was 1,025, of whom 307 were quadrupeds, 704 birds, and 14 reptiles. The expenses of the giraffes had been fully defrayed by the additional receipts of the past year, and only one had died, owing to a disease contracted before its arrival in this country. The number of specimens in the Museum was 6,720, including 170 quadrupeds, 4,800 birds, 450 reptiles, and 600 fishes. The number of visitors during the past year was 3,668. The Earl of Derby was re-elected president; Charles Drummond, esq., treasurer; and William Yarrell, esq., secretary. Lords Braybrooke and Milton, J. P. Boileau, W. S. Macleay, W. Clift, B. Bond Cabbell, and J. E. Gray, esqrs., were elected members of council, HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. May 1. The anniversary meeting was held in Regent-street, Thomas Andrew Knight, esq. president, in the chair. Doctor Lindley read the report of the auditors, which congratulated the members on the continued advantages derived from the present system of management; bonds to the extent of 2,5007. having been cancelled during the past year, whilst a further sum of 1,000l. with interest, would be paid off in the ensuing month. The income for the past year was 7,7741. 58.; and the surplus of this over the expenditure was 2,4227. 19s., notwithstanding a considerable extra expenditure had taken place; of which was 977. in liquidation of the debts of the late Mr. David Douglas; 1207. 16s. 6d. for the outfit and expenses of a collector sent to Mexico, who arrived in the middle of January last, in good health, at Guanaxuato; and 5321. 98. for additional buildings at the gardens. The outstanding debt was now reduced to 13,5547. 158; whilst the assets were estimated at 28,6251. 158. T. A. Knight, esq. was re-elected president; Thomas Edgar, esq. treasurer; and G. Bentham, esq. secretary. The Duke of Devonshire, Hon. W. S. Strangways, and L. Holland, esq., were elected into the council. ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. April 26. The first general meeting of this society (which was formed on the 21st of October last) was held at the Thatched House Tavern, in St. James's-street; N. A. Vigors, esq. M.P., in the Chair. There were also present the Earl of Orkney, Sir John Paul, Bart., &c. &c. Since the last meeting 127 new members have joined the society; and the Duke of St. Alban's, the Earl of Derby, and other noblemen had made the society presents of valuable birds. Several birds belong ing to the society have already been placed in the enclosure of St. James's Park; and it is in the contemplation of the Committee to make an application to Government for a plot of ground for the use of the society, on the plea that the hardy birds belonging to the society would be exhibited to the public in the Parks. The objects of the society are to be obtained by the exhibition of living birds; the propagation and dispersion of the domesticated races; a museum; library; periodical meetings; ornithological lectures; the publication of ornithological works - scientific and practical; and prize shows. In the living specimens, the rasorial genera, and their types, will be particularly attended to, as being most beautiful and attractive, pre-eminently domestic, and practically useful. The hardy birds will be gratuitously exhibited in the Parks; those for which buildings are required to be seen by the public on payment of a small admission fee. The duplicate birds and eggs will be distributed among the members. A prize of the value of 157. or 207. will be given annually for the best paper on Systematic Ornithology, in elucidation of the power, wisdom, and goodness of God. Another of the value of 107. for the breeding of Foreign Birds and a third of the value of 51. for the best method of keeping alive in this country such Foreign Birds as will not breed. STATISTICAL SOCIETY. May 15. The following papers were received: Some account of the statistics of Prostitution in Berlin, by Bisset Hawkins, M.D. Abstract of an enquiry made by a committee of the Central Education Society, into the population of Calmel buildings, a very populous Irish colony in the parish of Marylebone. On the movement of the populations of England and Sweden throughout seventy-five years ending with 1830, by T. R. Edmonds, esq. SOCIETY OF ARTS. May 10. A gold Isis medal was awardcd to Mr. Ross for an improvement in the adjustment of the object glasses of compound microscopes of high magnifying powers; and the large silver medal to Mr. Kingston, of Woolwich Dock yard, for a safety blow-off pipe for the boilers of marine steam-engines. Reports were read on Mr. Cottam's mode of oiling the pistons of high pressure steam-engines; also on Mr. Smith's plan of economising the waste steam of a high pressure engine. The new communications announced were from Mr. Marsh, on percussion tubes for cannon; from Captain Ericson, on a new weighing machine; from Mr. Walters, on reflectors for street gas lights; and from Mr. Dunchell, on an improved mode of tuning pianofortes. These se veral communications were referred to the respective committees. OXFORD UNIVERSITY. The prizes for the present year have been decided as follows:-English Essay "The concurring causes which assisted the promulgation of the religion of Mahomet," Claughton, B. A. Fellow of University College.-Latin Verse-" Marcus Crassus a Parthis devictus," J. J. Randolph, Student of Christ Church.English Verse, (Newdigate) Gipsies," Arth. Penrhyn Stanley, Scholar of Balliol College.-Ellerton's Theological Prize Essay." The Mission of John the Baptist,"-C. G. Hulton, B. A. of Brasenose. KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON. "The April 29. The annual meeting took place, the Archbishop of Canterbury in the chair. From the report it appeared that the number of regular students and pupils at Christmas last, was as follows:-Senior department, 112; medical department, 65; junior department, 380; total, 563. Occasional students entered in 1836:-Senior department, 54; medical department, 108; total 162. Grand total, 725. The report went on to state that the council, with the consent of the governors, have elected to the office of Principal the Rev. Hugh James Rose, B.D., and that Joseph Henry Green, esq. Professor of Surgery, and Herbert Mayo, esq., having resigned. the council found it expedient that they should re-consider the whole of the appointments in the school of medicine and the department of natural history. The following appointments have accordingly taken place:-R. Partridge, esq., to the Professorship of Anatomy; T. Watson, esq., M.D. to the Professorshsip of Practice of Medicine; R. B. Todd, esq., to the Professorship of Physiology and General and Morbid Anatomy; J. M. Arnott, esq., to the Professorship of Surgery; T. R. Jones, esq., to the Professorship of Comparative Anatomy; T. Bell, esq., to the Professorship of Zoology; F. Royle, esq. M.D., to the Professorship of Materia Medica; J. R. Fergus, esq., M.D., to the Professorship of Forensic Medicine. May 13. The distribution of prizes to the Medical School took place, the Bishop of London presiding in the absence of of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Chairman delivered the prizes to the successful candidates in the following order; Anatomy, Alfred Smee; Physiology, Alfred Smee; Botany, F. O. Ward; Chemistry, R. J. Spitta; Materia Medica, T. Bartram; Surgery, W. Furnival; Medicine, W. Furnival; Midwifery, W. H. Pritchard, Comparative Anatomy, W. H. Pritchard. Professor Arnot announced the result of the examination by the professors at large for the two gold medals for general medical proficiency, and those prizes were delivered accordingly to the undermentioned students, viz. :- First Prize to F. E. M'Dougall. Second ditto, W. H. Pritchard. LONDON UNIVERSITY. May 6. The annual distribution of prizes at the London University took place, Earl Fitzwilliam presiding. The report of the state and progress of the Medical School showed that the students in attendance on the various classes were annually augmenting, and now formed a total of 446. After the prizes had been awarded, the Noble Chairman expressed his gratification at witnessing the joyful feelings with which they were received. Among the fortunate candidates for prizes on this occasion were — - Anatomy: Gold Medal, F. W. Mackenzie, Clifton; 8th Certificate, W. T. Elliott, Portsmouth. Anatomy and Physiology; 6th Certificate, E. Wooldridge, Chichester; 11th do., H. J. Carter, Exeter; 12th do., G. Mottley, Portsmouth. Practice of Medicine; Gold Medal, J. D. George, Romsey. Surgery; 1st Silver Medal, F. W. Mackenzie, Clifton; 8th Certificate, J. M. Gane, Frome; 12th do., N. Chapman, Kingston; 14th do., J. Prankerd, Langport, Somerset, Midwifery; Gold Medal, F. W. Mackenzie; 10th Certificate, J. Prankerd; 12th do., C. Sprague, Clevedon, Somerset; 16th do.; J. M. Gane. Medical Jurispudence; 2nd Certificate, E. Overbury, Cheltenham. Chemistry; 2nd Silver Medal, J. D. George; 6th Certificate, C. McLeod, Cheltenham; 14th do., J. Blake, Gosport. Comparative Anatomy; H. J. Carter, Exeter. May 20. A general meeting of proprietors was held in the Amphitheatre of the University, for the purpose of electing a vice-president of the College, and 19 members of council, to co-operate with the president, treasurer, and three members of council named in the charter, thus constituting a court of 24 members. The Duke of Somerset, on being called to the chair, briefly opened the business of the day. After which the following proprietors were elected. The chairman for vice president. For the council-Mr. James Booth, Dr. Boot, Mr. Samuel Duckworth, Mr. Ewart, M.P., Mr. J. L. Goldsmid, Mr. G. B. Greenough, Mr. E. N. Hurt, Mr. R. Hutton, Mr. J. T. Leader, Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., M.P. Mr. J. R. Mills, Mr. J. L. Prevost, Mr. J. Romilly, Mr. H. C. Robinson, Mr. E. Strutt, M. P., Mr. T. Thornely, M.P., Mr. H. Warburton, M.P., Mr. Weymouth, and Mr. J. Wood. BRITISH MUSEUM. According to the annual account lately presented to Parliament the salaries of the officers, assistants, &c. for the year 1836 amounted to 11,8267. 2s. 9d. The proposed estimate for the present year increases this sum to 15,2241. 28. 8d.; the whole grant required for the support of the establishment being only 29,4007. about 7,000l. more than that for 1836. A considerable portion of this increase is in consequence of a recommendation of the committee of the House of Commons to augment the salaries of the officers, in order that their whole time and services might be devoted to the Museum ; and in this case it is stated that they are not to hold any other situation "conferring emolument or entailing duties." Accordingly, we understand the salary of the principal librarian has been raised from 500. to 8001. per annum; that of the secretary from 1007. to 7007. this officer having resigned the keepership of the MSS. The conservators of departments have now each 6007. instead of 4201. per annum, and the salaries of their assistants and other subordinate officers have also been augmented. The following are the newly adopted regulations of admission :-The public are admitted to the British Museum on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, between the hours of ten and four, from the 7th of September to the 1st of May; and between the hours of ten and seven, from the 7th of May to the 1st of September. Persons applying for the purpose of study or research are admitted to the reading rooms every day, from nine o'clock in the morning until four in the afternoon, between the 7th of September and the 1st of May; and until seven in the evening between the 7th of May and the 1st of September. Artists are admitted to study in the galleries of sculpture every day, between the hours of nine and four, except Saturday. The Museum is closed between the 1st and 7th of January, the 1st and 7th of May, and the 1st and 7th of September, and on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Christmas Day, and also on any special fast or thanksgiving days ordered by authority. We have the pleasure to add that Government has resolved to propose, in the House of Commons, a vote for the grant of 1,5751. to enable the trustees of the British Museum to purchase the collection of shells belonging to W. J. Broderip, esq. offered by him at the price of 1,500 guineas. They have been valued, by Messrs. Turner and Sowerby, experienced dealers, at 16401. 12s. 6d. and the trustees have received favourable opinions from their officers, Messrs. Children and Gray. The following is an extract from Mr. Gray's letter to Mr. Children, dated June 1, 1836:-"The collection consists of nearly 3,000 specimens, and contains about 200 species, or very distinct varieties, that are altogether wanting in the already extensive collection of the British Museum: such is the beauty of the specimens, in consequence of the great attention paid by Mr. Broderip to the purchase of none but the finest that could be procured, and so remarkable are the deviations in form and colouring in the several series of the more variable species, that nearly every individual specimen of able to our collection, either in replacing the remaining portion will also be valua much inferior specimen, or as rendering more complete the series which we already possess. The duplicates to be displaced will be few, and will, for the reasons above given, be taken in every instance from our present collection, and not from among the specimens in the new acquisition. A very large proportion of the species contained in this collection, and wanting in the British Museum, are among the rarest shells that are known to exist, and many are absolutely unique.” RICHMOND LITERARY INSTITUTION. A Literary and Scientific Institution has been established at Richmond, in Surrey. The first meeting was held at the Castle Hotel, on Wednesday, May 10th, and was attended by upwards of 200 persons; amongst whom were Sir Henry Baker, Bart. Rev. S. Demainbray, Rev. Dr. Jones, of Bedfont, C. P. Garrick, esq. &c. An address was delivered by William Chapman, esq. Hon. Sec., followed by a Lecture on Astronomy by Dr. Lardner. GREEK MANUSCRIPTS. Among the collections which M. Von Davidoff, Chamberlain to the Emperor of Russia, obtained in a tour through Greece and Asia Minor, and which, during his visit to Berlin, he communicated to many of the literati and artists of that city, there are a number of Greek MSS. from the monasteries of Mount Athos, formerly so celebrated for their literary treasures. Many of the MSS. are remarkable for the beautiful miniatures, which, in some instances, bear extraordinary traces of the antique, and in others, indicate the influence of the Oriental style. Six MSS. on parchment, very neatly written, and partly in letters of gold, and richly ornamented, contain the four Gospels. Considerations, founded on the history of the arts, are said to prove that these MSS. are of the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries. Only one of them, however, has a date. It was finished on the 14th of October, in the year 6508 of the Byzantine era, or 999 of the Christian era. Another beautiful MS. on parchment, of the Acts of the Apostles and of all the Epistles, is of the eleventh or twelfth century, and richly ornamented with paintings. But the greatest attention was excited by a MS. of the Commentary of Simplicius on the Physics of Aristotle. On comparing it with the Aldine edition of 1526, some differences appear, but unhappily there is the same hiatus at the end of the third book. The MS. has the following superscription, which is not in the printed edition: Σχόλια ἀπὸ φωνῆς ̓Αμμόνιον φιλόσοφον εἰς τὸ πρῶτον βιβλίον τῆς φυσικῆς ἀκροάσεως. By this the work is referred to the oral communications of the philosopher Ammonius, whom Simplicius, in this same commentary, calls his guide and teacher. This MS. which was obtained in the monastery of Lawra, is peculiarly interesting as a specimen of the learned diligence (which is well known) of the Byzantine ladies of rank. It appears, from some Greek verses prefixed to the MS. that it was "written by the Emperor's niece Theodora, of the family of the Dukas, Kommeni and Paleologi, wife of the excellent Raoul." Theodora, daughter of N. Cantacuzeno, and of Eulogia, niece of the Emperor Michael VIII. was married in 1257 to George Muzalo; and he having been murdered before her face in the church, she married, about the year 1260, the Protovestiarius John Raoul. She is known to us, from the Byzantine histo.. rians, as a learned lady, who, after the reconquest of Constantinople in 1261, built the convent of St. Andrew, and lived there, entirely devoted to the sciences, in learned intercourse with the celebrated patriarchs Arsenius and Gregory of Cyprus. It was here, probably, that she wrote the MS. of Simplicius, certainly before the year 1282, which was the last of the reign of the Emperor her uncle, mentioned in the prefixed verses. NATURAL HISTORY IN GREECE. A Society of Natural History has been established in Athens. It was addressed at its first meeting by M. Nicholäides Levadiefs, a medical officer under the Greek government. After pointing out the advantages to be derived from agriculture, of which the Greeks are now comparatively ignorant, although Sicily, a Grecian colony, was in ancient times the granary of Rome, and after adverting to Holland and England, as proofs of what skill and industry might do even with an ungrateful soil, and under comparatively rude climates, M. Levadiefs proceeded as follows: — "The Greeks formerly worked silver mines in Attica and in some of the islands in the Archipelago; but gold came to them through Mace donia and Thrace, from Pannonia and Illyria. Hence the gold coins of ancient Greece are so few, while those of the MaThe cedonian kings are still numerous. marble quarries of Pentelicus and Paros are too well known to need being mentioned. Chromium has been found in Euboea; Milos is rich in sulphur, vitriol, Naxos maintains a trade in emery; Sanand alum; Siphnas possesses silver ores; torin is rich in steatite, or soap-stone, which is much sought for, chiefly to make the luting of water-pipes. I shall not say anything of our numerous mineral springs, the waters of which are so serviceable to suffering humanity. Unfortunately, mines cannot be expected to repay the cost of working them, unless where coals are at hand and in abundance. It shall therefore be the business of the Society of Natural History to prosecute the much-desired examination, as to the nature and quality of the stone-coal discovered at Negropont and at Argos, and to report on the uses to which it may be applied, whether as fuel for domestic purposes or for the making of gas; whether it be adopted for the use of furnaces, or smithies, and for steam navigation." THE ENDLESS LADDER. A patent has recently been obtained for a most ingenious and useful machine adapted to mining and many other pur. poses, where the main object is to raise or lower weights and packages in constant succession. This simple but very effectual contrivance consists of an endless ladder, made either of chain or rope, which passes under and over two revolving drums or cylinders, mounted upon horizontal axes; one placed at the bottom, and the other at the top of a shaft or plane, to or from which the ladder is intended to reach. A continuous motion being given to either of the cylinders by the power of steam or animal force, the endless ropes or chains, furnished with horizontal staves, like those of a common ladder, are made to circulate over the revolving cylinders by which they are distended, so that one part of this endless ladder is continually ascending with a slow but uniform motion from the lowermost of the cylinders to the uppermost, whilst, vice versa, the other part of the ladder is descending to the lowermost in an uninterrupted circulation. STEAM PLOUGH. April 18. A deputation named by the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland met at Red Moss, near Bolton, according to appointment, to inspect the steam-plough invented by Mr. Heathcoat, M.P. for Tiverton, and working under the direction of Mr. Parkes, engi neer. The deputation was composed of the Marquess of Tweeddale, Vice-President, Sir John S. Forbes, Mr. Oliphant, M.P. and other Members, with Mr. Gordon, the secretary. The machine has been made by Mr. Heathcoat to operate in the first instance on moss, in which it is very efficient. The engine is of 15-horse power, and the plough is attached by an iron band of the width of about two inches. The length of the furrow in the ground operated upon was 304 yards, breadth 18 inches, and depth 9 inches. The furrows were cut on an average in four minutes and a half, which is equal to about half an acre turned over by the hour. The deputation, and many other gentlemen present, from different parts of the United Kingdom, expressed themselves highly gratified by the efficiency of the machinery. ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES. SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. May 4. Thomas Amyot, esq. Treasurer, in the chair. Signor Campanari exhibited a copy of an Etruscan painting in fresco, discovered in Vulcia. It represents two figures, about three feet in height; a Pluto seated, and Proserpine standing before him. The drawing both of the figures and the drapery is nearly perfect. Mr. C. R. Smith, F.S.A. exhibited several penates, or small Roman statues of brass, drawn up in January last from the bed of the Thames near Londonbridge. Some are in his own collection, and others in that of R. F. Newman, esq. F.S. A. the comptroller of the Bridgehouse estates. They consist of an Apollo, a Mercury, an Atys, a priest of Cybele, the fragment of a Jupiter, and some other portions. From the beauty and perfection of their forms, Mr. Smith considers them to be of Greek workmanship. In his accompanying dissertation he entered into a lengthened discussion on the ancient mythologies. May 11. Henry Hallam, esq. V.P. The following gentlemen were elected fel ows:-Mr. William Hardy, of the Duchy of Lancaster Office; William Horton Lloyd, esq. of Park-square West, Regent's Park; and William Fuller Maitland, esq. of Park Place, Berks, B.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge. Robert Bigsby, esq. F.S.A. presented an oil picture of William Burton, esq. the topographer of Leicestershire, painted in 1604 when he was in his 29th year. It is a good and pleasing picture. The portrait which forms the frontispiece to his History, and of which there are copies in Richardson's Illustrations of Granger, and in Nichols's Leicestershire, was taken eighteen years after, when the historian was in his 47th year. The commencement was read of a dissertation by Dr. C. Leemans of Leyden, on the inscriptions of three Roman monuments found near Cirencester (the same which are engraved in our present number.) The Society adjourned (over Whitsun week) to May 25. : It STONE COFFINS FOUND IN CHEAPSIDE. Two stone coffins were found on the 14th Jan. under the carriage road opposite No 16, Cheapside. They lay at the depth of seven feet six inches beneath the present surface; each contained a skeleton, placed with the feet towards the east. No covers were found and one peculiarity of their construction is that the upper ends were formed into the segment of a circle. There was the usual cavity in each for the admission of the head of the corpse. is not easy to determine whether these coffins are of the Romano-British or of the Saxon period; they are most probably however of the latter. Sir Christopher Wren laid the foundation of Bow church on a Roman causeway, which the labourers met with at eighteen feet below the modern street. The coffins lately found were therefore placed on a factitious accumulated superstratum deposited subsequently to the Roman age. The London surface has gained about a foot perhaps in each century by fortuitous accumulation. Supposing this accumulation to begin |