he tells us, with the Benet MS., i.e. MS. A. I have also examined the paper MS. in Trinity College, Dublin. This, as notes at the beginning and end show, was copied out by one William Lambarde. William Lambarde's name heads the MS., and the note at the end is as follows: "finis 9 Aprilis 1564, W. L. propria manu. These annals are extant in Sir Robert Cotton's librarye at the ende of Bede's histerye in ye Saxon tongue. This note and the orthography of the MS. prove indisputably that it was also a copy of G.

Both Wheloc's and Lambarde's copies seem to be faithful, and from a comparison of them with the text of A it is clear that the latter could not have been copied from G, as I suggested in a former letter; for while the spelling of the former to the year 877 is tolerably consistent and almost entirely Mercian, that of the latter is not consistent in the same way, but we have a mixture of forms, apparently pointing to its having been written by a copier who occasionally inserted his own idiosyncrasies. This view is rendered almost certain by another fact, overlooked by all editors of the Chronicle except Mr. Petrie and Mr. Thorpe. G has an entry not found in any other codex. This entry is under the year 969, where we read: "Her forthferde Eadmund Etheling, his lic lith æt Rames-ige." These few words about his being buried at Ramsey occur only in this MS.; whether it occurred in the original text of the MS. or was a marginal gloss we have no means of verifying, as the MS. has been burnt. This curious entry, so near the termination of this codex, and found only in it, seems to point to the MS. having belonged to the great Abbey of Ramsey, whose situation within the borders of Mercia is also quite consistent with its dialectic forms. Putting one small entry aside, the two codices are identical, except in certain variations in their chronology, in the case of a few verbal forms, and in the absence from G of the formula, so often occurring in A immediately after the Her on dyssum gere." date, G with A agrees in practically ending in 1001, in omitting the Mercian Chronicle contained in B, C, and D, and in containing the various long passages in the tenth century which are found in A and not in B, C, or D. It agrees with A, and differs from B, C, and D, in omitting the mention of Reading under the year 871, and in speaking of Wimburne and not of Wimborne Minster; in omitting the mention of the sending of the piece of the Cross from Pope Marinus to Alfred and the latter's sending his alms to Rome, which are mentioned

66

In chapter xxxvi. Mr. Mozley refers to the conflict between the provost and tutors of Oriel in 1830 and subsequent years; the details are almost entirely omitted, and the dates are not clearly given; but the statements made, particularly the unfavourable remarks on the provost, are not in accordance with the account I heard from my late father, who was then resident and acted as an intermediary in the dispute-an account which is borne out by letters on the points to which they refer. H. JENKYNS.

THE SUNDERLAND LIBRARY.

THE sale of the fourth portion of the Sunderland Library will commence at the rooms of Messrs. Puttick & Simpson on Monday, November 6th, and it will close on Thursday, November 16th. In its general features this instalment of the great library resembles its predecessors. Among the editiones principes are included the following:-Maximus Tyrius, Valerius Maximus, Musæus, Cornelius Nepos, Nonius Marcellus, Oppianus, Origen, Ovid, Panegyrici Veteres, Pausanias, Petrarch, Phædrus, the Epistles of Phalaris, Pindar, Plato, Plautus, the Elder Pliny, Plutarch, Polybius, Pompeius Festus, Pomponius Mela, Ptolemy, and Quintilian. The books printed upon vellum occurring in this -Valerius Maximus, printed at portion are:Mentz by P. Schoeffer in 1471; Ordonnances de l'Ordre de la Toison d'Or, with the arms of the Duke of Burgundy, sans notes (about 1511); Petrarca, Sonetti, Canzoni et Trionphi, edizione prima, printed by Vind. de Spira at Venice, 1470, and Le Cose Volgari, first Aldine edition, Venet., 1501;

Il Petrarca da Dolce e G.

Camillo, printed at Venice by G. Giolito, 1558; Picus Mirandola, Commentationes, printed at Bologna by Boned. Hector in 1496, and De Morte Christi, by the same printer in 1497; Plinius, Historia Naturalis, printed by Nic. Jenson in 1472 at Venice; Pontanus, De Bello Neapolitano, printed by P. Summontius at Naples in 1509; Quintilian's Institutions, printed at Rome in 1470; Sabellicus, De Vetustate Aquileiensis Patriæ, printed without date or name. Rare French works abound; the most im

portant of these are:-La Mer des Histoires, printed by P. le Rouge at Paris, 1488; Mézeray's Histoire de France, original edition, large paper; Milles et Amys, Paris, Ant. Verard, s.a; Jan. E. du Monin, Nouvelles Euvres, Paris, Jean Parant, s. a.; Montaigne, Essais, the editions of 1588, 1595, &c.; Museus, Hero et Leander, translated by C. Marot, Paris,

development of new ideas and the so-called reforms in higher education. The minister considers that the ever-growing criticism of classical studies as unpractical, and the desire to replace them by something more obviously useful, arise from the mismanagement of these studies: first, by over-burdening the pupils; secondly, by over-specializing the instruction. It is noted that with the rapid increase in numbers of the Gymnasia, and the necessary employment of many young and inexperienced teachers, the home tasks and preparation expected from children are such as to overburden their brains, and leave no time for wholesome exercise or recreation. This is the case not only in Saxony, but all over Germany, where the pernicious law which shortens military service to those who successfully pass an examination is in force. Every stupid boy is killing himself that he may escape the three years' service as a private (or whatever the amount is).

The manifesto does not, however, touch on the evil of over-multiplying subjects, which in England is no doubt more prevalent and poisonous than the over-multiplying of the hours of work; for even where the former does not, as a natural result, produce the latter, it does great and irreparable mischief. I need only point to the two hours a week in French or German at many schools, which fatigue the boy without any return save that of deceiving his parents, and, if he is very silly, even himself.

66

The second evil noted is the over-specializing of classical teaching, especially in the direction of theoretical syntax. The researches into the constructions of special authors, and the speculations on the logical use of particles, which have so deeply infected the modern grammars, encourage teachers of what they call at Cambridge pure classics" (?) to set exercises which afford a mere series of syntactical problems, of one tongue into those of another. and no practice in turning the natural idioms minute of the minister insists that no learn ing off by heart of syntactical rules will ever teach a pupil the free and actual handling of a foreign tongue. The present school is described as teaching an abstract and subtle dogmatik," which destroys all the pupil's enjoyment in the great literature of the past.

The

But while the German state critic fears that far by the specialists, and so rendered too minute each section of classical study may be driven too hension, the danger of history or archæology and various for any ordinary pupil's compre

as Grubitz has noticed, in calling the Mercian king mentioned in 796 Ceolwulf, where B and C call him Cynulf, which was right as we know from charters published by Kemble (Codex Diplomaticus,' vol. i. numbers 211, 212, and 215). It is curious that D agrees with A in this mistake.

MSS. A and G are, therefore, related in the closest possible manner; but it is clear that neither of them is a copy of the other, and we must postulate that both were copied from a common original, which ended in 1001, and which we may call y, as we called the mother MS. of B, C, and D x. HENRY H. HOWORTH.

forest; and a valuable series of editions of Rabelais, including the most ancient edition with

a date.

There are numerous important works relating to America. The rare English books include Milles's Catalogue of Honour, James I.'s copy, 1610; Milton's Poems, Latin and English, original edition, 1645; Salisbury Missal, Paris, 1555; Sir Thos. More's Works, 1557, Sir William Rooper's copy; Sir I. Newton's Works by Horsley; Ochin's Tragoedie or Dialogue by Bishop Ponnet, 1549; O'Flaherty's Ogygia; O'Sullivan, Historia Catholica Iberniæ; Ovid in English, with fine plates by Picart; various works of Rob. Parsons; Leslie's Defence of Queen Mary of Scotland (under the name of Phil. Morgan), 1571, &c. The catalogue, as usual, contains also numerous other Latin, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese works of great rarity, as well as many books with fine bindings, and arms of Anne of Austria, Louis le Dauphin, Jean Grolier, T. Maioli, and others; and rare English and foreign tracts.

EDUCATION IN SAXONY.

A RECENT number (No. 29, July 22nd) of the Philologische Wochenschrift reproduces an important missive of the Saxon Education Department calling upon the rectors of the Gymnasia, or grammar schools, to meet and consider the grave dangers which have arisen from the too rapid

In our schools we must rather watch that the exclusive teaching of grammar and composition does not extrude altogether the human and practical, nay even the aesthetic, side of classics; for we have frequent specimens of men who are false tense or a false quantity, but are at the formally elegant scholars, and who shudder at a same time mere children in questions of history or literary criticism, and borrow their opinions from the nearest authority.

The whole document is of great importance, and the meeting by the rectors to discuss it will no doubt be of the highest interest.

J. P. MAHAFFY.

MILTON'S BIBLE.

A BRISTOL bookseller recently catalogued a Bible which is assumed to have belonged to John Milton. It is a thick, rough calf quarto 1637, and includes the Apocrypha. On the volume, being the Royal Version, Cambridge, margin of the page containing the fourteenth chapter of 1 Maccabees is what appears to be an inscription of seventeenth century date: Mr. Hartlibe to Mr. Milton sendeth the 12 booke of the Greeciane volumes, & is obliged to hime. Oct. the 17. 1640. London." Hartlibe's friendship with the poet is well known, the 'Tractate of Education, 1644, being addressed to Master Samuel Hartlibe. On the opposite margin of

the same page, but in a different handwriting, and apparently that of the great poet, is the following:

1640."

When that day of Death shall come, then shall nightly shades prevaile soone shall Love and Music failesoone ye fresh turfes tender Blade shall florish ore my sleeping shade.

J. Miltonius
M.A. C. Coll.

Under these lines is a pen-and-ink outline portrait in profile, and below is written "Myself, On the margin of the opening page of 2 Maccabees is the following MS. note, beginning opposite the eighteenth verse: "London-perhaps ye reason why the Porsians worshipe fire to this day, 1639"; this inference being drawn from the purification of the Temple, as explained in that verse, being conjoined with a command to keep the feast of tabernacles "and of the fire."

On the title of the New Testament is "Johne Miltone, 16. A.M. 40."

This Bible in 1658 belonged to "Jane Bealby," in 1662 to "Wm. Lumley," in 1716 to "Dr. Todd," in 1744 to (General) "Loftice Todd," and then passed to the family of Gainford of Gainford. Lewis Gainford has written an account of the family on one of the flyleaves, and sketched their arms. He joined the "True Christians 3) or Quakers in 1775, and died insane. A former owner has had the volume lettered on the back "Holy Bible, e Libris Johannis Milton."

THE RUSSIAN UNCLE TOM'S CABIN.'

3, Rue Rollin, Paris.

SEVERAL biographies attribute to me 'The Russian Uncle Tom,' in English and German. The French manuscript was bought by Messrs. Nelson & Sons, of Edinburgh, and was lost by their reader! They now say that after thirty years they have no damages to offer me. As the case is of interest to all authors, I would like to know your opinion. Mrs. Stowe gained 17,000l. by her 'Uncle Tom,' and thirty years ago the emancipation of the serfs was a most important question for Russia. My 'Russia under Nicholas I.' has had six translations and four contrefactions. An author's heirs may lose all property in his work some years after his death, but the greater the delay of its publication, the greater the damage caused to him. Fame and reputation are certainly difficult to be gained, but still where there is a will there is a way.

Very few of us make more than one copy of their writings, and it has never been my habit

to do more.

IVAN GOLOVIN.

Literary Gossip. SOME verses have appeared in London Society for August which are signed have jumped to the conclusion that they "Thomas Hardy," and the newspapers are from the pen of the author of 'Far from the Madding Crowd.' We are in position to state that this is a mistake, and

a

that the well-known novelist is not the writer of the poem in question.

THE Standard is represented at Alexandria by Capt. Cameron, who did good service for that journal in Afghanistan and Zululand; the Daily News by Mr. Skinner, a veteran war correspondent; while Mr. Drew Gay has ceased to represent the Daily Telegraph, and will be succeeded by Mr. L. Wingfield. Mr. Le Sage, of the last-named journal's editorial staff, is to proceed to Egypt in

order to edit the news sent home.

MR. CHARLES MARVIN, who, by the way, was present at the burial of Skobeleff at

MESSRS. BICKERS & SON have in the press

a new and revised edition of Sir Nathaniel Wraxall's 'Memoirs,' edited by Mr. H. B. Wheatley, F.S.A., from Sir N. Wraxall's own corrected copy, and from a copy annotated by the late Dr. Doran, in which are a large number of original MS. notes by Mrs. Piozzi (Dr. Johnson's Mrs. Thrale). The edition is to contain the posthumous memoirs, and will be in five volumes, uniform with Mr. Mynors Bright's edition of Pepys's 'Diary' by the same publishers.

MR. J. RIDDEL, of 2, Gresham Buildings, Basinghall Street, E.C., is collecting materials for a life of his father-in-law, the late Mr. Edward Hodges Baily, R.A., F.R.S.; and will be obliged for any new facts and material that can be supplied to him.

THE University of Würzburg has, upon the occasion of the celebration of its tercentenary, conferred upon Mr. Fawcett the Economy. A similar degree has also been honorary degree of Doctor in Political conferred upon M. Émile de Laveleye.

Or the hundred subscribers at six pounds each required before the Hellenic Society can take in hand their contemplated reproduction in fac-simile of the Laurentian MS. of Sophocles, forty-three have already been found. The critical preface to be contributed by Prof. Jebb, and the palæographical notes promised by Mr. E. Maunde Thompson, ought to make the work one of interest and value. Intending subscribers, whether libraries or individuals, are requested to forward their names as soon as possible to Mr. George Macmillan, 29, Bedford Street,

Covent Garden.

MR. SAINTSBURY'S 'Short History of French Literature' will be published next month by

the Clarendon Press. The author aims at presenting a complete but succinct history, with full biographical and historical details, of the whole course of French literature, compiled from an examination of that lite rature itself, and not merely from previous accounts of it. Illustrative specimens are given only in book i., which deals with medieval literature; the illustration by extract of the later literature, from Villon to Hugo, being reserved for a separate volume, which is now in preparation.

MR. JOHN HEYWOOD, of Manchester, has in preparation, to be published by suband Cheshire: a Wayfarer's Notes on the scription, "Historic Sites of Lancashire Palatine Counties,' by Mr. James Croston, F.S.A., which is intended to form a companion volume to Mr. Croston's 'Nooks and Corners of Lancashire and Cheshire,' which is now out of print. The forthcoming book will form a crown quarto volume of 450 to 500 pages, and will contain numerous woodcut illustrations.

DR. GEORG BÜHLER, of Vienna, will translate the Laws of Manu for the series of "Sacred Books of the East," edited by Prof. Max Müller.

THE United States Congress, just before its adjournment, confirmed the purchase of the Franklin papers on behalf of the nation from Mr. Henry Stevens.

M. MASPERO is expected in Paris. He has left Boulaq.

NEXT week we hope to publish an indiscovered fragment of Caxton's 'Four Sons teresting letter by Mr. Blades on the newly of Aymon.'

MR. MARVIN has sent us a letter regarding our review of his new work, 'The Russian Advance towards India,' the only important passage in which is:

"The reviewer ridicules my charge against the Royal Geographical Society of indifference to Central Asian research, and speaks of the 'vast of Rawlinson, Yule, &c., and from the recent stores of information' derivable from the papers

lectures of O'Donovan, Stewart, &c. But here again he ignores that I am dealing with the present, not with the past. The vast stores re

ferred to belong to a decade ago, when the detriment of other fields of inquiry more immania for African and Arctic research, to the portant to the interests of our empire, had not developed itself. That the Society did its duty ten years ago or five years ago is no proof that it is doing its duty now. To speak of the Society as encouraging and promoting Central Asian read two lectures to the public, is to me an arguresearch simply by allowing O'Donovan and Stewart, at their own trouble and expense, to

pro

ment too ridiculous to be dealt with." We have no hesitation in describing Mr. Marvin's charge as nonsense. There are various ways adopted by the Society of moting geographical knowledge: by the institution of lectures, invitations to travellers to make known their experiences, grants of rewards to successful explorers, and by publication of researches, &c. It is simply impossible that Mr. Marvin can have taken the trouble to see how much encouragement of this sort has been vouchsafed in regard to Central Asian geography during the period he mentions, or he would never try to uphold such a silly accusation.

SCIENCE

Talks about Science. By the late Thomas Dunman. With a Biographical Sketch by Charles Welsh. (Griffith & Farran.)-A melancholy interest surrounds this little work. At the time of the author's death an obituary notice appeared in this journal, and a detailed sketch of his career is prefixed to the volume before us. Starting in life with the disadvantage of a very limited education, he worked his way into the scientific world by sheer industry and force of character, and ultimately made his mark as a lecturer. To present a scientific topic to a general audience in accurate yet attractive form is by no means an easy matter, and really good popular lecturers are so scarce that Mr. Dunman's death, at the early age of thirty-two, is a loss which can ill be borne. The thirteen lectures which are collected in this volume deal with various branches of zoology and geology,

of physics and physiology, and thus offer sufficient evidence of the author's versatility. They have no pretence either to depth of thought or to originality of treatment; neither is there any attempt at rhetorical display. They are in fact precisely what their title indicates-Talks about Science'; and as such they undoubtedly offer agreeable and instructive reading which will prove serviceable to those who, not caring to force their way into the temple of science, are yet anxious to get an occasional glimpse into its vestibule.

The

Occasional Papers of the Royal Engineer Institute. Vol. VI. 1881. (Stanford.)-In this annual collection of occasional papers are included two prize essays for which gold medals have been awarded-the last of their kind, as it has been decided (wisely we think) to discontinue the offer of prizes for the future. last essay of all, for 1881, by Lieut. R. da Costa Porter, R.E., although ostensibly 'On Warfare with Uncivilized Races,' is in reality a workmanlike summary of the strategy and tactics employed by our forces who were engaged in the late Zulu campaign, in which the author comes to the conclusion, amongst other matters, that the continuous square formation adopted at Ulundi was faulty, and his highly pertinent arguments are urged with as much intelligence as modesty. The more important paper, however, is that of Lieut.-Col. R. Harrison, R.E., which has for the last five years been suppressed, apparently because it contained unpalatable strictures likely to wound the susceptibilities of the officials at the Horse Guards.

Even as

now

published, the omission of offending paragraphs is marked by mysterious asterisks. A certain amount of reticence is permissible in a department, but such diplomacy is surely misplaced in a corps like the Royal Engineers. It has been whispered as an open secret at Chatham that one reason why the prizes have been discontinued was the exposé of confidential details in one of the papers submitted to the committee; but it is difficult for outsiders to appreciate in what manner Lieut.-Col. Harrison's able compendium of Engineer duties can offend, unless it is his temerity in claiming an ampler recognition of the officer commanding R.E. on the field. The suggestions for the better organization of the corps are practical and valuable in the extreme. Of the minor contributions, the most interesting is the account of the geographical operations in Afghanistan by General Walker, R. E., the Surveyor-General of India; and there is also a readable memoir on the boundary line between the Orange Free State and Griqualand West, which supplies full information about details not usually mentioned in ordinary works on surveying. This is by Major Charles Warren, so well known for his work in connexion with the Palestine Exploration Fund; and he has well earned his brevet lieutenant-colonelcy and C. M. G. in South Africa. Lieut. Cotter boldly criticizes the essays

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES.

MESSRS. CROSBY LOCKWOOD & Co. have in the press a third edition of the late Rev. R. Main's Rudimentary Astronomy,' revised and edited by Mr. Lynn.

Several comets have been computed to revolve round the sun in periods of a little more than seventy years. But of these the famous comet known as Halley's is the only one which has actually been observed at more than one return. Great interest, however, is now felt in another, because a second appearance is expected to take place in the course of either this or next year. The uncertainty of the exact length of the period renders the precise time of return to perihelion very doubtful, but MM. Schulhof and Bossert, of Paris, have recently published an approximate ephemeris to assist astronomers in searching for it during the coming autumn. The comet in question was first discovered by Pons at Marseilles on July 20th, 1812, and it was followed for about ten weeks. Encke was the first to show that it moved in an elliptic orbit, and calculated that its period amounted to about 70 68 years. The new discussion of MM. Schulhof and Bossert increases this to about 717 years; but in consequence of perturbations they think it most probable that another perihelion passage will take place towards the middle of next year. As, however, this is somewhat uncertain, it is desirable to commence a search at once. The ephemeris is adapted to several hypotheses as to the length of period.

Another small planet, No. 226, was discovered by Dr. J. Palisa at Vienna on July 19th, being the sixth planetary discovery of the present year, all by the same astronomer.

Dr. Julius Schmidt succeeded in observing Wells's comet at Athens on July 4th, 5th, and 6th, about a quarter before nine o'clock local time, and, notwithstanding the twilight and the position of the comet near the horizon, he found it easily visible. In the Astronomische Nachrichten (No. 2447) he describes

the difficulty he experienced in observing the comet on the day of perihelion passage

(June 10th), making the lower part of one of the shutters of the comet cover the upper part of the aperture of the telescope, so as to shade off as much as possible of the sun's rays, the comet being apparently just below the sun at less than 3 distance. This was about half-past three o'clock in the afternoon. Mr. Maunder saw the comet with the large equatorial at Greenwich at about eight o'clock on the morning of the same day; but it was lost in haze before any measures of its position could be obtained.

The Berliner Astronomisches Jahrbuch for 1884 has just been published under the editorship of Prof. Tietjen. The ephemerides of the small planets are for 1882, and were published in advance early this year. An appendix by Prof. Auwers contains an elaborate comparison of the fundamental star-places in the Jahrbuch with those given in the Nautical Almanac, the Connaissance des Temps, and the American

Ephemeris.

nomical inquiries and investigations appreciate All persons who are ever engaged in astrothe great value of the Repertory of Astronomical Constants given by M. Houzeau, Director of the Royal Observatory at Brussels, in the first volume (new series) of the Annales of that observatory. A new edition, enlarged, improved, and extended, has just been published in the form of a separate book, under the title of VadeMecum de l'Astronome.' It has been prepared with great care, completed up to 1881, and its value to astronomical literature can scarcely be over-estimated.

We have received the Memoirs of the Italian

faculæ

Spectroscopical Society for June. Prof. Riccò has an important paper on the heliographical distribution of the solar spots and during the year 1881. A communication from Prof. Schiaparelli on some topographical observations of the planet Mars at the opposition of 1881-2, accompanied by a drawing, is reprinted from the Transactions of the Royal Lincean Academy. The number concludes with an interesting letter to the editor, Prof. Tacchini, from Dr. Bernard Hasselberg, of Pulkowa, on the spectrum of Wells's comet (a, 1882), and the remarkable appearance, about the beginning of June (to which attention has already been called by others), of a strong yellow band in its spectrum corresponding to the D or sodium band in the solar spectrum. Dr. Hasselberg remarks that although the mere appearance of the band may be explained by the increase of temperature in the cometary mass whilst approaching perihelion, this would not account for the simultaneous enfeeblement of the ordinary spectrum of the carburets of hydrogen. His explanation is that the phenomena observed are chiefly due to electric discharges in the interior of the comet's mass, brought into action under the solar influence, the evaporation of the sodium contained in the comet by the sun's heat causing the appearance at the same time of the yellow or sodium band in the spectrum.

A NEW DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINE. NOTWITHSTANDING the increase in the number of dynamo-electric machines, it is doubtful how far each new one embodies a substantial improvement. Nearly all of them are variations on the machines of Gramme and Siemens. It is possible that an apparently trifling change in the disposition of parts may constitute a real discovery. The last and best form of screw propeller or of paddle-wheel bears a close resemblance to the earliest. Yet a comparatively slight change in the blades has made the screw propellers in common use far more efficient than those first introduced, while feathering floats have so far revolutionized the paddle-wheel as to render it twice as effective as the wheels first employed for the propulsion of steamers. In like manner some readjustment of parts may render

a

dynamo-electric machine practically a new and far more useful invention.

The dynamo-electric machine to which we now call attention is in principle a different one from any other yet produced. It is called the Elphinstone-Vincent, after its joint patentees, Lord Elphinstone and Mr. C. W. Vincent. Without the aid of diagrams it is difficult to give a clear notion of the machine; still we may furnish a general impression of its peculiarities. These were set forth in two papers communicated to the Royal Society in 1879 and 1880. In these papers the inventors of this machine explained the result of their investigations as to the best form of a dynamo-electric machine fitted for producing large quantities of electric currents of high intensity. As the result of exhaustive experiments they found that the nearer the approach to a closed magnetic circuit, the stronger is the field of force and the longer the masses of iron constituting the circuit retain their magnetism. By giving practical application to these principles a dynamo-electric machine has been constructed which, in the opinion of the inventors, possesses the following advantages over any other :Firstly, it is less costly in construction; secondly, it absorbs less horse power in proportion to the current produced; thirdly, it is perfectly safe and remains cool whilst in operation; fourthly, the electro-motive force is sufficiently high to work six arc lamps in series, while the current can be transmitted to very great distances; fifthly, a very small portion of the current suffices to excite the magnets, which, as they increase in magnetic force with use, are kept charged with a trifling absorption of the power required to actuate the machine; sixthly, this machine can be approached with safety and its currents manipulated without loss, no matter how large it may be; lastly, it can furnish motive power and supply arc and incandescent lamps simultaneously. The Elphinstone - Vincent dynamo-electric machine can be made of any size by merely multiplying its several parts, so that a whole town could not only be lighted from one machine, but also supplied with motive power. Should all these anticipations be fulfilled, this machine will largely contribute to solve the problem of electric lighting. Experiments with it on a large scale are now going on.

GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

THE number of the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society for this month contains a noteworthy article descriptive of M. P. M. Lessar's recent journey and survey of the route from Askabad to Sarakhs, an abstract of which, derived from the Russian Invalid, has already appeared in the last Blue-Book on Central Asia. M. Lessar in this preliminary survey evidently contemplates the prolongation of the trans-Caspian railway in this direction, for he frequently refers to it and states that the ground to be traversed is almost uniformly level, the only irregularities which would necessitate the construction of earthworks being found in the form of sandhills between Annau and Gawars. The particulars regarding Sarakhs are interesting. M. Lessar describes it as a large fortress garrisoned by 700 Persian infantry, but the garrison is so useless that a caravan has not unfrequently been pillaged by Tekkes within sight of the walls, and the six antiquated guns in the fort have never been discharged since its erection. The channel of the Tejend river, which flows past the walls, is dry most of the year, water only making its appearance after unusually heavy rains, or when the snow melts in the mountains. Nevertheless Sarakhs is well supplied with water from wells 20 ft. deep inside the fortress, and from a canal derived from a distant and perennially flowing part of the Tejend. Water is also found at the same depth (20 ft.) by digging to the north of Sarakhs, so, as M. Lessar significantly remarks, supposing it were necessary in making the railroad to circumvent the Persian fortress,

The committee appointed by the French Government to examine into M. Roudaire's scheme of flooding a portion of the Sahara has reported adversely. Credit is given to M. Roudaire for his persevering efforts, but it is considered that the cost of carrying out his plans will be quite out of proportion to the advantages to be gained.

A committee, of which Capt. Baratieri is president, has been formed to promote the scheme of Signor Carlo Cesare Benzi and Lieut. U. Grifoni, who propose to explore Eastern Equatorial Africa. Signor C. Gregori intends to devote his energies to a thorough examination of the valley of the Hawash, and the African Society of Milan is about to despatch an agent to Harar.

Brito Capello, Serpa Pinto, and R. Ivens have Portugal is generous to her African explorers. been confirmed in the brevet rank conferred upon them in 1877, they are dispensed from all further services in the colonies, and in addition to their ordinary pay have been granted annuities

of 120l. each.

An International Alpine Congress opened at Vienna on Friday. Its sittings continue till Tuesday.

A clear plan of Alexandria and its harbour has been sent to us by Mr. Wyld. It does not that it does not include Ramleh. Mr. Wyld go much further east than the Rosetta Gate, so has also sent us a map of the Isthmus of Suez.

“Philips' Handy Atlas of the Counties of Scotland, constructed by J. Bartholomew," forms a companion volume to the atlases of England, Wales, and Ireland published by the same firm. In addition to separate maps of each county, some of them unfortunately on a very small scale, there are enlarged maps of the environs of Edinburgh and Glasgow, extracted from Mr. Bartholomew's fine map of all Scotland. The maps are based on the Ordnance Survey, from which all the altitudes are taken; the parishes are distinctly coloured; and there is a consulting

index.

Science Gossip.

PROF. ESMARCH, the celebrated surgeon, has published a lecture which he delivered some months ago before the Physiological Society of Kiel on the treatment of President Garfield's wound. The wound he maintains was not mortal, and the injury to the vertebra could have been healed. The death of the patient was mainly caused by the loose way in which the antiseptic treatment was applied. A great mistake, too, was made in searching for the bullet. Had the American surgeons imitated Von Langenbeck's example, who did not attempt to extract any of the pellets when the German Emperor was wounded, and had the antiseptic treatment been rigorously applied, the President might, the professor maintains, be alive now.

THE City and Guilds of London Institute for the Advancement of Technical Education has published its report. The fourth examination in technology was held on May 24th. The new regulations, in accordance with which this examination was conducted, differed from those of the previous year, but principally in the increased number of subjects of examination; in the substitution of two for three grades; in the permission accorded to candidates to be reexamined in the same grade for a certificate of a higher class; and in the reversion to the rule of examining candidates in one subject only. 1,972 candidates presented themselves at 147 centres in 37 subjects, of whom 1,222 passed. The provincial centres which this year sent up the largest number of successful candidates were Bolton with 124, Glasgow with 109, Manchester with 71, Bradford with 62, and Oldham with 50.

THE Times obituary of Monday last contains the name of Prof. Leith Adams, F.R.S. He was originally a surgeon in the army. He was appointed Professor of Zoology in the Dublin College of Science about nine years ago, and obtained the Chair of Natural History at Cork in 1878. His best known works were Wanderings of a Naturalist in India' and 'Notes of a Naturalist in the Nile Valley and Malta.'

AN extensive manuscript on the brain by Swedenborg has been translated into English by Prof. Tafel, and is now in course of publication, after lying in the library of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm for 140 years. It contains a copious summary of the literature of the brain down to Swedenborg's time, and then his analysis and theory of the facts. To this Prof. Tafel has added an exhaustive account of the science of the brain to this day, and in extensive notes has compared modern science with Swedenborg's views. whole work will consist of four volumes and of about three thousand pages.

The

PROF. EMIL DU BOIS-REYMOND, Professor of Physiology and Director of the Physiological Institute in the University of Berlin, has been elected Rector of the University. He enters upon his duties in the middle of October.

M. BOULEY has disproved the common prejudice that frozen meat putrefies immediately after thawing.

to the Berlin Chemical Society a new class of colouring matters. Acetaniline acted on by chloride of lime at a temperature of 270° cent. produces a beautiful yellow, to which the name of flavaniline is given. On silk fibres the colour is especially brilliant, with a remarkable green fluorescence.

HERREN FISCHER AND RUDOLPH have described

MR. CLEMENT L. WRAGGE and the Scottish

Meteorological Society solicit the assistance of all visitors to Ben Nevis in endeavouring to prevent damage to the meteorological instruOn the 23rd of July ments on the mountain. wanton mischief was done to the thermometers

at the Red Burn Crossing, about 2,700 feet above the sea level. We trust Mr. Wragge's appeal may prevent the wilful repetition of such

an act.

M. SALET, through M. Wurtz, brought before the Académie des Sciences on July 24th a most interesting method for exhibiting the amplitude of telephonic vibrations. On the iron plate of a Bell telephone two small glass discs were fixed giving Newton's rings. On speaking loudly to the telephone at five or six miles distance the rings lose distinctness and disappear. To estimate the displacement by a continuous sound, a disc with slits was rotated before the instrument; with a certain velocity the rings return, and on then blowing through the disc the sound proves to be in unison with that of the telephone.

M. DEMARÇAY at the same Séance communicated some results on the vaporization of metals in vacuo. This was effected at comparatively

M. F. CARRÉ, in a note published in the Comptes Rendus of July 17th, entitled 'Sur les Conditions Industrielles d'une Application du Froid à la Destruction des Germes de Parasites dans les Viandes destinées à l'Alimentation,' says that the importance of giving raw meat to invalids is so well established as to render it important that the absence of trichinæ should be secured. It becomes, therefore, important to ascertain the economic conditions of availing ourselves of the influence of cold, by which the trichinæ are certainly killed. The ammonia machine of Carré in treating 1,000 kilos of meat costs

8 francs, or rather less than 001 franc per

kilo.

FINE ARTS

The EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION of PICTURES by Artists of the British and Foreign Schools is NOW OPEN at THOMAS MCLEAN'S Gallery, 7, Haymarket.-Admission, including Catalogue, ls.

DORE'S GREAT WORKS, CHRIST LEAVING the PRÆTORIUM,' "CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM,' and 'MOSES before PHARAOH,' each 33 by 22 feet. with Ecce Homo, The Ascension,' Dream of Pilate's Wife,' Soldiers of the Cross,' A Day Dream,' &c., at the DORÉ GALLERY, 35, New Bond Street. Daily, Ten to Six.-18.

Lectures on Architecture delivered at the Royal Academy. By E. M. Barry, R.A. Edited by A. Barry, D.D. Illustrated. (Murray.) ENOUGH and more than enough discourses have been delivered at the Academy within the last decade, and it would have been well if fewer of them had been published. There have been good, bad, and indifferent lectures, and we could have spared most of them. The best issued during the last few years are Scott's, the worst we forbear to name. Mr. Barry's lectures promote repose. They do not irritate or challenge attention, like the discourses of James Barry, Opie, and Fuseli; and yet we have been able to read with pleasure considerable portions of them, which could not be said for Howard's, Phillips's, or Smirke's. Of Soane's we know nothing; but they are said to be elegant and instructive.

Unlike Reynolds, Fuseli, Flaxman, Leslie, Scott, Cockerell, and Street, E. M. Barry had little power of expression. His paragraphs, notwithstanding the attention bestowed on them by his brother and editor, are by no means so well arranged as they might have been; his sentences are sometimes slovenly, and their terms confused; therefore, despite the author's sincerity and accomplishments, many parts of this book are hard to read. Lectures on art, if they have any solidity, are rarely otherwise than hard reading. E. M. Barry lacked the power of putting before an audience his meaning in an attractive fashion. As an essayist or critic he would hardly have achieved the success he attained as an architect. Still it is unfortunate that these discourses were compiled and delivered after the author had been broken in spirit. The upshot of his contest with the First Commissioner of Works was nearly as ruinous to the architect as a similar dispute had been to Alfred Stevens, the sculptor of the Wellington Monument. Faithful, accomplished, and unfortunate, Edward Barry was wrecked by his disaster, or these lectures might have shown greater power and more life.

The accomplishments, the common sense, and the disappointments of Edward Barry

are apparent in every lecture of this series. He who built the Endell Street Schools before he was thirty, in a style in which he had not been trained, must have been a remarkable man. He was but twentyseven when he designed the Midland Institute at Birmingham and the Grammar School at Leeds. He built Covent Garden Theatre before he had completed his eightand-twentieth year, and then met with his first disappointment, being thwarted in refirst disappointment, being thwarted in respect to the external design. Nevertheless he went on vigorously, and London received, as the Athenæum stated at the time, the Eleanor Cross at Charing Cross with surprise and thankfulness. There is no harm now

in referring to the glee with which he replied to our own inquiries about the handsome grille before the hotel: "How did you persuade them (the railway company) to erect such a thing?" "Well," he said, "I hardly know myself; but I hope it will prevent them sticking bills all over the front of the hotel." All went well till 1867, when came a confusion of awards, crossawards, and haphazard arrangements about the Law Courts, National Gallery, and Natural History Museum. The upshot of all this was that Edward Barry, who was first in two great competitions, got the least employment and but little honour. Mr. Ayrton next appeared on the scene, and Barry endured slight after slight, disappointment after disappointment. Ill fortune pursued him so closely in all his public commissions that it is difficult to believe that all the facts are known. His troubles, his brother in the introductory memoir before us says, told severely on a naturally sensitive disposition. He described himself as worn out before his time." We trace the effects of this state of things even in the original conception of these discourses. His reverses destroyed the elasticity of his mind. He became willing to accept a popular, that is easy-going, if not superficial, view of his task, and generalized the opinions and conclusions he had previously arrived at. Occasionally, too, these lectures show lack of power to grasp the whole bearings of his subjects, and discursiveness.

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On the other hand, as a series of essays on things architectural in general, dealing with many matters of high public interest from the architect's point of view, there is much that is good in this book and suited to tyros such as Barry assumed the students of the Royal Academy to be. He erred in this assumption, and erred still more in lecturing down to this imaginary level, instead of endeavouring to raise his audience. He was even indifferent to historical facts; for example, when speaking of the development of round-arched Gothic architecture in this country, he (p. 191) talks of the Normans "being cut off from continental associations" as among the causes of the special character of English design. Now and then, and doubtless intentionally, he states large principles incidentally, and conveys instruction without seeming to dictate. Thus, while speaking of corbels, he remarks:

"The medieval architects made their corbels, as indeed they made all their construction, beautiful, as we may see, for instance, at Ely; but to be beautiful architecturally there must be good reason for their use." He proceeds to illustrate the same great

principle in an unobtrusive manner by reference to the changes effected in the Corinthian capital by the Romans.

Had he taken closer views of some of his many subjects Barry might have added greatly to the value of his lectures. As it is, we turn with disappointment from many parts because the author did not search below the surface. For instance, what is said in the fifth lecture about the free towns founded by Edward I. in Guienne and Gascony, e. g., Monpazier, and others which bear the name Villefranche or Villeneuve, and have English types in Hull and Winchelsea, is inconclusive. On this subject Barry might have found abundance of architectural,

political, and social materials, which he does not seem to have sought. The ordinary guide-books tell as much as he does. Turning to architectural matters, we are compelled to differ from the author's opinions about the use of clustered shafts, as in the Presbytery at Lincoln, one of the finest instances, and shafts like those of the choir of Westminster Abbey, about which smaller pillars of a decorative character are grouped. He said (p. 270):—

dral, the effect of the pier with its clustered "In some fine examples, as at Exeter Catheshafts is that of one massive column, enriched by vertical mouldings; while in the choir at Westminster Abbey, on the other hand, we see separate shafts gathered round a central column, which is obviously the support relied on to sustain the superstructure. There is little doubt, I think, that the fourteenth century sound principles. However beautiful the clusmanner is that which is most consonant with ters of separate columns may be in themselves, there is an anomaly in dividing vertically a pier which has to support a great weight, and there is a further constructional disadvantage in building such a pier of different materials, as marble and stone, which vary in their hardness and power to support superincumbent weight."

If we understand the last sentence rightly, the difficulty need not occur if, as was the usual practice, the same material were employed for the column and its satellites. We do not think there is any difference in the architectural or the structural propriety of the respective arrangements, provided always that the central pillar is evidently strong enough to do its duty. The work at Exeter is an unfair example of the clustering of columns, these pillars being little more than reeded piers. The pillars at Dorchester, Oxon, are specimens of a better taste and quality. Barry might have enforced his Own views better by directing his hearers to compare the pillars of the choir at Westminster, which have massive central elements surrounded by four slender detached shafts only, and are banded, with the later pillars of the nave of the same building, which are accompanied by eight engaged shafts, the very banding of which injures their proportions, while the treatment of the caps is not the best. Mere propriety would induce us to prefer to clustering shafts or pillars of any kind the continuous imposts of Antwerp, which carry on the arch-mouldings to the ground without a break and invariably suggest cast iron.