louks, his chosen troops, in his court-yard, just as they were entering, to take part in a festival in honor of his son, when appointed commander of the expedition against Mecca, one of the most treacherous and cold-blooded deeds on the records of history. They were all butchered, chiefly by his cannon.

This is the man who, only a few years ago, sent his son in a splendid fleet, with the promise of being supreme ruler and master of Greece, as the reward of his expected conquest of that devoted and suffering country. We see him here, reclining in the luxury of Turkish sloth and magnificence, with the signs of Mahomedan wealth and luxury freely scattered around him. Thus seated, with slaves at his beck, and coolly inhaling the fumes of his pipe, his fleet floated on the waves to the Grecian shores, and there let loose his thousands of savage Egyptians, to lay waste those lovely regions, so celebrated for their natural beauty, and the unequalled charms of their history. With the same unmoved and almost stolid aspect which he here presents, he issued his orders to kill, burn, and destroy, and received the horrible reports of the execution of his commands. Under such barbarous masters as the Turks, it is not to be wondered at that the Greeks often behaved like barbarians themselves; and, when they saw the Egyptian slaves debarking in crowds upon their shores, with the avowed purpose of exterminating all of the ancient race and occupying their place, with a force to which they were wholly unequal, it is astonishing that their leaders were not entirely thrown into despair. But the courage and patriotism of the Greeks won them an imperishable character; and, amidst the various and severe trials of the day, there was not one found to stain the history of the war with the name of a traitor.

Mehemet Ali was born at Cavale, near Thessalonica, (now called, by abbreviation, Salonica,) and was in early life a tobacco merchant. While yet young, he went to Egypt as a soldier; and, rising fast in the army, he was made Pacha of that important part of the Sultan's dominions in the year 1805. He did not learn to read and write until he was 45 years of age. It is said that the English cabinet induced the Sultan to recal him from his Pachalic; but, on various pretexts, he again and again postponed compliance, until the Sultan ceased to insist,

either through his inability to enforce his commands, or from a sense of his need of a man of his abilities in that province. During the Greek war the Pacha of Egypt astonish ed the world by his energy and enterprize, by introducing various European improve. ments, particularly the manufacture of cotton, the discipline of an army, and the construction of a fleet. These measures, however, were not calculated to produce any extensive and permanent change on his people, though they served for a time to raise extravagant expectations of a sudden and mighty renova tion of Egypt, and to spread not only dread but rapine and slaughter over large districts of unhappy Greece.

Ibrahim Pacha, who was sent, in command of the fleet and army of his father, Mehemet Ali, with the title of Pacha of Greece, with a naval and land force altogether overwhelming, compared with that of the patriotic sufferers, would doubtless have accomplished his inhuman object, but for the interposition of the European Allied Powers, who at Navarino, destroyed the Turkish and Egyptian fleets, declared the Greeks an independent nation, and took them under their protection. It is affecting, at the present day, to contemplate the existing compara. tively happy and promising condition of that heroic people, and then to turn and look upon the portrait of their late oppressor, butcher, and would-be destroyer; for, how far soever be the present state or prospects of the Greeks from what we might wish to see them, they are incomparably better than they could have been, under this cold-blooded Mahomedan, who, had he been allowed to proceed in his career of slaughter and devastation, would have spared neither age nor sex, until he had reduced the whole country to his tyrannical will.

The rebellion of Mehemet Ali had been foretold for years, when the signal was at length given in 1828, by the Sultan's sending a new Pacha for Alexandria and Damietta, and a demand for the few ships which had survived the battle of Navarino, and sailed to Egypt. Mehemet Ali then declared his independence, which has been sustained with ease, because the weakness of Turkey has not allowed her seriously to dispute it.

Among the military expeditions of Mehemet, one of the most bloody was that against Sennaar in 1821, when he butcherd,

200,000 persons, and reduced a whole district to a desert, to revenge the death of his second son Ismael, (or Ishmael,) whom some of that people had killed, for his tyrannical conduct. The history of Ismael's expedition is given by George B. English of Boston, an adventurous man, who accompanied it as general of artillery. A native of New York, who assumed the name of Khalil Aga, also belonged to it, and was then supposed to be the only individual who had traversed the whole course of the Nile from Sennaar to Rosetta.

Ibrahim, the third and last son of Mehemet, was successful in closing the war with the Wahabees, and in invading the territories of the Sultan, nearly to Smyrna.

THE GREAT ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK

IN STRASBURG CATHEDRAL.

From a letter addressed to the Editor of the American Penny Magazine.

Strasburg Cathedral has for a long time been remarkable for its Astronomical Clocks. The first one was made in the year 1352, and replaced by a second in 1547. In 1842 a new one was erected, which far surpasses both the others. This wonderful and complicated machine, was the result of immense calculations, unwearying researches, and arduous labors. It is the work of a citizen of Strasburg, by the name of Schwilqué, and is probably one of the finest pieces of mechanism ever executed. It would take a volume to describe it; for the machinery occupies quite a building of itself, being near 70 feet high. All that can be done in the compass of a magazine article, will be simply to mention some of the more prominent astronomical movements, and then to describe the manner in which the hours and quarters are struck by automaton figures. This description is given for the purpose of interesting more particularly your young readers.

All the stars of the first six magnitudes, to the number of more than 5000, are represented in their true position, forming an imitation of the firmament. These stars are disposed in 110 constellations, marked by Greek and Roman letters, so that they may all be easily distinguished. The precession of the equinoxes, the rising and setting of the sun, the true time, the true movement of the moon around the earth, its true right ascension, its passage to the meridian, the phases of the moon, and the eclipses of the sun and moon are all accurately indicated. The revolutions and movements of the planetary system are all marked with the utmost exactness. This part of the description may be closed by observing, that the machinery is calculated to show periods of time which will take 25,000 years for their completion, with

as much accuracy as the hours, minutes, and seconds are marked on the dial of a common clock.

The striking of the hour of twelve draws together crowds daily in the cathedral. This clock, like many of the more common ones in the European churches, first strikes the quarter-hours, 1, 2, 3 and 4; the strokes for the hours following the striking of the fourth quarter. But, in addition to this, the Strasburg clock repeats them; i. e., at one-quarter past the hour, one blow is struck on a bell, and immediately after it is repeated on another. On each side of the large dial around which the hands move, there is an automaton figure. One of these figures holds an hourglass, which he changes from end to end after each hour is struck. The other holds in his left hand a bell, and in his right a sceptre, with which he strikes the first blow, that marks the quarter-hours. On a platform above these, and in the centre of it, stands a figure representing death, armed with a scythe, and holding in his right hand a bone. A clock-bell is suspended near him. On the left hand of death is an opening in the clock, from which, at one-quarter past each hour, a figure, representing an infant, comes forward; and, after the figure below has struck one with his sceptre, lets fall a thyrsus, or rod, on the bell, thus sounding the first quarter. At half-past the hour, a youth, in the dress of a hunter, advances; and, with an arrow, strikes two for the half hour, alternately with the figure below. At three-quarters past the hour, a man in full strength, clad as a warrior, advances; and, with his sword, strikes alternately with the figure below three-quarters. At a moment before the completion of the hour, an old man, muffled up in a cloak, and leaning on crutches, is seen to move slowly towards death; and, stopping before the bell, strikes alternately with the figure below four-quarters.

These four figures, it will have been remarked by the reader, represent the four ages of human life; and, after each one of them has stopped long enough before the bell to strike the quarter hours, he moves forward, passes by the figure of death, and enters an opening in the clock, opposite that from which he advanced. As soon as the old man has passed out of sight, death strikes the hour on the bell, with the bone in his right hand.

The quarters are only struck during the day; man needing repose at night, while death continues to strike the hours by night as well as by day.

Above these figures is a statue of Christ; and, as soon as death has finished striking the hours, you see a procession, representing the twelve apostles, each bearing the instrument by which he was martyred, or said to have been, advancing from an opening in the left side of the clock, below the figure of the Savior. When each one has arrived opposite the statue of Christ, he stops and bows

his head in token of salvation, while the Savior at the same time appears to give him his blessing. They then, one by one, enter an opening in the clock, on the side opposite that from which they came.

While this procession is passing, a cock, which stands on a turret, flaps his wings and crows; this he repeats three times.

After the last apostle has past, the Savior makes the sign of the cross, and this closes the scene till the hour comes round, when the same things are repeated, with the exception of the procession of the apostles, which only takes place at 12 o'clock at noon.

It is said that the maker of this clock was offered a large sum of money, if he would construct one for another cathedral, but he would not consent; saying that no place should have a clock equal to the one in his native city.

The Great Chesnut Tree on Mount Etna. This celebrated and gigantic tree is scarcely less remarkable for its peculiar situation, than for its extreme age and extraordinary size. The drawing published of it by Howel in the year 1784, which is still preserved, and has been copied in many works, so as to be still familiar to many readers, proves that it is in a course of decay, and that probably no very long period will elapse, before it will be materially injured by the loss of one part after another, and indeed be wholly prostrated to the ground, which it has shaded perhaps for many centuries.

The hollow in its immense trunk has now been enlarged so much, that two coaches might pass through it abreast; yet the progress of decay going on in the wood, is not to be traced in any unfavorable effects on the foliage or branches, as it is annually covered with a coat of deep verdure, and the fruit forms and ripens every season in great abundance.

Although the enormous vegetable mass which it forms present to the eye, even at a moderate distance, the appearance of one magnificent tree, of well balanced proportions on both sides, though with a disproportionate breadth of trunk and branches compared with common trees, partial divisions are perceptible on nearer inspection, which have led most observers to conclude that not less than five distinct chestnuts have here united, and long composed one. The circumference of the entire trunk is 152 feet, while one of the parts, more distinct than the others, measures 55 feet. There are not wanting, however, persons who affirm that the whole

is strictly speaking a single plant. Howell is of the number; and Brydone heard from the natives of that region, that such was the universal belief. Recupero, a Sicilian Naturalist, has protested against the idea of its being a compound. And one argument against it is, that the disappearance of parts of the trunk are not wholly caused by natural decay, but in a great part by the removal of pieces of the wood for fuel.

A hut has been built in the hollow of this enormous tree, for the accommodation of visiters, who often partake of a repast partly made of its nuts. The Sicilians call it the "Castagna de centi cavalli," [or Chestnut tree of an hundred horses,] as is said, because Queen Joan of Aragon, in a visit she once paid to it, drew up her whole escort in the cavity, though it consisted of an hundred men mounted.

"While America," says the Magazine Pittoresque, "boasts of her enormous cypress, Africa of her baobab, and America of her eucalyptus, so long as the Chestnut of Mount Etna stands, Europe may claim to possess the largest tree in the world."

BIRDS' TRACKS IN THE ROCKS. Ever since the first discovery of the tracks of birds in the sand-stone rocks on Connecticut river, by Prof. Hitchcock, about twenty years ago, much interest has existed on the subject, and many new and surprising discoveries have been made. At the annual meeting of the Geological Society, held at New Haven a few months since, some interesting facts were stated, an account of which was given by the New York Tribune.

Dr. Barret said that it was in 1826 he first found tracks of birds in the red sandstone of Connecticut. He now showed drawings of the track of a new animal, a right and left foot; the centre toe a little worn. He calls it a canthodactylus; the treading was quite heavy. The next is that of an animal with a tread as heavy as the hippopotamus; the foot is eight inches in diameter; part of the second foot is broken. A third specimen comes near the elk or some of the ox tribe. It is in the pale gray soft sandstone; and the track is filled with the grit. It is in a slab of pavement in the streets of Middletown. The stone is 21 inches wide, and three feet five inches long; the tracks are in the middle of the stone; foot marks are 13 inches wide and about the

the large foot track to be of the same animal that Dr. King described, but his animal's feet were only half the size. He also found foot tracks of birds of a gigantic size, 14 inches wide. He also saw tracks of a pair of feet that looked very much like the human foot, but not quite so long; he showed a drawing resembling two clubbed feet. He found one slab 14 feet long that had the tracks of at least a dozen different animals crossing it. He felt certain that if ever that aforesaid quarry should be reopened, it would be found rich in foottracks.

Prof. Hitchcock said that formerly he gave names to the tracks found in the red sandstone instead of the animals that made them; because except the tracks there is no relic left of those animals worth mentioning. But at the suggestion of Mr. Dana he had made out a classification and nomenclature of all the animals whose tracks had been fonnd in the red sandstone of the Connecti

cut valley. These animals were chiefly birds of a very low order of organization. He then read off his list of names given to these birds. The species were 35; and the genera were twenty; he tried to make the number smaller, but could not without classing together species that are more unlike than what we find in living animals. He had measured the feet in every possible way, with care, as Phrenologists measure the head; and done all in his power to classify them correctly.

Prof. Silliman read a letter from Dr. Dean of Amherst, who has found fossil foot marks in a new location near Amherst.He began by stating the incredulity with which the announcement of the discovery of these foot marks was received. Since then all the geologists of England have given in their adhesion to the subject. Since then enormous birds (fossil,) have been discovered in the alluvial deposit of New Zealand, and sent to England, of a larger size than any found and claimed by Prof. Hitchcock. Recently, specimens of bird tracks have been found near Greenville in Pa.; also, some like terrestrial animals! air-breathing, warmblooded animals, 5 toed and long foot; also some of the large hand-footed tribe-like the human hand-now by Dr. Owen proved to

have belonged to a large Batracian animal, one of the frog tribe-a frog as large as a bull or an elephant-one of the great croakers of his day! There are numerous tracks of these frogs where they kept dancing { about on the rocks, and these are many hundred feet below the new red sandstone, and they are below the coal.

Prof. Silliman said some of the bird bones had been found in blasting a quarry at East Windsor some time since. It was true they were badly shattered by the gunpowder, but still not so much but that it could be distinctly seen that they were bones; they were hollow, not petrified, and were very distinct; they had vertebræ among them.

Prof. Hitchcock said that he believed the birds that made the tracks he had discovered to have been very large birds, having enormous bones, scarcely any feathers, and that their carcasses were no more able to float than the carcass of the Hippopotamus.

Improvement in Tanning.

A gentleman of Ohio has invented a new method of tanning leather, for which he has taken out a patent here, and has gone to England.

The invention consists in perforating the hide or skin to be tanned, (after the skin is cleaned and ready to be put into the tan ooze,) with fine steel points-as, for instance, fine cotton card combs, numbering from fifteen to eighteen teeth to the inch. These combs are placed side by side, and screwed firmly together, in a kind of iron box, with a handle on the top, which is struck with a mallet, on the grain side of some, and the flesh side of other kinds of leather, sufficiently hard to send them. through. This operation is performed when the skin is in the most relaxed and flexible state, so that the fibres yield readily to the points, as scarcely any traces are observable after the leather is tanned, farther than upon the grain or epidermis.

The advantages of this over the old mode are, that it facilitates the progress, makes a better leather, and saves bark. In this way calf-skins may be tanned in from ten to twenty days, in cold white ooze, instead of four months.

It is a strong objection to the old method, that the frequent tanning and re-tanning of the two surfaces, in order to tan the interior or body of the skin, is a positive injury to the leather, as it makes it brittle and more liable to break.

As respects the saving in fixtures, it is

stated that as much leather can be tanned in five vats by this process, as can be tanned in fifteen under the old system.

AGRICULTURAL.

The following communication from R. T. Underhill, M. D., on the subject of "the preparation of ground and seed for the wheat crop,' ," was read a few days ago before the Farmers' Club, and ordered for publication.— NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 1845. H. Meigs, Esq., Sec. N. Y. Farm. Club.

Land that has been well manured in a previously cultivated crop, such as corn and potatoes, is, with proper ploughing and harrowing, very suitable for winter wheat. It is always best that the manure should have been applied in the previous crop, particularly if it is rank or recently formed, or your wheat will produce too much straw, be weak, and fall down. There are a few exceptions to this rule. Bone dust, oily fish, street manure, &c., have often been applied at the time of sowing, to secure a good crop. A sandy loam, with a good supply of calcareous earth or lime, forms the best soil for wheat-a certain amount of sand or silex, clay, and lime, being essential to secure a good crop. When I say that the land should be thoroughly ploughed three or four times, and harrowed as often, I am fully aware what is the usual practice, and also of the loss sustained by only one ploughing and two harrowings. I do not apply these observations to land just cleared from the forest, (though then, the more and better the ploughing, the larger the crop) or the prarie sod just turned over; but to the land in all the old States, and all lands long under cultivation. The object in ploughing the ground so much, is to turn under more completely atmospheric air, which consists of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbonic acid, a thorough mechanical mixture of which with the soil will insure a great increase of crop; it also acts as a manure. The thorough pulverizing of the soil, so as to make it fine, is secured in this way, which renders it so much better for the fine roots, in the early growth of the plants, to get well rooted before winter sets in, thus securing it from being winter killed. This also enables you to pasture your sheep and young cattle upon it in the fore part of November, without any fear of pulling it up. They will secure it from the Hessian Fly by eating off the larvæ.

It is also very important to prepare the seed properly; you should have the most plump and clean seed that can be obtained. Six shillings or a dollar more per bushel for the best of seed, are no consideration when the advantages are taken in the account. barrel or half hogshead make a brine that will bear an egg, from the old salt taken from your meat and fish casks; or, if you have not saved this, ordinary fine or coarse salt, the former dissolving much the soonest, and is generally

In a

preferred for that reason. Put in one, two, or three bushels of wheat, and mix well with the brine, and skim off all the chess and other foul seed and light wheat that rises to the top. There should be brine enough to cover the wheat three inches deep. Stir up the wheat with a stick occasionally, and let it remain in the brine three or four hours. Some persons let it remain all night, but I think there is some danger of swelling the grain and acting upon the farina too much, by leaving it so long in the brine, and there is no real necessity for it. Draw off the brine into another cask, and lay the wheat on an oblique surface, so that the brine may draw off; then to every bushel of wheat add three or four quarts of fine air-slacked lime, and rake and shovel it through every part, so that every grain is coated with the lime, and the seed as much separated as possible from each other. (Some good farmers use more lime than the above.) If you have not lime, and cannot easily obtain it, use unleached wood ashes instead."

You must measure your wheat before you prepare it, or you will likely, when you sow it, put less seed in than is proper. You will also find it difficult, from the increased bulk, to hold enough each time in the hand. It is therefore better to sow twice, and at right angles; that is, take rather less than usual in the hand, and when you have gone over the field, begin and sow it over again in the other direction (across the first sowing). You will thus have it more even, and secure sufficient seed, which is rarely the case. When you have taken pains to prepare your land well, use plenty of good seed-a virtue rarely practised in this part of the world. The object gained by the above preparation of the seed, is, first, you destroy all the smut, which is a parasitical plant placed on the furzy end of the grain; also all the eggs of the insects, that frequently may be seen with a glass on the same part of the grain. The salt and lime also act as a manure to stimulate the germ of the young plant, so as greatly to invigorate it in the early stage of its growth. Yours, truly,

R. T. UNDERHILL, M. D.

The Preposterous Literature of Rome. We have an acquaintance with many for. eigners, from different countries; and while we looked upon them all with interest and good will, on some with wonder, and others with compassion, we have often made the reflection, that something important might be learned from each, something well worthy of the attention of ourselves and our countrymen. When their education has come to mind most clearly, and especially when we have set down to read some of the books which have had most influence in forming their characters, has such a reflection occured with the greatest force.