A letter from Dr. R. Tytler, wtih a drawing representing a diseased condition of barley during the growth of the grain; a case in which the Ergot was administered with much benefit by Dr. Warrand, presented by Dr. Mouat; a case of successful operation for strangulated Hernia, by Mr. J. B. Preston, Cuddalore; a successful case of ligature of the right common Carotid Artery, by ditto; two copies of Marshall's Popular Summary of Vaccination were presented by Dr. Jackson; Mr. Brett's case of exostosis of the lower jaw, and notes of cases of Lithotomy on Natives, and Mr. Bur nard's paper on the same subject, were then read and discussed by the Meeting.

AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

At the Meeting of the Society, held in the Town-Hall, on the 11th May, Sir Edward Ryan, President, in the Chair.

The following Gentlemen were elected Members of the Society: Messrs. John Carr, John Brightman, John Swinhoe, and James Napier Lyall.

On the motion of Mr. Robison, Mr. Carr was appointed Assistant General Secretary.

Read a letter from Mr. H. Piddington, dated Nimtullah, 11th ultimo, presenting a paper entitled "Description of the Hydraulic Heart for Irrigation and Drain ing," and translated by him from the 25th No. of the Spanish Annals of Agriculture of the Havannah, together with the No. which contains the Plate referred to in the Paper.

Read a letter from Mr. Maingy, Commissioner at Moulmeen, dated 4th March last, sending a sample of Tobacco, the produce of Virginia Seed sent to him by the Society, and enclosing a Memorandum by Dr. Anderson, descriptive of the method pursued by him in cultivating it.

Read a letter from Mr. G. J. Gordon, dated 2d ultimo, presenting two bottles of Carracas Indigo Seed received from America by Mr. Palmer, and believed to be a species different from, and more valuable than the Bengal plant. The Secretary informed the Meeting that these bottles of Seed had already been handed to the Akra Committee for experiment.

Read a second letter from Mr. Maingy, dated Moulmeen, 7th ultimo, sending two bags of uncleaned Tenasserim Cotton, and another sample of Tobacco grown from the Society's Seed-also one from Sir Robert Colquhoun, dated 7th ultimo, presenting, in the name of Mr. Swinton, specimens of Arracan Rice, and enclosing Mr. S.'s communication to him-one from Mr. W. C. Hurry, dated 7th inst., to whom these specimens had been submitted, giving his opinion on the same. The Secretary was requested to communicate Mr. H.'s opinion to Mr. Swintou.

Read a letter from Mr. J. C. Marshman, dated 20th ultimo, sending three hundred copies of the Bengalee Version of the First Volume of the Society's Transactions. The most grateful thanks of the Society were voted to Dr. Carey for the great la bour he had bestowed on this Translation, with no other assistance from the Society than a common native copyist. The Secretary was requested to send a proper number of copies to the Government here, as well as to the Court of Directors, and also to distribute them among the Members of the Society.

Read a letter from Serjeant Major Watson, dated Durbungah, 22d ultimo, submitting the Plan of an Improved Hungarian Machine for drawing and raising water -also one from Colonel Coombs, dated Palaveram, 26th ultimo, regretting the want of an Agricultural Society at Madras, and requesting to be supplied with American Sea Island Cotton, Havannah Tobacco, Grass, and other Seeds. The Secretary was requested to reply to Colonel Coombs, and afford him such assistance as the Society's present stock enabled him, consistently with local demands upon him. Read a letter from Mr. M. Larruleta, dated Atchipore, 27th ultimo, enclosing a let ter to his address from Mr. Ryan, dated Philadelphia, 8th November last, who pro

mises to send Cotton Seeds and Plants commissioned by Mr. Larruleta for the Society, by the first vessel that should leave that place in the ensuing spring—also one from Mr. H. Turnbull, dated 28th ultimo, submitting samples of Tobacco grown by him from the Virginia and Maryland Tobacco Seed, presented to him by the Society: and two from Mr. W. Prinsep, dated 29th ultimo and 11th instant, reporting on two specimens of Poonah and Salsette Island Silk, presented by Sir Edward Ryan, in the name of the Lord Bishop, at the meeting of the Agricultural Committee, on the 7th ultimo, and which the Secretary was requested to submit to Mr. Prinsep for his opinion thereon. The Secretary was requested to communicate the substance of Mr. Prinsep's report to His Lordship.

A letter was read from Mr. W. Smith, presenting two bottles of a superior kind of Bean, produced from a plant received by him from the Isle of France: and communicating several particulars as to the time of sowing, &c.—one also from Mr. De Verrine, dated this day, submitting a Statement and Plan of work done at Akra, from 17th November last to the end of last month, together with an Abstract and Expenditure, and also samples of Virginia, Maryland, and Persian Tobacco, and of Sea Island and Bourbon Cotton, the growth of the Farm: and a paper by Mr. John Brighton a mode of cultivating Artichokes here, which he had found very successful. Sir Edward Ryan submitted a letter from Dr. Robert Tytler to Sir Robert Colquhoun, dated Gorruckpore. 2d ultimo, enclosing two Drawings, by Ensign Kewney, of the 50th Regiment Native Infantry, of the diseases affecting Grain, alluded to in the Doctor's letters read at the last meeting; and communicating additional particulars.

man,

Dr. Strong presented about a maund and a half of Coffee, the produce of plants grown by him at Russapugla, and which had not been shaded.

The Secretary having submitted a recommendation of the Agricultural Committee, (at its last meeting on Thursday the 5th current,) that twenty Beegahs of the Akra Farm should be set apart for the cultivation of Grasses, Turnips, &c. with a view to the improvement of Cattle, &c. the expences whereof should be defrayed out of the General Fund of the Society; it was

Resolved, that this Fund could not bear this expense, and that as these could not be defrayed out of the Akra Fund, furnished by Government for the cultivation of Cotton, Tobacco, Silk, Sugar, and other exportable articles of Raw Produce, the measure must be delayed till a future period.

The Hydraulic Heart, communicated by Mr. Piddington, consists of a Horizontal Cylinder, part of the circumference of which is cut out, and upon this part is fixed a Chest, and in the sides, and covers of which, are valves for the admission, and expulsion of the water. The interior of this apparatus is divided into two parts, by a partition fixed to the cover, and which, at its lower edge, terminates in a moveable Hap, turning on an axis in the centre of the cylinder. On the upper part of the chest is a head, terminating in a pipe, for carrying the water raised. This apparatus, as described in a plate, is fitted into a simple frame-work, to keep it upright, and is wrought by the oscillating motion of a lever, with chains and pullies, giving motion to the flap. The moveable flap, reducing alternately the capacity of one side of the cylinder, drives out the water through the expulsion valves on the one side; while that on the other is driven in by its own weight, and this, reversed immediately by the oscillating motion, produces the same effect on the other side, which thus gives a considerable stream of water.

Mr. Maingy states that the Natives about Moulmeen prize extremely the Virginia Tobacco, which yields much larger and finer leaves than the Tobacco of that country. Dr. Anderson, in his memorandum, thus describes the mode followed by Mr. Maingy in cultivating the Virginia Tobacco.

"The seeds were sown in a bed, and when their leaves were about three inches long they were transplanted; the ground being prepared by hoeing deep; manure was laid down in small heaps and the soil was drawn up to cover it, forming small hillocks, at the distance of from four or five feet from each other. One young Tobacco plant was planted on the top of each of these hillocks, watered and shaded, un

til it took root The lower leaves were removed from time to time, being small and worm eaten. When the plant was about a cubit high the top was pinched off, leaving six or seven leaves on each plant. Shoots which struck out from the axilla of the leaves were pinched off, and the plants were mulsed every eight or ten days with the drainings of a stable. When the leaves began to change colour and assume a yellow marbled appearance, they were considered ripe, and at this time, shoots left, had thrown out blossoms. The leaves when cut were heaped together for three days in a house, when they became yellow. They were then spread in the shade to dry for eight days, after which they were tied together in bundles of three, and hung upon the rafters of a shed to dry thoroughly.

On the specimens of Rice sent by Mr. Swinton, Mr. Hurry reports that he is at a loss how to value them, as they are of kinds totally unsaleable either here or in England. Two that he had marked with red ink, would answer for the Isle of France or Eastern markets, if better cleaned. That when Major Burney was here, ke (Mr. H.) had caused a quantity to be prepared in the Bengal manner in Major Burney's presence, that he might initiate the Arracan and Tavoy people. That the black kind is much valued by the Malays, and that the red is used here by our Boatmen on account of its cheapness, being the common produce of Ballasore and Cuttack, and brought here daily in boats, at prices which he thinks would effectually prevent the Arracan Rice finding its way so far.

The improved Hungarian water raising Machine described in Mr. Watson's letter, which is accompanied by a sketch, is only so far claimed by him as he has invented the method of making it work without being dependant on a spring of water from a hill, which is a great advantage in this country.

At a late Meeting of the Agricultural Committee, Sir Edward Ryan had presented in the name of the Lord Bishop, two specimens of Silk, the first fruits of the labour and attention lately applied to this production in Bombay. One specimen was from Poona, and had been raised by an Italian lately settled there, through the influence and encouragement of the Collector, Mr. Gisborne. The other specimen was from the Estate of Framjee Cowasjee, in Salsette, who has lately brought some worms and two skilful managers from China. Mr W. Prinsep, to whom these specimens were submitted, and whose great skill and science in such matters is well known, made the following report upon them.

"No 1. The Poonah Skein. Letter A. No 1, or four to six cocoons, would be the denomination here of a thread of this size; harsh and dull, has very much the appearance of China Silk-but though thread is very uneven, fleecy and endy-these terms apply to the want of equal compactness in the thread; the fault arising, most probably, from some defect in bringing the different cocoon threads together-it is obviated here by a wheel which crosses the two threads as they rise wet from the basin, and serves to bind them firmly before they run into the skein on the reel. It would be a defect seriously felt by manufacturers of Silk of this size."

"No 2. The Salsette Skein- rather finer, but would be ranked under the same class of A. No 1, four to six cocoons. It is bright, soft and mellow, the colour not quite so pure as the Poonah Silk, but quality generally superior, and the reeling decidedly so this thread is round, even, and strong, but it should be less endy in the skein-it is difficult to judge of this defect unless the skein has escaped handling by others this silk is superior to any that is exported from Bengal, although single skeins are occasionally seen of equal value.

"In both the above Factories the reeling might he much improved by adopting the Bengal size of skein instead of imitating that which comes from China; it is more easily handled in the making and putting up here, as well as being more conveniently applied to general purposes in the Silk Mills of England."

Mr. Smith describes the Bean, furnished by him to the Society, as an excellent vegetable, and usually eaten in the same manner as Windsor Beans when young, and also very good in a dried state, with the skins taken off. He recommends their

being put into the ground either at the commencement of the rains or the beginning of the cold weather; they grow like a runner and require support, as they spread very much, (three having covered a space of fifty feet) giving two crops during the season; the time for gathering them being when the pods begin to turn white.

The following is Mr. Brightman's mode of cultivating Artichokes.

"The seed ought to be sown in the month of October, in a rich soil. When the plant is about a foot high it should be transplanted, say three or four times, every fifteen or sixteen days, before it is placed in the spot in which it is intended that it should bear. When the plant is put into the ground for the last time, the root ought to be well covered with old manure and the earth heaped up in a mound round the plant, of a pretty good circumference and about a foot high, or in proportion to the height of the plant. A small ditch should be made round the mound to hold water, which must be given very plentifully every morning and evening. By the above means, Mr. Brightman has had Artichokes in his garden, since the middle of March, every four or five days, a dozen or sixteen, up to the beginning of May."

Dr. Tytler's letter is in continuation of his last communication, and is accompani ed by two beautiful drawings executed by Ensign Kewney, of the 50th Regiment Native Infantry. He states that the disease of Barley and Oats, which those drawings represent, had not (after a minute search over many miles of ground along the banks of the Ganges,) been detected by him even in a single ear of Wheat,-that in instances where Wheat and Barley were intermingled in the same field, he found the disease affecting the Barley but not the Wheat, and that in his opinion the distemper does not owe its origin to moisture, because in a Jeel, in the neighbourhood of Puttergotta, he found sound Barley growing in the water, and diseased Barley on dry ground above the Jeel, from which he infers that, in this particular, the disease differs from that called Smut.

There were submitted to the Society, Statements embracing the whole operations at Akra since Mr. De Verine became Superintendent of the Farm. The Committee of Management had, at first, difficulties to overcome, both in the condition of the land and unwillingness of the Natives to work for the Society; patience and perseve. rance had however overcome all these, and in the short space of six months, the Farm exhibits a most interesting appearance, ninety-seven beegahs being already covered with Cotton plants, partly in bearing; six beegahs being under Tobacco; three beegahs under sugar-cane; two and a half beegahs under Indigo, raised from the Seed of Bengal, Hindoostan and the Carraccas; and four beegahs under the West India Arrow-Root plant; while two hundred and two more beegahs were cleared of jungle, ploughed, harrowed, and ready to receive Cotton and Tobacco Seed, so soon as a fresh supply shall arrive from America, of which the Society is in daily expectation; the greater part of the Seed sent out by the Court of Directors, if not the whole, having failed.

The specimens of Tobacco produced from the Farm, appear to be of a quality much superior to any hitherto raised in this Country, and the Cotton appears to offer the came promise of success.

One specimen of Cotton raised at Akra, from Sea Island Seed, presented by Mr. Palmer, and planted in November last, was carefully compared with some Sea Island Cotton sent to Mr. Henley, a Member of the Society: (Cotton of the same description as this sample, in July 1830, was selling in the Liverpool market at the rate of 144d per lb.) The Gentlemen who compared these specimens, having themselves much experience in the value of Cotton of different descriptions in the markets of Europe, were of opinion that, notwithstanding the strong prejudice which exists against all Cotton grown in this Country, that the Cotton grown at Akra would, at the very lowest, fetch from 9d. to 10d. per lb., which is a higher price than the second best Cotton sent to the Liverpool market from America.

The Meeting adjourned.-Govt. Gaz,

INSOLVENT COURT,-APRIL 23, 1831.

IN THE MATTER OF PALMER AND CO. INSOLVENTS.

The Resolutions carried at a Meeting of the Creditors of the late firm of Palmer and Co. held at the Exchange Rooms on the first of February last, having obtained the signature of the requisite member of those concerned, either by themselves or their constituted Attornies; and the Court being satisfied as to the power under which such Attorneys acted, Mr. Cleland thisday moved to have the resolutions sanctioned by the Court.

The following resolutions were confirmed:

:

First. To commence and prosecute Actions at Law and Suits in Equity against any of the persons whose names appears as Debtors or Creditors in the Schedule hereunto annexed and marked with the Letter A. and also to defend Actions at Law and Suits in Equity brought against the Assignees by any of the persons whose names appear as Debtors or Creditors in the said Schedule, and to defray the costs to which the said Assignees may be put in respect of such Actions and Suits, out of the proceeds of the Effects of the Insolvents.

Second. To take such reasonable part of any debts due to the said Insolvent's Estate by the several persons whose names appear as Debtors in the said Schedule as may by Composition be gotton: in full discharge of Debts.

Third. To submit to arbitration any difference or dispute between the said Assignees, and the several persons whose names appear as Debtors or Creditors in the said Schedule for or on account or by reason of any thing relating to the Estate of Effects of the Insolvents.

The following resolution next came under discussion:

Fourth. With advertence to the circumstance: that several of the Assignees are Members of Houses of Agency or otherwise engaged in transactions connected with the produce and sale of Indigo, and that a strict application of the Rule of Law which prevents Assignees from being concerned either directly or indirectly in the purchase of any part of the Insolvent's Estate, would by diminishing the num ber of purchasers be highly prejudicial to the Interests of the Creditors. Resolved, that the Assignees shall be at liberty to become purchasers of any of the Indigo Fac tories or other property of the Estate, in the same manner as other persons.

With reference to this resolution, the Court were decidedly of opinion, that consistently with the Rule of Law in England, and the Act of Par liament, it could not be confirmed in its present form. A long conversation followed, in the course of which various modes of obviating the difficulty complained of, were suggested, and the Court appeared fully sensible of the considerable depreciation the property would sustain, if the members of mercantile firms, who are Assignees, were precluded from purchasing, and an order was passed in effect as follows, which appeared to meet the wishes of all parties. That in cases when sales are made by private contract, application must be made to the Court to confirm the purchase; and when by auction, some one or more Assignees must be specially appointed to conduct such sales, and that at sales so conducted, the other Assignees be at liberty to purchase, subject to an application to the Court to have that purchase confirmed, which application the Court will advertise and appoint a day for confirming it, when such creditors as please may come in and object.