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ORIGINAL ANECDOTES-LITERARY NEWS-REMARKABLE INCIDENTS, &c.

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THE UNICORN.

Mr. Campbell has brought with him from Mashow, in Africa, the head of an animal which is believed by many, and it is endeavoured to prove, to be the Unicorn of Holy Writ.

When shot it was called a rhinoceros, but the head being brought in, it was found to be different from all the others that had been killed. The common African rhinoceros, continues Campbell, has a crooked horn resembling a cock's spur, which rises about nine or ten inches above the nose and inclines backwards; immediately behind this is a short thick horn; but the head they brought had a straight horn projecting three feet from the forehead, about ten inches above the tip of the nose. The projection of this great horn very much resembles that of the fanciful Unicorn in the British arms. It has a small thick horny substance, eight inches long, immediately behind it, which can hardly be observed on the animal at the distance of a hundred yards, and seems to be designed for keeping fast that which is pen

etrated by the long horn; so that this species of rhinoceros must appear really like a unicorn when running in the field. The head resembled in size a nine-gallon cask, and measured three feet from the mouth to the ear, and being much larger than that of the one with the crooked horn, and which measured eleven feet in length, the animal itself must have been still larger and more formidable. From its weight, and the position of the horn, it appears capable of overcoming any creature hitherto known. Hardly any of the natives took the smallest notice of the head, but treated it as a thing familiar to them. As the entire horn is perfectly solid, the natives, I afterwards heard, made from one horn four handles for their battle-axes. Our people wounded another, which they reported to be much larger.*

nose.

It has been further stated in No. XV. of the Missionary Sketches, that "the head measured from the ears to the nose three feet: the length of the horn, which is nearly black, is also three feet, projecting from the forehead, about ten inches above the There is a small horny projection, of a conical shape, measuring about eight inches, immediately behind the great horn, apparently designed for keeping fast or steady whatever is penetrated by the great horn. This projection is scarcely observed at a very little distance. The animal is not carnivorous, but chiefly feeds on grass and bushes.

"Mr. Campbell was very desirous to obtain as adequate an idea as possible of the bulk of the animal killed near Mashow and with this view questioned his Hottentots, who described it as being much larger than the rhinoceros, and equal in size to three oxen or four horses.

"The skull and horn excited great curiosity at Cape Town, most scientific persons there being of opinion that it was all that we should have for the Unicorn. An animal of the size af a horse, which the fancied Unicorn is supposed to be, would not answer the description of the Unicorn given in the Sacred Scriptures, where it is described as a very large, ferocious, and untameable creature; but the animal in question exactly enswers to it in every respect.

"The Hebrew name by which it is called is Reem, which signifies Might or Strength. The translators of the Old Testament into

*The head being so weighty; and the distance to the Cape so great, it appeared necessary to cut off the under jaw and leave it behind; (the Mashow who cut off the flesh from it had ten cuts on his back, which were marks for ten men he had killed in his lifetime.) The animal is considered by naturalists, since the arrival of the skull in London, to be the Unicorn of the ancients, and the same as that which is described in the 39th chapter of the book of Job. The part of the head brought to London, may be seen at the Missionary Museum; and, for such as may not have the opportunity of seeing the head itself, the an nexed drawing of it has been made.

Varieties.

Greek called it Monoceros; in the Latin (or Vulgate) translation it is Unicornis. In various countries it bears a name of similar import. In Geez it is called Arwe Harich, and in the Amharic, Auraris, both signifying "the large wild beast with the horn." In Nubia, it is called Girnamgirn, or "horn upon horn." This exactly applies to the skull in the Society's Museum, which has a small conical horn behind the long one. From the latter we presume this animal has been denominated the Unicorn, it being the principal, and by far the most prominent horn, the other, as before intimated, being scarcely distinguishable at a short distance. The writer of the article "Unicorn," in the Supplement to the Encyclopedia Britannica, observes, (defining the term,) "the Scriptural name of an animal, which was undoubtedly the one-horned Rhinoceros."

"Some authors, both ancient and modern, have described an animal, which they call the Unicorn, said to resemble a horse, or deer, with a long horn, represented in English heraldry as one of the supporters of the royal arms; but there is reason to doubt the existence of any such quadruped. It is probable that the long horn ascribed to such an animal is that of a fish, or, as termed by some, a Sea Unicorn, called the Monodon, or Narwhol, confounding the land and sea animal together. The horn of the fish here alluded to, was formerly imposed on the world as the horn of the Unicorn, at an immense price. On the whole, it appears highly probable that the Rhinoeeros, having one long horn projecting from its face, is the only Unicorn existing, and although it has a kind of stump of another horn behind the long projecting one, yet that it has been denominated Unicorn, (or one horn,) from that which is so obvious and prominent; and certainly its great bulk and strength render it such a formidable and powerful animal as is described in the Sacred Scriptures."

STEAM ENGINES OF ENGLAND.

A French writer, M. Dupin, give the following illustration of the labour of these machines. The great pyramid of Egypt required for its erection above 100,000 men for 20 years: but if it were required again to raise the stones from the quarries, and place them at their present height, the action of the steam-engines of England, which are at most managed by 36,000 men, would be sufficient to produce the effect in 18 hours. If it were required to know how long a time they would take to cat the stones, and move them from the quarries to the pyramid, a very few days would be found sufficient. The volume of the great pyramid is 4,000,000 cubic metres, its weight is about 10,400,000 tons,or 10,400,000,000 kilogrammes. The centre of gravity of the pyramid is elevated 49 metres from the base, and taking 11 metres as the main depth of the quarries, the total height of elevation is 10 metres, which, multiplied by 10,400,000 tons, gives 624,000,000 tons rais

Thus the total of the steam-
ed one metre.
engines in England represents a power of
320,000 horses. These engines moved for
twenty-four hours would raise 862,800,000
metre high, and consequently,
tons one
547,100,000 tons in 13 hours, which sur-
passes the produce of the labour spent in
raising the materials of the great pyramid.
WASHINGTON'S STATUE.

Canova's Statue of Washington repre-
sents him as writing his farewell address.
He is seated in an ancient Roman chair, with
his right leg drawn up and his left careless-
ly extended; holding in one hand a pen
and in the other a scroll; at his feet lie the
baton of a field marshal, and a sword like
that of the ancient Roman. The costume is
also Roman, the head and neck bare, a close
vest and braceæ, with a girdle round the
waist, upon which are displayed Medusa's
head and other classical emblems.
statue is of white marble of the finest kind,
as is likewise the pedestal; upon the four
sides of which are four bas-reliefs, com-
memorating important circumstances in the

life of the hero.

GREECE.

The

A pamphlet of considerable interest has just been published, under the title of War in Greece, in which the writer draws the following picture of the respective forces, &c. of the Turks and Greeks :-" Greece at this moment is full of men highly endowed, and a powerful and general thirst for knowledge has filled the universities of Europe with Greek students, supported by the patriotic aid of their countrymen. I do not say that the Greeks are pre-eminently industrious, brave, learned, patriotic, or religious; but I do say, that to possess these qualities at all, is a strong proof of their force of character, to those who know what the Turkish sway has been, and that it still is, with regard to civilization, an exterminating principle. It is said that the Greeks lie-that they stealthat they assassinate-be it so; but let it be asked what can men do that have no protection against conquerors, who at pleasure take from them their wives, their children, their fortunes, and their lives? They will lie, whose destruction follows the truth; they will steal, from whom all has been stolen; they will assassinate, who have no other protection against murderers. There was but one reproach against the Greeks:

Why do you not rise upon your tyrants?' and this reproach they have wiped away; let it not be said that a great people, struggling sword in hand for freedom, are a debased people; say, rather, that those surrounding nations who withhold their aid are debased.”

The writer gives the following estimate of the advantages possessed by each of the contending parties:-"What is then the state of the Greeks? 1st. They are far more numerous than their enemies. 2d.

They possess equal courage. 3d. They possess the greatest part of the country, and many large tracts, and some islands where

the Turk, even in the day of his strength, never could penetrate; and these form so many impregnable fortresses from which to draw supplies. 4th. The Greeks have sailors; the Turks have none. 5th. The machine of Turkish government has, in all its subordinate parts, been worked by Greeks, and will go on badly without them. 6th. The Greeks are better informed on all subjects than the Turks. 7th. They fight not for civil and religious freedom alone, but for existence; extirpation is certain, if they are defeated; whereas the Turks have Asia Minor to retreat into, and only fight for a province belonging to their sovereign. 8th. The best troops the Sultan had in his army are amongst those Greeks now in arms against him; and 9th. The Turkish army may have courage and arms, but nothing else, and is not entitled to the name of an army; it is a numerous banditti, so bad, that the last Emperor lost his life by an attempt to restore discipline and introduce the European system among the Janizaries." Against these nine advantages may be placed these on the side of the Turks :"1st. They have an established government. 2d. They hold most of the fortresses. 3d.. The Sultan may have great command of money if he acts wisely. 4th. He has greater means of forging arms and making gunpowder. A total ignorance of the art of war, and a complete want of discipline, is a disadvantage common to both Greeks and Turks, but the former have the advantage of being aware of their ignorance, and eager to remedy the deficit. This feeling is a host of strength on their side."

With respect to the manner of arming the Greeks, he proposes the pike as the best weapon they can adopt. It can be made by every peasant; it is cheaper than any other; it needs no ammunition but courage; it is used without any instruction; it is terrible in attack, and offensive war is the game for Greece to play: It is termed by Montecuculi the queen of weapons. He does not assert that it is superior to the musket and bayonet generally, but it is superior to the Turkish musket that has no bayonet. In retreating, a musket is a superior weapon, and he proposes that one-fourth of the army should carry them. The cavalry should be armed with swords and lances; and pistols, which abound in Greece, might be given to both services.

LITERARY.

The Songs of Anacreon, of Teos, are in the press; translated into English measure, by LORD THURLOW.

Early in March will be published, Marian De Britton, a Novel, by Capt. DE RENZY. That delightful writer, Miss OPIE, has in the press Madeline, a tale, in two vols.

We have been assured that the sale of Scottish novels has been unduly exaggerated, and that not more than 12,000 of one novel has ever been sold. The profits, therefore, are not more than a third of our late estimate.

The revived art of Engraving on Wood, is about to be extensively and effectually applied to the illustration of Bibles, Testaments, and Common Prayer Books. In February was published, in all the usual sizes, and varied bindings, at an advance of only four, five, or six shillings each, on different sized editions, the HOLY BIBLE, with Three Hundred Engravings, copied by W. M. Craig, Esq. from the designs of the great masters in the different schools of painting, and engraved in a style of superior effect and beauty. Whatever may have been the attempts hitherto made to illus ner, this undertaking will unquestionably trate Bibles in a pleasing and popular manbe the cheapest, most comprehensive, and complete that has ever been submitted to the world. For Pocket Bibles, impressions of one hundred and fifty, or upwards, of the best subjects will be taken on India Paper as proofs, and this edition, at the same extra cost of five Shillings, will form the most exquisitively beautiful edition of the Bible ever offered to the world. Ornamented Tes taments of all sizes may in like manner be had, each illustrated by one hundred engravings, at two shillings above the usual price; and the cheapest School Testaments will be prepared at one shilling extra. Ornamented Common Prayer Books will also be prepared of every size, from the large octavo to the small 32mo, illustrated with sixty engravings, and may be had at one shilling and sixpence, or one shilling extra in every variety. By changing the inscriptions the engravings will be adapted to Bibles and Testaments in all languages. Foreign booksellers and Missionary Societies, may be supplied with sets of the engravings with inscriptions in any language for the ornament and illustration of Bibles and Testaments, whatever be the language in which they are printed. The English editions into which the engravings will be introduced, will be the best that are produced dom; and the Bibles, Testaments, and Comat the authorized presses of the United Kingworld, will, in consequence, unite every mon Prayer Books, thus offered to the point of perfection.

Miss SPENCE will shortly publish a new work, entitled Old Stories, in 3 vols.

The Works of DOCTOR JAMES ARMINIUS, formerly of Leyden, are in the press.

NEW NOVELS.
Sir Heraud of Arden: a Tale.
The Priest: a Novel, 3 vols.
Maurice Powell: an Historical Welsh
Tale of England's Troubles, 3 vols.

Tales of Ton; third and last Series, con-
taining a Tale of the Heart, the Hat and
Feathers, Education and no Education, &c.
De Renzy; or, the Man of Sorrow, 3 vols.
May you like it.

founded on an Historical Fact; by Mrs. The Scottish Orphans: a Moral Tale, Blackford.

Guilty or not Guilty? or, a Lesson for Husbands; by Ann of Swansea, 5 vols.

SPIRIT

OF THE

ENGLISH MAGAZINES.

BOSTON, MAY 15, 1822.

WE

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Catania.

WE set out at three o'clock, P. M. from this city, and proceeding slowly on my mule, I ruminated on the description which I am about to give you of the most celebrated of volcanoes, of which you have already heard so much, that I have decided simply to relate to you what came under my own observation. We began our march in frightful roads, amidst rocks of lava which cover the first part of the route. Our mules, habituated to these rough passes, never once stumbled; but an accident happening to mine embarrassed me greatly. I felt my foot wet, and one side of my pantaloons was covered with blood: I alighted and perceived that my mule had been recently hurt. With a handkerchief and thong we bound up the wound, and continued our journey in a road covered with lava, but bordered with superb Indian fig trees, (this fruit which is despised in America is an article of great consumption in Sicily,) ordinary fig trees, and enormous olives: every where else this tree appeared to me paltry, and of a difficult vegetation; but here it grows to admiration. After proceeding five or six miles, we passed through the village of Gravelina; where I was assailed by nearly the whole population demanding charity. The number of poor which you meet with in Sicily and Italy, is sufficient to harden the heart of the traveller, who cannot be expected to 17

ATHENEUM VOL. 11.

supply the wants of such idle mendicants, who languish on a land, the fruitful soil of which affords all that is necessary for subsistence. Some miles further we perceived, and afterwards passed through, another village called Masca-Luscia: it contains two churches; one of which, nearly destroyed by an earthquake, was never very remarkable, and the other is only rendered so, by a steeple fantastically decorated with stones of various colours. We arrived, in fine, at the last village, that of Nicolosi, which appeared poorer than all the rest; this was surely in former times, the Town of Etna, where the inhabitants of Catania took refuge, on the arrival of the Greeks: the environs abound in olive trees and vineyards, which produce excellent wine. All this part was covered with ashes by the eruption of Monte Rosso, a secondary volcano which formed itself at the time of the last eruption. Monte Rosso is one of those mountains by which Etna is surrounded. It appears that when an eruption takes place, the lava making its way on the flanks of the mountains, pierces the ground in the place which offers the least resistance, and there forms a swelling, which it afterwards consolidates by flowing from above. In this village we found the guide, or, as he is called, the Pilot of Etna. After some conversation, he engaged to ascend for three piastres, about 12s. 6d.

From thence to the

convent, where we were to rest our beasts, we had no more than a mile to go, which we performed in coasting along Monte Rosso, whose summit was gilded by the sun, and behind which it had already set when we arrived. This mountain is several miles in circumference. I profited by the last light of the sky, in order to sketch a view of the convent, which altho' of the common extent, is nevertheless very picturesque. Built against a small hill, long since become cold, and covered with woods, it seems sheltered from the destructive effects of the volcano; from the other side, between superb fir trees, you perceive the sea, the plains of Catania and Syracuse. You are received into the convent nearly in the same manner as you would be at an inn; the best situated room for the view is reserved for strangers. We were twelve hours in coming from Catania, which is,notwithstanding, only a distance of 12 miles. Being provided with a fowl, &c. I supped pretty well, slept in my cloak, and we set out at half past nine by moonlight, the guide, servant, and myself, on our mules, the mule-driver always on foot. We first entered into an immense torrent of lava; the uncertain glimmerings of the moon gave an extraordinary aspect to the huge masses by which I was surrounded. I forgot to tell you, that in this convent, which is very convenient for the traveller visiting Etna, as he there dines and rests himself, you also put on winter clothing; in fact, that season was drawing near when we quitted the monastery. You might have seen me then on the 21st of August, dressed nearly in the same manner as in England in the month of December. Soon after, long shadows scattered here and there, and a trembling of the leaves, announced the approach to the forest of oaks, which formerly encircled Etna to the height of several miles; but which an immense torrent of lava had cruelly ravaged. The light of the moon, the huge and broken rocks, the great oaks, whose vegetation surprises the beholder, in the midst of lavas, the silence of my guides, interrupted only by the rustling of the leaves, and by the trampling of our mules, every thing led me to reflection. How

can we reconcile the evident primitiveness of Etna with what Moses informs us of the creation of the world? It is true, he does not say that God created the world in infancy; and if He made Adam at the age of 30 years, He might also well create Etna with an open crater, and its flanks covered with lava.

While journeying along, I asked my guide if it was true, as I had read, that the mountain subsisted all kinds of game and wild beasts: he begged me not to be afraid: I repeated the question to him, and received the same reply, he being still persuaded that the fear of encountering ferocious animals caused me to speak in that manner. I should, notwithstanding, be led to believe, that the mountain, considering its extent and gradual temperature, might well support them; but it seems to me that Mr. Brydone gave too wide a scope to his imagination, when he described Etna as a general botanic garden, an almost universal menagerie. As for the rest, I had not the pleasure of seeing any of these animals, and we arrived without molestation, at the extremity of their domain, the forest, which may be about six miles in width. We then entered into the most fantastical lavas; they have more of a slope, and the crevices which form there, as soon as they become cold, acquire more extent, and present a more rent appearance. It was one o'clock, and already the wind blew piercingly cold.

I was sorry not to have brought a thermometer, but I had not been able to find one for sale, either at Messina or at Catania. As for a barometer, it would have been almost useless to me; the custom of calculating the elevation with this instrument,is extremely blameable. Some have found the elevation of Etna to be 12,000 feet, and others 24,000. Cassini reckons ten fathoms for the falling line of the mercury, by adding one to the first ten, two to the second, &c., but he has never surely made the experiment of his method on very high mountains, where the air is rarefied in a much more rapid progression. Etna might be measured trigonometrically, for it descends as far as the sea, the shore being taken for the base. We may even have an approach

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