many cases, remain in a state of the greatest ignorance, with régard to the people whose destiny is placed in their hands.

Nothing can be more laudable than the zeal with which the Association for promoting the Discovery of the Interior parts of Africa, has pursued the grand objects of that institution; yet the obstacles to its success are still so numerous and so formidable, that, aided though the members be by government, we dare hardly join Mr. Murray in the pleasing anticipation, "that in the course of fifteen or twenty years, Africa will lose its place in the list of unknown regions."* At all events, the progress of discovery in that continent will continue to be an object of peculiar interest to the friends of religion and science; and the humane exertions in its behalf, which have succeeded to the atrocities of the slave-trade, will, we may venture to hope, rapidly diffuse over this hitherto unfortunate portion of the globe the blessings of knowledge and civilization. Dr. Leyden, entering with the enthusiasm of genius and philanthropy into the views of this benevolent institution, undertook to " exhibit the progress of discoveries at this period in North and West Africa, by combining a delineation of the appearance of the country, an account of its native productions, a description of the peculiar manners of the African tribes, with a detail of the adventures of the travellers by whom these researches were accomplished." It was a subject in which his whole mind and soul were engaged; and for which he was peculiarly qualified, not merely by the romantic turn of his imagination, but by his unwearied patience of research, and by a vigour of intellect before which every obstacle gave way. His work, accordingly, soon attracted general admiration, and obtained a wide circulation, not only in Great Britain, but over the continent. It was translated into German, and is enumerated by Eichhorn among the most valuable materials for the African part of his learned work, entitled, "History of the Three last Centuries." It was only to

*Historical Account of Discoveries and Travels in Africa, by the late John Leyden, M.D., enlarged and completed to the present time; with illustrations of its Geography and Natural History, as well of the moral and social condition of its Inhabitants. By HUGH MURRAY, F.R.S. E. 8vo. pp. 512, 536. Edinburgh, 1817.

be regretted that his plan was too contracted; and he, himself, sensible of the defect, had undertaken a new edition of his work on a more extended scale to embrace the whole continent. His departure for India prevented the completion of this design; the task devolved on Mr. Murray, by whom the plan has been still further extended, so as not only to include the whole of Africa, but to trace the progress of discovery from the earliest ages; and the ability with which he has accomplished this arduous undertaking, leaves the public no room to regret that it has fallen into his hands. If Mr. Murray's pages do not glow with the same animated eloquence as those of his illustrious predecessor, they never fail to please us by perspicuity of narrative, and elegance of style. If he do not, with the same kindred enthusiasm, identify himself with the traveller whose adventures he is relating, he relates them with at least a warmth of interest in which his readers very readily sympathize. If his reflections do not always indicate the same comprehensive grasp of mind, they indicate at least a judgment clear, correct, and perfectly well-informed. His work is a most valuable accession to our geographical knowledge, and, if we may decide from the pleasure and information which it has imparted to ourselves, we do not hesitate to pronounce it one of the most agreeable and instructive collection of adventures and discoveries which, for many years, have been presented to the public.

Among the editors of the Encyclopædia Britannica, the name of Dr. Thompson stands conspicuous. Of his indefatigable exertions in the pursuit of truth, the Supplement to this work gives some remarkable instances; though indeed all his investigations are conducted in a truly philosophical spirit. In the article Brickmaking, he gives a hint which ought not to be neglected. He informs us, that he saw, at some of the iron founderies in Sweden, furnaces constructed of the scoriæ cast into bricks, which answered fully better than common bricks. "It would be easy," says he, "to make any quantity of such bricks in some of the large iron founderies of Great Britain. We are persuaded that such bricks might be brought into use for a variety of purposes, with great advantage, and might even constitute a lucrative article of manufacture. Bricks made from the scoriæ of iron and copper founde

ries, would vie in beauty with marble and porphyry, and would possess a smoothness of surface, and a lustre, to which few marbles could reach."

A second inemoir on Babylon, containing an inquiry into the correspondence between the ancient descriptions of Babylon and the remains still visible on the site; by C. J. RICH, Esq. will be published shortly. Also, a third edition of the first memoir on the Ruins of Babylon.

Mr. Southey has nearly ready for the press, memoirs of the Life of John Wesley, the founder of the English Methodists. It will be printed in two volumes octavo, and be illustrated by portraits of Wesley and Whitfield. Some time ago the Editor of the Port Folio saw a letter from this distinguished writer to a gentleman in this country, in which it was stated that the author was then engaged in writing a poem, of which the scenes and characters were drawn from the early history of Connecticut.

Mr. H. B. Fearon has published a volume of Sketches of America, being the narrative of a journey of more than five thousand miles through the Eastern and Western States, contained in eight Reports, addressed to the thirty-nine English families who deputed the author, in June, 1817, to ascertain whether any and what part of the United States would be suitable for their residence.

Our Emigrant's Guide has been republished in London; where has also been printed, Letters from Illinois, by Mr. Birkbeck. This little collection contains a great deal of useful information to wealthy emigrants. It has been published here by Mr. Carey.

Dr. HENRY is printing a new and improved edition of his Elements of Chemistry.

Dr. Thompson's System of Chemistry, which, with other works, has deservedly ranked him among the first of modern chemists, has lately been published here, revised and corrected by Dr. Cooper, one of the professors in the University of Pennsylvania. Of this work we have been promised a detailed account, from the pen of a gentleman who is well qualified to perform such a task.

The Fast of St. Magdalen, a new novel, by miss ANNA MARIA PORTER, is announced.

Sir Richard Phillips, in his Literary Intelligence for October, informs us that nobody reads such books as the Quarterly Review -and that the leaves would remain uncut, were it not for the curiosity of servants!

Three or four periodical works are announced in London, with the same title under which, for the space of eighteen years, this journal has endeavoured to amuse or instruct the American reader. By a recent magazine, we learn that the attention of French scholars had been invited to a Porte-feuille Francais, ou Melange, Anecdotique Dramatic et Litteraire; by L. Lemonin.

We hear that a translation of Mr. Pitkin's excellent work on the Statistics of the United States, is about to be undertaken in Germany, for the benefit of that portion of Europe, the inhabitants of which, it is said, are anxious to possess every work of merit that relates to this country.

American Exploratory Expeditions. It will gratify the friends of science to learn, that the Secretary of the War Department regards these expeditions with the views of an enlarged mind. It is understood that he has signified to the American Philosophical Society the disposition of the government to facilitate the investigations of science; and we believe that one or two of the members of this institution will accompany the enterprising travellers, from whose researches we may expect no small additions to our natural history.

Some time ago (says the Editor of the Edinburgh Magazine) an application was made to government, by the University of Edinburgh, for the improvement of its museum of Natural History. For this purpose it was requested, that instructions might be issued to the different ministers and public servants abroad, recommending that they should avail themselves of every opportunity of collecting specimens, and should transmit them to the University, to be added to its museum. A favourable answer to this application having been received from lord Castlereagh, professor Jameson drew up the following directions as to the best mode of preserving the various objects of natural history. We gladly insert them, as we are per

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suaded that, besides answering the object immediately in view, they will be found eminently useful to all who pursue the different branches of this extensive and important science.

Quadrupeds and Birds.-Quadrupeds and birds to be preserved by taking off their skins, which may be easily done, by making an incision in a straight line, from the vent to the throat; and removing the skin by means of a blunt knife. The skull and bones of the legs and feet are to be left. The brain, eyes, and tongue, ought also to be extracted. The skin, in order that it may be preserved from decay, should be also rubbed on the outside with some one of the following compositions: 1st, tanners' bark well dried and pounded, one part; burnt alum, one part; and in a hot climate one part of sulphur; to be well mixed together.-2d, tanners' bark well dried and pounded, one part; tobacco, perfectly dried, one part; burnt alum, one part: add to every ounce of these ingredients one ounce of camphor, and half an ounce of sulphur. [N.B. No sublimate or arsenic ought to be put on the skins, as both substances destroy their texture.] These compositions to be kept for use in well corked bottles or jars.

Skins, when thus prepared, and perfectly dry, must be packed carefully in boxes, the lids of which ought to be pasted up, and in the paste used in fixing the paper, a little corrosive sublimate must be put, which prevents insects from eating through the paper.

Reptiles and Fishes.-Reptiles and fishes are best preserved in spirit of wine, rum, or whisky, some of which must be injected into the stomach, through the mouth, and into the other intestines through the anus. Before putting them into the bottles, jars, or barrels, they ought to be washed clean of slimy matter. If long kept in spirits before they are sent, the spirits should be changed two or three times. The jars or bottles ought to be closed by means of sheet-lead and bladders. The larger reptiles, as crocodiles, and the larger fishes, may be preserved in the same manner as quadrupeds and birds.

Animal Concretions.-Concretions of various kinds are occasionally found in the brain, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, gall-bladder, intestines, and urinary bladder. The stomachs of many animals afford concretions of different kinds, particularly those known under the name of Bezoar Stones; and travellers inform us that stones are met with in the eggs of the ostrich. All of these bodies are interesting and valuable to the natural historian.

Skeletons-Collectors ought not to neglect to preserve the skeletons of the different species of animals. Of man, the skull is the most interesting part, as it varies in the different races of the human species, and is also frequently singularly altered by the practices of savage tribes. The best way of cleaning bones is to expose them to the air, and allow the insects to eat off the flesh. This being done, they ought to be washed with sea water, and af