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mention, for the sake of stage effect: when Simo calls for the slave Dromo to take the pert and cunning lacquey Davus off the stage, and bind him hand and foot, in order to subject him to the lash, why was not Dromo, as of old, a hideous swarthy Moor? There was nothing terrible about him the other night but his cat of nine tails, in default of which he might have been taken for a toged consul. The introduction of Glycerium's infant on the stage occasioned much merriment: there was evidently an application of the incident by the audience to a late auspicious event. The presence of Prince Albert was expected, but the expectation was not realised.

The Prologue and Epilogue, which we subjoin, were rapturously encored. The hit at the geologic seers, who desire by the evidence of fossil remains to ante-date the Mosaic creation, was peculiarly happy. The company must at least have amounted to five hundred persons. As we passed to the theatre at the upper end of the dormitory, we observed the huge pyre of wood, which, in the true style of the Elizabethan age, blazed upon the ample hearth, and diffused a cheerfulness and warmth that defied the competition of modern economists of caloric, whether Chunk or Ar

The following is the Prologue, spoken by Mr. Somerset :

Hodie auspicato fas, avete, dicere!
Salvere Vos jubemus-et lætamini;
Quando solutus populus anxio metu,
Jam vota fundit gratus, et divinam spem
Matri precatur atque proli regiæ.
O quis futuri arcana pandet temporis,
Sortesque magnas oro veridico canet?
En illa, quæ nunc inscia in cunabilis
Infans recumbit, mille regum filia,
Olim in senatu forsitan leges dabit,
Vel bella pacemque imperabit gentibus.
Sive illa matrem poterit augustam sequi,
Seu grande columen et decus nostræ domûs,
Elizabetham hic alteram mirabimur.
Infans beata! quicquid in terris boni
Faustique prædicetur, illud sit tuum!
Te nulla tangat mentis insolentia,
Sed eant decentes usque tecum gratiæ,
Fœminea virtus, dignitasque regia.
Et rite Alumni, familiæque principis

Pars aliqua, herilem filiam nostramque heram
Impertiamus nos salute plurimâ.
Nec muneris servilis hæc oblatio,

Quod unciatim' duriter compassimus,'
Sed sponte prodit libero de pectore.
Ergo hic agatur festus, ut decet, dies;

Et quam damus nunc fabulam, spectate vos
Equo, ut soletis, animo et indulgentiâ.

We may observe that the line "Elizabetham hic alteram mirabimur " has been the constant signal for loud and hearty applause.

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aquæ vis!

Currunt, et saltant, vixque videntur anus!
L. Tu caveas, Mysis-mulier formosa supernè
Desinat in piscem. D. Si bibat assidue.
M. Missa, Simo, hac facias, quid vis? Cur
sistis euntem ?

S. Quo? M. Quo? S. Scire velim. M. Parce rogare, vale,

Davus adest præstò, mirum est hunc posse tacere.

S. Non tacuit sanè, nil tamen explicuit,
Davi, haud Edipodis partes agit. M. Estne
ita, Dave?

D. Vera quidem dixi, nec mihi credit herus.
S. Vera! mihi potius sunt ægri somnia! monstro
Narrat. M. Ohe teneo-se fore quadru-

pedem

Somniat: at Crito adest; hic nostra arcana resolvet

Ne dubitato, Geo- est nempe logista;-vale!

[Exit.

Enter Crito with a marrow-bone. C. Parvum est; sed magni constat; mirabile!

at hic sunt

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Ausculta! nosti nihil at te multa docebo ?
Hoc quod nunc spectas os, erat ante Chaos.
S. Ante Chaos? C. Quidni? monumentum

est orbis alius, Os præadamatici principis! S. Hem! valeas. C. Siste, Simo! S. Satis est, sumus ipsi αυτόχθονες, et gens

Arcadica hac luna dicitur esse prior;
Ne tende ulterius. Præadamos nolo revelle
De pulmone tibi tam veteres avias.

C. Irascor rursus, quid fert tamen iste tumultus ?

Cur tantum properat Mysis? M. Ohe! perii !
O Crito, quid facies? docti cessere Britanni,
Plebs furit, et terram non violasse putat.
Sacrum hic omne solum est. Peregrinus es,
effuge. C. Quare?.

M. Diceris os misero surripuisse coquo.
C. Quinque minis hoc emi!
M. Emptum
negat invida turba;

I, fuge, ne pereas. C. Præcipitabo moras. Vos omnes valeatis. S. Abit. Quid, Dave, triumphas?

Quid rides? D. Veteres non amo quisquilias; Hoc curo quod adest. S. Quid si puerilla

nobis

Sint cure? quid si nomine lætor avi?

Si nato indulgere velim, teneroque nepoti?
Num vis natalem concelebrare diem!

D. Vellem. S. Age, nam jubeo. D. O noster
Simo, jure vocaris

Vir bonus et sapiens; sit tibi justus honos.
Vive avus atque atavus! vere gaudebimus
omnes,
Nos verè lætos efficit hæcce dies."

ROYAL SOCIETY.

The following distribution of medals took place at the Anniversary Meeting on the 30th Nov.-One of the royal medals was awarded to Sir John F. W. Herschel, Bart. V.P.R.S., for his paper, entitled, "On the Chemical Action of Rays of the Solar Spectrum, on preparations of Silver and other substances, both metallic and non-metallic, and on some Photogenic Processes," published in the Philosophical Transactions for 1840. The other royal medal was awarded to Charles Wheatstone, Esq. F.R.S., for his paper, entitled, "Contributions to the Physiology of Vision," published in the Philosophical Transactions for 1838. The Rumford medal was awarded to M. Biot, of Paris, For. Mem. R. S., for his researches in and connected with the Circular Polarization of Light. The Copley Medal for the present year was awarded to Prof. Liebeg, For. Mem. R. S. for his discoveries in Organic Chemistry, and particularly for his developement of the composition and theory of organic radicles. Another Copley medal was awarded to M. Sturm, of Paris, For. Mem. R.S., for his ' Mémoire sur la Résolution des Equations Numériques,' published in the Mémoires des Savans Etrangers for 1835.

The New Council is as follows:
Preident.-The Marquess of North-

ampton. V. P. & Treasurer-Sir John William Lubbock, Bart. M.A. Secretaries-Peter Mark Roget, M.D.; Samuel

Hunter Christie, Esq., M.A. Foreign Secretary-John Frederick Daniell, Esq. Other Members of the Council-George Biddell Airy, Esq. M.A., A.R.; Sir John Barrow, Bart. V.P.; Thomas Bell, Esq.; William Thomas Brande, Esq.; Richard Bright, M. D.; Sir Benjamin Brodie, Bart.; The Earl of Burlington, V.P.; Bryan Donkin, Esq.; William Henry Fitton, M.D.; Edward Forster, Esq.; The Very Rev. George Peacock, D.D., V.P.; Richard Phillips, Esq.; The Rev. Baden Powell: Major Edward Sabine, R.A., V.P.; Lieut. Col. William H. Sykes; Rev. Robert Willis, M.A. The Fellows whose names are printed in Italics were not Members of the last Council.

BOTANICAL SOCIETY.

Nov. 30. The Anniversary Meeting was held, J. E. Gray, esq. President, in the chair. The Report of the Council stated the number of members elected during the past session to be 23, making the total members of the society 128. The Report of the Curator announced the British Herbarium to contain 1155 species, including 20,022 specimens, which are in the course of arrangement to be distributed, in January next, to those contributing members (in proportion to their contributions) who are desirous of completing their several herbaria. The foreign specimens which have been presented to the Society by Dr. Von Martius, Dr. Gavin Watson, Dr. Krauss, and others, amount to between 13,000 and 14,000. The Reports were unanimously adopted.-The ballot for the Council for the ensuing year returned Mr. J. E. Gray (re-elected) as President, who thereupon nominated Mr. J. G. Children and Mr. Hewett C. Watson, Vice-Presidents; Mr. J. Reynolds and Mr. D. Cooper were reelected Treasurer and Curator; and Messrs. Samson and Woodward were appointed Assistants to the Curator.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. The Council of this Institution have awarded the following Telford Premiums: -A medal in gold to Josiah Parkes, M. Inst. C. E., for his two papers "On Steam Boilers," and "On Steam Engines, principally with reference to their consumption of steam and fuel." A medal in silver, &c. to James Leslie, M. Inst, C.E., for his "Account of the Works of Dundee Harbour," with plans and drawings of the works and the machinery employed there. A medal in silver, &c. to Robert Mallet, Assoc. Inst. C.E., for his paper "On the Corrosion of Cast and Wrought Iron in water." A medal in bronze, &c. to Charles Bourns, Assoc.

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Inst. C.E., for his paper "On Setting out Railway Curves." A medal in bronze, &c. to Henry Chapman, Grad. Inst. C.E., for his "Description and Drawings of a Machine for describing the Profile of a Road." A medal in bronze, &c. to Henry Renton, Grad. Inst. C.E., for his " Description and Drawing of a Self-acting Wasteboard on the River Ouse." Books of the value of five guineas, to Eugenius Birch, Grad. Inst. C.E., for his "Drawings and Description of the Machine for Sewing Flat Ropes, in use at Huddart's Rope Manufactory." Books of the value of two guineas, to T. J. Maude, Grad. Inst. C.E., for his "Account of the Repairs and Alterations made in the Construction of Menai Bridge, in consequence of the gale of January 7th, 1839." Books of the value of two guineas, to Andrew Burn, Grad. Inst. C.E., for his drawings of a Proposed Suspension Bridge over the Haslar Lake."

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The Polytechnic and Adelaide Galleries have re-opened for the season. The old attractions of each remain in full force, with various accessions. The Polytechnic Institution has largely increased its resources-added no less than seven rooms, and a second theatre for experiments. Among the recent additions to its models, Hall's hydraulic belt, a steam-engine on an improved principle, and a model of the Undercliff, Isle of Wight, must be mentioned: among its works of art, copies on glass of pictures by Danby and Martin; the porcelain Table des Marechaux, painted for Napoleon; and a porphyry table, manufactured in Sweden, and valued at 3,000%.

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRIT. ARCHITECTS.

Dec. 9. The first meeting of the session was held at the rooms in Lower Grosvenor-street, Earl de Grey, the President, in the chair; who, in some well expressed observations, declared the pleasure he experienced at the prosperous state of the Institute, and the valuable additions to its portfolio; and invited the assistance of the younger members to contribute drawings and measurements of celebrated works of art.

Drawings and plans of a palace in the north of Europe, were presented by C. Tottie, Esq.; and others, of an old mansion-house, now existing in England, supposed to have been built by Inigo Jones, prior to the erection of the Banquetinghouse, Whitehall, were exhibited, accompanied with a descriptive letter from C. J. Richardson, Esq.

A very interesting paper was read by Mr. Poynder, illustrative of some draw

ings of Gothic architecture, showing that several of the complications of that beautiful order, which have usually been considered unnecessary, were clearly designed by the early architects and masons as increasing the stability of the structure.

Specimens of Potts's newly invented Rail Moulding, for the better hanging of pictures, were laid before the meeting, and explained by Mr. Nottingham; the simplicity, strength, and elegant combination of which, as an architectural cornice moulding, was much admired and approved.

OXFORD ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY.

Dec. 2. A paper was read by Mr. M. H. Estcourt, of Exeter College, on St. Giles's Church, Oxford, illustrated by a number of drawings and engravings. This Church was principally built by Saint Hugh, Bp. of Lincoln, about the year 1200, and is a valuable specimen of the early lancet, and the transition from the Norman style. The north aisle and the chapel at the east end of the south aisle (now the Vestry) are particularly worthy of attention. The east window of this chapel has been beautifully restored by Mr. Grimsley, under the directions of Mr. Derick. A drawing of the proposed new east window of the chancel was also shown; it is very similar to the curious original east window of the chancel of St. Mary Magdalen Church, consisting of three lancet lights under one arch, which is considered as the form best suited for stained glass. The window in the tower is another curious specimen, being a very early example of an opening in the head of the window, on which the late Mr. Froude has left an essay, showing the origin of Gothic tracery, which was read to the meeting. A sketch of a still earlier window of Norman character, round headed, with a small circular opening in the head, was shown by Mr. Simpson.

Some extracts translated from the first chapter of the Rationale of Durandus, on the symbolical meanings attached to the different parts of a Church, were read by Mr. Simpson, of Oriel College. These views, which would be called fanciful at the present day, become interesting and important from the fact of the work being written previously to the year 1284, and having always been considered a work of authority in the Church. It is, therefore, more than probable that the architects of our Gothic Cathedrals and Churches had such objects in their minds when forming their designs.

Professor Sewell made some remarks on the peculiarities of the Churehes of Ireland.

CAMBRIDGE CAMDEN SOCIETY. Dec. 5. The President announced that his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, Chancellor, and Lord Lyndhurst, High Steward of the University, had kindly consented to become respectively Patron and Vice-Patron of the Society. Thirtythree new members having been elected, a paper was read by M. H. Bloxam, of Rugby, Esq. on the tower of St. Benedict's, in Cambridge, in which he described the departments of Saxon work which have been revealed by its uncoating, and compared it with the tower of Lavendon Church, Bedfordshire, and others of the same date.

A paper was next read from W. C.

Lukis, Esq. B.A. Trin. Coll. on the churches of Guernsey, particularly the chapel of St. Apolline, in which he endeavoured to show, as well from the rudeness of the architecture, as from the known date of certain churches in the same island, founded subsequently to this chapel, that its erection must be carried back to the eighth or ninth century.

C. Colson, Esq. Fellow of St. John's College, read a short account of Little Gedding Church, which was erected by Nicholas Ferrars.

S. Charles, Esq. of Trinity College, described the sepulchral brasses yet remaining in Cambridge, of which he presented impressions.

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ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES.

SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES.

Nov. 19. The Society reassembled for the Season.

A communication was read from Mr. Vance, descriptive of some ruins excavated at Crendi, in Malta.

Mr. Corner presented a sketch of the Norman wheel-window, found at the Temple church, which is engraved in our present Magazine.

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Nov. 26. Mr. Hamilton in the chair. John Lee, esq. LL.D. exhibited stone, purchased by him at Aleppo, carved on its six sides in intaglio, evidently intended for casting ornaments in metal, perhaps for cannon. The designs are of the cinquecento taste. Casts were pre

sented for the Society's museum.

Charles Spence, esq. of Rochester exhibited the sepulchral brass of Thomas Cod, fully described in our last number, p. 611.

The reading of Mr. Vance's description of the ruins in Malta was concluded.

Dec. 3. Mr. Hamilton, V.P. Sir John Rennie, of Whitehall Place, and John Noble, esq. of Gloucester Place, Portman Square, were elected Fellows of the Society.

J. O. Halliwell, esq. F.S.A. communicated an old account of the confiscation of the estates of Roger Bigot, Earl of Norfolk, and the descent of the estates and earldom of Norfolk to the family of Mowbray.

C. R. Smith, esq. F.S.A. furnished a description of a very curious ouche, or brooch, in his possession, found in digging a sewer in Thames Street, nearly opposite Dowgate Lane; in the centre is a crowned head, of which all the lines are shewn by a fine gold thread, the interme. diate spaces being filled with enamel, and

surrounded by a border of filagree in gold, with four pearls. It was very difficult to guess at the age of this gem by any comparison, as it is almost sui generis, but Mr. Smith considered it to be Saxon, of English workmanship, from a Byzantine model.

Dec. 10. Mr. Hamilton in the chair.Matthew Davenport Hill, esq. of Lincoln's Inn and Hampstead, one of her Majesty's Counsel learned in the law, was elected a Fellow of the Society.

A letter was read from Mr. Robert Fitch, describing the discovery of the remains of Sir Thomas Browne in the church of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, together with an impression of the coffinplate, which bears the following inscription:

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Amplissimus Vir

D'ns Thomas Browne Miles, Medicinæ Dr. Annos Natus 77. Denatus 19 Die mensis Octobris Anno D'nj 1682 hoc loculo indormiens Corporis Spagyrici pulvere plumbum in aurum Convertit.

The coffin, which the inscription so quaintly describes as converted into gold, was found actually converted into carbonate of lead, a transition unusual for a period so comparatively short as 160 years. The bones were in good preservation; the forehead low, the head long, the brain copious, and the hair profuse. The colour of the last corresponded with the portrait of the learned physician which is preserved in the vestry-room of the church.

David Jardine, esq. communicated some observations upon two letters supposed to relate to the Gunpowder Plot, communicated last season by Mr. Bruce, and printed in the last part of the Archæologia. Mr. Jardine argued, from the con

tents of the first letter and the situation of the principal conspirators, that the date assigned to it, 12 Oct. 1605, could not be correct, and proposed to attribute it to the year 1602. With reference to the second letter, one from Lord Monteagle, (which will be seen in our last number, p. 632) Mr. Jardine shewed that Bath was much resorted to by the principal Roman Catholics during the reigns of Elizabeth and James, many of them having residences there; and, arguing from that circumstance, and the total absence of a date in the letter referred to, he contended that, although it was possible that the letter might refer to the Gunpowder Plot, there was no evidence to show that it did so, any more than that it referred to one of the other plots in which the same parties were acknowledged to have been engaged, or, in fact, that it was not a mere friendly invitation to the principal conspirator to visit Bath, expressed in high-flown language, but not referring to any plot whatever.

Dec. 17. Thomas Amyot, esq. Treasurer, in the chair.

Mr. Feister exhibited an antique bronze figure of a horse's head.

A. J. Kempe, esq. F.S.A. communicated a paper descriptive of a MS. treatise on Grammar, Astrology, and Medicine, preserved among the MSS. at Loseley House, Surrey, which had apparently been compiled by a monk of the 15th century. He remarked on the superstitious belief in planetary influence, which for so many ages regulated the practice of ancient physicians. Chaucer's "Doctour of Physike," he observed, was well 19 "in astronomie ; grounded and he showed that the same opinions, as to starry rulers of disease, continued to a very late period; even in our times, Vincent Wing's Almanac designated the parts of the body which were daily affected by the planets. He also quoted some remarkable and ridiculous instances of an. cient quackery; and particularly alluded to certain of Lord Audley's prescriptions for Mr. Secretary Cecil, afterwards the great Lord Burghley, which are preserved in her Majesty's State Paper Office, and have been printed by Mr. Tytler, in his "Illustrations of the Times of Edward

VI."

Mr. Halliwell communicated a contemporary note of some events in the reign of Henry VIII. from the Harl. MSS. No. 6047.

Dec. 24. W. R. Hamilton, esq. V.P. The following gentlemen were elected Fellows of the Society: George Alexander, esq., architect, of Adam Street, Adelphi; James Stoughton Money, esq., of GENT. MAG. VOL. XV.

Whetham House, Wilts; James Comerford, esq. of St. Andrew's Place, Regent's Park; the Rev. William Jenkins Rees, M.A. Rector of Cascob, co. Radnor, editor of the Liber Landavensis; and the Rev. George Cockaine Tomlinson, of Great Staughton, Huntingdonshire.

Read, a paper by Mr. Halliwell on the proper interpretation of the words δυο ἁρμονιας in the celebrated disputed passage in the 8th book of the Republic of Plato, concerning the apiuos of human generations. The writer stated that the interpretation of the words δυο ἁρμονιας by M. Vincent, in his explanation of this passage read before the French Institute, was erroneous, inasmuch as M. Vincent doubled instead of multiplying the ratio by ten. Mr. H. then showed, from parallel passages in Jamblicus and other writers, that the word åpμovia was used by the philosophical writers in the sense of a cube; and he then proved that the ultimate result was composed of a double cube.

Sir Henry Ellis, Sec. communicated copies of three documents, addressed to the University of Cambridge by Kings James I. and Charles I.

The meetings of the Society were adjourned to the 14th of January.

ROMANO-BRITISH DISCOVERIES.

At the Roman villa at Bromham, Wiltshire, the excavations have been continued till the Baths were discovered and completely exposed to view. Four of these are in excellent preservation, considering the many centuries they have been imbedded in the earth. They are paved with flat brick tiles, about a foot square, and lie four or five feet beneath the surface. Other interesting parts of the building have been brought to light.

The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos still continues the excavations of the Roman villa at Fescote, Bucks, on the farm of Mr. Roper. Many interesting discoveries have been made, amongst which is a wooden spout or tube, which, when uncovered at the top, threw up water the height of several feet. Oak piles have also been taken out, the wood of which is perfectly sound.

Some labourers digging a vault in Fordington churchyard, near Dorchester, close to the north wall of the church, found, immediately underneath the foundation of the wall, the remains of a horse with a bit in its mouth, a brass buckle, and other relics of the bridle. As this was the site of the burial ground of the Romano-British city of Durnovaria, it is

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