The Aurora Borealis re-appeared, af ter an absence of some years, on the 8th of April. Observations were made at London, Derby, Leeds, Paris, and other places. It was stated at the late Warwick Assizes, by the judge who presided on that occasion, that the use of Spring Guns is considered by the most eminent lawyers as illegal. He severely reprobated the cruelty of the practice, alleging that the law never intended to give any man the right of shooting another for so trivial a trespass as the cutting a stick in a hedge. A child, who had been dangerously wounded by seventeen pebbles, on such an occasion, while in search of his kite, was the plaintiff, and received 1201. damages. It has been ascertained by experiment, that grain, which has begun to germinate, if used as seed, will not spring but in the proportion of one half the quantity employed; if strongly germinated, not more than a third; and if fired or moulded, not more than a fifth. In all these cases, the young shoot is feeble and unpromising. Various substances have been recommended in making bread from the flour of germinated or melted grain; particularly magnesia and the alkalis, which, when judiciously employed in small quantities, are found greatly to assist the operation and to improve the bread, without any injurious consequences to the human frame. The introduction of Steam Boats into general use, has received a temporary check, by an unhappy event which lately occurred at Norwich, in an explosion, by which several lives were lost. It appears, however, that the boiler in this case was cast-iron; the valve had been criminally loaded, and the fire too much forced, for the purpose of getting ahead of a rival boat. We trust that the melancholy event will have the effect-not of impeding the progress of a useful and important national improvement-but of securing, in future, a more cautious attention to the construction of the machinery, and the prudence of the servants employed in conducting it. Several persons in different parts of the kingdom have lately remonstrated against the unnecessary cruelty of "pegging" crabs and lobsters; which is done to prevent their injuring one another, or wounding their tormentors. Every purpose is answered by tying the claws instead of pegging them; and in Weymouth the fishermen have been in duced to adopt the more humane method, by a general resolution of the respectable inhabitants not to purchase any fish that are pegged. Indeed, independently of the cruelty of the practice, the fishmongers prefer the mode of tying the claws, as instances frequently occur of lobsters wounded by the peg, wasting away under their sufferings, and mortification of the part often ensues. Thousands die in this manner every year. Eels, lobsters, and other animals, which suffer much in the usual modes of killing or dressing them, might be humanely despatched in a moment, by merely puncturing the brain with a sharp iron pin, invented for the purpose. It is ascertained, by experiment, that with a proper apparatus one cask of 'coals will serve to distil six casks of 'water. A French vessel about to proceed on a voyage of discovery, is to take only water sufficient for a fortnight; and, instead of the remainder, coals, which will be but a sixth part of the tonnage. This distilled water is perfectly as good as fresh water that has been a fortnight on board. Sculpture have been recently brought from Java, consisting of figures of Siva, Ganesa, Durga, Buddha, &c. They evidence the extensive diffusion of the Hindu Mythology in the Eastern Islands, as well as the high state of civilization and scientific skill to which the natives had arrived at very remote periods of history. LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. THEOLOGY. The Advantages of Solitude; a Sermon preached at Salter's Hall Meetinghouse, by the late Rev. Hugh Worthington, April 20, 1777; never before' published. 1s. 6d. A Second Lay-Sermon; by S. T. Coleridge. 8vo. 5s. A new Volume of Sermons; by Bishop Horsley. 8vo. 10s. 6d. The Christian Doctrines of the Tripity and Incarnation, considered and maintained on the Principles of Judaism; by the Rev. J. Oxlee. 2 vols. 8vo. Female Scripture Biography; by F. A. Cox, A. M. 2 vols. 8vo. 24s. Sermons, on various subjects; by the late W. Bell, D. D. prebendary of Westminster. 7s. A Reference to Jewish Tradition, necessary to an Interpreter of the New Testament; by C. J. Bloomfield, M. A. Rector of Dunton, Bucks. 2s. Spry'sBampton Lectures. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Steven's Discourses on the Festivals and Fasts. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Sermons; by T.S. Jones, D.D. 10s. 6d. Memorial of theJust; by Rev. T.Jervis. An Assize Sermon, preached at St. Mary's, Oxford, March 6, 1817; by John Davison, A. M. 1s. The True Test of the Religion in the Soul; by the Rev. C. Simeon. Sermons, by the Rev. John Martin. 2 vols. 8vo. 24s. Challenge to Unitarians. 8vo. MISCELLANEOUS. An Essay on Burns; or the Treatment of Accidents by Fire; in two Parts; with a Preface; by Edward Kentish, M. D. 10s. Algebra of the Hindoos, with Arithmetic and Mensuration; translated from the Sanscrit; by H. T. Colebrooke, Esq. 4to. 31. 3s. Researches concerning the Laws, Theology, Learning, Commerce, &c. of Ancient and Modern India; by L. Crauford, Esq. 2 vols. 8vo. 18s. J. Major's Catalogue of rare, curious, and valuable Books for1817. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Supplement to A. B. Dulau and Co.'s Catalogue. 1s. Ogles, Duncan, and Cochran's Catalogue for 1817. 8vo. 4s. 6d. Memoir of the Early Life of W. Cowper, Esq.; by Himself. 8vo. 4s. Chymical Essays. 5 vols. 12mo. 21. 2s. Comparative Chronology of the Classic Ages of Greece and Rome; by J. Stanton. An Account of the Origin, Principles, Proceedings, and Results of an Institution for teaching adults to read, established in Bucks and Berks in 1814. 8vo. Correspondence between a Mother and her Daughter; by Mrs. Taylor, of Ongar. A new General Atlas, containing distinct Maps of all the principal States and Kingdoms throughout the World, in which the European Boundaries, as settled by the Treaty of Paris and Congress of Vienna, are accurately delineated; by T. Ewing, Edinburgh. 18s. Outlines of Geology: being the Substance of a Course of Lectures delivered in the Boyal Institution, by W. Thomas Brande, Sec. R. S. F. R. S. E. Prof. Chym. R. I. &c. 8vo. 7s. 6d. A View of the History, Literature, and Religion of the Hindoos; by the Rev. W. Ward. 2 vols. 8vo. 18s. Papers on the Affairs of Scotland from 1702 to 1715; by George Lockhart, Esq. 2 vols. 4to. 51. 5s. A Translation of the St. Helena Manuscript. 8vo. 7s. 6d. Points in Manumission, and Cases of Contested Freedom; by J. Henry, Esq. Barrister at Law, and late President of the Court of Criminal and Civil Justice of Demarara and Essequibo. Cursory Remarks on a Bill now in the House of Peers, " for Regulating Madhouses;" by Geo. M. Burrows, M. D. F. L. S. &c. 4s. Letters from Mrs. E. Carter to Mrs. Montagu,between 1755 and 1800; chiefly on literary and moral subjects. 21. 55. The History of an old Pocket Bible, as related by Itself; by the Rev. Robert Cox, A. M. 3s. Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce; by James Riley, late Master and Supercargo. 4to. A Letter of Advice to his Grandchildren; by Sir Matthew Hale. 8vo. 5s. The Eneis; translated by Dr. Symmons. imp. 4to. 2l. 12s. 6d. An Inquiry into the Nature of Benevolence; by J. E. Bicheno, F. L. S. 8vo. 4s. 6d. An Inquiry into the Principle of Population; by J. Grahame, Esq. 8vo. 10s. 6d. On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation; by David Ricardo, Esq. 14s. James's Journal of a Tour in Germany, Sweden, Russia, Poland, &c. during the years 1813-14. 2 vols. 17. 10s. A Narrative of the Briton's Voyage to Pitcairn's Island; by Lieut. Shilliber. 8vo. with sixteen etchings. 7s. 6d. Letters from the Highlands; by Miss Spence. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Germanicus, Tragedie en cinq Actes et en Vers, par A. V. Arnault. 8vo. 3s. A Translation of the above in Blank Verse; by George Bernel. 8vo. 3s. 6d. A Description of the Pictures in the Royal Museum at the Louvre, with Biographical Notices of the different Painters; to which is added, a Description of the Museum of Sculpture, in the Lower Gallery. 18mo. 3s. Major Barnes's Tour through St. Helena. 12mo. 5s. Narrative of a Voyage to Hudson's Bay; by Lieut. Edward Chappell, R. N. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. FROM an account laid on the table of the House of Commons, of the number and value of Books printed within the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, which have been furnished to book sellers for sale, during the last seven years, it appears that there were sold, in Bibles. Testam. Com. Pr. 1810, 42,288 63,984 47,889 1811, 37,292 62,045 41,951 1812, 50,611 79,408 74,622 1813, 67,585 50,344 67,809 1814, 60,816 62,167 69,445 1815, 66,388 64,229 88,233 1816, 65,183 81,109 94,004 PRAYER-BOOK AND HOMILY SOCIETY. On Thursday, the 8th of May, this Society's Fifth Anniversary Sermon was preached at Christ Church, Newgate-street, by the Rev. R. P. Beachcroft, Rector of Blunham, Bedfordshire. The Annual General Meeting was afterwards held at the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate-street; the Right Hop. Lord Gambier in the chair. The Report stated, that select portions of the Litur gy, translated into the Bullom language, by the Rev. G. R. Nylander, had been printed at the Society's expense; that the Compendium of the Book of Common Prayer, translated into Hindoostanee, by the Rev. D. Corrie, was in the press; that an octavo edition of the Book of Homilies, with copious indexes, had just been completed; that during the past year 8,891 Prayer-books, 1,062 Psalters, more than 38,000 Homily Tracts, and 1,071 copies of the Articles . of the Church of England in the same form, had been issued from the Society's Depository; that Prayer-books had been sold at two thirds of the cost price among the soldiery both at home and abroad; 1,500 Homily Tracts had been distributed among the poor in Spitalfields, besides other donations both of Prayer-books and Tracts, for the use of scholars in Sunday Schools, and convicts on their voyage to New South Wales. An anonymous donation of 6001. was acknowledged; and many valuable names had been added to the list of subscribers. In the course of the proceedings of the day, Mr. Thady Conely, from Ireland, stated, with great simplicity and effect, the advantage he had derived, under the Divine blessing, from the Book of Common Prayer, translated by Bishop Bedell into his native tongue. The Rev. Mr. Hans and the Rev. George Hamilton expressed their earn, est hope, that, in its exertions for the benefit of other countries, the Society would not forget the interest of Ireland. In this sentiment we cordially concur, and we trust that it will become an early object of the Society's attention to furnish the Irish with an edition of the Liturgy in their own language and character. The Rev. Mr. Richmond, the Rev. Mr. Beachcroft, the Rev. Mr. Cunningham, the Rev. Mr. Wilson, the Rev. Mr. Burn, Mr. Babington, and several other gentlemen, took a part in the proceedings of the day, and strongly enforced the claims of the Society to the cordial sup port of the members of the Church of SOCIETY. England. Some highly interesting facts CHURCH-OF-ENGLAND TRACT were detailed, to show the benefits aris, ing from its institution, and from the increased attention which it had excited among the lower classes, to the Homilies, Articles, and Liturgy of the Church, and to the venerated examples of those illustrious martyrs and confessors who had framed them. It was noticed as one, and that not the least, beneficial result of the formation of this Society, that the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge had been induced first to place the entire Book of Homilies in its catalogue, and subsequently to adopt the plan of circulating the separate Homilies as tracts, Considering the wide extent to which their diffusion will thus be secured, had no other effect than this followed the institution of the Prayer-book and Homily Society, we should have said that it had answered a most important purpose. Our views, however, are now carried far beyond the circle of our own islands, and are extended to the very ends of the earth. Measures have already been taken for putting our Liturgy into the hands of the Christian converts in Africa and Hindoostan; and we cannot but indulge the delightful hope that wherever the zeal of the Missionary Societies belonging to the Church of England shall carry the knowledge of a crucified Saviour, there the faith of the converts will be directed by the Scriptural instructions of our Articles and Homilies, and their devotion cherished and animated by the divine strains of our liturgical services. It was well remarked by Mr. Cunningham, that in the recent efforts which have been made to disturb the public peace, by exciting the people to tumult and insurrection, the barriers to their designs which our domestic enemies found it most important to remove were the formularies of the Church of England. Sedition despaired of her cause while these remained. To bring these into contempt by blasphemous parodies, and thus to alienate the minds of the people from the lessons and prayers of their ancestors, formed a main hope of the disaffected. But this very circumstance, as the same gentleman justly observed, ought to give fresh vigour to our exertions in favour of the Society. We ought to meet the exigency by increased activity, and resist the enemy with the very weapons of which he has shown himself to be most afraid. The Fifth Annual Meeting of this useful institution was held in Bristol on the 30th December, 1816; the Hon. and Right Rev. the Bishop of Gloucester in the chair. At the preceding anniversary the funds of the Society had been declared very inadequate to its intended objects; but in consequence of an earnest appeal to public liberality, they had been considerably increased during the year, so that the Society had been enabled to prosecute its benevolent views to a greater extent than at the commencement of that period there appeared any reason to expect. The total receipts for 1816, inclading 2001. by sale of tracts, amounted to 653l. 16s.; the expenditure was 665l. 19s. 10d. The Bishops of Gloucester and St. David's had sanctioned the Society by their patronage; twenty-three tracts had been reprinted, and seven new ones added to the list; each edition, both of the new tracts and the reprints, consisting of ten thousand copies. The total number of tracts printed in the course of the year, was two hundred and seventy-five thousand. The new tracts are as follow: No. XLIV. The History of the worthy Martyr of God, the Rev. John Nicolson, better known by the Name of John Lambert, who was burnt in Smithfield, in the Year 1538.-12 pages. No. XLV. A Short History of the State of the Church in England, from the first Introduction of Christianity, to the establishment of the blessed Reformation under Queen Elizabeth.-36 pages. No. XLVI. A Clergyman's Address to his Parishioners.-4 pages. No. XLVII. A Clergyman's Second Address to his Parishioners.-4 pages. No. XLVIII. An Address to those who wish to attend upon the Worship of Almighty God with devout Reverence, and to their spiritual Advantage.pages. No. XLIX. The Life of the Rev. William Tyndall, the Translator of the Bible, called the Apostle of England, at the Time of the Reformation, who was burnt at Antwerp in the Year 1536. -12 pages. L. The Parochial Minister's Affectionate Address to a newly-married Couple.-12 pages. These, together with the preceding Numbers, as far back as No. 30, will make a second volume, which the Committee had ordered to be prepared without delay. Tracts issued during the year were, by sale, ninety-eight thousand three hundred and ninety-seven; sent with the Report to subscribers, one thousand seven hundred and two; donations, six thousand; amounting in the. whole to one hundred and six thousand and ninety-nine. The proceeds of tracts sold amount to 2001. 4s. 6d. The receipts of the year had not, however, been adequate to the expenditure. Indeed, it was not to be expected, that the returns of one year should so far exceed those of others as to meet not only its own exigencies, but the deficiencies of former years; and when it is recollected that the money is not lost, but reduced to another form, convertible into its original shape, the Society will appear to have resources in itself fully and even more than equal to all the claims that lie upon it. The stock of tracts on hand at the depository, and with the several agents of the Society, amounted to four hundred and seventeen thousand two hundred and thirty-two; the net value of which is more than 9007., a sum so far exceeding the claims upon the Society, as to leave property to the amount of at least 4007. It must not, however, be imagined, from this statement, that the Society, though fully capable of redeeming its debt, stands therefore in need of little or no further assistance. One great aim of the Committee has been to establish a respectable capital, which alone can ena→ ble them to effect the objects of the institution, especially the retaining a competent number of tracts in various local depositories in different parts of the kingdom. Materially to lessen their present stock, without providing a corresponding supply, would greatly cripple the powers of the institution; the Committee therefore look with increasing hopes and expectations to the friends of their Society, to assist still further its important operations. Ireland and Wales offer a wide field for Christian exertion. Of the latter the Bishop of St. David's writes: "I am very glad that the connexion of our Church Union Society with the Bristol Church-of-England Tract Society is acceptable to your Committee. I have no doubt that it will be very beneficial to us, especially if you adopt Mr. Cotton's proposal. Welsh tracts are essentially necessary to us, and I am persuaded that if you print Welsh translations of your tracts, there will be a large demand for them in both parts of the principality."-The venerable the Archdeacon of Cardigan confirms this testimony. "We promise ourselves," he remarks, great advantage from our connexion with your Society, and I flatter myself that the poor natives of this country will derive very substantial and permanent benefit from it." In consequence of an order from the Rev. Thomas Twisleton, at Columbo, 19,400 tracts, of the value of 501. had been remitted to that place. From Boston, in America, Mr. Merrill announces the formation of the "Episcopal Prayer-book and Tract Society of the Eastern Diocess," of which he is appointed Secretary; adding, "Success, far beyond our expectations, has hitherto attended us. Already several Auxiliary Societies have been instituted in the interior of the state. We should be grateful for any advice, which may aid us in regulating our Society, and for such of the Bristol tracts as you may think suitable for republication in this country. We have witnessed with delight the unprecedented exertions of the Church of England in the cause of Christianity, and shall endeavour, by our humble efforts, to imitate the bright example you have set us." Several new corresponding members and agents have been obtained: a wide sphere for the circulation of the tracts was opening in the towns and neighbourhood of Nottingham, Sheffield, and Leeds, in addition to the places mentioned in former Reports. In the firstnamed of these places, the Committee expect the formation of a Branch Society; and in Sheffield there already existed a Society, called, "The Sheffield Church-of-England Tract Society," which was largely supplied with tracts. Peculiar obligations had been laid upon the Society, by the zealous services of its friends in Leicester and the neighbourhood. Some arrangements also had been made in the metropolis, calculated more effectually to promote the interests of the Society in that important sphere of action, by affording greater accommodation to its friends who live in London, or places with which London has peculiar facilities for intercourse; as also by making the institution more generally known. Instead of many agents, the business of the Society will |