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ith pitch. From the apocryphal authority of Sanchoatho we learn, that Ousous, one of the most ancient of e Phenician heroes, took a tree which was half burnt, at off its branches, and was the first who ventured to xpose himself on the waters after the general deluge. if the authenticity of this, however, there is some doubt. Il the certain information we possess respecting the Phocian ships is, that they had two sorts, one for commerl, the other for warlike, purposes."

According to Herodotus, the Egyptian ships were ide of thorns twisted together, and their sails of rush mats. ajecture, however, as well as history, warrants us in lieving that rafts were the most ancient mode of conFance on the water; and even in the time of Pliny they re extensively employed, especially in the navigation rivers. Boats formed of slender rods or hurdles, and rered with skins, seem also to have preceded the canoe vessel made of a single piece of timber.

To a native of Lydia, the Greeks ascribe the invention Joats of planks. Among some nations, leather was the y material used in the formation of ships. Even in time of Cæsar, the Veneti, a people of Brittany, made eir sails of hides, and their tackle of thongs. The Greeks, so, in early ages, used the common rushes of their counand the Carthagenians the spartum or broom of Spain. The earliest anchors were doubtless large stones, logs heavy wood, or any ponderous substance that might at hand. At present, the shape of anchors is pretty ly the same in most parts of the civilized world, and, pt in a few instances, where copper is used, iron is material employed in their construction. According to Diodorus, the Phoenicians, in their first ges to Spain, having obtained more silver than their could safely bold, employed some of it, instead of for their anchors. The cables were made of leather , afterwards of rushes, the osier, the Egyptian byand similar materials. The Veneti, however, used tables. The chain-cable, therefore, of which we as an invention of the present day, was known to a 1 of savages in Gaul so far back as the time of Cæsar. e days of Agricola, sails were made of flax; towards nd of the first century, hemp was in common use g them for sails and ropes.

is the generally received opinion, that the Britons, time of the invasion by Cæsar, had no ships but such Se made of light and pliant wood, with ribs of hurcovered and lined with leather. They had, indeed, and sails; the sails as well as the ropes were also eStevenson's Historical Sketch. A fac simile of the anavy of the aboriginal Britons is at this day to be found pprimitive simplicity on the waters of the Wye and and still known by its ancient appellation of coracle,

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in the salmon fishery near Carmarthen.

made of leather, consequently they could not be furled, but when requisite were bound to the mast. "If we give credit to poets and poetical writers, we shall find Neptune covering the Mediterranean Sea with his mighty fleets, as Admiral, under his father Saturn, supposed, according to Locke, to be Noah, as Neptune is to be Japheth; and to him is ascribed the first building of ships with sharp stems, or heads shod with iron or brass, to run against other ships and split them, and with towers on them for men to fight when they came to lie board and board. "The Phoenicians, who are the same the Scriptures call the Philistines, certainly were the earliest and ablest mariners in those first ages. They made the greatest discoveries of any nation; they planted colonies of their own in most of those countries so discovered, and settled trade and commerce in the most distant regions.

markably. On the outside it was built with double planks, daubed over with green pitch, caulked with linen rags, and, over all, a sheet of lead fastened on with little copper nails. Here we have caulking and sheathing together above 1600 years ago. The other instance we find in Purchas's Pilgrims, where he gives an account of the finding of a great town, in a dock of which was a pinck of eight or ten hundred tons burden, sheathed all with iron. This was about the year 1613.

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"We are told in the New Testament, that there went out a decree in the days of Claudius Cæsar, that all the world should be taxed.' To this decree,' says Mr. Colton, in his celebrated work of Lacon, all the Potentates of Europe, seem to have given their unanimous assent and approbation.' Gibbon informs us, that the reign of Augustus and his successors, duties were imposed on every kind of merchandise, which, through a Of comparatively little avail, however, was either thousand channels, flowed to Rome, the then great centre trade or shipping, when the mariners durst not venture of opulence and luxury; and in whatsoever manner the out of sight of land, lest they should be left in the track-law was expressed, it was the Roman purchaser, and not the less ocean without any certain guide to point out their provincial merchant, who payed the tax. The rate of the course; or, as Dryden expresses it, customs varied from the eighth to the fortieth part of the value of the commodity; and we have a right to suppose, that the variation was directed by the unalterable maxims of policy that a higher duty was fixed on the articles of luxury, than on those of necessity; and that the productions, raised or manufactured by the labour of the subjects of the empire, were treated with more indulgence than was shown to the pernicious, or, at least, the unpopular commerce of Arabia.' Pliny's observation, that the Indian commodities were sold at Rome at a hundred times their original price, may give us some notion of the then produce of the customs, since that original price amounted to more than eight hundred thousand pounds."

'Rude as their ships was navigation then,
No useful compass or meridian known;
Coasting, they kept the land within their ken,
And knew no north but when the pole-star shone.'

"The finding out of the mariner's compass is usually ascribed to Flavio Gioia, a Neapolitan, about the year 1302; and hence it is, that the territory of Principato, which makes a part of the kingdom of Naples, where he was born, bears a compass for its arms. Others say, that Marcus Paulus, a Venetian, making a journey to China, brought back the discovery with him in 1260. In the embassy of Lord Macartney to the Emperor of China, this latter assertion seems to be confirmed. 'It has been thought,' he says, that the needle has its chief tendency to the north pole:, but in China, the south alone is considered as containing the attractive power. The Chinese name of the compass is ting-nan ching, or needle pointing to the south; and a distinguishing mark is fixed on the magnet's southern pole, as in European compasses upon the northern one."

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"Anaximander, a Milesian philosopher, first invented geographical maps and sun-dials, about five hundred years before Christ. The fifteenth century is distinguished by the great improvements which were made in their construction.

"Sheathing of ships, is, I believe, pretty generally considered to be absolutely new; but two instances of it are recorded by ancient writers. Leo Baptista Alberti, in his book of architecture, mentions that Trajan's ship was raised out of the lake of Riccia, where it had lain sunk and neglected for above thirteen hundred years that the pine and cypress of it had lasted most re

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"The earliest regular table of English custom duties is contained in the Act of 12th Charles II. It is well known, that these duties have gone on increasing from time to time; and that, in the present day, they are to the nation fruitful source of revenue, and to the statesman an engine by which many of the ablest schemes of Political Economy are regulated.

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"The excise, introduced by Augustus after the civil wars,' we further learn from Gibbon, was extremely moderate, but it was general. It seldom exceeded one per cent. Our excise tax took its origin,' says Blackstone, in the reign of Charles II. An excise was granted on certain commodities for the King's life, in lieu of the military tenures; there was also granted to the Crown an hereditary excise on certain other commodities.'

"These are the chief points which the limits of my plan will allow me to touch on, with regard to the origin of Shipping, Navigation, and Commerce. I proceed, therefore, in a very succinct manner, to trace out their progress from the early ages to the present time."

Vivace. p

Biographical Notices.

THE LATE HENRY FUSELI, ESQ. R. A.

This distinguished artist and accomplished scholar attained the great age of 87, in perfect possession of his faculties, his mind remaining as completely vigorous and firm as at any former period of his life. Mr. Fuseli was a native of Zurich, and came to England at an early age, more with the intention of making literature his study than art. Indeed he published a few works; but while he was yet undetermined, and speculating, as he said, on the great resolve of life, he took some of his drawings to Sir Joshua Reynolds, and asked his candid opinion whether he thought he had any chance of success as an artist. The President was so struck with the conception and power displayed in them, that, after viewing them attentively, he said, Young man, were I the author of these drawings, and offered ten thousand a-year not to practise as an artist, I would reject the offer with contempt." This decided him; but it was not until the opening of his Milton gallery, about the year 1798, that the extent of his intellectual acquirements, his lofty imagination, and unequalled fancy, were fully appreciated..

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The result did not disappoint him; their friendship ended only with life, and, on the part of the artist, was continued to Lavater's son, with unabated fervour. Mr. Fuseli enjoyed excellent health, probably the result of his habitual temperance. He was also a very early riser, and whether in the country or in town, in summer or winter, was seldom in bed after five o'clock. He enjoyed perfect domestic happiness, and was perhaps one of the most affectionately attached husbands that ever breathed. His lady survives him. He has made a will, leaving her every thing he died possessed of. He had, for upwards of twenty years, held the offices of Professor of Painting and Keeper of the Royal Academy.

BLIND TOM, THE BELL-RINGER.

[From the Dumfries Courier.]

belfrey in their youth, to compete for the honour of pull-
ing a rope, will heave a sigh for the old man's fate, should
this notice ever meet their eye. He was born on the 6th
of May, 1750, old style, and had nearly completed his 75th
year. Dr. Jenner's invention came too late for him;
when a mere child he lost his eye-sight by the natural
small-pox, and had no recollection of every having gazed
on the external world. Like other boys, he was very fond
of visiting our venerable mid-steeple, and at the age of
twelve was promoted to the office of chief ringer. And
never was bellman more faithful. For more than half a
century Tom was at his post three times a day, at the very
minute or moment required, whether the clock pointed
right or no, and without, we believe, a single omission.
In the coldest morning, or the darkest night of winter-
foul or fair-sunshine or storm-it was all one to Tom;
and though sluggards might excuse themselvs on the score
of the weather, his noisy clapper never failed to remind
them that there was at least one man in the town up and
at his duty; or to speak in the language of a good old
proverb, that-

"Early to bed and early to rise,

Make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."

Indeed, such was his punctuality, that he was never known None who witnessed it can ever forget the effect produced to commit a single mistake but one, by ringing the bell at on them by that sublime exhibition. The pictures he eleven in place of ten at night. This occurred very lately: painted for the Shakspeare gallery must also be remem- and when joked on the subject, he remarked that he had bered with feelings of the highest admiration. His Ghost surely become fey. A friend of ours has calculated, that of Hamlet, unquestionably the grandest work in the col- he rang the bells more than 100,000 times, and in these lection, can never be forgotten while the art exists. Mr. circumstances, it is surely not too much to ask that the bells Fuseli enjoyed the friendship of many of the most dis- may be rung once for him. The lapse of 60 years produces tinguished literati of the age. The high opinion enter- many changes on man and things, and it may be mentained of him, even in youth, by his celebrated townsman tioned as a curious proof of the progressive rise of the Lavater, was shown by his putting into his hand at part-wages of labour, that his salary at first was only 30s. stering, a small piece of paper, beautifully framed and glazed, ling yearly. By and bye, it was advanced to £2:-from on which he found written in German,-"Do but the tenth two to three-three to five-five to ten, and so on, till at part of what you can do." "Hang that up in your bed- last he received what to him was a little independencyroom, my friend," said Lavater, and I know what will the high salary of £20 per annum. But, while young be the result." and active, this was not his only means of subsistence. As a mechanic he was more than ordinarily ingenious, and made a lathe with his own hands, with which he was long in the habit of turning various articles both of ornament and general utility. In making cocks and pails for brewing dishes, potato beetles, tinsmiths' mallets, and hucksters' stands for all the country round, blind Tom was quite unrivalled; and many a time and oft he has been seen purchasing a plank on the Sands, raising it on his shoulder, though ten feet long, and carrying it home to his own house, without coming in contact with a single object. He also constructed a portable break for scutching lint, which he further mounted on a nice little carriage, and in this way readily transported both himself and machine to any farm-house where his services were required. His sense of touch was exceedingly acute, and he took great pleasure in visiting the workshops of ingenious tradesmen, and handling any curious article they had formed. At the time our long lost Regalia were recovered, the good old man seemed beside himself with joy; and never to the last did he cease to regret that circumstances prevented him from visiting Edinburgh, and feeling the ancient crown of Scotland. About fifteen years ago, the mid-steeple was thoroughly repaired, and a splendid new cock substituted in the place of the previous old and clumsy weather-vane; and this again was a great event for blind Tom. The steeple was in a great measure his domicile, and he who had so much to do with the base could not be inattentive to the ornaments of the capital. Up therefore he would go to the top, and though repeatedly warned against the danger he would run, he actually accomplished the perilous enterprise, threw his arms around the bonny bird, and bestowed on him a benediction to this effect, that he might long, long continue to indicate as truly the four airts as he himself indicated the time of day. On rejoicing days, during the war, the bellman was ever forward to evince his loyalty, by mounting to the bartisan of the steeple, and discharging an old rusty fowling-picce, which he kept at home to guard himself, and his sole companion, a pet hedge-hog. In his domestic economy, he neither had nor required an assistant. He fetched his own water, made his own bed, cooked his own victuals, planted and raised his own potatoes, and what is more strange still, cast his own peats, and was allowed by all to keep as clean a house as the most particular spinster in town. Among a hundred rows of potatoes, he easily found his way to his own, and when turning peats walked as fearlessly among the Hags of Lochar Moss as those who have all their job, he was ever ready to bear a hand, and when a neighbour got groggy on a Saturday night, it was by no means an uncommon spectacle to see Tom oatering him home to his wife and children. Being much on the streets, he was

Poor Thomas Wilson, the oldest bell-ringer we believe in Britain, and who, for the long period of sixty-three years, summoned the lieges to labour and repose, with all the regularity of the clock itself, has gone the way of all the earth. The room in the belfrey of the mid-steeple was the great scene of Tom's exploits, and he may almost be said to have died at his post. On Saturday, the 16th ultimo, at ten o'clock at night, his hand touched the ropes for the last time, and though many were astonished both at the shortness and irregularity of the chime, all were as unconscious as the ringer himself that he was engaged in tolling his own knell. But it was even so. Struck with something like an apoplectic fit, he staggered, as is supposed, against an old chest, cut his head slightly, sank on the floor, and remained all night in this forlorn and pitiable situation, without a friend to help him to a cup of cold water, or wipe away the damps of death that were fast gathering on his venerable brow. For some years past, a person had assisted him in ringing the bell on Sundays, and when this individual visited the steeple at seven o'clock in the morning, he had to force the inner door of the belfrey before the fate of the deceased could be ascertained. Though he still breathed, he was unable to speak, and was immediately carried to his own house in a state of utter insensibility. A surgeon was sent for, who attempted to bleed him, but without success; and though every other remedy was tried, he only survived till three o'clock of the same day.

In many respects old Thomas Wilson was the most in-senses about them. At raising potatoes, or any other odd teresting character in the town of Dumfries. Every individual in the burgh knew him, from the grey-haired grandame to the urchins at play; and hundreds in various parts of the world, who have dogged his footsteps to the

pretty often employed as a guide, and many lau
stories are told of the astonishment of persons wheat
had conducted to the very extremities of the town, or
good way into the country, on discovering that they
been led by a blind man. His local knowledge was t
extensive, and his memory retentive to an uncommon
gree. Not long ago he had occasion to call at our nei
bour Mr. M'Harg's shop, and in crossing the thres
was remarked that he paused, and lifted his right foot se
high. On this he was told there was no step; but the ad
man's memory was quite faithful, and he immediately
marked, “Just four and twenty years ago I was in
shop, and I'm gye sure there was a step then."-But
might fill our paper with similar anecdotes, and it is
time to do justice to his moral worth. To be brief t
Thomas Wilson has left behind him an honest fame.
a man he was singularly benevolent and kind; as a Chris
tian humble, cheerful, devout; regular in his attendan
at public worship, and religious societies for the diffusion of
the Gospel. Morning and evening he regala pertermed
his devotions in the steeple, though he was careful to conceal
this fact from his friends; and though above asking th
rity for himself, he was never ashamed to apply in
Many a destitute creature, in fact, was more bendă
by blind Tom, than by persons who had much tere
in their power; and at the periodical divisions of the
poors' money, his representations were always listed
with the greatest attention both by elders and miners
Every body knew that he was perfectly disinterested d
that so far from appropriating any thing to him a
would rather have taxed his own very slender mana
Though humble in station, his moral worth and inten
were high, and independently of his age and serves
more deserving character never carried to the grate t
regrets, we may say, of a whole community.

The Naturalist's Diary.

MAY, 1825.

[From Time's Telescope.]

'Tis SPRING-TIDE now: the butterfly more bright,
Wheels o'er the cowslips, in the rainbow light;
The lamb, the colt, the blackbird in the brake,
Seem all a vernal feeling to partake;
The 'swallow twitters' in the earliest ray.
More grateful comes the fragrance after rain
To him who steals along the sweet-brlar lane;
And all things seem to the full heart to bring
The blissful breathing of the world's first spring
More cheerful comes the sunshine of May-mer,
The bee from earliest light now winds his hari,
Busiest from flower to flower, as he would say,
'Up! arise! for it is the morn of May !'

With what delightful sensations do we view the ing of the present month! Every tree and shra in its garment of youth and loveliness, shines purest green, as yet unsullied by the destructive What production of the most skilful artist can with that inimitable picture which nature pres fine May morning! The blossoms of the differe trees mingling their tints of pink and white with sable green which surrounds them; the numerous which meet the eye in varied succession, reg senses with their rich perfume, and displaying, endless variety, the skill of that divine artist fr hand they proceed; the melodious songs of the tribe, exulting in their liberty, greatly increase the of this scene, which is rendered perfect by the source of light and heat rising above the horison, fusing his cheering beams on all around.

MORNING.
Grey twilight steals along the eastern sky,

And morn's pale blushing tints still deeper grow
The joyous lark awakes, and, soaring high,
Carols in sun-beams; while the earth below
Is wrapt in dusky shade: a splendid glow
Of crimson light flushes the early day;

The songs of birds in one wild chorus flow,
As mounts the sun; and, quivering in his ray,
The dews of evening fly: night's shadow rolls aww
Charles Blo

Such is the picture of a fine May morning: often, however, in our northern climate, this smile son of the year' is transformed into a Russian and we are led to exclaim with the poet,

Those glittering dew-drops of a vernal mora.
That spread their colours to the genial beam,

And sparkling quiver to the breath of May; When the rough tempest with sonorous wing Sweeps o'er the grove, forsake the lab'ring bough, Dispersed in air or mingled with the dust. With us, indeed, the beautics of this month are rather ose of infancy and promise; but there is a gladness and ope about it which marvellously delight us. There is, it were, a sympathetic revival and budding forth of the ings at this peculiar season of the year; a delightful pansion of the heart at the return of May. It is said at birds, about this time, will become restless in their jes, as if instinct with the season, conscious of the rery that is going on in the groves, and impatient to break their bondage, and join in the jubilee of the year. like manner (says an elegant writer) I have felt myexcited, even in the midst of the metropolis, when the dows, which had been churlishly closed all winter, e again thrown open to receive the balmy breath of 7: when the sweets of the country were breathed into town, and flowers were cried about the streets. I have sidered the treasures of flowers thus poured in, as so ay missives from nature, inviting us forth to enjoy the in beauty of the year, before its freshness is exhaled by heats of sunny summer.'

The lily of the valley now opens her snowy bells, and
the flowers of the chesnut-tree begin to unfeld; the tulip-
tree has its leaves quite out; and the flowers of the Scotch
fir, the beech, the oak, and the honeysuckle (climbing
round its neighbours for support) are now in full bloom.
So doth the woodbine, the sweet honeysuckle,
Gently entwist, the female ivy so

Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.

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All the varieties of the strawberry, plant of my native
soil,' now open their blossoms, their runners extending on
all sides. The mulberry-tree puts forth its leaves.
The insect tribe continue to add to their numbers;
among these may be named several kinds of moths and
butterflies (papilio atalanta, cardamines, ægeria, lathonia,
&c.) A few butterflies, that have passed the inclement
season in the chrysalis state, are seen on the wing early in
May; soon after which the female lays her eggs singly on
the leaves of nettles.

The butterfly springs on its new-wove wings,

The dormouse starts from its wintry sleeping;
The flowers of earth find a second birth,

To light and life from the darkness leaping;
The roses and tulips will soon resume

Their youths' first perfume and primitive bloom.

[To be continued.]

Correspondence.

"THE BELL, OR MADRAS, OR, TO SPEAK MORE COR-
RECTLY, THE LANCASTERIAN SYSTEM."

part of the world, depends upon the impression made on the
We hope here to have a school
minds of youth at school.
of the first magnitude, in which the English, as well as
Spanish, with other languages, will be taught. Perhaps
no individual out of Britain has at present a power of
serving his country, in connexion with education, cqual
to the opportunities which are gradually presenting them-
selves to me. I am forming a school of drawing, a cabi-
net of minerals and natural history, and a small but very
imperfect collection of philosophical instruments. The
thirst for knowledge is on the increase, but the genius of
this country has so long been kept down by the power of
Spain, its flights are yet novel and feeble compared with
what they will one day be. In this part of the world men
are yet quite in their infancy; yet, certainly, this is an
excellent seed-time for human improvement."

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,-As your pages are always open for the admission of truth, however clouded by obscurity, I am induced to offer a few remarks upon the systems of Bell and Lancaster. It requires no argument to prove that the Madras, or the

verpool, and that it is "all in all" in the estimation of the majority of those who interest themselves in the education of the poor. Now if you, or any of your readers, were disposed to inquire how it is that Mr. Lancaster and his system are so much neglected, I fear that few would be able to give you any thing like a satisfactory answer to this plain question. All would be ready to say "that the better system of the two will always be most popular." Granted. But is Bell's plan superior to that of Mr. Lancaster? Some will reply "that it is already proved to be so." Yes! by its author, his followers, and those who are so blinded by prejudice as to refuse to open their eyes to conviction. "But Bell inculates a religious education

The early flowers of spring, to those in health, always Other insects now observed, are field-crickets, the chaf-system of the former gentleman, has the preference in Lig with them a degree of pleasure; and our affections fer May-bug, and the forest fly, which so much annoys immediately to expand, at the sight of the first open-horses and cattle. The female wasp appears at the latter blossom, under the sunny wall or sheltered bank, how-end of the month, and the swarming of bees takes place. humble its race may be. In the long and dreary The garden now affords rhubarb, green apricots, and green ths of winter, our love of nature, like the buds in veion, seems closed and torpid; but, like them, it un- gooseberries, for making pies and tarts. and reanimates with the opening year, and we welour long lost associates with a cordiality that no other en can excite. The violet of autumn partakes of none love we bear to the violet of spring: 'tis unseason. perhaps it brings with it a thought of melancholy; ew it with curiosity, not affection: nor is the rosa ike the rosa prima. It is not intrinsic beauty or lour that so charm us, for the fair maids of spring tcompete with the grander matrons of the advanced they would be lost, perhaps unheeded, in the rosy s of summer and of autumn. No; it is our first gwith a long-lost friend, the reviving glow of a naflection, that so warms us in this season: to natuhey give pleasure as a harbinger of the renewal of signal of awakening nature, or of a higher promise; Though the advocates for Dr. B. continues to assert, e child is let loose from the house, riots in the that the principle of " mutual tuition" was discovered by meadow, and is monarch of all he surveys: nor their master, I think they will find it very difficult to aprettier emblem of spring, than an infant sportthits basket in the sunny field, with its wreath of warp the credulity of mankind to their side of the question. cups and daisies. With summer flowers we seem Hitherto four letters have appeared, two from the Bel as with our neighbours, in harmony and good-larians, and as many from a Lancasterian, who signs himmt spring flowers are cherished like private friend-self an "American" the former direct our attention to Let us then

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Pluck the fresh floweret, ere it fade,

he is yet a flying;' let us make coronets of fresh grant flowers, watching all the while, with the

jet of NATURE and art,

The dew which sometime on the buds font to swell, like round and orient pearls, oding within the pretty flow'ret's eyes

e tears, that do their own disgrace bewail.

Shakspeare.

H. Neele.

The dew which falls from heaven it glitters brilliant on the branch, and then bales to heaven again. latest species of the summer birds of passage arrive he beginning of May. Among these are the goatOr fern-owl, the spotted fly-catcher, and the sedgeIn this and the following month the dottrel is in Birds are still occupied in building their nests or their eggs. The parental care of birds, at this 1 hatching and rearing their young, can never be atly admired.

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TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,-It is expected that the public will be set right, through the medium of your instructive and entertaining miscellany, with respect to the rival pretensions and comparative merits of Dr. Bell and Mr. Lancaster.

the remote regions of the East, for the proofs of their sub-
ject; whilst the latter point out a place called London
from which he seems to draw irrefutable testimony in fa-

vour of Mr. Lancaster.

Lancaster does not." I apprehend that this will be found a mere position of words and not of truth. Lancaster in his system does inculcate religious truths to his pupils. We have only to visit one of his schools, where the system is practised in its purity, and we shall find that the Bible is the only book used in the school, and that Lancaster's system is as well adapted for the inculcation of principles of religion and morality, as is that of Dr. Bell. "Surely, then, there must be something in the system of Dr. Bell-something in its structure, which renders it the prevailing one." No such thing. Lancaster's plan is the consecutive, and perfectly adapted for the education of cheaper-the simpler in its regulations as a plan, more youth. An individual must be well acquainted with both

enough.

systems before he will be convinced of the truth of these I can scarcely refrain from advancing some of the power-things. A casual visit to any of our charity schools is not ful evidences which I could state in favour of the gentleman who is now flourishing in the new world; but as the "American" appears able to contend with a host of the Madrasites, I leave the honour of the victory to himself. Your most obedient servant,

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Lancasterian has a singular mode of evincing his friendship. He could, it seems, say much in favour of his friend, but he forbears; as Falstaff says, "Call you this backing your friends." His allusion to Joseph Lancaster's present residence in the new world, has induced us to insert the following paragraph:

JOSEPH LANCASTER IN CARACAS.-EDUCATION IN

COLOMBIA.

The following is an extract of a letter written by Joseph Lancaster, dated Caracas, Feb. 2:-" At present I am stationed in Caracas, and am forming a school and seminary of schoolmasters here; I am also forming a picture gallery of a very humble class for the information of my pupils. I have a number of scientific engravings, portraits, maps, prints of natural history, &c. none of them costly or elegant, but all of them replete with instruction. They excite great interest, induce much conversation, and many questions among the pupils, who are sons of the first people in the city and vicinity. They form also points for reference and illustration to many brief lectures which I give to select classes at leisure times. Much of the future benefits of a market, for the literature of England in this

My objector will now be ready to argue "that Dr. B.'s system has of late years received a general adoption, even by Dissenters, and that if any particular dogmas of doctrine were insisted on by its supporters, the Dissenters would not give it encouragement." Very true. But it should not be forgotten, that either system may be practised with or without incultating religious principles. Each system must, therefore, rise in the estimation of the public, by its intrinsic merit. That the system of Dr. Bell has merit I admit; but no honest man will conclude, as too many have done, that on this account Lancaster's is devoid of merit. I attribute the low state of Mr. L.'s system to the want of patronage, and a knowledge of its fundamental principles. Wherever his system has been properly introduced, and acted up to in plan and in principle, it has and always will be successful. But where party spirit interferes-where the talents of the teacher are not equal to his duty-and where there is not a well-selected committee, it must inevitably fall. The same may be said of all other systems. To deny merit in a system which does not impart the peculiar dogmas of any party, is preposterous; and to question its applicability to the purposes for which it was invented, merely because it has not been seen to perfection, is a prejudice which no liberal or impartial man would harbour for a moment.

Lancaster, probably from disgust and obloquy, has neglected his system, and has left the country, while Dr. Bell has been deligently employed, during this time, in maturing his plan, in advocating its claims and superiority; and considering, too, how he comes recommended to our notice as a Churchman, and supported by them, we shall cease to wonder why his system is daily gaining ground. While he is employed in propagating his system, and visiting the schools where it has been introduced, the friends of Lancaster, "good, easy men," are contented to be silent spectators.

As to the origin of the systems, they are not "one and the same," as some ignorant people imagine; and therefore, though they were discovered at or about the same time, it does not follow that Lancaster is in any way indebted to Dr. Bell, or vice versa. I am inclined to think that each reaped a mutual benefit. It is needless, and indeed unprofitable, to spend words about the time of invention; it is enough for me to know that they are distinct systems; and inasmuch as this is the case, and as both systems have the same ends in view, I am constrained to give each my cordial support. They are each adapted for the purposes for which their benevolent authors intended them.

tem.

To all interested in the question, I would say, "make choice of your system, and inculcate your own religious principles. You will find that children make the same progress on Lancaster's plan as on Dr. Bell's; and where you find that this is not the case, attribute it more to the neglect of the teacher, than to a want of merit in the sys. When you have perused all that Dr. B. has to say in favour of his system, be candid enough to give a hearing to his friend, Joseph Lancaster. Then visit both systems as they are practised in their purity. If you really think Dr. B.'s the better system, adopt it; but if, divesting your mind of all prejudice, you find Lancaster's plan commendable, and worthy of being adopted; if you then neglect to give it the preference, you may be considered benevolent man in giving your support to any system which has the education of the poor for its object, but you can have no just claim to the inestimable virtues of candour and impartiality."

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ones. Well, let me see:-26 prizes, among 10,000 purchasers, will be 1 prize to every 385 purchasers. O, glorious uncertainty !-384 chances of missing, for one chance of getting, a capital prize; and exactly 99 chances of missing, for 1 chance of getting, any prize above £5. But what proportion does the amount of the prizes bear to the amount paid for them? There are 10,000 numbers at £22 16s. each, amounting to £228,000, and the amount of the prizes is stated at £200,000, leaving a difference of £28,000 in the hands of the managers, supposing all the tickets to be sold; being a tax of more than twelve per cent. upon all the tickets that are sold.This prize will be shared by the Government, the contractor, and the agents. If my calculations are right, this is a certainty; all the rest is a lottery.

The above calculations, Mr. Editor, have almost brought me to a determination not to let the old dame "diddle me out of my money." Should you think them worthy of a corner in your columns, their insertion would oblige

Yours, &c. A COOL CALCULATOR. Liverpool, April 26, 1825.

The Beauties of Chess.
"Ludimus effigiem belli"............VIDA.

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a The white to move, and to give checkmate in five moves.

Your correspondent Philocribois, in his remarks upon Mr. Lancaster's lectures on introducing his system, seems to forget that we are not to reject a system, merely because its author is not just what our various tastes would wish him to be. Lancaster is, indeed, a very singular character-is blameable in some things-(Who is not ?) and I fear that too many of his friends have been guilty of neglecting his system, because they do not like the man. He is, notwithstanding all his faults, a man of real talent, perfectly consistent in his principles respecting his system, and, "to crown the whole," a true philanthropist. I am yours, &c.

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SIR,-Having money enough, for the present, to procure every thing necessary, but not quite enough to make me a gentleman, I have been ruminating what would be the most probable result of taking a turn with dame Fortune, at the lottery wheel, on the 31st of May. The idea of realizing a fortune of £30,000, when only the small sum of £17 16s. is hazarded for it, is really an idea that makes one's heart beat high with expectation. But then, the old goddess is blind, and deals out her favours with a heedless hand; and, as there are 10,000 tickets, and only two grand prizes, it would be 4999 times as probable that I should make choice of a wrong number, as that, out of 5000, I should be so fortunate as to select the one to which the goddess will award the prize. "Muckle gude luck to it ;" my chance is but small at it. But the scheme consists of 26 capital prizes and 74 minor ones; and, should I miss the grand prizes, I still might pocket one of the capital

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GEOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY.-The new and

interesting French work, of which we have, through the Kaleidoscope, given the only translation that has hitherto appeared in England, approaches its termination. The original contains four engravings of extinct animals, from which we have had fac-simile copies taken. Two of these appear in the present number, and the other two are reserved for our next number, when the remainder of chapter XIII. shall be given. When the work is completed, which will be in the course of a few weeks, we recommend the perusal of the whole to those even who may have regularly read it, as they appeared in our weekly numbers. The young students of natural history and geology will find the labour of perusal, or re-perusal, well bestow

ed, as the work conveys, in a familiar form, the varin theories of eminent modern naturalists, whose works t not accessible to the general reader.

To Correspondents.

THE LOCAL LETTER-BOX OF THE KALEIDOSCOPE,-E. of Birmin ham, one of whose pieces shall be published next wishes to be informed, whether the supplemental she which we have lately been so constantly in the hah giving under this title, is the Liver, in another form, whether it contains extracts from it only. The fact that the Liver, which we published for a short time at penny, was intended as a vehicle for letters either entire of a local nature, or, if on general subjects, of such me ephemeral interest, as to render their regular introduction into the bound volume not desirable. The L has now changed its name, and has assumed the title of the Lec Letter-bor, for noticing local nuisances, sugestions of in provements, and such few advertisement we had been in the habit of introducing occasionally into the de If our Local Letter-box contains little that will att country readers, still they are gainers by the rangemen as no charge is made for the supplement, and as all advert ments are removed from the body of our work, by me this extra sheet. We do not profess to give one way or even monthly, as the publication will depend entire the materials we have for filling it. Owing to a greatamo lation of matter of late, we have published one of ou ments each week, for the last nine weeks, in uninter succession. Although the supplement is called the Letter-box," it will be found often to contain commun tions and suggestions of a general nature, respecting guishing fires, and remedying nuisances, which we f to prevail, more or less, in every town. It will is be ceived, that this gratuitous sheet is so numbered and p that it may either be bound up with our annual val rejected.

MISS CORRIE'S CONCERT.-We decline the commentsda teur, on a recent concert. We do not relish t upon young aspirants to musical eminence. however, with the writer as to the talents of who possesses requisites for an accomplished perf the piano-forte. We must, however, venture to this young gentleman never to sacrifice expressin ecution, and rather to study to please than to dare. will profit by this well-meant hint, we think he may despair of future eminence in his profession. VAPOUR BATHS FOR THE POOR. We shall next wee the letter of Sior, together with a few remarks a to the author.

MUSICAL CRITICISM.-In the letter of Musicus, polishe the Kaleidoscope, page 359, the word perfectly, in tha line upward from the bottom, ought to have been perf LIVERPOOL FEMALE APPRENTICES' LIBRARY.-The o this excellent institution is reserved for our next week it was displaced by the STRANGERS' FRIEND S ANNUAL REPORT, which will be found in the depar this day's publication called the "Local Letter-bar" GYMNASIA. The note of Hygeia, and the extracts with he has favoured us, are preparing for insertion when we shall have occasion to address a note to the A Free Burgess's hint shall be conveyed through st medium.

THE REFORMATION. We perceive with pleasure tha
able writer, who recently communicated twa
letters to the public through the medium of the
has republished them, in conjunction with m
ginal matter on the same subject, in the form
phlet, entitled "The Reformation, and the Pap
LANCASTER AND BELL SYSTEM.-Having already in
this day's Kaleidoscope two further letters on this
point, we shall keep back that of American mi
week. On the principle, "Give unto Cæsar,"
The RETREAT shall have a place, but we wish to be
the controversy by no means uninteresting.
in what publication it has previously appeared, t
may acknowledge it.

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LORD DACRE-If J. H. S. who some time since farvet with a copy of verses with this title, should chan this note, perhaps he will be so good as to state w SUICIDE. We have just recovered a piece thus entitet the piece is original.

has been for sometime mislaid. The writer Gimcrack. It shall have early insertion.

We have received some communications from

W. S. H.

Printed, published, and sold, EVERY TUESDA E. SMITH & CO. 75, Lord-street, Liverpool

OR,

Literary and Scientific Mirror.

"UTILE DULCI."

familiar Miscellany, from which religious and political matters are excluded, contains a variety of original andselected Articles; comprehending Literature, Criticism Men and Manners, nusement, Elegant Extracts, Poetry, Anecdotes, Biography, Meteorology, the Drama, Arts and Sciences, Wit and Satire, Fashions, Natural History, &c. &c. forming a handsome Annual dume, with an Index and Title-page.—Its circulationrenders it a most eligible medium for Literary and Fashionable Advertisements.—Regular supplies are forwarded weekly to the Agents.

3. 254.-Vol. V.

Natural History.

LETTERS

IN THE REVOLUTIONS OF THE GLOBE.

BY M. ALEX. B.

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1825.

Light anoplotherium.-(See the engraving, Fig. 4.) “It
was rather more than two feet high up to the withers; that
is, it was equal in height to the chamois, its limbs being ex-
ceedingly long, but its head and bones were not so large.
Its head was hardly equal to that of the corine. The
light anoplotherium was no less remarkable for its agility

1 legère couche de vie, qui fleurit à la surface du globe, ne and grace, than the common anoplotherium for the heavi-
re que des ruines—Paris: printed, 1824.
ness and slowness of its motion. Light as the antelope,
or the roebuck, it probably sported on the borders of the
nslated expressly for the Kaleidoscope from a recent French work. marshes, or ponds, whose waters were frequented by the
former species. It must have fed there upon the aro-
matic herbs of the dry land, or browsed upon the shoots
THE PALEOTHERIUM, THE ANOPLOTHERIUM, &c. of shrubs. The swiftness of its pace was not, without

LETTER XIII-CONTINUED.

FIG. 3-ANOPLOTHERIUM COMMON.

FIG. 4.—ANOPLOTHERIUM LEGER,

Common anoplotherium.—(See the engraving, Fig. 3.) height, up to the withers, was somewhat considerable; robably exceeded three feet and some inches. This aniI was particularly distinguished by its enormous tail, ich gave to it an appearance something like that of the r. It is probable that, as well as this carnivorous mal, it used frequently to swim and dive in the water, ticularly in that collected in marshy places. But it did frequent the water in search of fish. Like the waterthe hippopotamus, and the whole race of wild boars, d rhinoceroses, the anoplotherium was herbivorous; it therefore, probable that it plunged into the water in der to feed upon the succulent roots and stalks of aquatic ants. It may be inferred from its habits of swimming ad diving, that it was, as well as the otter, covered with smooth coat of hair; perhaps its skin was half bare, ke that of the pachydermes, described above. It is not robable that its ears were long, as they would, in that ase, have been a source of inconvenience to it, on acount of its aquatic way of life. I am inclined to suppose at it resembled, in this respect, the hippopotamus, and =ther quadrupeds which frequent the water.

"Its whole length, comprehending the tail, was, at east, eight feet, and, without the tail, five feet and some ncnes. Its body, therefore, was nearly equal in length o that of an ass of moderate size; but its height was not quite so great."-Cuvier,

doubt, impeded by a long tail; but, like all agile herbi-
vorous animals, it was probably timid, and had large
flexible ears, like those of the stag, to warn it of the least
danger. Finally, there is no doubt that its body was
covered with short hair; consequently, we need only be
acquainted with its colour, in order to describe it, such as
it was when it formerly animated this country, where,
after a lapse of so many ages, its imperfect remains have
been found. If it had been found, covered with its skin,
by some of those naturalists, whose system it is to class
animals according to their exterior characteristics, they
would, without doubt, have ranked it in the number of
ruminants; nevertheless, it differs from them exceedingly
in its interior characteristics, and very probably did not
ruminate."

PRICE 3d

There also existed, in our neighbourhood, an animal of the genus canis, belonging to none of the species now living; of which a jaw-bone has been found, bearing characteristics that, very positively, distinguish it from our wolves, jackals, foxes, and domestic dogs.

A carnivorous animal of the genus of genets, and another of the genus of civets, may be added to the number of formidable animals of that period.

The skeleton of a didelphis, of which I shall merely remark, that it was in an excellent state of preservation, has also been found in our plaster quarries.

I shall not enter into a description of two species, of the genus of pachydermes, which lived in our country with the palæotherium, but which appear to have been much less common there, if we may judge by the few remains that have yet been found; the bones that have been collected are, indeed, scarcely sufficient to establish their existence in a positive manner.

Finally, that I may not pass over in silence any circumstance relating to the history of animals so interesting to us, since they were the first terrestrial quadrupeds that inhabited the places now frequented by us, I will inform you, that remains have been found in different parts of France; by means of which, it has been easy to discover the existence of a genus of pachydermes, designated under the name of lophiodons.

Naturalists were long in doubt, whether or not bones of birds had ever been found in a fossil state. Several authors, The species above described belong particularly to the it is true, affirmed, a long time ago, that they had disbasin, in which Paris is built, and it is rather a remark-covered remains of them, but insurmountable objections able circumstance, that they are found nowhere else. In- were opposed to the belief of their assertions. In 1782, a dividuals, however, of the same genera, have been discovered in some parts of France, or of the neighbouring countries; for instance, near Orleans and Montpellier, and in the environs of Puy en Velay. It appears that the bones of the two former places belong to the same species. The species of which we have just been speaking, so abundantly deposited in the plaster quarries of the neighbourhood of Paris, are almost the only animals found there. Tortoises must, however, be excepted, which appear to have been found in great numbers, with the palæotheriums and anoplotheriums of our neighbourhood.

Perhaps, Madam, as, in describing to you the animals which inhabited our countries, I have spoken to you only of the herbivorous animals, you have formed a very pleasing idea of the life which they led in those remote times; but do not too hastily conclude, that the territory of Paris has, at all times, been privileged to be, in one way or other, the most agreeable abode upon the earth. Truth compels me to inform you, that our peaceful anoplotherium did not always enjoy uninterrupted tranquillity in the places which they animated by their presence: they were liable to be attacked by carnivorous animals, and the revolution which destroyed them has buried with them their cruel persecutors.

The strongest, most cruel, and formidable enemy of the inhabitants of our countries, was an animal of the family of racoons, nearly resembling the wolf in form, but, if we may judge from the form of its teeth, far surpassing that animal in ferocity. It cannot have been inferior, in this respect, to any animal now living. This is evident from the size of its teeth, their sharp form, and the indications still remaining of the strength of its jaw-bones.

real ornitholithe (this is the name given to the fossil remains of birds) was found at Montmartre; but, before that time, it was impossible to attain certainty on this subject. Since then, M. Cuvier has discovered, in the quarries of our neighbourhood, remains of birds, in numbers sufficiently considerable to remove all remaining doubts. One in particular, which is in an excellent state of preservation, has been selected from among them, and is deposited in the Museum.

It is now ascertained, that our quarries contain the remains of eleven or twelve species; amongst which, it ap pears that two, at least, were birds of prey: the most remarkable circumstance in these discoveries is, that our neighbourhood is the only part of the globe where remains have yet been found that have been incontestably proved to be ornitholithes.

The existence of birds in a fossil state proves, that, at the period when they were buried, and when the species were so different from those now living, there were, nevertheless, between the races and genera, the same relations of general organization that we now observe, and that no class of animals was wanting in the series of living beings, each being so necessary to the existence of the whole, that, perhaps, the total destruction of a single great class would suffice to necessitate that of all the others.

Among the reptiles found in a fossil state in our neighbourhood, the genus of tortoises is that containing the greatest number of species. There have been discovered some remains of crocodiles which lived in our climates, as well as of other animals now found only in countries distant from us. I will say nothing, Madam, of the fossil remains of fishes: the only interesting remark which the

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