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LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE.

True Unicorn, an inhabitant of Thibet. "We have no doubt that a little time will bring to light many objects of natural history peculiar to the elevated regions of central Asia, and hitherto unknown in the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms, particularly in the two former. This is an opinion which we have long entertained; but we are led to the expression of it on the present occasion, by having been favoured with the perusal of a most interesting communication from Major Latter, commanding in the Rajah of Sikkim's territories, in the hilly country east of Nepaul, addressed to Adjutant General Nicol, and transmitted by him to the Marquis of Hastings. This important paper explicitly states that the unicorn, so long considered as a fabulous animal, actually exists at this moment in the interior of Thibet, where it is well known to the inhabitants. This,'6 -we copy from the Major's letter' is a very curious fact, and it may be necessary to mention how the circumstance became known to me. Thibetian Manuscript, containing the names of different animals, which I procured the other day from the hills, the unicorn is classed under the head of those whose hoofs are divided; it is called the one-horned tso'po. Upon inquiring what kind of animal it was, to our astonishment, the person who brought me the manuscript described exactly the unicorn of the ancients; saying, that it was a native of the interior of Thibet, about the size of a tattoo, (a horse from twelve to thirteen hands high,) fierce and extremely wild; seldom, if ever, caught alive, but frequently shot; and that the flesh was used for food."

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"The person," Major Latter adds,' who gave me this information, has repeatedly seen these animals, and eaten the flesh of them. They go together in herds, like our wild buffaloes, and are very frequently to be met with on the borders of the great desert, about a month's journey from Lassa, in that part of the country inhabited by the wandering Tartars.'

This communication is accompanied by a drawing made by the messenger from re

collection. It bears some resemblance to a horse, but has cloven hoofs, a long curved horn growing out of the forehead, and a boar-shaped tail, like that of the 'fera monoceros,' described by Pliny.* From its herding together, as the unicorn of the Scriptures is said to do, as well as from the rest of the description, it is evident that it cannot be the rhinoceros, which is a solitary animal; besides, Major Latter states, that, in the Thibetian manuscript, the rhinoceros is 'described under the name of servo, and classed with the elephant; neither,' says he, is it the wild horse, (well known in Thibet,) for that has also a different name, and is classed in the MS. with the animals which have the hoofs undivided.' 'I have written (he subjoins) to the Sachia Lama, requesting him to procure me a perfect skin of the animal, with the head, horn, and hoofs; but it will be a long time before I can get it down, for they are not to be met with nearer than a month's journey from Lassa.""

Capital of New South Wales.-The town of Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, has increased very considerably in extent; and the style and regularity of the more recent buildings have been much improved. It has a population of about 7000 souls; a market, well supplied with grain, vegetables, poultry, eggs, butter and fruit; and a bank with a capital of £20,000 in200 shares, the paper of which is the principal circulating medium of the colony; its flourishing condition may be presumed, from the proprietors having the last year divided 12 per cent. on their capital. There are also two good public schools, one for boys, and the other for girls; the latter contains sixty children, who are gratuitously taught reading, writing, arithmetic, sewing, and the various arts of domestic economy. On completing their education, they are assigned as servants to such families of respectability as apply for them; or married to free persons of good character, when a certain portion of land is given in dower from a tract set apart for that purpose.

Sydney possesses two other public schools,

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*In speaking of the wild beasts of India, Pliny says, with regard to the animal in question, Asperrimam autem ferant monocerotem, reliquo corpore equo similem, capite cervo, pedibus elephanti, cauda apro, mugitu gravi, uno cornu nigro media fronte cubitorum duum eminente. Hanc feram vivam negant capi.'-Plin. Hist. Mund. lib. 8, cap. 21. The resemblance is certainly very striking.

containing upwards of 220 children of the higher classes, both male and female; and, it should be stated, to the credit of the local governments, that provision is made in every populous district for the diffusion of education; to defray the expences of which, one eighth part of the colonial revenues, amounting to about £2,500, has been added to the Orphan Dues' on coals and timber. Besides these laudable institutions there are two private societies, one called 'the Auxiliary Bible Society of New South Wales,' the other the New South Wales Sunday School Institution.'

Paramatta. The town next in importance to Sydney is Paramatta, situated at the distance of fifteen miles from it, at the head of Port Jackson harbour. It consists of one street nearly a mile in length; its population amounts to 1200 souls, chiefly inferior traders, artificers, and labourers. The principal public buildings are a church, a female orphan house, a hospital, and a manufactory of coarse cloth, in which such of the female convicts as misconduct themselves, and such as, on their arrival in the colony, are not immediately assigned as servants to families, are employed. The wool is received from the settlers, and a certain portion of the manufactured article is returned in exchange; the rest is used for clothing the gaol gang, and the re-convicted culprits who are banish ed to the Coal River.

There is, besides, another institution in Paramatta, that does honour to its founder, the present governor, Colonel Macquarie. It is a school for the education and civilization of the aboriginal natives of the country. It is not more than four years since it was opened; and, by the last accounts, it contained eighteen children who had been voluntarily placed in it by their parents; and it is stated that they were making equal progress in their studies with European children, or rather with children of European parents, of the same age.

Windsor, in New Holland.-Windsor is a rising town, situated near the confluence of the south creek with the river Hawkesbury, about thirty-five miles from Sydney. Its population, amounting to about six hundred souls, is composed chiefly of settlers who have farms in the neighbourhood. The Hawkesbury is subject to occasional inundations, when the water rises sometimes to the astonishing height of 70 or 80 feet; owing, it is supposed, to the branch called the Nepean, running along the base of the Blue Mountains for 50 or 60 miles, collecting in its course all the mountain torrents, and pouring them into that river.

Newcastle, in New Holland.-Sixty miles to the northward of Sydney, is the town of Newcastle, at the mouth of the Coal river. Its population, consisting chiefly of incorrigible offenders, convicted of fresh crimes in the colony, amounts to about five

hundred souls. They are employed from sunrise to sunset in burning lime, and in procuring coals and timber for the public works, and for sale on government account.

Liverpool, in New Holland.The last town is Liverpool, founded by Governor Macquarie, about five or six years ago. It is situated on the banks of George's river, at the distance of 18 miles from Sydney, and has a population of two hundred souls. The river empties itself into Botany Bay, and is navigable by boats of twenty tons burden up to the town.

State of Society in New Holland. The state of society in all these places, is just what might be expected from so heterogeneous and discordant a mass of materials as are thus thrown together; indifferent in the abstract, it is not improved by that spirit of scandal which usually exists in little communities, where every one is disposed to inquire minutely into the concerns of his neighbour. At Sydney they raised a theatre, and instituted annual races, but it was found that they were not quite ripe for these kind of amusements. The races, we should have thought, would have suited their taste; they have, however, frequent dinner and supper parties, and regular subscription balls. Upon the whole,' says Mr Wentworth, it may be safely asserted, that the natural disposition of the people to sociality, has not only been in nowise impaired by their change of scene, but that all classes of the colonists are more hospitable than persons of similar means in this country.'

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Homer. It is known that the first manuscript from which the editions of Homer were made, is of no later date than the 10th century. A recent discovery has taken place in the Ambrosian Library at Milan, of a manuscript, consisting of several fragments of the Iliad, which appears to be of the 4th century, being about six hundred years more ancient than the former. The characters are all capitals, and of a square form, similar to those of the most refined ages, without distinction of words, and without accents, or any indications of modern orthography.

This manuscript is embellished with 60 paintings on vellum, equally antique: the subjects represent the principal passages of the Iliad.

M. Angelo Maïo, Professor at the Ambrosian College, has caused the manuscript to be printed in one volume, with engravings from the pictures, and the numerous scholia which accompany them.

Lunatic Infirmary.-The Directors of the Lunatic Asylum at Konisberg have established the game of nine pins for the amusement of the unfortunate inmates. The desire of winning, as well as the anxiety displayed in taking good aim, and the interest excited in counting the number of skittles overthrown with precision, oblige the play

ers to fix their thoughts upon a particular object. Order and tranquillity have already succeeded the noisy confusion which first attended the opening of the games, and happy results are expected from this experiment.

Longevity. The foreign journals give the following extraordinary statement, which we shall be thankful if any of our friends who reside in Russia, or have correspondents in that vast and interesting empire, will do us the favour to ascertain to be genuine.

The tables of longevity published for the year 1817, in the Russian empire, give the following results:

Amongst 828,561 persons who have died, all belonging to the Greek Church, there appear to have been as follows:

1 above 140 years of age
1 do. 135 do.

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The banks of Lake Champlain, in the United States of America, afford an instance of longevity which has seldom been equalled since the period of holy writ; the individual alluded to is a German by birth, aged 135 years. This venerable character belonged to Queen Anne's Guards, at her coronation in the year 1702, at which time he was 18 years old; and having served to the end of the war, he then went to America. He is still robust, and very strong; he sees and hears perfectly, and has still preserved his hair; he has a soldier-like air, and is proud of his temperance, in having always abstained from spirituous liquors. His youngest son is 27 years of age; so that he was born when his father was 108 years old.

The above communication is from a Missionary, and therefore its correctness cannot be doubted.

The Secrets and Whole System of Freemasonry Exposed. A chief of the Society of Free-masons in Germany, who died about two years ago, left, amongst his papers, a most remarkable MS., containing a complete History of all the Secret Ceremonies, Views, and Plans of the Association. This manuscript has been printed, and its publication, we are told, has excited an extraordinary sensation throughout the continent. It has already passed through many editions, and occasioned the publication of numberless controversial tracts.

FRENCH INSTITUTE. The following is a copy of a letter, lately received by Thomas Edmondston, Esquire, of Buness, Shetland, from the Institute and Board of Longitude of France.

It will be gratifying to our readers to observe the polite and handsome terms in which these learned and illustrious Societies

express their acknowledgments, for attentions shewn to their members when engaged in the pursuits of science.

INSTITUT DE FRANCE. ACADEMIE ROYALE DES SCIENCES. PARIS, le 10 Juin, 1820. LE SECRETAIRE PERPETUEL l'ACADEMIE SECRETAIRE DU BUREAU DES LONGITUDES. MONSIEUR,

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L'INSTITUT et le Bureau des Longitudes de France avaient appris dèja par les discours de M. Biot, prononcés dans nos séances et publiés dans nos mémoires, la maniere géneréuse et hôspitaliere dont vous l'aviez accueilli, et les soins que vous vous étiez donnés pour qu'il pût reussir complétement dans la mission difficile et délicate qu'il avait à remplir, nous savions en général combien il vous avait d'obligations. Le détail imprimé de ses observations que tout nouvellement il a mis sous nos yeux, en fixant nos idees, nous a fait sentir plus vivement encore tout ce que vous doivent et la physique et l'astronomie.

Dans la séance où ce travail vient de lui étre présenté le Bureau des Longitudes, d'un mouvement unanime, a pris l'arrète que son secrétaire aurait l'honneur de vous offrir les remercimens de la compagnie et nous pourrions dire ceux de tous les savans et de tous les amateurs de la science.

Permettez, monsieur, que je me félicite d'une occasion qui me procure l'avantage de vous exprimer en mon nom particulier toute ma reconnaissance pour des procédes, auxquels je dois ètre d'autant plus sensible, que pendant la mesure de notre meridienne, j'ai été moi même plus d'une fois à portée de sentir combien un tel accueil et des pareils secours deviennent pretieux dans les lieux éliognés ou l'observateur n'est connu de personne.

J'ai l'honneur d'ètre avec la plus haute consideration, Monsieur,

Votres très humble et très obeissant
Serviteur,

DELAMBRE.
Monsieur Edmonston, à Unst, Shetland.

The Niger. It is at length ascertained that this river empties itself into the Atlantic Ocean a few degrees to the northward of the equator. This important fact is confirmed by the arrival of Mr Dupuis from Africa. This gentleman was appointed Consul from this country at Ashantee (where Mr Bowdich resided for some time). He is acquainted with the Arabic and Moorish languages, and got his intelligence by conversing with different traders with whom he fell in at Ashantee. He thought it so important as to warrant his voyage home to communicate to government what he had learnt. We say that Mr Dupuis has confirmed this fact; for it so happens that he has been anticipated in the dis

covery by the geographical acumen of a gentleman of Glasgow, who arrived at the same conclusion by a most persevering and diligent investigation of the works of travellers and geographers, ancient and modern, and examining African captives; and had actually constructed, and submitted to the inspection of Government two or three months ago, a map of Africa, in which he lays down the Niger as emptying itself in to the Atlantic in about four degrees north latitude, after tracing out its entire course from the interior.

Live Bat found in the centre of a tree.A woodman, engaged in splitting timber for rail posts, in the woods close by the lake at Haining, a seat of Mr Pringle's, in Selkirkshire, discovered in the centre of a large wild cherry tree a living bat, of a bright scarlet colour, which he foolishly suffered to escape, from fear,-being fully persuaded (with the characteristic superstition of the inhabitants of that part of the country) that it was a "being not of this world." The tree presents a small cavity in the centre, where the bat was inclosed, but is perfectly sound and solid on each side.-Caledonian Mercury, Nov. 11.

Greek Translation of Zadig and Antenor.-M. Iskenteri, a Greek merchant settled in Constantinople, has published in Greek, an elegant translation of Zadig, a romance of Voltaire. He has also translated the voyage of Antenor, and is now printing it. The author is indefatigable in his exertions for the diffusion of knowledge and the civilization of Greece in general.

Scholia on Juvenal.-M. Cramer, Counsellor of State of Keil, has published certain passages of a curious MS. which he found two years ago in the library of the convent of St Gall. It is of the eleventh century, and consists of Scholia upon Juvenal; they have the character of being superior in value and correctness to any others now known. His programme, which was composed on occasion of a fête given by the King of Denmark, has the title of Specimen nova Editionis Scholiasta Juvenalis.

Krause's Illustrations of Homer.—Prcfessor Krause, of Gottingen, has written and added a sixth volume to an unfinished work, comprising notes and illustrations on Homer's Iliad. The five first volumes have been repeatedly reprinted; new editions of them have appeared at Bonn and Hanover, and the sixth volume completes the whole series of notes. They are stated to bear the impress of profound erudition. A similar commentary is preparing on the Odyssey.

Autobiography of Linnæus.-There has lately been discovered accidentally, among the papers of a shopkeeper, a biographical account of Linnæus, written by himself, and since continued to his death. The autograph MS. which is in the Swedish language, has been sent to Upsal, and will speedily be VOL. VIII.

printed. It will form a book of 500 pages in 8vo., embellished with six engravings, exhibiting two portraits of the great naturalist, a fac simile of his hand-writing, his monument in the Cathedral Church, and the arms of his family.

Newly discovered Islands in the South Sea.-M. Graner, a major in the Swedish service, who set out last year to explore in the South Sea, anew route for merchant vessels from Chili to the East Indies, has discovered in that ocean a group of islands hitherto unknown to mariners. To the largest of them he has given the name of Oscar. It is to be regretted that the Swedish journals, from which this intelligence is extracted, furnish no details relative to the position of these islands.

Great encouragement to trade of Egypt by the Pasha.-There have been lately imported at Trieste, samples of sugar cultivated and refined in Egypt. The Pasha has also established manufactures of cotton, silk, and cloth, under the direction of his favourite Jussuf. He invites Europeans from all countries, to exert and make the best of their talents and industry. He has his ships and materials also from Europe. The brother of Jussuf is settled at Trieste, as the Pasha's principal agent. About twenty other agents are employed in different countries, forming commercial relations.

The grand canal of Ramanieh, from Cairo to Alexandria, was finished about the end of January last. The Pasha proceeded to inspect the various works that have been executed according to his plans.

Gor Thur, a new variety of the Wild Ass.-The Marquis of Hastings, Governor-General in India, has received as a present from the Nabob of Bhawulpur, a wild ass, of the species called Gor Thur, by the Indians. This beautiful animal is from 11 to 12 hands high, has long ears, black eyes, and is of a chamois colour. He is not to be tamed, and in this and many other respects, he resembles the African Zebra. He is represented as a most finished model of beauty, agility, and strength.

Calcutta Museum. The Museum of the Asiatic Society of Calcutta, among other curiosities, contains a bulrush, cut in Nepaul, 84 feet in length, a serpent with two heads, specimens of Mosaic from Agra and Golconda, crystals from Nepaul, and sculptures from Persepolis, Java, &c.

First book printed in Van Diemen's Land.—In 1818, a printing press was set up in Hobart's-town, Van Diemen's Land, New Holland. The first book from this press is the history of a fugitive exile, named Michael Howe, who, at the head of twenty-eight other runaways, disturbed the tranquillity of the colony for six years. The work derives importance from the singularity of the circumstances, and from the story.

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WORKS PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION.

LONDON.

WE understand that a Tragedy on the subject of Cataline's Conspiracy is forthcoming. It is written by the Reverend George Croly, author of "The Angel of the World," &c. The subject is obviously of great dramatic capability. The stern and magnificent ambition and atrocity, that made the mind of the Roman Conspirator, mark him for one of the chief among the characters with which great effect is to be producible on the stage.

In the press, a Memoir of the Operations of the British Army in India, during the Mahratta War of 1817, 1818, 1819, illus. trated by maps and topographical plans; by Lieut-Col. Backer, Quarter-Master-General of the Army of Fort St George.

Preparing for publication, a Supplement tary Volume to the Rev. John Hughe's Hora Britannica; containing a Transla tion of the Welsh Historical Triads, &c. Favourite of Nature; a novel.

A Series of Sermons on the Christian Faith; by the Rev. J. B. Sumner, Rebendary of Durham.

Will be published in February, Mr Buche's work on the Beauties, Sublimities, and Harmonies of Nature.

Preparing for publication, an Original Miscellany, to be entitled the Quarterly Magazine, and to appear in March or April.

A new edition of George the Third, his Court and Family, with Important Additions; 2 vols. 8vo. with 16 portraits.

The Dramatic Works of Mr Sheridan; 3 vols. 8vo. in a few days.

Happiness; a Tale for the Grand and the Gay.

A second volume of Sacred Lyrics; by Mr James Edmeston.

The third part of Mr Bellamy's New Translation of the Bible.

A Brief Account of the General Hospital near Birmingham, with the Musical Festivals that have been celebrated for its benefit, to October, 1820; by Mr Pye.

A new edition of the Speeches of the Hon. J. P. Curran, with a Preface and Notes; by his Son, W. H. Curran, Esq. Barrister-at-law.

The Philosophy of Painting; by Wolstenholme Parr.

A new edition of Mr Harris's Catalogue of the Library of the Royal Institution, considerably enlarged and improved.

A new edition of the Rev. John Foster's Essay on Popular Ignorance.

The Principles of Foreign Medicine Explained, illustrated and applied to British Practice; by J. G. Smith, M.D.

A new and improved edition of the Hermit in London; in 3 vols. uniform with the British Essayists.

In a few days will be published, The Doge of Venice, an Historical Tragedy, in Five Acts; 8vo. By the right honourable Lord Byron.

In February will be published, a Voyage for the Discovery of a North-West Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific, performed by his Majesty's Ships Hecla and Griper, under the orders of Captain Parry, in the years 1819 and 1820; containing a full Account of the Interesting and Important Geographical Discoveries, the Nautical and Astronomical Observations, and the Natural History of the Seas and Islands to the westward of Baffin's Bay, more particularly of Melville's Island, in the Polar Sea, where the ships were frozen up for nearly eleven months. 4to., with maps, charts, plates, &c.; by authority of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

Memoirs of William Wallace, Esq. late Captain in the 15th Hussars; with a View of his Character and Conduct on some well known recent Events.

Nearly ready for publication, Mr T. Arrowsmith's Map of the Constellations, on two very large sheets, accompanied by a Memoir.

In the press, the concluding volume of Bryan's Biographical Dictionary of the Worthies of Ireland. 8vo.

The Life of a Boy, a Tale; in 2 vols.

In the press, Elementary Illustrations of the Celestial Mechanics of Laplace, comprehending the First Book; with an Introduction, containing the Rudiments of the Mathematics; being the First Part of a Work intended to Supply the Student with every link that is actually required for a complete Chain of Demonstration, extending to the Whole Theory of Planetary Motions. 8vo.

L. Towne of Newark-upon-Trent, Nottinghamshire, has in the press, and speedily will be published, the Farmer and Grazier's Guide; containing a collection of valuable recipes for the most common and fatal disorders to which horses, horned cattle, and sheep are subject, both tried and approved by most of the great farmers in the land.

Oliver Cromwell and his Times, by Themas Cromwell, with a portrait. 8vo.

The Celts Paradise, a Poem, by John Banim, foolscap 8vo,

A new poem; by James Bird, author of the Vale of Slaughden, entitled, Machin, or, The Discovery of Madeira.

Nearly ready for Publication, Practical Observations in Midwifery, with a Selection of Cases; by Dr Ramsbottom.

Lectures, chiefly on the Dramatic Literature of the age of Elizabeth, delivered at A second volume of Clark's History of the Russel Institution, by William HazIntolerance.

litt. Second edition. 8vo.

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