1823.]

LONGEVITY.

M. Neumark, of Ratisbon, has just pub lished a curious Treatise on the means of attaining to an advanced age. The examples which he has quoted of persons who have lived to between 90 and 100 years are from 12 to 20 every year in that interval. Those of centenaries, and up to 115 years, are more numerous; but the number diminishes of those who have attained the age of from 116 to 128 years, being not more than from four to nine. The examples of persons of a greater age than 123 years are naturally more rare. M. Neumark has quoted only one of 200, two of 296, and one of 300. The individual who reached the last-mentioned age was called Jean de Temporibus: he was equerry to Charlemagne, and died in Germany in 1128. It is remarkable that there are few people of rank, and few physicians, among the centenaries. Hippocrates and Dufournel (the latter of whom died at Paris in 1805, aged 115 years) are almost the only ones. Among monarchs, except Frederick the Second, who lived to the age of 76 years, few have passed 70. Among 300 Popes, only seven have reached the age of 80. Among philosophers who have become old reckoned Kepler, Bacon, Newton, Euler, Kant, Fontenelle, &c.

BAD QUALITIES OF PAPER.

may

be

The observations of Mr. Murray, p. 21, on the bad qualities of Paper, are much strengthened by the following remarks by Professor Brand, from the Annals of Philosophy for July 1823:

"In order to increase the weight of print ing papers, some manufacturers are in the habit of mixing sulphate of lime or gypsum with the rags to a great extent. I have been informed by authority upon which I place great reliance, that some paper concains more than one-fourth of its weight of gypsum; and I lately examined a sample, which had the appearance of a good paper, that contained about twelve per cent.

The mode of detecting this fraud is extremely simple: burn 100 grains, or any given weight of the paper in a platina or earthen crucible, and continue the heat un til the residuum becomes white, which it will readily do if the paper is mixed with gypsum. It is certainly true that all paper contains a small quantity of incombustible matter, derived from accidental impurities, but it does not amount to more than about one per cent.; the weight, then, will indicate the extent of the fraud.

With respect to the imperfection of Paper, I allude to the slovenly mode in which the bleaching, by means of chlorine or oxy muriatic acid, is effected. This, after its operation, is frequently left in such quantity in the paper that it may be readily detected by the smell. Some time since, a button-maker in Birmingham, who had manufactured the buttons in the usual way,

458

was surprized to find that, after being a short time kept, they were so tarnished as to be unsaleable: on searching for the cause, he found that it was derived from the action of the chlorine, which had been left in the paper to such an extent as to act upon the metallic buttons."

DISCOVERIES ALONG THE RED SEA, &c..

James Burton, jun. esq. who has been for some time past employed by the Pacha of Egypt in a geological examination of that Prince's dominions, has made some interesting discoveries in the Eastern Desert of the Nile, and along the coast of the Red Sea a tract of country hitherto unexplored by Europeans.

In the Eastern Desert, and in the parallel of Essiout, is Gebel Dokkam, a mountain, the name of which in Arabic signifies smoke mountain. As the names of natural objects are every where apt to be derived from some distinctive character, it occurred to Mr. Burton that forges or smelting works might have been once established there.

With a view to determine this question, he proceeded to the place, and though he did not find a mineral lode, soon saw enough to convince him that there had been a mine in the neighbourhood. At Belet Kebye, a ruinous village, situated in a valley on the South side of the mountain, he found a circular shaft, 20 feet in diameter; the walls tain-its present depth is 60 feet. At the having fallen in, its original depth is unceredge of this shaft are long inclined troughs, stuccoed on both sides, and constructed too nicely and expensively to have been intended as drinking places for cattle: they have apertures at one end for the escape of water, and agree with troughs which Dioscorides describes as having been used in washing and sorting the ores, except in being made not of wood, but of stone.-These troughs are not the only symptoms of a mine having formerly been worked here. The same village contains a beautiful little Ionic temple, on the pediment of which is the following inscription:

"For the safety and eternal victory of our Lord Cæsar, absolute, august, and of all his house, to the sun, great Serapis, and the co-enshrined Deities, this Temple, and all its appurtenances, Epaphroditus Cæsar Governor of Egypt. Marcus Ulpuis Chresimus, superintendant of the Procoluanus."

mines under

of

The most interesting feature of this mountain still remains to be described. Gebel Dokkan is zig-zagged to the top by expensively constructed roads and pathways, which branch off to large quarries of the antique red porphyry, large blocks of which are lying about roughly chisseled, squared, and on supports marked with enchorial characters, and numbered. Where there was a natural crack in the stone, the holes drilled

by

454

by the workmen generally follow its direction, and in one instance small stones have been rammed into a fissure of this kind by way of a wedge. There are also to be seen here unfinished sarcophagi and vases, columns of large diameter, a vast number of ruinous huts, and remains of forges.

On the only road which leads into this valley, and at the distance of about four miles to the North of Belet Kebye, is a large dilapidated structure, called Derr Amiesser. The prefix Derr implies that it was a monastery; but though this building may at one period have been inhabited by Monks, Mr. Burton is of opinion that it was originally intended either as a barrack for troops, or as the residence of the superintendant of the adjacent mines and quarries; particularly as there is no natural supply of water in the neighbourhood, and Government only would go to the expense of constructing an artificial one.

He also remarks, that most of the Convents about Wadi Halfa are on the site of Roman towns or stations.

Considerably to the South of this, about the parallel of Ekmim, and about half way between the Nile and the sea, Mr. Burton has found another Roman station hitherto unnoticed, which is now called Fiteiry : from the inscriptions there it would appear that its ancient name was Mons Claudiapus. Among other ruins are found the columns of a large temple of grey granite. The quarries in the neighbourhood furnished a peculiar kind of Gneiss not unfrequent at Rome. The words UNDREUMA EUTUCHESTATON TRAIANON DAKIKON excite a hope in the mind of a traveller that there is a spring at no great distance; but the nearest place from which water can now be obtained there, is five miles off towards the sea, away from the great track called Amuri a Massa. Mr. Burton has collected a great number of inscriptions at Fitiery, among which is the following fragment:

"ANN. XII. IMP. NERVAE TRAIANO
CAESARI AUG. GERMANICO
DACICO

P. 1. R. SOLPICIUM SIMIUM

PRAEF AEG."

The quarries of verd antique, between Ghene and Cosseir, have also supplied him with a vast number of inscriptions, which are rendered interesting, and may probably become very useful, from the intermixture of Greek with hieroglyphics.

NEW BEER ACT.-Abstract of an Act to encourage the consumption of Beer, and to amend the Laws for securing the Excise duties thereon.-(4 Geo. IV. Cap. 51.)

By existing Statutes, strong beer or ale, or beer or ale above 16s. the barrel, exclusive of the duty (not being twopenny ale, mentioned in the 7th Article of the Treaty of Union with Scotland), brewed in Great

[Nov.

Britain by any common brewer, or others who shall sell or tap out beer or ale publicly or privately, is subject to a duty of 10s. per barrel; and table beer, or beer or ale of 16s. the barrel or under, exclusive of the duty, brewed in Great Britain by any common brewer, &c. is subject to the duty of 2s. per barrel.

This Act makes it lawful for any person to brew for sale and sell beer or ale described in the Act, upon payment, by the brewer, for every barrel, containing 36 gallons of ale measure, of the prescribed beer or ale, brewed in Great Britain, of an Excise duty of 5s. and so in proportion for any greater or less quantity.

Sect. 2. That all such beer or ale so brewed or sold in Great Britain under this Act, shall be brewed in the proportion of not less than five barrels, containing 36 gallons of ale measure each, nor more than five and a half of such barrels, from every quarter of malt used for the purpose of brewing such beer or ale, the brewer to be charged by the proper officer with the duty, at the rate of five such barrels at least, for every quarter of malt used in brewing, or found at any time to be deficient in, and on taking an account of, his malt stock. That all such beer or ale sold in any quantity at one time of nine gallons, or quarter barrel, or upwards, shall be sold at the price not exceeding 27s. ber barrel; That all such beer or ale sold in any quantity at one time of less than nine gallous, shall be sold at a rate not exceeding 10d. the gallon; That such persons brewing porter, or using in the brewing of such ale or beer any other ingredients than water, malt, hops, and yeast, or mixing therewith, or with the wort or worts thereof, any water, or other ingredient than hops and the necessary quantity of yeast and fining, all such porter, &c, shall be forfeited, and may be seized by any Excise officer; That every offence against these rules shall be visited with a penalty of 2001.; and a penalty of 50l. for every offence is imposed upon persons selling, or permitting to be sold, beer brewed under this Act, in any quantity at one time of nine gallons, or quarter barrel, or upwards, at a higher price than 27s. per barrel, or any quantity at one time, less than nine gallons, at a higher price than 10d. per gallon,

hops advance to such price as, in the judgSect. 3. Provided, That when malt or ment of the Commissioners of the Treasury, to require that the brewers and sellers of beer or ale should be allowed to sell at a higher price, these Commissioners may, by order, authorise the brewers or retailers, during such advance, to sell at a higher price to be specified in the order, without incurring any penalty or forfeiture while the order shall be in force.

Then follow more minute regulations for those who propose to become brewers, &c. SELECT

1823.]

NIGHT.

By JAMES MONTGOMERY, Esq. [From "Forget me Not," reviewed p. 449.] NIGHT is the time for rest;

How sweet when labours close,
To gather round an aching breast
The curtain of repose;

Stretch the tired limbs and lay the head
Upon our own delightful bed!

Night is the time for dreams;

The gay romance of life,

When truth that is and truth that seems
Blend in fantastic strife;
Ah! visions less beguiling far
Than waking dreams by daylight are!
Night is the time for toil;

To plough the classic field,
Intent to find the buried spoil
Its wealthy furrows yield;
Till all is ours that sages taught,
That poets sang or heroes wrought.

Night is the time to weep;

To wet with unseen tears
Those graves of memory where sleep
The joys of other years;

Hopes that were Angels in their birth,
But perished young, like things of earth!

Night is the time to watch;

On ocean's dark expanse, To hail the Pleiades, or catch

The full moon's earliest glance, That brings into the home-sick mind All we have loved and left behind,

Night is the time for care;

Brooding on hours mis-spent,
To see the spectre of Despair
Come to our lonely tent;
Like Brutus midst his slumbering host
Startled by Caesar's stalwart ghost.
Night is the time to muse;

Then from the eye the soul
Takes flight, and with expanding views
Beyond the starry pole,
Descries athwart the abyss of night
The dawn of uncreated light.

Night is the time to pray;

Our Saviour oft withdrew

To desert mountains far away,
So will his followers do;

Steal from the throng to haunts untrod,
And hold communion there with God.

Night is the time for death;'

When all around is peace, Calmly to yield the weary breath

From sin and suffering cease; Think of Heaven's bliss and give the sign To parting friends :-such death be mine! Sheffield.

THE POET'S STUDY.

By BERNARD BARTON.

[From "Forget me Not," reviewed p. 449.] OH! not in ceiled rooms of state,

Cumber'd with books the while,
Would I the Muse's influence wait,
Or there expect her smile.

A nook in some lone church-yard green,
Fann'd by the summer breeze-
The living and the dead between,
Would more my fancy please.
Not unto Fancy's power alone

Should such a scene appeal ;
Its sober and its chasten'd tone
My inmost heart would feel.
The moss'd trunk of a scathed tree
Should be my only seat;

And more than moral tomes to me
That relique should repeat.
There too in living leafy pride,
Another tree should grow,

Whose writhed branches far and wide
Their welcome shade should throw.
Those boughs, by whisp'ring breezes stirr❜d,
My canopy should be,

And every gentle whisper heard
Should tell a tale to me.

A crystal brook should babble by,
And to its bordering flowers
Impart fresh loveliness of dye,

And yet more fragrant powers.
Behind me, half conceal'd from sight
As shunning public view,
The ivied church-tow'r's humble height
Should greet Heaven's vaulted blue.
A few low grassy mounds should tell
Where slept the silent dead;
And there the modest heather-bell
Should bend its graceful head.
A guileless infaut too should stray
Where those blue flowers might wave,
And cull, perchance, a posy gay

From off a parent's grave.
While o'er her head a butterfly,
That type, with beauty crown'd,
Of future immortality,

Should lightly flutter round.

My task is done :-who scorns my taste
May paint me, if he can,

A scene with gentler beauties grac'd
For poet or for inan.

3

At every sigh some nightingale complain; Why deem'st it holy

To grieve, when grief can ne'er restore? Because it makes thee grieve the more? Thou pensive Melancholy!

[Nov,

Like bright Aurora's beams Religion rose, And sheds its heav'nly ray of mercy mild O'er the dark mind of infatuated man! It taught him from the sacred Book of God To spurn the dogmas of the Popish Priest, Whose God was this world's Mammon,-he whose threat [sion, Could awe the ignorant peasant to submisWhose Anti-Christian cant the rich could spoil,

[can give

flowers, And warm with tears, since fond regret But useless sobs and unavailing show'rs,

Which, all surviving, nothing e'er revive. Go! strew thy couch beside some lazy stream, Of parched flags and sapless willow-boughs, "Till poring thought repair her broken dream, And hope believe what fancy still avows: "Till once, once more, Visions, so sweetly sad, arise, That even Thou, but for thine eyes, May'st seem not to deplore! Christ College, Cambridge, Nov. 10.

S. P.

Lines occasioned by visiting the LEASOWES,
and seeing the most favourite Spots of
Shenstone but too much neglected.
HERE in cool grot and mossy cell

The rural fays did whilom dwell;
But now the mazy dance is o'er,
The rill, the grove, delight no more!
Where are the traces of his hand,
Who these delicious regions plann'd?
Where, where the variegated traits
That gave new beauties to the sweets?
O swain! to whom 'tis giv'n to trace
The beauties of this hallow'd place,
To call those soft enchantments thine

Which Shenstone's genius did design,—
Repair, repair!

Else Shenstone's shade with due return,
The rude neglect shall nightly mourn,
And luckless seasons pay the scoru,
That's cast on dear Maria's urn!

T. H.

Lines suggested on the spot where All Saints' Church formerly stood, in the Township of Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire.

HERE

as I tread the site where stood of old

[retrace The House of God, my wand'ring thoughts The time when Christians first began in faith

To worship God aright;-here pious HILLS* Bent down in prayer the reverential knee, Imploring blessings from the Eternal Throne On village congregation, that the Word "Might be like bread upon the waters cast, And might be found when many days were o'er."

* John Hills, D.D. Rector of All Saints, Fulbourn, was Archdeacon of Lincoln, Prebendary of Ely, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge in the year 1617.

THE EVERGREEN.

T. N.

1823.]

SPAIN.

Ferdinand has again entered his capital, amidst shouts of "Long live the Absolute King." In our last we mentioned his departure from Cadiz, and the arbitrary decrees subsequently issued. At Seville, on the 9th of October, he put forth a decree, ordaining thus: "A funeral service shall be celebrated in all the churches of the monarchy for the repose of the souls of those, who, since the 7th of March 1820, died in support of God's cause and mine." He published another document, stating, among other things, that "all those who exercise ecclesiastical jurisdiction, shall prepare missions, which shall exert themselves to destroy erroneous, pernicious, and heretical doctrines, and shut up in the monasteries, of which the rules are the most rigid, those ecclesiastics who have been the agents of an impious faction."

The Madrid Gazette of 28th Oct. contains a proclamation, issued by Ferdinand at Seville on the 22d, having all the semblance of a preparatory step towards revoking or modifying the decrees of Port St. Mary, Xeres, and Seville. His Majesty postpones, * till his arrival in Madrid, and till he is sur-rounded by the gravest and most enlightened of his counsellors, his final resolve touching the acts and the actors in the late revolution;" but he "has decided, that the principal delinquents who had placed themselves beyond the reach of pardon, should suffer the punishment to which their transgressions had rendered them liable."

A Letter from Madrid, of Oct. 17, says, "Riego has been tried and condemned to death. Cavia was his Judge, the nephew of the Bishop of Osma, one of the Regents; and the crime in the Act of Accusation is the having voted, as a Deputy of the Cortes, the deposition of the King during his translation to Cadiz, and the nomination of a Regency." Riego was executed at Madrid on the 7th. The unfortunate man was carried to the place of execution in an ass's pannier, doubtless as a mark of ignominy.

All the Spanish Generals have capitulated. Mina, and several of those most implicated have left their Country for England or France. Many of the Cortes are in London. A letter from Gibraltar, dated Oct. 16, says, "We are crowded with unfortunate Spaniards, who have taken refuge here to escape the miseries of a dungeon, or the tortures of the Inquisition. Among them are upwards of sixty Deputies of the Cortes of the most distinguished, as Valdez, Alava, GENT. MAG. November, 1823.

and Infantes; Quiroga, Yandiola, Manzanares, and Calatrava, are also here. There is a warm feeling among the inhabitants of the Rock in favour of these unsuccessful patriots."

We learn that it is a settled point that France is to continue the military occupation of Spain to a certain extent, and for a definite object:-namely, until the Government of Ferdinand is entirely and firmly re-established.

GERMANY, &c.

The activity of the Prussians in availing themselves of peace, by placing their towns in the most complete state of defence, has been most unremitting, particularly at this moment. The important fortress of Ehreinbriesten, at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle, blown up by the French, will be in a most formidable state. The fortifications are on a prodigious scale. The town of Coblentz is fortifying. Three vast fortresses have also been built at a mile distant from the town, to command the roads from France and Mayence. Similar operations are also going on with vigour at Cologne; and in three years all these will be completely finished. The King of the Netherlands is also not inactive. He has built a fortress on one of the heights above Liege, which will contain several thousand men. A second has been founded on an elevation commanding the road to the Freuch frontiers; and ground is marked out for a third on one of the hills overhanging the town.

The number of Students at the University of Gottingen is one thousand four hundred and twenty, amongst whom are four princes; two hundred and seventy of them are occupied with theology, seven hundred and thirty with law, two hundred and twenty-five with medicine, and one hundred and ninety-five with philosophy and philology. TURKEY.

Af

A French Journal relates a fresh instance of the fury of the Turks against the Greek Christians. A priest called Christ has just been crucified in mockery of his name. ter being thus tortured several hours, and. paraded through the streets in the dress of a buffoon, he was daubed with pitch, and then burnt alive.