communicate their intentions to the local secreta- [dications of adaptation to electrical influences in ries without delay. The proper authorities have the differences of form of parts of plants in the difgranted the use of the new Fitzwilliam Museum ferent stages of their development. Thus the to the Association.-Lit. Gaz. moistened germ of a vegetating seed becomes a good conductor. The ascending and descending portions are, in the majority of instances, pointed. Plants designed for a rapid growth have generally a strong pubescence. Those destined to meet the variations of the seasons have often thorns or prickles. As surface becomes needed for other GREEK SLAVE: SCULPTURE.-A very fine female figure under this title, executed by Powers, an American artist at Florence, has for the last fortnight been exhibited at Messrs. Graves and Co. It is a charming work, and reflects high honor on the artist. The form is nude, as if ex-purposes, the pointed is changed to the expansive posed to view in the slave-market; and there is form of the vegetable organ. As the period of a sweet natural sense of shame both in the coun- fruiting approaches, it seems desirable that electenance and attitude. The head is altogether tricity should be carried off. Hence the hairs, good, and well poised, with an averted look on &c. fall off or dry away. The apparent excepthe neck and chest. The bosom is youthful, but tion is that of pappi, which have a special office full, and the whole of the body and limbs admira- for conveyance of seeds. Gardeners put mebly modelled. The back is particularly beautiful; tallic hoops over fruiting melons, which tends to but indeed there is hardly any point of vision take off electricity and shade them. Fourthly, where a defect or blemish of outline can be de- Mr. Sidney inquired, Whether there are not natutected. Where the muscle above the mammæ ral phenomena tending to confirm these views? retires, below the right shoulder, there is the Vines and hops are said to grow rapidly during slightest appearance which, we could hypercriti- and after a thunderstorm, and peas to pod after a cally say, was not to our taste. We must, how-tempest. As to hops, these effects may be asever, declare our decided objection to the chain cribed to the destruction of aphides, &c. by the between the manacled wrists. If a sculptor can-lightning: but as these animals are tenacious of not express his idea or convey his meaning with-life, the storm which destroyed the parasitic inout an accessory of this kind, he fails in the high-sect would, probably also, kill the plant which est elevation of his art: his design is imperfect. fed it. Again, it is observed that there are no The chain is in itself contrary to historical truth, plants wherever simooms, which appear to result and ought assuredly to be taken away.-Lit. Gaz. from a highly electrical state of the atmosphere, occur. Mr. Brydone's observation of the presTHE REV. E. SIDNEY ON THE ELECTRICITY ence of electricity in the atmosphere of Mount OF PLANTS in the several stages of their develop-Etna, in places where vegetation was absent, and ment.'-At the commencement and at each di- its deficiency wherever vegetation luxuriated, vision of this communication, Mr. Sidney dwelt also indicated the influence of plants in distributon his desire to be considered, not as the ing atmospheric electricity. This was illustrated promulgator of any theory on the influence of by an experiment with a cone of chalk, with electricity on vegetable growth, but as the piece of moss on one part. The part without the cautious observer of important and instructive moss brought near the machine only slightly affacts. The following six propositions were main-fected the electrometer. The moss carried off tained-First, Electricity appears to exercise an influence on growing plants. After noticing the experiments of Maimbray, Nollett, Bertholon, Davy and others, Mr. Sidney mentioned that he had himself accelerated the growth of a hyacinth in the common glass jar by giving it sparks, on alternate days, from the machine. Secondly, Fluids contained in vegetable tissues possess a high conducting energy, as compared with the ordinary substances found on the earth's surface. In confirmation of this several experiments were shown, to prove the conducting energy of vegetable points. The fact was also stated, that it was impossible to give an electric shock to more than one at each extremity of a circle of persons standing on a grass-plat. This the operator easily did when they transferred themselves to a gravel-walk. the electricity entirely. Fifthly, Mr. Sidney suggested the inquiry, Whether, the forms and geographical distribution of certain species of plants did not indicate design with reference to their electrical properties and uses. The prevalence of the fir tribes in high latitudes was noted. These trees are characterized by their needle shaped foliage, and it was argued that the conducting power, with which this form invested them, might modify dryness and cold, and aid in the precipitation of snow. Mr. Sidney concluded by suggesting modes of applying electricity to practical agriculture and horticulture. First, with regard to the free electricity in the atmosphere. Having mentioned the experiments of Mr. Foster of Finbrassie, on growing crops, Mr. Sidney described E. Solly, in his experiments at the Horticultural modifications of this arrangement made by Prof. In the former instance, the current went across the grass, instead of being carried from one hu- Garden, and by himself. The latter consist of man body to another. A jar, of forty-six square wires suspended over the growing crop from other inches of coated surface, was discharged by a blade wires which are kept parallel to the horizon by of grass in little more than four minutes of time, being fastened to insulated rods. Secondly, Elecwhereas it required three times that period to tricity artificially generated by the voltaic pile. produce the same effect by means of a metallic Mr. Sidney has found that potatoes, mustard and needle. Mr. Sidney said, however, that prob-cress, cinerarias, fuchsias and other plants, have ably the blade of grass had many points. their development, and, in some instances, their Mr. Sidney also showed a drawing of Mr. productiveness, increased by being made to grow Weekes's Electroscope with vegetable points, between a copper and a zinc plate connected by a which Mr. Weekes prefers to any artificial conducting wire; while on the other hand, geraones he has yet tried in the open air during niums and balsams are destroyed by the same inthe passage of a cloud. Thirdly, There are influence. Mr. Sidney at present believes that the application of electricity to vegetable growth may be made available in horticulture. The question as to agriculture may be decided when more experiments are tried: and the philosophy of the experiments fully determined.-Athenæum. the Ungulite or Obolus, which is almost the sole occupant of the grit or sandstone which is found in the next ascending stratum, and is associated at intervals with a very rare species of Orbicula, which Mr. Murchison and his associates have named after the distinguished and veteran leader of Geology on the Continent, O. Buchii. In the 'ON RUSSIA AND THE URAL MOUNTAINS.'- following stage, which is a limestone, are found Mr. Murchison commenced by announcing, that a multitude of Trilobites, including (though rare. the chief purpose of his communication to the ly) the Asaphus Buchii and Asaphus tyrannus, so Royal Institution, was to call attention to some well known in Siluria and Wales, together with of those essential points of paleozoic classifica- Orthida, Orthoceratites, and a very remarkable tion which he had taken an active part in estab-family of Crinoids, which, from their round forms, lishing in the British Isles, and which, with the have been termed Sphæronites, and Echino-enaid of his associates, M. de Verneuil and Count crinites; but which M. von Buch has recently Keyserling, he had for the last few years endeav- termed Cystidea, dividing them into several genored to apply to the great mass of Eastern Europe era and species, and showing that they never and the adjacent parts of Asia-countries which were provided with arms. As to the Upper Siluhitherto had not been geologically illustrated. rian of the Baltic islands and the Bay of CristiaHe exhibited a very large geological map of nia, of 100 specimens of fossils there discovered, Northern Europe, including the vast area bound- 70 or 80 are identical with those of Dudley and ed by a line from Scandinavia to the Timan range Wenlock. In Norway as in Britain, the Upper (a tract hitherto unexplored) on the north, and and Lower Silurian are divided by a single band from the western shore of the Black Sea to the of limestone, which is characterized by the same eastern shore of the Lake Aral (including the fossil, Pentamerus oblongus, in both countries, Caucasus and Ararat) on the south. In the and even in North America. northern portion of this great region, the palæozo- 2 Old Red Sandstone, or Devonian System.— ic series is copiously and completely developed; This deposit occupies an enormous region in and each sedimentary system is specially charac- Russia, and, succeeding to the Silurian, ranges terized by the same groups of organic remains as for upwards of 900 miles, from Lithuania on the in Western Europe. These deposits offer, how-south-west to the White Sea on the north-east, ever, the great and leading distinction, that throughout the whole basin of Russia in Europe, they have been exempted from those intrusions of eruptive rocks wich so diversify them in the British Isles, France and Germany, and are therefore to be viewed as large unruffled pages in the book of Nature, which are singularly instructive. Mr. Murchison then proceeded to give a sketch of the analogies of the different palæozoic systems, commencing with the Silurian, which he established by his own researches in the British Isles, and which was now proved universally (whether here, or in America, or Russia,) to be the oldest formation containing organic remains. and in another parallel for nearly a similar distance, from the western plateaux of the Valdai Hills to Orel, in central Russia, where it forms a great dome, discovered by Mr. Murchison and his associates. Throughout these vast distances, it is in some parts composed of red and grey sandy beds, in others of yellow marlstone, flagstone, and limestone of various colors and composition. In many sandy districts the deposit is exclusively charged with fossil fishes, which are to a great extent the same species as characterize the old red sandstone of Scotland; whilst in other parts, where the beds are more calcareous, these ichthyolites are collocated with the fossil 1. The Silurian System.-This, the lowest shells of Devonshire-a union never yet discovgreat natural group, is divided in Russia and ered in the British Isles, and which perfectly deScandinavia into two great subdivisions, Lower monstrates the applicability of the term Devonand Upper. The former of these occupies the ian, as suggested by Professor Sedgwick and Mr. mainlands of the Russian provinces of St. Peters- Murchison, to this group of strata, whose lithoburgh and Esthonia, and considerable tracts in logical characters are so various, but whose posiSweden and Norway, the latter being chiefly tion in the series and whose Fauna are so condeveloped in the Baltic isles of Gothland, Oesel, stant. In showing that the order of Nature, as Dago, &c., thus constituting a vast area, nearly now clearly read off from the zero of animal life, as large (when all the fragments are united) as indicates a succession from a period when no the British Isles. In our own country, it has living creature existed, and that the earliest found been found difficult to obtain clear evidence of animals were not associated with even the lowest the super-position of the lowest Silurian strata to class of vertebrata, Mr. Murchison not only disthose which preceded them; and the value of avowed giving any sanction to the wild theory of the Scandinavian sections consists in their afford-progressive development, but showed, on the ing undeniable proofs particularly along the shores of the great Lake Wetterm, of the very inferior strata, charged with fucoids only, reposing on gneiss and granitic gneiss, out of the materials of which those lowest Silurian rocks have there been formed. Terming the rocks, which are inferior to all traces of animal life," Azoic," Mr. Murchison then gave a rapid sketch of the chief characters of each subdivision of the ascending series. Passing up from the lower sands and shales, in which fucoids only are traceable he directed attention to the singular small brachiopod, contrary, that each animal when first created was most perfect, and often most composite in its kind. Thus, the earliest known fishes, those of the Ludlow or Upper Silurian rocks (which he had been the first to describe), are of singularly curious and elaborate forms; whilst the ichthyolites of the Devonian, or old red deposits of Russia, the earliest fishes of that great continent, contain numerous placoid fishes, which, though of entirely lost genera and species, are, according to Professor Agassiz, who has named and described them for Mr. Murchison, of quite as high an organiza nean Sea. tion as any fishes now living in the Mediterra- [ of the empire are specially distinguished from all the rest of the globe, by being covered with a pe3. Calling attention to the next ascending culiar deposit-the limestones and sands of the group, Mr. Murchison then held up a specimen of steppes,-which are invariably charged with pecuthe white Carboniferous Limestone, which ranges liar relics of a former vast internal sea of brackish for hundreds of miles over Russia. In appear-water, entirely dissimilar from those of the ocean, ance, this rock exactly resembles a piece of com- and to a great extent the same as those which mon chalk; but the large Producti and other fossils now live in the Caspian, and the mouths of its contained in it establish its identity with the tributaries, the Volga, Don, and in the Aral Sea mountain limestone of the British Isles. From and its great affluent, the Oxus. To this grand hence was deduced the generalization, that the tertiary deposit, which covers an area as large as mineral character of a rock is not to be taken in the present Mediterranean, Mr. Murchison and to account in identifying its age. In Russia, as in his associates have assigned the term of ArIreland, this system of rocks is singularly barren alo-Caspian. It represents, in fact, the Plioof coal. Mr. Murchison, in adverting to this cir- cene or Pleistocene deposits of Lyell, and shows cumstance, dwelt on the vast difference between that, for a very long period, this large portion of the great productive coal fields of England, which the earth was covered by a sheet of water, slightly overlie the carboniferous limestone, whereas in saline only, and tenanted by creatures which live Russia the coal is intercalated within that rock, in rivers and brackish lakes, such as the Caspian excepting the case of the coal field of the Donetz, and Aral; their spacious habitat being insulated, which resembles those of Berwickshire and part as it were, from the ocean. of Northumberland: the single thin seam of coal which is alone found in the basin of Moscow is nearly valueless. Mr. Murchison here reminded his audience that, as the fossil vegetation below the old red sandstone consisted of small marine fucoids only, and as coal could alone be formed out of large masses of terrestrial vegetation, it was impossible that any coal worthy of being worked could be formed beneath these rocks, and that consequently, the greater portion of the North of Russia must be destitute of this invaluable fuel. Apologizing for the utter impossibility of condensing into a lecture of an hour's duration any thing like the most general aperçu of the great phenomena of Russian geology, and referring his auditors to his forthcoming work for all explanations, Mr. Murchison concluded by a few short allusions to the Ural Mountains, and one of the great generalizations deduced from the survey of a great portion of the globe, more than twice as large as all the kingdoms of Europe united, which have previously been geologically described. The Ural chain, running from north to south 4. The Permian System.—Having thus glanced and separating Europe from Asia, offers a fine at the three great systems that have been usually contrast to European Russia; for as the slightly supposed to constitute the Paleozoic series, Mr consolidated and paleozoic deposits before alluded Murchison briefly adverted to another great natu- to approach these mountains they become hard, ral group, to which, as representing the magnesi- black and crystaline, in consequence of being travan limestone and the lower new red sandstone of ersed by innumerable points and ridges of intrusive England, and the Zechstein, Rothe todte lieg-rocks. The palæozoic rocks are there metamorende and Kupfer Schiefer of the Germans, he had assigned a single and common name, derived from the ancient kingdom of Perm, around which such deposits are extended, over an area twice as large as the kingdom of France, being bounded on the east by the Ural Mountains. It is the great copper region of Russia. With the conclusion of this great deposit, the genera and species of the paleozoic series disappear, and an entirely new animal creation succeeds, in the trias, or new red sandstone. 5. The New Red Sandstone being almost entirely absent in Russia, and the lias and inferior oolite being entirely absent, the next group in ascending order are Jurassic Shales, which exactly represent the Oxford clay and Kelloway rock of English geologists, and contain the Gryphea dilatata, and many characteristic ammonites. phosed into crystaline schistose bands-yet even here the geologist meets with occasional patches of limestone characterized by fossils. The Siberian side of this chain is a vast mass of plutonic matter, amid which oases only of the older paleozoic rocks are found. Mr. Murchison further showed that from the nature of the regenerated copper deposits (Permian) to the west of the chain, their materials must all have been derived from rocks which now exclusively occur on the eastern side of the rocky ridge, and hence he argued, that the chief axis of the Ural-where the gold ores were formed, must have been thrown up at a comparatively recent period. Finally, Mr. Murchison pointed out, that as the three great chains which subtend Russia in Europe (the Scandinavian, Uralian and Caucasian) have different directions, and in each of them deposits are uplifted which are proved to have been accumulated at consecutive periods, so does this grand phenomenon support one portion of the theory of M. Elie de Beaumont, that 6. The Cretaceous System is confined to the southern tracts of Russia, and extends to the east of the Volga and the Ural river, often in the form of white chalk, and with its usual Belem-the ages of great and independent mountain lines nites, and other deposits. 7. The Tertiary deposits occupy enormous areas in South Russia, and are divisible into the Eocene and Miocene groups, the first of which occurs at Kief and on the Lower Volga, the latter occupying vast spaces in Volhynia, Podolia, Bessarabia, &c. 8. Besides the oceanic tertiaries so perfectly known in many other parts of the world, Russia and the Southern Asiatic tracts beyond the limits of elevation are indicated by their respective directions.-This communication closed the weekly meetings of the session.-Athenæum, COPYRIGHT.-Sir F. Pollock, C. B., pronounced the judgment of the Court in the case of Chapple v. Purday. This was an action in which the plaintiff claimed damages from the defendant, for an alleged infringement of his copyright in the Overture to Fra Diavalo. It appeared that the music in question, which, as is well known, was composed in Paris by Auber, some years ago, was sold by the composer to one Troupinas, who assigned his interest therein to one Latour, from whom the plaintiff took an assignment in his turn. The piece in question having been represented and published in Paris, a formal assignment was subsequently made of the copyright in England to the plaintiff, by all the parties above mentioned, and the overture was afterwards published in England by the plaintiff. The defendant having published and sold copies of the same music, this action was brought to restrain him from so doing. A verdict passed for the plaintiff at the trial in this court, subject to a motion to enter a nonsuit; and the case having been argued at considerable length, time was taken to consider the question so reserved for the opinion of their Lordships. The Chief Baron now stated that there were two questions-first, whether the plaintiff at common law could claim any copyright under the circumstances of the case; and, secondly, whether failing that, he was protected by the statute law of England. As to the first question, there was no doubt whatever that no foreigner residing abroad and there composing a work could claim any protection for his work by the common law of this country. A copyright is a creature of the municipal law of each country, and must be governed by its statutes, which have no extra-territorial power. A British subject may, therefore, at common law, print and publish any French work in England; and the next question is, whether as regards the defendant, that power is any way affected by the statutes relating to this subject. There are the statutes of 8 Anne, c. 19. and 24. George III, c. 156, which latter was passed to encourage British talent and British authors in most general terms. The terms of these statutes do not apply to foreign authors and their works, and it remains to consider the several cases which have been decided under them. His lordship then examined at some length the several cases which were cited on the argument, and concluded by saying that their result was, that neither a foreign author nor his assignee was protected in England by the statutes, if the work in question should appear to have been first published elsewhere than in this country. In this case the plaintiff was clearly in the same position as M. Auber would be: and as it appeared that the Overture to Fra Diavolo had been originally published in Paris by the assent of the author, he could derive no exclusive right to that production in England. For these reasons the verdict must be set aside, and a nonsuit entered.-Athenæum. The upper not pass over the bridges, it had to be drawn across the rivers, in winter, on ice four feet in thickness. Several times, it broke through; but preparations had been made for such an event, and it was re covered from the water, unmutilated. All the workmen employed, either in the work of art or its conveyance, have received rewards from the Emperor.-Athenæum. From St. Petersburgh, we hear of a magnificent Vase of sea-green Jasper, which the Emperor has had cut in the mines of Colywan, and placed in the palace of the Hermitage with some difficulty. The dimensions are colossal, its diameter being 15 feet, and its weight, including the jasper pedestal, 418,898 lbs. edges are sculptured in relief and adorned with chasings of the most exquisite finish. In 1829 commenced the work of extracting the block from the quarries of the Mountain Rewnewaya, near Colywan;-in 1831 it was hoisted and dragged to the work-yard. For its transport to St. Petersburgh 550 peasants and 120-increased in places to 160-horses were required. As it could The Russian Minister of Public Instruction has addressed a report to the Emperor, on the results of M. Middendorf's scientific mission into Siberia. The learned academician had explored the two provinces of Taimyrland and Utzkoi-the one extending between Piaszyma and Chatanga, as far as the Frozen Ocean, and the second touching on the South-eastern extremity of Asiatic Russia. After having visited the Schantar islands, where no traveller had preceded it, the expedition pushed its way, through many perils, to the very frontiers of China. Scientific discoveries of great interest are said to be the result of this journeyof which Middendorf is about to publish a detailed account. His work will be given in Russian and French-at the cost of the Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburgh.—Athenæum. "LIGHT, COLOR, AND THEIR EFFECTS."-Certain effects observable in mountainous districts were described as strikingly different from any we observe in lower regions, and tending to create doubts of the Newtonian system, in favor of Dr. Hook's theory of two colors only. Yellow and red are supposed by Mr. Foggo to be but modifications of the warm aspect, in contrast or opposition to the blue or cold hue; their prismatic proportions and positions, and the inefficiency of the metrochrome and other modes of attempting the recombinations of colors into pure light or whiteness, were commented on, as well as the important results of glazing and scumbling, in the painter's practice. An inquiry into the principles and effect of light and color was recommended as a delightful and useful opportunity for artists to advance human knowledge, and raise their profession to respect and consideration. The often abused atmosphere of this island was described as one great cause of our landscape painters' excellence and of the peculiar beauty of our descriptive poets, being eminently conducive to picturesque and poetical effect.-Lit. Gaz. CORREGGIO'S FRESCOES, PARMA.-The copies of these far-famed frescoes and others of Parmegiano, by the Chevalier Toschi, exhibited, within the last few days, at Messrs. P. and D. Colnaghi's, are splendid performances, and afford a fine idea of both these great masters in the highest efforts of their genius. In the Correggios the divine expression of countenances, the disposition of human limbs in every posture, yet all of grace and beauty, the fertility of invention, the life-like softness of the flesh, and in short, the exhibition of every power and loveliness of painting, are beyond the meaning of language to describe or measure.-Lit. Gaz. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. Great Britain. Didot's Bibliotheca Græca. Aristophanes, ed. Dindorf. Scholia of Aristophanes, ed. Dindorf and Dubner. Xenophon, ed. Dindorf. Pluturch, Moralia, ed. Dübner. London. Firmin Didot. THESE are specimens of Messrs. Didot's gigantic undertaking of giving a complete library of Greek authors, in sixy volumes. In such a scheme we look for more than typographical compactness. It is little to say that these sixty volumes will contain the matter of about four hundred ordinary for such a saving of space, though imvolumes; mense, would be of very slight importance if it were the main feature of the undertaking. We feel bound to inform our readers of the fact, that the compactness is only one of the great advantages of this publication; cheapness is a second; correct reproduction of the very best text is a third; a fourth is new or newly revised Latin translations side by side with the original; and a very copious Indices Nominum et Rerum is a fifth. There can be no comparison between Didot's publication and that of Tauchnitz; for except that the Tauchnitz Classics have the advantage of being pocket volumes, in no respect are they equal to the goodly octavos of Messrs. Didot. The Tauchnitz Classics are cheap, but inferior; badly edited, often not edited at all, incorrectly printed, and without either indices or translations. The works before us are, as far as we have exam ined them, very correctly printed from the best editions. The volume of 'Aristophanes' contains, also, the fragments of Menander and Philemon,' published by Dübner; together with several new fragments discovered recently in the MSS. of the Royal Library of Paris. The volume containing the Scholia to Aristophanes, we heartily recommend to every reader of the poet; especially directing his attention to the copious index. Plutarch's Moralia,' of which two volumes have appeared (a third, containing the Pseudo Plutarch and Index, is to come), is founded on Wyttenbach's magnificent edition, which has been carefully revised by M. Dübner, who has availed himself of the collection of MSS, made by the Greek savant, Kontos, for the Royal Library of Paris. The works, though forming a complete library, may be had separately; and it is worth adding that the Index to the Scholia of Aristophanes may also be had separately for four francs. The price of the volumes varies from sixteen shillings to a guinea each: about a fourth of the ordinary price 6 For those who do not need editions crowded with foot notes of conjectural emendations and editorial squabbling--who are sensible of the value of good indices, and a Latin version confronting the original-for those, in short, who want good, serviceable books, there are none equal to Messrs. Didots'.-Foreign Quarterly Review. SELECT LIST OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS. GREAT BRITAIN. Evenings in the Land of Uz: an Exposition of Job, by Mrs. H. Van Hagen, 2d edit. Letters and Despatches of Lord Viscount Nelson, Vol. III. Cold-Water Cure, its Use and Misuse, by H. Mayo, M. D. Journal of Missionary Labors in the City of Jerusalem in 1842-3-4, by Rev. P. C. Ewald. Memoirs of Lady Hester Stanhope, in Conversations with her Physician. The Female Disciple of the First Three Centuries of the Christian Era: her Trials and her Mission, by Mrs. H. Smith. The Philosophical and Esthetic Letters and Essays of Schiller, translated by J. Weiss. GERMANY. Die biblisch-prophetische Theologie. Von Das Dogma vom h. Abendmahl u. seine Manetho und die Hundssternperiode, ein Demosthenis Oratio in Aristocratem, edid E. G. Weber. Jena. Handbuch, bibliograph. der philolog. Literatur des Deutschen, nach J. S. Ersch, bearb. von C. A. Geissler. Leipz. FRANCE. Traité des maladies des Articulations. Par A. Bonnet. Paris. Hallucinations (des,) ou Histoire raisonnée des apparitions, du magnétisme, etc. Par A. Brierre de Boismond. Paris. Histoire de l'Art Monumental dans l'An- Le Presbytère. Par R. Toepffer. Paris. |