142. No Popery!! An Appeal to the Protestants of England, dedicated to Lord Eldon. By an English Protestant not in Office. 8vo. pp. 40.

THIS is a Jesuitical Pamphlet with a masked title, to invite perusal by the friends of Protestant ascendancy, in order to weaken their objections. It holds out that there can be no danger in Catholic Emancipation, because under powerful opposition the Reformation triumphed. Had such triumph been the pure unsupported effect of the cause, the argument would have been just. The fact is, the power of Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth nursed the infant Reformation, but Mary had nearly destroyed it, and would certainly have effected her purpose under a longer life. Elizabeth restored it, and by means of a protracted reign established it. Political power, therefore, was the worldly agent of

success.

143. A very good selection, though by no means so perfect as it ought to be, of the beauties discoverable in the prose productions of the immortal Milton, has been lately published under the title of the "Poetry of Milton's Prose;" and is accompanied by a tolerably well-written essay. In one of the notes attached to this the writer displays great ignorance of the style of writing in vogue at the period in which our patriot lived: considering the many sentences, which obscure the various gems, as almost peculiar to himself; and attributing them, much to our surprise, to a profound study of the beauties of the ancient Authors!

We however recommend the work as one well calculated to give the juvenile reader an impetus to the severe study and examination of the whole of our Author's laboured, intricate, but sublime effusions.

144. Stories of Chivalry and Romance are but the efforts of a feeble pen-a general want of interest both in the subjects and the mode of treating them, produces an irresistible languor in the reader, which no flashes of the spirit of the olden time occur to relieve. "The age of Chivalry" is not so far "gone" but that its romantic enthusiasm and its devoted sincerity, procure for it our admiration and respect; but it requires some portion of its own temper to do justice to its heroic enterprises. The attempt before us is well meant, but it is feeble and inefficient.

for his translation of the Psalms: some of which are spirited, and all pleasing.

146. Mr. MAUDE's Memorial proves that he has many poetical ideas, and skill in expressing them.

the Evidences of Christianity promises to be a very useful School-book.

147. Mr. KNOWLES's Plain Statement of

148. The Anti-Slavery Monthly Reporter (No. 18.) exhibits cases of cruelty which ought not to be permitted in the treatment of Colonial Slaves.—No. 22 of the same work would transfer our Trade from the West to the East Indies; and treats the Colonists even with personal hatred. Now, if the West Indies were resigned tomorrow, Slavery would still exist in other countries; those countries would patronize supply foreigners with colonial produce the deserted colonies; our shipping trade to would be lost. Slaves could still be imported to the islands, and the ultra-Abolition

ists would still recommend us “to cut off our noses to be revenged of our faces."

149. The Calinet Lawyer is a very able compendium, and promises to be of consi-derable utility.

150. Mr. BRIDGES's Poem of Protestant and Catholic well pourtrays the civil evils of the latter. The Scene in Switzerland contains some excellent descriptive lines.

151. The Poetical Illustrations of Passages of Scripture, by EMILY TAYLOR, may gratify religious readers.

152. We can conscientiously recommend the Rev. ALEXANDER STEWART'S History of Scotland, as a School-book of great merit.

153. The Writer's and Student's Assistant, or a Compendious Dictionary, is very useful to prevent repetition of the same words in composition, and introduce pre

cision.

154. Mr. RUSSEL's Modern Arithmetic is well calculated to save the Instructor much time in the examination of Sums.

155. Mr. MAC HENRY's Synonimes of the Spanish Language, the Author being a Native, is eminently useful to students.

156. Mr. PEITHMAN's Treatise upon Latin Composition contains many valuable rules, and is otherwise well written.

157. M. VISELAND's complete course of study for Englishmen to obtain the French Language at home," may be studied with

ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE.

The Right Rev. the PRESIDENT, in his Annual Address, adverted to the successful labours of Dr. YOUNG, an Honorary Member of this Society, and other learned individuals, in decyphering the Egyptian Hieroglyphics. He noticed the proposed Publication of a Translation of the Sacred and Historical Books of Ceylon; and the-existence, at this time, in this country, of numerous MSS. of the Budhoo Religion and Literature, which have been transferred to this country by the event of the Burmese War; and he spoke of the beneficial consequences to Literature, likely to result from a systematic course of inquiry after inedited remains of Classical Writers.

The discoveries of Political and Literary Documents, lately made in His Majesty's State Paper Office, selections from which are about to be published by authority, present another encouraging example of he happy results of industry, in the investigation of unexamined Manuscript stores. Among these may be instanced Letters and other remains of Cranmer, and some additional Latin State Letters of Milton; besides the Treatise de Doctrinâ Christianâ, attributed to the latter.

To a continuation of his inquiry into the authenticity of that Treatise, which formed one of the topics of the Discourse delivered at the last Anniversary, the President devoted the remainder of his Address; it being his Lordship's opinion, that, whilst this Society is bound to promote every authentic Literary Discovery, it ought not, without the most satisfactory evidence, derived from a scrupulous examination, to sanction the ascribing of any Manuscripts to those great Writers, who have impressed a character upon the Literature of their age and country. His Lordship exemplified the necessity of this caution by additional objections to the authenticity of the Treatise De Doctrinâ Christianâ, in evidence of the foreign origin of the Work.

The two Gold Medals for the present Year were adjudged to Sir WALTER SCOTT, bart." for his Illustrations of the Manners, Antiquities, and History of Scotland, in many Works of pre-eminent genius, both in verse and prose, particularly the Lady of the Lake, and Waverley;" and to ROBERT SOUTHEY, esq. LL.D. Poet Laureat, "Author of the History of Brazil, and of several other distinguished Works in English Lite

rature."

The following is a Synopsis of the Papers which have been read at the ordinary meetings since the last Report:

I.-A Continuation of "Memoirs of the Introduction of Greek Litérature in Eng land after the Dark Ages." By P. F. TYTLER, esq. H.A. R.S.L. This portion of Mr. Tytler's Manuscript comprises & part of the Life of Thomas Lynacre, viz. his Education at Oxford; his Studies in Italy, under Politian and Chalcocondyles; his appointment to be Physician to Henry the Seventh, and the Princess Mary, and one of the Tutors of Arthur, Prince of Wales; his Translation of the Sphere" of Proclus; the publication of his Work, entitled, "De Emendatâ Structura Latini Sermonis," and of the "Rudiments Latin Grammar," written in EnglishRead May 3rd, 1826.

II.-On an Inscription in the Ionic Dislect, from the neighbourhood of Priene." Br W. M. LEAKE, esq. M.R.S.L. This inscription in very ancient characters, which is engraven in four lines, from right to left, upon the bronze figure of a dying hare, is as follows:-TM AĬOAANÑI TOI ПPIΗΛΗΣ Μ' ΑΝΕΘΗΚΕΝ ΗΦΑΙΣΤΙΩΝ, Colonel Leake considers ПIPIHAHI (the only word that presents any difficulty), as the Ionic dative of ПIPIHNETE, with the additional ionism, of N converted into A, as in πλεύμων and λίτρον for πνευμα από

pov, kindred Attic. He remarks, that some of the public inscriptions found at Priene, are in the Æolic or Doric dialect; which appears singular, as Priene was a city of Ionia; and he accounts for the singularity by supposing that, upon some particular occasion, the Prienenses, in part a Botica colony, renewed the memory of that descent, by laying aside the Ionic form, and assuming the Eolic, in their public acts. The most probable occasion was on the liberation of the Greek cities of Asia by Alexander the Great; and the change of dialect may have been intended as a compliment to the conqueror, who, as a Macedonian, was of Æolic origin. Hephaestion, a lover of the chase, appears to have dedicated this elegant emblem of his favourite recreation to the patron god of hunters; and although we have no account of a Temple of Apollo at Priene, yet it is highly probable, that one of the buildings, remains of which are found among the ruins, was dedicated to that deity; who is expressly said, in the hymn to Apollo by Homer, to have taken delight in Mount Mycale, upon which Priene is built.-Read May 17th, 1826.

III." On some Egyptian Monuments in the British Museum and other Collections.” By the Right Hon. CHARLES YORKE,

M.RS.L. and W. M. LEAKE, esq. M.R.S.L. This Paper consists of descriptions and explanations of several drawings of the finest works of Egyptian Art in England, intended to facilitate the important study of the Hieroglyphics. In an Appendix are subjoined extracts from two Letters, addressed to the Rev. G. A. Browne, of Trinity College, Cambridge, by M. Champollion, upon the subject of the drawing (No. 14), representing the Cover of the Sarcophagus of Rameses Meiamoun, brought from Thebes, and presented to that University by Belzoni. The Appendix also contains eight inedited Greek inscriptions, copied in Egypt, by Mr. W. Bankes, Mr. Salt, Mr. Henry Lewis, and the late Mr. Cooke, together with some remarks upon them.

IV. Portions of a manuscript, entitled, "Remarks on Brut Tysilio, a Fabulous Chronicle, erroneously attributed to a British Prince of the Seventh Century, and printed in the second volume of the Myrvyrian Archwology of Wales. By the Rev. EDWARD DAVIES, RA.R.S.L.-Read June 21st, and November 1st, 1826.

V.—“ Observations on the First Line of the Iliad." By GRANVILLE PENN, esq. M.R.S.L. The writer remarks that, while the modern commentators upon Homer Jabour, without effect, to reduce this celebrated verse within metrical rules, we know from the authority of Plutarch, that it was anciently held to be peculiar as duerpos, or excedens mensuram,' as Henry Stephens renders the word. The object of this Paper is, to inquire how the Greeks, or rather the Poet himself, enunciated the line; in which inquiry Mr. Pena takes for his guide an observation of Plutarch, in the Ninth Book of the "Symposiacs," that the first line of the Iliad is equisyllabic with the first line of the Odyssey, as the last line of the Iliad is with the last line of the Odyssey. Accordingly, the last line of each Poem is found to consist of exactly sixteen syllables; but while the number expressed, by the ordinary enunciation, in the first line of the Iliad, gives sixteen syllables, the first line of the Odyssey contains seventeen syllables. Mr. Penn suggests that the Poet, in the first line of the Iliad, paused at the penthemimer, closing with the address, a; and renewed the arsis on the following syilable. The line would then be read

on the Eastern Origin of several Fictions,: popular in different Languages of Europe." By Sir W. OUSELEY, knt. R. A. R. S. L. The former part of this Paper relates to. several fabulous anecdotes respecting Alexander the Great, commonly supposed to be of Eastern invention, but assigned by the writer chiefly to Julius Valerius, author of the Res Gestæ Alexandri Macedonis." In the latter part, Sir W, Ouseley reclains in favour of Eastern writers, the invention of several popular fictions, such as Pope's "Jauuary and May," Boccacio's fourth Story, Parnell's "Hermit," the Story of "Santon Barsisa," various Tales in the Gesta Romanorum, &c. and others which have hitherto been supposed to be of European origin.-Read Nov. 15th, 1826.

VII." On a Poem recently published at Paris, by M. Crapeiet, in the Appendix to an Edition of the Correspondence of Henry VIII." BY SHARON TURNER, esq. R.A. R.S.L. By comparing this Poem with an extract quoted by M. Meteren, in the Histoire des Pays Bas, and alluded to by Burnet, Mr Turner concludes that it is the long lost narrative written by Crispin, Bishop of Miherve, who was resident in London at the period of the execution of Anne Boleyn. This narrative states some. curious new historical facts; and is valuable in consequence of having been written immediately after the events it describes, and from being the work of an impartial foreigner, of high rank and ability.-Read Dec. 6th. 1826.

VIII" Indication of an Insititious Latin term in the Hellenistic Greek, inveterately mistaken for a genuine Greek Word." By GRANVILLE PENN, esq. M.R.S.L. The term referred to is iλaxnos, which occurs in St. Peter's account of the suicide of Judas, in the Acts of the Apostles: Πρήνης γενόμενος ἐλακησε

dos, Eng. Trans. "falling headlong he burst asunder in the used to express the same act is anyαTO,. midst. In St. Matthew's Gospel, the word "he hanged himself."

The writer contends, that annos is not, as has generally been supposed, derived from the same theme, as λaxɛ, tλaxɛ, Xaxu, &c. found, in classical writers, with the signification of sonare, sonitum dare, cum strepitu rumpi, &c. but that it is an inflection of Xxxsw, a rendering, in Greek

w Axi | añōs.

Instead of the usual form

VI.-"Observations on some extraordinary Anecdotes concerning Alexander; and

to have accomplished his death, viz. by throwing himself headlong from a great height, and being suddenly caught midway (us) in the noose, he shows that the

periphrastic language of St. Peter, and the single expression of St. Matthew, may be reconciled, as identically descriptive of the same act.Read Dec. 20th, 1826.

IX.-"Extracts from Manuscripts relative to English History." By the Rev. T.D. FOSBROKE, H.A. R S.L. This Paper contained the following Articles, viz. 1. Matters relating to the University of Oxford-From the Cotton MSS. in the British Museum-Faustina, C. VII. 2. Curious Custom connected with the Law of Gavelkind.-Harleian MSS., No. 1609. 3. Specimens of Natural History, among our Ancestors.-Cotton MSS., Cleopatra,

B. iv.

4. Matters relating to the Ancient Peer age. Cotton MSS., Titus, D. xxi. Heralds' Certificate concerning the assumption of the Arms of England by Mary Queen of Scots.- Ibid.

5. The Graces at Meals, real or pretended, in use among the Puritans.-Harleian MSS., No. 532.-Read Jan. 3rd, 1827. X,-" On the Portland Vase." By Jas. MILLINGEN, esq. R.A.R.S.L. The object of this Memoir is, to determine the Story represented on this celebrated Monument of ancient art. By the Antiquaries who first announced its discovery, in the sixteenth century, it was supposed to represent the Birth of Alexander the Great. A subsequent opinion was, that the subject related to the judgment of Paris; a third, that it contained the Story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Winckelmann, however, and other eminent Archæologists, think that it represents the Marriage of Thetis and Peleus: to this last opinion Mr. Millingen accedes, and illustrates it by various arguments and a critical examination of the sculptures. Other ancient Monuments, he observes, since discovered, confirm this explanation, and afford us all the certainty of which such inquiries are susceptible. Mr. Millingen assigns the Portland Vase to the age of the Antonines, or at the earliest to that of Hadrian-Read Feb. 7th, 1827.

XI.-"A Memoir on the Vitrified Forts of Scotland." By the Rev. J. Jamieson, D.D. R.A.R.S.L. To account for the present appearance of these Structures, which are peculiar to Scotland, four different theories have been conceived.

The first theory, published in the Edinburgh Magazine, in the year 1787, viz. that they were formed by pouring liquid mortar between two walls of loose stones, Dr. J. regards as merely a vague conjecture, founded on vulgar tradition. For the second theory, viz. that these Forts are the remains of Volcanoes, which idea originated with Pennant, he shows that there is no foundation in their actual appearance. The third, proposed by Lord Woodhouselee, in

a Memoir published in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, is considered at greater length. In this theory, the vitrification is ascribed to combustion either in consequence of the Forts having been used as the positions of fire-beacons, or from their having been set fire to by an enemy.

This

The theory, respecting the construction of these Forts, which Dr. JAMIESON adopts, is that of intentional vitrification, by ignition kept up, for a long time, in a wall eriginally formed of timber and loose stones, mixed together for that purpose. theory has been supported by several Antiquaries. Dr. J., in confirmation of it, gives an account of an examination made by himself, of two of the most remarkable specimens of the Vitrified Forts, viz. that called the Castle-Hill of Finhaven, and another seven or eight miles east of Dundee, on one of the collections of hills called “the Laws.” These appear to have been both links of regular chain of Forts, constructed apparently for fire-beacons, by which, in case of the approach of an enemy, the whole district might be alarmed.—Read Feb. 21st and March 7th, 1827.

XII. A Description of the Chartelery of Flaxley Abbey, in the County of Gloscester.' By Sir THOMAS PHILLIPPS, bart. M.R.S.L. The Document referred to, which was exhibited to the Meeting, is in the form of a roll. It was unknown to Dugdale, Tanner, and the Editors of the New Monasticon; having been recently discovered among the private deeds of Thos Wynniatt, esq. of Stanton, Gloucestershire, It contains an account of the Rents payable to the Abbey; of the privileges of the Abbey, granted by Popes Celestiae III. and Alexander III.; together with a Catalogue (one of the oldest of the kind extant) of the Abbey Library.

The Chartulary of the Abbey of Flaxley appears to have been written in the reign of King John.-Read March 21st, 1827.

XIII.-"Transcript of a Manuscript relating to Henry the Fifth of England, preserved in the King's Library at Paris; with prefatory and supplementary Notes." By J. G. SMITH, M.D. M.R.S.L. This Document was among the materials which Dr. Smith had collected for a History of the Battle of Agincourt; an undertaking which he has been induced to abandou. It is thus described in the "Bibliothèque de la France" Factum du Sieur de Gaucouri, contre Louis, Seigneur d'Estouteville, où il y a plusieurs choses curieuses sur la battaille d'Azincour. De Gaucourt was among the persons of consequence taken prisoners at the surrender of Harfleur. The MS. is a memorial, addressed to the Court of Re quests at Paris, which accuses the King of England of a breach of promise, in having detained De Gaucourt a prisoner in Eng