is pired them with manly sentiments, and formed
at heroes. Similar exercises were the general
of youth; and most families had places appro-
to bodily exercises in their habitations, and at their
seats. Thus should it be in all nations that would
kader the despotic sceptre of refinement.
laris, who wrote his celebrated work on gymnas-
for the antiquarian alone, but, as a physician, to
is contemporaries to revive the beneficial exercises
ancients, as the means of improving the bodily
and health of mankind, expresses himself thus:
ancients had so high an opinion of gymnastics,
to and Aristotle, not to mention others, considered
onwealth as defective, in which they were neglected,
eed, justly; for if the improvement of the mind
accomplish anything of worth and importance,
the aid of the body, assuredly it is incumbent on
note the health and dexterity of the body, that
e capable of serving the mind, and assisting, in-
impeding its operations. For this reason Plato,
goras, calls him a cripple, who, cultivating his
one, suffers his body to languish through sloth
tivity." In this passage is inculcated much im-
truth. May parents, tutors, and magistrates at
lay it to heart!

BJECTIONS TO GYMNASTICS ANSWERED.

Is it not more judicious, therefore, to admit these bodily exercises and recreations into a system of education, than to leave them to the caprice of children? Love childhood; encourage its sports, its pleasures, its amiable in stinct. Which of you has not sometimes regretted that age, when the mouth is ever decked with smiles, and the mind continually at peace?

versely, that the cultivation of the body, alone, makes the mind rude. This is incontrovertibly true: but does it follow, that we should neglect the body, and cultivate the mind alone, at the expense of our health and strength, thus producing in the end weak and diseased minds, through the reaction of bodily infirmity? Surely, no man will maintain this. "That man is too learned, who is so at the cost of his health." On the other hand, will any tutor of sound understanding seck the improvement of the body alone? Certainly not. It is astonishing that such

Even the innocent sports of children will promote the
development of the mind, and lay the foundation of that
harmony between the corporeal and mental faculties, from
which, probably, arises what we term a sound understand-objections should be made.
ing. Children will remain more apt for instruction, if we
do not break the spring of their capacity for it by too early
overstraining. Nay, they may enjoy it perpetually, if
we have but the art of intermixing it with their bodily
exercises.

4. Ridicule. It is true that the singularity of gymnastic
exercises would, in some places, attract notice, and might
excite laughter; but if this may be deemed a sufficient
reason for neglecting what our reason approves, as proper
to be done, we must relinquish every improvement in the
least striking for its novelty." Whatever people may
say or do," says Stowe on this very subject, no man of
probity should suffer himself to be deterred from the
direct road to a great and important end." An intelli-
gent schoolmaster will undoubtedly encourage his scholars,
both by precept and example, in every thing that respects
the care of the body, from a sense of duty.

Te have no places suited to the purpose. Where
as are to be found the magnificent edifices of the
gymnasia, palæstra and amphitheatres
In fact, the manner in which we set about it may be so
lo not want them; for the objects of gymnastics ordered, as to take off much of the glare of novelty. This
> attained without erecting edifices appropriated to
is very easy, if we begin with exercises that are already
spose. Almost all our public schools and academies well known, and gradually proceed to the more uncom
pacious courts as well as gardens, where bodily ex-
mon; at the same time familiarising men's minds with the
may be practised, at least for the present, without object of bodily exercises. When gymnasiasts, whose
ade, till the people at large are gradually accus-beards were already grown, began to amuse themselves in
the sight; and where no other place offers, there a public part of my native town with playing at fives, or
without the gates at football, no one saw any thing ridi-
open fields: the requisite implements for the pur-
st very little: they are far from being out of the culous in it: the passers by stood still, and expressed the
f the ordinary allowance of pocket-money to chil-pleasure they took in beholding the recreations of youth.
schools. How readily would sensible parents dis- How easily may we proceed from these to the proper
he necessary expenses, which are scarcely worth gyninastic exercises, in almost every town and village!
This I believe to be the best mode of introducing what
ning, if the heads of schools, and the government, is certainly to be wished among youth. The welfare of a
ought by all means to encourage gymnastic sports, great town is but half consulted when theatres and con-
promote the scheme by their recommendation!
Tant of Teachers-Without becoming the pane. certs are open to the inhabitants, if no opportunity for
of what I have done myself, I may venture to af- bodily exercises be afforded them.
at the descriptions of gymnastic exercises given in
and part of this work, are more full and practical
re elsewhere to be found either in any ancient or
1 writer. I trust they will be found sufficient to
the beginner with every necessary instruction for
g them into practice.
who will voluntarily undertake the business? The

5. Danger-This seems to be inseparable from gym.
nastic exercises; but long experience has convinced me
that it merely seems so. For seven years I have been in
the habit of seeing a considerable number of children and
youths, weak and strong, little and big, awkward and ex-
pert, almost daily engaged in gymnastic exercises, from
the lowest degree to the highest and apparently perilous,
and to this day not one of them has received any injury.

This is not the place to say more; and therefore I shall conclude with the apt words of Rousseau: "It is a sad mistake, to suppose that the exercise of the body is injurious to the operations of the mind; as if the two actions ought not to proceed in concert, and one always to be a guide to the other."

Tipot.

Biographical Notices.

HENRY JENKINS.

The following account of Henry Jenkins, of Ellerton, in Yorkshire, is from Caulfield's Characters of Remarkable Persons;

"When I first came to live at Bolton, I was told several particulars of the great age of Henry Jenkins; but I believed little of the story for many years, till one day he coming to beg an alms, I desired him to tell me truly how old he was? He paused a little, and then said, that to the best of his remembrance he was about 162-5; and I asked what Kings he remembered? He said Henry the Eighth. I asked what public thing he could longest reHe said, Floddenfield. I asked whether the member? King was there? He said no; lie was in France, and the Earl of Surrey was General. I asked him how old he might be then? He said, I believe I might be between ten and twelve; for, said he, I was sent to Northallerton with a horse-load of arrows, but they sent a bigger boy from thence to the army with them. All this agreed with the history of that time; for bows and arrows were then used, the Earl he named was General, and King Henry the Eighth was then at Tournay; and yet it is observable, that this Jenkins could neither write nor read; there were also four or five in the same parish, that were reputed all of them to be one hundred years old, or within two years of it, and they all said he was an elderly man ever since they knew him; for he was born in another parish, and before any registers were in churches, as it is said; he told me then, too, that he was butler to the Lord Conyers, and remembered the Abbot of Fountain's Abbey Henry Jenkins departed this life, December 1670, at Ellerton upon Swale, in Yorkshire; the battle of Floddenfield was fought December 9th, 1518, and he was about twelve years old when Floddenfield was fought; so that this Henry Jenkins lived one hundred and sixty-nine years, viz.-sixteen years longer then old Parr, and was the oldest man born upon the ruins of this postdiluvian world. In the last century of his life, he was a tisherman, and used to trade in the streams. His diet was coarse and sour, but towards the latter end of his days he

tutor is urged to it by the most pressing necessity This is a stronger argument than any reasoning upon the very well, before the dissolution of the Monasteries.

subject.

6. Alienation from sedentary employments. "If much time be spent in bodily exercises, the youth so educated, with their robust bodies, will not afterwards accommodate themselves to sedentary occupations, to which, however, they are frequently destined! They will neglect their business, or incur disease from confinement!"

son.

vant of occupation for his pupils. If he reside in try, what excellent opportunities do the plain wood afford him for various exercises of the body who can undertake the business? Of the ability no doubt. All private tutors are of an age, in the capability of such exercises still remains, and clination to them exists, or can easily be excited. tost all schools there are young men of the like ; let me add that this would completely remedy The much in this objection should be too much; and tructive effect, which their sedentary way of life has then, it is evident, it would not be altogether without reaBut what avail such misrepresentations? Do we own health. On this head I shall subjoin the fol- wish absolutely to debar youth from all mental, or even passage from Frank's Medical Police:-" In all which are the native seats of inactive life, either the sedentary occupations, and employ them wholly in cors of the lower schools should accompany all their poreal exercises, like the savages of Canada? What ras (without exception) into the open field, regulate tional man would desire this? The true proposition is, sports, and superintend their exercises; or, which I make a judicious distribution of time, and then there will rather advise, a particular master of gymnastics be enough for the improvement both of body and mind: d be appointed, who should have the sole charge of mental labour will then sufficiently habituate the youth xercises of youth. With regard to the health of chil-10 abstract and sedentary employment, so that he will be at school, the office of such a master would assuredly capable of submitting to his future condition as a man; f inferior importance to none that the good of the nay, the full health and strength of his body will render demands, in places where the children of a very erous class of citizens are brought up, at great exe, to be for the most part infirm beings, and useful for a short period of life."

Want of time.-For what is useful and necessary, must find time. It is our duty. These four words a sufficient answer to the whole objection. But I w not what pretence there can be for urging this want ime. In the first place, it is scarcely necessary to say t children cannot do without recreation. If it be adted then that the cultivation of their minds ought to the principal object, against which, however, much y be urged, it would still be true, that the exercise of body and that of the mind always serve as relaxations each other."

• Emilius.

the exertions of his mind more effective.

7. Rudeness of Mind.-We will admit, that the cultivation of the mind, alone, is destructive to the body; and con

In reading this assertion of Saltzmann's, we must surely

be struck with the advisableness of providing useful and pro-
per employments for boys out of school hours; when, very
activity, is the cause of the very disgraceful practice prevalent
probably, the neglect of giving a right direction to youthful
at our public schools, where boys are allowed to fight with
one another, as we have recently seen in a lamentable event
at Eton, to the utmost risk of life; whilst the bad passions
are excited, and religion and morality set at defiance. If boys
were engaged in gymnastic exercises, there would be little
time left for those quarrels, which generally arise from the
want of due superintendence and employment of their leisure

time.

begged up and down. He hath sworn in chancery and other courts to above one hundred and forty years' memory, and was often at the Assizes at York, where he generally went on foot; and I have heard some of the country gentlemen affirm, that he frequently swam in the rivers after he was past the age of one hundred years. In the King's Remembrancer's Office, in the Exchequer, is a record in a deposition of a cause, by English bill, between Anthony Clark and Smirkson, taken 1665, at Kettering, in Yorkshire, where Henry Jenkins, of Ellerton upon Swale, labourer, aged one hundred and fifty-seven years, was produced, and deposed as a witness.

Correspondence.

VAPOUR BATHS.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,—As the columns of your entertaining miscellany are ever open to hints for the public good, allow me to ask, through the same medium, whether any of the va pour baths in our town are supported by public subscription, so as to be accessible to our poorer neighbours, who are otherwise unable to take the benefit of their use, on account

of the charge by the proprietors, which, I believe, in the whole, or at least a large fraction of the credit of inven
lowest instance, is half-a-crown" (against whom, by the bye, tion on "his friend and respected neighbour Dr. Bell."
I do not mean to say they are any way overpaid by such The worthy member, Mr. Whitbread, was so much amazed
charge.) I have observed in my own family the great good at this extraordinary intelligence (observe reader, this hap-
arising from the use of one, after a very severe attack of rheu-pened in 1807, about nine years after Mr. Lancaster's first
matism, which, I may venture to say, was the first thing | essay at improvement) that he requested the attendance of
under Providence to set the patient on his legs. What Dr. B. and Mr. L. at his house in Dover-street, London.
suggested these remarks, was the case of a poor female To this just and reasonable request the Doctor did not
child, who is very much afflicted with rheumatism, or attend; he preferred giving in a written statement, rather
some such severe pains, arising from cold in all her limbs. than meet Mr. Lancaster before so able and discriminating
The medical gentleman who prescribed for her said, "You a judge as Mr. Whitbread.
had better try the vapour bath." On my asking," Have you
done so," the answer was, with a sigh, “No, Sir, because
my mother is too poor to pay for me." Now, Sir, as it
would be necessary for a patient of this sort to go several
times, perhaps, before any lasting relief were got, and as it
would be more than many well-disposed individuals could
afford to pay even for the benefit of one, would it not be
worthy the attention of the generous public of our good
old town, to raise an annual fund, under proper manage-
ment, and, by way of ticket, to give our indigent neigh-
bours an opportunity of the use of the baths, which, I am
convinced, in many cases, particularly of the chronic kind,
would be of essential benefit to them. By giving this a
corner in your Kaleidoscope, you will oblige, yours, &c.
April 25, 1825.
SIOR.

• See Notice to Correspondents.

LANCASTER OR BELL SYSTEM.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,-Your correspondent, who, for the sake of brevity, I will call Philoc. has entered upon his last letter "with the greatest reluctance," and though he is well aware that he is a weak instrument, in a feeble cause, still he attempts to frighten a citizen of the New World from his post, by the following defensive quiver. Mark the last sinking effort of this " 'puny" scribbler. His letter concludes with these words:-"Whilst 1 can think or speak I shall not cease to defend his claims to the utmost of my power." Bravo! Mr. Philoc.: you my think and speak as much as you please, but for your credit's sake write very little. Your last letter is a pretty specimen of your logic and composition. "If the Madras mode of tuition abound in such prodigies of learning, and correct information as you seem to be, what a system of erudition!" and how your patron, Dr. Bell, will rejoice that he has, at this day, such a champion in Liverpool!

Philoc, from your puerile efforts I suspect you are one of the Doctor's "little boys," and when you become a man, it is to be hoped you will "put away childish things." Proceed,-struggle hard in your boyhood, and when you contend some years with American, you will then be "at age," and there's ordination and a vicarage for you!

"Though satire's not my weapon, yet I am not so discreet
That I can't run a tilt, at such as Philoc, when we meet;
I only wear it in a land of Bellarian robbers,
Thieves, supercargoes, rogues, and system-jobbers!"

I beg to apologize, Mr. Editor, for trespassing so far pon your attention, with observations which nothing else should induce me to make but the uncourteous remarks of my systematic adversary.

But to the point. The incontrovertible facts stated in my last letter, in behalf of Mr. Lancaster, continue undisturbed, and will ever remain so. Philoc. attempts to show that Mr. Whitbread's information was "incorrect," and favours us with a reported extract from his speech on another occasion. When Mr. Whitbread pronounced the recorded eulogium on Joseph Lancaster, as the inventor of the new system of education, some nameless member, who had the inspection of Dr. Bell's papers, waited on Mr. W. and told him that the Doctor was a schoolmaster ia India some years before the Borough-road school was opened, (wonderful information!) and requested that he would make another speech, and endeavour to bestow the

Now, Sir, I hope this stubborn fact is again restored to the credit of Mr. Lancaster, and that it will take more than seven years, thinking, speaking, and writing, from Philoc, to convince the public that Mr. L., who was acknowledged by the country, and declared in the House of Commons to be the inventor of "the new system of education," in the year 1807, is not entitled to the same credit in 1825.

But, Sir, Lancaster is not the only sufferer by the gigantic strides of Dr. Bell. Every ingenious man of the present day, and of all future ages, are completely barred out from any improvement in his way: even if discoveries should be made, they must remain without credit, benefit, or advantage.

address of the original correspondent, would forthwith them in, to the gratification of the successful plagiar who had played off the hoax, and the infinite merrime of every one whose reading had extended to Ent Speaker, or the Elegant Extracts. If we should ever ha a seat in Parliament, we would endeavour to obtain a to punish with the tread-wheel, or the pillory, every who should affix his initials to the compositions of another a practice which, although we see it played off "unde our very noses," is most mean and dishonest. In fact, on know no character more pitiful than that of the plagiari, who, in the first instance, is a thief, for stealing or people's thoughts, and a liar for calling them his own POLITICAL ECONOMY-W. D. G. has surprised us a little byla note, from which it appears that he is not aware that we have published his report of Mr. M'Culloch's lecture on foreign commerce, at full length, in the Kalidere of Di cember 28, 1824, page 217. Any further communication on similar subjects will be acceptable.

VAPOUR BATHS FOR THE POOR. Having from the most respe table sources heard so much of the efficacy of rapor bath ing, we must approve of the suggestion of Sir, to entend their benefits to those who cannot afford to pay half crown, which, as our correspondent states, is the s required at the baths of Mr. Coglan and Mrs. Sadler, The sum we believe to be much lower than that required t similar establishments in the kingdom; and we have beard. that in some places more than twice the amou manded. We wish, of course, to have every enviare and luxury of life at as cheap a rate as possible; but we ad also, that those who supply us with them should have remuneration-and this we feel confident, that the props tors of the vapour baths in this town do not receive. The opinion, on our parts, may appear somewhat supering tory, if not officious, as tending to raise the fee for an useful, salutary, and, in many cases, almost indispe remedy; but as it is our opinion, we have not consin's

The Doctor has enacted an eternal penal law against the progress of the human understanding." Should a great improver of education arise in a century to come, and that any of the descendants or fellow-disciples of Philoc. exist in 1925, they will have Dr. Bell's authority to state, that such improvements, however great they may be, are only rivulets, which flow from, and owe their existence to the fountain head of improvement at Madras. Even at this day he claims the merit due to the celebrated Pestalozzi; LOTTERIES.-When we last week declined the inte and there is not a well-conducted school in Paris, Lausanne, Geneva, or the Netherlands, in short, at home or abroad, but he claims to be on his system.

In confirmation of this unjust and monopolizing principle, I beg to refer to Philoc's last letter, where he states, that Lancaster is now propagating the Madras system in

South America.

To Correspondents.

MISUNDERSTANDING OF A CORRESPONDENT, &c.-We do not
plead guilty to the charge of lacking courtesy brought
against us by T. H. S. of Fairfield; and, in the case of which
he complains, the evidence of facts will fully acquit us. In
the Kaleidoscope of January 11, we published some lines,
entitled "The Glove," said to be translated from Schiller.
We stated at the time, that it was our impression, that we
had previously met with an English version. Soon after
this (how soon we cannot say precisely) T. H. S. enclosed
us another English version, translated by Mr. Steinhauser,
thus confirming our conjecture. This singular composi-
tion, together with T. H. S.'s prefatory note, appeared in
the Kaleidoscope of March 1; and it is not our fault that

Cool Calculator, we rather prematurely took it
that it was a puff for an establishment of whit
always disapproved, and one in which we neverní a
farthing in our lives. Our correspondent put a very y
construction upon our apology, by supposing that thes
tery advertisements either prospectively or retrospecti
had any influence over our determination. We
suffered such considerations to sway us from our stila.
duty; and in proof of the sincerity of this assertiat. W
have now to state, that, when, on reperusing the lehet
A Cool Calculator, we found it to be in opposition t,
not in support of, the system of lotteries, we ack
mediate insertion, conspicuously, in the Kaleidoor pe l
the last number of which it appeared.

ORIGINAL MUSIC.-The music of Mr. C. Harding, tvil words, "O'er the heart of Childe Harold," are prepari publication next week; in the mean time we wi our correspondent to inform us, whether there are so verses, and whose words they are.

FLUTE MUSIC. We scarcely know how to reply Violin, who proposes the introduction of flute max. are of opinion, that mere melody, however good would not prove very attractive; it never satis vated ear, which naturally expects harmony to mar piece complete. The musical glasses produce s pure and exquisite than almost any other instrume and yet, for the want of the requisite accon they very soon pall upon the ear. If Vincent F favour us with a sight of any of the pieces to se alludes, we will examine into their pretensions

LIVERPOOL FEMALE APPRENTICES' LIBRARY—I
mental sheet or Local Letter-box of this day, ther
ing report of this excellent establishment is to te
and we strongly recommend it to the perusal of
in town and country.

they have escaped the eye of our quondam correspondent. We shall have a word or two to say to our friend

-As for the trifling delay which occurred between the
interval of transmission and insertion, that arose from
editorial arrangements, which it would be unnecessary
and uninteresting to particularize. We are not surprised
that T. H. S. should succeed in finding some other willing
medium for his effusions. If they had fewer claims to
merit than they do possess, we could point out caterers
for the public who would "jump at them:" literary gentle-
men of so accommodating a disposition, that, if a copy of
Alexander's Feast, or Pope's Universal Prayer, &c. &c. were

Cymro shall be attended to.

ERRATA. In the third line of the last paragraph bot the Observations on Sewers, inserted in the Lo ment of the Kaleidoscope for May 3, after "main **** read "a chimney to be built," &c.; and, instead of read "the base" to be twenty feet high.

offered them for insertion, with the initials A B C, or any Printed, published, and sold, EVERY TUESDAY, E. SMITH & CO. 75, Lord-street, Liverpool.

other signature, and Liverpool, or any other town, as the

OR,

Literary and Scientific Mirror.

"UTILE DULCI."

umiliar Miscellany, from whichreligious and politicalmatters are excluded, contains a variety of original and selected Articles; comprehending Literature, Criticism Men and Manners, isement, Elegant Extracts, Poetry, Anecdotes, Biography, Meteorology, the Drama, Arts and Sciences, Wit and Satire, Fashions, Natural History, &c. &c. forming a handsome Annual me, with an Index and Title-page.-Its circulation renders it a most eligible medium for Literary and Fashionable Advertisements.-Regular supplies are forwarded weekly to the Agents.

255.—Vol. V.

Natural History.

LETTERS

THE REVOLUTIONS OF THE GLOBE.

BY M. ALEX. B.

diminution of the waters of the ocean, found it chiefly | cribed, namely, to the matter deposited by rivers at the

upon the appearance of traces of the abode of the sea upon the highest mountains. The mere consideration of this fact, unconnected with other circumstances, cannot but give rise to a supposition, that the sea has, at some time, been generally diffused over all our continent, and that it egère couche de vie, qui fleurit à la surface du globe, ne has made there a long and tranquil abode, until, in consequence of a succession of various causes, the summits of

que des ruines.-Paris: printed, 1824.

at edenpressly for the Kaleidoscope from a recent French work. the highest mountains were, at length, left dry.

LETTER XIV.

OF THE MASS OF WATERS.

the total mass of waters has. by its change of place, perhaps, by an increase or decrease of bulk, been a pal cause of the revolutions of the globe, it is imit to observe it chiefly with respect to the agency its action may have in producing new modifications of esent order of things; we shall, therefore, consider point of view,

The ocean, or the mass of seas which have a mutual unication.

The lakes of salt water, which have no outlet. The currents of fresh water.

The mass of frozen waters. ocean covers rather more than three quarters of the e of the spheroid; its form is very irregular, and ds upon the distribution of mountains and valleys; ent is greater in the southern than in the northern phere, and it has thence been concluded (without, er, sufficient foundations) that perhaps the two pheres were not equal in weight: this assertion is I to be erroneous, by the earth's rotatory motion, could not be continued, if the two hemispheres of unequal weight.

empts have been made to calculate the mean depth ocean, but the results that have been obtained vary lingly. Some writers have, in fact, computed it to e hundred metres, whilst others have extended it to y thousand. This last computation is prodigiously erated, since it is proved, as well by all arguments ed upon speculative opinions, as by the result of reobservations, conducted with the utmost care, that epth of the ocean does not exceed seven or eight and metres, that is, about a league and a half; so if we supposed the mass of the waters uniformly difover the whole surface of the terrestrial spheroid, housand metres, or one league, would be the utmost ut of its depth.

This opinion has been rendered inadmissible, by new discoveries, proving that the parts of our continents have all been successively, and at several different times, left dry, after having been covered by the ocean; then, that they have been again invaded by it, after having afforded the means of subsistence to terrestrial animals, similar observations prove, incontestably, that the ocean has, in consequence of a change of its bed, inundated all the parts of the terrestrial spheroid, one after another. Besides, it must be remarked, that as the mass of waters occupies more than three quarters of the surface of the spheroid, it would suffice that one-third only of the land covered by it should be left dry, in order that it might be diffused over all our continents.

bottom of the sea.

But although no reasons can be adduced, sufficient to justify the opinion that the waters of the ocean have diminished, it is still more difficult to find satisfactory proofs of their progressive augmentation. It is true, that the few authors who have admitted this supposition, have supported it by real facts; but they were facts, of which the true causes were unknown to them.

Thus, they affirm that several countries of Lower Egypt, now below the level of the sea, and rendered sterile and uninhabitable by the saltness of the waters, were, three thousand years ago, above that level, and fertile. It would, nevertheless, be wrong to conclude, from this incontestable change, that the waters of the Mediterranean have risen; that elevation would have produced upon all its coasts, effects too perceptible to be mistaken.

Besides, when we consider this great question of the elevation, or depression of the level of the sea, it is extremely important to admit, that the level of the continents, far from remaining invariable, often undergoes considerable changes, even in the course of a few centuries. This is evidently proved by the present state of several ancient monuments. Some of them appear to have been lowered or raised with the soil upon which they stood, whilst others, being inclosed in the ground up to half of their height, must either have been pressed down by their own weight, or have been gradually surrounded by the soil near them, which may have risen in every part, except that kept in its place by the pressure of the building. Thus, the ruins of the tomb of Theodoric, of Verona, King of the Goths, constructed in the year 495, near Ravenna, in Italy, have sunk so deep into the earth, that only half of this Gothic monument is now visible, the rest being concealed under the soil.

This fact is the more remarkable, as the monument, which is of an enormous weight, has certainly been raised upon piles.

The opinions of the writers, who suppose that there has
been a gradual diminution of the waters of the sea, are sup-
ported by a great number of facts, which appear, in fact,
upon a cursory review of them, to prove, that, ever since
the commencement of the periods recorded in history, the
sea has left dry many places, formerly occupied by it.
These authors quoted, in proof of their assertions, the port
of Frejus, formerly so celebrated for the harbourage which
it afforded to the Roman galleys, and now at a considera-
ble distance from the shore; that of Aigues-Mortes, where
Saint Louis embarked in the vessels which carried him to
the east, and which is now also dry; the port of Brindisi
| now also abandoned by the sea; and, finally, the town of
Damietta, situated in the time of Saint Louis, on the sea
shore, and now nine or ten Italian miles distant from it.
They quoted, besides, a great number of similar facts, There are, in several parts of Scotland, remains of walls,
which, though well attested by historical tradition, can-built by the Romans in the second century of the Chris-
not be considered as proofs of their assertions; since, as tian era, which divide this country from sea to sea; but
all the sea-ports mentioned above, are situated at the they are now sunk into the earth, and it is necessary to
mouths of great rivers, which, like the Nile, Loire, and make excavations in order to find them.
Rhone, deposit a large quantity of sand and earthy matter
upon their shores, there is evidently every reason to be-year 125, which extended across England, from Newcastle
lieve, that the ports of the bed of the sea, near them, have
not been left dry, in consequence of the retreat of its waters,
but that they have been gradually raised above its level;
in one of these ports (that of Brindisi) it is very percepti-
ble that the operations of nature have been aided by the
works of men.

oes the mass of the waters progressively diminish, and
we therefore anticipate that our globe will be at some
re time left entirely dry? Or does it, on the con- The Baltic is the only sea which seems really to dimi-
7, continually increase, as some authors have imagined, nish in depth; but, according to all appearances, this di-
› must consequently suppose that we are threatened minution is a local phenomenon, depending upon the
ʼn a second deluge? Finally, does the bulk of the elevation of its bed. We shall, Madam, in a short time,
an continue nearly the same in the course of a succes- be more capable of deciding upon this point: since the
n of ages, and are the revolutions of the globe produced beginning of the eighteenth century, every possible pre-
a mere change of its bed? Such, Madam, are the im-caution has been taken to remove all remaining doubts.
rtant questions, respecting the solution of which I am If, as it is most probable, the apparent diminution of the
out to acquaint you with the opinions of the men whose
entific knowledge is the most esteemed.
Authors, who support the opinion of the progressive

waters of the Baltic be occasioned by the elevation of its
bed, this effect must be attributed to the same cause as
that to which the changes abovementioned have been as-

Another wall of earth, built by Adrian, towards the

to Carlisle, has also sunk into the earth. It was, in 432, rebuilt of brick, by Aetius, a general of the Roman Empire, and was then made eight feet thick, and twelve feet high.

It may be supposed that this wall has been demolished in the places where there are now no vestiges remaining of it; but what must we conclude, when we perceive that, in other places, it is completely buried in the ground? Either the whole mass of the wall must have sunk under ground by its own weight, or the surrounding earth must have risen so much above its ancient level, as to cover it en tirely.

From either of these suppositions this consequence may be drawn, that there is no fixed point upon the continents by which it may be ascertained what changes have taken place in the level of the seas; since we cannot be sure that any rock, upon which the measure is taken, has not

sunk into soil of a softer nature beneath it, or that it has small town in Burgundy, of a noble family: destined to not been raised upon the soil. Observe, Madam, that the shine in courts, he was at first appointed Page of the walls built by the Romans, which I have just mentioned Chamber. The King, at an early age, appointed him to you, cannot be supposed to have been covered by ruins Gentleman in Ordinary, and soon after, Secretary of Emand rubbish, accumulated above them, in the course of bassy, and in this capacity he accompanied Baron Talleytilling the surrounding land, as the parts of the country, rand to Naples, and during the absence of the ambassador where they are situated, have never been cultivated. remained as Chargé d'Affaires, in which post he had seveBuildings, more ancient than the walls of Adrian, situ- ral opportunities of displaying a rare superiority of talent, ated in the midst of commercial towns, and cultivated and a depth of conception, which lying concealed under lands, still remain uncovered: thus, the square house at an inexhaustible fund of wit and humour, was not even Nismes, built under Augustus, has the same appearance suspected to exist, till the wit and courtier vanished, to which it always had. This circumstance tends to prove, make room for the profound diplomatist. His wit and that the present state of the Roman walls cannot be attrigaiety were proverbial; the ridiculous never escaped him, whether seated on the throne or dwelling in a cottage; and under the glowing colours of his imagination it as sumed shapes still more ridiculous: the line of Persius may be applied to him:

buted to the last-mentioned cause.

That you may not, Madam, be unwilling to admit that slow and almost imperceptible changes have, in the course of ages, been produced upon the surface of the soil, I will remind you of those that have, in so incomprehensible a manner, taken place during the earthquakes described in

a

a

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arts or arts

Selected by Buonaparte to accompany him to Egypt, be by turns wielded the sword and handled the pencil, and was difficult to say whether he excelled His stock of gaiety never left him, even in the greas reverses, and under the severest privations: it was not i insensibility to suffering, but an enlightened philosophy, that bore him up under evils for which there was no to medy. Many instances are recorded of Denon's humanity and feeling, on crossing the Desert. Those who have t sited his cabinet at Paris, will recollect the terrific picture of the Arab dying in the desert of hunger and thirst: the sketch was taken from nature by Denon, whose modesty would not suffer the painter to tell the whole of the stery but we hope, now that he is no more, that the circum stance will be painted as it occurred, and that we shall see Denon, as the good Samaritan, raising the peer Arab's head, and pouring into his parched lips the last drop of water which he had for his own subsistence The per

Quid faciam nam sum petulanti splene cachinno?" His wit, more than his politics, having the misfortune alone of the dying man could speak his gratitude; a burna former letter. I need not mention the extraordinary to displease the Queen of Naples, Marie Caroline, at the ing tear gushed from their orbs, and he expired in the change which took place at Puzzuoli, where the Monte-period of the emigration, he incurred her royal disgrace, arms of his noble and generous friend. Nuovo, 2400 feet high, appeared in the course of a single and retreated from Naples and went to reside at Venice, It is not when a man is at ease in his possessions, and night. I cannot, however, refrain from relating to you a where he was known as the Chevalier Denon. His wit that he spares a portion of his superfluities to relieve de fact, still better adapted to illustrate the subject in question: and talents, his amiable disposition, and the elegance of wants of his fellow-creatures, that his benevolence an be In 1571, a tract of ploughed and meadow land in Here- his manners, gave him a ready introduction to the cele-boasted of; but it assumes an heroic, a divine ctice. fordshire, of twenty acres in extent, was observed to be brated Madame Albrizzi, and he soon became one of her when, like Denon, he hesitates not to sacrifice the very separated from the adjoining mass, and to be gradually greatest favourites, and the soul of her delightful parties. means of his own existence to save a stranger nå u transported, in the course of three days, to the distance of She has drawn his portrait in all the flattering colours of an enemy, who stands in need of it. 400 paces. The most singular circumstance attending this exalted and an Italian friendship. Devoted to the arts with fact was, that no noise was heard; but, when the moving passion that knew no limits, his mornings were entirely ground was fixed, the earth was suddenly swelled, and occupied, in Italy, in improving himself in the study of very considerable elevation was formed. the presentiment that one day he would have the good the Fine Arts, and particularly in drawing, as if he had fortune to render his talents of use to society, in rescuing from the ravages of time, and the still more barbarous hand of ignorance, the treasures of remote antiquity, and render that Egypt again an object of admiration, which was once the cradle of learning and science, and worthy, from its wisdom, of giving laws to the world. Denon, bred in courts, possessed a mind that revolted at tyranny and superstition, and when the Revolution broke The Censor, Appius Claudius, began one of these roads out he adopted its principles, at least in appearance; for we can hardly suppose the man really to be a violent ja2168 years ago. It was 14 feet broad, and formed a straight cobin, who only made use of his revolutionary zeal for the other collection in the world.

When we consider facts so singular, and so well authenticated, it no longer appears astonishing that more considerable changes should take place in a great extent of country, although they may be effected in an imperceptible manner, and in the space of several centuries.

It has, for instance, been demonstrated, that the surface of Italy was, in the time of ancient Rome, very different from what it now is; this is proved by the present position of the famous consular roads, parts of which are exceed ingly well preserved.

line between Rome and Capua: in order to render it level, he cut through several mountains; one of which, named Pisca Marina, near Terracina, still remains. It is excavated to the depth of 200 feet, and every distance of ten feet is marked by Roman letters. The parts of the road near this mountain are so firm, and so closely paved, that they are now as entire and solid, as at the period of their construction. It is impossible to insert even the point of a sword between the stones. Nevertheless, the road is impassable, in an extent of more than 60 Italian leagues; hat is, from Rome to Torre-della-more: finally, it disappears in the vast and deep Pontine marshes; beyond them, it is again in a perfect state. It may then be followed, without interruption, over a space of more than ten Italian leagues, to Saint Agatha, where it again becomes impassable.

[To be continued.]

Biographical Notices.

BARON DENON.

purpose of preserving many persons from the revolutionary
axe. Denon did not seek merely to preserve his personal
friends; virtue and innocence were always regarded by
him as friends and relatives, and he always sought to suc-
cour them; and not only did he save their lives, but sent
them money to make their escape, while the name of their
guardian angel was always kept from them with as much
care as if he had been their enemy, and had to dread their
vengeance. The mask of revolutionary zeal, which, in
Denon, evaporated in words, was rendered of great service
to him in the formation of his cabinet.

The author of the present notice, who had the honour of enjoying the friendship of this celebrated man, one day asked him how he had been able to form such a vast collection of curiosities of every kind, and of such extreme rarity? He replied with his wonted frankness," At the period of the Revolution, when the palaces and mansions of the great were pillaged, the objects of art which the monsters did not destroy, were brought to the Hotel de Bouillon (the Paris auction mart) to be sold by auction. I took lodgings in the Hotel, and examined the immense quantities daily brought in, and as both the plunderers and the auctioneers were entirely ignorant of the value of the subjects that were sold, I purchased a very large quanThe ancients, when a great man died, always found tity of objects of all kinds at a very cheap rate, and thus some portent in the heavens corresponding with the event. laid the foundation of my cabinet. Fortune has since Denon's death was not signalized by atmospherical pheno- favoured me in every way; her favours have been consemena, but the intelligence has shed a cold damp over the crated to the acquisition of fresh objects for my cabinet. literary and scientific world. There are men who should Sovereigns, nobles, the great, and the learned, have never die, so useful are they in their day, and so devoted all honoured me with marks of their munificence and to the noble purpose of doing good: of this rare class was friendship, so that at length my cabinet has become what the Baron Dominique Vivant Denon. He was born in a you see it."

[From the Literary Gazette.]

Denon returned with Buonaparte to France, and p pared his immortal travels in Upper and Lower Egri during the campaigns of General Buonaparte: it translated into almost all the languages of Eur be totally unnecessary here to descant on the marad work which has obtained the highest suffrages, m poleon said one day, on looking over Denon's wat," lost Egypt, Denon has conquered it."

I

Napoleon rewarded our traveller's attachment and rior talents in appointing him Director and Administica general of the Museums and Medal-mint. No m were allowed to be struck, of which the design and era tion had not received the approbation of Denon; this cause is to be attributed the uniform superiority the Napoleon medals in beauty of execution over en

Pope Pius VII. having come to Paris to cr rather to pronounce the Apostolic benediction on the nation of Napoleon, Denon was deputed to show his f ness over the mint, the museum, and imperial pra offices. In his presence, the Lord's Prayer in 150 g and dialects was printed and presented to him. The expressed his admiration, and turning to Denen su thou hast not given me thy work." "Your Hate should never have presumed to offer it to you, for y collect you excommunicated me for having attent prove in it, that the world was more than six t years old." “Psha! thou didst thy duty and Ita (tu fis ton metier et moi le mien.) Give me the any rate."

When it was proposed to erect a column in the Po Vendome in honour of the grand army and the b Austerlitz, which was to be composed of cannon | from the enemy in that campaign, Denon was app to superintend its execution. The column of Trajat, Rome, was intended as the type, but Denon has surpassed his model. In casting the bronze basso many imperfections occurred in the plates, which p M. Denon to remedy: he at length hit upon a plan s perfectly succeeded, and he fancied himself the bat ventor or discoverer of the secret. A less enlighten would, therefore, have felt mortified on finding th secret had been known and practised above two thou years; and the author of this article will never forg what delight the Baron related the anecdote of h made this discovery (so destructive of his fancied invention) on showing him the small antique cast to vil i the method had been applied.