poplars, of the, elm, the beech, and others?" "What are the advantages of frost and snow, considered with respect to useful plants?" The society offers a double medal of gold, value 300 florins, to whoever shall furnish the most complete and perfect Chymical Analysis of Plants; and shall at the same time describe the most ready methods for making such analysis. RUSSIA. At Tobolsk, a city distant from Petersburgh 445 miles, are reckoned nearly 17,000 inhabitauts, and about 2,800 houses. There is a school for, the Tartar language, a seminary, a Greck archbishopric, an establishment for printing, and a Russian theatre. A manufactory of Surgeon's instruments is also established in this city, with an office for inoculation, (or rather, for vaccination). At Petersburgh are established fourteen. A general re-organization of the esta printing offices, three of which belong to blishments for public instruction, and of the the Senate, to the Synod, and to the Colschools, in the countries that have suffered, as the seat of war, is in progress, and con-lege of War. Among the others appersiderably advanced. Many professors from taining to the academies, or open to the the University of Dorpat have been called public, there is one which prints works in to this duty, and distributed for the purpose the Tartar language, and one which prints on different points of the Empire. music. The foreign booksellers and libraries are, thirteen in number; the Russian establish The Abbé Eder has left as a legacy to the Gymnasium of Cronstadt, his library, with a considerable collection of mineralsments of the same description, amount to nearly thirty. In these last, their books are and shells. sold completely bound; but they are mostly very y dear in price. Besides the great public libraries, there are more than twenty considerable libraries belonging to individuals; some of as those of these are very extensive; Daschkoff, of Schouwaloff, Stroganoff, Czeruitscheff, Betskoi;- of the, princes Kurakoff, Jussupoff, Repnin, &c. The Mahometans established in Russia have schools in every village where they reside; and in the towns they have also There are many reading rooms, containformed school establishments for their ing the best works on the subjects of hisdaughters. Many of the peasants, and al-tory, literature, and voyages and travels. most all the tradesmen of this religion have The journals and other newspapers, and a copy of the Koran, and so has also every vehicles of intelligence are but few, and mosqué. Some among them possess small apparently not very popular. collections of historical manuscripts, and are sufficiently well acquainted with the history of their country, and that of neigh- | bouring States. Those among their youth who are destined to the services of their religion, frequent the Gymnasiums and Mahometan schools of Buccharia, where the Turkish, Russian, and Tartarian languages are taught. It may be said of these Mahometans, and of the Tartar subjects of Russia generally, that they are naturally of a mild, peaceful, serious, and civil disposition; that they readily direct their talents to trade and business of any kind; that they are lofty, indolent to a certain degree, without however, being idlers; that they are temperate, cleanly, and hospitable. The Christians and Pagans among the Russian Tartars, are ignorant and superstitions. At Irkutsk, the capital of Siberia, distant 832 miles from Petersburgh, are reckoned 16,000 inhabitants, and 1,590 houses. It is the seat of an Archbishopric, a seminary, several schools, a library, and a school for teaching navigation. In this last institution youth are taught whatever belongs to the sea service; also the Chinese, Japanese, Among them is most famous the collection of manuscripts formed by M. Dubrowski, and afterwards bought by the Emperor. It contains a great number of memoirs, and of original letters written by Sovereigns, by ministers of state, and by the most celebrated men of learning in Europe. The cabinet of Count Czernitscheff contains a great quantity of pictures, and engravings, most of them extremely rare and valuable; also works in sculpture, both ancient and modern, engraved gems, casts and models. Those of Count Razomousky, and of Prince Galitzin, are equally rich in most respects, but the last, especially in mineralogy. The cabinet of engravings collected by Count Olsuwieff is regarded. as the most considerable in that line of art, and yields only to the Imperial Cabinet of Engravings. SIBERIA. Antiquities. The excavations and diggings into the ancient tombs in Siberia, are INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE FROM THE continued with diligence: the antiquities BRITISH SETTLEMENTS IN INDIA. found in them are sent in succession to Petersburgh. These remains of one of the most powerful people of the earth consist, for the greater part, of articles made of massive gold; they are found in drinking vessels, vases, diadems, military decoratious, cuirasses, shields, ornaments for the head, idols and images of animals. The taste and elegance of the workmanship of these articles leads to the presumption that they have been wrought, in times posterior to Ĝhengis Khan, and under his successors; though by foreign artists. SWEDEN. The University of Upsala has received from the Prince Royal, the assurance of a new building to be erected for the purposes of a library. New Translation of the Bible. An entirely new and complete Translation of the Bible, into the Swedish language, is now in progress; for the purpose of serving as the basis of future expositions, and public preaching by the ministers of the gospel. The New Testament was put to press at the beginning of 1812, and by this time is nearly or quite completed. The Diet of the kingdom has also approved a new liturgy, composed according to the better knowledge and spirit of the present day; which is to be used in all the Churches of the kingdom. A new edition, also entirely revised and recomposed throughout, of the established Lutheran catechism, has been published by authority, together with a new book of Hymns, to be used in public worship. Stockholm. The academy of sciences has lately chosen as members, in foreign countries, Dr. Wollaston, Secretary of the Royal Society, at London; Dr. Herschell, the astronomer; Blumenbach, professor, at Gottingen; Hausmann, professor in that city; Glynn, physician, in England, and Lasteyrie, at Paris. Dr. Reimann having had an opportunity of dissecting a female Hyæna, has published an account of his observations, at Berlin, in 23 pages quarto. There was no other treatise on the subject extant, except that of Daubenton, which is not only incomplète, but susceptible of improvements and corrections. The species dissected was of the Hyanu striata. Professor Rudolphi directed the operations. CALCUTTA. STATE OF ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONS IN An Address has lately appeared in the Calcutta papers, in support of these Missions, from which the following is an ex tract. "The Catholic Missionaries, who now, through their agent deputed hither, apply to the public of Calcutta, were originally in France. The unhappy distractions of attached to the Society of Foreign Missions their native country involved them in its consequent distress, deprived them of the property subservient to their efforts in the cause of Christianity, and cut them off from the resources on which they had till then been accustomed to depend. The charitable contributions of the inhabitants of Mexico enabled them to replace their losses by a slender fund, which the unvarying rendered adequate to the support of the economy and attention of fifteen years had Mission: the same care had even added to the original supply, and the progressive nature of the expences seemed to be accompanied by the augmentation of their the current of their prosperity; and to remeans. It has pleased Providence to check duce them, in one moment, from comparative affluence to more than their former poverty. The late conflagration at Penang, the property of the Society, has again aucomprehending the most valuable part of nihilated their resources, and frustrated their hopes. The establishment of the Catholic Missionaries at Pulo Penang, was founded with a view to provide the natives of the adjoining regions, as Siam, Tonquin, Cochin, and China, with preachers of the true faith from amongst themselves; to instruct youths from those countries in the principles of our holy religion, and send them forth to disseminate its blessings: to rear in this way a succession of labourers in the divine field, who should occupy the vacancies which age and infirmity are busily producing in the original Mission, and who, going amongst people of similar habits and tongues, would be listened to with greater complacency; and most fervently do we hope with greater effect. The state of the Mission, and the establishment at Penang, will best explain our motives, | pied by the Missionaries, they still retain; and justify our expectations. and many articles, rescued from the late BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Of the original Misssonaries, thirty only remain most of them laden with years, and resigned to infirmity.-Under their guidance and controul about 120 priests, natives of the East, discharge the duties of the clerical function, in spite of danger and difficulty, amongst 300,000 Christians, in the populous empire of China, and the surrounding kingdoms. The ministers described were educated in seminaries attached to each principal station of the Mission, and dependent upon the exertions of the superintending Missionary.-To obviate the consequences necessarily connected with this arrangement; such as the decay of the seminary, upon the death or departure of its chief, and the desertion of ministers, where there was a want of in-West, with an inclination to oppose or corstruction; it was considered advisable to reet impressions to their disadvantage. form one principal seat of tuition; and Penang, for the conveniences of situation and the protection of an enlightened government, was the place selected. A semipary was established there under the regulation of three of the original Missionaries; and a number of youths, chiefly Chinese, were instructed and maintained there at the expense of the Society. The cost also of bringing them from their native country, and their conveyance thither, was similarly provided for. The progress of the institution was such as to gratify anticipation, and to encourage the prospect of future utility and success. The expenses of the establishment were mostly defrayed by the profits arising from the rent of several houses in the town, in the purchase of which the little property of the Missionaries had been vested. These houses were within the limits of the late destructive fire, and their loss is a blow as heavy as unexpected. Not to mention the ruin of their prospects, the Missionaries have but ill preserved the mexus of their own support: and they are wholly destitute of resources for maintaining their helpless pupils at Penang, or sending them back to their country, and to their friends. In this embarassment and distress, the success of this appeal to British munificence, is their sole dependence. The whole amount of their loss is too heavy to be replaced; and they The encouragement, it has met with solicit only such assistance as is calculated from all ranks of people, has been such as to relieve: any contribution therefore, how-will clear off a debt of 5000 rupees, and ever limited its extent, as it will tend to re- carry us through full half of this year. move their wants, will have a claim upon their gratitude. They have also to state, that the assistance they may receive will | be attended with beneficial effects beyond those which might at first appear to result from its amount. The ground lately occu This has been begun nearly three years. The object of it is to instruct children in the Scriptures both in the Bengalee and English Languages, as well as in writing and accounts. The advantages attending it in a city like Calcutta are very great. Multitudes of natives, who bear the name of Roman Catholics, but who are in reality as ignorant of the Scriptures as were their idolatrous ancestors, by means of the instructions given to their children, gain some knowledge of the Gospel themselves. They sometimes come to the school, and attend worship in the Bengalee Language, which they understand better than any other; and at other times their children carry home their Testaments, and talk of passages which they have committed to memory; and thus the Gospel makes it way into those dark recesses, which it would be impossible to reach. There are from three to four hundred children on the books of the school; but sickness and other circumstances seldom allow more than twothirds of them to attend at once. The school-room built for them, and entered upon the beginning of the year, is, however, capable of containing eight hundred children. A small school of the same kind has been set up at Serampore, for the sake of the poor native Roman Catholics there. This is supported and conducted by the youths of the Mission Family and School; the expenses are defrayed by a small monthly contribution from each of them; and they appoint one of the eldest among them to conduct it from month to month. In this school the Scriptures are taught both in English and Bengalee, together with writing and accounts in both languages. Classes of boys have here written a whole Gospel in three or four months, by writing a few verses daily. The children taught amount to nearly forty. We have endeavoured this year to in crease the number of our schools in which the Scriptures are taught in the native languages. At Taldanga, about ten miles west of Serampore, a school has been begun for several months, and the number of children amounts to about thirty. At Vidyuvat e too, in the midway between Serampore and Taldanga, another is lately begun, which contains about thirty. Others are also established, in all about thirty schools: the number of children is estimated at nearly a thousand.-Extract from Report by the Baptist Mission in India. SOUTH SEA ISLANDS. masters, or crews of vessels: and to bring such owners, masters, or crews before a court of justice, whenever it may be deemed necessary so to do." This institution owes its existence to the deep interest which Mr. Marsden has long felt in the civilization and conversion of the islanders of the South Seas: he writes to the Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, dated Parramatta, March 15, 1814: "A few months ago, I received information that the master of a vessel from Port Jackson had treated a New Zealander very ill, by beating him cruelly, stripping him naked, and taking from him what little sailor on board. These acts took place in property he had acquired, by acting as a the Bay of Islands. I wrote an official letter to the Governor, (a copy of which I herewith transmit,) when the master of the lency would cause an inquiry to be made, vessel arrived, requesting that his Excelwhich was accordingly done. I immediately brought forward another master of a vessel upon a similar charge. The facts which I circumstantiated, induced his Ex New South Wales Society for affording Pro-cellency to issue a proclamation for the tection to the Natives of the South Sea Islands, and promoting their Civilization. At a meeting of the inhabitants of the Colony of New South Wales, held at Sydney, Dec. 20, 1813, pursuant to requisition, WILLIAM GORE, ESQ. PROVOST-MARSHALL, in the Chair; the Rev. Samuel Marsden stated the necessity and the objects of such a society; the establishment of which was unanimously voted. "The object of this society shall be, to afford protection and relief to the natives of the South Sea Islands, who may be brought to Port Jackson, and to defend their just claims on the masters and owners of the vessels who bring them, and to see justice done to their persons and property; and also to instruct them in the principles of Christianity, and in the different branches of agriculture; and in such other simple arts as may best lead to their civilization and general improvement. protection of the natives of the South Sea Islands! and to require all masters of vessels, who clear out of this port, to enter into a bond, that they will not commit any of those acts of frand and violence upon the natives. In this case I obtained the utmost of my wishes. "Governor Macquarrie has always very readily met my wishes, and interposed his authority whenever requested so to do. "The attention of those in authority would not have been awakened to the sufferings of the natives of the South Sea Islands, unless some great crimes had been committed. Those crimes will produce the effect. His Excellency assured me, that he would write both to the Governor-General of India, and also to his Majesty's Ministers, to request that they will not allow any vessel to sail, either from England or India to these seas, till the masters had entered into the necessary bonds for their good conduct towards the natives. From this you will see that the Missionaries will be more secure from the hand of violence, than they could otherwise have been." "No native of the South Sea Islands The Governor accepted the office of Pashall reside with any person in this settle-tron, and the Lieutenant-Governor that of ment, without the consent of the general committee, when once received under the protection of this society. "A committee of three members, chosen annually from the general body, shall be appointed to hear all the complaints of the South Sea islanders, against the owners, President: the Deputy Commissary-Gencral was appointed Treasurer, and the Rev. S. Marsden, Secretary. Benefactions to the amount of about 200l. were contributed, and annual subscriptions of about 50!. Al the more distant settlements were invited to support this Philanthropic Society. The same Rev. Gentlemen also writes, June 18 and 29: "In New Zealand, the natives are getting on with their cultivation, and have now plenty of maize and pigs; with potatoes and other vegetables. The wheat which I sent a few months since, is growing very well. Duaterra has a perfect knowledge of the cultivation of maize and wheat: bread will be a wonderful advantage to these poor Islanders, and be a means of preventing their civil wars." shews that the misconduct of the Europeans occasioned them to be murdered in one in stance; in another, occasioned the loss of a vessel, as the natives would not assist in his distress, a captain who had ill treated them. He proceeds Though these people may not possess much, yet their little is their all. Europeans have no right to land on their island to destroy their plantations of potatoes and "I have an intention to instruct the two other vegetables, strip them naked of their young Chiefs, now with me, in agriculture; they dare to resist such lawless oppression. garments, and ill-treat and murder them if and to teach them to make an axe or a hoe. In addition to the charge which I wish to Agriculture will make the way clear for exhibit against Mr. Lasco Jones, I shall be the missionaries: it will find employment for the natives, and furnish them with the happy to bring forward two or three remeans of support. If they are once in-spectable witnesses, who have been at New structed in this useful knowledge, New ation of the natives, to state, for your ExZealand, and are acquainted with the situZealand will become a great country. the treatment which the New Zealanders cellency's information, what they know of have received from the masters and crews of vessels. "I wish the Society would send me out for them a few axes, hoes, spades, saws, common knives, fish-hooks, needles, and such useful articles, as soon as they can; and, at the same time, a few tin pots and iron pots; and a hand-wheat-mill, for them to grind their wheat. These things will be of incalculable value to them, and will have the best effect. They will now give a large hog for a small axe, and a bag of potatoes for a small bit of irou-hoop, that they can fasten into the end of a rod to work with. "I think the natural flax of New Zealand would be a valuable article of commerce. Any quantity of it may be procured. have enclosed a few threads of it." The natives of New Zealand have no means of obtaining justice but the law of retaliation; and to this law, like all other uncivilized nations, they will resort, whenever they feel themselves injured or oppressed. The fatal loss of the Boyd and the Parramatta, and the murders of their captains and crews, and of several crews belonging to boats of different vessels, were occasioned by the unprovoked cruelties of the Europeans. It rarely happens that an opportunity offers, in this colony, of bring ing the guilty to punishment; the ships that visit New Zealand, when they have completed their cargo, very frequently proceeding direct to Europe or America, without touching at Port Jackson. On this account, those who have injured the natives of that island have either been cut off, in the moment of personal revenge, by the enraged party, or else have escaped with impunity. ble of every mental improvement. They They are a noble race of men, and capawould soon learn our simple arts, and form habits of industry. This I am fully couvinced of from the knowledge I have of their character and endowments." OBSERVATIONS ON PARTICULAR PASSAGES IN DR. CLARKE'S TRAVELS IN EGYPT, &c.-London, 1814. Celebrity is the high road to authority. The celebrity already acquired by Dr. Clarke, with the station he occupies in one of our Universities, renders it extremely probable, that his sentiments on subjects with which he may justly claim an extensive acquaintance, may at length become commanding and authoritative. Before that takes place, it is prudent to examine such of them as appear dubious; and to correct such of them as appear to be erroneous. His acknowledged learning will suffer nothing from such investigation: his well earned fame need fear no diminution from candid scrutiny of his sentiments. It might be thought, on the first mention of the subject, that nothing could be a matter of more perfect indifference to us, at this time of day, than an enquiry into the character and talents of the builders of the Egyptian Pyramids, with the questions to which such enquiry unavoidably gives occasion. The fact, however, is otherwise: few propositions dependent on history, or historical evidence, are more strongly allied to principles on which we Mr. Marsden, writing officially to the go-rely as the rudiments and leading articles vernor, states some very striking facts: he of our faith. |