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when he quits the school: a boy frequently takes from three to five pounds, and a girl from two to three. It is scarcely necessary to say, that the whole or any part of this fund may be forfeited by bad behaviour, and the children are not entitled to any if they quit the school before they are fourteen.

Another means of reward is by clothing. The scholars begin to receive some trifling article of clothing about the age of ten or eleven. The first year, perhaps shoes or stockings, or both; the next, a gown or jacket; the third or last, the boys receive a suit, and the girls, gowns and bonnets. To the foregoing are added, at the

annual examination, as prizes for proficiency and good conduct, bibles, prayer-books, and a few small silver medals.

As an inducement to those who had quitted the school to continue the plan of saving, which, in some degree had commenced with the fund-book, a provident bank was established in the year 1817. An annual meeting is held in the school-room the first Monday afternoon in June; many of the old scholars meet, and reciprocal congratulations prove the value of the education they have received. The deposits of the bank now amount to about 9001.

MEETING OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL CHILDREN AT ST. PAUL'S THIS meeting has been held as usual this year. We merely refer to it to notice the disgraceful scene which occurred and which annually occurs at the western door of the Church. Can no arrangements be made to prevent such unseemly scrambling, such tumultuous crowding? Besides the indecency of such confusion, considering the occasion and the sacredness of the place, we are sure the interests of the charity suffer much from this cause. Can it be expected that respectable females will willingly come, when they know that neither their persons nor their garments are safe from injury? Indeed, this solemnity is generally spoken of as being from its most imposing and interesting character, worthy of one attempt, but that the inconvenience experienced at the entrance of the Church prevents a second. As to ourselves we can say when we braved the storm a few years ago, that we were, by the violence of the stream behind, shot past the collectors with a force and rapidity which entirely pre

vented either the right hand or the left performing its benevolent function. We, then, earnestly recommend the conductors of this festival to consider whether some means may not be devised so that the entrance of the persons at the west door may be arranged decently and in order. In the first place, the crowd is kept waiting at the gate of the church-yard in the midst of a populous thoroughfare, clean or dirty, wet or dry. When this is at length opened, there is a race or scramble to the door of the Church, which is closed. Why should they not be admitted at once into the church-yard? We are aware there is difficulty in regulating the admission into the Church. We propose that each person who is admitted before a certain hour should pay, at least, 3s., or some such sum to the funds of the charity. After the hour named, that all should be admitted. By this the charity would gain much, and those who were very anxious to get good seats would willingly pay.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

HALIFAX DIOCESAN

A MEETING of The Halifax Diocesan Committee of this Society, was held on Wednesday, the 22d March, 1826, at the National School-The Hon. the Chief Justice in the Chair.

At the suggestion of the Chief

COMMITTEE.

Justice, the Lord Bishop of the Diocese was requested to accept the office of President of this Committee; which office his Lordship accepted most readily, and expressed his thanks for the honour conferred.

The Lord Bishop then stated, that having had the honour of acting as Secretary of the Committee, from its formation in 1814 until the present time, it would naturally be expected that he should be prepared to give some account of its operations. This he was ready to do, as far as he was able; but must bespeak the indulgence of the Committee, if it should be imperfect; for his late absence from Halifax for nearly two years, placed him under many disadvantages.

His Lordship then made the following statements:

"This Committee was the first branch of the Parent Society that was planted abroad, although at the present day they have numerous Committees in the four quarters of the world. This priority in its formation has been honoured by the notice of the Parent Society, and will be remembered here, it is hoped, only to excite us to increased exertion in promoting the benevolent objects of that venerable Board.

"It is matter of great satisfaction, that, while our work has prospered, by the blessing of God, much beyond our first expectations, we have been instrumental in supplying means of instruction and comfort to the members of our own communion in every portion of this widely extended diocese, without any collision with other persons. The quiet and inoffensive operations of the Committee have excited no jealousies nor ill-will among the various denominations of Christians with whom we are mingled; and many individuals among them have favoured our endeavours, and gladly become purchasers of our books.

"Our communications with the Parent Society have been continued; and from that benevolent body we have received at all times encourage. ment and assistance. When our funds have been depressed, they have aided us by large and liberal donations. When the rate of exchange created embarrassment, they gave up to us those portions of general contribution and collection in our churches which VOL. VIII. NO. VII.

belonged to them; and still supplied us with books, much under the prime cost to themselves. They have lately gone further, and given up for our own local purposes, the whole of the annual subscriptions of their members who reside among us, so that for the future, all that we can collect in every way, is to be expended among ourselves, and solely for the benefit of our own diocese.

"It will gratify you to be informed, that whatever loss is sustained by the Society in consequence of this liberality, is made up to them by the munificence of their benefactors. Their objects are so commendable, and their management so judicious, that their funds are increasing continually; and thus they are enabled to extend more widely every year the benefits they confer. It will not be considered out of place to make mention here, of two recent acts of their bounty towards this diocese. They have granted 500l. to King's College, chiefly for the purpose of providing more amply for the religious instruction and vigilant superintendence of candidates for holy orders; and they have placed a further sum of 500l. at the disposal of your Bishop, to assist in promoting their special objects within his see.

"The several District Committees, which sprang from this Diocesan Committee, continue their operations, and, in some instances, to a very great extent. This is particularly the case at St. John's, in New Brunswick, whose members are numerous and full of zeal; and the benefit of their labours is increasing every day. Their supplies of books from the Parent Society are to a very large amount, and are widely circulated through the Province.

"The distribution of books within the last year has been very considerable; and it is encouraging to know, that, since the establishment of the Committee, they have distributed not less than 100,000 Bibles, Testaments, Prayer Books, and other books and tracts, besides upwards of 100 copies of the Family Bible, in 3 volumes; the whole expense of which has amounted nearly to 2000l.

3 K

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL REPORT.

LITERARY. Cambridge. . At a

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congregation on May the 31st, a grace passed the Senate, for presenting, at the expense of the University, copies of all the books printed at the University Press, to the Library of Bishop's College, Calcutta. In addition to the books thus presented to the above-mentioned Institution, a collection is now making by the donations of benevolent individuals, who may have suitable books at their disposal. Messrs. Deightons and Stevenson are authorized to take charge of these until they can be forwarded to India.

The Duke of Buckingham, it is said, is reprinting at his own expense, the whole of the ancient Irish Chronicles, with Latin translations.

Lydgate's Troy Book, the beautiful manuscript poem on vellum, was purchased at Evans's, on the 26th of May, by Mr. Perkins, of the house of Barclay, Perkins, and Co. for ninetyfive guineas. On the same day, the Shakspeariana, a collection of books and pamphlets relating to Shakspeare, was bought by a gentleman in Warwickshire, for sixty-two guineas. Charles Mathews, the comedian, bid sixty-one guineas.

It would have been an invaluable addition to the treasures of Mathews. We hear that the Bishop of Salisbury disputes the authenticity of the lately published Treatise upon Christian Doctrine, attributed to Milton.

His Majesty, in consideration of the important services which the late M. Frederick Schiller rendered to German literature by his immortal works, has granted to his family an exclusive licence for the printing and publishing the same for twenty years.

ARTS. The splendid collection of paintings at Carlton Palace, is, by direction of his Majesty, to be immediately sent to the British Institution for public exhibition during the sum

mer season.

The Rondiniui Faun, an antique statue, which attracted great attention whilst in the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, has been just sent to the National Collection at the British Museum.

The Colossal Lion to be erected as a monument on the field of Waterloo, is now finished: it is 13 feet high, and 17 feet long.

A deputation of Mineralogists and Architects has been sent to the Isle of Elba, in order to examine whether certain columns could not be employed in the repair of the church of St. Paul. The report which they have made is favourable, and it has been resolved to enter into negociations for the purchase of them.

PHILOSOPHICAL.-A discovery has lately been made of the chef d'œuvre of the celebrated Tompion, which has been so long lost. It was made for "The Society for Philosophical Transactions," and is a year-going clock. It is a singular circumstance that a record exists, which states that Tompion was at work on this clock when the great plague broke out in London; and, on the day he finished it, he himself was attacked with the pestilence. His friends removed him to the continent, where he died. On the dial there is this inscription-"Sir James Moore caused this movement to be made with great care, anno Domini 1676, by Thomas Tompion." - Tompion was paid 100 guineas, and the clock was removed to the Society's house, and there, in the confusion of the moment, it was placed in the lumber-room, where it lay, without a case, exactly a century and a half. One thing wonderful attends this discovery-all the steel pins, on being cleared from dust, were found to be as brilliant as ever.

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Mr. Tully, of Islington, has constructed an Achromatic telescope, the largest and most perfect yet made in England. The object glass of the telescope is seven inches in diameter: the glass was manufactured at Neufchatel, in Switzerland, and cost about 30.; the grinding and adjusting of it by Mr. Tully are valued at 2001, viz. for the compound object glass alone. The length of the telescope is twelve feet, it is mounted in a temporary wooden case, and is supported on a frame, moved by pulleys and a screw; it is easily adjusted, and is

perfectly steady. The magnifying powers range from 200 to 780 times, but the greater excellence of the telescope consists more in the superior distinctness and brilliancy with which objects are seen through it, than in its magnifying power. With a power of 240 the light of Jupiter is almost more than the eye can bear, and his satellites appear as bright as Sirius, but with a clear and steady light; and all the belts and spots upon the face of the planet are most distinctly defined. With a power of near 400, Saturn appears large and well defined, and is one of the most beautiful objects that can well be conceived. The great advantage which this telescope possesses over reflecting telescopes of equal size is the greater degree of light, by which the most delicate objects in the heavens are rendered distinct and brilliant. England had the honour of discovering the principle of the Achromatic telescope, but our artists have ever had great difficulty in obtaining suitable glass for the purpose, and the Excise laws have hitherto prevented proper experiments being made at our glasshouses. An establishment has been recently formed in Surrey for the manufacture of glass for Achromatic telescopes, under the superintendence of men of science, and with permission to make experiments without the interference of the Excise.

The Brig Medusa, Captain Asplet, of Jersey, while on the passage from Laguayra to Liverpool, lost a portion of her spars and sails in a thunder storm, in lat. 33. 38., long. 58. 12. during which, the electric fluid destroyed the magnetic power of the compasses on board, two of which were on deck, and two in the cabin. An optician has examined the compasses, and finds they have entirely lost their attractive powers.

MECHANICAL. Lieut. Molyneux Shuldham, R. N. has taken out a patent for a new method of working the sails of vessels, by which manual labour is reduced to its "minimum." This is effected by causing the masts to revolve on pivots, or for greater security on circular sweeps. The masts may be similar to ordinary ones, with standing rigging, but it is

preferred to construct them with three, four, or five poles, forming the outlines of a pyramid, their lower ends being secured to cross-trees, which become the base of the pyramidical mast, and their upper ends united at top to a block of wood, composing either a cap, to receive a top-mast, or a mast head, according to the nature of the rig: all the yards and sails are affixed within the pyramidical mast, and revolve with it.By this arrangement, all the standing rigging, and almost the whole of the working gear of a square rigged vessel are dispensed with, and it is in the power of the man at the helm alone, without any aid whatever, to put the vessel about. In fore and aft rigged vessels the disagreeable and oftentimes dangerous expedient of jibbing the sail is dispensed with; as, for instance, in wearing a cutter, the bowsprit would be brought round over the stern, and the main boom would pass over the stem. The plan is well adapted to coasting and other weak-handed vessels navigating in intricate channels.

In a mill near Bath, for making broad-cloth, there are two machines lately erected, which, with water and steam, attended by two men and two girls, of about twelve years of age, spin 400 threads. On a calculation from the quantity produced, it is found that it would require 200 women to spin the like quantity in the same time with a wheel.

Geological.-A most excellent lode of antimony ore, has been lately discovered on the lands of Lord de Dunstanville, at Endellion, Cornwall. This scarce mineral has hitherto been found in that county principally on the contiguous land of Earl Fortescue.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERY.-Despatches have been received from Capt. Franklin, of the Arctic-land Expedition, dated at Winter-quarters, Fort Franklin, on the great Bear Lake, September 6th. During the summer, three expeditions, under Capt. Franklin, Lieut. Back, and Dr. Richardson, were made, preparatory to the great objects to be undertaken next year. The expedition under Capt. Franklin went to the mouth of Mackenzie river, which he found to discharge

itself into an open sea; there is one island near its mouth, called by Capt. Franklin Garry's Island. From the summit of this island the Captain saw the sea to the northward all clear of ice or islands; to the westward he saw the coast to a great distance, his view terminating at very lofty mountains, which he calculates were in the longitude of 139 deg. west.

The expedition would proceed early in the spring on its ulterior objects. The officers and men were all well and in high spirits, at the favourable circumstances which had hitherto attended their proceedings.

FRANCE. The Royal Academy of Paris report, as the means of preventing accidents from the explosion of steam-engine boilers, that the boiler should be proved, by the hydraulic press, to sustain a pressure five times greater than the working of the steamengine requires; that a safety-valve should be attached to the boiler, and loaded so as to open at a pressure just above that by which the boilers have been tried; the boiler to be surrounded by a wall 39 inches thick, standing 39 inches from the boiler, and that a metallic plug be inserted in the upper part of the boiler, formed of an alloy that will melt at a degree a little above the temperature at which the engine works.

M. Velpacau read a memoir to the Royal Academy of Medicine lately, tending to prove that if the pustules of the small-pox are cauterized within two days of their appearance, they die away entirely; and if this be done even later, the duration is abridged, and no traces of them are left.-The caustic he employs is a solution of nitrate of silver, in which he dips a probe, with which he pierces the centre of each pustule. M. Dumerel says that he has been long familiar with this practice, but instead of the solution, he employed the solid caustic itself.

AFRICA. A letter has been received in town from Major Laing, who is crossing with the caravan from Tripoli through the Great Desert, on his route to Timbuctoo; it is dated Oct. 12th, from Gadamis, lat. 30, 17. N. long. 9. 16. E.; he passes through his consulate, at Misonc, and expects to

reach Timbuctoo on the 12th of December, then to descend the Niger, which is supposed to run into the sea in the Bight of Benin. His Majesty's ship Brazen awaits him there, to take him to Sierra Leone or England. He may be expected here in June. The following letter, although not of recent date, contains in a very few lines the substance of Mr. Campbell's discoveries, in his last journey beyond the British frontier, in Southern Africa :"Mr. Campbell and I have had a long route up the country; about 300 miles north-east of Lattakoo, we passed two tribes, and arrived among a people called Marootses, about 16,000 strong, living upon a high mountain, having stone walls round their houses and for their cattle; melt their own iron and copper from the ore. The rivers run easterly from this place; most of the people are inoculated for the smallpox, an art they got from a people on the north-west; their language is the same as that at Lattakoo. I am of a decided opinion that poor Dr. Cowen and party were not murdered by the Wanketyen; but, if murdered, they must have been murdered nearer Mozambique: the natives insist that they are still alive."

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AMERICA. The sanguine hopes of the projectors of the pearl fishery have, it is said, suffered some disappointment in the Bay of Panama, where the largest and finest pearls are known to be produced. Their first attempts in that sea, from the beginning to the middle of February, had been frustrated by the peculiar nature of the bottom, which proved most unfavourable to the operations of the bell. The ground to wh ch they were directed by their pilots and the native divers, was invariably found to be uneven and rocky, affording no safe resting-place for the machine, which, in spite of its enormous weight, was further endangered by the violence of the under currents. The pearl-oysters were never found in masses or beds, according to previous expectation, but singly, and in small clusters, attached to the crevices of rocks, and thus sheltered from the force of the under currents. The Colombia was left engaged in further investigations, and the only chance of success on that side

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