deals with the general condition of the English peasantry, and will include a detailed account of Canon Girdlestone's work of migration.

MESSRS. GRIFFITH & FARRAN write to us :"The following is taken from the title-page of a copy of the book in our possession, Pictures of Roman History in Miniature, designed by Alfred Mills, with Explanatory Anecdotes. London : printed for Darton, Harvey & Darton, Gracechurch Street, and J. Harris, St. Paul's Churchyard, 1817. We think this is a sufficient proof the American magazine, Old and New, has made a mistake in asserting it to be 'the work written by the late J. S. Mill when a boy, and alluded to in his Autobiography.""

Old and New gives the title-page, and says that Alfred Mills is J. S. Mill's nom de plume. Can Messrs. Griffith & Farran show that Alfred Mills was a real entity?

OUR friends the bibliophiles and bibliopoles of Paris were surprised the other day, when they assembled to view the books of M. Dancoisne, previously to their being disposed of by auction, by the appearance among them of a commissary of police and another officer of justice. These came to claim, on behalf of the Bibliothèque Nationale, and in the name of M. Taschereau, its chief, a certain MS., entitled “Gratiani collectio SS. Canonum et Decretorum, cum veteribus glossis," &c. The work in question, which is a highly valuable MS. of the fifteenth century, ornamented with thirty-eight grand miniature paintings, and the pages richly illuminated throughout with 600 heads introduced at the beginnings of the chapters, was claimed by M. Taschereau as having belonged originally to the library at Troyes, from which it was to have been transferred to the library at Paris in the year 1804, and a receipt was then actually given for it by M. Chardon de la Rochette. Before it reached the Bibliothèque Nationale, however, it was stolen, together with a quantity of books. M. Taschereau consequently claims the MS. as being the identical one thus lost or stolen, and it has been surrendered to him, of course under protest. But immediately there arises this difficulty, namely, that the MS. offered for sale came from the Perkins Library, which was disposed of last year by auction in this country. It was then purchased by M. Bachelin-Deflorenne for the sum of 2601., after a sharp contest with M. Fontaine, of Paris, and Mr. Quaritch, of London. There is no mark of any kind to identify it absolutely with the copy in the Troyes library, which, by the way, was said to be in a binding of black velvet, whereas the Perkins copy is bound in Russia leather, with the Perkins mark upon it. Moreover, the Troyes copy was alleged to have a frontispiece at the commencement, whereas in the Perkins there is only a blank leaf. When it is remembered that there are duplicates and triplicates of some of the valuable MSS. of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, very closely corresponding with each other, we think it will prove a difficult matter for M. Taschereau to establish the right of ownership claimed for the Bibliothèque Nationale.

the "Golden Treasury Series, "Deutsche Lieder,' a Golden Treasury of German Song, edited, with English notes, by Dr. Buchheim; and Scottish Songs,' edited by Miss Mary Carlyle Aitken, a niece of Mr. Carlyle's.

WE hear that a new edition will shortly be brought out of Ormerod's 'History of the County Palatine and City of Chester,' in three volumes, folio. The original steel plates illustrating the work are in the hands of a well-known publishing firm, by whom the new edition will be issued. Of the first and only impression, which has for a long time been very scarce, three hundred and fifty copies were printed on small paper, and sixty-five copies on large paper. The book was published in 1819.

THE Chetham Society has just held its thirty-first annual meeting, in the Audit Room of the Chetham Hospital, in Manchester. Mr. James Crossley, the President of the Society, occupied the chair, and read the Annual Report, at the conclusion of which he addressed the meeting at some length.

A FOURTH and considerably enlarged edition of Prof. Fawcett's Manual of Political Economy' will be ready shortly.

DR. M'COSH, author of an Examination of J. S. Mill's Philosophy,' and other philosophical works, will publish in America a History of Philosophy, from the Earliest Times to Sir William Hamilton,' and Messrs. Macmillan will publish the book simultaneously in this country.

A CHAIR of Education is to be founded in provisions of the Scotch Education Act, will the Edinburgh University. This, under the instead of at Training Colleges. enable teachers to study at the University A similar chair has been established at St. Andrews.

THE strike of printers in Manchester, to which we recently alluded as being imminent, which we recently alluded as being imminent, has been averted, a concession having been made by the master printers to their employés. A proposition by the masters to submit the matter in dispute to arbitration was rejected by the workmen.

MESSRS. MACMILLAN & Co. will publish shortly, uniform with Mr. Freeman's Old English History,' a 'History of Scandinavia,' by Miss Otté.

MR. LUDWIG DUMONT, of the Cölnische Zeitung, is paying a visit to England.

We learn from Peking that a printing-office has lately been established in connexion with the Peking College, from which a voluminous history of the Taiping and Nienfei rebellions will shortly be issued, and where also a work

on Chemistry, by Prof. Billequin, is in course of being printed. The establishment has been visited by Prince Kung, who expressed himself much pleased with the arrangements.

THE edition of Molière's works, Paris, 1682, published by his friends Lagrange and Vinot, for a long time little valued, has acquired a of it anterior to the insertion of the numerous great importance since the discovery of a copy cancels imposed by the censure before authorizing the issue of the edition. This copy, then belonging to M. de la Reynie, LieutenantGeneral of Police, after having been carried to Constantinople, was subsequently bought by M. de Soleinne, then by M. A. Bertin, and was sold at M. Bertin's sale for 1,210 fr. Another copy was, later, bought at the Chaudé sale for

2,500 fr., by the Duc d'Aumale. The first edition of Molière's works, under his own supervision, was published in the year of his death, 1673. No copy of it is known to exist, except in the collection of M. H. Bordes, "Amateur Bordelais," whose catalogue was published in 1872. Molière had prepared a second edition, but the revision interrupted by his death was finished by another, and the book was published in 1674-75. A fine copy of the later edition is in the new library of M. L Double, and has just been described in a recent pamphlet of M. Paul Lacroix, "La Véritable Edition Originale des Euvres de Molière' (Paris, Fontaine), par P. L. Jacob, bibliophile."

PROF. DOMENICO COMPARETTI, of Pisa, has in the press a work on Italian Folk-Lore, Stories, Songs, &c.

THE statement we made a fortnight ago in reference to a letter addressed by Mr. Gladstone to Prof. Max Müller was inaccurate; but we may mention that Mr. Gladstone, in a letter he has favoured us with, says "it was known to many of his friends, that he was desirous to turn his new position to account, as far as might be, for purposes other than those of politics."

UNDER the title of 'Shakespeare's Plutarch," Mr. Skeat will edit, with introductory notes and glossarial index, those entire biographies and scattered passages from Sir Thomas North's translation of Plutarch, which Shakspeare drew The volume upon in so many of his plays. will be published by Messrs. Macmillan.

WE are sorry to hear of the death of Mr. William Shergold Browning, on the 4th instant, at an advanced age. Mr. William S. Browning was uncle of Mr. Robert Browning, the poet; and amidst other pressing avocations found time to give some attention to literature. His principal works were, two historical novels, one called Hoel Morven,' and the other the 'Provost of Paris,'-the latter was published in 1833; a collection of literary and histori

cal essays, published in Paris under the title of "The Leisure Hour'; and an original history of the Huguenots, first published in three volumes half a century ago, and republished, as a new edition, by Messrs. Whittaker & Co.

IT has been decided that the corpse of M. Michelet shall not be brought to Paris, as was at one time proposed.

ARRANGEMENTS have been made for the ap

pearance of translations of Auerbach's forth coming novel, Waldfried' into English French, Italian, Hungarian, and Russian.

THE Académie des Sciences Morales et Poli

tiques has elected M. Geffroy to fill the vacancy caused by the death of M. Amédée Thierry ; and M. Massé to that caused by the death of M. Odilon Barrot.

SCIENCE

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES.

THE importance of Palæontology in the study of Vertebrate Zoology has been of late most fully exemplified; and, as might have been almost pre

dicted, the discoveries are mostly derived from the unique avian form from the Sheppey clays, a Tertiary formations. Prof. Owen has described a Steganopod or gannet-like bird, named by him Odontopteryx toliapica, normal otherwise, but peculiar in having long bony serrations on the

cutting edges of both jaws, which in the living anlmal must have produced the appearance of the mouth of the Merganser in an exaggerated form. Prof. Leidy's quarto volume, the first of the five which Mr. F. V. Hayden, the United States Geologist, promises on the survey of his country, describes most carefully and illustrates completely the results of his thorough study in the large and recent field for vertebrate paleontological work opened up in the Tertiary deposits of the Wyoming Territory, situated near Fort Bridger, in the neighbourhood of the Uintah Mountains and the Green River. This work puts us, for the first time, in possession of much of the material which has formed the basis for the large number of incompletely described orders, genera, and species which have recently reached us so repeatedly.

Among the most important new forms described by Prof. Leidy in detail as far as he has had the opportunity of seeing specimens, is Uintatherium, the marvellous gigantic six-horned ungulate, which is almost certainly not generically distinct from Dinoceras (Marsh), as well as Eobasileus (Cope) and Loxolophodon (Cope).

Palæosyops is a genus of Perissodactylates, to which Prof. Leidy has devoted much well repaid attention. It is evidently closely allied to the tapirs, and also to its contemporary form, Palæotherium. This recalls to mind the fact that a complete skeleton of Palæotherium magnum, in situ, has been obtained at Vitry-sur-Seine, which shows how even great men may be led into serious errors of generalization; for, instead of being a short-necked, tapir-like animal, as supposed and pictured by Cuvier, it had a long and stag-like gracefully-curved neck, the head being carried well above the shoulders. A careful perusal of Prof. Leidy's memoir will well repay the time spent

on it.

Prof. Marsh, of Yale College, Massachusetts, in Brontotherium ingens, has discovered another ungulate as large as Dinoceras and the elephant, with a single pair of huge horn-cores near the apex of the nose, and a very flat head. The teeth, thirtyeight in number, formed a continuous series, with

no gaps, and the zygomatic arches were very strong A more complete description is much needed.

In recent Zoology, Dr. Peters, of Berlin, has described an interesting new genus of rodent animals, closely allied to the Cavies, from the table-lands of Peru, which he has named Dinomys Branickii. It is about the size of a Paca; black, with white spots in longitudinal rows, and a tail of medium length.

An interesting new species of Stork from Japan had been discovered by Mr. Swinhoe, who has so much enriched our knowledge of the Chinese fauna. It is of a maximum size, and is named Ciconia Boyciana.

Mr. A. H. Garrod has suggested a new classification of birds, which presents several peculiarities. By means of formulæ, in which a single letter is made to represent each anatomical fact, facilities are introduced for the ready comparison of differ

ent types.

more perfect than has as yet at any time been exhibited.

The chimpanzee died on Friday in last week, the cause of his death being tubercular peritonitis. He had been in the Gardens nearly three years and came from the banks of the Congo.

Mr. Edward Gerrard has succeeded in obtaining a large series of nearly all the rare Ganoid fish of North America, including several specimens of Calamoichthys.

THE RUSIZI AND THE NILE.

Liverpool, March, 1874.

MR. FINDLAY'S very interesting letter in the Atheneum of February 28, reminds me of several facts, besides those mentioned by himself, which corroborate his general view as to the connexion between Lake Tanganyika and the Nile.

1. Mr. Stanley, at p. 496, gives distinct proof of a northerly current in the water of the lake, on its eastern side, within some ten miles of its northern end. The outlet, therefore, is not likely to be south of this point.

2. The very rapid current, six or eight miles an hour, of one branch of the Rusizi, a shallow stream, flowing through a flat marsh, could only be derived from mountain torrents close at hand. But these would also account for the entire stream, the volume of which is inconsiderable. It seems, therefore, more likely that the Rusizi described by Stanley, simply brings its water from the high mountains in the immediate neighbourhood than that it is the mouth of a river flowing from a considerable distance.

3. The most northerly portion of the eastern shore has not been visited. Several rivers are said to run here into the lake, but there is ample room for an outlet.

4. If Stanley's map is right, any such outlet at the extreme north-east of the lake, would naturally be deflected in a north-westerly direction by the adjacent mountain range, and would flow through the valley "about a mile in breadth," which is supposed to be the channel of the Rusizi. This course would take it towards the Albert Nyanza.

ganyika, is described as a dead level, fringed with 5. The marshy land at the head of Lake Tanso much tropical vegetation, that the river could not be seen till the canoe was nearly in it. It seems impossible, therefore, that the question of outlets or inlets could be satisfactorily determined by a water survey.

6. There must be an outlet somewhere, for, besides other reasons, the Malagarazi runs through saline plains, and is perceptibly salt to the taste. It could not have run for ages into a closed lake which is still fresh water. And considering the district which drains into the lake, it would seem that the supply of water must be much in excess of the evaporation.

Mr. Findlay's remarks are the more important, because there is no reason to think that Dr. Livingstone was ever able to settle the question by a land journey round the northern end of the

Siste

ALBERT J. MOTT.

CHEMICAL NOTES.

'SUR le Prétendu Dégagement de l'Ozone des Plantes' is the title of a note, by M. J. Bellucci, presented to the Académie des Sciences, on the 2nd of February. After stating that Dr. Scoutetten, in 1856, thought that he had found that the oxygen disengaged by plants under the influence of solar light possessed the property of ozone, and that these results were shown to be inconclusive by M. Cloétz in the same year, M. J. Bellucci describes his own experiments, which appear to prove that the changes produced upon the test papers placed in tubes to receive the gases given off by plants were due to moist oxygen and light, and not to ozone. The experiments made upon living plants having demonstrated in a very evident manner that ozone is not produced by the green leaves of plants, similar experiments were made upon recently cut plants with similar results.

Some experiments of an interesting character on

stances.

the behaviour of ozone with water have been conducted in Russia by E. Schöne, who has contributed to the Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie a paper Ueber das Verhalten Von Ozon und Wasser zu Einander.' The main object of these experiments was to determine whether ozone is absorbed by water, and if so, under what circumSchöne finds that ozone is partially destroyed by contact with water; indeed, by simply collecting ozonized oxygen over water, the proportion of ozone was diminished by about onefourth, and the diminution becomes greater the longer the gas is in contact with the water, and the greater the extent of exposed surface. The disappearance of ozone seems not to be due, or to be due in only a very slight degree, to absorption, but is rather a consequence of the decomposition of the ozone.

At the same time Schöne finds that ozone is capable of absorption by water, even at ordinary temperatures. If ozonized oxygen be allowed to stand in contact with water, the ozone is gradually transformed into ordinary oxygen; it was found that in about three days the original proportion of ozone was reduced to one-half, and after remaining for about fifteen days, the ozone entirely disappeared, with exception of mere traces. This transformation of ozone into ordinary oxygen at common temperatures is accompanied by expansion of volume.

Prof. Maskelyne's interesting mineral called Asmanite, obtained from the Breitenbach meteorite, has been analyzed anew by Prof. Vom Rath, of Bonn. His examination entirely confirms that of Mr. Maskelyne, and shows that the new species consists essentially of silica. We are therefore now acquainted with three distinct forms of crystallized silica occurring in nature, namely, Quartz, crystallizing in the hexagonal system, with specific gravity 26; Tridymite, also hexagonal, but entirely different from quartz, with specific gravity 2.3; and Asmanite, crystallizing in the rhombic system, with specific gravity 2.24.

The behaviour of the cinchona-alkaloids towards

certain re-agents, has recently been studied by Herr Zorne, who publishes his results in the hydrochloric acid on cinchonine, chinine, and Journal für Praktische Chemie. By the action of cinchonidine, perhaps also on chínidine, several substitution-compounds are obtained, in which an atom of chlorine replaces a molecule of hydroxyl. These researches were suggested by Dr. Wright's well-known investigations on the alkaloids of opium.

A new method of determining pepsin, said to be recommended by its simplicity, rapidity, and accuracy, has been lately described, by Dr. Grützner, in Pflüger's Archiv für Physiologie. It is a colourimetric method, in which fibrin coloured with carmine is employed.

Some investigations on the chemical constitution of certain compounds of chloral, by Messrs. Meyer and Dulk, are described in the last number of the Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie.

In the Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Paris for January 5th, MM. E. Croissant and L. Bretonnière have a description of a curious process for obtaining colouring matters from organic bodies. Any vegetable matter-such as sawdust, bran, humus, tannin, aloes, &c.—is acted on by sulphur and caustic soda in a furnace. Sulphuretted hydrogen is liberated in large quantities, and the vegetable substance, whatever it may be, is rendered soluble in water, to which it imparts a strong colour, varying with the substance employed. These solutions are employed as dyes, which are fixed by passing the fabric through boiling bichromate of potash.

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES.

THE Comet discovered by Prof. Winnecke, at Strasbourg, on the night of Feb. 20th (not 21st as stated in the Athenæum of Feb. 28th), appears to be a very small object. At the time of its discovery it resembled a faint nebula about 2′ in diameter; but on the night of Feb. 22nd (an exceedingly clear one), it appeared to Dr. Winnecke to have a small nucleus, equal only in brightness to a star of the eleventh magnitude; he also suspected the

existence of an extremely faint tail in the opposite direction to that of the Sun. Its orbit has been calculated by Herr Schulhof, of Vienna, by which it appears that, when in perihelion, which was on the 10th inst., it approached the Sun within the small distance of about four millions of miles. Its distance from the Earth has increased, during the present week, from about 80 to 100 millions of miles.

It has been before remarked in the Athencum that, owing to the increasing number of the small planets, difficulty has been found in providing names for them. Only quite recently have names been announced for some of the discoveries of the last two years; and we therefore give the following table of the names, discoverers, and dates of discovery of those added to the system in 1872 and 1873 :

No. 135, discovered in the present year, has not yet been named.

SOCIETIES.

ROYAL-March 5.-The President in the chair.

The following paper was read, "The Localization of Function in the Brain,' by Prof. Ferrier, M.D.

an evening appointed for the ballot, no papers were read. The following gentlemen were elected: Revs. E. Marshall, A. C. Lawrence, and S. W. Wayte; Messrs. J. Guest, J. Peckover, J. W. Carillon, W. Cotton, C. T. Martin, and E. Knocker.

ARCHEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE.-March 6.-Sir S. D. Scott, Bart., V.P., in the chair. Sir E. Smirke read remarks 'On the Probable Use of a "Falchion," in the case of the descent of the Manor of Auckland to the Bishops of Durham.' They had reference to the curved swords, inscribed "Edwardus Prins Angliæ," lately brought to the notice of the Institute by Mr. Earwaker.Sir Edward continued with "Suggestions" for an etymology of the name of Powderham Castle, near Exeter, which he deduced from the Flemish word "polder," as descriptive of the locality.-A discussion ensued, in which the Chairman and Sir J. Maclean took part.-Mr. Scharf read 'Observa

tions

on some of the Portraits of Deceased

Worthies, exhibited at the Annual Meeting of the Institute, held at Exeter in 1873.'-Mr. Church brought a fine processional Cross, overlaid with brass-gilt and silver plaques, Italian work, with the date 1427. The ornamentation, which is very good, was the subject of some observations by Mr. Soden Smith. Mr. Henderson brought an Azulejo, or encaustic tile, from the Hall of Justice, Alhambra, A.D. 1300, inscribed, "There is no conqueror but God"; also, encaustic tile, with arms of the Medici family.-Sir E. Lechmere, Bart., sent an original Taxation, or "Lay Subsidy," Roll for the County of Worcester, in the reign of Edward the First, upon which Mr. Burtt made some

observations. The roll consists of twenty-five narrow membranes, and is much earlier than any such roll for the county among the series in the Public Record Office. It is closely and beautifully written, and nearly perfect. Sir Edward also sent an original roll of arrears in the "Pipe Office" of GEOGRAPHICAL.-March 9.-The Right Hon. the Exchequer to be levied by the Sheriff of Salop, Sir Bartle Frere, President, in the chair.-The 13 Henry VIII.—Mr. W. J. B. Smith exhibited a following new Fellows were elected: Dr. Altschul, Spanish falchion of the sixteenth century, with Dr. G. K. Barton, Rev. Cave-Browne, Viscount Sguard, pomel, and terminations of guard in form Harberton, Lieut. J. Hill, Lieut.-Col. M'Mahon, of birds' heads, blade inscribed IVAN. MARTINES . Col. A. Stewart, Capt. J. Thwaites, Messrs. A. G. EN TOLEDO. IN. TE. DOMINE. ESPERAVI; also two Dadson, R. Harris, F. W. Lawrence, E. G. Loder, other specimens of falchions of special make, D. Meinetzhagen, A. W. Moore, R. N. Phillips, German and English; also a small poniard, with A. E. Scott, G. M. Stewart, W. Spencer, E. Tinné, bayonet-shaped blade, of silver, the pomel and J. H. Webster, and J. Wilkinson.-A paper was guard also of silver-the former in the form of a read, by Mr. Consul Hutchinson, entitled, Across human skull, the latter in that of two thigh-bones the Andes from Callao,' and giving a topographical crossed, probably Italian, late sixteenth century. description of the line of railway now being conMr. Geoghegan sent a Persian yataghan, with structed across the main ridge of the Andes, beblade finely damascened, late seventeenth century. tween Lima and Oroya. This remarkable engineer-Capt. Oliver sent photograph of Grant of Arms ing work comprises 128 miles of road (from Lima), to Gayus Dyxon, of Tonbridge, Kent, A.D. 1565. and is intended as a first step towards bringing the Announcements were made of an Exhibition of rich and fertile interior of the country (east of Illuminated MSS. now being held at the Burlingthe Andes) into easy communication with the ton Fine Arts' Club, to which Members of the capital and the ports of the Pacific. The crest of Institute were invited; and of the Prehistoric the Andes is traversed by means of a short tunnel, Congress, to be held at Stockholm from the 7th to the 16th of August next.

at an altitude of 15,645 feet above the sea level; the steep and irregular slope up to this point being ascended by a series of sharp curves and reversed tangents, and the deep ravines spanned by bridges -one of which is 265 feet high.-A second paper, 'On the Railway in Southern Peru, between the Port of Mollendo, Arequipa, and Puno, and on the Steam Navigation of Lake Titicaca,' was read, by Mr. C. R. Markham.-From 4,000 to 5,000 labourers, chiefly Chilians and Bolivians, have been employed during three and a half years in constructing the part of this line between Arequipa and Puno, a distance of 217 miles; and on the 1st of January, 1874, the first locomotive reached the shores of Lake Titicaca, situated in a tableland 12,196 feet above the level of the sea. The establishment of the steam navigation on the lake was due to the energy and enterprise of Capt. Melgar; and the credit of much of the rapid progress now being made in opening up the interior of Peru was awarded to Don Manuel Pardo,

the actual President.

SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES.-March 5.-C. S. Perceval, Esq., LL.D., V.P., in the chair.-This being

setting aside the vote of the 15th of January.”— After much discussion, the amendment was put to the meeting and carried, and was then adopted as a substantive resolution.-Sir J. Lubbock, Bart., then moved, and Mr. Carruthers seconded, a resolution expressive of the high sense entertained by the Society of the eminent services rendered to it and to science by the President during his long tenure of the chair, which was carried unanimously.

ZOOLOGICAL.-March 3.-Dr. E. Hamilton, V.P., in the chair.-The Secretary read a Report on the additions made to the Society's Menagerie during February, and called special attention to a Malayan Hornbill (Buceros Malayanus) new to the Society's collection, a Python, presented by Mr. C. J. Noble, of Hong-Kong, and a young male of an undescribed species of Deer from Northern China.-Letters and communications were read from Sir H. Barkly, announcing that he had obtained a pair of young Eared Seals (Otaria pusilla) for the Society's collection, from Mr. W. H. Hudson, of Buenos Ayres, on the parasitical habits of the three species of Molothrus, found in Buenos Ayres, namely, M. Bonariensis, M. badius, and M. rufo-axillaris,— by Mr. Sclater on a small collection of Birds, obtained by Sir G. Briggs in the island of Barbadoes, West Indies, and on an apparently new form of the family Icterida, which he proposed to call Centropsar mirus,-from Dr. J. E. Gray, on Crocodilus Johnsonii, Krefft, from Northern Australia, of which he proposed to form a new genus, Phylas,-by Mr. W. S. Kent, on a huge Cephalopod or Cuttle-Fish, announced by the Rev. M. Harvey as lately encountered in Conception Bay, Newlong has been secured for the St. John's Museum. foundland, and of which a tentacle sixteen feet

Mr. S. Kent contributed the additional evidence of an arm nine feet long preserved in the British

Museum, in proof of the gigantic dimensions occasionally attained by certain members of this the new generic title of Megaloteuthis for their order of the mollusca, and proposed to institute especial reception; he further suggested distinguishing the Newfoundland example as Megaloteuthis Harveyi.

ENTOMOLOGICAL.-March 2.-Sir S. S. Saunders, President, in the chair.-Mr. M'Lachlan exhibited two male examples of an Orthopterous insect belonging to the family Locustida. They were said to be sold in the streets of Shanghai, confined in ornamental wicker cages, and bought for the sound they produced. The species appeared to be undescribed, and to pertain to a new genus, allied to Xiphidium.-Mr. M'Lachlan also exhibited a series of examples, illustrating the natural history of Oniscigaster Wakefieldi, from New Zealand, described and figured by him from the female imago in the Entomologist's Magazine for October last. The series now exhibited comprised the male imago, female sub-imago, adult nymph, and larva. The lateral wing-like, horny expansions of

CHEMICAL-March 5.-Prof. G. C. Foster in the chair.-A paper, 'On the Spontaneous Combustion of Charcoal,' was read by the author, Mr. A. F. Hargreaves, in which he pointed out the

best wood for charcoal for the manufacture of gunpowder, and also the best method of charring it. It appears that if it is ground too soon after being burnt, the charcoal is liable to take fire spontaneously. The other communications were, Researches on the Action of the Copper-Zinc Couple on Organic Bodies: Part V., on the Bromides of the Olefines; Part VI., on Ethyl Bromide,' by Dr. J. H. Gladstone and Mr. A. Tribe,Researches on the Preparation of Organo-metallic Bodies of the C H Series of Hydrocarbons,' by Dr. D. Tommasi,-Note on the Action of Trichloracetyl Chloride on Urea,' by Messrs. R. Meldola and D. Tommasi, and The Agglomeration of finelydivided Metals by Hydrogen,' by Mr. A. Tribe. MICROSCOPICAL.-March 4.-C. Brooke, Esq., President, in the chair.—A paper was read by Mr. A. Sanders, entitled, 'A Contribution towards a Knowledge of the Appendicularia,' in which he minutely described specimens found at Torquay and at Weymouth, and illustrated the subject by diagrams. A short discussion ensued, as to the best methods of observing and preserving these delicate organisms.-Two papers, by Dr. G. W. R. Pigott, were read by the Secretary, 'On the Verification of Structure by Means of Compressed Fluid,' and 'A Note on the President's Remarks on Dr. Pigott's Aplanatic Searcher.' Dr. Pigott subsequently gave an extended explanation of the contents of his papers, and also detailed a new method of determining the refractive index of covering glass. Dr. Pigott's remarks gave rise to a lengthened discussion, in which the President, Messrs. Wenham, Slack, Stephenson, and Dr. Pigott took part.

PHILOLOGICAL-March 6.-J. A. H. Murray, Esq., in the chair.-M. Paul Meyer, of the École des Chartes, Paris, was elected an Honorary Member. The paper read was, 'On Vowel-Changes in the English Dialects,' by Mr. A. J. Ellis, President. INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.-March 10. T. E. Harrison, Esq., President, in the chair.-The paper read was, 'On Gun-Carriages and Mechanical Appliances for working Heavy Ordnance,' by Mr. G. W. Rendel.

SOCIETY OF BIBLICAL ARCHEOLOGY.-March 3. -Dr. Birch, President, in the chair.-The Rev. C. Bowden, M.A., the Rev. A. Paine, and Miss E. Rogers, were elected Members. The following papers were read: "Translation of an Egyptian Fabulous Romance, "The Tale of the Doomed Prince," from the Harris Papyri,' 'Translation of an Historical Narrative belonging to the Reign of Thothmes III.,' both by Mr. C. W. Goodwin, M.A., and 'Observations upon the Assyrian Verbs Basu and Qabah,' by Prof. W. Wright.

MON.

MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.
Asiatic, 3.

London Institution, 4-Historical Development of Art,' IV.,
Dr. G. G. Zerffi.
Royal Academy, 8.-'Sculpture,' Mr. H. Weekes.
Victoria Institute, 8.- Harmony between the Chronology of
Egypt and the Bible,' Rev. B. W. Savile.

Social Science Association, 8-Policy of Granting Letters
Patent for Inventions,' Mr. J. Coryton.

Surveyors, 8.-Discussion on Mr. Clutton's paper, Self-sown Oak Woods of Sussex,' and Mr. Watney's on Timber.' United Service Institution, 84.-Iron-clad Navies,' Mr. E. J. Reed.

Science Gossip.

AN effort will shortly be made to induce the new Cabinet to fit out the Arctic Expedition, which their predecessors declined to undertake.

MR. J. ARTHUR PHILLIPS is continuing with great care his examination of the waters of the deep mines of Cornwall. In the Philosophical Magazine for March he gives the results of his analyses of the waters taken from the Phoenix mine at the depth of 212 fathoms, and from Dolcoath mine at the depth of 302 fathoms. He also gives the analyses made of "a soft reddish-grey precipitate," which is found in most mines in the vicinity of veins from which the water flows, which is found to contain above 32 per cent. of arsenic,

and above 36 per cent. of ferric oxide.

MR. WILLIAM JORY HENWOOD, F.R.S., communicated to the Royal Institution of Cornwall, a short time since, Observations on the Detrital Tin-Ore of Cornwall,' which paper has been reprinted from the Journal for private circulation. This is the most satisfactory account of the tinstreams of Cornwall which has yet appeared, giving a complete list of all the districts producing streamtin, with careful observations of the successive deposits beneath which the tin is found. These observations are worthy the closest study by all those who are interested in the phenomena exhibited by these remarkable deposits of tin, and, incidentally, of gold, which metal has always been found in the tin-streams.

DUDLEY GALLERY, Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly.-GENERAL EXHIBITION of WATER-COLOUR DRAWINGS.-The TENTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION is OPEN DAILY, from 10 A.M. to 6 F.M.Admission, 18.; Catalogue, 6d. GEORGE L. HALL, Hon. Sec.

DORE'S GREAT PICTURE of 'CHRIST LEAVING the PRETORIUM,' with 'Night of the Crucifixion,' 'Christian Martyrs,' 'Francesca de Rimini,'* Neophyte,'' Andromeda,' &c., at the DORÉ GALLERY, 35, New Bond Street. Ten to Six.—Admission, 18.

WILL OPEN on MONDAY, March 16, ROUND the WORLD with W. SIMPSON, being Pictures from the Four Quarters of the Globe by a "Special Artist."-Burlington Gallery, 191, Piccadilly. Open from Ten to Six.-Admission, including Catalogue, 18.

HOGARTH HOUSE, CHISWICK.

2, Chiswick Square.

I THINK it is only fair towards the present tenant of the house in which William Hogarth so long resided, to put you in possession of the facts relating to the case. Mr. Hicks, the actor, had long resided there, and on his death, the proprietor of the house took special care in his arrangements with Mr. Clack, the present tenant, that nothing should be done to destroy the integrity of the famous house. It is situated in a very old-fashioned part of this very old-world parish, and is itself much out of repair. Save and except that it is situated close to Hogarth's burial-place in the parish churchyard, it has nothing to recommend it. There is only one room of any magnitude, that used by the celebrated painter as his studio. The grounds were alone to be used and beautified, and the house was to remain as before. It has not been turned into a "sweet-stuff" shop, but a little display was made when Mr. Clack placed his own aged parents in the house in order to the garden no harm can possibly accrue; it will to prevent anything happening to the place. As

KENNETH R. H. MACKENZIE.

In the course of his lectures during the present Term at the Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford, Prof. Clifton has exhibited an interesting series of photo-only be ornamented and made useful. I have it in graphs of Interference and Diffraction phenomena. charge from Mr. Clack to say that he will be at all times anxious to show the house to those who may The photographs were obtained by receiving the honour him with a visit, and he is most desirous shadows, &c. on prepared plates instead of on an that nothing shall occur likely to disturb the ordinary screen, and they were then projected on the screen of the lecture-room by means of a lime integrity of what remains of this memorable light, the impression produced on the sensitive dwelling-place. plate being in some cases magnified to 2,500 diameters. The diagrams included interference phenomena produced by Fresnel's prism, diffraction bands bordering the shadows of a straight edge and an angular aperture, the internal interference bands in the shadow of a wire and a needle, the shadow of a small circular disc, and the phenomena presented by light which has passed stated his belief that similar photographs had never through a small circular hole. The Professor previously been made available for lecture-room purposes.

THE Legislative Assembly of New South Wales have ordered the printing of a Report, by Mr. C. S. Wilkinson, on the Tin-Bearing Country, New England. At this time, when the importation of tin from Australia is most seriously affecting the tin-mines of Cornwall and Devonshire, this excellent Report has an especial interest. At the Borat Creek, which flows into the Gwydir, we are told, in addition to several tons of stream-tin, upwards

of 200 diamonds were obtained in two months.

EXACTLY half a century ago Prof. J. C. Poggendorff, of Berlin, commenced the publication of that

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Gases.' Prof. Tyndall.

Statistical, 74.- Census of Bengal,' Mr. H. Beverley.

London Anthropological, 8-Spiritism among Uncultured Peoples compared with Modern Spiritualism,' Mr. C. S. Wake; Opinions of the Brahmins respecting Spiritism and Supernatural Phenomena,' Mr. G. Tagore; Interpretation of Mythology,' Mr. J. Kaines.

Civil Engineers, 8.-Discussion on Mr. Rendel's paper,

Ordnance.'

Society of Arts, 8.- Geographical and Physical Character of the Diamond-Fields of South Africa,' Hon. T. Shepston. Zoological, 84-Structure of the Skull and Head of Menobranchus,' Prof. T. H. Huxley. WED. London Institution, 7.- Travers Course.' III.

Meteorological, 7.Relation between the Velocity of the Wind and its Force (Beaufort Scale),' Mr. R. H. Scott: Sensitiveness of Thermometers,' Mr. G. J. Symons; Weather of Thirteen Antumns.' Mr. R. Strachan.

Society of Arts, 8.-The Channel Tunnel,' Mr. W. Hawes. THURS. Royal Institution, 3.-Cryptogamic Vegetation, Ferns and Mosses,' Prof. W. C. Williamson.

in the same office, and issued from the same publishing house-that of J. A. Barth, of Leipzig. It is pleasing to remark that a special Jubilee Volume, dedicated to Johann Christian Poggendorff, is about to be issued by the editor's friends, in recognition of his long-continued services to scientific literature.

FINE ARTS

The SHADOW of DEATH.' Painted by Mr. HOLMAN HUNT. -NOW on VIEW. From 10 till 5.-A spacious Platform has been erected, so that Visitors now have an unimpeded View of the Picture. -39B, Old Bond Street.-Admission, la.

MESSRS. CHRISTIE, MANSON & WOODS sold, on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th inst., the fourth portion of engravings from the works of Turner, comprising nearly 900 lots, of which the following were them: Ancient Carthage, engraved by D. Wilson, the more important, with the prices realized for artist's proof, 121.; another, 121.; proof before letters, India, 101.; another, 117.-Ancient Italy, by Willmore, artist's trial proof, 131.; another, 131. etched title, 101.; artist's proof, 10 guineas,—Hei-Modern Italy, by W. Miller, artist's proof, with delburg, by T. A. Prior, unfinished proof and etching, 11.; proof nearly finished, 127.; another, 101.-Mercury and Argus, by Willmore, touched proof, with MS. notes, Ill.; trial proof, 12l.; proof before letters, India, 107.; proof before letters, India, 131. The prints of which the remainders were sold on these days were, Ancient Carthage, Ancient Italy, Modern Italy, Heidelburg, Oxford, Venice, by W. Miller, Mercury and Argus, The Field of Waterloo, The Deluge, Fishing-Boats off Calais, and Boccaccio.

On the 2nd inst., the following pictures were sold, at the Hôtel Drouot, Paris, comprised in the collection of M. Landais: Diaz de la Pena, La Source, Forêt de Fontainebleau, 3,750 francs,-La Clairière, Forêt de Fontainebleau, 4,000 f.

At Brussels, the following pictures, a portion of a large collection recently exhibited, were sold on days succeeding the 21st ultimo: M. Schreyer, Attelage Hongrois, 15,500 francs,-M. Roybet, Le Fumeur, 10,000 f.-Troyon, Taureau, 13,000 f. -Vibert, Gulliver dans l'Ile de Lilliput, 20,000 f. -M. A. Stevens, Le Cadeau de Nouvel An, 21,000 f. Leys, La Déclaration, 26,500 f.

Th. Rousseau, Vue des Environs de Paris, 10,000 f.; La Paix et La Guerre, 21,000 f.M. Marlielat, Plage de Villerville, soleil couchant, 15,500 f.-Bianchi, La Parade, 5,500 f.-Robie, Fleurs et Fruits, 8,400 f.-M. J. Dupré, Les Cabanes, 6,600 f.-M. Ziem, Le Parc de Venise, 8,500 f.-E. Verboeckhoeven, Le Retour du Troupeau, 11,200 f.-M. H. Ten Kate, Le Saltimbanque, 6,600 f.-Th. Rousseau, Jour d'Automne, 14,600 f.Decamps, Les Mendiants, 5,000 f.Rossi, L'Absence des Maîtres, 4,500 f.-M. F. Willems, La Brodeuse, 8,600 f.

Fine-Art Gossip.

A NEW edition of Taylor and Cresy's' Architectural Antiquities of Rome, large folio, with one hundred and thirty-five plates, will shortly be published by Messrs. Lockwood & Co. One of the authors, G. L. Taylor, Esq., had projected, and at the time of his death, in May last, had nearly carried it through the press. In consequence of his decease, the work has since been completed for publication by his son, the Rev. Alexander Taylor, M.A., Fellow of Queen's College, Oxford, and chaplain of Gray's

Inn.

M. HÉBERT has lately finished an important picture, representing the Madonna, seated, with the Infant Christ upon her right knee. She wears a white tunic with coloured borders, embroidered, and her head is enveloped in folds of the same material; a black mantle is cast over her left

shoulder, to form a full drapery. Report speaks highly of the tender and pathetic spirit which animates this work, of its elaborate and beautiful execution, and of the fine manner in which Oriental characteristics are rendered by the painter.

MR. ST. JOHN TYRHWITT will shortly publish a book whose title will explain itself—'Our Sketching Club, or Letters and Studies on Landscape Art,' with an authorized reproduction of the lessons and woodcuts in Prof. Ruskin's 'Elements of Drawing.'

A CORRESPONDENT writes: "There would seem to be some unnecessary delay in handing over to the Metropolitan Board of Works the land on the Thames Embankment about which there has been so much discussion, and which it is finally decided shall be laid out as a public garden. It is not impossible that, unless common-sense steps in, the land in question may remain for a year or more in its present neglected and filthy state. The whole arrangement involves some exchange of lands already decided on between the Crown and Metropolitan B oard; but is it necessary, as the extent of ground to be devoted to a public garden is already marked out, to await the removal of Northumberland House for the completion of a mere for mality?"

We have received, not as a reward, for nobody bestows medals on us, from the Commissioners of the London International Exhibition, an impression of the medallion which an indignant gentleman threw into the fire. The authorities who bestowed the medal say that it was not intended to be thrown into the fire, and that, of old, people

as a specimen of a mode of portraiture to be brought into common use. He is willing, as others would no doubt be, to sell the plates to the sitters, who could thus obtain any number of copies at a slight expense. Being works of art and completely permanent, they would be preferable to photographs. Mr. Lacretelle's notion is a good though not a new one, and we commend it to the notice of artists and sitters. His specimen etching is very pretty, although it is rather slight and rather sentimental, and the drawing is not irreproachable.

THE Exhibition of Drawings by the Société Belge des Aquarellistes will be opened on the 4th of May next, at Brussels.

FRESCOES attributed to Perugino have been discovered in the Cathedral at Corneto.

WE are requested to state that the second Conof the Fine Arts, arranged to take place on the versazione of the Society for the Encouragement 19th inst., is, in consequence of the reception to be given to the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh on that evening at the Albert Hall, postponed until April 16, when it will be held at the South Kensington Museum.

WITHIN the late few days, a large vase of porPhyry, brought from one of the late Imperial palaces, has been placed on one of the Mosaic tables in the Galerie d'Apollon, in the Louvre. It is oviform, with two handles of copper, modelled syrens playing flutes. The pedestal, of the form of an antique altar, ornamented at the grey granite, on which this work is placed is of four angles with heads of rams, connected by garlands. It is one of the finest examples of art in the time of Louis the Sixteenth. The wellknown statuettes of Henri Quatre and Marie de Medici have been placed in the gallery of modern bronzes, in the Louvre.

MUSIO

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, Exeter Hall.-Conductor, Sir Michael Costa. -FRIDAY NEXT, March 20, Macfarren's Oratorio, ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.' Madame Sherrington, Miss A. Sterling: Mr. E. Lloyd, and Mr. Santley. Organist, Mr. Willing.-Tickets, 38., 58., and 108. 6d., 6, Exeter Hall.

BRITISH ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.-Patron, H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. Conductor, Mr. George Mount.-FIFTH CONCERT, THURSDAY, March 26, St. James's Hall, Eight o'clock. Vocalist, Mr. Sims Reeves.-Single Tickets: Stalls, 108. 6d; Reserved, 58., 38., 28., 18.; Stanley Lucas, Weber & Co.'s, 84, New Bond Street; usual Agents; and at Austin's Ticket-Office, 28, Piccadilly.

CONCERTS.

MISS AGNES ZIMMERMANN selected for her solo display, at the Monday Popular Concerts on the 9th, two works by Mendelssohn, introduced for the first time. The first was one of the 'Sieben Characteristicke Stücke,' a composition of his youth; each piece has a distinctive motto-that in D major, executed by the lady, is called "Kräftig und duction was a Prelude and Fugue in B flat, Op. 35, Feuerig" (Forcible and Ardent). The other proa later composition, the last one of six fugues. We are grateful to the fair pianist for adding her two importations to the rich répertoire of the Popular Concerts; but her style, neat and finished in exesohnian manipulation, of which we had so recently cution as it is, lacks the fiery and impulsive Mendelsan illustration in the marvellous brilliancy and poetic

Herr Brahms's variations on a theme by Haydn (a Chorale), for full orchestra, ably executed, for the first time, under Herr Manns's direction, was technically curious for the contrapuntal skill therein displayed; but it is not over-exciting in its influence on a mixed auditory. The incidental music of Beethoven to Goethe's' Egmont,' fine as it is, has never interested audiences here deeply when allied with an indifferent translation, spouted by a ponderous reader. Rossini's animated' William Tell' overture quite roused the Sydenham subscribers. Madame Otto-Alvsleben and Mr. Santley were the vocalists.

M. Gounod's choir concerts hang heavily in the absence of an orchestra, and, admirable as are the powers of the composer as a pianist, his 'Funeral March of a Marionette' loses something of its point and piquancy without the instrumental colouring. Master Claude Jaquinot's clever performance on by a hearty re-demand; the youth also played the the violin of M. Gounod's 'Berceuse' was followed "Hymn to St. Cecilia." The choir sang the "Pater Noster," the "Sicilian Mariner's Hymn," "OmniPotent Lord," "Giatenella," and "Go, Lovely Rose." Solos were sung by Mrs. Weldon, Mdlle. Morren, and Madame Schneegans. The last-mentioned lady had to repeat the charming air, " Ho messo nuove corde," from M. Gounod's musical novel, "Biondina."

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETIES.

THE Prospectuses of the two old-established for novelty is now widely spread, and that it is instrumental associations prove that the desire not limited to a few amateurs, who have for years pointed out, that to confine the orchestral répertoire within the narrowest possible limits year after year, was to place barriers against art advancement. The Directors of the ancient Philharmonic Society have supplied a list of twentyfour works which will be included in the schemes of their eight concerts, in addition to the standard répertoire. Of the old masters, we are to have productions by Handel, Gluck, Schubert, Spohr, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Berlioz, and Cipriani Potter; of the composers of the period, there will be compositions by Wagner, Raff, Rheinberger (thanks to Dr. Von Bülow), Lachner, F. Hiller, and Brahms. Nor are our British professors ignored, as there will be specimens by Sir W. Sterndale Bennett (the 'Ajax' setting), Mr. Sullivan, and Mr. G. A. Macfarren. Many of the pieces enumerated have been heard elsewhere, but that they should penetrate the Philharmonic domain is something gained. It is cheerful to see an abandonment of the Rip Van Winkle policy, and to see that the management has been roused to action, and is inclined to add to the archives of a library which was getting musty with age. Mr. Cusins will be, as before, the conductor.

Something like innovation is seen also in Society, which, however, is not yet free from the the programme of the more modern Philharmonic original mistake of adopting the title of another association, only adding the equivocal adjective "New," whereas it followed very closely in the wake of the old institution. Herr Ganz is to be is a decided step in advance. We remark that associated with Dr. Wylde as conductor, and this the Prospectus mentions the new symphony by

looked to the art rather than to the materials of such works. We are not quite so sure of the we suppose the sight of the ill-executed bust of the Prince of Wales on the obverse was too much for the loyalty of the recipient. This wretched work is signed "G. Morgan, sc." It was long ago said that every medal has two sides, and so it appears, for the reverse of that in question comprises a well-composed view of buildings at South Kensing ton, tolerably executed, but reproduced in a bad

material.

THE Exhibition of the Society of Lady Artists will be opened to the public on Monday next; the private view takes place to-day. The gallery is in Great Marlborough Street, Regent Street.

MR. E. LACRETELLE, of Sloane Street, has forwarded us an impression of an etched plate, being the portrait of a lady. The artist sends it

String Quintet in c major, Op. 29, of Beethoven, and the String Quartet in E flat, Op. 64, No. 2, of Haydn, with J. S. Bach's Chaconne for violin in D minor, were the other items in the programme; and to Ries, Straus, Zerbini, and Piatti, will suffice to state that the executants were MM. Joachim, L. is to be praised for her selection of songs by Bach, show how enjoyable was the menu. Miss Sterling Schubert, Schumann, and Mendelssohn, accompanied by Sir J. Benediet; and this good taste will doubtless lead to the improvement of her style, which is wanting in sensibility and refinement. Excellence of voice is not all that is required in the art of vocalization. Mr. Dannreuther will play next Monday, and amateurs may be reminded that, on the 30th inst., the sixteenth season will close.

created no ordinary sensation; besides works by Spa Musical Festival, in Paris, and in Brussels, Wagner, Lachner, Brahms, Reinecke, Julius Rietz, Rudorff, Gottfried Linder, and Gustave Erlanger. Some of these names are new to this country. The division of the eight concerts into four morning and four evening ones will, doubtless, be convenient to many connoisseurs living at a distance. The omission of the names of the singers who for twenty-two years have appeared in succession at the New Philharmonic Society is a proper reform of the Prospectus.

Musical Gossip.

ROSSINI'S 'Semiramide' will be the opening work at Her Majesty's Opera (Drury Lane) next