GLEANINGS.

Acceptances.-A point of law was lately laid down in the King's Bench, which cannot be too extensively known. The general rule in respect of bills is, that holder, who has given real value, shall in all cases, to the amount of the value, have recourse on the drawer, acceptors, and indorsers. The exception to this rule, laid down by the Chief Justice, which is an important one, is, that whereever a bill shall be received from one who has, to the knowledge of the receiver, been guilty, on a former occasion, of paying away bills without the authority of the owner, although the receiver have paid value, he shall lose his remedy.

Discovery.-Some time in February, 1827, a tesselated pavement was discovered in an arable field, in the parish of Leigh, the property of Mrs. Hill, near the turnpike-road leading from Gloucester to Tewkesbury. This curiosity is about two feet below the surface of the ground, and is about sixty feet long by eight feet wide. It is now exposed to the weather, and it is to be feared is in unskilful hands.

Gretna Green. -The number of marriages solemnized at Gretna Green, by Robert Elliot, from 1st January to the 31st December, 1824, was 237exclusive of those solemnized by his contemporary, David Lang.

A Miracle-Miracles have not ceased in France. A luminous cross has appeared in the air, at a village near Poictiers. Let not any bold heretic dispute the truth of this fact. It is attested by evidence taken on oath, and inserted in two Paris newspapers.

Lapland Cows.-The cows in most parts of Lapland are all of the same white colour, and very little bigger than sucking calves in England; but exceedingly beautiful, and yielding milk of so superior a quality, that it becomes almost wholly cream, and that of the most delicious sweetness, while, when even fresh, it is so coagulated, that a spoon will nearly remain upright after it has been plunged into it.

Catholic Emancipation.-There were present at the division on the Catholic Question, 420 English members, 91 Irish, and 37 Scotch. The number absent amounted to 110, being 93 English, 9 Irish, and 8 Scotch. Of the Irish members 57 voted for Sir Francis Burdett's motion, and 34 against it; of the Scotch 22 for, and 15 against; and of the English 193 for, and 227 against; leaving a majority of 34 English members against the motion.

Copper in New South Wales.-Copper ore is found in large quantities in the district of Bathurst. Iron, which it is known abounds over the face of the country, will not, from the extreme cheapness at which it is to be obtained at home, yield a remuneration adequate to the labour and expense of working the mines here; but, with respect to the copper, it is thought by competent mineralogists that, by being at first reduced to a coarse state of purification in this country, it would be likely to become a valuable article of exportation. The specimens of the Bathurst ore, which some scientific gentlemen have lately brought to Sydney, are stated to be very rich.

State of Crime in France.-By an official docu. ment, published in Paris, of the number of accusations brought before the tribunals of correctional Police during the year 1825, it appears that there were 96,061 cases tried, in which 141,733 individuals were implicated. Out of these, 57,002 were for crimes against the forest and game laws, implicating 86,861 individuals. Of the total number, 5110 were condemned to upwards of one year's imprisonment; 17,454 to less than a year, and 95,682 condemned to pay a fine; and five captains of vessels were dismissed from service.

which 937 are Asiatic, 587 European, 276 African, and 1,624 American languages and dialects.

Road Obstructions.- By the General Turnpike Act, any person having blocked the wheel of any waggon, cart, or other carriage, on going up a hill, and who shall suffer the stone or other thing which may have been used in such blocking to remain on the road, incurs a penalty of 40s.

Epitaph on Hume.-The tomb of the materialist is a plain circular marble mausoleum, inscribed simply, but I think elegantly, with the words, David Hume. I was told, says a correspondent of the Christian Advocate, that a little before my visit to Edinburgh, one of the students wrote upon it the following impromptu

"Beneath this circular idea,
Vulgarly called tomb,

Impressions and ideas rest
Which constituted Hume."

He

A Man-Trap.-A batter in Ingram-street, Glasgow, having suffered severely by numerous hats being stolen from his shop, resolved on preventing the evil in future, by an experiment, which his wit, sharpened by his many losses, suggested. placed the skeleton of a hat, wrapped up in paper in the usual form, on a shelf, and in it he put the door-weight, leaving the door by that means half open. He also placed in such a situation behind the door, his two iron window bars, that when the former shut, down they would fall across it, preventing an easy egress. The thief soon made his appearance, and snatched up the very hat that was prepared for him, when the door closed with violence, and the bars fell, causing a tremendous disturbance. The hatter, who was below at his work, well knew what was passing up stairs, and hasted to secure his prisoner, whom he found half dead with fear, and crying like a rat in a trap. He was an old offender.

Nautical Discovery.-One of the students of Naval Architecture (Mr. Chitfield) appointed to accompany the experimental squadron on a cruise of observation, has invented a "Nauropometer," an instrument to measure a ship's inclination, which exhibits the angles of pitching and rolling at one view. It consists of two semicircles, placed at right angles to each other; the upper edge of one, when a ship has rotary motion, constantly works against the edge of the other, and both arcs are graduated sufficiently to meet the extreme cases of a ship's oscillation. The smaller semicircle "is delicately suspended on gimbals, similarly to the mariner's compass, so that the plane of the semicircle will always hang in a vertical position. The larger semicircle forms part of the frame of the instrument, and, being fixed in some convenient part of the ship, partakes of the ship's movement: consequently, when a vessel rolls, the outer semicircle traverses over the baianced one, which, as it is graduated, shews the degrees of rolling. Should the vessel have a pitching motion, the larger semicircle will move over the smaller in a fore-and-aft direction, and the degrees marked on its lower edge will indicate the angle of pitching.

Enormous Bones.-A Columbus (Ohio) paper states, that a boat arrived at Steubenville, which had on board the bones of a nondescript animal, one of which was 20 feet in length, 8 in width, and weighed upwards of 1,200 pounds. The back bone was 16 inches in diameter, and the ribs 9 feet in length. These bones were found near the Mississippi river, in Louisiana, and form the greatest natural curiosity ever beheld. This animal, says the American editor, must have as far transcended the mammoth in size, as the mammoth does a common dog.

A large Kettle.-The convent of Bernardines, of Pisa, contains the largest kettle known in the world. It is of cast-iron, and measures fifty feet in height, and a hundred and forty feet in circumference; it daily prepares food for six thousand paupers,

about a month.

Music-Amateurs in this science have of late been highly entertained with the performance of Master Harrington, aged six years, on a full-sized

Pietas Privata.-A Series of Morning and Evening Prayers and Meditations for every Day in the Week, &c. with printed in a pocket size, and neatly bound in black, 2s.

most eminent composers, both ancient and modern. Hitherto he has displayed his surprising talents in the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly; but in future the exhibition will be at the Argyll Rooms, Regentstreet. His hours of performance are at two and four. The abilities of this child excite astonishment and admiration.

Abrahamic Association.--This institution was formed in January, 1826, chiefly for the purpose of circulating the sacred scriptures, and tracts, among the Jews; to establish day and Sunday schools for their poor children; to visit them in times of sickness and distress; to assist poor Hebrew women during their confinement; and to procure the removal of civil disabilities under which they labour. Much benefit has resulted from its establishment. The members meet for business at No. 8, Salvador House, White Hart Court, Bishopgate-Church, London, on the first and third Tuesday in every month, at seven in the evening: the usual subscription is twelve shillings per annum.

Literary Chronicle. This weekly periodical having got into new hands, is considerably improved in its literary character, and extended in its eirculation.

w York and Lancaster.-The most bloody battle ever fought in this country was at Towton, Yorkshire, which has thence been called the English Pharsalia, on March 29, 1461, between about 60,000 Lancastrians and 40,000 Yorkists. After a severe contest, the Lancastrians gave way; but, endeavouring to gain Tadcaster Bridge, so many fell into the small river lock, as quite filled it up, and the Yorkists trampled them under foot while The number pursuing their fugitive brethren.

slain was estimated at 36,776; and such was the effusion of blood among the snow, which, at that time covered the ground, that on the thaw it ran down the furrows and ditches of the fields for several miles.

A General Recapitulation of the Victims of the Spanish Inquisition, from the year 1481, to 1820. From Llorente's History.

Burnt

The Jew, the Master-key of the Apocalypse, in answer to Mr. Frere's " General Structure," and the Dissertations of the Rev. Edward Irving, and other Commentators. By John Aq. Brown, author of "The Even-Tide," and "The Mount of Vision," 5s.

The Zoological Journal, No. IX. being the first of Vol. III. comprising a series of Papers in every branch of Zoological Science, together with a Scientific Memoir of the late Sir Stamford Raffles.

The Work of an Evangelist stated and enforced, a Charge delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. John Poole, Home Missionary of Bow, Devon, at Princess-street Chapel, Devonport, by the Rev. J. E. Good

An Attempt towards a consistent View of the whole Counsel of God, with a preliminary Essay on the practicability of its attainment. By John Hinton, A. M. boards, 4s.

An Attempt to elucidate the Grammatical and Critical Construction of the English Language, &c. boards, 4s.

The Substance of an Argument to prove the Truth of the Bible, drawn from the fitness and harmony of its subjects. By David McNicoll, boards, 5s.

Original Anniversary Hymns, "adapted to the public services of Sunday schools, &c. by Mrs, Gilbert, late Ann Taylor,

,,

Memoirs of Miss F. A. Bell, of Kentish Town, by the Rev. John Grant, M.A. boards, 3s. 6d. Missionary Anecdotes for Children and young Persons, by Robert Newstead.

A plain Statement of the Evidences of Chris tianity, divided into short Chapters, &e. by Francis Knowles. Also, an Appendix to the above.

Preparing for the Press..

of cele

10,220 2,592 3,564 1,620

324

2,250 840

From 1481 to 1498, under the
administration of the Inqui-
sitor-general Forquemada .
From 1498 to 1507 under Deza
From 1507 to 1517 und. Cisneros
From 1517 to 1521 und. Adrian
From 1521 to 1523 Interregnum
From 1523 to 1538 un. Manricus
From 1538 to 1545 under Tabera
From 1545 to 1556 under Loaisa,
and Charles V. 1,320
From 1556 to 1597 un. Philip II.
From 1597 to 1621 un. Phil. III.
From 1621 to 1665 un. Phil. IV.
From 1665 to 1700 un. Char. II.
From 1700 to 1746 un. Phil. V.
From 1746 to 1759 un. Ferd. VI.
From 1759 to 1788 un. Char.IH.
From 1788 to 1808 un. Char.IV.

560 21,835

112 14,481

1,125 11,250

420 6,520

660 6,600 1,845 18.450 692 10,716 1,428 14,080

540 6.512

3,990 1.810

2,852

760

9,120 170

56

34,658 18,049 288,214

N.B. The burning of a Jew in Valencia, 1826, has been contradicted by one of the Spanish authorities Dat Cadiz.

Literary Notices.

Just Published.

Meditations on the Sufferings of Christ, frou the German of John J. Rombach, abridged and improved by the Rev. Samuel Benson, M. A. of St. John's College, Cambridge, in one volume 8vo. boards, 10s. 6d.

Theological Essays-Original Essays, on Theological Subjects, by James Beckwith, 12mo. 4s.

On the first of June, 1827, will be published Part 1, a Natural History of the Bible, or a descriptive Account of the Zoology, Botany, and Mineralogy of the Holy Scriptures: compiled from the most authentic sources, British and Foreign, and adapted to the use of English readers. Illustrated with numerous engravings. By Wm. Carpenter,

Elgin Courier-A newspaper, bearing the above title, is about to start at Elgin, in Scotland, to be published weekly on Fridays. It professes to take its stand on neutral ground, and to be characterized by its impartiality."

In the Press, in one vol. 12mo. The Sea-Side; a series of short Essays and Poems, suggested by a temporary residence at a Watering-place, by the Rev. John East, A. M.

Poems, by two Brothers, in one volume foolscap, will appear in a few days.

Early in this month will be published, in one vol. 12mo. the Every Night Book, or Life after Dark, by the Author of the "Cigar."

The Desolation of Eyam, the Emigrant, and other Poems, by William and Mary Howitt, authors of the Forest Minstrel, and other Poems.

An Essay on the Atonement, by the Rev. Isaac Mann, A.M. second edition."

A second volume of Interesting Narratives from the Sacred Volume, by Joseph Belcher.

JUNE.]

Biographical Sketch of

HIS MAJESTY GEORGE THE FOURTH.

(Coronation Portrait.)

THE month of August has been very remarkable in the history of the House of Brunswick. On the twelfth of August, 1714, according to the new style, that family succeeded, by the death of Queen Anne, to the throne of Great Britain. Exactly on the same day, forty-eight years afterwards, the consort of George the Third gave birth to a son, who was immediately created Prince of Wales. On the sixteenth of August 1763, her Majesty was delivered of another son, who became Duke of York and on the twenty-first of August, 1765, was born Prince William Henry, now Duke of Clarence, and, in consequence of the demise of his brother, heir presumptive to the crown.

The education of these elder branches of the family was wholly domestic, and conducted under the immediate inspection of their august and attentive parent. The first governor of the Prince of Wales was the earl of Holdernesse, a nobleman of great dignity and personal merit, who chose, with the royal approbation, Mr. Leonard Smelt for his deputy; while Dr. Markham was invited from the mastership of Westminster school, to superintend the classical studies of his Royal Highness. An abler man than Dr. Markham, could not have been found in the kingdom; but on the resignation of lord Holdernesse, he also retired, and was made bishop of Chester.

Lord Bruce was now appointed governor to the heir apparent, but he only continued a month in that office, and, by way of softening the disgrace, was created earl of Aylesbury. The occasion of his retirement was this: in a literary conversation between the governor and the Prince, a few days after the appointment, the pupil found occasion to correct the master in the pronunciation of a Greek word. The circumstance got into circulation, and produced so much mirth in the palace, that his lordship took an early opportunity of asking leave to relinquish

102,-VOL. IX.

[1827.

the situation. The Duke of Montague was then nominated to the important post, and at the express desire of the King, the preceptorship was undertaken by Dr. Richard Hurd, who in consequence was advanced to the bishopric of Lichfield, from whence ultimately he was removed to that of Worcester.

The establishment of the Prince's household took place on his coming of age, when it was settled, that on account of the low state of the public finances, the allowance should be limited to fifty thousand pounds a year, and sixty thousand for an outfit. The consequence of this previous settlement for a heir apparent, was, as might have been expected, an accumulation of debts, which in four years amounted to no less than two hundred and fifty thousand pounds.

As the incumbrance could not be immediately cleared, his Royal Highness took the becoming resolution of reducing his household, selling off his stud, and retiring to a private station.

The next event of public import in the history of the Prince, occurred at the close of the year 1788, when the nation was thrown into a general state of alarm, by the suspension of the regal functions, owing to the mental disorder of his Majesty. The claim then set up on behalf of the Prince of Wales, by his confidential adviser Mr. Fox,-that in the present exigency he had a right to assume the reins of government,-was extremely injurious to his Royal Highness; by placing him in a situation similar to that which Shakspeare has so admirably depicted in the scene where Henry the Fourth misses the crown that his son had taken from his pillow. Providentially the restoration of the royal mind prevented the confusion which there was just reason to dread from the ambition of party; and it no less fortunately saved the Prince himself from the unpleasant dilemma, of either acting in opposition to his family, or of disappoint, ing his particular associates.

From this period nothing occurred of any particular interest in the personal history of his Royal Highness, till the

21