Byron's "Childe Harold;" and the commencing verses of the "Lay of the Last Minstrel." The lecture was distinguished for beauty of expression and imagery, not less than for the propriety of its arguments; and was listened to with marked approbation.

After the conclusion the president addressed the meeting with reference to a subscription which had been entered into, a few evenings before, by the members, for the purpose of obtaining more suitable premises. On that occasion upwards of 2501. were subscribed, and many donations for the same object had been since received; nearly eighty new members, it was also stated, had joined the institution since the commencement of the present quarter; and the necessity for increased accommodation became therefore every day more apparent.

VARIETIES.

The Arctic Land Expedition.-The last letter received from Captain Back left him at Norway House, on the Jack River, near Lake Winnepeg, which is situate 53 degrees North lat. and 98 West long. Here he proposed leaving his heavy boats and the greatest part of his stores, and taking with him light canoes to cross the rivers to proceed with his small party to the Great Slave Lake, which is in the 62d degree North lat. and the 112th West long. Hence inclining rather eastward, he would make for the Chesadawd Lake, situate 63 degrees North lat. and 107 West long. He would then have travelled 3,000 miles from Montreal, and all beyond him would be unexplored country. According to the Indians a river runs from this lake in a north-easterly direction, which they call "Thov-e-oho,” signifying the Great Fish River. They describe its banks as abounding with game. Captain Back's purpose was either to fix his winter quarters at Lake Chesadawd, or at as far a distance down this supposed river as circumstances and the state of the season would permit. Having fixed his location, directions would be sent to Lake Winnepeg, through a line of communication which he would establish with the agents of the Hudson's Bay Company as he advanced, directing the heavy boats and winter stores to be forwarded to him. The same mode of communication, it is confidently believed, will insure the messenger who will have to convey the despatches sent out since Captain Ross's most providential return, the easy means of reaching Captain Back before he breaks up his winter quarters. These despatches, after acquainting Captain Back with the safe arrival of Captain Ross and crew, and of the discoveries made by Captain and Commander Ross, direct him to proceed to Cape Turnagain, which lies north-west of the Chesadawd Lake, and is so named from being the extreme northern point reached by Captain Franklin. Thence he is directed to proceed to the obelisk of stones erected by Commander Ross to mark the south-west limit of the neck of land which he partially explored. This obelisk is situate in 69 deg. 37 min. North lat. and 90 deg. 40 min. West long., and is supposed to be distant only 150 miles from Cape Turnagain. It is thought that, starting westerly from this obelisk, it will be highly desirable that Captain Back should complete the survey of the south west-coast of this land, and also, if the season will admit of it, the north-west coast, which was traced by Commander Ross only for a distance of ninety miles from the isthmus. If, from the discoveries he will have made, it should be more eligible, Captain Back is instructed to proceed direct from his present quarters to the obelisk. Doubts exist in the minds of some of the Arctic Land Committee as to the existence of the Great Fish River, which, if the Indian account be correct, runs from the Chesadawd Lake in a north-east direction. Mr. Simpson, one of the Governors of the Hudson's Bay Company, is of opinion that it is identical with the river discovered by Captain

Franklin, and named by him Back's River, which runs rather to the west of north from the lake. On the other hand, there are several of the Committee, whose confidence in the correctness of the Indian account is strengthened from the remarkable manner in which their accuracy on another geographical point has been proved by Captain Ross's recent discoveries. In their interviews with the agents of the Hudson's Bay Company they always have declared, after their manner, by standing with their faces due north, and stretching out their right hand in an easterly direction, that the land farther north spreads out in that direction-a fact now placed beyond doubt by Captain Ross. Accompanying the despatches sent out are maps descriptive of the extent to which Captain Ross has, during his tedious residence in these inclement regions, been able to trace their boundaries. It is confidently hoped by the Committee that the liberality of the public will insure the supply of the necessary funds to enable Captain Back to prosecute his task of exploration for a third season, in the course of which, it is believed, he would be able to complete the survey of the north-east coast of America up to the southern point, where Captain Ross's discoveries terminate.

Improved Raw Sugar.-About twelve months since was announced in the "New Monthly Magazine" the highly important results of trials, then in operation in Demerara, to obtain pure raw sugar direct from the cane juice. This was effected by the introduction of the process of evaporation in vacuo, the plan first proposed by the late Hon. Edward Charles Howard, and brought into very general adoption in the refineries at home. The success of this operation in obtaining pure raw sugar direct from the cane juice, and free from the extensive loss by molasses and deterioration by colouring matter, the consequences of the great heat employed in the ordinary process, and in the superior quality of the products, gained for the subject an attention which would probably before now have led to its very general and more extended introduction were it not for the impositions of the government at home, which, for the false policy of the protection of the refining interests, have imposed upon the sugar thus prepared the prohibitory duty of 81. 8s. per cwt.

Whether a policy that thus sacrifices the growing hopes and interests of the colonies, so opposed to the just views of promoting the progress of scientific developement, and the encouragement of sound philosophical and practical views in manufacturing industry, and such as should distinguish the liberal government of an intelligent manufacturing community,-shall be persevered in, is a question now eagerly demanded, not alone by those who are concerned in the welfare of the colonies, but who are interested in the free and unrestricted issue of those trains of improvement which have gained for Great Britain its present proud supremacy. The necessary effect of such an impost is to perpetuate an expensive, incomplete, and unphilosophical system of manufacture, to the exclusion of an improved process which ensures the complete success of the operation, at once founded upon scientific principles and adapted to ensure profit to the colonial planters and encouragement to British commerce. By the old process, from the great heat employed in the evaporation of the cane juice, a great portion is necessarily converted into molasses; whilst the whole of the sugar is still further deteriorated by its mixture with a portion which will not crystallize, -molasses and colouring matter, and by this a very inadequate return is obtained for a most expensive outlay; whereas, by the improved process, the cane juice is submitted to a simple analytic operation, by which sugar of the best quality is obtained, and in the same quantity as it exists in the sugar cane, as, from the modified heat which is employed, the results of the operation are the mere educts of the cane, without having undergone the changes consequent upon its destructive distillation by the former process. This new operation also requires a far less portion of labour to

be employed, a most important consideration while the emancipation of the slaves is in progress.

It is to be hoped that a government which has hitherto shewn itself so disposed to promote liberal measures will not, in this instance, swerve from its usual course, and allow all the extended benefits above described to be sacrificed to the interests of the refiners at home. Although for a time this latter has formed a tolerable feature of domestic industry, yet it must be accorded that, during the continental wars, when Great Britain was in possession of the whole of the sugar colonies, and, of course, monopolized the supply of sugar to the whole world, its prosperity was forced by a combination of circumstances which can never again take place. Whilst every attempt to uphold it will inevitably prove futile, and the admission of this sugar, at an enhanced rate of duty, will conduce to support the revenue, we look upon its introduction as necessarily not far distant.

National Vaccine Board.-Among the curious investigations confided to Committees of the House of Commons during the last session, the report and evidence on the subject of the Vaccine Board, with the view of examining into the expediency of continuing this public establishment, furnish particulars in no trifling degree curious and interesting. Inoculation for the small-pox was introduced in the year 1720, and, turning to the bills of mortality of that and successive periods, we find the average mortality to have been as follows:

And the average of three years from 1830 to 1832 has diminished the proportion to 26 deaths in a thousand. The reduction in the mortality appears to be one-fourth what it was prior to the introduction of vaccination. The Vaccine Board distributed gratuitously, in 1832, no less than 100,000 charges of lymph, and vaccinated 14,190 souls. The number of births registered in the Metropolitan parishes, during the year, was 35,000, and the total number vaccinated, including the other establishments, was 23,532. Making allowance for the number of infants who die within a few months after birth, this shows a very favourable result, and evidences that vaccination is most extensively practised in the capital.

The official value of goods warehoused in the port of London, for the years 1831 and 1832 are thus stated:-1831, 19,974,5317.; 1832, 18,588,2117. Preserved Flowers and Plants.-Mr. Lindsey, the intelligent manager of the gardens at Chiswick House, has just presented to the Medico-Botanical Society some very beautiful and highly preserved specimens of dried plants and herbs, retaining, in a peculiar degree, the whole of the volatile oil and aroma, and the colour of the recent plant. The plan adopted by Mr. Lindsey is to dry the substances in a close and dark room, and not, as is usually the case, by exposure to a current of air and the action of the light. When the separation of the aqueous particles is effected by their evaporation, and they are tolerably dry, he submits them to pressure in small quantities enveloped in paper, until the oil appears on the surface, and which is known by its discoloration: by this, all change of colour by the action of the light, or further loss of volatile matters by evaporation is prevented. In pot-herbs, as well as medicinal plants, the improvement and superiority is very decided.

Health of the Inhabitants of London.-Sir A. Carlisle, in his evidence. given before the Factory Commission, thus accounts for the comparative good health of the adult population of London:-"The great mass of the population of London have been brought up in the country. I would venture to say that half the shopkeepers and artisans in London have been born and bred in the country, and come to London at or after maturity, to seek their fortunes, and to obtain their livelihood, or to assist some of their relations or connexions. Such persons will go on for a considerable time without suffering much from the injurious effects of a confined city, or from an unhealthy occupation; but take an infant born and bred in London, and subject it to all the same vicissitudes, and that child will invariably become unhealthy."

Parliamentary Returns.-Sir Henry Parnell, with the view of showing the bearing of taxation in this country on the various conditions of society, moved for and obtained certain returns in the House of Commons, which have just been printed, and from which we make the following extracts:The net amount of the Customs and Excise duties on materials of manufactures, building, ship-building, &c. in the United Kingdom, during the year 1832, was 5,841,6287. 78. )d.; on articles of luxury, 27,878,6037. 88. 11d.; on articles of food, 541,1587. 11s. 2d.; direct taxes on capital, viz.— legacies, probates, and administrations, 2,023,4607. 4s. 4d.; assessed taxes, 3,735,1627. 2s.; land-tax, 1,184,3407. 4s. 1d.

FOREIGN VARIETIES.

A singular circumstance happened at la Hogue on Saturday, the 7th of March, 1833. The weather being very calm, and the surface of the sea smooth, the tide was observed to ebb to so great a distance as to leave the roadstead entirely dry, Parts of the vessels of the celebrated Tourville, that were burnt and sunk by the English fleet, under Admiral Russel, May 29th, 1692, were exposed to view. The hulls of those ships appeared in a high state of preservation, and during the interval of the two tides, it was found practicable to recover six pieces of cannon and several cart-loads of cannon shot. These, although they had remained under water for upwards of 141 years, were found in good condition. Since this brilliant but unfortunate battle, there is no tradition of the sea having receded so far as in the abovementioned instance.

Pla

Increasing Productiveness of the Gold and Platina Mines in the Ural Mountains. According to the official account published at St. Petersburg last month, the quantity of gold and platina obtained during the first three months of the present year, was, Gold-from the mines belonging to the crown, 75 poods, 15 lbs., 34 zololnicks; from the mines belonging to private persons, 105 poods, 3lbs., 32 zol.; total 180 poods, 18 lbs., 664 zol. tina-from the mines of the crown, 2 lbs., 545 zol.; from the mines belonging to private persons, 80 poods, 13 lbs., 918g zol.; total, 80 poods, 16 lbs. 46 zol. Of the latter, 79 poods, 2 lbs. were procured in the mines of Nyre Tahel, belonging to the heirs of the privy-councillor Demidoff, in whose possession are the three largest masses of native platina yet found; one of them was obtained on the 18th March, 1831, and the two others in March, 1832. Their respective weights are 19 lbs. 53 zol.; 19 lbs. 18 zol.; 13 lbs. 53 zol. A pood is 40 lbs. Russian, or 36 lbs., English weight. The quantity of gold found in the first quarter of 1833 was therefore 6500 lbs. ; and a pound of gold being 50%. sterling, the value was 325,000l.

A New Island in lat. 14° 46′ N., long. 169° 18' E. has been discovered by the American brig Bolivar, and named Farnham's Island. This new speck in the Pacific is about six miles in length, with a reef running about ten miles from its western extremity.

National Education in France.-The Bill for regulating Primary Instruction in France, termed the Projet de Loi, introduced to the Chamber of Deputies by M. Guizot on the 2d of January last, and passed into a law on the 28th of June, provides for the establishment of schools of three descriptions. Every commune or parish is bound to provide, either by itself or conjointly with one or more neighbouring parishes, one primary school of the lowest order. In this school moral and religious instruction is to be given to the children, reading, writing, the principles of the French language, ciphering, and an acquaintance with the authorized system of weights and measures are to be taught. The master of this establishment is to be furnished by the parish with a suitable house and fixed salary, the minimum of which is to be 200 francs, 87. 68. 6d., and in addition he is to receive from such of the parents of the children as can afford it fees or quarter pence. The fees are to be exacted, not by the master himself, but by a public officer on his account. County towns and parishes having a population exceeding 6,000 souls are bound, individually or conjointly, to maintain a school of the second class, in which, in addition to the instruction given in the first or lower order of schools, the children are taught the elements of geometry, with its ordinary applications, particularly to linear drawing and land measuring; the elements of the physical sciences and of natural history, as they are applicable to the common uses of life; singing; the elements of history and geography, and especially the history and geography of France. The wishes of the fathers must, however, be consulted and complied with as to their children's participation in the religious instruction given. As this second class of schools are designed for the children of parents above want, there is no gratuitous admission except in the case of extraordinary talents in the poor scholar of the lower species, who receives the advantage of a higher education as a reward; but, in order that the rate of payment may be very moderate, the master is to receive a fixed salary, of which the minimum is 400 francs, (167. 138.) along with the fees. In this class of schools, as well as the former, the fixed salary of the master is to be paid wholly by the parish, if possible, or, if not, partly by the department or county, and the state itself is to come in aid as a dernier resort. The third class of schools, styled Normal, are for the training of masters, and of these there is to be one in every department.

New Gigantic Telescope.-A great work has just been completed in all its essential parts, in Urzscheider's manufactory of optical instruments at Munich. It is a gigantic telescope, on Frauenhofer's principle, of 15 Paris feet focal distance, and an aperture of 104 inches. It surpasses in size and power the largest telescopes made in the lifetime of the illustrious Frauenhofer. It has been tried with the greatest strictness by the professors of astronomy in the University of Munich, and declared to be a perfect masterpiece. The clearness and distinctness of a heavenly body seen through it, is, to that of the Dorpat telescope made by Frauenhofer, of thirteen feet focal distance and nine inches aperture, as 21 to 18, and the intensity of the light as 136 to 100. It magnifies far above 1000 times, and the ordinary expression of bringing an object nearer may be literally applied: thus, when Saturn at its smallest distance from the earth, is 165,000,000 of geographical miles distant, it seems, when magnified 816 times by this telescope, to have approached to the distance of 192,000 geographical miles; and the moon, at her smallest distance from the earth, seems, when magnified in the same manner, to have approached within 68 geographical miles, which is but little more than the distance, in a direct line, from Athens to Constantinople.

M. de St. Sauveur, the French Consul at Salonica, has lately presented to the King some antique Greek marbles, found in Macedonia. They consist of heads of divines and kings, funeral monuments, ornamented with bas-reliefs and inscriptions; a colossal bust, supposed to be that of Persius,