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its distance from the sun cannot much exceed 25 degrees. The night was remarkably light, and the moon covered by clouds, circumstances extremely favourable to the brilliancy of its appearance; and, considering this, I should judge, that, under more favourable circumstances, its splendour would be equal to that of any comet upon record-the head vied with Capella (to the east of it) in brilliancy. The length of the tail, which, when the comet was on the meridian, pointed somewhat to the west of the zenith, extended about 15 degrees, and, unlike the comet of 1811, it appeared to proceed immediately from the nucleus. viewed it for some time through an excellent small reflector, and observed that the nucleus was much denser than that of the former comet, and that there was no separation between it and the coma, but that the body became gradually rarer, and in the upper part expanded into the tail, which appearance may arise from a very dense atmosphere surrounding the nucleus, and reaching to the rarer fluid forming the tail, if there be any distinction between the two fluids, as appears to have been the case with the comet of 1811. I may observe, that in this, as in all other comets, the appearance to the naked eye is much more striking and brilliant than through a tele

scope.

Education. From a statement made by Mr Brougham in the House of Commons, it appears that the number of schools for the whole of England is 4800, and the number of children educated at the endowed and unendowed schools, comprehending day schools, is about 700,000. The number of day schools is 3500, and the number of children educated there is 50,000, leaving 650,000 for the number educated at the endowed and unendowed schools throughout England.

Coloured Snow-It appears, by the Giornale di Fisica, &c. that a shower of red snow fell in Carniola, in the nights of the 5th and 6th of March 1808. On the same night, a shower of snow, of a rose colour, fell over the surface of Carnia, Cadore, Belluno, and Feltri, to the height of twenty centimetres. The earth was previously covered with snow of a pure white, and the coloured snow was succeeded by other of a pure white; neither were the two kinds mingled together, but remained perfectly distinct even during liquefaction. When a portion of this snow was melted, and the water evaporated, a little finely-divided earth, of a rosy colour, remained, not attractable by the magnet, and consisting of silex, alumine, and oxide of iron. The same phenomenon happened at the same time in the mountains of Valtelline, Brescia, and the Tyrol. This snow was of a red or blood-rose colour, and was underlaid and covered with white snow. Its co

lour faded gradually until it was dissolved. On the same evenings of the 5th and 6th of March 1803, a shower of red snow fell at Pezzo, at the extremity of the Valle Camonica. It was preceded by a very violent wind on the 5th.

On the evenings of the 14th and 15th of March 1813, coloured rain and snow fell over a very large extent of country. Red rain fell in the two Calabrias, and on the opposite part of Abruzzo, the wind being at east and south-east. Snow and hail of a yellow red colour fell over all Tuscany, with a north wind. Red snow fell at Tolmezzo, the wind being at north-east, and in the Carnia Alps. And, finally, snow of a brownish yellow colour fell at Bologna, the wind being south-west.

On the 15th of April 1816, coloured snow again fell in Italy, on Tonal and other mountains. It was of a brick colour, and left an earthy powder, very light and impalpable, unctuous to the touch, of an argillaceous odour, and tasting a little acid, saline, and astringent. These characters agreed with those of the powder left by the coloured snow of March 1803. This powder analyzed gave the following results : Silex Iron Alumine Lime Carbonic acid Sulphur Empyreumatic oil Carbon

Water (by re-agents) Loss

8 gr.

5

3

.5

.25

2226

2.25

26

The extent of country covered by these showers, as in 1803 and 1813, extending to eight degrees in length and breadth, proves that the cause is not local, but very general.

FRANCE. The population of France, according to the last census, is 29,327,388 souls. The superficial extent, exclusive of Corsica, is fifty-two millions of hectares ; 45,445,000 produce more or less; 6,555,000 produce little or nothing. From the detailed statement given by M. Chaptal, it appears that one-half of the productive soil is arable, one-eighth forests, one-fifteenth pastures, a fifteenth meadows, a twentysecond part vineyards, a thirteenth uninclosed land, heaths, and the like. Chaptal states the mean revenue of a hec tare at about 28 francs, and the general produce according to this basis would be 1,456,000,000 francs. The agricultural capital amounts to 37,522,620,476 francs, the estimate of the gross produce to 4,678,708,885 francs,-and that of the net produce, deducting expences of every kind, to 1,344,703,370 francs, which he considers as subject to impost. From these re

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sults he infers, that, if the territorial imposts (meaning, we presume, the land tax) were duly apportioned, it would not form a fifth part of the revenue of France, whereas, at present, it absorbs the third in some departments, and scarcely the eighth in others.

Institute of France. La Place has given the following results, as deduced from analysis, and from the experiments made with the pendulum in both hemispheres.

1. That the density of the strata of the terrestrial spheroid increases from the surface to the centre.

2. That the strata are very nearly regularly disposed around the centre of gravity of the earth.

3. That the surface of this spheroid, of which the sea covers a part, has a figure a little different from what it would assume in virtue of the laws of equilibrium, if it became fluid.

4. That the depth of the sea is a small fraction of the difference of the two axes of the earth.

5. That the irregularities of the earth, and the causes which disturb its surface, have very little depth.

6. That the whole earth has been originally fluid.

These results (he says) ought to be placed among the small number of truths which geology presents.

RUSSIA. Professor Kunizyn has just published several interesting observations on the petrified trees found in Russia, the object of which is to show that they were not, as is generally supposed, deposited in the places where they are found by an inundation. The situation of these trees, which, separated from their stumps, are found sometimes as much as fourteen feet under ground, chiefly in marshes, proves

that they were overturned by violence, and prostrated in the spots where they formerly stood erect; besides, many of them are discovered in eminences which no inundation could have possibly affected. The bed of earth which covers them consists of sand and clay. Under dry sand, the wood is reduced to dust; but the form of the tree remains visible, if the dust be removed carefully. Under wet sand, the wood is found perfectly sound, with, however, a blackish colour. Only large oaks appear to have been torn up by their roots. The trees which are partly petrified are found chiefly under a bed of potter's clay. The oaks which have not been petrified, on being exposed to the air, harden considerably. It is remarkable that these trees are frequently found in grounds where none of the sort now grow. Mr Kunizyn imagines that these trees were thus prostrated and covered with earth by the same violent motion of Nature which, in the north of Russia, separated enormous masses of granite from their foundations, and carried them to a considerable distance. Perhaps also the remains of mammoths, which are sometimes discovered, may be attributed to the same action. As the trees all lie in the same direction, north to south, that must have been the course of the shock.

SWEDEN. The universities of Sweden are in an excellent state. In the beginning of the year, the whole number of pupils was 3485. The expence to government is about L. 70,000 per annum, a great part of which is for the support of poor students. There are 45 printingpresses in Sweden, 16 of which are in Stockholm. The number of journals amounts to 46, of which eight appear in the capital.

LONDON.

LETTERS on the Events which have passed in France since the Revolution in 1815, are printing, by Helen Maria Williams, a name of distinction in the splendid epochs of the French Revolution.

The Life of Sir Christopher Wren, Knt. is preparing for publication, with a portrait from an original picture. This work, in addition to other matter, will contain the whole substance of the Parentalia, now become very scarce; and it is intended to add outlines from some of the original designs by Sir C. Wren, now in the library of All Souls' College, Oxford.

A Sketch of a Tour in the Highlands of Scotland, through Perthshire, Argyleshire,

and Inverness-shire, in the autumn of 1818, with an account of the Caledonian Canal, in one volume 8vo,' is nearly ready for publication.

Dr Cooke's Treatise on Nervous Diseases is in the press, and will speedily be published.

Early in July will be published, some Account of the Life of Lady Russell, by the editor of Mad. du Deffand's Letters; with letters from Lady Russell to her husband, Lord Russell, and some miscellaneous letters to and from Lady Russell.

It is proposed to publish, by subscription, the Plans, Elevations, Sections, and Description, of the Pauper Lunatic Asylum lately erected at Wakefield, for the

West Riding of Yorkshire; by Watson and Pritchett, architects, York. They are to consist of nine whole sheet or folio plates, in the first style of line engraving, by Lowry and Landseer, and printed on the best medium paper, in extra boards.

Mr J. N. Brewer is preparing an Historical and Descriptive Account of the most interesting objects of Topography in Ireland, to accompany "The Beauties of England and Wales." This work will be published in monthly numbers, illustrated with engravings from original drawings.

Rosamond, Memory's Musings, and other poems, by William Proctor, will shortly be published.

Elements of Greek Prosody and Metre, compiled from the treatises of Hephæstion, Herman, and Porson, by Thomas Webb, Esq. are printing in 8vo.

The Rev. R. Warner will shortly pub

Guillé on the Blind. 8vo. 8s.

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EUROPE. FRANCE. The Paris papers of the 19th June contain an account of an extraordinary discussion which took place in the Chamber of Deputies on the preceding day. M. de Bignon, who was minister of foreign affairs during the last short reign of Bonaparte, had, it seems, published a speech, in which he threatened the government with the revelation of a particular fact of which he had the knowledge, when the proper time should arrive. M. de Bignon, in his capacity of minister for foreign affairs, signed, along with the other commissioners, the treaty of Paris, and it is supposed that his communication has a reference to certain conversations which passed previous to the signing of this convention, the object of which was to secure good treatment to those who had supported Bonaparte's government. In reference to this, M. de Caze, in the debate on the budget, called upon him to explain himself. M. de Bignon declined until the Chamber should be engaged in deliberating on the propriety of recalling the regicides. Then, he said, only then, could the information which he possessed be properly made public. To this the Keeper of the Seals replied, that they never would be engaged in any such deliberations, which declaration was hailed with applause by the one party, while it was received with corresponding disapprobation by the other.

A certain General Morand, who had in the year 1816 been condemned to death par contumace, on a charge of having, in the preceding year, issued a proclamation at Nantes in favour of Bonaparte, was again tried before a council of war at Strasburg on the 5th of June. He admitted having issued the proclamation, but pleaded the commands of the Secretary at War as his justification. The plea was admitted, and the former sentence annulled.

Marshal Soult, who is one of six exiles recently permitted to return to France, has lost no time in taking advantage of the royal clemency, having arrived in Paris on the 10th of June last.

SPAIN. Another revolution has taken place in the Spanish ministry. The Marquis de Casa Yrujo transacted business with his master Ferdinand on the evening of the 12th June, when he was received very graciously. The same night, when in bed, he received an intimation of his removal from office, and banishment to Avila, and only one hour allowed him to prepare for his

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departure from Madrid; and his wife was commanded to follow him in 36 hours. The Count d'Egnia, Minister of War, has also been deposed, and recommended to repair to some town on the coast of Grenada, there to remain till he receives his appointment as Captain General of that province; and his successor is General Alos. The Marquis M. C. Yrujo was formerly secretary to the Marquis del Campo, when the latter was ambassador in this country. He was suspected to be too strongly attached to the interests of the United States of America, having married an American lady, the daughter of Governor M'Kean. Egnia, it is said, has been permitted to retire on account of ill health; and we shall be much surprised if General Alos, his successor, or any other War Minister, preserves his health in that country, amidst the general consumption which seems to be destroying armies, navies, and administrations. The Cadiz expedition is almost as near the time of sailing now as it was eighteen months ago. Since the establishment of Ferdinand on the Spanish throne, within the space of five years, no fewer than 25 changes of ministry have taken place in the five departments of the public administration.

GERMANY.-A singular rescript of the Grand Duke of Darmstadt is said to have excited a lively sensation throughout Germany. He finds the lawyers in his territory too stiff-necked and refractory, and, to reduce them to better order, declares that they shall, for a specific time, be incorporated with the regiments of his army, under the same duty and discipline, until they become sufficiently obedient. The gentlemen of the long robe are loud and vehement in their remonstrances, and the echo of their complaints ring through Ger many.

Hanover, May 24.-By the last accounts from England, his Royal Highness the Prince Regent has resolved to simplify the administration of the government of the kingdom of Hanover, and to place Count Munster at the head of it. General Dornberg (now Minister at St Petersburgh) will succeed Count Munster in London. It is added, that the Chamber of Finance will be united with the Ministry, which will also tend to simplify the admi nistration. The confirmation of these statements is expected. We trust his Royal Highness will also put an end to the use of torture. We are assured that a poor