MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

Connected with Literature, Science, and the Fine Arts.

The Meetings of the Scientific Bodies in London for the present month are as follows:-Royal Society, 1st, 22d, 29th; Antiquarian, 1st, 23d, 29th; Linnæan, 6th, 20th; Zoological, 1st, 29th; Horticultural, 6th, 20th; of Arts, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th; of Literature, 7th, 21st, 29th; Geological, 2d, 16th; Astronomical, 7th; Royal Institution, 2d, 23d, 30th; Royal Asiatic, 3d, 17th. The Anniversaries in the same month are, Antiquaries, the 23d; Royal Society of Literature, 29th; Zoological Society, 29th.

There is in the press a volume entitled Oxford English Prize Essays, in which are to be included Academic Efforts of Lords Eldon and Sidmouth, Bishops Burgess, Coplestone, &c.

The Life and Correspondence of Admiral Lord Rodney is in the press. Miss Mitford, we are happy to be able to say, is about to produce a new volume of Country Stories.

There are now in Rome no less than 101 foreign Painters; 3 foreign Sculptors; and 8 Architects. Of the first' description of Artists, 8 are Englishmen; of the second, 8 also; and of the last, 9 are English.

Mr. Moore's second volume of the "Notices" of Lord Byron's Life, &c., is on the eve of appearing.

The literary circles in Paris have been lately agitated by a curious case of literary piracy. A Mr. Defaucoupret had some time ago published a translation of Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe. Another translation, as it purported to be, was prepared by a Mr. A. Montemont, in which, however, it turned out that the first eleven chapters were stolen from the version of the former translator. The matter was brought before the Courts, and the purloiners were mulcted in the sum of 2000 francs, and were also obliged to suppress the said stolen chapters.

Mr. Campbell, the poet, is busily employed in organizing a club to be composed principally of literary men, and thence to be called the Literary Club. No man of the present day could be found to unite a greater number of the qualities necessary to succeed in such an undertaking than Mr. Campbell himself.

The "Travels of Prince Paul of Wirtemberg," is shortly to issue from the New Orleans press.

A very curious paper was recently read before the Society of Antiquaries by Mr. Ellis, a history of Naval Uniform in England. In the time of Queen Elizabeth, it appeared from this communication, the commanders were ordered to dress in scarlet, which they continued to do by royal ordinance until the Commonwealth, and from that period till the time of George the Second, naval officers dressed according to their own fancies, each commander of a vessel having a whim in costume of his own. A letter on the same subject was also read by Mr. Locker, of Greenwich Hospital, who states that the present naval uniform (blue, faced with white) was ordered by George the Second, in consequence of observing the effect of those blended colours, in a riding-dress of the Duchess of Bedford's. Epaulettes, it seems, are quite a modern invention, insomuch, that Nelson, in the early part of his life, threatened to cut two of his naval friends, as intolerable coxcombs, merely because they mounted epaulettes.

Mr. Stapleton, private secretary to the late Mr. Canning, has in the press a History of the Political Life of that Minister, from his acceptance of the seals, in September, 1822, to his demise.

The Meteor steam vessel, Lieut. W. H. Symous, is the first steam ship that has ever conveyed the Foreign Post Office Mail. Her first trip was from Falmouth, on the 5th February, to the Mediterranean.

Sir Thomas Lawrence's will has been proved in Doctors' Commons, and the personal property sworn as under 45,000l.

The Baron de Humboldt does not intend to publish an account of his excursion to the Ural mountains of Siberia.

A project is now seriously contemplated for converting Primrose Hill into a cemetery, after the fashion of Père la Chaise at Paris. Plans and elevations have already been drawn, and it is proposed to accomplish the object by raising a fund of 400,000l. by subscription. It is a fact of some importance, with reference to this plan, that the number of bodies annually buried in London is 30,000.

The Netherlands have a circulation of 60,000 sheets of Newspapers a day; France has 72,380; and England 70,270: being at the rate of 1 to every 100 persons in the Netherlands, 1 to every 437 in France, and I to every 184 in England.

The Custom-house regulations respecting the importation of foreign books and prints are these:-All maps and prints which merely illustrate works of literature are exempt from the duty, as they pass with the book, being included in the 57. per cent. But when the letter-press is only an explanation of the prints which it accompanies, they are liable to a separate duty.

A Tale from the elegant pen of Mr. Mc. Farlane, author of the popular work on Turkey, is announced. It is entitled the Armenians, and is intended to illustrate the manners and habits of the Turks and Armenians. It appears from a list furnished by the police authorities to the prefect of police at Paris, that the number of English residing at present in different places in France is as follows:-Paris, 14,500; Versailles, 2080; St. Germain, 150; Tours, 2795; Bourdeaux, 965; Bareges, 80; Montpellier, 300; Marseilles, 120; Lyons, 60; Fontainbleau, 30; St. Quentin, 200; Dunkirk, 500; St. Omer, 700; Boulogne, 6800; Calais, 4550; other places, 1865. Total, 35,695.

On the 2d of April will be completed Vol. 1 of the National Portrait Gallery, containing thirty-six highly finished portraits of illustrious and eminent individuals of the nineteenth century. Edited by W. Jerdan, Esq. F.S.A. &c. &c.

IN THE PRESS. -Four Discourses, by William Hul!.-The first volume of a Treatise on Optics, containing the Theory of Impolarized Light, by the Rev. Humphrey Lloyd, A.M., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.— The second edition of a volume of Sermons, by the Rev. Charles Tayler.Theological Meditations, by a Sea Officer, in one vol. demy 12mo.-The Nature and Properties of the Sugar Cane: with practical directions for improving its Culture, and for the manufacture of its various products, by Mr. G. R. Porter.-The Effects of the late Colonial Policy of Great Britain, by Mr. Barclay.-Four splendid and accurate Views of the Frigates Shannon and Chesapeake; shewing their various positions, &c. during the action, fought on the 1st of June, 1813, most beautifully drawn on stone, by Mr. Haghe, under the inspection of Capt. R. H. King, R.N.

Three Courses and a Dessert, with Fifty Engravings, from Original 617 Drawings, by George Cruikshank. Conversations for the Young, by the Rev. Richard Watson.-Daniel and John's Prophecies Unsealed; or, Adam's Resurrection.-Panorama of the Maine, from Mayence to Frankfort, drawn from Nature, by F. W. Delkeskamp, accompanied with a description of the places on each bank of the river, and a minute Account of Frankfort.-Panoramic View of the most remarkable objects in Switzerland, taken from Mount Righi, by Henry Keller, to which is attached a circular view of Switzerland, from the same station, by General Pfyffer, accompanied with descriptive letter-press.-A Statement of the Nature and Objects of the course of study, in the class of Logic, and the Philosophy of the Human Mind, in the University of London, by the Rev. John Hoppus, A.M.-Travels in Russia.-Treatise on the Steam Engine.-Present Land Tax in India.-Garrick Papers.- Knowles's Fuseli. Croly's Poetical Works.-Rise and Progress of the English Commonwealth.-Game of Life, by L. Ritchie.-Memoirs of the Right Rev. John Thomas James, D.D. Lord Bishop of Calcutta, are nearly ready; they are gathered from his Letters and Memorandums, by Edward James, M.A., Prebendary of Winchester, and Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of the Diocese; with the Charge the Bishop delivered at his visitation at Calcutta, in June, 1828.-A Discourse on the Authenticity and Divine Origin of the Old Testament, with Notes and Illustrations, translated from the French of J. E. Cellérier, formerly Pastor, now Professor of Hebrew and of Sacred Criticism and Antiquities, in the Academy of Geneva, by the Rev. John Reynell Wreford.

Hernani. The triumphant success of this Tragedy, at Paris, has given the romantic party a decided advantage over the classic school. As this piece nearly absorbs the attention of the Parisians at this moment, we shall give the plot of it. The story and character are Spanish. Hernani, the son of a nobleman, being of an adventurous mind, attaches himself to banditti, after, however, having fallen in love with Donna Sole, who returns his affection. This girl is also admired by Don Carlos, who afterwards became Charles 5th of Spain. She has a third lover in the person of an antiquated, disagreeable, but importunate uncle, Don Gomez, with whom she resides. Under the oppression of the uncle's power, and, by various arts, the lady consents to a union with her relation. Whilst preparations for the wedding are going on, Hernani arrives in disguise, and, being pursued by the King and his men-at-arms, Don Gomez takes him under his protection, and secures him in a secret place. To all the King's entreaties the old man is firm, refusing to do an act contrary to the laws of hospitality. At last the royal pursuer is silenced by the offer of the lady to yield herself as a hostage for Hernani, and his majesty and train withdraw. This affair being over, the jealousy of the uncle returns against his guest, on whom he now looks only as a successful rival, and he provokes him to fight; but Hernani declines, and contents himself with giving a horn to Don Gomez, declaring to him, at the same time, in the most solemn manner, that whenever the sound of that instrument should reach his ears, that instant he would kill himself. arises now to call upon both to unite their efforts in a common object,— An event namely, to prevent Don Carlos from being elected Emperor. Hernani even attempts his person, for which Charles generously pardoned him, after his elevation to the throne, and further, gave him permission to marry Donna

Silvia. The tragedy, then, so far, appears likely to run the ordinary course of all comedies, and terminate in matrimony; but that would never do,so old Gomez, sooner than see his niece united to his rival, avails himself of the effectual means of preventing it which Hernani left at his disposal. He winds the horn; the fatal sounds are obeyed by Hernani; he swallows poison; his intended bride follows his example; and Don Gomez completes the catastrophe by stabbing himself. Of this tragedy, full of the most striking innovations on the French Drama, a parody has been got up at the Porte St. Martin, and it is admirably humorous and pointed. The title is Ni Ni, a drama in Rhythmical Prose, translated from the Goth by a Vandal. Music by a Hun.' As a specimen of the manner in which the caricature has been done, we may mention one instance, in which the satire is not less amusing than it is critically just. The tragedy would appear to have its natural termination, as we already mentioned, where Charles pardons Hernani, and sanctions his marriage; this ends the fourth act. The parodist imitates the fault; but before the fifth act commences, which is to protract the action, and give it a different turn, one of the actors, gravely habited, and with a face of melancholy, comes forward, and begs to know from the audience if they will allow a few more last words. Two more volumes, completing the literary labours of the celebrated Burckhardt, will shortly make their appearance. They are occupied chiefly with an account of the Wahabys, and Bedouins, and the modern Egyptians.

Paganini, the celebrated artist on the violin, is shortly expected in England. The great superiority of this performer is said to consist in an astonishing and unexampled effect which he produces on the fourth, or bass string, alone.

The first Valet de Chambre of Napoleon, M. Constant, is about to give us the late Emperor in his Slippers, we do not know in how many volumes. This valet was only eight days absent during sixteen years of personal attendance on his imperial master.

Mr. Rankin, of Bristol, will shortly publish a Familiar Treatise on Life Assurances and Annuities, comprising a Historical Sketch of the Origin, Progress, and Present State of the Science, and of Life Asssurance Offices, together with Observations on the Duration of Human Life, and on Various Objects of Interest connected with the subject.

Dr. Bowring again! Ecce iterum Crispinus! We have received, since our last Number, an Epistle, left at our office, like an infant in a basket, in a most anonymous predicament. It is, however, so comically extravagant, that we have no hesitation in at once swearing it to Dr. Bowring. They are as like as two eggs. The Doctor complaineth; he is wroth at the familiarity of our reprehension, and can never forgive us for so unmercifully putting him in the pillory of a doggrel chorus beside the shade of the unfortunate Miss Bailey. Now all this, Dr. Bowring ascribes to personal malice on our part-sheer envy, no doubt, being the proximate cause. Malice indeed-The Monthly Review entertain malice against Dr. Bowring? Marry, but this is a more exqusite song than the other. Does any man imagine that Lord Tenterden is actuated by personal ill-will against the offender on whom he passes the just sentence of the law? But this is the way with all these delinquents. Convicted on the fairest evidence, they have no other resource than some such recrimination as this—“ Its all a conspiracy; and judge and jury are at the bottom of it. Poor Jack is as innocent a lad as the babe unborn; so help me,"-and the fellow raps

out an oath.

MONTHLY LIST OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS,

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

MEDICINE AND SURGERY.

Seymour's Diseases of the Ovaria, 8vo.. with plates, 1. 1s. Od.

Hennen's Medical Topography of Gibraltar,
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Morley on Diseases of Children, 8vo. 9s.
Addison on Females, 8vo. 5s.
Abernethy's Lectures on the Theory and
Practice of Surgery, 8vo. bds. 8s.