tended to England, and promises great utility.

The Moving Mountain.-Accounts from Namur say, that the Moving Mountain has made terrible progress during the night from the 30th to the 31st of January. It has advanced more than six feet; the communication between that city and Dinant, which is the great road to Paris, is shut up: people must now go by way of La Plante, along the Meuse, and in case the waters should rise as they did last month, the passage would be impossible. The house of Mr Stapleaux is cracked by the pressure of the earth, and that of Mr Dutilleux is threatened by the neighbourhood of a mass which is sixty feet higher than the roof.

Germany-Imperial Museum.-The rich collection of M. Gieseke is at length transferred to the Emperor's Museum at Vienna. In 1813, M. de Schreibers, Director of the Cabinet of Natural History in that city, prevailed on Professor Gieseke to collect all the remarkable objects brought away in his different voyages to Greenland, Iceland, Denmark, Scotland, and Ireland, for the sake of having them removed to Vienna. He fixed on Copenhagen as the point from which the transportation might most casily be made, through Hamburgh, Leipsig, and Ratisbon. They have accordingly been expedited, and an exhibition of them since made in a hall of the Imperial Chateau. They consist of, 1. An ethnographical collection of a hundred and seventy-five articles of costume, arms, furniture, utensils, &c. both original and in models. This collection is an appendage to another of a similar description, already made from among the natives of the islands in the Pacific Ocean. 2. A collection of skulls, and other parts of animals of the North Seas, which, from their enormous size or particular structure, cannot be preserved entire in cabinets,-the narval, whales, dolphins, seals, &c. 3. A collection of peltry; and also of the skins of seals, arctic foxes, and birds. 4. Some parts of animals preserved in spirits of wine; a number of shells and molluscæ; more than two hundred species of dried plants, &c. 5. A considerable proportion of minerals, under the respective divisions of north and south Greenland, Iceland, England, Scotland, and Ireland. The aggregate of all these collections forms a series of 832 pieces, the mean value of which may be estimated at six or seven thousand florins.

Conversion of Rags into Sugar.-Dr Vogel, Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, has submitted to a careful examination in the laboratory of the Academy of Munich, the surprising discovery of Mr Braconnot, of Nancy, of the effects of concentrated sulphuric acid on wood and linen. He has not only fully confirmed this discovery, so as to lay before the Academy an

essay on the subject, and show the products resulting from the original experiments, but also extended his own experiments, with equal success, to other similar vege table substances, such as old paper, both printed and written upon, and cut straw. By diluting the sulphuric acid with a due addition of water, sawdust, cut linen, paper, &c. were converted into gum and saccharine matter. It must excite great interest in all reflecting minds, to see an indissoluble, tasteless substance, like the filaments of wood, converted, by chemical re-action, into two new bodies, and chemistry thus exer. cise a power, which, but lately, appeared to belong to nature alone, and in particular to vegetation. For this artificial formation of sugar and gum, now discovered, must not be confounded with the extraction of these two substances from bodies in which they already existed, a process which has been known from time immemorial. What has now been discovered is a transformationea metamorphosis, of which the most ingenious chemist had previously no idea; and it affords a new proof of the boundless extent of the domain of practical chemistry. A paper upon Dr Vogel's repetition and investigation of Mr Braconnot's experiments, and those added by himself, is pro mised in one of the next numbers of the Journal of Arts and Manufactures, publish ed by the Bavarian Polytechnic Society.

Muscum of the Crown Prince of Bava ria.-Yesterday the celebrated Faun of the Palace of Barberini, purchased by his Royal Highness the Crown Prince, happily ar rived at Munich on the 5th January, with out being damaged. After this colossal mass of marble had safely passed over the Appennines and Tyrolese mountains, a delay of eight days was occasioned by a bridge near Kufstein, which was unable to bear the weight; but soon were all ob stacles overcome, and the chest is now pla ced in one of the saloons of the museum. The collection of our Crown Prince has now, exclusive of the Egina statues, two works of art, which, after the Torso and the fragments of the Parthenon, according to our opinion, bear most evidently and incontrovertibly the stamp of Grecian origi nality and perfection, namely, this Faun and the celebrated statue of the Son of Niobe, bought at Vienna. But that these two masterpieces do not stand alone here, appears from a list of some of the works which are placed in two saloons, where, besides above twenty other fine works, we see the celebrated Medusa, from the Palace of Rondanini; the colossal Pallas, from the Villa of Albani; the colossal Muse of Ageladas, from the Barberini Palace; the beautiful Venus, from the Palace Braschi; the well known Vaccarelles; two Urns, found in Athens and Rhodes, of Grecian antique workmanship; the Jason tying

his sandal; the colossal Heros from the Barberini Palace; excellent Hermes of Xenocrates, Xenophon, Miltiades, Socrates, and the remarkable statue of Alexander, from the Palace Rondanini. This collec tion now consists of more than two hundred articles.

Russia-Persian Manuscripts, &c.—A collection of nearly 500 Persian, Arabic, and Turkish MSS. has been added at once to the treasures already possessed by the Asiatic Museum of the Petersburgh Academy. They were collected in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia, by a person versed in those languages, namely, M. Rousseau, formerly the Consul-general of France at Aleppo, and since at Bagdad, and taken to France, where they were immediately purchased for Russia before any competition arose from other countries. The Asiatic Museum, which was already distinguished by its fine collection of Chinese, Japanese, Mantchou, Mongol, Kalmuck, and Tungusian writings, as well as of Oriental coins and antiquities, has, by this sudden and great addition of Mussulman MSS. gained in uti lity as much as it has acquired in higher rank among similar collections in foreign countries.

Russian Periodical Publications.-The periodical publications under the patronage and sanction of the Russian Government are as follows: 1. The Petersburgh Journal, published by the Academy of Sciences, in the Russian and German languages, is one of the oldest journals in Russia. 2. The Moscow Journal, published by the University. 3. The Casan Journal, compiled by the Professors of the University; and similar journals are published at Riga, Wilna, Charkow, Astrakan, and at other chief cities. There are also, Le Conservateur Imperial, printed in French, under the direction of the minister for foreign affairs; the Journal of the Senate, in Rus sian and German; the Northern Post, or New Petersburgh Journal, by the ministry for the home department; it comprises news, economy, technology, manufactures, and commerce. The Russian Invalid, or Military Journal, is entrusted to a committee, and appears daily, containing the Emperor's orders of the day, military promotions, with intelligence, as well political as literary; and Memoirs of the Admiralty Department, which contains whatever is interesting to the Russian navy.

The Turquoise.-Dr Gotthelf Fischer, Professor of Natural History in the University at Moscow, has lately made some inquiries into the subject of the Turquoise, which seem to us to possess considerable novelty; we are indebted for the knowledge of them to the Asiatic Journal.

Turquoise is a name which has been crroneously given to two different substances; the oriental turquoise being a true stone, a

clay coloured by oxide of copper, or even by arseniate of iron; and the common turquoise, occidental turquoise, or turquoise odoptolite, being a fossil, a petrefaction, a tooth, or a bone, coloured by a metallic phosphate; and not belonging to the mineral kingdom at all.

We imagine that very few persons are aware of this distinction. The former is the Calaite or borea of Pliny, in his chapter on opaque blue gems, lib. 37, c. 8; Dr F. restores the appellation Calaite, and claims a place for this substance among the minerals or stony bodies to which it pertains, and from which it has only been excluded by the more generally known turquoise of Europe, properly described by Reaumur as a tooth coloured by copper. Indeed, every part of a skeleton may be converted into turquoise, when placed in contact with coppery bodies, and especially with phosphate of copper. The Calaite, or Oriental Turquoise, is found in several mines in Persia, where it is highly valued. Pure stones of the size of a pea are difficult to be procured; those of the size of a nut are extremely rare. The Persians, Afghans, and other Asiatic nations, use them as amulets, for ornamenting their creases, and for the usual purposes of jewellery. There are some varieties.

The turquoise with which we are all more familiar, it is now proposed to designate as the odontolite; as, though the whole animal may be rendered turquoise by being penetrated and coloured by metallic oxides, particularly by copper, the teeth alone, owing to their hardness, are capable of becoming turquoises in the full acceptation of the word. Many teeth of unknown animals have been found so converted in copper mines, &c. but the principal depôts for the formation of these precious bodies are in France. Fur naces, and a process (kept secret) are employed to produce this artificial turquoise, which is, however, distinguished from the real stone by being less hard, by losing its colour in distilled vinegar, and by dissolving completely in nitric acid. The true Calaite withstands these tests, and bears a finer polish.—Lil. Gaz.

Universities of Sweden.-The Universities of Sweden are in a very flourishing state. In the first quarter of last year the number of students at Upsal amounted to 1197, and those of Lund to 600. The whole of the establishments of the kingdom professing to communicate classical education contained 3485 scholars. These etablishments cost the state annually abouts L. 60,000.

Measurement of an Arc of the Meridian in Denmark. The operations for measur ing an arc of the meridian, which the King of Denmark has ordered to be carried on in his dominions, between Lunenburg and Skagen, were, on account of the gloomy

weather, closed for last year about the end of October at Lyssabbel, in the island of Alsen. The lovers of science in all Europe are justly attentive to the progress of this operation; which being carried on according to the enlightened orders, and with the liberal support of his Danish Majesty, under the direction of a most able astronomer, Professor Schumacher, promises to throw light on many important subjects, both in the French and English measurements of the meridian. The astronomical part of the English measurement was executed with the admirable zenith sector of Ramsden, and that of the French with the repeating circles of Borda. The king has borrowed the first from the English government, for the Danish measurement; the place of the latter has been more than supplied by a most excellent eighteen-inch repeating circle, by Reichenbach, with an improvement in the mechanism. Here, therefore, the two kinds of instruments were first used together, which in preceding measurements had been employed singly; and between which a comparison was first made last year, on the journey of the French astronomers to England, and by the conveyance of the zenith sector of Ramsden to Dunkirk. But Professor Schumacher has also obtained another zenith sector, by Troughton, an artist no ways interior to Ramsden; and possesses also what is called the universal measuring instrument, by Reichenbach. Thus richly furnished, and seconded by most able assistants, this cele brated astronomer and distinguished observer will probably solve all doubts. Next year (1820) the professor will go with all his instruments to Skagen, the most northerly station, then repeat his observations at Lunenburg, with the instruments not yet employed there; and lastly, in autumn, measure the first basis in the neighbourhood of Hamburg.-Lit. Gaz.

United States.-Petrifaction of Wood. -We are under obligations (says Dr Silliman) to Mr Pelatiah Perit, of New York, for a collection of specimens of siliceous petrifactions of wood from Antigua. Their characters are indubitable; the distinct ligneous layers corresponding with the annual growth, the medullary prolongations, the knots formed by branches, the cracks, and the bark, are all distinctly visible. Some of the pieces are ponderous portions of large trees. As to the mineralizing matter, it is evidently siliceous, and the specimens are principally the holztein of Werner; crystals of quartz are apparent in the cavities; some parts are agatized, and veins of chalcedony occasionally pervade the fissures. They are not impressible by steel, and give fire with it. According to the in formation of Mr Perit, they are scattered over the surface of the island of Antigua, with a profusion hardly less than that

which Hornemann observed of the same mineral, during his travels over the eastera part of the great African desert.

Poisonous Fly-In the Choctaw coun try, 130 miles north-east of Natchez, a part of the public road is rendered remarkable by the periodical return of a poisonous and destructive fly which destroys horses. It always appears when the cold weather commences, in December, and as invariably disappears on the approach of warm weather, about the first of April. In the winter of 1816, it was stated that from thirty to forty travelling horses were destroyed. Its colour is a dark-brown; it has an elongated head, with a small and sharp proboscis, and is in size between the gnat and musquito. When it alights upon a horse, it darts through the hair much like a gnat, and never quits its hold until removed by force. When a horse stops to drink, swarms fly about the head, and crowd into the mouth, nostrils, and ears; hence it is supposed the poison is communicated inwardly. Whether this be true or not, the most fatal consequences result.

South America-Earthquakes.-Three dreadful earthquakes took place at Copiapo on the 3d, 4th, and 11th of April. The whole city is said to have been destroyed by these awful visitations. More than three thousand persons were traversing the neigh bouring plains, flying from the desolation which had been produced. It appears, according to all the accounts, that the inhabitants had time to save their lives, but only their lives.

Africa. Cure for Plague.-M. Graberg writes from Tangiers, June 1, 1819, that, by drinking from four to eight ounces of olive-oil, a great number of patients had been saved from death by the plague. The remedy acts generally as a sudorific; an abundant sweat breaks out all over the body, and the virus seems to issue with it, and to lose its power. It sometimes proves vomitive or purgative; but the sweating is most salutary. The consul states a remarkable circumstance that happened at Tangiers. It is affirmed, that negroes who take the plague never escape with life. But two negroes, he says, who, on the access of the disorder, took a strong dose of this oil, recovered from the effects of the conta gion. To render this remedy more effica cious, some use it as frictions or bathings externally also; and some drink a decoction of alder; but the curative power is in the sweating process brought on by the oil.

Petrified City. The enterprising traveller, Mr Ritchie, who proceeded, some time since, with an expedition from Tripoli, for the purpose of exploring the interior of Africa, writes as follows:" As one of my friends desired me to give him, in writing, an account of what I knew touching the

petrified city, situated seventeen days journey from Tripoli by caravan to the south east, and two days journey south from Ouguela, I told him what I had heard from different persons, and particularly from the mouth of one man of credit, who had been on the spot; that is to say, that it was a spacious city, of a round form, having great and small streets therein, furnished with shops, with a large castle magnificently built. That he had seen there several sorts of trees, the most part olives and palms, all of stone, and of a blue, or rather lead, colour. That he saw also figures of men, in postures of exercising their different employments; some holding in their hands staffs, others bread; every one doing something; even women suck ling their children: all of stone. That he went into the castle by three different gates, though there were many more; that there were guards at these gates, with pikes and

javelins in their hands. In short, that he saw in this wonderful city many sorts of animals, as camels, oxen, horses, asses, and sheep, and various birds, all of stone, and of the colour above-mentioned."

The Savage of Java.-It is stated in a letter from a traveller in Batavia, that a savage has been found in the woods of the island; it is thought that he must have lost himself in the earlier part of his youth, and he now seems to be about thirty years old. He speaks no articulate language, but bellows like an animal, or rather barks, for his voice is like that of a dog. He runs on allfours, and as soon as he perceives any human being, he climbs up a tree like a monkey, and springs from one branch to another. When he sees any bird or game, he catches at it, and very seldom misses his prey. As yet he has not been able to accustom himself to the usual mode of living and food of the human species.

LONDON.

A manuscript of undoubted authenticity, calculated to excite an extraordinary degree of interest, has just reached this country. It is already in the hands of a translator, and will be published, both in English and in the original French, during the ensuing month. It is entitled, " Documents Historiques et Reflexions sur le Gouvernement de la Hollande, par Louis Bonaparte, Ex-Roi de Hollande."

This work contains every event relating to the political or financial situation of Holland, from the commencement of the reign of Louis until the close of his government Sketches of the invasion of Italy, and expedition in Egypt, in both of which the author was present Relations of most of the important events in Spain, and his refusal of the crown of that kingdom on the renunciation of Charles IV. to Ferdinand his son, and the formal cession of the latter to Napoleon-Copies of the letters of Charles and Ferdinand, relating to the conspiracy of the latter against his father-The hitherto secret motives of the marriage of the author with the daughter of the Empress Josephine, and their subsequent mutual agreement to a separation-The events which occurred on the separation of the Emperor Napoleon and the Empress Josephine The various Princesses proposed to Napoleon, and the reason of his selecting the daughter of the Emperor of Austria-Numerous characteristic and highly interesting letters from Napoleon to the author, exposing his views, situation, and purposes-An indisputable genealogical history of the family

of Bonaparte, extracted from various histories of Italy and other public documents, all of which prove, beyond doubt, the illustrious rank they held in Italy even in the 12th century; and it is somewhat singular that, 600 years ago, Androlius Bonaparte was Grand Podesta or Governor of Parma, where is now the wife of Napoleon as Grand Duchess !-An important letter from the Duc de Cadore, explaining the intentions of the Emperor relating to Holland, the various united propositions of France and Russia to accommodate with England, and a variety of anecdotes of the author, of Napoleon, and of his family.

Mr Ormerod's valuable History of the County Palatine and City of Chester is now completed. It has been published in ten parts, forming three handsomely printed folio volumes, which are highly embellished by 194 engravings on copper and on wood, inclusive of no less than 357 armorial subjects, which are attached to the pedigrees.

The Rev. Philip Bliss has completed his new edition of Anthony a Wood's Athenæ Oxonienses in four quarto volumes. This valuable body of English Biography contains upwards of two thousand two hundred lives, and there are very few of that large number which have not received either corrections or additions from the pen of the present editor.

Mr Forster, the author of Essays on "Decision of Character," &c. has in the press, and will publish in a few weeks, an Essay on the Evils of Popular Ignorance; in an octavo volume.

Mr Asbury, surgeon, of Enfield, is preparing for the press, An Essay on Croup; which has for its object the illustration of a new and successful mode of treating that disease.

Mr Sharon Turner's third edition of the History of the Anglo-Saxons, in three volumes octavo, is nearly ready. It will contain an addition of several observations and dialogues of King Alfred on the subjects discussed by Boethius, a fuller analysis of the heroic poem of Beowulf, a larger view of the Witenagemot or Anglo-Saxon Parliament, and a detail of the population of the Anglo-Saxons.

Mr J. P. Neale is proceeding in the third volume of his work of Noblemen's and Gentlemen's Seats in the United Kingdom. The work is published in monthly numbers, quarto and octavo, and will, when complete, form six volumes, viz. four being views in England and Wales, one in Scotland, and one in Ireland.

The same tasteful author will also publish on the 1st of April, No. IX. of the History and Antiquities of the Abbey Church of St Peter's, Westminster. The whole will be completed in twelve numbers, with sixty highly-finished engravings by J. and H. Lekeux, Woolmoth, Scott, &c. &c. from drawings by himself.

The third volume of the Classical New Novels, called The Circulating Library," will appear on the 15th of March, and will consist of a work of great interest.

Mr Nichols is preparing for publication, a Fourth Volume of his voluminous though curious Illustrations of the Literary History of the Eighteenth Century.

Mr William Turner has in the press, in three octavo volumes, a Journal of a Tour in Grecce, Egypt, and the Holy Land; with excursions to the River Jordan, and along the banks of the Red Sea to Mount Sinai.

Mr A. Taylor's long expected work, on the subject of Coronations, is announced for immediate publication, under the title of The Glory of Regality.

A Picturesque Tour from Geneva over Mount Simplon to Milan, in one volume imperial octavo, is in preparation. This work, which cannot fail to claim the particular attention of the continental traveller, will contain thirty-six coloured engravings of the most interesting scenery in that romantic tract, and especially the most striking points of view in the new road over the Simplon.

Six monthly Parts are about to appear of Picturesque Illustrations of Buenos Ayres and Monte Video, consisting of twentyfour views and faithful representations of the costumes, manners, &c. of the inhabitants of those cities and their environs; taken on the spot by E. E. Vidal, Esq. and accompanied with descriptive letter-press.

A satirical work is in the press, under the title of Sketches from St George's Fields; by Giorgione di Castel Chiuso, with twenty vignettes from the author's designs.

A Tour through Normandy, to be illus trated by numerous etchings of antiquities, and other interesting subjects, by Dawson Turner, Esq. of Yarmouth, is in the press.

The next number of the Journal of New Voyages and Travels will consist of a Tour through Spain, by Mr Graham, during the Peninsular war.

Mr James Wilson has in the press, A Journal of two successive Tours upon the Continent, performed in the years 1816, 1817, and 1818; containing an account of the principal places in the South of France, of the great road over the Alps, and of the chief cities and most interesting parts of Italy; accompanied with occasional remarks, historical and critical.

Mr T. L. Bicknell, of Greenwich, will shortly publish a volume of Original Miscellanies, in verse and prose.

The Heraldic Visitation of the County Palatine of Durham, by William Flower, Esq. in 1575, containing upwards of fifty pedigrees of the principal families of the county, each embellished with a wood-cut of the arms and quarterings then entered, and a beautiful engraved, title-page, from a design by Williment, is preparing for pub lication; edited by Nicholas John Philipson, Esq. of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Mr James Kenney will soon publish, in octavo, Valdi, or the Libertine's Son, a poem, in five parts.

An historical work on the Persecutions in France is in preparation, by the Rev. Mark Wilks.

Mr B. Hutchinson, Member of the Roy al College of Surgeons, has in the press, Illustrations of Cases of Tic Douloureux successfully treated.

Mr B. Hanbury is preparing for the press, an Historical Research concerning the most ancient Congregational Church in England, shewing the claim of the church of Unionstreet, in the Borough of Southwark, to that distinction.

In the course of the month will be published, in demy octavo, the first Part of a History of England during the Reign of George the Third, from the pen of Mr Robert Scott. The work will be embellished with numerous portraits and other engravings.

The Rev. J. Gilbart, of Dublin, has in the press, and will shortly publish, a Series of connected Lectures on the Holy Bible revealed by God for Man.

Mr Philip, of Liverpool, is about to publish a new Life of Whitefield, the materials of which have been collected from various British and American sources.

Mr Gorham's History of St Neot's, in a