subjects, who, by a system of the basest artifices, have been seduced from their allegiance, and disciplined to revolt: but it is the lt. colonel's most ardent hope, that on the close of some decisive victory, it will be the regiment's fortune to secure the murderers of Major André, for the vengeance due to an injured nation, and an insulted army."

and a private sentinel, that neither did you or the council seriously imagine it could be accepted of." Nothing could ever persuade the author that any number of privates could count against a colonel of partisans or make him understand that revolutionary Americans, whose armies were filled with volunteers, had a different mode of reckoning. However, after some further blustering, an appeal to Washington, which that general did not see fit to answer, and some schemes for escape, on his own part and that of his friends, Colonel Simcoe lieutenant-colonel in the British army. In 1790 he was exchanged on the 27th of December; and returned, after an imprisonment of more than two months, on the last day of the year, to his place, in which he ever shows to most advantage, at the head of the "Queen's Rangers."

The part taken by Colonel Simcoe in the affair of the unfortunate Major André, is all to the credit both of his daring and of his feelings. On the first intimation of the major's detention, he—

"By letter, desired Lt. Col. Crosbie to inform the commander-in-chief, that if there was any possibility of rescuing him, he and the Queen's Rangers were ready to attempt it, not doubting to succeed in whatever a similar force could effect. At the same time, he sent out persons to watch the road between Washington's camp and Philadelphia; for he reasoned, that without the concurrence of Congress that general would not proceed to extremities, and that probably he would send Major André to Philadelphia, in which case he might possibly be retaken upon the road

thither."

When York Town capitulated, the “Queen's Rangers" were included in the surrender of Lord Cornwallis' army. Colonel Simcoe returned to England, where he was advanced to the rank of

was elected to sit in Parliament for the borough of St. Mawes; and afterwards, as we have said, proceeded to Upper Canada as lieutenant-governor. In 1794 he attained the rank of major-general, and soon afterwards succeeded Sir Adam Williamson, as civil governor and commander in chief in St.Domingo. He remained there but a few months; was made lieutenant-general in 1798; was invested with the command of the town of Plymouth and county of Devon, on the threatened invasion of the French in 1801; and died in 1806, at the age of fifty-four, when about to succeed Lord Lake, as commander in chief of the British forces in India. As a military man he seems to have had much professional knowledge; his Canadian policy was poisoned by his hatred of the Americans, more deeply entertained and loudly professed since, and because of, their triumph. His prejudices, though they failed eventually to serve his country, served himself; and verily his partisanship had its abundant rewards.

From Punch.

ASKING A LOAN-AND THE ANSWER.
FROM A GENTLEMAN TO A FRIEND, SOLICITING HIS AC-
CEPTANCE AND BOND.

He wrote also to Colonel Lee, his old but friendly opponent, "of whose generous temper he had personally received so many proofs, to procure an interview with him, ostensibly for the exchange of prisoners, but really to converse with him relative to Major André. That officer penetrated his views, and returned an answer," from which the follow-how few are the opportunities afforded us of really ing is an extract :

MY DEAR RICHARDS,-In this our fleeting life,

testing the hearts of our friends! Sorry, indeed, "I am happy in telling you, that there is a pro-ren creed of those who, from the depths of their should I be for my own nature, were I of the barbability of Major André's being restored to his would-be-wisdom, smile knowingly at friendship,

country, and the customs of war being fully satisfied.--I have the honor to be, &c. HENRY LEE.-thing very fine, but very fabulous; a spicy monster, as though, like the word phoenix, it spoke of someSince writing the foregoing, I find that Sir Henry building in the clouds, and never known to descend Clinton's offers have not come up to what was expected, and that this hour is fixed for the execution upon our earth. No; I should be among the most of the sentence. How cold the friendship of those did I fail to worship friendship in my innermost insensible of my kind-a very savage of social life high in power!" heart as a virtue illustrated by one of the noblest of created men. Forgive me if I do not name him; for true worth, like the rose, will blush at its own sweetness!

After the execution, Colonel Simcoe,

"In his orders to the Queen's Rangers, the officers and soldiers of which personally knew and Truly, it is pleasant to hear men abuse the esteemed Major André, he informed them, that world, as though, forsooth, they themselves were he had given directions that the regiment should the only shining exceptions from the general selimmediately be provided with black and white fea- fishness they condemn. When I hear a man cry thers as mourning for the late Major André, an out, "It is a bad world," I must of course lump officer whose superior integrity and uncommon him with the aggregate iniquity; for how can he ability did honor to his country, and to human na- have the enormous vanity to select himself as the ture. The Queen's Rangers will never sully their one pure Adam from naughty millions? No, glory in the field by an undue severity; they will, Richards; be it my faith to think the best of the as they have ever done, consider those to be under world; be it my special felicity to know that I their protection who shall be in their power, and hold the heart-ay, as though it were in my hand will strike with reluctance at their unhappy fellow--of the truest and the best of friends. But what,

GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

there was no indication of rain having fallen there since the deluge. To proceed was, therefore, impossible. From Mount Porcupine, the highest of the hills, a clear view was obtained in every direction, and a more barren, sterile country cannot be imagined. Capt Frome concludes by observing that there appears to him to be no country eastward of the high land, extending north of Mount Bryan as far as Mount Hopeless, a distance of about 300 miles, as far as the meridian of 140°, and probably much beyond it, available for either agricultural or pastoral purposes. The country presents in many places the most unequivocal marks of volcanic action.-Athenæum.

INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS.

ployed by the ancient Greeks in their Buildings," being the result of observations made by him during his recent travels in Greece, Sicily, &c., and more particularly of an attentive examination of the remains of the Erechtheum, the Parthenon, and the temples at Selinunti. When we consider. observed Mr. Granville, the perfection to which Greek art attained, that it was arrived at only after the experience of more than eleven centuries, and that its glorious improvement was chiefly owing to the united efforts of generations concentrated upon one particular object, namely, the erection of temples to their protecting divinities, it becomes an interesting subject of inquiry to ascertain, from the structures themselves, those principles and contrivances which, even in the most trifling or minutest matters, were the result of that improvement. The ancient Greeks were as empirical in their rules upon the proportions of each stone they employed, as upon the proportions of the whole design-thus, it may be observed, for example, that the size of the stones in the Erechtheum and in the Parthenon, differ in about the same ratio as the one building differs from the other.

June 10.-Viscount Ebrington and Lord Harry Vane were elected Fellows. Read an account communicated by Lord Stanley, of an exploratory journey to Lake Torrens, Australia, by Capt. Frome, R. E., Surveyor-General of South Australia. On the 20th of July, Capt. Frome having left his dray and the larger portion of his party at a point of the Black Rock hills, in lat. 32° 45' 25", took only a light spring cart, the bottom filled with kegs containing sufficient water for three days for the horses, and provisions for one month, which was as much as the cart would contain. The object was to ascertain the southern terminus of the Eastern branch of Lake Torrens, as laid down by Mr. Eyre, and also the nature of the country between Flinders' Range, as high as the parallel of Mount Hopeless and the meridian of 141° (the June 17.-This was the closing ordinary general eastern limit of the province.) Proceeding in a meeting of the session. A communication was direction N. by E. the traveller came to a water-read by the Secretary, from Mr. W. Granville, course, which ran, like all the streams he sub-"On some of the Methods and Contrivances emsequently crossed at the eastern foot of the range, in a N. E. direction; this was the Siccus, having a section nearly equal to that of the Murray, and with indications of not very remote floods, having risen to between twenty and thirty feet above its bed. Having crossed this river, Capt. Frome was obliged to hug the hills on his left for the sake of water, thus going northward as far as the parallel of 30° 59′, when the lake became visible within 15 or 16 miles, and appeared from the high land to be covered with water, studded with islands and backed on the east by a bold rocky shore. This was, however, only an effect of the mirage, for on riding to the spot the following day, not a drop of water was to be seen in any direction. A salt crust was seen at intervals on the surface of the sand at the margin of the lake, or more properly of the desert. The sand became more and more loose, without the slightest trace of vegetation, rendering hopeless any attempt to cross with horses. Having proceeded as far as Mount Serle, Capt. Frome was convinced that Mr. Eyre's eastern arm of Lake Torrens was in reality the sandy desert he had left, and whose elevation above the level of the sea was 300 feet. From Mount Serle the traveller returned southward to Pasmore river, whence he struck across to the low hills stretching away eastward to the south of Lake Torrens, the most northern of which he reached the second evening. Want of water, however, prevented Capt. Frome from going as far as he wished, but from the position he had reached, he could plainly see the whole country within 50 or 60 miles of the boundaries of the province, which presented the most absolute sterility. The captain is, nevertheless, of opinion that in the wet season, and by carrying water for eight or ten days, the distance, 160 miles, from Prewitt's Springs to Mount Lyell, might be crossed by a small party; but from thence to the Darling, 80 miles further, no water With respect to the employment of color in the would be found. Besides, it would be madness to decoration of ancient temples, Mr. Granville obattempt anything on that river without a consider-serves,-It is known that the Greeks, in many inable force, on account of the natives; whereas the stances, constructed their temples of a very rough Laidly Ponds might be reached with any number and intractable stone, especially those of an early of men, in as short a time and with more certainty, period, as at Corinth, Ægina, the old Hecatomby ascending the Murray, and proceeding north pedon at Athens, Postum, &c.; this was owing from thence. On returning to the depôt, Capt. to the natural qualities of the stone where they Frome moved the party down to Mount Bryan, built, and their preferring the materials at hand to and endeavored to proceed thence in a north- a better kind, the procuring of which would oceasterly direction; but though the hills had an casion difficulty. It is equally well ascertained elevation of from 1,200 to 1,500 feet above the plain, that they covered the stone with a thin coating

Symmetry likewise was considered as necessary in the position of the joints, as in the composition of the plan, or the arrangement of the triglyphs and mutules. The Greek joint, whether executed in marble or stone, is a thing really to marvel at, from its perfection arising from the amount of skill and labor bestowed upon it. After noticing the predilection of the Greeks for constructing their buildings with large blocks of marble or stone, Mr. Granville proceeded to explain, in detail, the modes adopted by them in quarrying, working, raising and setting the stones in their several positions, and more particularly as to the mode of working and fluting the columns of the large temples.

of stucco, whether for the express purpose of natural to think that the motives which inspired hiding the faultiness of the material, or for receiv- the Greeks were none other than the same which ing the Polychromic painting, which could hardly influenced the Egyptians, and that the custom was, be executed on a rough surface, or for both these as usual, moulded by the former into such definite purposes, has not as yet been decided. I am in- principles as not to be departed from, even when clined to imagine that it was for the express pur-a Parthenon was to be constructed?" pose of receiving the painting, since I have found instances where the buildings have been covered with a fine stucco or other coating, even though the stone was of a smooth and excellent quality, and the workmanship of the most perfect kind :this is the case in the temples of Jupiter Panhellenius in Ægina, and Juno Lucina at Agrigentum. In works of a later period, the stucco itself, instead of being allowed to remain of its natural tint, was dyed before it was put on, as an easier expedient than painting it afterwards.

and remained green during a dry season, whensively to the nerves. M. Cyprien Desmarais laid every other kind of vegetation became yellow and before the academy a note on the distinctions withered, Another remarkable feature was, that between instinct in animals and reason in man. faded flowers, when plunged in a weak solution of He agrees with other writers in stating that sulphate of ammonia, were in a short time re- although the powers of instinct are marvellously stored, and that plants, watered with it, attained developed in animals, and to such an extent as to extraordinary health and beauty. The great loss make some persons believe that it borders upon resulting from the leakage of the gas through the reason, it is really distinct. He goes farther, for joints and the pores of the cast iron pipes, was in- he contends that the perfection of instinct is the cidentally mentioned, and it was stated that in greatest proof of the absence of the reasoning some instances it had amounted to from 25 to 75 faculties. A paper by M. Fréney, on the comper cent. of the total quantity produced.-Ath. pounds to which osmium, one of the four metals which always accompany platina, give rise, was then read.-Athenæum.

PARIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

OLD BIBLE.-The sale of the theological portion of the late Duke of Sussex's library excited unusual interest. The division headed "English Bibles," certainly exhibit an extraordinary collection, and evince wonderful industry and painstaking in amassing so remarkable a series, illustrating, the Holy Scriptures into English. as they do, the progress of the efforts to render "Biblia Sacra Latina," 2 vols. First edition of the Holy Scriptures, and the first book executed by the inventors of printing, with movable metal types. Printed at Mentz, by Guttemberg and Fust, between the years 1450 and 1455. This edition is generally from the discovery of a copy in Cardinal Mazaknown by the name of "the Mazarine Bible,' rine's library, by that eminent bibliographer, Debure. It is printed in double folio columns, in imitation of the large letters employed by the scribes in the church missals and choir books. This work must always form the most prominent feature in a collection of books of the 15th centu

June 10.-M. de Gasparin read a report on a paper by M. Fustu, on the variations of the climate of France. M. Fustu had endeavored to show that these variations had been periodical; that, on the arrival of the Romans in Gaul, the climate was cold and humid; that it became progressively milder from the south to the north, after the period of the conquest; that this change terminated towards the ninth century, and that, after being stationary for two hundred years, the temperature again fell progressively. According to M. Fustu, we are now in the period of decline of temperature. Some of the historical facts quoted by this gentleman were curious. He tells of rivers frozen over for nearly two-thirds of the year, when the Romans first entered Gaul, in localities where, subsequently, they were scarcely once frozen over during the whole of the year, and then of the successful culture of the vine at the period of the change, in districts where now the grape would hardly ripen. M. de Gasparin, in his report, does not absolutely deny that some of the changes stated by M. Fustu took place, but hey, for what book can be more interesting to the thinks the author has attributed to variations of climate, in the general acceptation of the term, many changes which are to be ascribed to other causes. If Normandy, for instance, is no longer a wine country, says M. de Gasparin, it is not because the climate has so changed that wine cannot be made there so good as it was formerly, but because the Normans now receive at a reasonable cost the wines of the south, and have turned their attention to the making of beer and cider, in which they establish a competition with the wine countries. M. Fustu had imagined that Paris was once celebrated for the wine of its environs,-an error which has become very popular, from the belief that the famous wine, of which good King KING CHARLES' BIBLE.-At Broomfield, near Henry the Fourth was so fond, was the wine of Chelmsford, is a Bible which belonged to King Surenne, near Paris, whereas, in fact, it was that Charles the First, the date A. D. 1529, Norton of Suren, near Vendôme. M. de Gasparin thinks and Bill, printers. It is a folio, bound in purple that the wine of the environs of Paris was never velvet; the arms of England richly embroidered better than it is at present. M. Fustu had spoken on both covers; and on a fly leaf is written, of the cultivation of the fig-tree in Paris; but M."This Bible was King Charles the First's, afterde Gasparin observes that undoubtedly it was cultivated here formerly as it is now, but only by great care and outlay. Orange-trees, says the author of the paper, were grown near Marseilles in the open fields, whereas now they require sheltered positions; but his reporter observes, that the growth of oranges near Marseilles has been partially abandoned, because they are now imported at a cheap rate from countries where they are obtained in abundance. A communication was received from MM. Thilorier and Lafontaine on

collector than "the first production of the art of printing?" It is astonishing that the inventors of printing should, by a single effort, have exhibited the perfection of their art. The firmness of the paper, the brightness of the ink, and the exact surpassed. Of this first edition of the Bible only uniformity of the impression, have never been four copies are known upon vellum, and 14 upon paper, and of the latter eight copies are in public and the next lot, the first edition of the Latin libraries. This extraordinary work sold for 1907. : Bible, with the date, (Mogunt, per Fust and Scheffer, 1462,) printed on vellum, fetched 1707.

wards it was my grandfather's, Parrick Youngs, Esq., who was library keeper to his Majesty, now given to the church at Broomfield by me, Sarah Atwood, August 4th, 1723." The Bible is perfect, but there is no signature to sheet I, the pages run from 84 to 87, there being no 85 and 86. I do not find the book mentioned in Morant's History of Essex, or any modern publication, and I think it is a relic little known.-Athenæum.

their endeavor to demonstrate the existence of a The Polytechnic Review states that "in portraits fluid, being neither that of electricity nor magnet-of Queen Victoria, not less than 200,000l. have ism, but intermediate, and having reference exclu- been already expended."