the most part, it is a smooth and gentle current from one to three rods wide, and deep enough on an average, for a small boat or raft. On the borders of Hopkinton, about six miles from the Merrimack, it empties into the Contoocoock, a large and beautiful stream, with a deep channel and high banks. This river is as well fitted for boating, as any part of the Connecticut or Merrimack, to within about three miles of its mouth, where it begins to fall over rocks and stones and continues a rapid descent till it reaches the Merrimack. The country bordering upon the two rivers, is a level pine plain with some low swampy land, elevated about twenty-four feet above the surface of still water in the Contoocoock, and one hundred and forty-seven feet above the Merrimack at the foot of Sewall's falls. The whole distance from the Jake in this direction, is thirty-two miles, and the whole fall eight hundred and seventy-three feet. The distances were measured with the chain, and the fall ascertained by the usual levelling process, Barometers were also used rather by way of experiment than as a certain method of determining small heights, where great accuracy is required. The following is a fair specimen of the results thus obtained, compared with those, which were furnished by the levelling instruments.

Most of these estimates by the Barometer are the means of several observations, that differed considerably from each other. The barometer used was a new one, lately imported, of Sir Henry Englefield's construction. Care was taken to have observations made at the same time with fixed Barometers, in the vicinity of Concord and at Cambridge, for the purpose of applying a correction for the variation of the weight of the atmosphere. It is believed, that with good instruments and careful observations, frequently repeated in settled weather, this method will be found sufficiently accurate, where the object is merely to compare different routes with each other, whether for water or land transpor

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tation, and to make a general estimate of the expense, that would attend the execution of the work proposed.

A full report, accompanied with plans, and more particular details, will be laid before the Legislatures of this state and of NewHampshire, by their respective commissioners.

[The great elevation at which the waters of Sunapee Lake, appear to lie above the rivers on either side, would seem to present almost an insurmountable obstacle to the apprehensions of those, who are unacquainted with the various modes by which in Europe, such difficulties are overcome. We are happy to state, that in addition to those in use there, we have in our own country, recently seen invented a mode of rising from one level of a canal to another, by a perpendicular lift at once, of fifty to an hundred feet. Mr. Benjamin Dearborn, the ingenious inventor, has exhibited his working model to many persons skilled in machinery and civil engineering, and received their unqualified approbation. This mode of rising will supercede the use of locks, whenever the lift is great. The expense is supposed to be cou

siderably less in proportion.]

Fine Arts. Mr. Stuart has taken a likeness of Dr. Kirkland, which was exhibited in the publick rooms of the University on the day after Commencement.

Opus par [subjectae] materiae.

The artist has made the features of the President as evident to the sight, as his virtues and talents will be in the memory of the good and intelligent. A gentleman, writing to his friend, speaks thus of Mr. Stuart. He is not merely the copier of forms and features, he is the painter of mind. His portraits are never unmeaning, except when his subjects are so. His magical pencil brings from the canvass, not only a living and intelligent being, but one of a distinct and marked character. The expression which his powerful pencil is always able to seize and to fix, you recall as the happiest of your friends, and one upon which you can dwell with the greatest pleasure.'

Mr. Fisher continues to gratify the publick with the produc tions of his pencil. Connoiseurs say, that every successive landscape of this promising artist, displays some improvement in the design, the colouring, or the management of light and shade. He has a fair title to his rising reputation, by his genius, and by the industry and enthusiasm with which he devotes himself to his profession. It is to be hoped, that the activity of his obser vation and invention, will secure him against the monotony and uniformity, to which his department of the art is liable. This country does not offer many facilities for acquiring the science of painting, but obstacles ought to be only excitements to those, who are able to ovorcome them.

and the execution The grouping, the

Colonel Sargent has now nearly completed his great picture of Christ's entry into Jerusalem. The size of the canvass is sixteen feet by thirteen, and a large number of figures are introduced. The subject is treated in an epick manner, of many parts of the picture is excellent. character of the heads, the eagerness of the disciples and followers to place themselves near their divine master-the exultation and movement of the vast croud that follows him-the back ground of the picture,filled with the walls and edifices of Jerusalem, and distant mountains, are parts of this grand composition, which arrested our attention. The artist is entitled to more praise, when we consider the disadvantages which arise from being almost completely insulated. We think the publick will be highly gratified with this painting, the most considerable historical picture that has ever been painted in this country. We shall dwell upon it more particularly on some future occasion.

Literary Intelligence.

We have met with no work more interesting for many years than the Memoirs of Madame Larochejaqueleim. Unquestionable facts, which have all the wildness of romance, are narrated in a style of the utmost simplicity and modesty. When it is considered that this lady, bred at the Court of Versailles, married and entered life at the age of nineteen, a short time previous to the memorable massacre of the 10th of August. That from this point of splendour, she was transported almost immediately to La Vendee, to be engaged in all the scenes of terrible war. That her children were born and died in the course of it, that she lost her husband, her father, and all her friends, and was at last reduced to live two years in the disguise of a wretched peasant, tending sheep and cows in the fields, and often changing her dwelling, being always pursued by the rutheless agents of the republick, we can hardly imagine a greater contrast of situation, or one involving a greater variety of adventures. Besides the personal interest felt for the fair author, and a very strong interest is excited for the brave, virtuous Vendeans, and the singular warfare they carried on. It is impossible to cite such a remarkable instance of practical liberty and equality, and assertion of private rights, though they were defamed, harrassed, and nearly exterminated by the sanguinary monsters, who made war in their name, and had the words in their mouths continually.

Cummings and Hilliard, have published a collection of practical forms of Conveyancing, by Benjamin Lynde Oliver, Esq. The forms are well selected. The notes are judiciously made, and discover a habit of thorough and accurate research.

There is a remarkable

Judge Reeve of Connecticut, has published a volume of his lectures on the domestick relations of Baron and Feme, Parent and Child, Guardian and Ward, Master and Servant, and on the pow ers of Chancery; with an Essay on the terms Heir, Heirs, and Heirs of the body. We hope he will meet with sufficient encouragement to proceed in giving to the publick his discourses on the other branches of the law. All who have heard the venerable judge lecture, speak of him in terms of the highest admiration and respect. This volume confirms the opinion which his pupils had already disseminated. simplicity and persuasiveness in the style. He states settled points with clearness, and brings to the discussion of agitated questions, profound learning, and a fair and liberal mind. He arranges and compares authorities with great skill, and seems perfectly at ease and at home, among the intricacies and subtilties of legal science. There are some repetitions, which, though very well in the lectures, when delivered to an auditory, are faults in the book. The work is imperfect also, in as much as it wants that important, and almost essential part of a law-book, an index.

In the eighth chapter, Judge Reeve treats of the contracts of married women. While Lord Mansfield was on the bench, it was decided in England, that husband and wife may voluntarily separate in such a manner, that the wife may bind herself by contract. Lord Kenyon, and the other judges, have since attempted to over-rule that opinion. Judge Reeve defends it, though with some qualification; he thinks, that in case of a separation of husband and wife by deed, the wife is able to contract, and is legally bound by her own acts. He does not agree with Lord Mansfield in regard to the principles, on which his opinion is founded.

The twelfth volume of the Massachusetts Reports has lately been published. This is a work of which the people of Massachusetts may justly be proud, on account of the legal learning it embodies the encouragement given by the legislature to its publication—the accuracy and faithfulness of the reporter—and the style in which it is executed. It is said in the advertisement to the 12th vol. "perhaps a more eligible course for the future, will be to omit some of the decisions of a less important character, and to insert in these reports, the substance of the arguments at the bar. The object in making reports, is to inform the peaple how their laws are administered; by giving a greater importance to arguments and opinions, and to induce both judges and lawyers to investigate questions laboriously, and introduce a thorough and skilful mode of transacting business; and to settle doubtful points, and render the administration of the law uniform Vol. III. No. 9.

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and stable. We think that these purposes will be better effected by the course proposed in the advertisement. It is left to the discretion of the reporter, not only to select cases, but also the facts and arguments in each case that are worth reporting. Sometimes a lawyer will very strenuously urge a point, when the law is clearly against him, either because he mistakes the law, or because he doubts where others have long since decided. Now, though the advocate has the privilege of tiring the court with such arguments, the reporter ought not to extend this privilege to his readers. On the other hand, when a point is doubtful, and, as Sir Roger remarked, much may be said on both sides, it is desirable that the reader may have an opportunity of viewing it in all the lights in which it can be placed by the learning and ingenuity of the judges, and the counsel of either party. Questions of this sort are those, in regard to which, reports are of the greatest importance.

In the Literary Panorama for August, there are some remarks on one of our Andover pamphlets, which contain the following specimens of geographical science. "The provinces known by the name of Massachusetts, were among the first peopled in America, and they had to boast," &c. The following is a note to another passage: "By this expression, is doubtless intended New-England, or rather the middle region, between Massachusetts Proper and Connecticut, the most enlightened part by far of the United States." This equals the knowledge of the Editor of one of the principal London newspapers, who lately warned the English nation of "the dangerous designs of the American government upon the Mississipi !

Hedge's Logick.-Professor Hedge, of Cambridge, has published a very excellent elementary treatise on Logick, which has been adopted for the purposes of recitation, and as a text-book of lectures, both at Cambridge and Bowdoin College. This work will be more particularly noticed in our next number.

A Cattle Show is to take place at Brighton, on the 8th of October, under the patronage of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society. A ticket dinner will be provided. It may be hoped, that the publick generally, will encourage this useful festival. On the first show, the animals exhibited for prizes, cannot be expected to be so excellent, as they will certainly become hereafter, if the institution is kept up. Nothing tends more to the improvement of the breeds of all kinds of useful animals than exhibitions of this sort; and as cattle and swine form one of the great staples of the Eastern States, every thing that can tend to meliorate them is of the utmost importance.

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