422 Memoirs of the Hereditary Prince of Hesse-Homburg. [June 1, turner in wood, for a method of making wooden clogs for pattens, or soles for shoes, commonly called Devonshire clogs. April 8. WILLIAM CHURCH, Clifton-street, gent. for improvements in the Steam Engine.April 8. GILBERT LANG and ROBERT SMITH, printers, Glasgow, for a mode of producing the Sevres new deep and pale reds by topical mordants, and a pale blue discharge on said reds.-April 11. ROBERT CLAYTON, Dublin, artist, for a method of depositing or inserting certain metals or a mixture of metals in wood, ivory, bone, horn, paper and pottery ware, whereby the old and tedious process of inlaying may be superseded, and the same effects be permanently produced in a shorter time and a less expense than by any other process now in use.-April 16. WILLIAM CRAWSHAY the younger, of Cyfarthfa Ironworks, Glamorganshire, esq. and DAVID MUSHET of Coleford, Gloucester, iron-master, for their improvement for manufacturing bar or other iron from certain refuse, slags or cinders in the smelting of copper ores in the manufacturing of copper.-April 18. MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. THE late union between the Princess Elizabeth and the hereditary Prince of Hesse-Homburg must naturally give an interest to all that relates to the history of that Prince and his illustrious family. We therefore feel great pleasure in being enabled to lay before our readers the following Memoir of the House of HesseHomburg, and the hereditary Prince, which we can assure them is derived from the most authentic sources. The history of Homburg, which was formerly called Hohenberg and Hohnburg, is enveloped in obscurity. It belonged in the 12th century to the dynasty of Eppenstein, as imperial Waldgraves of the Seulberg and Hobemark. In the year 1486 it became a part of the county of Hanau-Munzenburg, and in 1521, under Philip the Magnanimous, it fell into the possession of the united house of Hesse. In 1602, on the division of the Hessian territories, the bailiwick of Homburg became the property of the Landgrave George I. of Darmstadt. Twenty years afterwards, Louis V. resigned it in favour of his brother Frederick I. the founder of the line of Hesse-Homburg. Being somewhat reduced, misunderstandings arose with the female line, which lasted upwards of 150 years. In 1768, through the imperial mediation, an advantageous stipulation was entered into, which was confirmed by the marriage of the present reigning Landgrave, Frederick V. to Carolina, daughter of the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt. The white tower, which was repaired by Frederick-Jacob, is stil! standing. It is a part of the old castle. If not originally constructed by the Romans, it at least contains (built into the walls) several Roman monumental stones, which must have been dug up in the neighbourhood. The present castle was built in 1680 by the Landgrave Frederick II. the Hero of Fehrbellin, of whom there is an equestrian statue, and a metal bust over the castle gates. Frederick II. was the benefactor of his little territories, and received exiled Waldenses, and other industrious religious emigrants, who settled in Dornholzhausen, New Homburg, and Friedrichsdorf. To the present Prince, the good and the wise, the happy father of six heroic sons and five lovely and accomplished daughters, the favourite of the Muses and the friend of Nature, Homburg is indebted, among other salutary arrangements, for the tasteful improvements with which he has embellished his paterual residence, and which diffuse peculiar charms over that romantic district. But this humane and learned prince implants many other memorials in the hearts and souls of his people. It may indeed with truth be said that nature destined him for a prince. His character is noble and resolute, his temper in every respect amiable and gracious. With a powerful understanding, greatly improved by study, his information is various and extensive, and he is particularly intimate with the history of his native land. He is a lover of nature, and his most favourite recreation is to walk or ride out in the evening unattended, to visit the plains of Homburg, or the neighbourhood of the Schlangenbad.* The con The waters of the Schlangenbad, which are peculiar in their kind, bear some resemblance to the Baths of Mochingen. of the nerves, cramps, &c. The springs They are particularly salutary in disorders through the cure of a diseased cow. Chewere discovered about 200 years ago, mists have in vain endeavoured to analyze these waters; but the cures they have operated speak sufficiently in their favour. They |