o'clock, and at half past three were be yond the region of the ice. We got to the Priory of Chamouny at half past seven, after forty-five hours' absence. A new edition is in the press of the Saxon Chronicles, with an English translation, and notes, critical and explanatory, by the Rev. J. INGRAM, fellow of 'Trinity College, Oxford, and late Saxon Professor in the University of Oxford. A new and copious Chronological, Topographical, and Glossarial Index, with a short Grammar of the Saxon Language, and an accurate and enlarged Map of England during the Heptarchy, will be added. A Treatise on Navigation and Nautical Astronomy is preparing for publication, adapted to practice, and to the purposes of elementary instruction, by E. RIDDLE, master of the Upper School, Royal Naval Asylum, Greenwich. Travels through the Holy Land and Egypt, illustrated with engravings, by W. R. WILSON, of Kelvinbank, North Britain, are in preparation. A Quarto Duoglott Bible will shortly be published, comprising the Holy Scriptures in the English and Welsh language, every column of each version corresponding with the other, by J. HARRIS, editor of the Seren Gomer, Swansea. He gives this specimen JER. L. 31. Wele fi yn dy erbyn di, O falch, medd Arglwydd Dduw y lluoedd; o herwydd dy ddydd a ddaeth, yr amser yr ymwelwyf a thi. JER. L. 31. Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of Hosts; for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee. Views of Ireland, moral, political, and religions, comprising the following subjects:-Education, religion, national character, church establishment, tithe, church of Rome in Ireland, Presbyterian, the Union, Rebellion, &c. will soon be published by JOHN O'DRISCOL, esq. The first number of a new monthly work, called the Knight Errant, wili be published on the 1st of January. Transactions of the Literary Transactions of Bombay, Vol. III. are printing in London. Portraits of the British Poets, Parts XVI. and XVII. containing Sidney, Spencer, Quarles, Parnell, Fenton, Booth, Herbert, Godolphin, Shadwell, Cibber, Dr. Joseph Warton, and Bishop, will be speedily published. The nettle, urtica urens, in Shropshire may be dressed and manufactured, like flax, into cloth. In France it is made into paper; and, when dried, is 3 eaten by sheep and oxen. In Russia a green dye is obtained from its leaves, and a yellow one from its roots. In the spring a salutary pottage is made from the tops. In Scotland they make a runnet from a decoction of it with salt, for coagulating their milk. The second edition, in folio, of the Holy Catholic Bible, enriched with many beautiful engravings, is nearly ready for publication, under the sanction of the Right Rev. Dr. Gibson. Indian Essays, on the Manners, Customs, and Habits, of Bengal, are printing in one volume, octavo. J. WESLEY CLARKE, esq. has a second edition in the press of his Geographical Dictionary, which he has been enabled considerably to improve. Memoirs of the Life of Charles Alfred Stothard, F.S.A. author of "the Monumental Effigies of Great Britain," including several of his original letters, papers, journals, essays, &r. with some account of a journey in the Netherlands, will speedily be published by Mrs. C. STOTHARD, author of "Letters written during a Tour through Normandy, Brittany, and other parts of France, in 1818." Reformation, a novel, will soon appear. The fourth volume of the Preacher, or Sketches of Original Sermons, chiefly selected from the manuscripts of two eminent divines of the last century, for the use of lay preachers and young ministers; to which is prefixed a Familiar Essay on the Composition of a Sermon, and a Letter to a Young Minister on Preaching the Gospel; are in the press. Memoirs of the late Mrs. Catharine Cappe, written by Herself, will be published in a few days. Mr. I. HOLMES, of Liverpool, announces, for the 1st of January, his Impartial Account of the United States, drawn from actual observation during a residence there of four years. The third part of Green's Universal Herbal, arranged on the Linnean System, and adapted to scientific, as well as the most useful practical purposes, elucidated by numerous plates, accurately coloured after nature, will shortly be presented to the public. Dr. WHITAKER's General History of the County of York, complete in two volumes, folio, is nearly ready, with plates engraved from beautiful drawings by J. M. W. Turner, esq. R.A. architectural subjects by Mr. Buckler, in in the very best style of the art, and wood-cut vignettes by Mr. Branston. The Annual Biography and Obituary for the Year 1823, Vol. VII. containing memoirs of celebrated men who have died in 1821-22, will appear in January. A seventh edition is printing of the Rev. JAMES WOOD's Dictionary of the Bible, newly revised by the author. GERMANY. In the month of August, last year, in a heavy shower of rain, there fell, near the Castle of Schoenbrunn, an immense quantity of insects unknown in Austria. They were about the size of beetles, and had some resemblance to them in form; they were covered with a kind of shell, and only kept alive by putting them in water, as if water had been their element. The conjecture assigned is, that they were brought away from some remote country into Austria by a water-spout. union with the Seine, is surmounted by twelve sluices, wide enough to permit the entrance of large boats from the Seine and the river Oise. The passage from the Pont Neuf at Paris, to the bridge of La Briche, under St. Denys, pursuing the course of the Seine, is shortened by several days. The Police of Paris have interdicted the publication of some original Memoirs of the Regent Duchess of Orleans, in which the gluttonous and beastly habits of Louis le Grand, and the vices of his courtiers, are too freely and accurately exhibited. It is feared that it might be regarded as a mirror! The following are some specimens: The king (Louis XIV.) eats to a most frightful degree. I have seen him devour at his dinner, first, three plates of soup of different kinds, a pheasant, a partridge, roast mutton and garlic, two large pieces of ham, a plate of salad, a plate of pastry, and another of fruit, &c. He told me that Christina queen of Sweden, instead of a M. ANDOUARD, physician in the hos-night-cap, always enveloped her head with pitals at Paris, who was sent to Barcelona by the minister at war in 1821, has published Relation Historique et Medicale de la Fièvre jaune qui a regné à Barcelone, in one large volume, octavo. FRANCE. Mr. CASATI, a traveller who recently returned from Egypt, has brought several ancient manuscripts; among which are two in Greek, and one in Greek and Egyptian. The first, which is sixteen feet six inches in length, and seven inches in breadth, contains a deed of sale drawn in the Thebais, on the 9th day of the mouth of Epiphi, and in the 4th year of the reign of Cleopatra, and of her son Ptolemy Soter II. which corresponds to the 25th of July, of 113 years before Christ. Count LASTEYRIE is publishing a grand work on the Anatomy of Man, in 240 folio lithographic engravings, and 120 sheets of letter-press, by Messrs. Beclard and Cloquet. It is altogether one of the finest and completest works of anatomy that has ever appeared. The advantages gained at Paris by Napoleon's Canal of St. Denys, which was opened last year, are very consi. derable. To feed this, the waters of the river Ourcq have been brought into a large reservoir, excavated near one of the barriers of Paris, in the suburb De la Villette. The declivity of the canal, from this reservoir to its a towel. One night, being unable to sleep, she ordered music in her chamber, and had the curtains drawn over her bed; but, enchanted with some part of the performance, she thrust her head through the curtains, and screamed, Mort diable! qu'ils chantent bien. The musicians, and especially the eunuchs, were so terrified at her head and nose, that they ran away. The attacks of a kind of madness: sometimes Cardinal Richelieu had sometimes violent he fancied himself a horse, and leapt over the billiard-table, neighing and capering. This would last for an hour, when his people would get him to bed, and cover him well with bed-clothes, to produce perspiration; when sleep entirely restored him. NETHERLANDS. Messrs. WAHLEN and Co. of Bruxelles, are republishing, in fifteen volumes, octavo, with 500 lithographic plates, the several Voyages Pittoresques. Choiseul-Gouffier will make two volumes, with a hundred plates; Melling's Constantinople, one volume, with fifty plates; Zurlauben's Switzerland, four volumes, with a hundred plates; St. Non's Naples and Sicily, five volumes, with a hundred plates; and La Borde's Spain, three volumes, with a hundred plates. Either work may be had separately, and will cost not the twelfth of the original works; and, as an application of superior lithography, the design merits the patronage of the libraries of all Europe. Messrs. Wahlen's edition may be seen at the foreign houses in London. NEW NEW MUSIC AND THE DRAMA. The Art of Singing exemplified by a new Method of Practice, with a Series of Passages and Solfeggios, from the most eminent Masters; by F. L. Hummell. 7s. T HIS vocal and didactic publication, besides some of the best rules for singing that we have met with for a considerable time, contains a course of graduated intervals for the aid of those who are ambitious of the ability to sing at sight. With respect to the principal purpose of the work, though we do not wholly agree with Mr. Hummell in his remarks on the nature of the human voice, nor always comprehend him, as when he tells us, almost in the same breath, that every voice is acquired, and that it does not fall to the lot of every one to have a voice naturally; since, if every voice is acquired, no one can have a voice naturally, still we find in his method so much of the lucidus ordo, and in his matter so many luminous observations, useful directions, and hints that an attentive practitioner will not fail to notice, and profit by, that we feel in them strong claims upon our commendation. The exercises are uniformly progressive, and are carried, seriatim, through all the different keys, major and minor. As a guide to their proper practice, a prefatory page is devoted to the stating such rules as are necessary, both to the avoidance of bad habits, and the ensuring those that are proper. Among these, that which relates to the obtaining a good crescendo and diminuendo, that explanatory of the method of acquiring a good shake, and that laid down for giving strength and flexibility to the voice, are truly excellent, and cannot be attended to without benefit. The precepts for sight-singing are plain and simple. All the various intervals, from that of the second, to that of the eighth, are given in their ascending and descending directions; and even the chromatic distances are not omitted, though, in our opinion, introduced somewhat too early in the work. Without, therefore, meaning to say, that Mr. Hummell's book is the very best extant on the subject, we venture nothing in pronouncing it a highly useful work of the kind, and recommending it to the attention of vocal practitioners. "The Campbell's are comin," a celebrated Scotch Air, arranged as a Rondo, with an Introduction, for the Piano-Forte: by J. W. Holder, Mus. Bac. Oxon. 3s. This is a production with which, it is evident, considerable pains have been taken; and it is no trivial praise to the composer's genius, that they have not been taken in vain. Taste and spirit are the prevailing characteristics of Mr. Holder's style, and are by no means less conspicuous in the present piece than in his other compo sitions. In his returns from the digressive portions of his matter, we think him peculiarly successful, a particular which evinces no small degree of management: we may add to this commendation, that the passages are easily and gracefully turned; and that the prevailing effect, throughout, is highly pleasant and attractive. The Disappointed Maid, a Ballad, written by Mr. James Stewart. The Music composed by Mr. J. H. Little. 25. This ballad, which was sung last season at Vauxhall Gardens by Miss Tunstall, consists of three verses, in neither of which do we find any thing that deserves the name of poetry, any more than we discover in the music a single symptom of original imagination, or of genuine science. The Disappointed Maid will have ample revenge for her mortification; for she will, in turn, disappoint all who expect to be delighted by her strains. The Chough and Crow, composed by Henry Bishop, esq. Arranged for two Performers on one Piano-Forte, with an Accompaniment for the Hary; by D. Bruguier. 4s. This publication, though but indifferent in its subject, (for we think little of the air on which it is founded) is far from being destitute of merit, or the power to please. As a duett, its construction is ingenious and scientific; and, as a practice, it is well calculated to produce improvement in the province of execution. The arrangement of the harp accompaniment announces much care and contrivance. Its incorporation is easy, close, and natural; and the united result quite equal to the best that could be expected from any superstructure reared on on so poor a basis as that of the Chough and Crow. THE DRAMA. COVENT-GARDEN.-The two national theatres have, at length, it is our satisfaction to be able to say, regained a large portion of their ancient richness in talent, and assumed a splendour and personal accommodation far transcending any thing enjoyed by former ages. At this house, while in the after-pieces called Ali Packa, and that of the Two GalleySlaves, every thing has been achieved that could charm the ear, the eye, and fascinate the imagination, by the magic of music and scenery, the powers of Mr. C. Kemble in Lovemore, Biron, Don Felix, the Stranger, Lord Hastings, and Romeo, have been exhibited to the greatest advantage; Macready has displayed his command of the passions in Othello, and other distinguished characters; Mr. Farren has given faithful and striking portraitures of Lord Ogleby, and Sir Anthony Absolute; Mrs. Gibbs has done ample justice to Miss Sterling; Miss Chester has developed the most conspicuous abilities in Violante and the Widow Cheerly; Miss Lacy has acquitted herself with the highest credit in Isabella and Mrs. Haller; Miss T. H. Kelly has shone almost equally in Juliet; and Miss Foote has delighted the public in the very arduous part of Desdemona. To these attractions, and the two new pieces already mentioned, the active assiduity of the managers has added an after-piece, entitled the Irish Tutor; and if, as spectacles, the former new pieces were too brilliant not to challenge applause, the latter possesses too much wit, liveliness, and genuine humour, not to afford equal pleasure, and extort an ample portion of public approbation. To these facts, it is pleasing to have to add, that in general this theatre has been fully and very respectably attended; and that the establishment is now in so fair and flourishing a way, as to be cheered by the promise, not only of the due reward of its present exertions, but of some restoration of its past losses. DRURY-LANE.-The spirit and judgment of the lessee of new Drury has infused into every department of this great concern, an animation and a MONTHLY MAG. No. 375. vigour, that, according to present appearances, will not fail to reward his liberal assiduity in promoting the interest of the drama, and providing for the comfort of its patrons. The former wide, wild, ultra-extensive, area, contracted into dimensions, that not only render the general interior appearance much more pleasant and agreeable to the frequenters of the pit and boxes, but also more favourable both to the eye and the ear, wherever situated, seems to afford universal satisfaction, and to point out the correctness of Mr. Elliston's discernment in foreseeing the probable result of the expensive alterations his judgment suggested. Uniformly attentive to the gratification of the public, this manager has united, to his own personal efforts on the boards, those of a numerous, yet select and able company; and the School for Scandal, Wild Oats, Macbeth, Pizarro, Road to Ruin, Richard the Third, Provoked Husband, Othello, A New Way to pay Old Debts, and the Siege of Belgrade, Love in a Village, and Giovanni in London, never owed more to any histrionic and vocal talents, than to those of Messrs. Elliston, Munden, and Dowton; Kean, Young, and Braham; Mrs. West, and Mrs. Davison; and Mrs. Austin, Madame Vestris, Miss Forde. Sir Peter and Lady Teazle; Ranger, and Charles Surface; Macbeth, and Rolla; Old and Young Dornton; Lord and Lady Townly, Othello, Sir Giles Overreach, Rosetta, Don Giovanni, and the Seraskier, have been seen in their own native colours by the numerous and delighted audiences that have flocked to their representations; and their reception has given promise of a good account of the treasury at the end of the season. The showy after-pieces of the Two Galley-Slaves, and the brilliant new ballet, (an offspring of D'Egville,) entitled, Venetian Nuptials, have added their allurements to those we have already enumerated, and filled up the measures of present success. Love in a Village has also been brought out, within these few days, with a new Rosetta in Mrs. Austin, whose voice for sweetness, and powers of execu tion, bid fair to place her at the head of her profession, and add to the other powerful attractions of this theatre. NEW BOOKS PUBLISHED IN NOVEMBER: WITH AN HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL PROEMIUM. Authors or Publishers, desirous of seeing an early notice of their Works, are requested to transmit copies before the 18th of the Month. OUR UR readers will be much pleased by the perusal of a Description of the Ruins of an Ancient City, discovered near Palenque, in the Kingdom of Guatimala, in America, translated from the Original Manuscript of CAPTAIN DON ANTONIO DEL Rio. This city was mentioned in Humboldt's Travels, and one engraving was given of its sculp tural ornaments, but it was not visited by that intelligent person. The reality of its existence is now established beyond all doubt. By this discovery a wide field is opened for curious speculation and inquiry into the history of the ancient inhabitants of America, and the degree of civilization to which they had attained. This subject will be found to be treated upon, though in a highly speculative and improbable manner, in a subsequent part of this work,-A Critical Investigation and Research into the History of the Americans, by Dr. PAUL FELIX CABRERA. From the idea we can form by the only building which is represented in one of the plates, we should conceive these structures to bear most similarity to the Roman style of architecture. The sculptured bas-reliefs are precisely of the same nature with the Egyptian, except in the contour of the human face, which is very remarkable, and in all the figures very unlike any national physiognomy we are acquainted with. The nose is very disproportionate to the other features, and has a most decided prominence and rotundity in profile. What these figures represent, and whence the idea of that peculiarity we have just mentioned is taken, forms a curious question, which, we believe, can never be satisfactorily explained. The probability, we should be inclined to say, is, that there was some communication be. tween our quarter of the globe and the primitive inhabitants of those regions, many ages before the æra of Columbus. The majority of our readers may be prepossessed with a different opinion; but the perusal of this work, and examination of the plates which accompany it, will furnish them with many reasons for acceding to our view of the question. One of the most elegant little works we have lately seen, has just proceeded from the hands of Mr. ACKERMAN, who has exerted upon it all the arts of embellishment. It is intended as an ornamental, and, at the same time, useful volume, which may be peculiarly appropriate to present, at the approaching season of the year, as a token of friendship or affection. The poetical department is executed very respectably, by the author of Dr. Syntax and other well-known works; and a nonber of stories are subjoined, for the most part translated from the German, which possess much merit and beauty. The genealogy of European sovereigns, and list of diplomatic agents, is very copious, and principally taken from the Gotha Almanac; and the work concludes with the tables of the population of Great Britain, formed from the late Census, and an account of the population of the principal cities of the world. We recommend this pretty publication, with a strong as surance that it is very ingeniously adapted to its proposed object. The plates are very exquisitely designed and finished, and at the beginning of the volume is an engraved wreath of flowers, with a blank for a presentation inscription. These flowers give the title to the work, which is, Forget me not, a Christmas and New Year's Present for 1823. We have expressed our dislike of the practice, which has lately so much prevailed, of reprinting those articles of amusement which appear in periodical works. If the talent displayed, in many of these papers, entitled them to the honour of reprint, the highly interesting Confessions of an English Opium Eater, certainly merit that distinction. The deep knowledge of nature, and the fine colouring of this tale, have given prevalence to a belief, that the scenes pourtrayed are consistent with truth; and perhaps we should not be very much mistaken, if we assumed that the principal ground-work is founded on fact, and that fiction has been merely employed by a bold and skilful hand to heighten the effect. Be that as it may, the simplicity of the style, and the ab sorbing interest of the story, render this little work almost as delightful in the re perusal, as it was at its original appearance; and the shape in which it is now presented, fits it for its place in the library, as one of the most curious and entertaining tales of the modern day. The political economist will find a copious and valuable fund of information and instruction, in an elaborate work by JOSEPH LOWE, esq. on The present State of England in regard to Agriculture, Trade, and Finance, with a Comparison of the Prospects of England and France. In this very comprehensive range of speculation, Mr. Lowe treats the various difficult questions which present themselves, with much sagacity and impartiality. There is every where visible a cool and patient spirit |