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Jenny blushed and said, "He is my father's benefactor."

"Will you not be." replied the lady, "the benefactress of my poor brother? Look kindly on him. If you only knew how he loves you!"

The baronet took Jenny's hand and kissed it, and said, as Jenny struggled to withdraw it, "Miss, will you be unkind to me? I am unhappy without this hand." Jenny, much disturbed, let her hand remain in his. The baronet then led my daughter to me, and begged me for my blessing.

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Jenny," said I, "it depends upon thee. Do we dream? Canst thou love him? Do thou decide."

She then turned to the baronet, who stood before her,

deeply agitated, and cast upon him a full penetrating look, and then took his hand in both hers, pressed it to her breast, looked up to heaven, and softly whispered, "God has decided."

I blessed my son and my daughter. They embraced. There was a solemn silence. All eyes were wet.

Suddenly Polly sprung up, laughing through her tears, and flung herself upon my neck, while she cried, "There! we have it! The New Year's present! Bishop's mitres upon bishop's mitres!"

Little Alfred awoke.

It is in vain—I cannot describe this day. My hap py heart is full, and I am continually interrupted.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

THE ORPHAN BOY.

Cauld blew the blast frae the bleak nor'wast,
An' the snaw drifted o'er the lea;
My plaid was tint, an' my shoon were rent,—
There was nane to pity me.

My father slept where the tempest swept
O'er the ocean's stormy tide;

An' my mother dear, in the kirkyard drear,
Lay low by my sister's side.
When hapless, helpless, hameless I
Wander'd an outcast orphan boy.

Nae meat had I, nor siller to buy-
Nae claes to keep me warm;
Nor ae kind heart to tak' my part,

Or to shield me frae the storm.

Ah! no, there was nane,-the days were gane,
When I sat in my father's ha',—
Wi' plenty to cheer, an' naething to fear,
Frae the cauldest blast that could blaw.

My mither's care,-my father's joy,

I dreamt nae the woes of an orphan boy.

But the dream was past;-I sat no more,

By my father's or mither's side;

For my lot had been cast, in the cauld, cauld blast,
To wander the world wide.

When e'er I did mind how sweet, how kind
And tender they were to me,

My bosom throed with unnumbered woes,
And the saut tears dimm'd my e'e.
For I wander'd alane to sob and sigh
A helpless, outcast, orphan boy.
The tempest arose at the e'ening's close;
(Alas for the houseless poor.)

And the orphan boy, he lost his way,

And died on the trackless moor.
There was no one sighed when the orphan died;
None wept o'er the orphan's bier;

No marble stone as we pass'd his tomb,
Told" the orphan boy lies here."

But distant far in the bright blue sky,
A hame was found for the orphan boy.
J. CHALMERS.

Hours have wings and years are flying,
Dear Eliza, we must part,

Yet, when distant far, I'm sighing,
Thou shalt live within my heart.
Yes, thine image, fair and blameless,
Never from my soul shall be;
Though to all thou must be nameless,
I will dream and think of thee.

Far from friends and home I found thee,
Weeping in a lonely bower;
Pity to my heart hath bound thee,

With a time-resisting power.
Yes, I've lov'd thee, deep and dearly,
Spite of reason's boasted sway,
And must love thee still sincerely,
Now when thou art far away.

TO ELIZA.

When my heart o'ercome by sorrow,
Swells and throbs beneath its care,
Rays of peace and hope I'll borrow,
From thy spotless image there.
Then to heaven, with love's emotion,
I will bend my trembling knee,
And, with all a saint's devotion,
Offer up a sigh for thee.
Though my fondest hopes may perish,
Yielding all to fell despair,
While my bosom love can cherish,
Thou shalt be an angel there.
Yes, by every beauteous blossom,
Spring unfoldeth, pure as thee,
Thou shalt live within my bosom,

Wilt thou, dearest, think on me.-J. M.

My spring-bud of hope is seared and curled,

1 long like the dove to mount the wind; Unloosed and free to roam the world,

Leaving all care behind.

I long, in the ocean's breezy gale,

To cool my fevered brow;

SPIRIT LONGINGS.

To hear the wave's dash, and the seabird's wail,

As thro' the blue deep with the swelling sail,

Lightly cuts the swift prow.

I long, in the crimsoned evening's calm,

To see the sun go down,

Behind strange mountains fringed with palm,

Bringing night's sable brown.

And to wake in the sunny morning breeze

With the birds of the crimson wing;

While the pearly-toothed natives round the palm trees

Dance, wildly carolling.

Some seek repose at life's evening close;

I long like the dove to mount the wind,

And foretaste the bliss of that last long flight,

When, beyond the realms of death and night, We leave the world behind.

Science.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. Every country, and frequently different parts of the sanie country, possesses a vegetation peculiar to itself, and the limits assigned to each region depend upon various causes, arising both from the peculiarity of organization of the plant itself, and from the external circumstances of soil, moisture, temperature, elevation, &c. In considering the influence of temperature, which is the chief cause of variety in the distribution of plants, it is necessary to attend to the following points:-1. The mean temperature of the year. 2. The extreme temperature, both as regards heat and cold. 3. The distribution of temperature among the different months of the year, the last of which is most important, especially in reference to the heat and duration of the summer months, for many plants protected from the action of the atmosphere by a covering of snow, are enabled to brave the most vigorous winters, and pass through all the phases of flowering and fructification, provided the summer be hot enough and of sufficient duration. Mountains, placed between the tropics, the summits of which ascend above the snow line, represent the vegetable zones of the whole earth, rising one above the other in the same order as is observed in the direction from the equator to the poles.

The relative proportions of the most important families of plants in the different zones, have been determined by Barou Humboldt in the following order:

1. The group of Glumaces, which unites in itself the plants of the three families of the juncese, cyperaceæ, and graminere, increases from the equator towards the poles, forming, under the tropics, one-eleventh, in the temperate zone one eighth, and in the frigid zone onefourth, of the entire phanerogama. The increase towards the poles is owing to the rushes and sedges, which are rare in proportion to the other phanerogamæ in the temperate zone and within the tropics.

The

The juncea alone almost disappear within the tropics, forming only one four-hundredth of the whole phanerogamic plants, while in the temperate zone they form oneninetieth, and in the frigid zone one twenty-fifth. cyperaceae alone under the tropics, in the new world, one-fiftieth; in the old world one twenty-second part, in the temperate zone one-twentieth, and in the frigid zone one-ninth.

The numerous family of the gramines is pretty equally distributed over the whole earth; it increases in a small degree towards the poles; between the tropics the grasses form one fourteenth, in the temperate zone one-twelfth, and in the frigid zone one-tenth of all the phanerogamæ. Besides, these families increase in the number of species from the equator towards the poles.

The ericea under the tropics, in America, form onehundred and thirtieth, in the temperate zone of the old world, one-hundredth, of the new world one thirty-sixth, in the frigid zone one twenty-fifth; so also the families the flowers of which form a catkin, or the amentaceæ, which, in the torrid zone, form only one eight-hundredth, are in the temperate zone in Europe one forty-fifth, in America one twenty-fifth, and in the frigid zone onetwentieth of the entire phanerogamæ.

2. Four other families, namely, the leguminose, the rubiaceae, euphorbiacere, and malvaceae, have the maximum of their species in the torrid zone.

The leguminosa form, under the tropics, one-tenth, in the temperate zone one-eighteenth, and in the frigid onethirty-fifth of all phanerogama. The rubiacea, under the tropics of the old world, one-fourteenth, in the new world one twenty-fifth, in the temperate zone one-sixtieth, in the frigid zone one-eightieth.

The euphorbiaceae, in the torrid zone, one thirty-second, in the temperate one-eightieth, and in the frigid zone one five-hundredth.

The malvacea, in the torrid zone, one thirty-fifth, in

the temperate one two-hundredth, and in the frigid zone the plants of this family entirely disappear. In the great family of rubiaceae, one of its seven groups, that of the coffee, forms one-third of all the rubiaceae of tropical America, whilst the group of the stellata principally belong to the temperate zone.

3. The three families of Compositae, Cruciferæ, Labiatæ, and Umbellifera, have the maximum of their species in the temperate zone, and decrease as well towards the equator as towards the poles. The Composite form, under the tropics of the Old World, oneeighteenth, in the New World one-twelfth, in the temperate zone of Europe one-eighth, in America one-sixth, and in the frigid zone one-eighteenth of all Phanero

gamæ.

The Cruciferæ are almost unknown in the torrid zone, if we consider the mountain regions between 7,670 and 10,870 feet in height, where these plants scarcely form one eight-hundredth of all Phanerogama. In the temperate zone their quotient in Europe is one-eighteenth; in America, on the contrary, only one-sixtieth; in the frigid zone one twenty-fourth.

The Labiata form, under the tropics, one-fortieth, in the temperate zone, in Europe, one-twenty-fifth; in America, as within the tropics, in the frigid zone oneseventieth. The scarcity of this family, as well as the Cruciferæ, in the temperate zone of the New World, is a remarkable circumstance. The Umbelliferæ are seldom found within the tropics at a height under 7,673 feet. Above this elevation they forin (with the exception of a very few in the plains) only one-five-hundredth of all Phanerogama. They form, in the temperate zone, one-fortieth, and are more numerous in Europe than in North America; in the frigid zone they form onesixtieth.

4. Among the Acotyledones, the family of Ferns claims our attention. Contrary to the general law affecting the Cryptogamæ, this family decreases towards the poles; which is accounted for by the circumstance, that it requires a moist soil, and the shelter of warm woods. Under the tropics, it forms one-twentieth, and in the temperate zone, one-seventieth of all Phanerogamæ. In Arctic America the Filices are entirely wanting.

Proceeding from the vegetation of the equatorial zone, we follow the series of vegetable regions in ascending lines, one after the other, and may compare them with the different zones as follows:

Tropical zone. Sub-tropical zone.

1. The region of Palms and Bananas, Equatorial zone. 2. Tree Ferns and Figs, 3. Myrtles and Laurels, 4. Evergreen trees, 5. European trees, 6. Pines,

7. Rhododendrons, 8. Alpine plants,

Warm temperate zone. Cold temperate zone. Sub-arctic zone.

Arctic zone.

Polar zone.

For interesting diagrams and tables of the distribution of plants we refer to Part I. of Johnston's Physical Atlas.

MAMMOTH.-Though mammoths occur in certain quantities on the flanks of the Ural, thus leading us to believe, that when alive they inhabited the tract where their skeletons are entombed, it must be recollected, that as by other proofs we have already endeavoured to show the comparatively recent elevation of the Ural crest, this region cannot be looked upon as having been rendered highly mountainous until the very period when great numbers of these animals were destroyed-a destruction which we believe to have been mainly accomplished when the present watersheds between Europe and Asia were determined. Let us suppose, then, that the mammoths and their associates ranged over these hills, when they formed the elevated edge of an eastern continent. Further, let it be assumed (and this, indeed, is quite in accordance with the physical features of this region,) that the greater number of the broad depressions which are now

filled with auriferous and mammoth detritus were then occupied by lakes, in the grounds around which these extinct quadrupeds had long lived, and into whose shores or bottoms their bones had been washed for ages, and we shall then have before us the conditions which will best explain the Uralian phenomenon. No one can observe what the Russian miner has accomplished, by damming up the existing rivers, and thus forming artificial lakes in every sinuous tract in which ores are worked, without being naturally led to the idea which we suggest, that larger and deeper lakes were formerly in existence,-lakes, in fact, which in still more primæval times fed the great rivers that washed the Permian detritus to the sea then existing upon the west. Granting these premises, all the relations of the Uralian mammoth alluvia may, it appears to us, be rationally explained; for in some of the most violent movements of elevation which gave rise to the present central watershed, we may readily conceive how, their barriers being broken down, these lacustrine waters were poured off, and how their shingly bottoms and shores, already containing bones of mammoths, were desiccated and raised up into the irregular mounds which now constitute the auriferous alluvia. The very nature of the auriferous shingle, with its subangular fragments, so completely resembles the detritus of lakes, and is so unlike the gravel formed on the shore of seas, that independent of the entire absence of any marine remains whatever of tertiary or recent age, all along the immediate eastern flank of the Ural mountains, we have no hesitation in believing, that the gold detritus was accummulated during a terrestrial and lacustrine condition of the surface. One fact only which we have mentioned seems, at first sight, to militate against this view, viz., the deeply eroded surfaces of some of the paleozoic rocks. But however these appearances may have been produced, it is manifest they could not have resulted from the denuding action of the same water, in which the shingly and slightly rounded angular detritus was formed. Such abraded surfaces may, to a great extent, have been produced, at periods long anterior to that of which we are now treating, and when the edges of the palæozoic strata, first emerging from beneath the sea, left their irregular and waterworn surfaces to be filled with terrestrial and lacustrine deposits of after days. In some cases, however, the denuding and abrading power of waters, produced both by the bursting of lakes and the change in the direction of the currents, must have been very considerable, for such alone would account for several of the appearances we have spoken of, and the transport of large blocks and enormous pepites of gold into broad lateral depressions.-Murchison.

M. ARAGO ON THE WINTER OF 1845-6.-The Annuaire of the Bureau des Longitudes for 1846, contains an article by M. Arago, which demonstrates that the mildness of the present winter is not so extraordinary as seems to be generally believed. We have thought it might be interesting to our readers to give the following passages from it :--The meteorological state of any given place is much less variable than will be believed by those who judge only by their personal sensations, by vague recollections, or by the condition of the crops. Thus the mean annual temperatures of Paris oscillate within very circumscribed limits. The mean temperature of Paris, from 1806 to 1826 inclusively, was 10 degrees 8-10 above Zero of the Centigrade scale (about 52 of Fahrenheit). The highest of the 21 annual media did not exceed the general medium by more than 1-3-10 Centrigade, and the lowest of these annual media was little more than the same degree below the general lowest medium. It was not the same with regard to the months, the difference between the general and partial media in January and December going as far as four or five degrees Centigrade. If the extreme temperature of each month be compared with the mean or normal temperature of all the others, it will be found that the month of January is sometimes as mild as the medium of the month of March-that the month of February sometimes resembles the medium of the second fortnight of April, or that of the first fortnight of January-that the month of April, never reaches the temperature of May-that the month of

May is frequently, upon the average, warmer than Julythat the month of July is sometimes, upon the average, cooler than the month of August-that the month of August is sometimes, upon the average, slightly colder than September-that the month of September is sometimes, upon the average more cold than October-that the month of October may be 3 degrees Centigrade colder than November that month may be, upon the average, 5-5-10 colder than the warmest month of December and that the month of December may be, upon an average, 7 degrees colder than the month of January.-Galignari.

Foreign Gleanings.

The discoverer of the new planet, Astrea, Mr Hencke, lives in the small town of Drieson, in the district of Frankfort on the Oder. He is now an old man, and has a retired-pension from the Prussian post-office, with which he was connected. He has occupied himself with astronomy for many years, and employs his leisure in drawing maps of the stars. He has thus become so well acquainted with the aspect of the heavens, as to be able to discover this small planet, which had hitherto escaped the most powerful instruments.

Count Nesselrode, the favourite minister of the Emperor of Russia, was born in an English ship, in the harbour of Lisbon, is descended from a German family, and serves the Russian czar. In allusion to this, the pope, in the recent negociations, said to him in jest, that they would have to deal cautiously with him, as representing a quadruple alliance.

Last year a very beautiful mosaic pavement was diseovered at Cologne. An engraving of it in colours, with a description, by Dr Lersch, has been published by the Society of the Friends of Antiquity on the Rhine, in commemoration of Winckelmann's birth day, 9th December 1845. In a hexagon, in the midst, is a bust of Diogenes the cynic, marked in Greek letters. Round this were six circles, each containing a portrait, but only four, Socrates, Sophocles, Chilan, and Cleobulus, are preserved. It has excited some speculation among the antiquaries how these great men came to be placed like satellites round the dog, Diogenes. It has been said that its Roman proprietor was a lover of moderate feasts, seasoned by intellectual, witty conversation, and placed Diogenes, whose eccentric simplicity is well known to all the world, in the centre, as the model of a table-companion,-temperate, easily pleased, and furnished with ever-ready humour. The other characters agree well with this view; the Lacedemonian Chilan, the wisest of the seven wise men, was famous for his many sayings adapted for sentiments at feasts; so also Cleobulus of Lundas, celebrated for proverbs and riddles; they who know the symposia of Xenophon and Plato will ask no reason why Socrates is there; and motives enough to introduce Sophocles are not wanting. Even the number is not accidental, but recalls the feast of the seven wise men described by Plutarch, and the sensible rule of the ancients,-Let the number of guests not be less than that of the graces, and not more than that of the muses.

According to the newspapers of the north of Germany, there are at present in Silesia forty-five communities of German Catholics, or followers of Ronge, with 40,000 adherents. The Roman Catholic population of Silesia is about 1,300,000 souls; the Protestant 1,500,000 souls.

The sultan is, it seems, taking lessons in French from the secretary to his cabinet. On one occasion he met with the word "canal," and on having it explained, expressed his surprise that there should be no canals in his dominions. In consequence, engineers have been sent out in various directions, to see where such things can be made with most profit.

The citizens of Berlin have, for the last four winters, had popular lectures added to other fashionable amusements. This year the course was opened by a lecture on Descartes, and his method of discovering truth in science, by Professor Jacobi, the well-known mathematician. Descartes deserves to be better known than he is, even to the Germans, for, by making thought the basis of all philosophy, he overturned the old scholastic systems, and, with his cogito ergo sum, produced a revolution in the world of abstract thought which has not yet run its course. Prof. Jacobi succeeded in making an instructive and amusing lecture for his audience, out of the life of Descartes, and his method of beginning science with the most simple principles.

When noticing that France, many years after the death of the philosopher, caused his ashes to be transported from Stockholm to Paris, Jacobi concluded with the caustic observation, that such ashes were often more convenient than the living person.

Lamenonais, the author of "The Words of a Believer," has lately published a new translation of the Gospels, with a commentary. This is only a continuation of his attack on the Catholic religion, of which he was at one time regarded as the almost inspired defender. More recently he had joined the school of Volney and Voltaire; we hope he is not using the gospel as a weapon to overturn all religion.

TRICKS OF ITALIAN GARDENERS.-They take the pith out of the trunk and branches of orange trees, and dexterously introduce into the hollow a rose tree, or other plant, which it is wished shall appear to have been grafted on the orange. Care is taken not to injure the roots of either; and, if put cautiously into the ground, both will produce leaves and flowers. This the French call graffe des charlatans.

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INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.-Feb. 17.-Sir John Rennie, President, in the chair. The paper read was On water for locomotive engines, and its chemical analysis," by William West, Assoc. Inst. C. E. The author, after commenting somewhat severely on the want of precaution manifested in the choice of the watering stations on railways, where he contended that previous analysis of the quality of the water would have avoided not only considerable expenditure in subsequently procuring fit kinds of water, but would have prevented great destruction of the boilers, and inconveniency from the tendency to prime, which was induced by certain substances, being either in solution or held in suspension, proceeded to treat at large upon the nature of such substances-of the tendency of certain compounds to deposit, and the mode of conducting the analysis of water. He also noticed slightly the various patents for preventing adhesion in boilers, and in the appendix gave the analysis of many kinds of water which had been submitted to him professionally for his opinion.

Literature.

The History of France, 2 vols.

The Three Grand Exhibitions of Man's Enmity to God. By DAVID THOм, Bold Street Chapel, Liverpool. This is an octavo of 500 pages, propounding a new view of the system of human salvation. The threefold enmity or opposition of man to God is exhibited in the persons,-1. Of one man, Adam. 2. Of one nation, Israel. 3. Of mankind in general, of whatever age, condition, or religion they may be.

The punishments of these enmities are progressive. 1. Death, or loss of natural life. 2. Exclusion from the heavenly kingdom, or the second death. 3. Complete and everlasting destruction of the earthly nature of man -by which is understood everlasting punishment-but then follows a renewal of the spiritual nature of Adam in Christ, and universal salvation. We have thus very briefly, but nearly in the author's own words, exhibited a summary of this work. It is one of those speculative productions that are so rife in the present day, when every teacher almost thinks it necessary to form his own individual opinions into a system of belief! There is no want of ingenious speculation in these pages; but the question naturally arises on reading them, to what good practical end does the whole tend? And the next question is, are they consistent with the plain, obvious, common sense views of Scripture, which are within the grasp of every intellect, and which present themselves to the mind of every humble and teachable enquirer. The Year Book of Facts, for 1846.

A very useful digest of the most interesting facts which have transpired during the current year in mechanical and useful arts, chemistry, natural history, geology, astronomy, and meteorology, with an obituary of persons eminent in science and art.

A brief but comprehensive history, compiled on Scrip- University and Educational Entelligence.

ture principles, and as such, peculiarly acceptable to the
supporters of the Religious Tract Society, by whom it is
issued. Independently, however, of its religious bear-
ing, it is a model of popular narrative.
Glimpses of the Dark Ages.

Wild Flowers of the Year.

Life of Julius Cæsar.

The first three numbers of a serial called the Monthly Volume of the Tract Society-and welcome, in so far that in this age of reprints, they are original. The projectors further promised that their " Volumes" should be" Scriptural, popular, portable, and economical;" and we can honestly say that, so far as the above preliminary issues are concerned, they have faithfully complied with these conditions. We are, however, bound to add in critical faithfulness, that the value of the volume on Wild Flowers would have been greatly enhanced by some woodcuts.

The Christian Treasury, Vol. i.

Heavy as are the requirements exacted of literary drudges, we presume no one would, in usual routine, expect us to speak in other than general terms of a large volume of upwards of six hundred pages, double columns; but in the case of this work, we have been favoured with a copy weekly, and have punctually made it part and parcel of our Sunday reading. We can therefore speak of its claims to public support in strong terms, without fear of being subjected to the imputation of puffing. The amount of matter given in each number for a penny is truly astonishing, but the quality of the matter affords more room for surprise. It is from the pens of our ablest scholars and divines; and is remarkable for variety, ability, and that often absent quality in all previous publications of the kind-brevity. The editorial department is conducted with talent and consummate tact; and we shall indeed despair of the working-classes, if the Treasury does not with them supersede the Penny Heralds, Gazettes, Journals, and other periodical fry, which ephemeralise, if they do not vitiate, the popular mind.

EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY.-Professor Balfour has petitioned the town council to grant more accommodation for the herbarium. The council have received Mr Smyth's commission as professor of practical astronomy, and have ordered him to be installed. Professor Munro has formally tendered his resignation. He is to lecture during the remainder of the session; and the Senatus have allowed him L.250 per annum of retiring allowance from the Reid Fund; and have recommended that the L.50 per annum secured to him, ad vitam aut culpam, should be continued.

EDUCATION REFORM.-Professor Blackie of Aberdeen has published a spirited pamphlet on this subject, especially as concerns Aberdeen. He complains, that from the defective education of the students who enter the Aberdeen Colleges, he and his brethren have to descend to the labour of mere schoolmasters, drilling them in Mair's Introduction, &c. He suggests intermediate establishments between the parochial schools and the universities, and recommends a complete revision in the constitution of the executive department in collegiate bodies. In our opinion, the best reform would be to remodel the whole Scottish Colleges after the plan of the New Irish Colleges.

COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION IN AYRSHIRE.-We understand that a project is in contemplation for the immediate establishment of a Collegiate Institution, in connection with the Scottish Episcopal Church, in the neighbourhood of Kilmarnock, or some other central point in Ayrshire. The object of this establishment is, in the first instance, the training of young men, of the middle and humbler classes of life, for the office of clergymen in Scotland, and in the British colonies; and, in the second place, the providing sound religious instruction, together with a first-rate classical and mathematical education for layinen, on the model of Eton, the Charterhouse, and other grammar schools in England. It is intended to place this school under the charge of two clergymen of high attainments, from the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge; and it is expected that the annual charge for board and education will not exceed L.15 or L.20. The institution will be chiefly supported by the produce of a farm, which may be obtained on very favourable terms; and, as this will be cultivated in part by the students, care shall be taken that they acquire a thorough knowledge of agriculture and agricultural chemistry.-Ayr Observer.

Proceedings of Societies.

SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, 23d Feb.-Papers were read on the following subjects:

I. Inquiries respecting some of the Early Historical Writers of Scotland. No. 1. FRIAR ADAM ABEL, Author of the Rota Temporum. No. 2. JOHN LAW, Canon of St Andrews, one of the Abbreviators of the Scotichronicon. By DAVID LAING, Esq., Treasurer S. A. Scot.

II. Notice of Pilgrimages by Kings James the Fourth and Fifth, to the Shrine of St Duthac, Tain, Ross-shire. By the same.

III. Memorandum by Dr HIBBERT WARE, Hon. M.S.A. Scot., respecting a notice contained in the Archæologica Scotica, Vol. iv. of the Library of King James the Fourth, at Holyrood House.

Nine new members were ballotted for and admitted.

The museum of this Society has been tastefully rearranged, and now presents a very interesting selection of antiquities, among which may be enumerated, Egyptian mummies and images, some of which are from the collection of the late Mr Salt; Hindoo and Chinese Gods, domestic utensils, manuscripts, &c.; Greek and Herculanean vases; large brick, with inscription, from Babylon; a large collection of Roman antiquities, bronzes, &c. found in Britain; ancient Scandinavian flint-arrows, axes, and hammer head, presented by the Crown Prince of Denmark; large manuscript missal, with music, from St Jago; an interesting collection of Scottish Antiquities, among which are the original maiden or guillotine, Knox's pulpit, thumbikins; the Confession of Faith, with original signatures, 1581; the cavalry helmet worn by Sir W. Scott; cast of the skull of King Robert Bruce. There is also an extensive collection of coins, and numerous models and drawings of antiquities. NEW PUBLICATION BY THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY SOCIETY. This Society, which was established some time since, for the publication, republication, and translation of Church Histories, have it in contemplation to publish, in a uniform series, and at a small price, the whole history of the Christian Church-more especially that portion of it with which the Church of England is connected. The names of Alcuin, Antony a Wood, Barlow, Bede, Burnett, Calamy, Collier, Dugdale, Dupin, Field, Fuller, Gildas, Godwin, Inett, Heylin, Sprat, Strype, Walker, Wharton, Wilkins, and Winstanley, will be sufficient to show the field of labour before the society.

ABERDEEN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.-A course of lectures on different departments of science are being delivered by professors of the colleges, and others, the proceeds to be given to the monitorial schools. This is a proper arrangement in every respect, and we trust the lectures will meet with due encouragement.

Fine Arts.

EXHIBITION OF THE ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY.

In a former notice we glanced at some of the principal pictures of the present exhibition, but what strikes us chiefly is the superior character of the average of the pictures taking them as a whole. To any one who recollects our exhibitions a dozen of years ago, where amid a few pictures of great excellence there were placed an ocean of miserable daubs, and that often pained the eye to look at, the present change must be very gratifying. It shows that the standard of taste as well as the artistic skill of our rising artists has been greatly improved. Formerly we had often the pain of witnessing mummies, and distorted features, instead of the accurate forms, and almost breathing flesh and blood countenances of the present day. Then our skies were coloured indigo instead of azure, our suns set as if amid a coppersmith's polished plates, our trees were spindling broomsticks, and all rules of perspective were set at defiance. Now there are very few pictures indeed that are below mediocrity, and a great number of efforts of young and rising artists that really approach the matured touches of genius and established excellence. This shows that the schoolmaster has been abroad-that increased facilities have been afforded and duly employed for instruction in the principles of the art, for improvement of the taste by the study of the best models, and that moreover, great encouragement has been held

out to the rising artist-though we fear in this latter respect much yet remains to be done.

In our present notice we must still be general, and would rather wish to point out some of the best pictures than dwell particularly on the excellency of any one or two. For this purpose, we shall in the first place select the Great Room, over which to make our transient remarks. 1. The Friends, by the late T. Duncan. A dog and child, a good specimen of this lamented artist's style. 4. Portrait of Dr Pagan. C. Smith. An excellent likeness and very spirited portrait, in this artist's full, bold, and faithful manner.

5. The Minstrel of the Scottish Border. Sir W. Allan. A A full length of Sir W. Scott, on his native hills. free, open, and rather youthful likeness of the poet, both figure, face, and attitude, somewhat refined upon, as compared to the breadth of form, slouching gait, and somewhat thoughtful inexpressive features of the original.

12. The Jew's Harp. Sir D. Wilkie. A small cabinet picture, the print by Burnet (we think) an excellent representation of it.

13. The Lago Velino. J. Giles. A rich Italian scene with good effect, but the colouring too decided. 17. Flower Girl. S. Blackburn. A soft and well-toned picture.

22. The Auld Good-Wife. W. Nicol. A characteristic sketch.

24. Robinson Crusoe. A. Frazer. A large soft-toned picture in this artist's best style. The subject has the merit of being in every one's earliest associations. There is no action, all is still life. Crusoe, a careworn attenuated solitary-perhaps more subdued than the roving restless nature of the original would warrant. His table is well laid out, and well furnished, and his attendants in excellent order. The still life and the details of the picture, are in good style.

25. A Cottage Girl. C. Lees. A pleasing sketch. 28. Portrait, B. Gavin. We notice this as being the production of a young artist. It has not a little of a Rembrandt air, with much softness, and bids fair for future excellence.

34. Circassians on the Watch. Sir W. Allan. A bold and effective sketch.

35. Passing Shower. E. Glover. A good showery effect and river view.

40. Holy Loch, Argyleshire. good landscape.

E. T. Crawford. A

54. Hunt the slipper. D. Maclise. A picture in which every figure is admirable, both as regards expression, colour, and detail; every corner is full of interest, and every face sparkles with the vivid glow of life. The tone of the picture is rich and vividly coloured, yet, as a whole, it wants concentration of grouping, and the lights are too much dispersed.

55. Lord Ivory. C. Smith. Another of Smith's breathing and living forms.

57. Sir N. Douglas. J. W. Gordon. A good manly portrait.

58. Highland Landscape. H. Macculloch. A large picture in this artist's best style. The lake, castle ruins, and whole middle ground of this picture are excellent.

62. Old Avenue of Arrochar. Miss Stoddart. This lady has several very good landscapes in the rooms,they are faithful to nature, and, if we would desiderate anything, it would be a little more of the hue of fancy thrown over them, and the shades less dark.

63. A Schule Skailin'. G. Harvey. We alluded to this picture last week; a second and a third inspection bring out new points. The jovial group at the door; their smiles as fresh and buoyant as the sunny glimpse of the open sky, contrasts finely with the somewhat sadder aspect of the detained culprits within. The little girl waiting anxiously the result of her younger brother's detention, tells a tale of pure sympathy and affection. The sturdy composure of the other culprit is also worth

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