small village; and the largest of them are the "Telónion" or custom-house, the "Limenarchéion" or post-office, and the "Hygeionoméion" or health-office. The reader will learn from these names that there is no want of derivatives, and legitimate ones too, from ancient roots, easily found to suit new objects.

In the first is found the word "o telonés," a publican, so familiar to the Greek tyro; in the second, "limen," a border, and "arché," government; and in the third, "hygéia," health, and "nómos," law.

The principal article of export from Cuma is wine, which is made in great abundance. The vines are raised on the slopes of some of the hills, as well as in the valleys, and are all kept closely cut down, within two, or, at most, three feet of the ground. Some of them are of great age, as the thickness of their stocks showed. Instead of letting the branches spread, as in some countries, the vinedressers trim very closely, and cut off every year the whole growth of the old wood, except a single eye, called "ophthalmós," on each branch. Red and white grapes are both cultivated; and the making of wine is conducted on the same plan as in Samos.

There is something in the stories of the Sibyls, which makes them.peculiarly interesting to the reader. Probably all will be ready to acknowledge, that they have found their attention more fixed by them than by the common tales of ancient mythology. Probably one reason, if not the reason, is, that they are represented as dwelling in retirement alone, in the possession of books, or important records of other kinds, secluded from all connection with vice, and devoted to the good of mankind so far as they had any intercourse with the world. Far from urging men to strife or immorality, to wicked passions or evil deeds, they kept aloof from their fields of contention, and the cities which were seats of crime and degradation. Vastly purer than Juno and Venus, they are not represented as victims of human frailties, much less as influenced by the infernal passions which are attributed to most even of the superior gods.

These considerations, it is probable, incline us to desire a development of the mysteries which hang over the Sibyls. There seems to be more reason to believe that they may have been, by obscure traditions, transformed from personages connected with a purer system of faith than that which sprung up among genuine pagans. But here our inquiries are quite disappointed. We find different accounts of them, given by different writers. Some say there were three, some nine, while ten is the number spoken of by Varro.

The first mentioned is the Persian Sibyl, spoken of by Nicanor, the historian of Alexander; the second, the Lybian; then the Delphian, the Cumæan, the Samian, &c. &c.; lastly that of Tibur, now Tivoli, in Italy. The most celebrated all was that of Cumæ, who was fabled to have obtained from

Apollo the promise of being permitted to live as many years as there were grains of sand in a handful, forgetting to ask also for health and beauty, which soon failed her. Virgil represents her as afterwards dwelling in the celebrated grotto near Baia, still visited by travellers; and, for aught that appears, she may have been one of the sisterhood who is said to have sold Tarquin the three prophetic books containing the celebrated Sibylline verses. What these were we cannot ascertain, as those now preserved in Greek under that title are probably forgeries. From all that can be gathered, however, there is no intimation, I believe, of any taint of immorality upon the writings or the conduct of those extraordinary personages.

I had resolved to take another route, on my return to Athens, as that by Lidorike was much the shorter, so that I might expect to save half the time-that is, two days out of four. I therefore made a bargain with a man to take me to that village, which is situated on the shore of the strait, where-I could cross, and with one day's ride reach the capital.

We set off accordingly, one morning, with a party of four-myself, two other travellers, and the guide, who, according to custom, provided and took care of the horses. Much of our route lay near the shore, and afforded us many fine views, both on the land and on the water, but with only an occasional sight of a village, scattered habitations and farms. The country, like all other parts of Euboea, was rough, and in many places mountainous. We stopped for the night at a village, and the next day reached Lidorike about four in the afternoon, expecting to cross the water without delay, and to be in Athens that night. But, to our regret, we found there was not a boat to be had, all the fishermen having gone out to fish. We were therefore obliged to make up our minds to remain there till morning; and I presented a letter, with which my brother had provided me, to a friend of his, the custom-house officer of the little port. Small as it is, and with no fleet to be seen exept that of the fishing boats, which came into the harbor at night, Lidorike is a seaport, and is sometimes visited by vessels of some size. I was received with cordiality by my brother's friend, and invited to take up my lodgings in his house, which I accepted; and in the morning I was early seated at the helm of a boat, with two men rowing, and the tiller in my hands, steering for the village of Platanos, on the opposite shore. The morning was fine, and the wind fair; so that we made a short and pleasant passage; and I was soon mounted on a horse, pursuing my way to Athens.

Among other recent inventions patented, there is one by Mr. Townshend, of N. H., of a machine for marking figured goods, which, for $20, may be attached to any ordinary loom. It is an invention of great importance.

In our last number we gave two prints representing the form and apparatus of the balloon invented by Signor Muzzi, an Italian gentleman of science, who is now in this city. We give below some further explanations and remarks of his own, in addition to those inserted in our 18th number.

We take this oopportunity to refer to the 5th number of the American Penny Magazine, (page 93th,) in which we mentioned the suc-, cess of the first exhibition made in this country, and the favorable opinions expressed in relation to it, by some of the most distinguished scientific men of Italy and New York.

REMARKS OF SIGNOR MUZZI,

ON HIS NEW SYSTEM OF ERIAL NAVIGATION.

I have observed that an inclined plane, with a weight appended to its centre, suspended at a certain height by a small cord to a pulley, when let fall, will not proceed perpendicularly, but in an oblique line determined by its inclination. The cause of this phenomenon is the atmospheric pressure exercised, or produced, through the attached weight on the inclined plane. I have likewise observed that if the plane is required to ascend with rapidity, it will not ascend in a vertical line, but in one almost horizontal, owing to the

same cause.

Pondering on this well known physical principle, I was induced to construct a balloon of lenticular form, and to affix to its sides two inclined planes, at 35°, besides a third of a triangular form, at the stern of the machine, which serves as a rudder.

The inclined planes attached to the machine, cause it, in ascending or descending, to proceed in an oblique line, determined by the same planes which compel it to sail in a zigzag course.

The machine, as I have previously stated, is a balloon of lenticular form, the ascension of which is based on the specific lightness of the gas, or rarified internal air. The machine sails above and below the atmospheric pressure, which pressure is exercised up and down the inclined planes at 35°, invariably fixed to the sides of the balloon. This pressure decomposes itself in two forces, one perpendicular to the planes, which is destroyed, the other is that which propels the whole apparatus to the sides of the angle formed by the steering planes.

In this manner the balloon should always ascend, but when arrived at a certain height, the introduction of common air, or the letting off of gas through a valve which will be in the large machine, and changing the position of the rudder, causes the machine to describe half a cirle imparting to it a retrograde movement following the angle of the same planes; therefore the course run over by the machine in these two movements would be

the inclined parts of a triangle each at 35° on the base of the same triangle. The ascensional and descensional force of the machine must always be greater than that of the currents it has to pass through.

The model I direct at will in a room, cannot be used in the open air, as it does not possess more than the ascensional power of an ounce and a half, and will not consequently pass through currents of greater power.

By means of a small metal machine of one pound raising power, when plunged to the bottom of a tub full of water in which artificial currents will be excited, the power may be shown of such a machine to pass through currents either transversely, or in any other direction.

But if all is not done nothing is accomplished. A machine constructed in the required proportions to elevate æronauts in the air, and the corresponding apparatus can alone verify all the conditions of an experiment, answer every question, solve all doubts, and establish on a solid, indisputable basis, the certainty of the invention.

The aeronautic art has need of the concurrence of all; and it is to be hoped that philosophers, wealthy men, and mechanics will give their serious attention to the examination, improvement, and protection of an art which promises such happy results to the human family.

I have no colors sufficiently bright to paint the numerous advantages which the human family may derive from the art of æronautics; my pen is too feeble, my voice is too faint to reach the throne of constituted power, or awaken the interest of a whole nation. How thankful to the supreme Being mankind would be, seeing the undaunted genius of man travel the air in all security, and not to conquer, to slaughter, to disturb private liberty; but to acquire knowledge, to benefit his fellow creature, to be useful to all. Happy times! Then man would be loved, respected, protected every where; white or black, high or low, all would be brothers; no one would commit violence, for fear of retribution; the old and new world would be united, and would love, protect, and respect each other. This is the great aim of a science which cannot, and never will disturb the peace of Society.

How mean those men appear to my view, who can form no other thoughts than those of blood or conquest. Human infatuation! Why are we to see the greatest geniuses aspire to no other glory than that of butchering their fellow men? But ærostatics will always be harmless. Silence is the soul of crime, and it is impossible to construct in secresy ærostatic machines.

Navigation and the art of printing have undoubtedly contributed in no small degree to the advancement of the human species; but for navigation, millions of men would yet live in a savage state; but for the art of printing, barbarism and ignorance would yet sway the earth; let us now make secure the kingdom

of the winds, and who can reckon the innumerable advantages it can produce?

I conclude that ærostatics is a science which will never be prejudicial to society, and will one day awake in all nations a deep desire to cultivate the arts and sciences truly useful to the human family. If we examine the question under this aspect, who does not perceive the future amalgamation of the different nations, and the many happy results that may be derived therefrom? Who will be willing to consign to oblivion, a science which has conveyed, with the rapidity of the wind, so much utilility for man? "It is not worthy a philosopher," says Zambeccari, "to despise the invention of ærostatics, before experience has proved their impracticability."

From Chambers' Journal.
Bookselling in Great Britain.

That has been called the Augustan age of literature, when Dryden, Steel, Addison, Swift, Pope, with a lesser host of geniuses, flourished.

At that period the mode of selling books was widely different from that which now prevails. Readers were fewer, and the means of making known the merits of a book far more limited. The only prospect an author had of profitable remuneration for his labors was to issue his book by subscription.

By 1709, several newspapers had been established in London; but these had little or no effect upon "the trade," compared with such periodicals as the Tatler, Spectator, and Guardian. Not many years afterwards, (1731,) Mr. Cave conceived the idea of collecting the principal original papers from the newspapers into a monthly repository, to which the name of magazine should be applied. Hence the "Gentleman's Magazine," which began in that year, and still exists, the venerable parent of a host of lighterheaded children. Its success was so great, that rivals soon started up. The "London," the "Monthly Review," and the "Critical," were the most remarkable: these works in time changed the whole system of bookselling. They became channels of information on literary subjects, and by their aid an author's merits were made known to the public without the intervention of a titled patron. They took the patronage of men of letters out of the hands of the great and fashionable, and transferred it to the people. From 1700 to 1756, only about 5280 new works (exclusively of tracts and pamphlets) were issued-or about ninety-three per annum; whilst from the latter year to 1803, this average of new works increased nearly ninety-three per cent.

From the more independent system of publishing, must be dated the footing upon which the English trade now stands. The London booksellers who were rich enough to buy manuscripts and to get them printed on their own responsibility, formed themselves into a class, who sold wholesale and got the title of "publishers;" whilst those who retailed the works remained booksellers. It was during the latter part of the career of such men as Johnson, Goldsmith, Smollett, Fielding, Richardson, &c. that this division took place.

At the end of the last century, a new era dawned on the career of the book-trade.

Henry Fisher, while yet a journeyman in the employment of Mr. Jonas Nuttall, the founder of the "Caxton press" in Liverpool, conceived the happy notion, that if expensive works were supplied to poorer customers in cheap parts, and periodically till complete, a vast number of persons would become eager purchasers, who regarded books as an unattainable luxury. Young Fisher proposed to Nutall that he should not only print standard works in cheap numbers, but sell them upon an entirely new plan. This consisted in establishing depots in every principal town. To each of these was attached a staff of hawk. ers, who branched off all over the district, going from door to door, leaving prospectuses, and offering the numbers for sale. By such means books found their way into remote places, and into houses in which they were never before seen. Though only twenty years old, Fisher was intrusted with the establishment and management of the depot at Bristol. Amongst the first books printed for sale in this manner were the family Bible, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Josephus, and several standard devotional works. The Bible was issued in forty parts, at a shilling each. The hawker, when he made his call, displayed the first part as a temptation. If he could not succeed in securing a customer at once, he requested permission to leave it for a week, and generally found at his second visit that a decision had been come to in favor of keeping that number, and of periodically purchasing the succeeding ones. Thus, persons who could easily afford the disbursement of a shilling a-week for the gradual purchase of a book, but would have passed their lives without entertaining the thought of giving two pounds for a Bible in one sum, became in time the possessors of a little but select library.

It was about this time (1825) that Archi

bald Constable of Edinburgh propounded to Sir Walter Scott and Mr. Lockhart a plan for revolutionizing the entire trade by the aid of steam and cheap printing. "Literary genius," he exclaimed, " may or may not have done its best; but printing and bookselling, as instruments for enlightening mankind, and of course for ma king money, are as yet in meré infancy. Yes, the trade are in their cradle." He then shadowed forth his outline :-“ A three shilling or half-crown volume every month, which must and shall sell, not by thousands, or tens of thousands, but by hundreds of thousands-aye, by millions! Twelve volumes in the year, a half-penny of profit upon every copy of which will make me richer than the possession of all the copyrights of all the quartos that ever were, or will be hot-pressed! twelve volumes so good, that millions must wish to have them; and so cheap, that every butcher's callant may have them, if he pleases to let me tax him sixpence a-week!" Bright, and not extravagant visions; but, alas! it was destined that others should realize them. In the following year Constable was a bankrupt.

When his affairs were wound up, he commenced his Miscellany, but with crippled means and a crushed spirit, which soon af ter was quelled in death. By his successors, the series was managed with little success, and after a few years it was discontinued. Still, however, the plan did not sink. Murray in his " Family Library," Longman and Co. in their "Cabinet Cyclopedia" and other such series, Colburn and Bentley in their "National Library," carried it out for several years with more or less success: and at that time it appeared as if no books other than monthly volumes at five or six shillings would sell.

Meanwhile, the Society for the Diffusion of Useful knowledge had commenced a series of sixpenny publications, embracing the principal sciences, and thus were showing the way to still further declensions in the cost of literature. It was remarked, however, that even these comparatively cheap issues were absorbed, not by the working-classes, to whom they were professedly addressed, but by the middle ranks. And

thus it has ever been with books of all kinds direct them to one class, and they hit the next above. It became necessary, in order to reach the great bulk of the people, that cheaper works still should be presented. It was with some such views that the publishers of the present work commenced it

Weekly

on the 4th of February 1832. sheets, composed of matter chiefly compiled, and aiming at no literary distinction, had previously been by no means rare; nor were they unsuccessful. But this, we believe, was the first attempt to furnish original literary matter of merit through such a medium. It was followed, almost immediately, by the well-known Penny Magazine, the Saturday Magazine, and other similar series, most of which attained, like the Journal, a circulation of many thousands.

The first step which a publisher most usually takes when he has printed a new book, is to send it round to his brethren to have it "subscribed;" that is, to learn from each house how many copies they will venture to take; and to induce them to speculate, the copies thus subscribed for are delivered at a certain per centage less than the regular trade price. The copies thus supplied to the wholesale metropolitan houses are then distributed throughout the retail trade, both in town and country; for every provincial bookseller selects a London or Edinburgh publishing house as his agent, for the supply of whatever works he may order. Such books are purchased by the agent from the publisher; and when they have accumulated sufficiently to cover the expense of carriage, they are made up into a parcel and sent to the retailer. This generally happened, up to about ten years ago, on the last day of a month, when the magazines are published; for of them alone the general demand is so great, that they form a bulky parcel for each bookseller. In 1837, one of the trade," many years conversant with the great literary hive of London on "Magazine Day," made the following computations: The periodical works sold on the last day of the month amounted to 500,000 copies. The amount of cash expended in the purchase of these was £25, 000. The parcels despatched into the country per month were 2000. These parcels, it must be remembered, not only contained magazines, but all the works ordered during the preceding part of the month.

Since then, however, the vast increase of weekly publications, the opening of railroads, the extension of steam navigation, and other causes, have in a great measure withdrawn the bulk of books from the monthly to weekly parcels, one of which every respectable provincial bookseller now regularly receives. To estimate the contents or number of these would be impossible; but we have no hesitation in saying that they more than double the above computation.

This is one of the most striking birds in its appearance, yet by no means one of the most graceful. Its long legs and neck give it an air of lightness and activity in some of its attitudes, but of awkwardness in others. Still, with its brilliant plumage, which is often a deep red, it arrests the attention, when seen; and hence its name, being called Flaman in French, from the Latin flamma, flame, which the English have altered to Flamingo. The Greeks called it phoenicoptere, in allusion to the same characteristic.

These birds have confused ornithologists not a little, by uniting the traits of several orders; for example, they resemble the waders in their long and naked legs, and the swimmers in their webbed feet, while the form of the bill, and their taking their food by bending the head almost to the ground or to the water, and placing the upper bill undermost, distinguishes them from the rest of the winged creation. They feed on insects, shellfish and fish spawn; and hence are usually found frequenting the banks of streams near the sea. They

proceed in lines when they enter the water to catch fish, and generally keep their order when they lie down to rest. They are said to station sentinels to watch, when collected in flocks; but this is doubted, as well as some other stories which have been told of them.

In the background of our print is seen a flamingo sitting upon her nest, which is built to the height of two or three feet from the ground, because the awkward form of the bird renders it difficult for her to sit upon a level surface.

They are frequently seen in the South of France, but do not make their appearance there every season. They are known in some parts of Languedoc by the name of Bec-de-charrue, or wheel-beak, from the peculiar form of their bills. There are four species of the genus Flamingo:

1st, The Phoenicoptere of the ancients. 2d, the Red. 3d, the Small. 4th, the Fiery. The first of these is that now known in Europe and in Egypt, whose tongue has been eaten as a great delicacy. Most or all these species are inhabitants of AmeriThe last mentioned abounds in the wide plains of Patagonia, and is seen further north, even to the West Indies.

ca.