88 Intelligence: Literary and Philosophical. {VOL. 4 INTELLIGENCF. NEW THEORY RESPECTING THE INTERIOR OF M THE EARTH!! R. Steinhauser, in Halle, has informed the world, through the medium of the Literary Gazette (of Halle,)that our Globe is a hollow ball, the interior of which perhaps contains a little Solar System. From a long series of observations on the variations of the Magnetic Needle, it seems to him to follow incontrovertibly, that at the depth of 170 (German, about 765 English) miles, a body revolves round the centre of the earth, from West to East, but very slowly, as it takes 440 years to accomplish one revolution. This body is endued with a very strong magnetic power, and is the cause of the variations of the Magnetic Needle. The calculations of M. Steinbauser, are stated to be perfectly consonant to experience; and he foretold, in 1805, that the Needle would first become stationary, and then, about the present time, return towards the East, which has in fact happered. Hitherto, navigators have merely judged impirically, from the variation of the Needle, whether they have been driven by currents too far to the East or the West: but in future they will observe the position of the subterraneous body, called Pluto, and thereby determine their position with as much certainty as by the most celestial phenomena! A letter from Copenhagen communicates the following details, upon the breaking up of the ice on the coast of Greenland: "Four hundred and fifty square miles of ice have recently detached itself from the eastern coast of Greenland and the neighbouring regions of the Pole. It was this mass which, during 400 years, had rendered that province at first difficult of access, and afterwards inaccessible, so as even to cause its existence to be doubted. Since 1786 the reports of the whalers have invariably referred to some changes, more or less consid erable, in the seas of the North Pole; but at the present time, so much ice has detached itself, and such extensive canals are open amidst what remains, that they can penetrate, without obstruction, as far as the 83d degree. All the seas of the North abound with these floating masses, which are driven to more temperate climates. A packet from Halifax fell in with one of these islands in a more southern latitude than the situation of London; it appeared about half a mile in circumference, and its elevation above the water was estimated at 200 feet. This breaking up of the Polar ice coincides with the continual tempest from the South-east, accompanied with heats, rains, storms, and a very electrical state of the atmosphere: circumstances which, during three years, have caused us to experience in Denmark hot winters and cold humid summers.---On the 25th of May there fell at Copenhagen five showersof hail, to each of which succeeded a dead calm. "Some of the floating islands conveyed forests and trunks of trees. We notice this last fact principally for the satisfaction of geologists, who attribute to phenomena of this sort the blocks of foreign granite found in the chain of the Jura mountains, and conveyed at the epoch when our highest mountaius were covered with water."--Gent, Mag. Public curiosity has recently been much excited by the appearance and performances of two human salamanders, who, in the days of superstition, could, by resisting the last act of an Auto da fe, have been considered as saints or demons. We allude to a Spanish female, named Signora Giradelli, who has been exhibiting her powers at Edinburgh; and Ivan Ivanitz Chabert, a Russian, who has been displaying similar qualifications in the English metropolis. All the stories of St. John escaping from the cauldron of boiling oil, of Queen Emma walking bare-foot over the red hot plough-share, and of the Hindoos walking into nine inclosures with fiery balls of iron in their naked hands, now lose the impression which they were wont to produce, and almost sink into trifles, compared with the exploits of those incombustible persons. (See our 36th No.) The White Matter voided by snakes is almost entirely pure Uric Acid. (Dr. John Davy.) There is a longitudinal fissure in the poison teeth of serpents, which is not perceptible in those of a harmless kind. It is not long since it was a fashion among our fair sex to make their own shoes, but the rage seems to have gone by, notwithstanding the acknowledged quality of the ladies to stick to the last. Instead of cobbling, bookbinding has now its votaries. Three lessons make a proficient, and the teacher says it is a most useful, amusing, and elegant employ ment. AtGreenhill, parish of Ruthwell,died in his 76th year, Andrew Rome. This old man, with his brother, who still survives, and is about ten years older, was among the last of a daring and enterprising race of smugglers, who carried on an extensive contraband trade in Annandale, before the exclusive privileges of the Isle of Man were bought up and regulated by government. He was a native of the border parish of Dornock, but for the last forty or fifty years resided in the parish of Ruthwell, where he rented a farm under the Earl of Mansfield. The character of this old smuggler was strongly marked with the peculiar features of his illicit occupation, and would have formed a fine subject for the graphic pen of the author of "Guy Mannering." NEW WORKS. Biographical Conversations on the most eminent Voyagers of different Nations, from Columbus to Cooke; by the Rev. W. Bingley. Translations from Camoens, and other poets: with original poetry by the author of "Modern Greece," and the "Restoration of the Works of Art to Italy." 8vo. 4s. Dr. Andrew Duncan will soon publish an. Account of the Life, Writings, and Character, of the late Dr. Alex. Monro. An Account of the Small-Pox, as it appeared after Vaccination, will_shortly appear, by Alexander Mouro, M. D. professor of Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh; including, among many cases, three which occurred in the author's own family. Sir Charles Morgan, so well known to the literary world by his appendices to Lady Morgan's work on France, has put to press his Sketches of the Philosophy of Life. COL. JOHNSON'S JOURNEY OVERLAND FROM INDIA TO ENGLAND IN 1817. 4TO. WITH PLATES. A NY prefatory remarks would only taking up on his way a little child to detain our readers from the enter- adjust the equilibrium. From the sight: tainment which this Journey offers, and of an Arab bagpiper, Colonel Johnson as our opinion of its agreeable qualities supports the hypothesis, that this instrumay be gathered from the extracts as we ment originated in the East, and found proceed, we shall not stop for even one its way to the Highlands of Scotland introductory observation. Colonel through the channels of Greece and Johnson, accompanied by Captain Sal- Rome. There are some Armenian ter, having determined to return to Eng- families of great wealth in Bushire. A land by an overland route, instead of a christening at one of their principal sea voyage, left Bombay for Bushire in merchants is thus described :the Gulf of Persia, in a large merchant "Near the door of the women's vessel, about the middle of the month of apartment stands the priest in his robes. February 1817. They touched at He reads prayers for fifteen minutes Muscat, where immense multitudes of a over the child, which,laid on bedding, is small fish, like Sardinias, are caught by held by the godfather. (There is no godthrowing a net over the spot where they mother, even at the christening of a girl, are observed," and as soon as sufficient the wife of the godfather being considtime has elapsed for the net to descend ered as holding that distinction.) The below the shoal of fish, one of the fish- godfather repeats many short satences, ers, nearly naked, dives to the bottom dictated by the priest, as the name of of the net, which he collects together in the child, his promises as sponsor, &c. his arms. He then pulls a string con- 2dly. The child is removed into the nected with the net, which is gently women's apartment, the door is shut, drawn up, the diver ascending with it." and a prayer is read by the priest outThese divers remain from seventy to side, holding the handle of the lock: hundred seconds under water. the door is then opened, and the priest, At Bushire, the Arabs are a strong, his assistant, a clerk, and the godfather, thickset, and muscular race. One par- enter; a large basin is placed at the taticular man carried upon his back a full ble, with four candles round it; in a. pipe of Madeira; and, at another time, niche above the table is a golden cruci700 lb. of rice, in bags, for two miles, fix, studded with seven large precious M ATHENEUM. Vol. 4. a Singular Customs at Bushire. [VOL. 4 stones, and there is a long glass vessel book in contact with the mother's head; with sanctified oil. The priest prays when it is finished, the godfather bows over the basin; then the assistant puts to the company, and retires with the water into it, first hot, then cold, bishop and priests to another suite of as required; he next immerses the cru- apartments on the side of the house apcifix in the basin of water, praying all propriated to the males, where a breakthe while, and bis assistant responding. fast table is laid out for a numerous asThe godfather during this time holds sembly." the child flat on the bedding below him: Such is a rich Armenian baptism, of a little of the sanctified oil is then added the ceremonies at which we do not redrop by drop to the water, during which member to have read any account beprocess, the priest and his assistant fore. The ladies are not beautiful, chant, the crucifix being previously re- though they have fine black eyes, eyemoved from the water. 3dly. The brows, and hair; but habitual seclusion child, entirely naked, is taken up and renders them pale, and their very early put into the basin by the priest, who marriages prematurely old. with his hands laves every part of the On the road from Bushire to Shiraz, infant's body; it is then taken out and there are prodigious numbers of beggars wrapped up. The priest pronounces in a state of the utmost destitution and the baptismal name and some prayers, wretchedness. The way is also infested which the godfather repeats after him, by robbers, but our countrymen passed and takes up the glass of oil, praying in safety. While at Kauzeroon, about all the while; then bringing it near the half way, they of course visited the celechild, he dips his thumb in the vessel, brated Shapour; but as this place and rubs oil first on the child's forehead, is so well described by M. Morier then behind each ear, subsequently on (whose second* Journey is, we observe, the chin, the eyes, mouth, and nose; with much satisfaction, just published, then the breasts, the hands, the back, and will speedily claim our attention) the abdomen, and the top of each foot, we shall very briefly dismiss the chief praying the whole time, and the points relating to it in Colonel Johnson's clerk responding. 4thly. The child be- narrative. Having with incredible faing dressed by the nurse in rich clothes, tigue attained the summit of the mounis given to the godfather, when the bish- tain which overhangs the valley where op comes in, invested in embroidered the sculptures are, he entered the cave robes and a black silk hood over his and examined the fallen statue. It is head, and attended by two or three of white lime-stone, as hard and compriests. The bishop places himself at the pact as marble: its extreme length from head of a procession formed of priests, 16 to 20 feet. From the plate, it seems two by two, followed by the officiating a curiously executed work, of an armpriest, next to whom is the godfather bearing the child; they pass in this order to the public apartment, where the females in their best dresses are assembled, sitting along three sides of the room on cushions placed near the walls. The mother, who is veiled, sits apart on cushions, as in state, on the other side. When the bishop enters the room, the ladies all rise and remain standing. The godfather places the child in the lap of the mother, who remains veiled as be- • The account of the first journey thro' Persia, of fore. The bishop takes the book and this accomplished gentleman, published in 1812, is reads a short prayer, to which responses one of the most interesting books of travels we ever are given by the other priests. During of the second, it seems to merit equal praise.—Ed. this concluding part of the ceremony, ed, bearded Jupiter-like giant, with a sort of mural crown upon his head. About 400 feet within this stupendous and terribly sublime cavern is a tank of water, surrounded by grotesque formations of stalactites shooting upwards from the base and downwards from the roof. Shiraz did not strike our travellers,as they approached to it through the barren read, and from the little we have had time to peruse + Mentioned by M. Morier but not examined by the officiating priest holds a prayer- him. Col. Johnson's Journey overland from India, 1817. 91 VOL. 4.] waste in which it stands, to be superior mier also of the present sovereign, Futto the second-rate towns of India. In- teh Ally Shah, had a son named Meerternally, however, its bazar, its fine pot- za Mahomed Khaun, who, about ninetery of a yellowish tint, its confectiona- teen years ago, began, at his own exry, its enamelling on gold, and its excel- pence, to repair and rebuild the tomb of lent engraving, obtained their admira- a saint, Shah Cheraukh, in this city tion. The petty Mountain Chiefs arouud (Shiraz). His present Majesty wishtalk freely of their independence, and a ing to rid the country of Hajee Ibrahim, degree of anarchy prevails which threat- and at the same time to prevent the inens the dismemberment of this province, surrection of any one of his family, at unless a beneficial change speedily takes one blow carried his project into execuplace in the administration of the gov- tion in the following manner. He first ernment. Near Shiraz is the tomb of caused Hajee Ibrahim's tongue to be cut Hafiz, and so sacred is the memory of out, and then his eyes; he then ordered the Poet held in Persia, that a volume his two sons, who were governors of containing his writings is opened for districts, one at Hamadan, and the other every visitor upon his tomb, and, like the person already mentioned, to be put the Sortes Virgilianæ, the passage which to death on the same day; in order first occurs is held to be prophetic of the that, previously to putting his minister fate of the enquirer. The tombstone to death, he might be certain that all his is a large block of Tafriz marble of the nature of gypsum. The tomb of Saadi also claimed a visit. "Here is a well so constructed as to afford a passage for persons to descend and bathe in it, having cells also in the sides for their accommodation. On some particular days it is believed to be very healthful for persons to immerge in these waters." "The Persian sitting-rooms are all on the same plan, having walls on three sides, and the whole of the fourth consisting of windows of painted glass in exceedingly small panes, so disposed as to represent different figures." Their pictures are scarcely to be mentioned as works of art, and, with the exception of the carpets and some embroidery, there is little of magnificence in their furniture. Of the dreadfully insecure tenure of life and property in Persia, two fearful examples are given, with which we shall conclude our present notice of Colonel Johnson's travels in that country. They are of recent date. family were destroyed; and he only All his Hajee Ibrahim, prime minister and What can be expected from sovesupporter of Aga Mahomed Khaun (in reigns, whose education as princes is of fact he raised him from the rank of this treacherous and bloody kind ? Khood Khoda to the throne,) and pre 92 Mr. Maturin-Miss Edgeworth-Lady Morgan, [VOL 4 T CORNUCOPIA. From the London Monthly Magazines, &c. 1818. MATURIN, Miss Edgeworth entered into the HE author of Bertram,' and' Wo- career of authorship with a taste permen, pour et contre,' is no stran- fectly matured, and sedulously cultivatger to the public. He is a singular and ed. Lady Morgan on the contrary, a powerful writer, loving, in his sketch- plunged her pen in ink, rashly, premaes of human nature, to dwell on those turely, and enthusiastically. The forpeculiar portions which under infe- mer appeared to pique herself upon elerior hands might seem repulsive and gance, refinement, classicality, and the deformed, but which to a man of genius ambition of depicting manners as they offer the noblest as well as the deepest are. The latter, too volatile to be means and excitements of strong judicious, too sentimental to be rational, thought and overwhelming description. and too brilliant to be discreet, poured He has conceptions of great sweetness forth inflated rhapsodies in incorrect mingled with the stern picturings, great and redundant phraseology, and porrichness of imagery, great mastery of trayed beings, such as were never seen picturesque language; but his charm before, yet interesting even amidst all is in the solemn and the fearful, if his their follies. Mis Edgeworth's amiacup is chased and fretted with gorgeous ble characters, if found in real life, devises, and glittering with rubies and would have been thought cold pedants; gold, the draught within is of subtle and Lady Morgan's would have been condread enchantment; his muse is less sidered delightful oddities. The one, the Proserpine gathering flowers and we might have admired, but could not sporting in her young loveliness thro' love; the other, we might have loved, the vale of Enna, than the Proserpine but could scarcely admire. In Miss already the queen of a lower realm, not Edgeworth, we are struck with the forfeiting her beauty or her brightness, light wit and humour, and the safe, but shining out in her sovereign pomp though not profound or original maxamong shadows and sights of fear, the ims, which are scattered through her secrets of the world of gloom, and the pages. In Lady Morgan, we meet a sufferings of hearts stripped only as be- less refined, but much more forcible fore the last tribunal.-Lit. Gaz. July vein of mirth, and if not so many dictatorial apothegms, much more feeling, much more philosophy, and much more Miss Edgeworth and lady Morgan native sentiment. We always suspect are the two British females whose supe- Miss Edgeworth of having hoarded up riority above the rest, the public appear sententious sayings in her commonwilling to admit, but about whose com- place book, gleaned from scarce books, parative merits they are still divided. or from casual conversation; and on For our own parts, since the publication the other hand, we are inclined to susof O'Donnell, we have never felt a pect, that Lady Morgan is rather too doubt on the subject. The interest of anxious to produce an original, than a that tale, the accurate delineation of just observation. On the whole, the high life, the strength of its elevated former lady writes evidently more from characters, and the humour of its hum- her head than from her heart, and the ble, place it, we think, above any latter more from her heart than from which Miss Edgeworth has hitherto ber head. We are clearly of opinion produced. At the same time we freely too, that Lady Morgan has been enconfess, that Miss Edgeworth's works dowed by nature with a far greater porare far superior to the other works of tion of genius than Miss Edgeworth, Lady Morgan. but that Miss Edgeworth has derived 1818. FEMALE WRITERS. |