Items, Literary, Scientific, and Religious. to Paris, and paid great attention to their cultivation. When the roots were nearly ripe, he put notices around the field that all persons who stole any of the potatoes would be prosecuted with the utmost rigor of the law, and gendarmes were employed to watch the field day and night, and arrest all trespassers. No sooner were the new roots thus forbidden, as it were, by authority, than all persons seemed eager to eat them, and in a fortnight, notwithstanding the gendarmes, the whole crop was stolen, and, without doubt, eaten. The new vegetable having been found to be excellent food, was soon after cultivated in every part of the kingdom." RAWLINSON'S ARchæological DisCOVERIES IN AS- | planted a good breadth of potatoes at Sablons, close SYRIA AND BABYLONIA. The last published part of the Asiatic Society's Journal contains the first installment of a volume, to be written by Sir Henry Rawlinson, On Archæological Discoveries in Assyria and Babylonia, which, when complete, will form a highlyvaluable and interesting addition to our knowledge of the subject. The present portion is, On the Birs Nimrud, or the Great Temple of Borsippa, and gives an account of the ingenious operations by which inscribed cylinders were found in cavities at the corners of the building in the lower course of masonry, as in remote centuries keen antiquarians will discover coins and other relics under the corner-stones laid in Queen Victoria's reign. Twenty-two hundred years have elapsed since those cylinders were deposited, but they are in excellent preservation. From study of the inscriptions, Sir Henry finds that the temple was dedicated to the Planets of the Seven Spheres, and he shows reason for believing that its form was pyramidal, terrace above terrace, each smaller than the one beneath, the seventh and smallest being the apex. Each was painted of the color assigned to the respective planet, but the topmost, which bore the shrine of the god, was coated with silver. All this, as the inscription sets forth, was a restoration by that mighty monarch Nebuchadnezzar, who began the work in a fortunate month, and concludes his recital with "as it had been in former days, thus I exalted its head." Sir Henry is of opinion that, if the grand vestibule of this temple were cleared of its long-accumulated rubbish, a record of the conquest of Judea and Egypt would be found in the inscriptions on the walls. REVOLUTIONS OF THE SEA.-M. Adhémar has writ ten a book on the Revolations of the Sea, showing the mighty changes effected by water on the land in past times; the changes that are yet to be looked for; and the causes, even now in operation, which will convert our northern hemisphere into a condition similar to that now presented by the southern: thus, the greater part of Europe, North America, and northern Asia is to be laid under water, while the continents of the south are to increase in length and breadth, and its islands to multiply. THE FIRST POTATOES IN FRANCE.-M. Noel, a French agriculturist, speaking of the introduction of the potato into France, says: "This vegetable was viewed by the people with extreme disfavor when first introduced, and many expedients were adopted to induce them to use it, but without success. In vain did Louis XVI wear its flower in his button-hole, and in vain were samples of the tubercle distributed among the farmers; they gave them to their pigs, but would not use it themselves. At last Parmentier, the chemist, who well knew the nutritive properties of the potato, and was most anxious to see it in general use, hit upon the following ingenious plan: He PURIFICATION OF FOUL WATER.-Thomas Spencer, the discoverer of the electrotype, has ascertained that the magnetic oxyd of iron, which abounds in rocky strata and in sands, etc., attracts oxygen, whether it exists in water or air, and polarizes it— that this polarized oxygen is the salubrifying ozonethat this ozone, so formed, destroys all discoloring and polluting organic solutions in water, and converts them into the sparkling and refreshing carbonie acid of the healthful spring. Even sewerage water can be thus almost instantaneously purified. MoreMr. Spencer has discovered that the apparently mechanical process of filtration is itself magnetical, and it is now known that all substances are constitutionally more or less subject to magnetical influence; thus all extraneous matters suspended in water may be rapidly attracted in filtration and separated; and this may be done whether on a great scale or a small, either by the magnetic oxyd or black sand or by various other means; and Mr. Spencer has discovered | a solid porous combination of carbon with magnetic oxyd, prepared from Cumberland hæmatite, which is said to have very great filtering power. over, RELIGIOUS REFORMS IN RUSSIA.-Russia is at the present moment accomplishing two religious reforms. The first is a careful translation into the Russian language of the holy Scriptures and the prayers of the Church. Hitherto the old Slavonie tongue was the language used, and as the Latin in the Roman Church is a dead letter to the congregation, so the Slave has been to the Russian. The translation of both Old and New Testaments has already been commenced. The second reform is the abolition of the seminaries where, up to the present, not only the priests themselves received their education, but were ! obliged to bring up their children. The male portion of the family were thus compelled to adopt the sacerdotal profession whether they were so disposed or not. Thus the priestly character was rendered in Russia purely hereditary, as well as compulsory. POPULATION OF JAPAN.-The number of inhabitants of Japan is to a great extent a matter of conjecture. Some writers place it as low as 15,000,000, while oth ers have estimated it as high as 40,000,000. From a calculation based upon the revenues, and their equivalent in rice, there seems to be good reason for assuming that the estimate of 25,000,000 is not too great. SHAKERS IN THE UNITED STATES.-There are four Shaker societies in Ohio, numbering 1,059; one in Connecticut, numbering 200; two in Maine, numbering 150; two in New Hampshire, numbering 500; four in Massachusetts, numbering 700; two in Kentucky, numbering 900; three in New York, numbering 1,050-making in all 18 societies and 4,559 members. NEWSPAPERS IN PARIS.-A few statistics have lately appeared in a French paper relative to the circulation of some Parisian journals. The names of all the leading papers are given. Their issues are said to be as follows: Press, 46,000, increasing; Siecle, 34,000, receding; Constitutionel, 25,000, increasing; Moniteur, 24,000, stationary; Patrie, 18,000, increasing in a marked manner; Illustration, 25,000, recently purchased for $340,000, increasing; Pays, 16,000, increasing; Debats, 9,000, receding; Assemblee Nationale, 5,000, decreasing; Gazette de France, 2,000, receding. The Univers, suppressed in 1859, was rapidly increasing when its suspension took place. The statistician states that these figures, although he can not vouch for their perfect accuracy, will furnish a good idea of the number of readers addressed by each of the papers named. He says that, notwithstanding the many periodicals of which the Government has stopped the publication, there are more newspapers and magazines in France at present than there were before the Emperor Napoleon III ascended the throne. The "rates of remuneration paid to writers of every sort have rapidly increased within a few years; and but for the extraordinary influx of literary persons that is poured into Paris periodically from provincial cities and towns, gentlemen of the press could command as good pay there as in any city in the world." We are told that there are as many papers, magazines, etc., circulated in Paris, not included in the above list, as those contained in it. The sum total of the figures given is 202,000, and of course twice that number would be 404,000. Allowing Paris to have 1,100,000 inhabitants, it would seem, then, that there is published a newspaper or periodical for every three persons, which is not so bad for France. RELIGION IN JAPAN.-In Japan there are three religions: Buddhism, the Persian sun worship, and an indefinite sort of belief original with themselves. The lower classes are credulous, the middle much less so, and the higher classes have no religion at all, calling such things "stuff" and " "superstition." There are no priests attached to the embassy, and they have no religious rites or observances of any kind, keeping no Sabbath. In Japan the first day of every month is a Sabbath, and at the Japanese new year fourteen or fifteen Sabbaths come at once, during which time all officers of government pay their respects to their superiors. Only three of the present embassy-the princes-have this privilege, and a great privilege it is esteemed. Upon their first arrival in this country, when asked why they had no Sabbath, the principal officers replied, "because they were good every day," but afterward acknowledged that they were atheists. man. JAPANESE NAMES FOR GOD.-The Japanese have several names for God, but the most common is "Kami," which means simply a prince, or a higher In a conversation, says the New York Herald, with Matemota Sannofio, one of the secretaries of the embassadors, which was introduced by his asking some question about the Sabbath, he said that there was no God; and when asked how the world was made, he declared that it "came of course." He did n't know how long ago it "came of course," but wished to know how long ago his interlocutor thought it was created, and inquired how this was known, and who saw it made. He had read about Christ, and asked if he was an Asia man. This secretary is one of the most learned scholars of the embassy, and one can not converse with him without perceiving his quickness and force of intellect. PHYSICIANS IN AUSTRIA AND FRANCE.-In the Austrian empire there is one physician to each thousand of the inhabitants. In France there is only one medical man to each two thousand of the inhabitants. SCHOOLS IN THE CAUCASUS.-The Emperor of Russia has ordered the establishment of six schools in six different places in the Caucasus, and has decided that the Russian language, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, and drawing shall be taught in them. He has also decided that in each school there shall be 520 pupils, 245 of them to be maintained at the expense of the state; 150 of those 245 to be natives, and the remainder children of the Russian functionaries. One would think that schools conducted in this manner would be somewhat republican in char acter. CONGRESSIONAL REPORTERS.-As you enter the gallery of the senate and the house you will see before a flat white marble desk a number of young men whose pens move with a rapidity wonderful to behold. These are the regular reporters, paid by Congress, who take down in short-hand all that is said by the senators and representatives, and write it out for the organ of the two houses, The Daily Globe. The industry of these gentlemen is as remarkable as their genius and intelligence. They do not lose a word or a syllable that is spoken, and often put a decent dress upon some most ungrammatical and ungenteel expressions. Taking their places at 11 o'clock, they labor till the close of the session, which frequently consumes six, and has even lasted twentyfive hours. Then, when the members retire to their residences, to dine and rest, the heavy labors of the reporters may be said really to begin. From the phonographic hieroglyphics they write out full reports for The Globe, and this often compels them to toil till long after midnight. Incredible as it may seem, they have each frequently reported and prepared for the press ten closely-printed columns in a single day. Literary Notices. (1.) THE TATTLER AND GUARDIAN have recently been issued by Applegate & Co., of Cincinnati, in a royal octavo volume, the former covering 432 pages double column, the latter 244. It is produced in fine library style, and retails at $2.50. The illustration is the visit to Mrs. Feeble, Tattler No. 266. It is generally admitted that in the prose literature of the English language, the splendid series by Addison, Steele, and their associates, is unsurpassed. In style these papers have been justly regarded as models of classic purity; in sentiment, for the most part, they are just and manly. In every respect they are worthy of a place by the side of the classic productions of any and every age. The Tattler comprises 271 papers. The first was issued April 12, 1709, and the last January 2, 1710. The publication, therefore, was completed in less than one year. The Guardian was commenced March 12, 1713, and continued through one hundred and seventy-six numbers. The last was issued October 1st of the same year. Those who would become acquainted with the choice productions in English literature must not overlook the Tattler and the Guardian. (2.) THE LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER, by Dr. StricklandCarlton & Porter-makes a 12mo volume of nearly 400 pages, and is sold for $1. It is a life portraiture of an eccentric Dutchman, of the old Methodistic school, full of amusing anecdotes and exhibitions of coarse humor. Yet few of them will offend good taste, and all of them exhibit the downright manly vigor and heart-devotion of a good man to the work of God. Most men, attempting the imitation of Gruber, would make a sorry figure. But he is so manifestly himself, on all occasions, that if we attempt to find fault with him, we feel self-convicted of hypercriticism. So we have concluded to let the good old man alone, only premising that we read the book entirely through, simply because we got into it and could not well stop. We revere these old heroes of Methodism and bless their memories. It matters but little how rough the picture, so long as there continue to rise up in the background lofty aims and heroic deeds. (3.) THE PHYSIOLOGY OF COMMON LIFE. By George Lewis. Author of "Seaside Studies," " Life of Goethe," etc. In two Volumes. Volume II. 12mo. 410 pp. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Cincinnati: Rickey, Mallory & Co.-We have already noticed the first of these two volumes. The subjects upon which they treat are of moment to every living man, and upon these subjects they are stored with valuable information, the results of inquiry, study, and experiment. They explain many of the mysteries we meet with in common life. The leading topics of the two volumes are hunger, thirst, food, drink, structure and uses of blood, its circulation, feeling, and thinking, the mind and brain, our senses and sensation, sleep and dreams, the qualities we inherit, life and death. The author discusses these philosophically, and, in con nection with his own views, presents those of other distinguished physiologists. (4.) POEMS. By William H. Holcombe, M. D. New York: Mason & Brothers. Cincinnati Rickey, Mallory & Co. Large 12mo. 360 pp.-This volume is published in superb style on tinted paper. The lovers of art might well afford to purchase it for its mechanical beauty. Of the literary character of the work we can not do better than to give one or two choice specimens: THE HERO'S GRAVE. O lightly, tread lightly, 't is holy ground For the spirit that kindled the eye of the brave And his is the heart of a coward or slave That beats not more gallantly near it. When he dies where his country calls him, The smoke of the battle may melt away, And the turf of the valley may hide him; But a light comes forth from the warrior's grave, A beacon of hope to the hearts of the brave, To this we will add one more selection, which has in it a genuine touch of nature-exquisite as beautiful: OLD AUNT HANNAH. Let's wait a little longer, Tom! Let's wait for old Aunt Hannah's sake- In this old mansion was she born, And whispering something low! Beside yon crumbling garden wall Aunt Hannah closed their eyes! To leave these dear old graves behind "T would break her heart, I know. When the old soldier parceled out His treasures, great and small, We laid his good sword on his breast, While old Aunt Hannah knelt in tears- Her failing sands will soon be out, And lead the good old faithful soul To our great Master's home. And when we 've marked her simple grave, And dropped a tear or so, We'll urn the ashes of the past, And westward gayly go! The above are very fair specimens from the volume. Most of the scenes and imagery are such as indicate that the home and sympathies of the author are in the "sunny south." And, indeed, the "inevitable negro" not unfrequently contributes to the inspiration of his song. (5.) THE HOMILIST. A Series of Sermons for Preachers and Laymen, Original and Selected. By Erwin House, A. M. 12mo. 496 pp. $1. New York: Carlton & Porter. Cincinnati: Poe & Hitchcock.-This is a compilation from a choice series of sermons and sketches which have appeared from time to time in the English Homilist, edited by Rev. D. Thomas. It has been the object of Mr. House to select the most valuable of these papers and adapt them to the American reader. In this he has succeeded admirably. "The [English] Homilist"-now spread through several volumes-is accessible to comparatively few of our readers; but in this volume they will find its essential essence. The articles are brief, suggestive rather than exhaustive. They embody in an unusual degree" food for thought." The thinking Christianwhether minister or layman-when once he becomes acquainted with this volume, will place no low estimate upon it. (6.) HISTORY OF THE GREAT REFORMATION, in England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France, and Italy. By Rev. Thomas Carter. New York: Carlton & Porter. 12mo. 372 pp. $1.-Here we have a condensed history of what heretofore the student has been compelled to search for by wading through many volumes. Mr. Carter has done a good work, and done it, too, in good style. After careful examination we most cordially recommend it to those who have not the means to buy, nor the time to read the more voluminous books upon the subject. The style of the author is easy and attractive, and he has evidently spared no pains in his endeavor to attain historical accuracy. (7.) WHEDON'S COMMENTARY. A Commentary on the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Intended for popular use. By D. D. Whedon, D. D. New York: Carlton & Porter. 12mo. 422 pp. $1.-The first volume of this long-expected, and, we may add, long-desired work, has at length been given to the public. A second volume will complete the historical books of the New Testament, and a third will include the epistles. When completed the work will constitute a cheap commentary of the New Testament, sufficiently extensive for popular use, and cheap enough to bring it within the reach of all. The late hour at which the present volume was received precluded as thorough an examination as we desired, and as we shall yet give. But we are satisfied that it will prove a valuable help to the Sunday school teacher and to the minister. No student of the Bible should be without it. In addition to the sources of information possessed by the earlier commentators, the author has availed himself of the rich contributions made to Biblical science by modern travelers and explorers-such as Olin, Durbin, Hackett, Stanley, and especially Thomson, the author of the "Land and the Book," and Barclay, author of "The City of the Great King," etc. The work is appropriately illustrated and gotten up in the best style. ence. (8.) NOTES ON NURSING. By Florence Nightingale. Boston: William Carter. 12mo. 25 cents. A reallysensible and clever book, and containing many practical suggestions which those who have the care of the sick ought to read. The present edition is issued in a cheap form, and should be generally circulated. (9.) PAMPHLETS.-1. Minutes of the Pittsburg Conference, 1860. 2. Minutes of the Providence Confer3. Catalogue of Alleghany College, 220 students. 4. Herron's Seminary, 146 pupils. 5. Hillsboro Female College, 113 pupils. 6. East Maine Conference Seminary, 301 pupils. 7. Dickinson College, 168 students. 8. Amenia Seminary. 9. Millersburg Female College, 110 pupils. 10. Troy Conference Academy, 283 pupils. 11. West River Classical Institute, Md. 12. Female Collegiate Institute of the University of the Pacific, 66 pupils. 13. Brookville College, 204 pupils. 14. Garrett Biblical Institute, 67 students. (10.) HOOKER'S NATURAL HISTORY, for the Use of Schools and Academies. Illustrated with nearly Three Hundred Engravings. 12mo. 382 pp. New York: Harper & Bros. Cincinnati: Rickey, Mallory & Co.- The aim of Professor Hooker has been to cull from the immense mass of material which zoology presents that which every well-informed person ought to know, excluding all that is of interest and value only to those who intend to be thorough zoologists. In this way he has not only produced an admirable and really-valuable book, but one equally well adapted to the school and the general reader. The illustrations are admirably executed. (11.) RIGHT AT LAST, and other Tales. By Mrs. Gaskell. 12.no. 305 pp. Published by the Harpers, and sold by Rickey, Mallory & Co. (12.) THE MOUNT VERNON PAPERS. By Edward Everett. 12mo. 490 pp. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Cincinnati: Rickey, Mallory & Co.-Our readers are already sufficiently aware of the origin and character of these papers. They make a decidedly-handsome and readable volume. (13.) HYMNS AND TUNES FOR PRAYER AND SOCIAL MEETINGS. Compiled by Rev. George C. Robinson. Small 16mo. 160 pp., flexible covers. Cincinnati: Po & Hitchcock.-A book for the million. New York Literary Correspondence. Correspondent makes Apology-Anthony Trollope-Always Shooting-The Mill on the Floss-Our Writers, Historians-Godwin's History of France-Journalism. As becomes an honest man, your correspondent confesses his remissness as a watchman appointed to observe and note the various movements in the little world of letters that lies within his own narrow horizon; and after so confessing his shortcomings, of which you are yourself sufficiently cognizant, he attempts no plea in extenuation, but casts himself upon your clemency, only faintly suggesting that possibly he will do better in time to come. Purposes to amend are the instinctive suggestions of a heart self-convicted of past faults, though unhappily they are often only suggestions, without the needed power of amendment. Indolence and neglect not only waste the passing occasions and opportunities, they also heavily tax the future, by disqualifying their subjects for healthy and effective action. And so I must confess that I return to duty but poorly qualified for it, after my long recess from its labors and painstakings. Among the volumes of light reading to which I have lately given a hasty glance is Mr. Anthony Trollope's "West Indies and the Spanish Main," which the Harpers issued some two months since, simultaneously with its appearance in England. This Mr. Trollope is becoming one of the well-known writers of the times, notable at once for the number and the character of the volumes he has given to the public. I first "took knowledge" of him some two years ago, as the author of "Doctor Thorne," a novel of which, if I recollect rightly, I then gave your readers some account. That, however, was not his first production, though it first gave him celebrity as a writer; for as a fiction of the late realistic school it occupies a decidedly high place, both as to its artistic execution and its morality and didactic purpose-standing, in my estimation, second only to Adam Bede. Since the issuing of that volume its author has sent forth "The Bertrams," a work somewhat similar in design but vastly inferior in execution; and just now we have the "Three Clerks," which I have not read, and probably shall not, as I hear that it is only a third-rate story. Thus in two years has this author given to the public four distinct works-a truly-remarkable fecundity-too great indeed to be good, and quite too great unless remarkably good. Anthony Trollope is a son of the Mrs. Trollope of whom Americans have heard in former timesthough he was not with his maternal parent during her notable residence in this country. As a writer he evinces much of the piquancy and cleverness that gave her such unenviable notoriety on this side of the Atlantic, though he is happily free from her awful acerbity of spirit and manner of writing. Yet he is not without the distinctive family marks in his character, for there is a pointed earnestness in his expressions of dislike, and a hearty odium of the false and meretricious displayed in his manner, which pleases all who do not suffer by them. As a teacher of morality he is sound and wholesome, though he operates by warnings quite as much as by allurements, and is more a satirist than a eulogist. In Doctor Thorne the characters are both good and bad, but the reader's sympathies are kept steadily on the side of the commendable ones. In the Bertrams the chief characters are all bad ones, and nearly all the secondary ones are only indifferent; and the reader lays down the volume with the feeling that they were all a miserable set, with whom he wishes to have but little intercourse. Still, the moral lessons taught are good, and the tone of the work generally wholesome. But who wishes to learn manners and morals by associating in thought with the things one wishes to avoid? Mr. Trollope is an employé of the Governmentone of the large and rather nondescript class which the British Government has always under pay, and which it employs as occasions require in whatever business may arise. Two great advantages result from this system of action-the Government has always at its command trusty and trained men to render it any needed services; and men who, from their ability and their restlessness, would become troublesome if left to themselves, are thus retained in the service of the Government. And so well is this understood, that a change of the administration does not affect the position of men of this class: the new party in coming into power finds them in their places, and look to them for the same services and support that had before been rendered to their predecessors in office. One may reasonably suspect that Mr. Trollope's eminent powers of sarcasm, together with his unusual mental activity, have had something to do with his selection and employment as a Government agent; for while there need be no doubt that he is a most efficient actor in whatever trust is committed to him, there is the clearest possible evidence that he would prove a most formidable enemy to any administration, should his peculiar powers become thoroughly enlisted against it. In the discharge of some of his official duties he was sent, some year and a half ago, to the British West Indies, and the volume under notice is the result, so far as the public is informed. The first thing that specially arrested our notice in reading it, was its striking characteristicalness. It is all over and throughout the Englishman abroad-the man-of-letters abroad-and Mr. Anthony Trollope, making notes and observations on certain new phases of society. Social and economical crudities, which so greatly moved the irascibility of the mother in the United States, and especially in the west, call out only good-natured complaints, or, at most, suppressed murmuring from the son, while roughing it among the disagreements of Spanish Town and Kingston. A disposition to disquisition on social science is evinced |