minms for the best compositions and translations in Welsh should be instituted in the college. Subscriptions were proposed and a committee appointed to effect the object.

Cambridge. The graduates of this university have formed a society, to be denominated "The Cambridge Philosophical Society," for the purpose of promoting scientific inquiries, and of facilitating the communication of facts connected with the advancement of philosophy. It is to consist of a patron, a president, a vice-president, a treasurer, two secretaries, ordinary and honorary members. Immediately after the institution of the society, upwards of 100 graduates of the university were admitted as members; and the officers and council for the present year wereelected.

Moderators.

List of honours, 1820. Henry Wilkinson, M. A. John's : William Whewell, M. A. Trinity. - Wranglers. Coddington, Trinity: Maddy, John's: Bird, Trinity: Law, John's: Lyon, Trinity: Wigram, Trinity: Goode, Trinity: Darham, Catharine: Spencer, John's: Le Grice, Clare: Burdakin, Clare: Tremlett, John's: Shelford, Emanuel: Clark, John's: Butts, Queen's: Vicars, Trinity: Barron, Trinity: Waddington, Trinity. Senior Optimes. Fallowfield, Pembroke Baines, Trinity: Worsley, Trinity Paynter, Trinity: Pearse, Cains: Kelly, Caius: Burroughes, Clare: Gedge, Jesus: Platt, Trinity: Huntingdon, Trinity: Deane, Pembroke: Godfrey, John's: Thresher, John's: Plucknett, John's: Bray, John's: Loxdale, John's: Bain, Trinity: Green, Queen's: Waln, Trinity. — Junior Optimes. Winder, Bene't: Wharton, Emanuel: Pooley, Christ's: Barlow, Trinity: Agnew, Emanuel; Walker, Clare: Scholfield, Trinity: Crakelt,Trinity: Dixon,John's; Parham,John's: Crowther, Jesus: Black burne, Christ's: Horsley, Christ's: Parkinson, John's: Sevier, Christ's.

The following statement may serve as an answer to two or three correspondents who have lately requested infor mation respecting church and fire briefs. Upon receipt of the letters-patent, which are issued by the Lord Chancellor upon certificates from the quarter sessions, the undertaker provides 10,800 printed copies of church briefs, and 11,500 fire briefs, from the King's Printer, which copies are delivered, at the Archdeacon's visitations, by the undertaker's agents, to the churchwardens of the se

veral parishes, &c. in England and a part of Wales; and, at the ensuing visitations, they are returned to the persons by whom issued, with the sums collected. A general statement of each account is afterwards made up, and information of the sums collected is given to the trustees appointed in each brief to receive and account for the collection, which may be drawn for immediately. The fees, &c. payable upon each brief are generally as follows:-Charges on a Church Brief. Fiat, 101. 58. 6d. ; patent, 221. 11s. Gd.; paper and printing, 221. 10s.; stamping 131. 10s.; canvas, carriage porterage, postage, and other small charges, 151. Ss.; 1otal, 841. Undertaker's salary, agreed for at 5d. each brief returned, but charged only 4d. Within the city of London and weekly bills of mortality, double-Charges on a Fire Brief.-Fiat, 101. 5s. 6d. ; patent 221. 11s. 6d.; paper and printing, 241.: stamping, 141. 7s. 6d. ; canvas, &c. 141. 15s 6d.; total, 861. Undertaker's salary, 8d. for each copy of brief returned; and within the city of London and the weekly bills of mortality, double.

Dr. Firminger, late assistant to Dr. Maskelyne, at Greenwich, has published some observations relative to a supposed lunar atmosphere. He says, "I have observed, in occultations of stars at the moon's bright limb, that their light diminishes as they approach towards the moou, and in a few seconds before the occultation they appear very small, and seem to vanish gradually; but I always considered this appearance to arise from the superior brightness of the moon, compared with that of the star, when very near its enlightened limb; the apparent magnitude of the star being rendered almost a point at the instant of its disappearance. On the other hand, when the star emerges at the moon's dark limb, it emerges with almost its full splendour. The appear ance is also the same, when the star immerges at the dark limb behind the moon. Whether the star has immerged or emerged at the moon's dark limb, the appearance has always been instantaneous. In all the eclipses of the sun yet recorded, the circular section of the sun formed by the moon's limb is always regular and well defined; which I think would not be the case, had the moon an atmosphere sufficiently dense to occasion a refraction."

The Cheltenham Mendicity Society, in the course of the first year of their

exertions, have registered 921 cases, which have undergone the most accurate investigation the Committee could effect. Of these 357 were married per sons, and 196 widowed, having families of children amounting to 951, in general dependent on them for support. Though the attention of the Committee has been almost exclusively directed to mendicants, yet, in many instances, applications have been made to the society by persons not coming within its rules, yet evidently objects of charity, who have received private relief by individuals of the Committee, but in no case from the funds of the Society. Others have been received into the poor-house till the Committee could consider how best to dispose of them. Some, on account of incorrigible idleness, evident imposi tion, repeated drunkenness, or habits of profligacy, have been rejected. Some deeply distressed but deserving characters, have been enabled to redeem their pledged goods, tools, or clothing, and have returned to their labour. Some able and willing to work, but out of employment, have been relieved and recommended to employment. Some being notorious vagrants, have been committed to the house of correction, so that the ⚫ town has been very generally relieved from that horde of beggars which have hitherto infested its streets and pubJic walks. The whole expense of these operations amounts only to 1017.

The Royal Society of Paris for the amelioration of prisous, has offered a prize of a thousand francs to the author of some work, that shall be peculiarly calculated for the use of persons imprisoned. It must be perfectly intelligible, and alluring to perverted minds, that never look for instruction in reading stories and examples are to be in troduced to inspire an abhorrence of vice and a regard for virtue; some means are to be taken for insinuating, that religion is the best guide and the most strengthening consolation. Their present condition is to be compared with that which they may yet aspire to by reformation. Different ages and sexes are to be considered, and even the diversities of vices. The competition is open to all persons, French or foreigners. The prize is to be adjudged in July, 1820.

A second prize is offered of a gold medal, for the best work on the means of improving the regimen in the interior of places of confinement; the distinction

that should be made between persons accused of a crime, and such as are suffering by legal penalties; the physical regimen and the different treatment of different classes, food, apparel, lodging, care in sickness, labour, and the different kinds of it, as the means of health and amelioration; the means of elementary instruction; as teaching to read, write, and calculate in arithmetic. The works are to be written in French. Other conditions the same as in the former proposal.

Vienna.-The Corporation of Arts and Trades has received an order from the government to collect the productions of nature and industry, for the purpose of exhibition, in order to diffuse knowledge and excite emulation. We suppose the idea is taken from the occasional exhibition of works of French industry at the Louvre, begun in 1799, and which is considered to have produced signal advantages to the manufactures of that country. The French lay great stress upon the progress of wool and cotton spinning within the last few years. Amongst the woollen stuffs, cloths and Cashmere shawls were exhibited. The most remarkable were made from Spanish wool; also a cloth, called lapis-lazuli, from its resemblance to that production. Cashmeres were in great variety, and of various textures. The French chiefly pride themselves in the superiority they profess to have obtained in this particular branch. The spectators at the Louvre were shewn, in detail, the advantages accruing to manufactures by the introduction of the Thibet goat. The skin being first laid ont, the different articles produced from it followed in regular order. From the finest portion of the wool very beautiful shawls and stockings are made; a second quality was manufactured into hats which receive any dye with great facility, while the skin itself forms a very good imitation of Morocco leather; the remainder of the hair is appropriated to tooth, flesh, and shaving brushes; the horns are converted into knife and razor handles.

M. Humboldt was informed by credible witnesses, that subterraneous sounds, like those of an organ, are heard towards sunrise, by those who sleep upon the granite rocks on the banks of the Oroonoko. He supposes them to arise from the difference of temperature between the external air and the air in the narrow and deep crevices of the

shelves of rocks. During the day these crevices are heated to 48° or 50°. The temperature of their surface was often 399, when that of the air was only 28°. As this difference of temperature will be a maximum about sunrise, the cur rent of air issuing from the crevices, he imagines, will produce sounds which may be modified by their impulse against the elastic films of mica that may project into the crevices. The statement has been employed to account for the celebrated tones of the statue of Memnon. Professor Rafinesque, of New York, in a paper on atmospheric dust, maintains, that an imperceptible dust falls at all times from the atmosphere, and that he has seen it on Mount Etna, on the Alps, on the Alleghany and Catskill Mountains in America, and also on the ocean. This is the dust which accumulates in our apartments, and renders itself peculiarly visible in the beams of the sun. He has found it to accumulate at the rate of from one-fourth of an inch to oue inch in a year, but in such a fleecy state, that it could be compressed to one-third of its height. He takes the average of the yearly deposit at about one-sixth of an inch.

Mr. Ward remarks, of the Hindoo religion, that the doctrines of the Vedn are acknowledged all over India; the religion of Boodh, a Hindoo incarnation, prevails throughout the Burman empire, Siam, Ceylon, &c. Lamäiasm, spread

throughout Tartary, may also be traced to a Hindoo origin; and if, as is conjecured, the Fo of the Chinese be the Boodh of India, then “far more than half the population of the world remain under the influence of the superstition taught in the Vedu."

India. It having been submitted to government, that many European soldiers, from early aversion to spirituous liquors and praiseworthy habits of sobriety, seldom or never drink the daily quantity furnished to them by the regulations of the service, the Governorgeneral in council, anxious to give every encouragement to men of such marked temperance, has been pleased to authorize a compensation in money to be paid to European soldiers of good character who may prefer that commutation, in whole or in part, to the dram in kind now served out to them. We cannot but express the great pleasure we feel in recording so wise and excellent a regulation.

New South Wales.-A savings bank, for the reception of deposits from different districts of the settlement, has just been established at the seat of government, which it is expected will prove a great incitement to habits of industry and economy among the colonists. Books were opened at four different stations; Sydney, Paramatta, Liverpool, and Windsor.

THEOLOGY.

Observations on the Scripture, suited to the present Juncture, in a Sermon preached at St.Mary's Chapel, Penzance, Nov. 28, 1819; by Rev. W. F. Lyte.

A Letter addressed to a Diocesan Committee of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge. 6d.

Passing Events correspondent with Ancient Prophecies; by the Rev. John Nance. 1s. 6d.

Lyra Davidis, or a new Translation and Exposition of the Psalms, on the Principles of the late Bishop Horsley; by the Rev. Johu Fry. 8vo. 18s.

Discourses on the Three Creeds, and on the Homage offered to our Saviour on certain Occasious during his Miuistry, with an Appendix; by Dr. Nares. 8vo. 10s. 6d.

The Truth and Excellence of the Christian Religion; by the Rev. Richard Mant, D. D. 12mo. 9d.

Sermons preached in the Cathedral

Church of Worcester; by the late Rev. James Stillingfleet. 8vo. 14s.

The Chronology of Our Saviour's Life; by the Rev. C. Benson. 8vo. 6s.

Cheap Repository Tracts, suited to the present times. 12mo. 1s. 6d.

A Vindication of our authorized Trans lation and Translators of the Bible; by the Rev. H. J. Todd. Svo. 6s.

Theological Tracts; by Bowdler, 5s 6d.

Discourses on several Subjects; by Samuel Seabury, D. D. 2 vols. 8vo. 16s.

The Life, Deeds, and Opinions of Dr. Martin Luther: faithfully translated from the German; by John Kortz. 12mo. 6s.

Sermons on Practical Subjects, by W. Barlass; with a Biographical Sketch of the Author; by Peter Wilson, LL. D. 8vo. 148.

Hynins and Poems, Doctrinal and Experimental, on a Variety of Subjects; by Daniel Herbert, 2 vols. 18mo, 78.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Picturesque Views of the Antiquities of Pola in Istria; by Thomas Allason. Royal folio, 3l. 15s.

The Life of James the Second, King of England, &c.; by the Rev. J. S. Clark. 2 vols. 4to. 61. 68.

Sketch of the Life, Character, and Writings of Madame de Stael; by Madame Necker, with a portrait. 8vo. 12s.

A Visit to the Manor-house, or the Twelve Days at Christmas; with Hints for Improvement; by Mrs. Taylor.

12mo. 4s.

Part II. of a General History of the County of York; by Thomas Dunham Whittaker. Demy, 21. 28. each; and the large paper, with proof impressions of the plates, 41. 4s. each.

A compendious History of the Jews, particularly calculated for Young Persons; by John Bigland. 4s. Gd.

A History of the United States before the Revolution, with some Account of the Aborigines; by Ezekiel Sanford. 8vo. 14s.

An Abridgment of Blackstone's Commentaries for the Use of Students; by John Gifford, 8vo. 15s.

Time's Telescope for 1820. 12mo. 9s.

Vindicia Hibernicæ, or Ireland Vindicated; by M. Carey. 8vo. 16s. Poems; by Joshua Russell. 6s. Lorenzo, or the Fall and Redemption, 8vo. 4s. 6d.

An Essay on the Employment of the Poor; by R. A. Slaney. 2s.

Walks through Bath, with 21 Engravings; by P. Egan. 12s. foolscap, 16s. demy.

The History and Antiquities of the Metropolitical Church at York, with 35 Engravings of Views, &c.; by John Britton.

Excursions in Derbyshire; by E. Rhodes, with Engravings, by G. Cooke.. 4to. 1-4s. royal 17. 14s.

Description of the Western Islands of Scotland, including the Isle of Man ; by J. Maeculloch. 2 vols. 8vo. and a vol. 4to. 31. 3s.

Notes on Africa; by G. A. Robertson.

158.

The Western Gazetteer, or Emigrant's Directory; by Sam. R. Brown.

8vo. 10s.

An Abridgment of the most Popular Modern Voyages and Travels in Europe; with maps, &c.; by the Rev. T. Clark, 12mo. 8s.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. THE Society have lately issued an address to the public, stating that, at a time when the enemies of Christianity are employed in disseminating the poison of blasphemy and infidelity to an unparalleled extent, they consider it their peculiar duty to call into action all the means within their power to arrest the progress of the evil. Upon the maguitude of that evil they deem it unnecessary to dwell. The signs of the times they consider in themselves sufficiently alarming. But the success which, under the blessing of God's providence, has for more than a century attended the labours of the Society, gives them the assurance that, now in the hour of peril, their appeal to the attention of the public will not be made in vain.

Directing their attention, in the first instance, to the religious works already on their list, they have published in the most popular form, and at very reduced prices, such as appeared to them best calculated to check the growth of irre

ligion. But as the forms which infidelity has now assumed are novel, the Society have thought it necessary to vary in some degree, their ordinary modes of operation. A Committee has, therefore, been appointed for the special purpose of searching for other tracts, not at present on the Society's list; of opening new channels for distribution, and of circulating, at the lowest prices, such other tracts and papers, as may be called for by the occasion, and may appear to them best suited to the exigency of the moment. Every facility will be afforded by the Committee in London, and by the Diocesan and District Committees in the country, to all pious and well-disposed persons, whether members of the Society or not, who may be desirous of giving to these tracts that effective circulation, which it is the especial object of the Society to obtain.-In order to carry into effect these extended operations, the Society have already appro-. priated the sum of 1000l. from their general fund to this specific object;