this country: and this, independently of the the support of a society which is labouring to effect that object. Nor is it perhaps too much to hope, that the attention of the legisla ture may be at length awakened to the state of these unfortunate sufferers, and put an end to the horrors of this inor mslave trade. FRANCE. The use of copper vessels in cookery is justly dreaded, and various articles are, , nevertheless, dressed in such vessels, without acquiring any injurious qualities. M. Proust determined to discover, if possible, the cause of these contradictory effects. He boiled for above an hour, in a copper vessel, a quantity of strong vinegar, which completely filled the vessel. The most active re-agents, such as sulphurated hydrogen, did not discover the smallest effect produced on the liquor by the copper. He found, however, that the copper becomes oxided, or rusted, only when the vessel is not full; in which case, a portion of its surface is exposed to the action of the atmosphere, the oxygen of which combines with it. This theory he verified by many experiments. The heat produced during the time of boiling, by greatly dilating the air which comes into contact with the copper, prevents this combination. The accidents then which some times follow the use of copper vessels, are occasioned by suffering liquids to cool in them, during which time the air has access to the surface of the copper. This theory certainly explains by what means it may happen, that one person shall use with safety, and consider as not unwholesome, the same vessel which another finds deleterious. Hence also our housewives will per ceive the reason why cleanliness is their security, when their culinary vessels become partly untinned by continued use. A chemist at Paris has lately made several curious experiments on tobacco, which, if found to be correct, will occasion a great innovation in the trade and manufacture of that vegetable. His results were, that the acrid principle of tobacco differs from that of all other vegetables whose properties are known; that it can by an easy process be separated from the plant, either green or dried, and in a liquid state; and that the juice thus extracted, may be combined with the dried leaves of any tree, and thus form tobacco. The remains of the plant, after the acrid principle is thus separated, have neither smell nor taste. M. Vauquelin has analysed a meteorię stone, which fell on the 22d of May, 1808 100 A new method of preparing extract of opium has been published in France, by which, it is said, that its offensive smell and malignant qualities are in a great measure destroyed. The method is this: Macerate twenty-four ounces of opium in rain water for five days; then boil, for a quarter of an hour, with two pounds of pulverized charcoal; strain, and clarify with white of egg; and by evaporation, twelve ounces of extract will be obtained. Upwards of sixty chests, containing productions of art, collected during the late war, have arrived at Paris. Among the most valuable, are many original pictures of the Flemish school, and a great number of rare printed books from Vienna. From that city have also arrived a number of animals, among which are two lions, kangaroos, a cassowary, parroquets, &c. Some of these ani. mals are destined for the menagerie of Malmaison; others for the Museum of Natu ral History. They were accompanied by many boxes, containing rare and curious exotic plants. The following order of General Kellarman furnishes a very extraordinary example of atrocity. Spanish measure, also mares pregnant for more than three months, and horses and mares that are not thirty months old, and less than the height mentioned, ARE TO HAVE THE LEFT EYE PUT OUT, and are to be rendered, by other proper means, unfit for military service by the proprietors the au selves. Those who presume to disobey this command are to be mulcted in four times the value of the animals. "The execution of this order is to be committed to the Governors, Commandants of Arms, and to the Commandants of De tachments and Flying Columns. (Signed) Oct. 28, KELLERMANN, General of Division, and Gov.General of Upper Spain." "Considering the necessity of multiplying the resources of the army of his Imperial Majesty, and of depriving the rebels and traitors of the means of procuring animals to accomplish their atrocious designs, it is hereby declared, that all the horses and mares belonging to the provinces in Upper Spain, viz. in the districts of Salamanca, Zamora, Toro, Leon, Placentia, Burgos, Guipuscoa, and Alava, of the height of four feet four inches, or five feet and half an inch of the measure of Spain, and from thence upward, are in requisition for the service of the arnies of France, and are to be conducted to the capital of the respective governments, where they are to be received and maintained by the Governors, until the returns made to me shall enable me to give direc、sion thinking the imprisonment he had a tions for the disposal of them. M. Van Braam has published the second volume of the Voyage of the Dutch Embas sy to China, in 1794, &c. It contains a description of several parts of that empire, hitherto unknown to Europeans. "All the horses of less than four feet four inches, or five feet and half an inch At Nuremberg lately, the special commission appointed to try those who were concerned in the insurrection which took place when the Austrians occupied that city, among others accused, had before them a shoemaker named Wolf, a mem ber of the Association of Improvisatori, which has existed in Nuremberg from the 13th or 14th century. The German name imports repeaters of sentences, or, as we might say in English, those who cap verses. Wolf was not wholly acquitted; but the commis ready suffered sufficient, dismissed him.→→ Wolf returned his thanks to the tribunal in a long speech, consisting of verses entirely. unpremeditated, to the surprise and amusement of his judges. RUSSIA. The skeleton of the mammoth, found in the ice, at the mouth of the river Lena, in Siberia (see Christ. Observ. for 1808, p. 198), which has been for some time publicly exhibited at Moscow, is said to be intended for the Museum of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at Petersburg. Professor Tilesius has made forty drawings of the skeleton, and its various parts, which he means to publish in folio, with observations.. On some points he differs from Cavier. The greatest cold of last winter observed at Moscow, was in the night of the 11th of January. Mercury exposed to the open air, in a cup, by Dr. Rehmann, was frozen so hard, that it might be cut with sheers, and even filed. Count Boutourlin found the mercury in three thermometers withdrawn entirely into the ball and frozen; but in another it was seen by himself and four other persons, from six o'clock till half after, at 3.5° R. (464 F.). Mr. Rogers, of Troitsk, is said to have seen it at 34 (44 F.) before it froze and withdrew into the ball. M. Klaproth, member of the Academy of Sciences at Petersburg, has set out for Georgia, with a view to proceed to Persia, where he intends to spend several years. The Account of Captain Krusenstiern's voyage round the world is publishing at Petersburg in the Russian, and also in the Gerran language. AMERICA. A cluster of islands has been recently discovered in the South Seas, by Captain Bristow. They are situated in 50. 40. south latitude, and 166. 35. east longitude: are seven in number; and the largest contains a fine barbour, in which abundance of fish, fowl, wood, and water, can easily be procured. Captain Bristow named them "Lord Auckland's Group." Dr. Ewell, of Washington, has given an account of the successful internal exhibition of the acetate or sugar of lead, in several diseases, particularly in profuse hæmorrhage, and in cases of salivation. He is also of opinion, that it is worthy of a trial in dysentery, at least after evacuants have been used. A large body of warriors, hunters, and trappers, all well armed and equipped, took their departure a few months ago from Louisville, in America, on a three-year expedition, to join the Missouri Company, who design to establish themselves not only on the river Columbia, but to enlarge the sphere of their commerce to the East Indies. M. Humboldt, in his recent travels, affirms that the marshy streams of Bers and Rastro, in South America, are full of electrical eels, whose slimy bodies, dashed with yellow spots, communicate in every direction, and spontaneously, a vio lent shock. These gymnoti are five or six feet long, and when they suitably direct the action of their organs, armed with an apparatus of multiplied nerves, they are able to kill the most robust animals. All fishes shun the approach of this formidable eel. It even surprises men, who, standing on the steep bank, are fishing with a hook, the wetted line conveying the fatal commotion. In this instance, the electrical fire is disengaged from the very bottom of the waters. LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. THEOLOGY. The History of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; arranged according to the Order of Time, and in the exact Words of the four Gospels: to which are added the Lives of the four Evangelists; an Account of the principal Jewish Seets, and Parties; and the Prophetic History of Christ. By Dr. Watkins. The Substance of a Sermon preached at the Blessing of the Catholic Chapel of St. Chad, in Birmingham, Dec. 17, 1809. By the Rt. Rev. Dr. Milner. 1s. 6d. Christ's Demand of Attention and Understanding, illustrated by a Sermon preached Nov. 26, 1899, to a Congregation of Pro 2 LEICESTER BIBLE SOCIETY. AN auxiliary Bible Society has been formed at Leicester, on the same plan with that at Bristol, of which we gave an account in our last number. Thomas Babington, Esq. one of the members for the borough, has been chosen its President; and a Committee has been appointed, whose labours have been successful in obtaining a very general support from the town and neighbourhood. An Address has been circulated by the Committee, which is drawn up with so much ability that we are induced to lay a part of it before our readers. "Notwithstanding the diversity of senti ment which unhappily prevails among Christians, we may fairly presume on the concur rence of all parties and denominations in promoting a design so disinterested as that of diffusing the light of Revelation. In the prosecution of this design, our party is the world; the only distinction we contemplate is between the disciples of revelation, and the unhappy victims of superstition and idolatry; and as we propose to circulate the Bible alone, without notes or comments, truth only can be a gainer by the measure. To those who confine their views to this country, the want of Bibles may not appear very urgent; but without insisting on the many thousands, even here, who are destitute of them, it is certain that in Pagan, Mahometan, and Popish countries, they are extremely rare, and their number totally Inadequate, not merely to supply the immense population in those parts, but even the increasing demand which a variety of arcumstances have combined to produce. To supply this demand to whatever extent it may be carried, is the aim of the Society in London, with which this is designed to Co-operate. Their ambition, as far as it may please Providence to smile upon their efforts, is by imparting the Holy Scriptures, to open the fountain of revelation to all actions. It was natural and necessary for CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 99, the first movement in so great an enterprise to commence at the heart of the empire; nor is it less so that, having commenced there, it should propagate itself through the larger vessels and arteries to the remotest extremities of the body. We have the pleasure of perceiving that the example of the metropolis has been followed in several of our principal towns and cities, and there is room to hope that siniilar Institutions will, ere long, be formed in every part of the kingdom. Nor has the emulation excited been confined to this nation and its dependencies: societies of the same description have been formed at Philadelphia, at Berlin, and at Basle; each of which derives support and assistance from the original one established in the metropolis of Great Britain.” "In whatever light we consider the Bri tish and Foreign Bible Society, it appears to us replete with utility. Its formation will, we trust, constitute a new æra in the history of Religion, which may be styled the Era of Unanimity. It affords a rallying point for the piety of the age, an unsuspie cious medium of communication between the good of all parties and nations, a centre of union and co-operation in the advancement of a common cause, which cannot 'fail to allay the heats and smooth the aspe rities of discordant sentiment. By giving the most effectual aid to means already set on foot for the conversion of Pagan nations; it also promises to accelerate the pe riod when truth shall become victorious in the earth." "What incalculable benefits may be expected to result from the completion of such a plan. Wherever the Scriptures are generally read, the standard of morals is raised, the public mind is expanded, a spirit of inquiry excited, and the sphere of intellectual vision inconceivably enlarged. While they contribute most essentially to the improvement of reason, by presenting to its contemplation the noblest objects, 2 A they aid its weakness, and supply its defi ciencies by information beyond its reach. If to know the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent," be, as our Saviour assures us, "eternal life," to adopt effectual measures for imparting that knowledge, must be allowed to be the most genuine exercise of benevolence. It is to be lamented that Protestant nations have been too long inattentive to this object: We rejoice to find that they are now convinced of their error, and that, touched with commiseration for the unhappy condition of mankind, they are anxious to impart those riches which may be shared without being dimi nished, and communicated without being lost to the possessor. Such is the felicity of reli gion; such the unbounded liberality of its principles. Though we should be sorry to administer fuel to national vanity, we can. not conceal the satisfaction it gives us to reflect, that while the fairest portion of the globe has fallen a prey to that guilty and restless ambition which by the inscrutable wisdom of Providence is permitted for a time to take peace from the earth; this fa voured country is employed in spreading the triumphs of truth, multiplying the means of instruction, and opening sources of consolation to an afflicted world. In these eventful times, so pregnant with difficulty and danger, we consider this as affording a anost favourable omen of the ultimate in tentions of Providence respecting this naGun." 4. J WAVAL AND MILITARY BIBLE SOCIETY. It is with satisfaction we are informed, that the applications for Bibles from the sailors and soldiers of the British Army and Navy, have of late greatly increased. It appeared at the last audit, that the great! desire of our valiant defenders to read the word of God had nearly exhausted the funds of the Society. On this account, several clergymen made collections at their churches on the late Fast-day; and we have the plea sure to state, that the following sums have been received for the benevolent pure pose: Mr. Desgranges, the missionary at Vizagne patam, in a letter dated April last, states,' that Ananderayer-once a Brahmin, but now. he trusts, a genuine disciple of Christ—is constantly employed in the affairs of the mission. He conducts the devotional exercises of the natives, "who are inquiring the way with fervency and zeal. He labours assi to Zion." He prays in public, and preaches, Gospels into the Telinga language, and in duously in aiding the translation of the four examining manuscript tracts containing statehas also been baptized, and is stated to be ments of the way of salvation. His wife an ornament to her profession. Many hun dreds have heard the Gospel in the Telinga language. St. Matthew's Gospel has been translated, and a copy of it sent to Calcutta. The other Gospels are nearly complete. The number of scholars in the missionary schools increases, and some of them advance in the knowledge of the English language and of Christianity. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. THE POPEDOM. By a degree of the Conservative Senate of France, the state of Rome is united to, the French empire. The city of Rome is to be the second city of the empire, and shall cus joy peculiar privileges; and the Prince, Im perial is to assume the title and receive the honours of the King of Rome. And aftes, grit having been crowned at Paris, the Empe Trors shall, prevtunsly to the tenth year of 75.40 |