ceeded in drawing away the children of that persuasion from schools where the Scriptures are read? State facts. 7. Do you consider that it would be practicable to secure the co-operation of the Roman Catholic clergy, in any system of religious and moral improvement, which should make Scriptural instruction its foundation? Circulation of the Scriptures. VIII. 1. Has there been any, and what, opposition in your neighbourhood to the circulation of the Scriptures amongst the Roman Catholic population? 2. Have any Bibles or Testaments been burned, or otherwise destroyed, or taken from Roman Catholics who had gladly received them? 3. Do you know any instances in which the people themselves have resisted the attempts of the Roman Catholic clergy to deprive them of the Bible, and have persevered in reading it, notwithstanding their threats ? State facts. 4. Are you acquainted with instances in which the Roman Catholic clergy have opposed the circulation of the Douay Bible or Rheims Testament among the people? Holidays. IX.-1. You are requested to state what holidays are observed by the working classes in your neighbour. hood during the year; specifying how many of them are days of total idleness; how they are usually spent by the people; and at how much you estimate the actual loss sustained by each individual of the working classes, in consequence of the interruption of their labour, by holidays, superstitions, or penances. Sunday. X.-1. You are requested to state in what manner the Sabbath is generally spent in your neighbourhood. 2. Are any shops open during the Sabbath? and if any, do they belong to Protestants or Roman Catholics? 3. Are hawkers permitted to sell at the doors of Roman Catholic chapels ? 4. Are there any Sunday assemblies for sports or dances? 5. Are any public-houses open? Are they open during the hours prohibited by law? 6. Do loaded carts travel through your country on Sunday? Communications, sealed, on the business of the Society, are to be addressed to any of the Secretaries, individually, 22, Upper Sackville-street, Dublin. LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. The conductors of the Revue Encyclopédique propose to give prizes, at the end of every five years, for the best brief analysis of the works of science and literature during the said period. Some recent instances indicate that the vaccine matter may be advantageously employed in other cases than the smallpox. M. Lassère, a physician of Domme, in Burgundy, visiting a child four years of age, whom his parents would not suffer to be inoculated, observed a swelling on the first phalanx of the child's right hand middle finger. By his suggestion, the mother allowed the swelling to be vaccinated, as an experiment to bring it down. Two vaccinal pustules appeared; and soon after the inflammation subsided, and the volume of the finger-bone very sensibly lessened, so that in three weeks time the finger had recovered its natural form, and the cure proved effectual. This complaint bears the name of Spina Ventosa; of the sort to which lymphatic children are subject. It spread over the whole phalanx, but without reaching the articular extremities. Encouraged by this success, the physician tried the vaccine matter on a girl fourteen years of age, that had four scrophulous swellings in her neck, for which a number of antiscorbutics had been used, but without success. Ten punctures of the vaccine were applied to one inch of the swellings; eight pimples soon appeared, and the tumours exhibited the characters of a sanguinary inflammation. By the repeated use of leeches, occasional purgatives, and an appropriate regimen, every symptom of the scrophula gradually disappeared. In a French translation of Lucretius recently published, various fragments have been inserted, from a Discourse on Nature, by an ancient Greek philosopher, and discovered at Herculaneum. There are plates, which represent many of the fragments. The Greek writer's name was Chrysippus, a classical author, suthiciently known in his day for initiating youth in philosophical instruction. His literary productions were of that elevated rank, that they were generally considered as masterpieces, so as to impress even Cieero and Horace with admiration of his character and sentiments. Professor Gaupp of Breslau, in his travels through Italy, discovered four leaves of a MS. of the Pandects, which he conceives to be of the seventh century. He found them in the royal library of Naples. The leaves are of the sort called palimpserts. Over the ancient writing, a fragment of the grammarian Charistry, Xanthus of the "Vitae Pontificum" (Lives of the Pontiffs,) of Anastasius; and, with an attentive inspection, some passages of the Pandects, and others of the Pharsalia of Lucan appear. M. Gaupp had them copied ; and, from their coincidence, the Florence MS. is found to be very correct. The passages of the Pandects belong to the titles of the tenth book, "Communi Dividundo, ad Exhibendum, &c." The capital letters are better executed than those of the Florence. M. G. intends to publish a facsimile. From the national almanack printed annually at Washington, we learn that the inhabitants of the United States amount to 9,654,415, of whom 1,543,688 are slaves. Those employed in agricul. ture are 2,175,065, in trade 72,558, in manufactures 349,663. A Frenchman, M. Neale, residing some time in North Carolina, made a collection of rattlesnakes, and thinking they might be rendered tame, after a number of experiments, succeeded. The means that he employs are not correctly ascertained; he merely avows the power of music, its gentle melodies subduing their grestest irritations. M. Neale is now at Richmond, exhibiting his curiosities. He has two live rattlesnakes, one a male, four feet eight inches in length, with eight rattles in his tail, indicating his age, nine years. The female is smaller, and has only five rattles; this he has had thirty months. Such is their docility, that after repeating certain words, and caressing them with his hand, he lets them run about his neck and breast, handling them as if they were ends of whipcord. Far from injuring, the reptiles have a sort of attachment for their tnaster. He makes no secret of a remedy for their bite; first washing the mouth with warm oil, and after sucking the bite, drinking abundantly a decoction of ser. pentary root, till it operates as an emetic, after which there is nothing to fear. M. Neale, half opening the mouths of his serpents, shows their venomous fangs. VOL. XXIII. NO. IX. They adhere to the upper jaw, are two in number, on each side, and if placked out, grow again. They are sharp poined, curved backwards, and inclining towar the throat, when the animal is not making use of them. The venom issues from little vesicle that adheres to the root of the tooth. In summer these animals drop their skin every two months. Every year, except the first, they acquire a new corneated or horny rattle. It is but seldom that they shake them, and never, unless provoked, or when they would fix the attention of their prey, especially if volatile animals, as birds and squirrels. A sort of charm has been attributed to the rattlesnake. The effects are fully verified by M. N., but he considers them as produced by apprehension and terror. In his own garden, and by his own ser. pents, he has seen the victim dropping, from rock to rock, and from branch to branch, till seized by its terrible assailant. The breath of the rattlesnake is not fetid, as is currently reported. M. N. has tamed serpents of all kinds, and they all readily obey him. The following exhibits the population respectively of the seven principal states of the German Confederation, as taken from the latest lists in the archives of the Diet; Austria, 9,482,277; Prussia, 7,953,341; Bavaria, 3,523,000; Saxony, 1,203,000; Hanover, 1,305,351; Wurtemburg, 1,595,462; and Baden, 1,002,000. Construction of a Museum.-The King of Prussia has just granted more than half a million of crowns for the building of the new museum. It is imagined that the necessary labour for the erection of this magnificent monument will last three or four years. The execution of it is confided to the architect Schinkei. Among the subjects of art which are to be deposited there, is the fine collection of the paintings of Solly, which the Aulic Counsellor, Hirt, has just purchased for 100,000 crowns. M. Becken of Copenhagen, who has published a journal of his recent travels in Sweden, observes, that out of the sixteen printing-offices in Stockholm, there is not one with two presses, and that most of the works which issue from them are printed in half sheets. There are eight or nine booksellers' shops, but one only merits the name. It would be useless to inquire for any work printed abroad, unless it has been some years upon sale. Provincial towns are still worse provided, without excepting Upsał, 4 P the seat of a university, The Swedes, therefore, generally speaking, may be somewhat tardy in the progress of science pid literature, but this circumstance is not imputable to any want of aptitude in the nation, or to any fault of the climate. The great obstacle is the difficulty of communication with other countries. Sweden requires an establishment like one in Denmark, of more than forty years standing. Every week, one or more caravans set out from Hamburgh for Copenhagen, and from Copenhagen for Hamburgh, with mercantile commodities, and the carriage low-priced. The Copen hagen booksellers, whose shops are very numerous and well-stocked, take advantage of this; and, whenever a new work arrives at Leipsick, the Hamburgh book- M. the Abbé Halma is now publishing WORKS PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION. Dunallan; or the Methodist Husband, in 3 vols. 12mo. by the author of the Decision; Father Clement, &c. The Doctrine of Election, viewed in connection with the responsibility of man as a moral agent; by the Rev. Wm. Hamilton, D. D. of Strathblane, 12mo. The works of the Rev. John Newton, A. M. late Rector of St. Mary, Woolnoth, &c. with a Life of, and view of his character and writings; by the Rev. Richard Cecil, A. M. in six vols. 8vo. A new edition of Hervey's Theron and Aspasio, in 2 vols. 8vo. There will soon be published in Edinburgh, a new edition of Boston's Fourfold State in Gaelic; the former edition was greatly prized by the Scotch Highlanders; the present edition will be a great boon to our interesting countrymen, who are now taught in their own language by the Gaelic School Society. We understand the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge have agreed to take a considerable number of the new edition, for circulation at the va rious stations where they have schools. We hope that benevolent Christians will follow the good example of this venerable Society, and scatter this precious treasure in the Highlands. This edition is much improved by an excellent Gaelic scholar who superintends the press. The History of the Avon Hall Family, and the Death of Abraham Mornington, Esq. of Avon Hall. An elegant present for young persons, with an engraving, Religious Portraits, or Characters of An Affectionate Address to a Sick W. A. Hails is about to publish, by 1 ans. Volney's incapacity as a Biblical critic. Notices respecting the Zodiacs of Dendera and Esnè, &c. The second Part contains a review of Volney's atheistic notions respecting the original state of man in the universe, principles of society, source of the evils of society, origin of governments and laws, &c. His assertions respecting these subjects are shown to be entirely conjectural, unsupported by a single historical notice, contrary to every principle of sound reason, and, in many instances, an outrage offered to the common sense of his readers. Remarks on his allusions to the French revolution.-Inconsistency of his political notions, and of his estimate of national glory and felicity, &c. &c. Review of his grand attempt to show the fabulous and imaginary nature of all religion. Unparalleled audacity and folly of the 13th Section of his 22d Chapter, that Christianity is "The allegorical worship of the sun, under the cabalistical names of CHRIS-EN OF CHRIST, and YES-US, or JESUS."-The folly of his confident assertions exposed.-The necessity and reasonableness of miracles. -Concluding observations, &c. Early in the ensuing winter will be published, a Description of the Island of Madeira, by the late F. Edward Bowdich, Esq. Conductor of the Mission to Ashantee; to which are added, a Narrative of Mr. Bowdich's last Voyage to Africa, terminating at his death; Remarks on the Cape de Verd Islands; and a Description of English Settlements on the River Gambia. By Mrs. Bowdich. Mr. E. A. Crouch is about to publish Illustrations of Conchology, according to the system of Lamarck, in a series of Twenty Engravings, on royal 4to, each plate containing many specimens. Mrs. Frances Parkes is about to present the female world with a little work entitled "Domestic Duties," conveying instructions to young married ladies on the management of their household, and the regulation of their conduct in the various relations and duties of married life. Preparing for publication, Claims of the late Patrick Miller, Esq. of Dalswinton, as Inventor of the Steam Boat, vindicated. By William Miller, late Major in the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards. An Account of the Life and Writings of Dr. William Cullen, and also an Edition of his Physiology, and of his First Lines of the Practice of Physic; to which will be added various original papes, taken from the unpublished Manuscript. of that Author. Early in the ensuing winter will appear, Amaldo, or the Evil Chalice, and other Poems; by the author of "Lyrical Poems," "The Siege of Zaragoza," "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage to the Dead Sea," &c. Mr. Fishbroke, Resident Surgeon at Cheltenham, is about to publish some observations on the treatment of Deafby one case of twenty years, and others ness, on improved principles, illustrated of long standing successfully treated. In the press, and speedily will be published, Death-Bed Scenes, or the Christian's Companion on entering the Dark Valley; by the author of the Evangelical Rambler. Shortly will be published, in a neat pocket volume, the History of Origins, forming a collection of antiquities, important historical facts, singular customs, political and social institutions, and national peculiarities, combining a copious fund of amusement and instruction. In a few days will be published, "Commentaries on the Diseases of the Stomach and Bowels of Children; by Robley Danglison, M. D. &c. &c. In the press, "Lasting Impressions," a Novel, by Mrs. Joanna Carey. Amongst the novelties in preparation for the approaching literary season, is an additional volume of Letters, by Anna Seward; developing the progress of an early attachment, disclosing her more private opinions on various subjects, and embracing numerous anecdotes of her contemporaries; to which will be prefixed, an Essay on Miss Seward's Life and Literary Character. By Mr. Harral. The work will be further illustrated by Notes, a Portrait of Miss Seward, a fac-simile of her hand-writing, &c. An Historical Sketch of the Town of Hawick, and its vicinity, including a number of Circumstances and Anecdotes, illustrative of the manners and Character of the Inhabitants, with occasional observations. By a Trader in the Town. 642 LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. RELIGIOUS. An Address to Children, containing a plain statement of the main truths of the gospel, laid down in a simple and familiar manner, adapted to their capacities, together with a few hymns; price 6d. Letters from an Absent Brother, containing some account of a Tour through parts of the Netherlands, Switzerland, Northern Italy, and France, in the Summer of 1823, By the Rev. Daniel Wil-son, M. A. of St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford, and Vicar of St. Mary's, Islington, Jate Minister of St. John's Chapel, Bedford Row, London. Beautifully printed -in 2 vols. small $vo. price 12s. 6d. bds. Nine Letters on the Extent of the Death of Christ, in reply to William Cunningham, Esq. of Lainshaw, author of the Apostacy of the Church of Rome, &c. &c. Intended as a Refutation of dangerous Arminian Doctrines taught by him - in the Sabbath School, Stewarton, Ayrshire. By the Rev. James Methven, Minister of the United Secession Church, Stewarton, Ayrshire, price 2s. boards. The Duty and Advantage of Early Rising, as it is favourable to Health, Business, and Devotion; including valuable Extracts from the writings of the Rev. John Wesley, A. M. Rev. Philip Doddridge, D.D. Rev. W. Paley, D.D. Right Rev. George Horne, D.D. Lord Bishop of Norwich, Dr. Gregory, Miss Taylor, and others. Handsomely printed in one pocket volume, 18mo. with an elegant and appropriate engraving. Price 2s. boards. Sermons by the Rev. Daniel Wilson, A.M. Vicar of St. Mary's, Islington, 4th edition, 8vo. boards, 12s. Christ's Triumph over Death the Motive to Unfailing Obedience. A Sermon occasioned by the Death of Charles Grant, Esq. preached at St. John's Chapel, Bedford Row, on Sunday, November 9, 1823, by the Rev. Daniel Wilson, A.M. Vicar of St. Mary's, Islington. 2d edition, price 2s. Plain Instructions for Young Communicants, containing an Introductory Address to Young Persons, respecting their obligations to observe the Lord's Supper; the great guilt of treating it with neglect; and obyiating the most plausible objections urged by those who refuse to engage in this service; a Sacra, mental Catechism, divided into eleven sections; and an example of self-dedication to God, meditations for the commu nion table, and questions drawn from suitable texts of Scripture, to assist in self-examination. By the Rev. John Barr, Glasgow. Second edition, with corrections and additions, 18mo. closely printed, price 6d. Scientia Biblica: being a Copious Collection of Parallel Passages, printed in Words at length, for the illustration of the New Testament; together with the Text at large, in Greek and English, the various Readings, and the Chronology. Vol. I. and II. Price 20s. boards. Under the Patronage of his most Gracious Majesty, his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, the Right Hon. and Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Durham. The Scottish Wanderer; or Patience and Contentment in Humble Life exemplified; in an interesting Memoir of Thomas Hogg. By the Rev. William Read, A. M. Stone Easton Lodge, near Bath, Domestic Chaplain to his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence. With a fine engraving. Second edition, considerably enlarged, price 8d. This edition contains nearly seven pages of additional information, obligingly communicated by the Rev. James Clark, Minister of the United Secession Church, Jedburgh. A Sketch of the Life of the Rev. Jules Charles Rieu, Pastor of the Reformed Church, Frederica, in Denmark; with Practical Remarks and Illustrations, and an Introduction, containing an Account of that Colony, and anecdotes of eminent Protestant Ministers on the Continent. With an elegant and appropriate Engraving. 18mo. boards, price ls. 6d. The Life of Colonel James Gardiner, who was slain at the Battle of Prestonpans; to which is now added, the Christian Warrior animated and crowned, a Sermon, occasioned by his heroic death. By Philip Doddridge, D.D. In a neat 18mo. volume, with fine portrait. 2s. The Pastor of Blamont, an authentic "narrative of the Ministry and Sufferings of the Rev. J. F. Nardin, a French Pro"testant of the 17th century. In one vol. 18mo. with a frontispiece. 18. 6d. A Sermon preached before the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, (Incorporated by Royal Charter,) at their Anniversary Meeting, in the High Church of Edinburgh, on Thursday, June 3, 1824. By the Rev. Stevenson Macgill, D.D. Professor of Divinity in the University of Glasgow. |