supposed that the animal was slain on the grave of some warrior of that ancient city. The bit is of iron, with cheek-rings of brass. The rings are in fine preservation, but the iron is greatly corroded.

Mr. Rugg, of Lapwing farm, between Oakhill and Shepton Mallet, in digging over a tumulus, lately came to some stones, in removing which he discovered a few sepulchral urns, of very rude workmanship, containing bones and ashes. In digging further he discovered more, in all 12 or 14. The farm is situated on what is called the Beacon, near some very extensive ancient Roman entrenchments, called Masbury Camp, and there are several other tumuli near.

As workmen were lately digging a new paint-pit at Llanlinna, near Amlwych, they discovered within three feet of the surface a stone urn or coffin, on opening which they found a human skeleton in a high state of preservation, measuring the extraordinary length of seven feet six inches. The skeleton throughout was quite proportional to its length, and in very perfect condition. The urn appears to have been made from the Aberdovey limestone, and had the appearance of being much corroded by time. From the rude nature of this urn, it seems probable that the body had been first laid in the grave, and limestone placed round its sides and on the top only, which, from the length of time they had lain under ground, had become cemented together.

A few days ago, a farmer discovered in a bank in a bog, in the townland of Kinnigo, near Armagh, a beautiful antique bulla. It is nearly the shape of a heart, and is made of fine gold. The back and front are without ornament, but the sides are covered with fine twisted wire, ending in loops at the top. Along with it he found a spear-head, having a socket and holes for rivets; a celt, with socket and loop; and two rings of cast brass, a large and a small one, linked together. They are all in high preservation, and have been added to the collection of Mr. Corry, Armagh.

A silver seal, in fine preservation, has recently been found on the grounds of W. Brown, esq. at Monkton Butleigh, Somerset, near the site of the Priory of St. Mary Magdalene. This relique is a pendant, having a female front face, deeply cut and of exquisite workmanship (probably Italian); the legend encircling the head, "CAPVT MARIE MAGDALENE."

An ancient stained glass window has been lately erected in the Church of St. George's, Hanover Square. It belonged formerly to a convent at Malines, and was

executed about the latter part of the fifteenth or beginning of the sixteenth century. The subject is "The Genealogy of Our Lord Jesus Christ," according to his human nature, as derived from Jesse, through the twelve kings of Judah previous to the Babylonian captivity. In the centre of the lower part is the figure of Jesse seated; the roots of a vine are on his head; on his right are Aaron and Esaias; on his left, Moses and Elias.

FRENCH ANTIQUARIAN INTELLIGENCE.

PARIS.-Comité Historique des Arts et Monuments.-The second volume of the instructions of this Committee on the external architecture of ecclesiastical edifices has appeared, and completes this division of the subject. It is full of woodcuts (some of which, however, are rather feeble in execution), and, together with the first volume, forms a complete manual or catechism of medieval architecture. It is understood to proceed from the pen of M. Albert Lenoir, and it fully sustains the character of learned research for which that gentleman is so deservedly known. Arrangements are making for the translation and publication of these interesting volumes in England, by some of the Corresponding Members of the Committee.— The ninth number of the Bulletin of the Committee, completing the transactions of the session of 1840, has also appeared. It terminates with the account of the sittings in June, the period at which the Committee adjourned till November, and, as usual, is full of details of high interest to the French antiquary. Numerous reports are contained in it from correspondents in all parts of France, showing the great utility of the Committee, in keeping a watch over acts of Vandalic mutilation, with which some of the most precious edifices of the country are from time to time threatened, and also demonstrating the extended love for, and cultivation of, antiquarian knowledge, which, by means of the organization of this Committee, and the efforts of its members, are beginning to prevail throughout the nation. It has been announced to the Committee, that the Minister of Public Works was inclined to order the conventual church of the Abbey of St. Martin des Champs at Paris to be cut into two horizontally, to make new rooms for storing away old machinery. The applications on the subject made to the Minister of the Interior, will, it is hoped, prevent his colleague from being allowed to injure in this manner one of the finest relics of the 14th century remaining in the capital. This bulletin records the exertions of the

Committee to save the Hotel de la Tremoille, in the Rue des Bourdonnais, at Paris, from total demolition: and one of the English corresponding members has devoted two months of the past summer in making accurate drawings and admeasurements of all the principal parts and details of that valuable edifice. It appears that all efforts, however, have been unavailing the Government has refused to interfere; the Municipal Council, prevented by the opinion of one of its radical members, M. Arago, has refused to vote enough money to buy even the materials, and the whole of the chefs-d'œuvre of sculpture with which it abounds will be converted into lime for building early next spring, unless some enlightened and liberal patron of arts and architecture intervenes, and purchases the parts that admit of transportation. The destruction of this edifice, in the capital itself, under the eyes of Government, and in the very teeth of the Committee, is a painful but striking instance of the damage which faction and political intrigue cause to art and science.

The two first numbers of the Statistique Monumentale of Paris, executed by order of the Committee under the superintendence of M. Lenoir, are ready for publication. They are on a very large scale, and are splendid specimens of French antiquarian skill. They contain the Roman antiquities of Paris, and the churches of Montmartre and St. Germain des Prés.

The Church of St. Germain l'Auxerrois has now got all its principal restorations completely terminated, and reflects great honour on the taste and ability of M. Lassus, under whose inspection, and from whose drawings, this difficult work has been effected. It now forms the best speciment of the flamboyant style in the capital. The woodwork of some of the chapels, and particularly of the Lady Chapel, which is all new, deserves particular mention, it having been executed in all its mouldings and open tracery-work by machinery, according to the new process of M. Calas. The effect is admirable, and it has all the appearance of some of the best sculpture of the 15th century. The iron work, lock fronts, &c. have all been executed from the ancient patterns of what still exists in the church; and a marble font of the date of the Baptistery, in which it is placed, is not one of the least remarkable ornaments of the edifice. The British antiquary will be delighted with the careful respect for the architectural traditions of bygone days shown in the reparation of this church.

The same architect (M. Lassus), conjointly with M. Duban, M. Viollet Leduc, and M. Albert Lenoir, is charged with the restoration of the Sainte Chapelle in

the Palais de Justice. A sum of 100,000f. (£4,000) per annum is now finally allotted to the restoration of this invaluable relic of the 13th century, including its wonderful series of stained-glass windows, until the whole shall be completely terminated. The works will begin in the spring.

Departments.

AUBE.-M. Didron, Secretary to the Comité Historique des Arts et Monuments, during a late visit to Troyes, had the good fortune to preserve from destruction the most ancient edifice of that city. It was the principal entrance to the castle of the Counts of Champagne, wherein the vassals used to perform homage to their Seigneur, and it is now the only relic remaining of that monument. It was built at the end of the 11th century, with the circular arches of the epoch, and forms the first link of the highly interesting series of monuments for which Troyes is so remarkable, including the Church of the Magdalene, the Cathedral dedicated to St. Urban, seven other churches, and the Hotel de Ville, built under Louis XIII. In July last the gateway of the old fortress, with the land adjoining, was put up for sale; but, on the representation of M. Didron to the Prefect of the Department, the land alone was sold, and the monument kept by the town. A place is to be formed round it.

CALVADOS.In 1836 the Rector of Bénouville discovered several antiquities in that parish, beneath the soil near the road from La Délivrande to the ferry. A considerable number of tombs or sarcophagi have since been found at a foot or two beneath the surface, without any inscription. In them were discovered cuirasses, broaches or clasps of various dimensions, some exceedingly simple, the rest highly wrought, partly in bronze, partly in iron, and a few in silver. There were, besides, several very short swords, strong and terminating in a point; some small earthen vases; a thimble and needle in bronze; pincers, a stylet, several glass beads, the remains of a baldric, and a coin of Constantius. Upon the lids of some of the sarcophagi were found human skeletons with the faces turned downwards. To the foot of one of the sarcophagi was found a skeleton chained, and inside was the skeleton of a warrior armed. Near these sarcophagi were found tombs dug in the rocks, in which were charcoal ashes, poniards, broken spears, lances, vases in, glass and earthenware, several ornaments in bronze, a zodiac, a gold coin of one of the Merovingian Kings, Roman coins in bronze, rings of iron, and a small handmill. Other searches carried on in the neighbourhood, where there seems to have

been a fortified station, have produced numerous human bones, a medal of one of the Antonines, &c. A memoir has been drawn up on this subject, and communicated to the Society of Antiquaries of Normandy.

The Abbé Desroches has published a most valuable History of Mont St. Michel, and the ancient diocese of Avranche. It is in 2 vols 8vo. and is indispensable to the Norman antiquary.

GIRONDE. - M. Merimée, Inspector General of Historical Monuments, recommends the Palais Gallien at Bordeaux to the especial care of the authorities, and urges that it should be completely separated from the adjoining buildings.-He has also been to visit the Byzantine Church of St. Macaire, remarkable for its frescos and valuable architectural details, as well as the Church of Loupine, the walls of Cadillac, and the remains of the magnificent Chateau of the Dukes of Epernon.

The Fort du Ha, at Bordeaux, one of the oldest and most considerable of the municipal fortresses of France, has been lately demolished, in order to allow of a new Palais de Justice and prison being erected on its site. This fort had itself been constructed out of the remains of the wall, which, after the time of the Romans, had been erected round Bordeaux; and this wall again had been formed out of the wrecks of Roman tombs, temples, and houses, that lined the high road leading from the city or the streets. The consequence has been that a consider able quantity of fragments of altars, cippi, tombs, &c. have a second time come to light. In making a well in the Rue Devise St. Catharine, at Bordeaux, the workmen, at a little depth below the soil, came to some Roman statues, lying horizontally. These they cut through, left the portions not in their cutting sticking in the earth, and then walled them up, along with the rest of the well, where they will remain for future ages to exhume! A Roman column had formerly been found close to this spot.

ILLE ET VILAINE.-An ancient canoe has recently been found in a marsh near St. James, in this department. In form it resembles the Canadian canoe, and is formed out of a single piece of oak. It is about 15 feet long, by 3 feet wide, and at the time of its discovery contained two skeletons. It is in perfect preservation, and was so near the surface that one of its extremities protruded from the ground. The river Beuvron runs through the marsh in which it was lying.

LOIRE. The fine Chateau of St. Vincent de Boisset, near Roanne, has been sold by the Duke de Cadore for 700,000f. to the Abbé Lacordaire, who intends to convert it into a house of religious instruction. It is one of the grandest specimens of the early part of the last century and the pannels of the principal apartments are most exquisitely painted.

LOIRE INFERIEURE. - At La Mothe Saint Heraye some recent excavations in a tumulus have exposed to view a gallery and cave, formed by nine stones placed upright, which support an enormous slab, more than 24 feet long. The interior of the cave was filled with human skeletons and bones. The head of each skeleton touched the side of the cave, and by each were placed vases of baked earth that had contained provisions, intended for the defunct in the other world. Some nuts and acorns were found quite entire in these vases. Two axe-heads and two flint knives, with some other small cutting instruments, were found, as well as two necklaces, one of which was made of shells, the other of baked earth; several boar's tusks, the bone of a dog, and some fragments of an earthern plate, with rudely traced designs. Of the vases near the skeletons four were in good preservation, and one of these is supposed to be the cup of a Druid. The tumulus is about 200 feet in circumference, and 18 feet high.

MAINE ET LOIRE. In one of the halls of the Bishop's palace at Angers, built by one of the Counts of Anjou, M. Schmidt, Inspector General of cathedrals and religious edifices, having ordered some plaster work to be removed from the walls, has discovered a fine series of circularheaded windows, the architraves resting on small shafts, and in the best style of the 11th century. The hall is about 70 feet by 20 feet, and should be visited by whoever passes through Angers. This district is one of the most remarkable in France, not only for the monuments it contains, but also for the enlightened taste and public spirit of the principal inhabitants, who have not only formed a very excellent museum of medieval antiquities at Angers, but have also done all in their power to prevent the degradation of the remains of the middle ages scattered over the surface of the country.

NORD. The ancient Church of Verlinghem has been entirely destroyed by fire.

SEINE INFERIEURE.-The Church of Bourdun, near Rouen, has, to use the energetic language of an antiquary of that city, just been given over to "l'ignoble balai des badigonneurs."

The Prince de Joinville arrived on the 30th November at Cherbourg, with the remains of the Emperor Napoleon, which were disinterred at St. Helena on the 15th of October. It appears, by the reports of the French and English Commissioners, that they, on that day, arrived at the place called Napoleon's Valley, in St. Helena, where they found the tomb guarded by a detachment of the 91st regiment of English infantry. They commenced operations at midnight, and began by removing the iron railing which surrounded the tomb; they then removed three ranges of masonry, and came to a vault eleven feet deep, nearly filled with -clay; a bed of Roman cement then presented itself, and underneath was another bed, ten feet deep, bound together with bands of iron. A covering of masonry was then discovered five feet deep, forming the covering of the sarcophagus. The external coffin was found perfect; and on opening the third by the doctor, the body of Bonaparte was exposed to view. features were so little changed that his face was recognised by those who had known him when alive; and the uniform, the orders, and the hat, which had been buried with him, were very little changed. The coffin was then closed, and having been placed on a funeral car, the corners of the pall were held by Lieut. - General Count Bertrand, Lieut.-General Baron Gourgaud, Baron Las Cases, &c. Minute guns were fired during the procession. The Governor then delivered the body to the Prince, who had it conveyed on board the Belle Poule with royal honours, viz. the firing of salutes and maning the yards. On the following day a funeral service was performed, and the body was then lowered between decks. On the 18th of October the Belle Poule and her companion, the Favourite, set sail for France.

His

Bonaparte's remains were removed from Cherbourg to the church of the Invalides in Paris, on Tuesday Dec. 15. The funeral procession was splendid, the coffin being conveyed on a car, and the number of people assembled is stated to have been 500,000. The King and the royal family attended at the ceremony,

and 60,000 National Guards were in attendance. All passed off peaceably.

Christina, the Dowager Queen of Spain, has visited Louis-Philipe at Fontainebleau, where she received an affectionate welcome. Her aunt, the Queen of the French, presented her to the Duchess de Nemours and the Princess Clementine. She has now, we understand, left France for Italy.

SYRIA.

The celebrated sea-port of Palestine, St. Jean d'Acre, was taken by the allies, on the 3d of November. It appears that Col. Smith, who commands the forces in Syria, directed Omar Bey, with 2,000 Turks, to advance on Tyre, and occupy the passes to the northward of Acre; in the mean time Admiral Sir Robert Stopford sailed from Beyrout Roads, having on board 3000 Turks, and detachments of English artillery and sappers. The forces and fleet arrived off Acre at the same hour. At two o'clock p. m. a tremendous cannonade took place, which was maintained without intermission for some hours; the steamers lying outside throwing, with astonishing rapidity, their shells over the ships into the fortification. During the bombardment the arsenal and magazine blew up, annihilating upwards of 1,200 of the enemy, forming two entire regiments, who were drawn up on the ramparts. A sensation was felt on board the ships similar to that of an earthquake. Every living creature within the area of 60,000 square yards ceased to exist. At two o'clock on the following morning a boat arrived from Acre, to announce that the remainder of the garrison were leaving the place, and as soon as the sun rose, the British, Austrian, and Turkish flags were seen waving on the citadel. The town was found to be one mass of ruins-the batteries and houses riddled all over-the killed and wounded lying about in all directions. The defence of the place was entrusted to a Pole, who lost his arm, and is among the prisoners, which amount to more than 3,000 men. The slain are estimated at 2,500, and those who fled exceed 1,000; but the latter were hourly being brought in by the mountaineers, who dash on horseback

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In

into the town by hundreds, seizing carbines and cartridges, then fly to the mountain passes, to intercept the fugitives. The loss of Lieut. Le Mesurier, of the Talbot, is much regretted. this attack, 17 were killed and 36 wounded on board the fleet. The Turkish troops were landed to garrison Acre, where a vast quantity of stores and materiel were found there is also a park of artillery of 200 guns in first rate order, and a large sum in specie. Col. Smith remarks, that the moral influence that will result from the surrender of this formidable fortress is incalculable to the cause in which the allies are engaged. The town contained near 20,000 inhabitants. Three days after the capture of the fortress a powder magazine unfortunately blew up, by which accident nearly three hundred persons, principally natives, were killed and wounded.

By accounts from Alexandria, dated Nov. 26, it appears that the Egyptian question is probably settled. Mehemet Ali has expressed his entire submission to the Sultan, and full assent to the demands of the British Admiral. The Turkish fleet is to be immediately restored to the Sultan, and the hereditary government of Egypt secured to Mehemet Ali. Syria is to be abandoned, and other arrangements are instantly to be entered into.

CHINA.

Highly interesting intelligence has been received from Admiral Elliot and Commodore Sir John Bremer, the officers commanding the expedition against China.

The forts and junks at Amoy have been destroyed. The city and island of Chusan were captured on the 5th of July, by Brig. Gen. Burrell, after a very slight resistance. The latter was appointed

Governor, and steps were taken to render it permanently a British possession. Chusan is on the Chinese coast, and its capital, a walled city six miles in circumference, is named Ting-hae-heen. The great advantage of taking this place is, that it enables the Admiral to stop the enormous trade which is carried on by the rivers and ports, which he has placed under blockade. The mandarins along the coast showed no decided hostility to the English, yet none of them could be prevailed upon to carry Lord Palmerston's letter to the Emperor, as they declared the certain penalty would be instant death. Three magazines, containing gunpowder, shot, matchlocks, swords, bows and arrows, steel helmets, uniform, clothing, &c. have been taken at Chusan. The cannon are all small, ranging from two to nine pounders. The Chinese had about 25 men killed, and their admiral is also said to be wounded. The English troops escaped without any loss.

EAST INDIES.

Accounts have been received from India, which state that Dost Mahomed had been defeated on the 18th of September, on the northern frontier, by a small force under Brigadier Dennie; and the inhabitants of Affghanistan have, therefore, not risen up in arms against us, as they would have done had the scales of victory been inclined the other way. The enemy were 10,000 strong, and left 500 men dead on the field, together with all their baggage, &c. Dost Mahomed fled, seriously wounded. Sinde was tranquil ; and Capt. Brown had evacuated the fort of Kahun by treaty with the Murrees. It appears that the Asiatic scourge, the cho. lera, had re-appeared at Candy.

vice, or in depôt, at the rate of 31. a company. Wherever it is possible, it is intended that this situation shall be held by the wife of a non-commissioned officer of the regiment to which she is appointed.

Workmen have been employed in effecting a great improvement to the entrance of the court-yard of St. James's Palace. The awkward building which has for many years projected from the wall of the residence of the King of Hanover into Cleveland-row, generally known as the "suttling house" for the military on duty in the Palace, is now razed to the ground, which will afford a much better entrance to the Park through the Palace-yard, Another great improve