The Isle of Ascension. Mr. Rallier, a Frenchman of science and research, has written and published an inquiry as to the origin of those colossal statues which are found in the Isle of Ascension. His hypothesis is, that this island forms the summit of a mountain, consecrated and set apart for national rites, religious or civic, in a continent which has disappeared in consequence of a deplacement of the earth's center of gravity. This catastrophe submerged, according to his idea, the southern continents, while, in the north, a part of Europe, of Asia, and of Africa, rose from out the waters. The fact on which his supposition rests, is, that we find, in the Isle of Ascension, the customs, dress, and arms, which are found in the very distant islands of Sonda, with the language of Hayti, and even of New Zealand.

Lord Byron.-A French prose translation of the works of Lord Byron is announced in the Paris Journals, and we find in the collection some pieces unknown to English readers as the compositions of his Lordship: the Vampyre, that miserable imposition, is one of these: and of Oscar and Alva, and Calmur and Orla, we know nothing whatever.

The observations added in one of the French periodical works to the advertisement of the above, we shall quote, as they are but short:-"The poetry of Lord Byron, being original, picturesque, energetic, and often sublime, must inevitably lose a good deal in translation, and particularly in translation into prose. In the present case, it is often rendered to us pale and disfigured. Nevertheless, one reads with interest these strange compositions, sparkling with beauties, the author of which derives noble inspiration from the wanderings of a melancholy and disordered imagination, disdainful of every species of restraint. He is deficient in the judgment which would enable him to conceive and arrange a plan. He rarely evinces that deep sensibility which evidently comes from the heart, and certainly reaches to it. A sombre misanthropy dominates over his imagination; yet a cold contempt for mankind, for life, for all terrestrial things,—and a satiety which extends to all objects, do not prevent him from giving utterance to grand and beautiful thoughts, which

escape, as if by fits and starts, from the gloom in which his mind seems enveloped. The perusal of his poems, though seductive, has no great influence on the heart. No one canfind himself better or happier in consequence of his communication with the works of this distinguished English nobleman."

The Jews.-A Jewish merchant, of New York, named Mordecai Noah, has demanded permission from the government of the United States, to become the purchaser of an Island on the Niagara, between the Lakes Erie, and Ontario, not far from the English territory, and containing about a thousand acres on its surface. The member of Congress who acted as reporter of the commission charged to examine this demand, pointed out to the chamber, in very lively colours, the persecutions to which the Jews are still exposed in many parts of Europe, and suggested that the professed principles of the United States perfectly coincided with the views of Mr. Noah, in seeking to make this purchase: it being his object to offer. an asylum, under the protection of the liberal and tolerant laws of the Unites States, to a class of men who sought in vain for a country on the soil of the old world. In short it is the intention of this opulent Jew to found a colony of his countrymen in this island; and his proposition has been sanctioned by the American le gislature.

India.-A French traveller, Mr. Leschenault, writes home from Calcutta, that amongst the mountains of Nillegeray, he discovered a nation, where the women are in the habit of taking, each to herself, a variety of husbands. This, it is said, used to be the case in Britain, in those early periods which Milton treats of in his historical fragment:-but the practice is altogether so contrary to nature that we hold in doubt the assurance of its existence.

Choiseul-Gouffier's Travels in Greece. The publication of the Voyage Pittoresque de la Grèce commenced in 1782: the first volume then appeared; but the events of the revolution impeded the continuation. The count Choiseul-Gouffier emigrated during this season of calamity, but never lost sight of his great undertaking, Having returned to his country, the first

part of the second volume came out in 1809, twenty-seven years after the appearance of the first. His death has intervened to prevent his witnessing the termination of his enterprise. Mr. Barbié du Bocage has undertaken to conclude this important work, the count having left the remainder of the second volume almost ready for publication, and much done towards the third and last volume. The second part of the second volume has just appeared under the auspices of its new editor. It commences with a dissertation on the extent of the kingdom of Priam, of has been got up, which a followmap ing the recital of Homer. Then we have a dissertation on the plain of Troy, with a large and most carefully drawn map, the ancient names being connected with the modern appellations.

Masonic and Secret Societies.-A Masonic Dictionary (Freymaurer Lexicon) has recently been published at Berlin. Of this work the Isis, an ex

cellent monthly miscellany, published at Leipzig, contains the following ac

count:

This book is got up with so much fulness that it is difficult to conceive where the author found all the materials for it. It not only enumerates all the places in the world where there are, or ever have been lodges, but gives also a concise explanation of all words, ceremonies, and symbols of masonry, without, however, divulging the

This book

ultimate secrets of the order. gives a useful historical view of the endea vours of mankind to unite themselves se

cretly for the promotion of useful ends. In general, the purpose has been either the communication of science, or the practice of charitable acts. The former class were only necessary in the most ancient times, when most of the sciences were entirely confined to individuals, and could not be understood by the multitude: when, too, the knowledge of many sciences was prohibited by a false state policy. But, in modern times, when knowledge has be come a common property, secret scientific orders are useless, and become, in some respects, ridiculous, by pretending to know what is yet hidden from the remainder of the world. With regard to charitable orders, it may be said that they need no secrecy, except those, perhaps, whose object is the liberation of slaves. There remain, therefore, only the political orders to notice. These are naturally secret; but they are only tolerable in times of great oppression, like that which Napoleon had thrown over Germany. Whether, even in such cases, they are useful, and ought to be supported, it is difficult to say. If a the degree of oppression, and know what nation is enlightened, every one will feel

ought to be done; if the opportunity of throwing off the yoke arrives, every one will find his own place without being sent to it by secret masters: this has been proved very lately. But if the bulk of a nation is yet in a state of barbarity, being neither possessed of its rights, nor having a knowledge of them, it will also want the feeling for those rights, and a small association will call upon it in vain.

same year.

"Before the death of the King, an extraordinary phenomenon took place: within the space of three hours, the water of the ocean rose and fell on the coasts of the Sandwich islands for a space of six feet, with such a regularity and calmness that the ships in the harbour, and the villages situated near the coast suffered not the least injury. The inhabitants of Owaihi looked upon this as an omen of their Sovereign's approaching death. In the mean time, his Majesty had collected round his death-bed all the chiefs of the islands submitted to his power; and he made them promise re

ligiously to maintain all the useful establishments founded by him, "which we," he said, "owe to the white people that have come to live among us. These, he requested to be respected before all others; that their property should be held sacred, and those rights and privileges be preserved to the white visitors, which they had enjoyed during his reign. Hereupon he appointed one of his sons, named Rio-Rio, to be his successor. This youth, of about twenty years old, has been brought up in the European manner, and is said to speak Eng lish tolerably well. According to the cus tom of the country, Tammeamea made all the present chiefs take the oath of allegi ance to this newly appointed sovereign, and recommended him on account of his youth to the care of his consort, by which act he made her the temporary and virtual regent of all his possessions. A few hours after, this remarkable prince expired. By the law of

these islanders, the acknowledged successor is obliged to leave the spot, and even the island, where the sovereign died. But the bold and ambitious young Rio-Rio said to his friends on his departure from Owaihi, "Since my father has thought me worthy to reign, in preference to my brothers, I shall suffer no other power over me: and after the expiration of the time, I declare to you, I shall either return as actual king, or never return alive." The chiefs who had remained at Owaihi, were engaged in military exercise, and the whole island was filled with warriors, mostly armed in the European style. Even foreign ships in the harbour were obliged to arm themselves. This was the critical situation of these remote islands, when the American ship left them. They are, however, of opinion, that young Rio-Rio, supported by a numerous party, and even by the American ships that are there, will, although not without bloodshed, succeed to the throne. The property found after the death of the King, and which he had acquired in trading with the Europeans, amounted to half a million of Spanish piasters in cash, and the same value in goods, besides several well-fitted merchantmen. An immense fortune for a chief, who, in 1795, during Vancouver's residence near these islands, exchanged, in common with his subjects, bananas and figs, for the English old nails. He then assisted the

sailors in filling the water-casks, and fitting the iron hoops to the casks, in which he showed much skill. And this barbarian died twenty-four years after, a well-informed and powerful prince, master of the whole of the Sandwich Archipelago.

Ausculation. This singular mode of discovering the various disorders of the chest, by percussion, was, we believe, first suggested by Avenbrugger, a physician of Vienna, who published a work on the subject, since translated by M. Corvissart. A memoir has lately been presented to the French academy, by M. Laennec, detailing the various modes of employing this discovery. Among others, M. L. recommends the use of a tube, with thick sides, or a cylinder pierced along its axis, with a narrow aperture. This, on being applied to the chest of a person in good health, who is speaking or singing, produces a sort of trembling noise, more or less, distinct; but if an ulcer exists in the lungs, a very singular phenomenon happens. The voice of the sick person can no longer be heard by the ear at liberty; the whole of the sound passing along the aperture of the cylinder, to the observer. Commissioners appointed by the French Academy have verified the experiment in various cases of consumption.

Radical Tea.-The article sold in London, under this name, we find to be a composition of the cheapest herbs; viz. balm, rosemary, mint, agrimony, and colt's foot.

This may be prepared at the rate of about eight pence a pound, although usually retailed to the public at three shillings. It may also be proper to observe, that the above composition, unlike the foreign tea, is stimulating only, and therefore its long continued use must be injurious to the nervous system.

Fata Morgana.-This singular and curious phenomenon, which is occasionally seen near the Bay of Naples, and which is nearly allied to the mirage, so well known in the east, was observed in Huntingdonshire, during the late hot weather. The sun was shining in a cloudless sky, and the light vapours, arising from the river Ouze, were hovering over a little hill, near St. Neot's; when suddenly the village of Great Paxton, its farm-houses, barns, dispersed cottages, and indeed, the whole of its beautiful and picturesque scenery were distinctly visible in these vapours, forming a splendid aerial picture, which extended from east to west, for several hundred yards. This natural panorama lasted for about ten minutes, and was visible from a neighbouring declivity, about half a mile from Great Paxton.

Copal Varnish.We are informed by a correspondent, and indeed have verified the fact, by actual experiment, that the solution of gum copal, in spirit of wine, or alcohol, an operation usually attended with considerable difficulty, may readily be performed by the following simple process. Dissolve one ounce of camphor, in a quart of alcohol; put it in a circulating glass, and add eight ounces of copal in small pieces; set it in a sand heat, so regulated, that the bubbles may be counted, as they rise from the bottom; and continue the same heat, till the solution is completed. Camphor acts more powerfully upon copal than any substance yet tried. If copal is finely powdered, and a small quantity of dry camphor, rubbed with it in the mortar, the whole becomes, in a few minutes, a tough coherent mass. The process above described, will dissolve more copal than the menstruum will retain when cold; the most economical method will therefore be to set the vessel which contains the solution by, for a few days, and when it is perfectly settled, to pour off the clear varnish, and leave the residuum for a future operation.

Red Fire.The beautiful red fire which is now so frequently used in the theatres, is composed of the following ingredients: forty parts of dry nitrate of strontian, thirteen parts of finely powdered sulphur, five parts of chlorate of potash, and four parts of sulphuret of antimony. The chlorate of potash, and sulphuret of antimony, should be powdered separately in a mortar, and then mixed together on paper; after which they may be added to the other ingredients, previously powdered and mixed.

Medicated gaseous compounds. Soon, after the discovery of oxygen gas, and the knowledge of some of its most remarkable properties, it was employed as a remedy in cases of consumption; the results, however, of these experiments were directly contrary to what had been anticipated. The velocity of the pulse was accelerated, and the fatal effects of the disease became more speedy. Carburetted hydrogen gas diluted with a certain proportion of atmospheric air has since been inhaled by consumptive patients with apparently good effects, and we have lately heard that a mixture of oxygen and azotic gases from saltpetre has been successfully employed in the United States as a cure for consumption.

Ionian Isles.-St. Maure, March 14.— Since the 15th of February, this island has been a prey to continual alarm, occasioned by earthquakes more or less violent. That which took place on the 21st of February was most disastrous. In the morning a dead subterraneous noise was heard, which was succeeded by a violent storm. These phenomena were followed by the shock of an earthquake so violent, that a part of the great fortress fell down, and the bridge across the channel was shattered in several places. The square situated in the centre of the town, sank sensibly; the Church of Saint Savior was soon a heap of ruins; the walls of Saint Martin's Church were much damaged; several houses fell down, and others were so much damaged that the inhabitants were unable to shelter themselves from the heavy rains which followed the earthquake. There is scarcely a stack of chimneys in the town standing; the aqueducts are destroyed, and the roads filled with ruins. The number of the victims of this catastrophe is not yet ascertained; there is reason to hope that it is not very considerable, the chief part of the inhabitants having quitted the town on the preceding evening. The damage, however, which this disaster has occasioned, both in the town and the surrounding country, is incalculable. It is easy to imagine the despair of the inhabitants, who have thus seen the work of whole ages destroyed in a few minutes.

Corfu, April 19th. In the neighbourhood of St. Maure, a little island has recently been discovered, which is supposed to have been produced by the late earthquakes. The English sloop of war, the Aid, Capt. Smith, has just sailed to examine the island; if it should prove to have been thrown up by the earthquake, it is to receive the name of the Lauderdale rock. The island of St. Maure is in a most deplorable condition; the soil is in a state of continual oscillation. The few houses that are not entirely thrown down, such as the barracks, are threatened with instant destruction, and

their roofs have fallen in. A most violent shock took place on the 6th, in a marshy spot in the vicinity of the town; it was accompanied by a strong smell of sulphur.

Modern Latin town,-M. Olmo, a curate of the Upper-Garonne, has formed the plan of founding a town, in which no one is to be permitted to speak any language except that of Cicero, Virgil, and Horace. This ecclesiastical Romulus invites all the friends of classic literature to assist him in carrying his plan into execution; but he has apparently forgotten that the rigorous condition he imposes on his learned colonists may give rise to some difficulty with respect to the admission of ladies, and that, Pour être savant on n'en est pas moins

homme.

The Journal de Toulouse treats the matter seriously, as will be seen from the following paragraph:

"We understand that there is at present forming in this department a society of the friends of the Latin muse, who propose to, raise a subscription through France, and the rest of Europe, for the establishment of a Latin town. This ingenious idea of Maupertuis was developed in a Latin work,, which appeared in 1816, and from which the Hermes Romanus, as well as the Almanach des Muses Latines, gave extracts. The society includes among its correspondents several of the first Latinists in France; and a prospectus, which is about to appear, will explain to the learned world the progressive and well-conceived plan proposed.”—Literary Gazette.

Cambridge. The Porson prize for the best translation of a passage from Shakspeare into Greck verse, has been adjudged to Wm. Henry Fox Talbot, scholar of Trinity College. The subject is from Macbeth, Act I. Scene the last. The dialogue between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, beginning with, "We will proceed no further," and ending with "What the false heart doth know."

M. Frediani, an Italian traveller, writes from Egypt that he has succeeded, after 16 days of excessive fatigue across the deserts of Lybia and Marmerique, in reaching the famous temple of Jupiter Ammon, called the Great Temple, which no person appears to have visited since the time of Alexander the Great.—Such is his own account, which Mr. Bellzoni seems to demolish altogether by a few pertinent observations.

Five or six years ago the Pasha of Acre lost a son eight months old, who had been left sleeping alone in its cradle, and was found dead with an immense snake coiled upon his breast asleep, which had not bitten him, but either suffocated him with its weight, or chilled him with its cold.

Coffee. Substitutes for this useful berry have grown so much into use on the Conti