arts were lately gratified with the novel kind of exhibition at Lansdowne house. The great attraction was the Venus de Medicis, which, after lying under ground for nearly 2000 years, was discovered lately among the ruins of Pompeii. This is the original renowned statue, and pronounced such by Canova, who, when he first discovered it, was seized by such an extravagant fit of enthusiasm, as induced common people to suppose that his

intellects were disordered. It is considered as the finest specimen of that branch of the art in the known world. This beautiful object is represented as coming from the bath, and by candle light looks as white as snow; but by day the appearance is different; it hav ing acquired those precious tints so highly prized by the lovers of virtu, and which time only can bestow. Around the room were other statues, all very fine, real antiquities.

By Mr Chapman's report of the proposed canal between Carlisle and the Solway Frith, it is to commence from the west side of Carlisle, and to terminate at Fisher's Cross: the distance is eleven miles-to admit of vessels from seventy to 100 tons-vessels to be sixteen feet by sixty-six-seven feet draught-canal fifty feet wide, eight feet deep, the locks seventy-four feet long and seventeen feet wide.-The summary of the whole estimate of this extensively useful and large scale of navigation is, with the addition of 15l. per cent. for incidents, superintendance, &c. 71,365l.

The amount of shares subscribed by inhabitants of Carlisle alone, for the intended canal from that city to the Solway Frith, amounts to nearly 20,000l. The proprietors of the Aire and Calder Company lately held a meeting, and resolved to open a more eligible line of water communication be tween Leeds and Hull.

gun. When this is completed, Chester will again become the great thoroughfare between London and Dublin.

At a numerous meeting lately held at Darlington, resolutions were entered into for making a canal or railway from Stockton to the collieries in the interior of the county of Durham.

A respectable meeting of the occupiers of lands was lately held at Romford, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of forming a navigable canal from the river Thames, by Dagenham and Romford to Collier-Row Bridge; and to devise the means of carrying the same into effect. Resolutions were entered into to accomplish the undertaking. It is to be thirty-six feet wide at the water-surface, twenty-one feet wide at the bottom, and five feet deep; and to be navigated by barges of from forty to sixty tons burthen. This project, of the greatest advantage to the county of Essex, has received strong patronage, and a numerous body of highly distinguished persons have become subscribers.

the river Tees, which was unanimously agreed upon.

Ameeting was lately held at Thwaite, of the joint committee appointed to consider of the plan of a navigable canal from Diss to Ipswich. The report of Mr Cubitt, civil engineer, was read, and the measure was unanimous ly agreed to.

The completion of the Gloucester and Berkeley canal will now be speedily accomplished.

A handsome bridge is about to be erected over the Severn, from Tewkesbury to Northampton.

The works of the Portsmouth and Arundel navigation were lately commenced at Ford, the eastern extremity of the line. The first spade was put into the ground by John Williams, Esq. the original projector.

The Southwark Bridge over the Thames is in great forwardness. The bed of the arch leading to Queenstreet is composed of a mass of masonry, lying diagonally, to resist the constant pressure of the weight of the arch, and meeting the bend of the whole span. In digging for the foundation on the Southwark side, a copperas spring was discovered, the water of which was quite green. The breadth of each ellipsis, of which there are three, will not in the least obstruct the navigation.

WALES.-The new iron bridge, intended to be thrown over the Menai strait, will be 1000 feet in length, and will be suspended between two rocks, at the height of 100 feet above the sur. face of the water.

A line is now making for the laying of an iron railway, to communicate between the Glamorganshire hills and the Bristol Channel, for the purpose of facilitating the transfer of coals, with which those hills abound; and a depot is to be formed near Ewennybridge, to receive them.

Bennet-college, at Cambridge, is

VOL. XI. PART II,

about to undergo a very considerable enlargement, by the formation of an entire new court and entrance, opposite Catherine-hall. In a line with this new building, it is intended by the University to form the Fitzwilliam Museum; several architects of eminence are now employed to give in designs. This additional ornament to the University and town, will occupy the space between Bennet-college up to Bennet-street. The members of King'scollege are about commencing their improvements, by pulling down a set of frightful old houses, that have long been a disgrace to Cambridge; these commence at Bennet-street or King's-college-lane, and terminate opposite the Senate-house. It has been a subject of contention in the various meetings of the Sydnics, whether the Fitzwilliam Museum should be erected on the site above mentioned, or facing the Senate-house; but the latter, much to the praise and taste of these enlightened members of the University, has been over-ruled, lest it should operate as a screen to intercept the view of the finest and truest specimen of Gothic architecture, and the greatest ornament of that seat of learning, the chapel of King's-college. A grand bridge, consisting of one arch, is already designed to cross the river Cam, in a line with the centre of the new buildings, new buildings, or present fellows' apartments of King's-college; and the land on each side, westward, is to be raised to the level of Clare-hall piece. But, to return to that street, which will one day rival High-street, Oxford, the masters and fellows, respectively, of Trinity and St John's, are about to improve the fronts of those renowned seats of learning, by a speedy removal of the house and walls from Caius-college, or Trinity Backlane, to St John's gateway; and thereby give ample space, where already it is so much required. In that case, it

M

is supposed that the master and fellows of Caius-college will pull down that part of Free-court which at present renders the street so narrow opposite St Michael's church, together with the houses belonging to that an cient college, which approach the Senate-house. Peter-House College is also expected to undergo improvements, in consequence of the handsome donation lately presented to the members of that edifice.

The Lunatic Asylum for the West Riding, erected near Wakefield, which has cost upwards of 40,000l. is now opened, and ready for the reception of 150 patients.

Seventy thousand pounds have been lately bequeathed to the parish of Dollar, in Clackmannanshire, by a person named Macnab, whose history and connexion with the parish is very imperfectly known. The money is left at the sole disposal of the minister and kirk session of Dollar, a parish containing only about 800 persons. The minister is the Rev. Andrew Milne, a gentleman long eminent as a teacher in Edinburgh, and the author of several valuable works on education. It is proposed to employ the money in forming an academy, which will be the most extensive in Scotland, and perhaps in Britain. Besides teachers for English, Latin, Greek, and the modern languages, there will be Professors of Botany, Practical Chemistry, Mathematics, Natural History, Moral Philosophy, and some other branches. IMPROVEMENTS IN EDINBURGH.On Tuesday the 6th, the Michaelmas Head Court of the county of Edinburgh was held, for the first time, in the new County buildings, Lawnmarket. The meeting was held in the Court-room, which is neatly fitted up for the public business of the county. It is 434 feet long, by 29 feet wide, and 26 feet in height, with a gallery in the south end. The other

principal room is for the meetings of the noblemen and gentlemen of the county, and is 50 feet long, by 26 feet wide, and 26 feet high; it is a very elegant room, at the north end of the building. There is, besides, accommodation, not only for the Sheriff, but for every person connected with the public affairs of the county. The building fronts the east, and the entrance is by a flight of 11 steps, under an elegant portico, supported by four large fluted pillars. It was designed by Mr Archibald Elliot, and executed by Mr John Inglis, and will, when the cathedral of St Giles has been refaced, and the causeway lowered, add much to the beauty of the city.

The contract for building the Waterloo Tavern and Hotel on the Regent Bridge is now finally settled. It is stipulated to be roofed over by Whitsunday next, and finished at Candlemas following, which affords an early prospect of Edinburgh at last enjoying an establishment, so long wanted, in the first style of elegance. It is understood, that all the buildings upon the same side, to the east of the hotel, are disposed of for another public but mercantile purpose.

The exterior of the grand public Museum in the College of Edinburgh is now finished, and is allowed by all judges to be one of the most beautiful and chaste pieces of architecture in Scotland. Preparations are making for fitting up the interior according to the classical plan suggested by Mr Playfair, junior. The apartments are on a great scale; and when filled with the numerous objects of natural history in the present Museum, and distributed throughout different parts of the College, and with such collections as may be added by the liberality of Government, and the patriotism of individuals, will contribute in an eminent degree to the advancement of natural history in this kingdom. Al

ready individuals, sensible of the importance of a national Museum in the metropolis of Scotland, have intimated their intention of contributing in various ways to its support and increase. Colonel Imrie, well known to the public by his mineralogical writings, has been the first to set the example of contributing to this public esta blishment. We understand that he has presented to the College Museum the valuable collection of minerals he made in Greece, and the Greek islands, and has accompanied this interesting donation with a splendidly printed catalogue, and engravings of classic Grecian scenery, made from original drawings, and engraved at his own expence, by one of our most eminent artists.

February.-A third of the line of the Union Canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow, westward from Edinburgh, is now contracted for; and the operations will soon commence.

April.-Since the execution of the Union Canal was determined upon, public attention has been strongly directed to the establishment of railways, to intersect the coal district in the vicini ty of Edinburgh, and to be used for the conveyance of all heavy commodities through its populous neighbourhood. Surveys have accordingly been made by Mr Stevenson, engineer; and

the Magistrates and Town Council, on the application of a Committee appointed by a general meeting held last year, have unanimously resolved to give the measure their support. This subject, we understand, has attracted the attention of the neighbouring counties; and it has been proposed to extend the survey already made into Eas Lothian, Roxburghshire, and Selkirkshire, with the view of forming railway communications from these counties with Edinburgh, Leith, and the canal basin. However these speculations may succeed as objects of profit to the projectors, their execution will evidently be productive of much public advantage to the community.

Among the many important improvements in Scotland, a railway is proposed to be made from Ardrossan in Ayrshire, to Sourbie; to be carried on by a subscription of 50%.-Nothing can be of greater advantage than railways, which are now becoming frequent in many parts of the country. A memorial has been submitted to the Hon. William Maule, M. P. Joseph Hume, Esq. M. P. the magistrates of Montrose and Brechin, and the proprietors of landed estates between Montrose and Forfar, respecting a projected railway from Montrose to Brechin.

JANUARY.

THE following address was lately presented to the Lord Mayor and other Justices presiding at the Old Bailey Sessions, by the Grand Jury.

"We, the Grand Jury of the City of London, having reported the several bills of indictment presented to us in due form, and being informed by the proper officer that no others are forthcoming, do wait upon the Court for the purpose of receiving our discharge; at the same time, we wish to observe the great pleasure we have derived in perceiving that no bill has been found by us for murder, nor any one of a crime of a peculiarly atrocious nature; a circumstance very gratifying to the jury.

"In the progress of our duty we visit ed the prison of Newgate, and especial ly directed our attention to the state of that prison; and we lament to record, that from the great influx of prisoners, it is hardly possible to keep them in a state of wholesome cleanliness; a circumstance we deeply deplore, as putting together all descriptions of offenders; an evil easily obviated, in the opinion of the jury, (and in which opinion they are borne out by Mr Brown, the keeper of the prison,) if more space could be allotted, whereby a classification of the prisoners might be effected, to the evident improvement of their health, comfort, and morals.

"The vast number of juvenile depredators in confinement, and the melan

choly circumstance of four being under sentence of death in the condemned cells, and in irons, the youngest only nine years of age, and the oldest 12, connected with the circumstance of very many of them previous to trial associating with the profligate, hardened, and abandoned, presents to us the idea of the improbability of a reform, which a more judicious and attentive confinement might produce.

"The deplorable situation of the male prisoners, with respect to clothing, particularly the juvenile part, made a melancholy impression on our minds. Many were without shoes or stockings, others without shirts, and one almost in a state of nakedness-circumstances we earnestly recommend to the consideration of those who arrange and manage the general business of the prison; and we are of opinion, that the general health of the prisoners of both sexes would be materially improved, if an allowance of soap was granted for that purpose.

"In visiting the Infirmary, the Grand Jury feel great pleasure in announcing, that every necessary attention appears to have been paid to the sick, and those in a convalescent state, and to the general health of the prisoners.

"We further beg leave to state to the Court the gratifying pleasure we received in witnessing the exertions of Mrs Fry, and the ladies who so kindly assist her in attending to and instructing the female prisoners, whose reformed deportment, and cheerful acquiescence to their wishes, demonstrated with