68 Arts and Sciences.—Antiquarian Researches. Mr. John Murray, in a communication recently made to the Royal Society on the luminous matter of the Glow-worm, states some curious facts as the result of his own observations and experiments. He shews that this light is not connected with the respiration, nor derived from the solar light; that it is not affected by cold, nor by magnetism, nor by submersion in water. Trials of submersion in water, in various temperatures, and in oxygen, are detailed. When a Glow-worm was immersed in carbonic acid gas, it died, shining brilliantly; in hydrogen it continued to shine, and did not seem to suffer. Mr. Murray infers that the luminousness is independent, not only of the respiration, but of the volition and vital principle. Some of the luminous matter obtained in a detached state, was also subjected to various experiments, from which it appears to be a gummo-albuminous substance, mixed with muriate of soda, and sulphate of alumine and potash, and to be composed of spherules. The light is considered to be permanent, its eclipses being caused by the interposition of an opaque medium. Professor Schubler, in his " Researches on Milk, and its constituent principles," differs considerably in the result of his analysis from those lately published by Profes [Jan. sor Berzelius; and hence, in the author's opinion, proves the great influence of food and climate on the lacteal secretion. 1000 parts of new milk contain 110 of fresh cheese, 50 of fresh serai, 24 of butter, 77 of coarse sugar of milk, and 739 of water; or, in a dry state, 42.6 cheese, 7.87 serai, 24.0 butter, 77.0 sugar of milk, and 384.53 water. 1000 parts of skimmed milk contain 48.64 of dry cheese, 8.06 dry serai, 78.94 sugar of milk, and 869.34 water. 1000 parts of cream contain 240 butter, 33 cheese, 6 serai, and 731 whey.-Lastly, 721 parts of whey contain 60 coarse sugar of milk. These observations were made at Hofwyl. Mr. Peechy, of Bury, is about to submit to the Society of Arts, an invention, by which he has succeeded in raising water by the most simple machinery out of a well more than 90 feet, through an inch pipe. The invention will be highly serviceable as a cheap pump for deep wells. A new gold coinage for Greece has been executed at Paris, under the direction of Denon, the traveller. The piece rather exceeds our sovereign in size. On one side is the Archangel Michael, with the flaming sword and the dove; the latter the symbol of peace. On the reverse, the lion, the emblem of strength, encircled by a serpent, meaning to pourtray eternity, and around, the word "Resurrection." ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES. A Paris paper says, "Among other valuable objects brought from Egypt by M. Caillaud, was a mummy of unusual weight and size. The case in which it was enveloped had a zodiac, like that of Denderah, painted on it, together with a short Greek inscription, nearly effaced. It was expected that on opening it some manuscripts might be found. Some, from its great weight, conjectured that it also contained a quantity of metal. The bandages were unrolled on the 30th November last, but none of these expectations were realised. Another mummy opened by M. Caillaud was interesting, from the peculiar mode of embalming. There was neither bitumen nor salt of any kind in the preparation; but a thick coat of saw-dust or bark was placed between the different foldings of the linen. The moisture had thus been effectually absorbed." The Newcastle Chronicle says, Young in this country, and M. Champollion in France, have been able to decipher many of the paintings on the Egyptian antiquities. A very interesting letter from the latter gentleman to Mr. Lamb, in this town, was read at a meeting of the Literary and Philosophical Society here, deciphering, in a great measure, the hieroglyphic paiutings on the mummy in the Society's rooms. The following is pretty nearly a translation of the legend painted on the mummy, and Dr. will be considered as a great curiosity:- (name of the mother), deceased." The name of the mother, though given on the mummy, is not yet deciphered; nor, what is of more importance, has the time when the lady lived been ascertained." ANTIQUITIES IN FRANCE. "In that part of the citadel of Metz which commands the Moselle, near the Tour d'Enfer, some remains of antiquities were discovered at the foot of the curtain. The first is a tomb, two stones of which were dug up. The lower part of the monument bears the following inscription : CATVLLINVS CARATHO VN (icus) CONIVX MONIMENTVM SIBI VIVI POSVERVNT ET P.) CATVLLIANO QUI VIXIT AN.) III M.) vi. The end of the inscription is illegible; the style of the characters proves that the inscription is of the third century. On the lower part is the place where the ashes were preserved; and on the upper a niche adorned with two pilasters, in which three heads are fixed (of a man with a beard, of a woman, and of a child,) which may be supposed to represent Caratho, Sextilia, and the young Catullinus. On the left side of the monument, below, is a female figure, holding in the right hand a discus, and in the left a palm,—perhaps as an indication that Caratho had gained a prize in the public games. The bas-relief on the upper side represents the bust of a woman, raising her hair with the right hand. On the left side are fragments of a winged Genius, and of a woman playing on the lyre. The style of the monument and the ornaments proves it to be that of a family of distinction. This opinion is confirmed by their connexion with the Sedulii, who have left numerous monuments in the country.-The second monument is likewise a sepulchre, which is remarkable, though not executed in so pure a taste as the first. Only the upper part is preserved: it is a niche, in which are three busts, the head of a woman between those of two men. It may be supposed, from the attitudes, that those three persons are reclining at an enter tainment. One of the men holds a goblet in his hand. Above these three figures a winged infant is hovering, that seems to have come from the Christian paradise, rather than from the heathen Olympus. In the upper part of the niche are vine leaves and grapes; a squirrel is seen, partly hidden among the leaves, and a bird pecking at a grape. On the right side of the monument is a man in bas-relief, dressed in Gallic military costume, playing on a shepherd's pipe; on the left a bas-relief of a young man, dressed in a short tunic, and holding a trident in his hand. This sepulchre is adorned with pilasters and fluted pillars, and the re ceptacle for the ashes is still visible. The workmanship appears to be of the period of the latter part of the Roman dominion in this country. The objects represented on the third monument are less correctly drawn than those on the first two. We here see a man at a table, on which are some weights; on the left hand lie some tables for casting accounts; he holds a book in his left hand, and his right is extended as if pointing at something, the two last fingers are bent; before him a young man, standing, with his right hand over the reckoning table, seems to be calculating. This monument, which is believed to be the first of the kind which has been described, appeared to be that of a Mensarius, or some officer of a similar description. The fourth monument is also a tombstone, which is very much damaged: the following letters of the inscription are still legible: 69 At the beginning of the inscription the letters D.M. should, probably, be supplied, and then it would be as follows-DrIS MANIBUS Vendi Veterani Ex Optione Legronis Vigesima Secundæ, Primigenia, Piæ, Fidelis Defuncti et Finitimiæ Nonnæ, Conjugi Vivæ, Filii et Heredes Faciendum Curaverunt. The twenty-second Roman legion has left numerous memorials in the countries on the Rhine; its historical epithets were Primigenia Pia Fidelis, which we see on many monuments.-These monuments are made of white calcareous stone, which is found in abundance in the environs; and all these antiquities are deposited in the museum of the Academy of Sciences at Metz. EDINBURGH ANTIQUARIAN Society. Antiquarian Society of Edinburgh, Dr. HibOn Monday (Dec. 22) at a meeting of the bert read some valuable remarks, suggested by the resemblance which certain steinbartes (or stone-axes) found near the Humber, bear to those of Orkney and Shetland. He began by combating the common notion that these and similar instruments of warfare are Celtic, and shewed that they were Teutouic. It had been doubted whether the people who used these weapons had ever invaded England; but it should appear from the discovery of these steinbartes in Lincolnshire, that they had landed there. Some axes of various shapes and materials have been found in different parts of the world; and it is suggested that different ancient tribes had weapons of shapes peculiar to their respective tribes. There seems nothing improbable in this suggestion-nay, it is partially confirmed by the portion of the globe where discoveries of them have been made being limited. One of the stein bartes produced was of a very rare shape; it was very nearly square, tapering out a little, to one side; it was not quite half an inch thick in any part, and its edges were extremely sharp. It was supposed that it had handle, and it has been suggested that it originally been inserted into a very long was the predecessor or archetype of our modern halberts (hall-bartes, or axes, used for guard or ceremony in the halls of Kings. or Princes). A very singular drawing was exhibited to the Society, from the pencil of Captain Jones of the 29th Regiment. It was a sketch from an ancient oaken pannel of the costume of an English bagpiper of the 16th century. The original design had a great deal of spirit in it, and the bagpipe That it was not a Scottish bagpiper was and the bagpiper were very well made out. evident from the dress being open in front, which is contrary to all examples of our early northern costume; and as a corroborative proof of the probability of the figure being intended for a representation of an English bagpiper, an animal long since extinct, many quotations from ancient authors were produced. SELECT [70] SELECT POETRY. Lines on the Roman Pavement, lately discovered at Bramdean, Hants. ENWRAPT amid the gloom of silent night, Arouse the trumpet's sound, the battle's rage, The violet blossoms where the vanquish'd bled; With bleating flocks this lowly plain re- Where once the sent'nel walk'd his nightly O Rome! thou mighty conqueror of the To what great depth is now thy glory hurl'd! These sad mementos here before our eyesThe fighting champions, and th' inciting prize Which lay depicted on this varied floor, Tell what thou wert, but what thou art no TO THE RIVER SEVERN, near Tewkesbury. [Jan. THOU lovely river! winding through the vale, And thy green banks with human gore were Oh! may the noise of battle now no more Drown the soft rippling of thy gentle wave; No mangled slain in thee e'er find a grave, But peace for ever linger near thy shore. Thou limpid stream! the time will shortly [shore; come When thou wilt reach thy mighty parent's Soon will thy lonely wanderings be o'er, And every moment finds thee nearer home. Haste then, Sabrina, to the ocean haste, And through the mossy meadows swiftly flow, Dispensing blessings wheresoe'er you go, Wat'ring alike the fertile and the waste. Let no rude blast thy tender breast assail, But Eolus his softest breezes send To waft thee onward to thy journey's end, And calm composure on thy banks prevail. Thus may the stream of my short being roll, And in its progress to th' eternal sea, Oh be it useful and serene like thee :And soft the waves which flow across my soul! Tewkesbury. T. P. * In allusion to the battle of Tewkesbury. CARMEN "TIS come-the fulness of that promised hour, [power! When Woman's seed shall break the serpent's 'Tis come-the hour prefigured and foretold When He-" whose goings forth were from of old" Should quit his Throne of Majesty on high Heaven's choral host to human sight appears, ! What tho' a manger is his earthly throne, Yet strong in faith the Godhead veil'd they own; There at EMMANUEL's feet is incense pour'd, And there the INCARNATE GOD is first adored. What precious gifts attend the God-born child, Opposing claims in Him are reconciled; Thro' Him each jarring attribute shall meet In perfect love-in harmony complete ; Mercy and Truth are knit in firm embrace, Justice appeas'd, now shares her throne with Grace. On Him the iniquity of all is laid, By Him the price of our redemption paid, By Him the fetter'd captive is unchain'd, Deliverance won, and Paradise regain'd. Rejoice, ye ransom'd. You, your GOD hath freed [creed; From pains pronounced, from penalties deThe grave he vanquish'd with exulting wing, And wrung from Death its triumph and its sting. Pour forth your notes of praise, be glad, oh earth, [birth! And tell the blessings of your SAVIOUR'S By every nation and by every tongue The joyful song of the redeem'd be sung! Oh, if the choral melodies above Peal the loud anthem of Redeeming Love, RETROSPECTIVE LINES. TELL me, pure stream, amid that osier'd glade, Where invalids for health oft whilom stray'd; Where are the Naiads, that once lov'd to reign With Hygeia's renovating train: 71 While love and blooming youth undimm'd by care Would oft at early morn assemble there? Ah! soon on halcyon wing the love-fraught hours, [bow'rs, no more That sweetly charm'd thy peaceful sun-gilt Soon, soon they flew, and thou clear stream [o'er! Can charm the eye-thy pleasing hours are Though village-maids may to thy font repair, They'll find the fountain-nymph no longer there! Though round thy mead, the wild-rose loves to breathe, [wreath : And there the sweetest of wild flowrets They serve but yet to tell-if Truth preside, That Pleasure is to Grief too near allied! T. N. On the Mausoleum of the Princess CHARLOTTE O'er every other pleasure here, Of all earth's joys most pure and dear! But those in which thyself hast part. Just wakened into life by thee? One gather'd from the cypress tree? Look It is the monument where hope TO A LADY. WOULD stern honour but allow Me all thy charms to feel, Delighted would I breathe the vow, To thine my fate to seal. O could I press that bosom chaste, Adieu then, lovely maid, above All other maidens fair! O look not with that look of love, I. H. Rejoice, that she has won the prize! Frome. [Jan. M. A. DAVIS, A MIRACLE! As related by the late Prior of Lough Berg!! Addressed to Prince Hohenlohe!!! 'Mutato nomine de te Fabula narratur." TWO Friars to the fair of Antwerp trudging Puzzled by poverty to their wit's end, Were plotting as they went, and shrewdly judging The shortest method their distress to end; When straight before them, from his poor abode, They saw a simple clown demurely stalking, With a stout Ass for sale, along the road, Led by a collar long, and gravely walking. One of these monks, a Benedictine bred, Stept gently on, the clown no danger spying, And slipped the collar from the Ass's head, The headstall round his own broad visage tying The other seiz'd the prize and slipped away, While onward went the Benedictine lowly, Nor from his careless leader sought to stray, "Till they their journey finish'd calm and slowly. The clown then turn'd the collar to adjust, Or comb the Ass's mane, or give him water, Or clean his legs and fetlocks from the dust, When down he dropp'd and mumbled out "a pater." Holy St. Anthony, what's this I see! |