleads for an exemp tion from our rule. The enthusiastic view which Dr. Croly, years ago, took of the fulfilment of the prophecies, in endeavoring to put his finger upon their development to the present epoch, and thence deducing their farther completion at calculated periods, prepared him for not only an animated but a profound sermon when called on to perform this duty. There is consequently a grandeur and comprehensiveness in his ideas which lead the hearer and the reader along with his impressive style; and were we to put all question of religion out of sight, we would advise men of every variety of faith to peruse this splendid apotheosis (if we may say so) of the expected universal kingdom, were it only for the sake of its beauties as a composition.-Literary Gazette. SELECT LIST OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS. GREAT BRITAIN. New General Biographical Dictionary. By Rev. Hugh James Rose, B. D. Part XX. London. We have frequently noticed Mr. Reade's poetical efforts in terms of high commendation. There is not one of our living writers who has a deeper and more abiding sense of the requirements of his art, or who approaches his subjects with greater sincerity and earnestness than does the author of these Sacred pieces. He is not of the number who imagine that a set of verses strung together without Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orforethought and steady purpose can be fitting either Resias respects the purposes of Poetry, or his own char-ford, to Sir Horace Mann, H. B. M., acter. As he himself observes, the great ends of dent at the Court of Florence, from 1760 Poetry are like those of Truth, "with whom she is to 1785. Concluding Series. London. one, the sister and the adorning handmaid-to hold up the evil and the good in their most impressive colors." Accordingly he never thinks of applying his art as a mere plaything, but makes its employment a matter of conscience. Most sedulously has he sought to improve his skill by study, by travel, and by careful revision; and we may be sure that when he essayed sacred themes he did not rush unadvisedly into the temple, nor read his texts with an undisciplined imagination. These Poems have for their subjects some of the most remarkable events and characters to be met with in the Old Testament, which abounds with passages of the very highest capability for poetical The shouts of victory rose, the timbrels sounded: ed, Handmaids of beauty waiting round their queen. She stood among them yet alone, All this is fairly within the scope of the sacred narrative, and certainly a very beautiful enlargement. We think that it would be idle after such a specimen to offer any further words of general recommendation.-Monthly Review. Treatise on the Management and Cultivation of Forest Trees. By John Smith. London. Cowper's Homer's Odyssey, with Commentary. London. The Gospels Collated. By a Barrister. London. Wittich's Lexicon to Homer; for Schools and Colleges. London. A Practical Introduction to Life and Fire Assurance. By Thomas H. Millar. Lectures on Tractarian Theology. By I. Stoughton. London. |