imposing restraints upon him, on the other, rendered to English literature by the members of the Select Society. On the Speculative Society, instituted in 1764, for improvement in literary composition and public speaking; the Juridical Society, instituted 1773; the Adelpho-Theological Society, instituted 1758; and the Theological Society, instituted 1776, we do not dwell. Another literary society which sprung up in Edinburgh in 1777 or 1778, consisting of gentlemen of the Scottish bar, who were accustomed to read short essays of their own composition, in the manner of the " Spectator," is entitled to more than a passing notice, from its having originated and conducted two elegant and classical periodicals, the "Mirror" and "Lounger," the appearance of which formed a new era in the literature of Edinburgh. From the name of its first periodical, the society was known as the "Mirror Club." Its most distinguished and active member was Mr. Henry Mackenzie, who had already published the "Man of Feeling," the "Man of the World," and "Julia de Roubigné;" novels of the school of Sterne, whose graceful, delicate style and pathos they rival, though entirely destitute of his rich vein of humor. At their meetings, the members examined and criticised such of their pieces as were intended for publication; and so carefully did they keep their names concealed, that not even their publisher was admitted into the secret, all communications between him and them having been made by Mr. Mackenzie, who was the editor, and also the chief contributor. The public, however, having stamped the seal of its approbation on the periodicals, the veil was drawn aside, and the names of the author of each paper were given in the later editions. This society, besides Mr. Mackenzie, consisted of Lord Craig, Lord Abercrombie, Lord Bannatyne, Lord Cullen, Mr. George Home, and Mr. George Ogilvy, all men of talent and literary accomplishments. Lord Hailes, Mr. Baron Gordon, Lord Woodhouselee, and some others, though not members of the club, contributed papers, as correspondents. While literature, in various departments, had been thus so assiduously and so successfully cultivated, antiquarian research had not been altogether neglected. There existed a taste, which was gradually diffusing itself, for investigating the antiquities of our country, and individuals had made private collections of greater or less extent. But it was soon perceived that, for the adequate gratification of this taste, and for its issuing the Royal Society of Edinburgh. At one of its earliest meetings, it divided itself into two classes-the physical class, and the literary class. The former had for its department the sciences of mathematics, natural philosophy, chemistry, medicine, natural history, and whatever relates to the improvement of arts and manufactures. The latter had for its department literature, philosophy, history, antiquities, and speculative philosophy. Among the most distinguished in the physical class, were Dr. Joseph Black, the discoverer of carbonic acid and latent heat; and his intimate friend, Dr. James Hutton, author of a new theory of the earth, the result of about thirty years' study of the natural history of the globe. Hutton's theory was published in the Transactions of the society, and afterwards more fully in a separate work; but, tired out with a host of unsatisfactory geological theories, the world paid little attention to it for a considerable time, notwithstanding the originality it displayed and the in any valuable result, it was neccessary that a public institution should be established, for collecting, in a secure repository, and for rendering more easily accessible, the antiquarian relics which were scattered throughout the country, and perhaps perishing in the possession of persons who were ignorant of their value. To supply what antiquarian study so greatly needed, a considerable number of gentlemen of eminence and learning, at the suggestion of the Earl of Buchan, formed themselves, in December, 1780, into a regular and permanent body, under the designation of the Society of the Antiquaries of Scotland, and, in March, 1783, obtained a royal charter of incorporation. This society still holds its meetings, and its museum is enriched with many rare and curious relics of former times, going back to a remote antiquity, and coming down to a more recent period. Next, there followed the institution of the Highland Society of Scotland, which derived its origin from a meeting of gentlemen, natives of, or connected with, the High-interesting philosophic views it opened up. lands, assembled at Edinburgh in 1784. Its object was the improvement of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, by establishing towns and villages, facilitating communication by roads and bridges, advancing agriculture, extending fisheries, and introducing useful trades and manufactures. It has also had for its object the preservation of the language, poetry and music of the Highlands. The Philosophical Society of Edinburgh, formerly mentioned, though its meetings were not discontinued, appears to have fallen into a state of inactivity for some time, till, about the year 1777, when Lord Kames, being elected its president, infused into it new vigor, by his zealous, judicious, and efficient efforts in its behalf. Its meetings were now held more frequently, and its business conducted with increased ardor and success. At length, however, about the close of 1782, a proposal was made by Dr. Robertson, Principal of the University of Edinburgh, at a meeting of the Professors of the University-many of whom, like himself, were members of the Philosophical Society, and among its most active supporters-for the establishment of a new society, on a more extensive plan, after the model of some of the foreign academies, and incorporated by royal charter. The Philosophical Society, approving of the scheme, agreed to merge into the new society; and, application having been made to his majesty for a charter to the new institution, it was established by charter from the crown, in 1783, under the name of The brevity and obscurity with which it was first proposed, also impeded its popularity; for Hutton, though uncommonly luminous in conversation, became obscure and dry whenever he took up the pen; "his favorite specimens of natural history, he used to say, were God's books, and he treated the books of man, comparatively, with neglect"-which may, in part, account for his having never attained an elegant, or even a perspicuous style. His theory owed its subsequent popularity to the eloquent exposition and advocacy of Professor Playfair. In the literary class, besides many of the eminent men already named, who were then alive, we meet with the names of Dr. James Beattie, Professor of Logic and Moral Philosophy, Marischal College, Aberdeen; Dr. George Campbell, Principal of Marischal College, Aberdeen: Dr. Thomas Reid, Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Glasgow; and Mr. (afterwards Dr.) George Hill, Professor of Divinity in the University of St Andrews. It has been the custom of this society to commemorate, by, memoir or biographical notices, recorded in its Transactions, the most eminent of its deceased members. Such are the chief literary and philosophical associations of Edinburgh which, during the last century, bore testimony to the ardor of our Modern Athens in intellectual cultivation, and which individually contributed their share in raising Scotland, from the literary obscurity in which she had sunk, to a proud eminence in the republic of letters. LITERARY MISCELLANIES. RELIGION AND GEOLOGY.-President Hitchcock's admirable work on Geology and Religion, which has been reprinted in London, is highly eulogized. The Literary Gazette, in the course of a long re-study and to the history of the art. The idea has view, says of it: some very good pictures were made; but, unfortu nately, they have been disseminated in churches and obscure museums and are consequently lost to since been formed of appropriating a suite of rooms in the Louvre to be called the Gallery of Copies. The Museum already possesses a series of reproductions from the frescoes of Raphael, dating from the time of Louis XIV., the Regency, and the reign of Louis XV. They will form the most interesting fraction of the new gallery, as they have been executed with great fidelity and by eminent artists. "Dr. Hitchcock is a veteran American clergyman, of high reputation and unaffected piety. Officially, he is President of Amherst College, and Professor of Natural Theology and Geology in that institution. As a geologist, he holds a very distinguished position, and is universally reputed an original observer and philosophical inquirer. His fame is European as well as American. No author has ever entered upon his subject better CHRISTOPHER NORTH-In consequence of the pres fitted for his task. The work consists of a series of ent delicate state of health of Professor Wilson, he lectures, which may be characterized as so many has been obliged to make arrangements for dispensscientific sermons. They are clear in style, logical ing with the delivery of his lectures on moral philosin argument, always earnest, and often eloquent.ophy in the University of Edinburgh, at the ensuThe bearings of science, especially of geological ing session.-(Scotsman.) science, upon revelation; the antiquity of the earth; the demonstration that death has been a universal law of organic beings on our globe from the beginning; the character of the Noachian deluge, as compared with the traces of extensive aqueous action, of which we have geological evidence; the operations and plans of the Creator; the geological proofs of the Divine benevolence; and the argument that scientific truth, rightly understood, is religious truth-constitute the subjects most ably discussed in these discourses. At every turn the author is zealous for the theological value of geological science. He maintains it to be the auxiliary both of natural and revealed religion, and holds that when the religious relations of geology are fully understood, theology will be as anxious to cultivate its alliance as she has been fearful of it in days past. "We would earnestly recommend those who yet retain misgivings respecting the bearings of geology on revealed religion, to possess themselves of this interesting work. It is a production alike honorable to Dr. Hitchcock's profession as a clergyman, and his status as a man of science. It will extend his reputation on this side of the Atlantic, where his name is better known to professed geologists than among the world at large, although the fame of his discoveries of the footprints of extinct creatures has been widely diffused." MINISTERIAL PATRONAGE.-The French Minister of the Interior has just charged several eminent painters to go to London and make copies of some remarkable pictures of Murillo, Raphael, Francia, and other great masters, now in the National Gallery. A long time since it was in contemplation to form in Paris a collection of copies from the great masters the originals of which are not possessed by the Museum, and artists were sent to Rome, Naples, Venice, Florence, Madrid, Seville, &c., by whom ITALIAN COLLEGES.-By a decree of the 29th ult., inquire into the system of public instruction at presthe King of Sardinia has named a commission to ent in vigor in the Piedmontese colleges. THE INNS OF COURT.-Lord Brougham intends during the ensuing session of Parliament to submit to the Government a proposition for consolidating the Middle and Inner Temples, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn, into one legal University, to be governed by a Senate and Chancellor, similarly to other Universities. We understand, the proposer wishes to establish professorships in the different branches of ture as the Professors do at Oxford and at Camlaw and equity, the holders of which are to lecbridge. DEATH OF SAVIGNY.-The "Brussels Herald" announces that the aged naturalist, Savigny, has lately died in Paris. Little has been heard of him for some time in the scientific world. He was for thirty years a member of the Academy of Sciences in the department of anatomy and zoology, and was among the savants who accompanied Bonaparte to Egypt. ASSYRIAN DISCOVERIES.-The Lords of the Treasury have consented to advance to Colonel Rawlinson the sum of £1,500 to enable him to continue his explorations and exhumations in Assyria. Colonel Rawlinson is to proceed immediately to Bagdad, where he is the resident of the East India Company, and from thence he will go to any quarter where his directions may be needed, and where the best promises of future discoveries may be held out. He will also keep open the works already commenced, but he is to act entirely independently of Mr. Layard. THE LOUVRE.-Nine new rooms on the ground floor of the Louvre, in Paris, have been recently opened to the public. They contain a collection of French sculptures from the time of Louis XII, to the modern sculptors, Houdon and Chaudet. Three other rooms are to be opened at a later period, with sculptures of the middle ages. GERMAN UNIVERSITIES.-A correspondent of the Boston Traveller gives the following statistics of twenty-seven of the principal universities in Germany, for the summer of 1851: 1-Berlin. 2-Munich 3-Prague 4-Bonn No. of Students. best critical quarters. The Athenæum speaks of the work: "Upon any one question, whether of external or internal history, so much laborious research and skillful arrangement have been brought to bear, that the general student will seldom find it necessary to have recourse to other works for any information he may seek. The references to authorities, with quotations in the original Greek or Latin, are numerous, and the indexes and tables of contents unusually clear and copious. By the publication of such a work good service is done to the theolog. ical literature of our country. Even those who may not have leisure to read a history of so much 189 research, should possess it, as the most complete 233 book for reference on the subjects of which it treats." No. of Foreigners. 315 196 31 19 86 433 1 5-Leipsic 846 116 322 9-Würzburg 176 ATHEN EUM ON AMERICAN BOOKS.-The Athenæum criticizes with some severity the Rev. William Ware's "Sketches of European Capitals." Considerable merits are conceded; but fault is found in sharp terms, so as to beget a contradiction. The author is accused of bad taste, illiberality, prejudice, and so forth. Another American book, Vestiges of Civilization-Etiology of History, &c.,-has incurred the displeasure and the rod of the Athenæum, and certainly deserved severe handling. Mr. Melville's new work, Moby Dick, published 47 by the HARPERS, also gets a severe handling in the Athenæum-not with its accustomed candor, as it seems to us. Faulty as the book may be, it bears the marks of such unquestionable genius, and dis36 plays graphic powers of so rare an order, that it cannot fail to add to the popular author's reputation. 9 11 12 * By Foreigners" is meant persons from other States than the one in which the University is situated. BALLOONS.-M. de Montheulin, a gentleman noted for his taste for balloon experiments, who has just died near Paris, has left by his will 10,000 francs as a reward to any person who shall resolve the problem of directing a balloon in a straight line through the air. The Society of Encouragement is to choose the jury that is to decide whether the prize has been fairly won. NEANDER.-Prof. Torrey's translation of Neander's Church History, published originally by CROCKER & BREWSTER, Boston, and reprinted in London, gets well-considered commendation in the DR. WARREN.-Dr. Warren's "Lily and the Bee," reprinted neatly by the HARPERS, gets unmerciful ridicule. The " Athenæum," "Literary Gazette," "Tait's Examiner," and other journals, vie with each other in expressions of scorn; while others seem to regard it more favorably. NEW ISSUES -The publications of last month were few and devoid of interest. LONDON WEEKLIES.-The Stamp Office Returns give the mail circulation of some of the principal weeklies, which is interesting: In 1846, the Nonconformist took out 118,500 stamps; In 1846, the Weekly Chronicle took out 260,000 In 1846, the Spectator took out 194,000 stamps; in |