these mountains, when several peals of thunder, accompanied with lightning, were heard. From this moment, the snow that fell was red: this continued for some time, after which white snow again fell, so that the red was enclosed in two strata of white. In some places the snow was of the colour of the peach-blossom, but in others of a deep red. Some of it was collected, and the water of it, when melted, retained the same colour.M. Guidotti, a chemist of Paris, has

results. He manufactured during last year, 20,000 pounds of sugar, and the quantity this year will be five times as much. The price of this sugar is twenty per cent. lower than that of the sugars from cane, and at the same time is superior to it in quality and sweetness. A pound of sugar from beet root is equal to two pounds and a quarter of sugar from grapes. It is besides much less expensive, because an acre may produce from 300 to 600 quintals of beet root, and each quintal eighty pounds of juice, which will undertaken its analysis. This pheno produce three pounds and a half of white sugar, and an equal quantity of syrup. The residue serves for ruin or aqua vitæ, and after having extracted all the saccharine and spirituous matter it contains, there still remains a refuse most excellent for feeding cows. Beet besides has leaves of a very large size, which are in much request for cattle. This manufacture may be carried on during eight months of the year, whereas that of sugar from grapes is limited to a very short period, and that of sugar from the maple tree is scarcely of longer duration.

Klagenfurt, Sept. 4.-According to accounts from Illyrian Karnten, a terrible rain-spout descended on the nights of the 27th and 28th of August, at Hermajor and its vicinity, threatening destruction to the whole village. The water flowed into the marketplace and its neighbourhood so high, as to penetrate the windows of the first floors. Many persons saved themselves in the second floors, and others on the roof; such as could reach neither perished in the floods. More than fifty persons were hurried away by the torrent, many of whom were alive, and called piteously for assistance, which no one could afford. All the bridges, and twelve houses, were washed away, and a great quantity of cattle perished in the fields.

menon, it is observed, may enable us to account for what was formerly called showers of blood. We have already ascertained the existence of what are called pesinites, or stones fallen from the atmosphere, which the Greeks and Latins have spoken of; and now it is presumed, none will deny showers of a blood-red colour, which are described by the same authors.

M. Antonio Vignozzi, of Florence, has discovered an easy and certain method of pointing a cannon at any particular object, either by sea or land, by means of a small machine. This discovery may increase the ef fects of artillery, and enable the most unskilful person to point a gun, &c. with precision.

Russia.

Some very interesting particulars of one of the uncivilized tribes of this vast empire, are contained in a letter dated from the fortress of Trois Rozzawast, in Siberia, December 25, 1809. On the 28th of November, the Chorinzian Burætes held a solemn festival here, on occasion of the Sans Hur, or mysterious book of their religion, which they have received from Thibet. These people, the Russians call Bratsky, came about the middle of the 17th century, with their chiefs, to the number of several thousands, from the frontiers of China, and settled to the south of the great Lake, Red Snow, during last winter, a Baika!, along the rivers Ona, Uda, phenomenon, which would appear in- and Aga. Till 1699, they lived uncredible, were it not attested by a known, and without fixing themselves number of persons of known veracity, in a permanent manner. At length, occurred near Placentia. On the 17th their intercourse with Russia led them of January, red snow fell upon the to become its subjects. It is but mountains in this department, and lately that they have found the means especially upon Cento Croci. A coat of recovering the mysterious book, of white snow had covered the tops of the Sans Hur; for their efforts for upUNIVERSAL Mag. Vol. XIV.

Italy.

3 F

3

When first ap

His

wards of a century were ineffectual, botanists of the age. because they had quitted their native pointed principal physician to the country for a foreign land. At length, Count of Casa Flores, he began, at Calsan Marduitsen, the great chief of his own expense, to have drawings the eleven tribes, set out with the made by native painters, formed by chief priests and persons of his nation, himself, for the Flora of Bagota. This and begged permission to receive the grand work he continued and greatly Sans Hur with due solemnity; and it extended. He had collected in his accordingly arrived the next day, in house considerable berbaries, more six carriages, because it consists of than 1500 coloured drawings of new one hundred and twelve volumes. plants, philosophical and astronomiIn the seventh carriage was their cal instruments, and a collection of Burchan, or idol, made of clay, and botanical works, only inferior to that gilt all over. The Russian authorities of the president of the Royal Society were invited to the ceremony. The of London. M. Rea, one of Mutis's Chorinzians encamped in the exten- pupils, is the present director of the sive plain surrounding this fortress, botanical garden of Madrid. and placed their Lamas (priests) on nephew, Don Sanforosa Mutis, has carpets, cushions, and mats, according been commissioned by the govern to their rank and dignity, while others seated themselves on the bare ground, on each side of a pulpit, covered with a maguificent canopy, adorned with two flags. They then began to read and sing the sacred book, to the sound of trumpets, cymbals, drums and bells. After these ceremonies were over, the principal Lamas began their return, which is a journey of fifteen days, being $70 wersts from this place. The solemnities continued several days, during which the people met to hear the mysterious book read. The Choriozians are said to have given a vast quantity of furs and cattle to procure this book, to which they at tach such great value.

South America.

- Died.] At Santa Fe, in New Granada, the celebrated Mutis, the friend of Linnæus, and one of the greatest

ment, to complete the Flora of Bagota. Messrs. Mutis and Rexa, two distinguished artists, natives of Santa Fe, are finishing the numerous drawings that were begun. M. Mutis, who, in his old age, had embraced the ecclesiastical profession, was distinguished for the variety and solidity of his attainments, and for the liberality and elevation of his sentiments. Previously to his decease, he directed that his library, his collections, instruments, &c. should be applied to the public use of his fellow-citizens.— Europe is indebted to him for the important discovery of the Quinquina or Jesuits Bark, of New Granada. The orange-coloured Quinquina of Santa Fe, (Cinchona Condaminea) has become an important branch of com merce at the ports of Carthagena and Santa Martha.

MISCELLANEA, FACETIOUS AND ECCENTRIC.

Country Life.

perfection. How happy then is the

RELATIVE to the suppos the late farmer that lives there! Let us take

piness of a country life, Rev. J. Wesley once observed,—“ I have thought much on the huge encomiums bestowed, for many ages, on a country life. How have all the learned world cried out,

In

a detail of his happiness. He rises with, or before, the sun; calls his ser then to his stables and barns. He-ees vants; looks to his swine and cows, to the ploughing and sowing of his ground in winter or in spring Summer and autumn, he hurries and sweats among his mowers and reapers. But, after all, what a flat contradiction And where is his happiness in the is this to universal experience! See mean time? Which of these employ the little house under the wood, by ments do we envy? Or do we envy the river side; there is rural life in the delicate repast that succeeds:

O Fortunati nimium, bona si sua novint,
Agricola.

A certain governor of South Carolina, out of a mistaken zeal for the church of England, left in his will a thousand pounds sterling to be given to ten dissenting clergymen, who Epitaph, written by Peter Pindar, on

A person, being employed to effect cifully upon the poor animal, which a reconciliation between a young man at once-opened his mouth, and thus and his father, repeatedly assured the addressed his master:-"Has not God latter, as a proof of his son's contrition, Almighty created us all equal? It is that he had certainly seen his folly. time for us at length to change our But being induced to think the old parts. Descend, then, and let me gentleman doubted his veracity, he mount thy back." The peasant, who again put the question in plain terms, in the whole course of his life had when the latter replied, I have not never heard any but two-legged asses the least doubt that my son has seen speak, was excessively terrified, sprung his folly; indeed, he has seen it so from his seat, and ran away, firmly often that he has fallen in love with it. convinced that his poor donkey was possessed with a devil.

The Church Book, as it is called, of a Baptist congregation in Essex, contains the following minute, bearing date about sixty years ago: "Mr. E. our pastor, cut off for running away." The fact was, the poor man was so teased and puzzled about idle controversial questions, that he was not metaphysician enough to answer, or philosopher enough to smile at, and accordingly he stole away by night!

An Open Countenance.
An open countenance I love,
It marks th' ingenuous honest heart:
A freedom too which all approve,
Devoid of guile and worldly art.

An open countenance, quoth Pat,
Is that the thing you prize so dear,→
There's Peg Mullony fair and fat,

And with a mouth from ear to ear.

An old author informs us, that, during the visit paid by the King of An extraordinary person has lately Denmark to James I. of England, a sprung up at Paris, in the person of a masque was performed one evening M. Comte, a ventriloquist, whose life, by several ladies of the court, repreaccording to his own account, has senting many ideal virtues, when often been endangered by his per- Patience got out of humour, and beformances. In Spain, he narrowly gan to scold; Temperance was dead escaped being burned; in Germany, drunk, and vomited in the royal prethe peasants would have beaten him sence; while Justice reeled about, to death (a circumstance totally un- and Fortitude fell and broke her nose. known in that country), especially at This representation might possibly be Freyburg, where he teazed them ra- intended as a lesson to the Danish ther too much. In another place, be monarch, whose deep potations, we renewed the miracle of Balaam's ass. are informed, astonished and infected A peasant, being unable to get forward the English courtiers, and even the with his sluggish donkey, fell unmer- ladies.

STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

THE
HE victory, if it was one, over involving in it the entire annihilation
the French on the heights of of his army. Day, however, followed
Busaco, had filled the country with day, and no tidings arrived. Reports
expectation of a decisive triumph were circulated of skirmishes, in
over the conquerors of Europe, and which the French were always worsted.
an entire deliverance of the peninsula Deserters came in with the accounts
of Spain and Portugal. It was heard of the miserable plight of their army,
with indifference, that illuminations which was daily thinned of its nam
had taken place in France, where they bers, and incapable of keeping long
claimed the victory; and the pursuit together from want of provisions.
of Lord Wellington was considered Still the prudence of LordWellington
only as giving us a better opportunity kept him on the defensive; but for
of entrapping the French general, and tified in impregnable heights, defend

ed by a thousand pieces of cannon, and, in that time, the disorder might he defied any attack, and waited only take a more favourable turn, and refor the surrender of the French army, lieve the country from the pain of or its attempt to make a retreat into witnessing debates similar to those Spain, in which it must infallibly be that had occurred on a former cut off by the pressure of our arms on occasion. its rear, and the incessant harassings of myriads of Portuguese, burning to take revenge for the innumerable in sults offered to their country.

With these views, the two houses adjourned to the 15th, and then a very great number of members was. assembled; when it was announced to both houses that hopes of recovery were entertained, and that it would be more decorous, as well as more agreeable to the royal feelings, when his Majesty was recovered, that they should adjourn. The foundation of

In this state of suspense a domestic calamity of a most serious nature suddenly occupied the minds of all, and drew off the general attention to a more painful subject. The parliament was not expected to meet till the 29th of November, the day to which it had the hopes thus entertained rested enbeen announced that it was to be pro- tirely, as before, with the two Chanrogued. But, to the great surprise of cellors: they declared it, and both every one, the houses met agreeably Lords and Commons took them on to their last adjournment, on the 1st; their words. The physicians were not and, instead of consisting of a few examined, nor did it appear that persons, as is usual, for a farther prolongation of time, the speakers of both houses took their seats, and in both were several speeches. It was declared by the authority of the Chancellor in the upper house, and of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the lower house, that both houses were now met in an extraordinary manner, without the usual speech from the throne, for an event of a melancholy nature had not only deprived them of the customary address, but, from the want of the King's signature to the farther prorogation, they were now assembled, and were to take the steps which the case required.

His Majesty was attacked by one of those fits to which he had been occasionally subject, that rendered him entirely incapable of fulfilling the offices of his high station. It might be temporary, as experience had shewn, and, in that case, delay was obviously necessary, to give to the royal mind an opportunity of being restored to its former composure. The physicians of stafe attended him, and their bulletins were daily given to the public. After a time, Dr.Willis was called in, his signature was given to the bulletins, and the nature of the disorder was ascertained. The two houses agreed to an adjournment for a fortnight; by which time the members of the houses might be collected to determine, with greater propriety, on the course to be pursued;

either Chancellor had seen his Majesty. Both houses acquiesced in the declaration made to them; and, after a debate in the upper, and a division in the lower, they separated for a fortnight.

The afflicting disorder under which his Majesty labours, is not like those where, from the appearances of a few days, the length of the attack may be prognosticated. A bulletin that should exactly represent the case, would only inform the public of painful circumstances, which ought always to be suppressed; and the alternation of paroxysms is not a fit subject of public discussion. But etiquette rendered it necessary that bulletins should be divulged; and proper officers were appointed to superintend the delivery of them at St. James's. In consequence it became the fashion for multitudes to go to the palace to hear the report, to set down their names, and to carry with them, from house to house, a daily topic of conversation. bulletins were printed in the daily papers, and thus circulated throughout the country. From them little could be gathered; nor would any one, acquainted with the disorder, expect any information from them: he would wait with patient resignation for the time when Dr. Willis should give encouragement, which he must know would not be founded on the events of a day, but on the course of the disorda, examined with the ut

The