Medicine.

A Treatise on Inflammation. By J. MACARTNEY, M.D. Plates, 4to. 158. Observations on Mad-Houses. By C. CROWTHER, M.D. 12mo. 28. 6d.

An Essay on Ring-worm. By A. PAUL, M.D. 68.

The Practice of Homœopathy. By P. F. CURIE, M.D. 8vo. 98.

Law.

Decisions of the Courts at Westminster on the new rules of Pleading. By W. RAMSHAY. 12mo. 58. 6d.

On the Law of Dilapidations and Nuisances. By D. GIBBONS. 8vo. 9s.

Natural History.

Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa, collected during an expedition in 1834-6. By ANDREW SMITH, M.D. 4to. No. I. (Published under the authority of the Lords of the Treasury.)

Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland. Vol. II. Part II. 4to. 21s.

Plantæ Javanicæ rariores. By Dr. HORSFIELD. Part I. 4to. 21. 10s.

Flora Abredonensis. By G. DICKIE, A.M. 12mo. 2s. 6d.

The Visitor's Companion to the Botanic Garden, Glasnevin, Dublin. By

NINIAN NIVEN.

FOREIGN LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

The sale of the library of the late Prince Talleyrand has just taken place, but presented nothing remarkable either in quantity or quality. The entire collection did not exceed 3000 volumes, and included a number of almanacs, pamphlets, &c. Part had been kept back by the family; and it will be recollected that shortly after the restoration, the prince disposed in London of a large library through the medium of Mr. Evans, the auctioneer, which accounts for the small number of books now sold. On the present occasion the books, good and bad, brought fair prices; and among them the "Missale Romanum" used by the prince during his residence in the Seminaire de St. Sulpice, was sold high.

It had long been desired by oriental scholars that the Ethiopic MS. of the apocryphal book of Enoch, brought by Bruce from Abyssinia, and deposited in the Bodleian Library, should be published in the original. No one, however, seemed disposed for such a task, until the present Archbishop of Cashel, formerly Regius Professor of Hebrew at Oxford, and well known by his many valuable and learned writings, has set about the work, which is now in the press. By a singular coincidence, it happens that Dr. Hoffman, of Jena, has also just announced a similar publication of the text of Enoch, from a manuscript brought to Europe by Roppell, a traveller.

A manuscript has been found in the Vatican Library, which, among other things, contains the songs of Abelard, with their musical notation. The celebrated Abbé Raini is about to give a modern dress to them, which is to be edited by a German now in Rome.

The King of Sardinia having in 1833 created an historical association, for the purpose of publishing unedited or rare documents relating to Piedmont, the first volume has appeared under the Vice Presidency of Count Babbo. It is entitled, "Historiæ Patriæ Monumenta, edita jussu regis Caroli Alberti," and contains 1050 documents, the dates of which lie between the years 602 and 1292.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY.

Two splendid portraits by Owen, of the late Lords Eldon and Stowell, presented by Lord and Lady Sidmouth to the University, have been placed in the Picture Gallery.

It has been unanimously agreed in convocation to grant copies of the theological works in the Greek, Latin, and English languages, printed at the University press, to the clergy of Upper Canada, towards forming a diocesan library.

WINCHESTER COLLEGE.

July 10. The Rev. Dr. Shuttleworth, Warden of New College, Oxford, accompanied by Messrs. Tremenheere and Wither, the Posers, visited Winchester College, and were received as usual at the gates by the senior scholar, who addressed them in a Latin oration. The next day the compositions and speeches were recited in the school, in presence of a numerous audience, after which the prizes were adjudged, as follows

Bishop Maltby's prize, Greek Iambics -from Richard II. act 3. sc. 2. C. Barter.

Gold Medals, Latin Verse - "Sinus Arabicus." J. M. Myers. English Prose -"The Influence of Climate, Country,

ally a record of facts connected with any explosions which have taken place; also, a description, drawings, and details of the Boiler, both before and after the explosion.-Drawings, sections, and descriptions of Iron Steam Vessels. The comparative advantages of Iron and Wood as employed in the construction of Steam Vessels. The advantages and disadvantages of the Hot and Cold Blast in the manufacture of Iron, with statements of the quality and quantity of the materials employed, and produce thereof. - The causes of and means of preventing the changes in texture and composition which Cast Iron occasionally undergoes when in continued contact with Sea Water. -The Properties and Chemical Constitution of the various kinds of Coal.

GRESHAM MUSICAL LIBRARY.

Edward Taylor, esq. the Gresham Professor of Music, has issued an address to the patrons of the art, the members of the profession, and the public, on the want of a Musical Library in the metropolis. We make from it the following extracts :-" Some rare works on music are to be found in the British Museum, but they are comparatively few in number-so few as not to be thought worthy a distinct classification; and it forms no part of the plan of that institution to devote its funds to their increase. The fit place for such a Library is an institution whose permanent existence is secured by a sufficient endowment, and to which a Musical Professorship is attached. These requisites are united in Gresham College, which is the only College in the kingdom which contains any provision for musical instruction.

"To the student, works of established and deserved reputation are not only interesting, but of primary importance; yet half a life is often spent before even the scanty rudiments of a musical library are collected. Many valuable collections, within the remembrance even of the present generation, have been dispersed; many interesting and valuable compositions irretrievably lost! The splendid libraries of Dr. Bever, Mr. Bartleman, Mr. Parker, Dr. Arnold, Mr. Greatorex, with many others, are all scattered; and those which are now in the progress of accumulation will probably share the same fate. Perhaps no person now living possesses a complete copy of the works of either Handel or Purcell; and those of the illustrious composers who adorned the age of Elizabeth it would be extremely difficult to collect. Of the long list of compositions by the first Gresham Professor of Music-the celebrated Dr. John GENT. MAG. VOL. X.

Bull-scarcely any remain. Other compositions, possessing a strong national and historical interest, are lost, such as the original music to the songs in Shakspeare's plays, all of which has perished; and the compositions which are especially connected with and illustrate the history of our dramatic music, are of very rare attainment, and no collection of them is known to exist.

"Yet more difficult is the attainment of the compositions of other nations. No complete collection of the works of Palestrina, for example, exists in this country, and I am not aware that any one of his compositions, of which thirty-eight volumes are extant in Rome, or those of his illustrious fellow-labourers and disciples,* could be purchased at our music shops. The same may be said of the Flemish composers of that period, many of whose works are now in the course of republication in Germany.

"A well-assorted musical library ought to contain the works of the most eminent writers, extending, at least, through three centuries, comprising those of Italy, Germany, Flanders, France, and England, and including the best music of every class, sacred as well as secular-vocal as well as instrumental. It is worthy of note, that while we have been wholly unmindful of what I will venture to call the national duty of preserving those compositions which to Englishmen have either an intrinsic or an historical claim to regard, agents for the Royal Library of France are employed in obtaining them; and, at this moment, one of the best col. lections of English music will probably be found there."

Mr. Taylor solicits, particularly from the citizens of London, and her corporations, assistance, either by pecuniary donations or the presentation of musical works of musical compositions of sterling and unquestioned value, as well as of musical treatises and elementary works, and all works either expressly written on the Art, or publications or documents of any kind, tending to illustrate its history. He proposes to place all pecuniary contributions in the hands of W. S. Hale, esq. the Chairman of the City of London School Committee, who has consented to act as Treasurer; and in their application will avail himself of the advice and assistance of the organist of St. Paul's Cathedral and the organist of Westminster Abbey. The name of every benefactor will be re

* Probably the finest collection of the works of Luca Marenzio, in fourteen volumes, is to be found in the Fitzwilliam Library at Cambridge.

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gistered and preserved, and the state of the fund announced at the conclusion of the last Music Lecture of every term.

We have the satisfaction to add, that the plan herein contemplated is not altogether prospective, but that it has actually commenced, under the highest auspices. The first donation to the Musical Library of Gresham College was made by her Majesty Queen Victoria. A set of the works of Mr. Taylor's highly respected predecessor, Mr. Stevens, has been given by Messrs. Coventry and Hollier; for the purchase of which a sum of money was subscribed by the professional lady and gentlemen who assisted at his Commemoration Lecture, and the audience who attended it, but which now still remains to be appropriated to the purposes of the Library.

The Gresham Lectures, it is well known, are open to the public. Since the demolition of Gresham College, by an Act of the legislature in 1768, it is true that this advantage has been rather nominal than real; the patriotic and comprehensive design of Sir Thomas Gresham having been shamefully violated by an act of unparalleled barbarism, and his professors driven to lecture in a chamber of the Royal Exchange; but the liberality of the Committee of the City of London School has given them the temporary occupation of a spacious theatre, in which, during the last term, 3046 persons attended their several lectures. But with the destruction of the Royal Exchange perished, for a time, the endowment of Gresham College, and thus its trustees are now deprived of the power of contributing to the present object. Subscriptions and Donations of money or books for the Gresham Library will be received by the Secretary of the City of London School.

CROSBY HALL.

The venerable hall of Sir John Crosby, now restored in some degree to its pris

tine beauty, has been recently employed in a very suitable and highly agreeable manner. On the morning of Thursday, July 12, several distinguished vocal performers were assembled there; when, after the performance of Stevens's sestette, "The cloud capt towers," and Spohr's "Blessed are the departed;" the Gresham Prize Anthem of 1837, "My Soul doth magnify the Lord," by the Rev. W. H. Havergal, M.A. was very successfully executed; and the Rev. Henry Mackenzie, B.A. then recited his Essay on "Offa, King of Mercia," which gained the prize for 1837, founded by Mr. Alderman Copeland, during his mayoralty. The second part of the music, consisting of several glees and madrigals, then followed, and gave great pleasure to all present. The hall is found to be highly favourable for music.

On the evenings of Tuesday and Thursday, August 21 and 23, a similar musical performance took place; together with the Gresham Prize composition for the present year, for which an anthem from Psalm lxxx. 14, 18, "Turn thee again, thou God of Hosts," by E. Dearle, Mus. Bac. had been unanimously selected. On the former evening, Mr. Alderman Copeland's prize for 1838, "On the Life and Times of Robert Baron Fitzwalter," was recited by its author, G. W. Johnson, esq. barrister-at-law.

An honorary premium of ten guineas will be awarded in Nov. 1838 for the best Historical Memoir of Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond; and in Nov. 1839, for the best Essay on the Obligations of Literature to the Mothers of England. The next Gresham gold medal of five guineas' value will be awarded in Nov. 1838 by Dr. Crotch, Mr. Horsley, Mus. B. and John Goss, esq. Organist to St. Paul's, for the best composition in Sacred Vocal Music, the words to be selected from the Holy Scriptures, and to be set for Three, Four, or Five Voices.

NUMISMATIC SOCIETY.

March 15. Mr. Bollaert read a Memoir on the Circulating Medium of the New World. The Mexicans, though possessed of infinite riches in gems and the precious metals, used as coin the cocoa seed from which chocolate is made; while the Peruvians applied the pod of the uchu, a large species of capsicum, to the same purpose. In Brazil, gold and precious stones were known to the natives merely as ornaments. After the conquest of these countries, the Spanish settlers re

sorted to gold and silver, beaten out in thin strips, and cut into pieces, weighing each about an ounce, and imprinted with a cross. These pieces were denominated Plata Macuquina, or cut money. Mr. Bollaert stated, that so recently as 1829, he saw some of these in circulation in Peru and Chili. Copper coin, in any shape, was formerly unknown to the Spanish colonists; but in 1825, the Buenos-Ayreans adopted a small coin of that metal, which they called a Decimo; it is somewhat larger than a farthing, and was

manufactured, it is supposed, in Birmingham. The first mint was established at Mexico; subsequently mints were set up at Potosi, Chili, Lima, Santa Fé de Bogota, and Guatemala. The coins then adopted were the following: -1. La onza de oro, or doubloon, weighing about 17 dwts. 8 grs. averaging in value from 31. 3s. 6d. to 31. 4s. Od.; -2. La media onza, half the foregoing; -3. La quarta de onza, escudo, or quarter of an ounce; -and 4. La media quarta de onza, or half quarter of an ounce. On one side was the portrait of the Spanish monarch; on the other, the arms of Castille and Leon. The silver coins were:-1. El peso duro, piastre, hard dollar, piece of eight or Spanish dollar, value four shillings;-2. El medio pesa, half a dollar or four rials;-3. Dos reales, or two rials;-4. Un real, one rial;-5. Media real, or half rial;-6. Un quartillio, or quarter of a rial: the latter had, in the place of the bust, a lion on one side, and on the reverse, the value of the coin. The gold coins were alloyed with silver, the silver with copper; but of late copper has been used in alloying the former, being found less expensive, and rendering the coins less liable to wear.

Another paper was read by the Rev. I. B. Reade, on the Roman Coin Moulds discovered at Lingwell Gate. Its object was to show that the Roman emperors themselves resorted to casting, to supply their exhausted military coffers.

April 26. The following papers were read:-1. Remarks on the Coins of Northumbria; by Edw. Hawkins, esq. F.R.S. F.S.A. The writer commenced by proposing that certain coins which have been ascribed to Egbergth, King of Kent, bearing the name EOTBEREHTus, probably belong to Eadbert, King of Northumbria, who reigned from 737 to 758. Another to Alchred, monarch of the same kingdom from 765 to 774. He concludes with a list of the Northumbrian kings, with the several coins which have been found belonging to them.

2. Remarks upon the Skeattæ and Styca attributed to Huth, King of Northumbria; also by Mr. Hawkins. Huth is a name which occurs only in Brompton, the same person being called Eric by the other chroniclers. Mr. Hawkins does not think that the existence of the name is supported by the coins in question; the styca he assigns to a moneyer of Eanred named HVETRED (instead of HUAD REX). The inscriptions of the skeattæ are still more indecisive.

3. A memoir on the coins of Melita; by Mr. J. Belfour.

4. Notes on the Coinage of Modern

Greece, by Mr. L. J. H.Tonna. The coins issued by Capodistrias were in copper, 1. the lepton (about one twelfth of a penny); 2. Five lepta piece; 3. Ten lepta piece. In Silver, the Phoenix only, worth one hundred lepta. The coins of King Otho are in copper, as before; in silver, the drachm, of the same size and value as the Phoenix, viz. 84d. also pieces of 6 drachms, 2 drachms, a drachm, and a 4 drachm. They bear the head of Otho, and on the reverse the arms of Greece, viz. Azure, a cross couped argent, pierced with the chequers of Bavaria, barry bendy azure and argent. This coinage has been all struck in Bavaria.

5. An account of gold coins of James I. and Charles I. found at Southend, near Lewisham, by James Dodsley Cuff, esq. F.S.A. Of this discovery an account was given in our March number, p. 303. Of the 420 coins found (all pieces of twenty shillings) 136 were of the last coinage of James I. with his bust laureated; and the remainder of Charles I. of three different coinages. Mr. Cuff particularised the several mint marks. His time did not allow him to examine the reverses; and after the whole had been delivered to Mr. Maule, the solicitor to the Treasury, it is to be regretted that they were consigned to the crucible without having been submitted to the examination of the officers of the British Mu

seum.

From the mint marks it is conjectured that the coins were buried in 1646.

May 24. Mr. Hawkins read a Dissertation upon British Coins. It included a critical examination of the passage of Cæsar relative to this subject, the result of which is, that Mr. Hawkins prefers the reading of the Museum MS. 10084, "Utuntur aut ære, aut nummo aureo, aut anulis ferreis ad certum pondus examinatis, pro nummo;" and translates it thus, "They (the Britons) use either brass money, or gold money, or, instead of money, iron rings adjusted to a certain weight." The number of coins found in Britain, and only there, are sufficient proof that the Britons had a variety of coins. Mr. Hawkins thinks that they were executed at home by native artists, with greater or less skill, according to circumstances, after Macedonian originals, the knowledge of which was obtained from barbarous imitations derived from Gaul; that a metallic currency of struck money existed in Britain before the days of Julius Cæsar; and that Cæsa. in the passage above cited (which has been so much corrupted and so much misunderstood) correctly asserts that the Britons used money of copper and of gold. There was also read a proposal for the introduc.