As I view in repentance shame's feverish glow, As I hear ineffectual labour repine, As I see talent silently nourish its woe, And mis'ry, despairing, its last hope resign; This ne'er will go by; no, this ne'er will decay; This feeling God gave when he first gave me breath: And when time shall make other sensations its prey, This shall cheer, though it hasten, my passage to death. RECOLLECTION.TO LUCY. Dear Lucy, unthinking improvident maid, Whither tends this delirium that leads us astray? Is thus fond indulgence on thy part repaid? And on mine-am I pleasing thee, but to betray? Not thee do I blame; trifling, idle, and vain, My experience I placed 'gainst thine innocent youth; To Passion's wild wish gave an unbridled rein, And stole on the treasure allotted to truth. The rose of thy morn blooms now fragrant and fair; Shall I tear and scatter its leaves to the gale, Or tenderly watch o'er the flow'ret with care, And bid it still bloom, and embellish the vale? Thou canst never be mine ;-shall I blemish thy name, And snatch fleeting rapture unsanction'd and Creation felt a general shock. Thus many moons my course I ran, The Lion led the bestial train, As gorg'd with food I lay. With lightning's speed the rumour spread, In earth's deep caverns long immur'd, In London late my form was shown, In wonder lost my form they ey'd, "Thank Heav'n, the monster's dead!" He seeks, on fortune's billows born, A prey to civil hate; Batavian freedom floats in air, The tyrant's dread command. All Europe o'er the giant stalks; But see! to check his sway, And pounces on her prey. At ease the monster lics: A second Mammoth dies. A native of Liege, called Beaumont, endowed with a particular inventive genius, died lately in the gaol of Copenhagen, where he had been confined for having abused his abilities, by counterfeiting bank notes. While in prison, with the assistance of government and money supplied by a Dane, a man of wealth, he had succeeded in making strawpaper, which is equal in polish and solidity to any paper known. He had also imagined for the paper currency a water-mark, which could not be imitated. His inventions are sure of surviving their author. His partner will continue manufacturing the straw-paper according to his new process; and his widow has been invited to Vienna, where she will receive a liberal premium for the secret of the water-mark. She has likewise inherited three or four other secrets which she intends selling in various parts of Europe. The pile of Volta has been considered in another light, and experienced modifications in its construction. Mr. Marechaux has formed a new pile with new plates of tin and brass, separated by little dry scraps of blotting paper. Silk twist is placed instead of the glass tubes of the common apparatus, by which the pile is suspended on a hook. This pile, thus constructed, gives very sensible effect to the electro micrometer of the same author. Mr. Marechaux thinks that with the aid of this apparatus he has been able to observe that the electric tension of the pile increases and decreases in ratio of the electric state of the air, and that the force of its action increases in proportion as the atmosphere, is surcharged with vapour. A new apparatus, designed under the name of the galvanic chain, has been constructed by Mr. Struve. This chain is composed of se veral double cones, one being of brass, the other of zinc, sodered together at their basis. At the point of each of these cones is annexed a ring which serves to combine a less or greater quantity of those double cones. Between the fatter are placed cotton and pieces of linen, in such a manner that the extremities are in contact with the brass and the zinc. This chain thus disposed and moistened with muriat of soda, produces an immediate effect. According to the author it is less oxidable than the common apparatus, and the activity of it is treble. Portraits of learned men at Grenoble. The Society of Sciences at Grenoble, have resolved to procure pictures of all the distin guished characters in the department of Isère, and to place these portraits in their assembly room. Hurricanes, how caused. A phænomenon has occurred this year. which conduces to the explanation of hur-. ricanes. On the 4th of July was experienced at Bellfort, one of those extraordinary hur ricanes so rare in Europe, which overthrow trees, and sweep away the roofs of houses. Hitherto, I had thought it impossible to discover the cause, but in my journey to Lyons an idea came across my mind, which may be confirmed. The notes of Mr. Molet, a learned professor of natural history, recorded a thunder storm, at Lyons, on the same day. As I passed through Sens, I saw Mr. Soulas, who told me that the wind had shifted from north to south. The newspapers informed us, that on the same day there was a violent storm in London. It strikes me, then, that a mass of electric clouds of 100 miles or more in extent, the detonation of which caused an iminense vacuity, may have forced the air to fill up the chasin so occasioned, with extraor dinary violence. I was confirmed in this conjecture, Jan. 11, 1806. Extraordinary thunder storms at Brest, Rouen, Chartres, and Ypres, occasioned storms and hurricanes that have blown down chimneys; also at Nancy, Besançon, Bourdeaux, and Dijon. Peals of thunder are very uncommon in that season of the year; but the south wind had made the temperature warin; the air was extremely humid, the clouds were low enough to draw sparks from the earth on a space of 50 or 60 miles. There have even been earthquakes. The hurricanes of the Isle de France anl of the West Indies, being much more violent, must suggest the idea of storiny masses * M. Portalis, minister for public worship, desirous of sending missionaries to China, has concerted his plan with M. Brunet, the superior of Saint-Lazare. They hope to set off this year; and a skilful astronomer is already preparing his instruments. The manuscripts relative to China, which M. Berlin had collected, are in the possession of one of his secretaries, who offers to sell them to government. M. Billien and M. Alarie of the foreign missions have already been in China, and understand the language of the country, so that all hopes are not lost of that branch of learning being brought into favour again in France. History of Physic. It is known that L'Histoire de la Médecine, by Le Clerc, was not printed in France. It is become very scarce, and is only to be found in a few libraries: on account of its importance, we regret it is not more public. M. Amoureux, desirous of doing service to young practitioners, is preparing a new edition, which will be embellished with such remarks and plates, as will make it in some measure classical. He likewise intends publishing in continuation of that work, a new edition of Freind's History of Physic, with plates, and observations, appropriate to the present times. Notice on the existence of phosphate of mag nesia in bones. "when once it exceeds proper limits be"comes the most cruel torture of a recluse “individual. He adopted the following stratagem. Perceiving a spider spinning "her web at the spiracle mentioned above: "he undertook to tame her, and to effect this "he placed some flies on the edge of the. "opening, while the basque was playing on "his favourite bag-pipe. The spider by de grees accustomed herself to distinguish the "sound of that instrument, and to run from "her hole to seize her prey: thus, by means "of always calling her out with the same "tune, and placing the flics nearer and near66 er his own seat, after several months' ex"ercise, he succeeded in training the spider so well, that she would start at the first signal, to seize a fly at the farthest end of "the room, and even on the knees of the prisoner." We have heard of a prisoner confined in the Bastile, who retained his senses, contrary to expectation, by playing daily so many games at push-pin, he having unknown to his keepers, secreted a battalion or two of these hostile implements. The device of M. P. is more interesting to us, as we learn from it, that the spider, though among the most quar relsome of insects, yet is capable of being rendered familiar by the reason and perseverance of man. GERMANY. Grecian Theatricals restored. ON a private theatre of Leipsick, a pretty successful attempt has lately been made to imitate the manner in which the Greeks performed their tragedies. The piece chosen was the Polyidos, a subject which no one had ever presumed to introduce on the stage, although it had appeared in print. The Polyidos is a tolerably good imitation of the composition of the ancient Greek tragedies. It contains chorusses in anapastic verse, the dialogue is written in iambics. The author, after the example of Sophocles, whom he seems to have taken for his model, superintended the representation himself, and performed the principal character. The chorus being that part of the tragic drama of antiquity which is least known to the moderns, the greatest attention was directed to its execution. The actors had sixteen rehearsals. The perfor mance obtained (we are told) universal approbation, even from those spectators who were the least favourably disposed. The regular pacings of the chorus were no less scrupulously attended to; the steps either forward, or backward, were a constant imitation of the movements indicated by the strophe and antistrophe. These novelties, altogether, occasioned as much entertainment as surprise. The amateurs of Leipsick do not intend to stop here; they propose getting up other tragedies of the same kind, which the author of Po lyidos and other literary men have promised to write: they mean to improve their geatures, and to perform in the open field on a stage erected in Woerlitz park; and if they can succeed better than has hitherto been done, in finding out the musical accompaniment which contributed to the brilliancy of Greck tragedy, they flatter themselves of inviting the public on some future day, to the representation of a genuine Greek drama. Whatever encomia may be bestowed on amateurs for employing their leisure hours in a manner calculated to throw light on this still very obscure part of the literature and arts of antiquity; it would not answer to a company of players, who live upon the money they receive at the door. State of the Trade in Books. The booksellers of Germany experience a critical stagnation in their line of business, partly owing to the disorders of the war, and partly to the too great multiplicity of publications during the last years. Fifteen houses appeared insolvent at the fair of September, 1805, and it was apprehended that fifty others would come empty-handed at Easter1806. From the intelligence we have received concerning the publications produced at Easter, the catalogue contained 3,077 articles, among which there were 257 of divinity; 231 of jarisprudence including political economy, 66 of philosophy; 177 on education; 59 on natural history; 88 on mathematics; and 77 on geography and relations of travels. The last Michaelmas fair at Leipsick has been less abundant in literary productions than those of the preceding years. The catalogue of new publications, which last year amounted to 1,640, did not exceed 645. This deficiency has been attributed to various causes; such as, a short summer, the high price of provisions, and the prevailing custom of the German booksellers and authors to prefer the Easter fair to that of Michaelnias. The Easter fair exhibited upwards of 4,000 new articles, which makes the whole productions of the year, 4,645, whereas in France they only reckon 1,150, and in England 900. The works contained in the catalogue of the Michaelmas fair, were, Philosophy and Morality, 31. The Fine Arts, 15. Ancient and Modern Languages, 58. Law, 55. Physic and Surgery, &c., 93. Natural History, &c,, 45. Rural Economy, Gardening, &c.. 49. Domestic Economy, Useful Arts, &c., 50, Commerce, 11, Political Economy, 21. Geography and Topography, 28. Periodical Works, 21. Novels, Anecdotes and Fugitive Pieces, 63. Genealogy, and Chronology, 2. For the use of Ladies, 3. Among the works on Divinity, are 38 prayer books, and collections of sermons. New Process to Whiten Straw. M. Fisher, of Vienna, has discovered a new process to whiten straw. Instead of covering it with sulphur in the stove, as was practised formerly, he dresses it in muriatic acid saturated with pot-ash. The straw thus prepared never turns yellow, and is of a most shining white; it acquires besides great flexibility. Monument to the Memory of Kepler. Among a great number of publications, which daily appear in Ratisbon on German affairs; we have noticed a plan, published February 1, 1806, by Count Sternberg, MM. Von Pleffen, Von Rheden, &c. and communicated to all the ministers at the diet; to invite them to concur in the erection of a monument, to the memory of the astronomer Kepler, who died, and is buried in Ratisbon. The cost of this monument is estimated at a probable expense of 5000 florins. Surgery and Midwifery establishment. The King of Prussia has granted to the university of Halle, a fund of 2,600 crowns for the establishment of an institute of surgery and midwifery. MM. Loder and Froriep, are placed at the head of the establish ment. Astronomical Instruments. The Emperor of Austria has granted to the observatory of Osen, a sum of 7000 florins to purchase astronomical instruments. Libraries. All the libraries belonging to the convents of Augsburgh, have been united to the public town library. Duke of Saxe-Gotha's Observatory. The Observatory of Seeberg, near Gotha, erected at the expense of the late Duke, deceased in 1804, and which this prince considered as the only monument which could worthily transmit his name to posterity, has been shut up and abandoned in less than two years after his death. Greek School in Transylvania. A school of modern Greek has been established at Cronstart, in Transylvania. It is composed of four and thirty scholars, who are taught writing, arithmetic, and ancient Greek, by the grammar of Constantinus Lascaris. The professors are Greek monks, from Mount Athos. HOLLAND. Literature. In a periodical work, entitled the Sincere, we read an interesting review of the literary productions that have appeared in Holland in the course of 1805. These productions are very numerous if we include translations. Divinity is the subject which has furnished the greatest number of original works. They reckon 113, besides eight journals that treat especially of theological topics: the most singular is a weekly paper, which contains only dissertations on the Bible, and has a considerable number of subscribers. Four societies are now engaged in literature and poetry, viz. 1, that of Felix Meritis; 2, the Maatschappy, or Society of Dutch language and Dutch poetry; 3, the Society Tot Nutt, or of the public_good; and, 4, a Society of the Lovers of Poetry. Physio, and natural history, continue to be cultivated with great zeal in Holland; where many learned men have already acquired extensive fame in those branches. In 1805 no less than 114 works were published treating of those sciences. They make honourable mention of, among other journals, the Goneeskundig Magazin (the Magazine of the Art of Healing), and the Memoirs of the Society of Harlem. The Dutch poets are not endowed with less facility in translating than in composing. Fifty-eight dramas, tragedies, or comedies, are among the new works. We may judge how far a taste for literature prevails, by the speculation of a company of merchants, in Amsterdam, who have lately established an office for the arts and sciences. The founders very properly admit productions from every country; they have it in contemplation to establish a central point, for national and foreign literature; they have a large collection of works in Dutch, French, English, German and Italian. Another singularity of the city of Amsterdam must not pass unnoticed. A company of German Jews, under the French denomination of Industrie Récréation, for one and twenty years have been performing comic operas with success; and yet only a single piece is mentioned as having been originally composed for this company, which is intituled Mardochée, ou les Juifs sauvés. Even of this the music is selected from several well-known operas, Jews also perform, not altogether unsuccessfully, in the chorusses of the Opera Buffa. Faluable, edible, and exotic Plants. The Batavian Society of Sciences established at Harlem, has proposed the follow ing questions: the time for answering them is not limited. "Which are the indigenous plants whose virtues have continued unknown, but which might be of great utility in our dispensary, and replace exotic remedies?" The memorials are to state not only the virtues and advantages of those indigenous remedies, after authorities from abroad, but also proofs, and observations, originally made in Holland. 66 What are the indigenous plants, not yet in use, but which, at a low price, might serve for food; and what nutritive exotic plants, reared in other countries, might be imported and cultivated in this country for the same purpose?" "What are the indigenous plants in use, which after certain experiments, might furnish good colours, and the preparation and use of which might be introduced to advantage? what exotic plants might be cultivated in the less fertile lands of the republic, and furnish colours ?" Port of Amsterdam. Considering the actual state of the Ye through the whole extent of the city of Amalong the Groote Waal, Hannekes-Broensterdam, i. e. behind what is called the Laag, waal, the wet docks of the State, and those of the East-India Company; likewise along the whole bason, at the south of the exterior piles, there is not only a considerable accumulation of mud, but the le scems to be threatened with being choked up, insomuch, that in order to prevent the navigation from being interrupted, it is requisite to remove the mud by very costly mechanical means, such as mills, and by employing a great number of labourers. As this accumulation of mud increases instead of lessening since 1778, when heads were made at the east and west of Niewendam, and the ancient quay was re-established along the Zickenwater, it is inquired, "To what causes murt this accelerated accumulation of mud be ascribed? and by what means could this troublesome and prejudicial accession be removed, or prevented? How would it he possible to prevent the mud from such depositions in the same places after it has been removed?" The author of the memorial to which the medal will be adjudged, may also expect a reward of at least 10,000 florins, in case the Regency of Amsterdam should decree the execution of his plan, and the experience of ten years demonstrate the success of it answerably to the expectation of the donors, Should the successful author die during the interval, his heirs will be entitled to the above reward, |