MISCELLANIES.

COMPRESSED AIR RAILWAY.-"The medium at will, to run clear of them. The carriage, with

two persons on it, is propelled with great speed the whole length of the gallery; the length of the tube for the inflating moving power being only about twelve feet.-Lit. Gaz.

of the motive power is an apparatus of iron, having grooves along the sides, which are formed with extreme accuracy. A section of this apparatus will show a curve on either side, which curves are segments of a circle of like diameter. Along the sides of the grooved iron beam pieces "ON THE NATIVES OF AUSTRALIA," BY ME of cloth, prepared with gutta percha,' are laid, E. J EYRE.-Mr. Eyre is of opinion that the naand bolted securely down at the top and bottom tives of Australia present a striking resemblance edges. This cloth is not tightly strained across to each other in physical appearance and structhe grooves, but is partially loose, so that it may ture, and general character, habits, and pursuits. be adapted to the curve or hollow, and so that the The man is well built and muscular, and from condensed air may be blown in between the cloth five to six feet in height. His skull is thick and and the iron groove, to inflate the cloth, and cause flattened; his forehead bold; his eyes-which it forcibly to project at the sides of the beam, thus are large, black, and expressive-sunk; his nose converted, as it were, into a flexible or elastic flattened, and his mouth wide; his lips rather tube. Fixed to the carriage, and descending so thick; his teeth perfect and beautiful, though in as to work with exactness on either side of the the dental arrangement in many, a difference exbeam, are two thick wooden wheels, or frictionists between the incisor and canine teeth; his rollers, the peripheries of which are turned exactly to correspond with curves in the sides of the iron beam. These rollers are tightened, laterally, by means of a cross bar and nuts, until they bind tightly against the cloths with grooves. When the condensed air is admitted behind the carriage, it rushes towards these wheels, and inflates the tubes in its progress, and presses forcibly against the wooden wheels, which, binding tightly upon the curves, present a barrier to the passage of the air until its pressure overcomes its resistance; the wheels, with their carriage, yield to the power, and, with the train, are propelled along the line. It is not intended, in practice, that the whole column of condensed air shall be set in motion, but that the centre beam shall be hollow, and serve as a receptacle or store for condensation, so that the air shall be let out in puffs, as it were (within the cloths), at intervals, in the length of tubing, by means of a system of valves, which may or may not be opened, at the will of the engineer, during the passing of the train."

This is effected by an arrangement in the form of a skate, pressing on elastic upright valves at intervals in the beam, but which may be screwed up

chest is broad and deep; his carriage erect, and there is considerable natural grace and dignity of demeanor. A single garment only is worn, made in the form of an oblong cloak or coverlet of the skins of the opossum, the kangaroo, or the wallabie, and, where animals are scarce, of an ingeniously manufactured article of seaweed or rushes, and is very becoming. It has the fur outwards, and is thrown over the back and left shoulder, and pinned on in front with a little wooden peg. The open part is opposite the right side, so as to leave, in the man, the right arm and shoulder bare. The character of the Australian is frank, open, and confiding; and when once on terms of friendship, has a freedom and fearlessness that would give little countenance to the impression so generally entertained of his treachery. Haying no vessels capable of resisting the action of fire, they are unacquainted with the simple process of boiling; their culinary operations are, therefore, confined to broiling, baking, and steaming. Cannibalism does not appear to prevail extensively through the continent, though it exists in a few tribes. The following account was given to Mr. Eyre, by the natives of the Murray, of

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their idea of the creation:-That there are four and the other to Mohammed-el-Bacheterzi-an individuals living up among the clouds, called old man respected for his piety and his position Nooreele, consisting of a father and his three as chief of the religious fraternities of the provmale children, but there is no mother. The fa-ince. It was with extreme curiosity that M. Slane ther is all-powerful, and of a benevolent charac- ran through the three following works: the Icd He made the trees, seas, waters, &c.; gave of Ibn-Abd-Rabbih, the Modjem-el-Boldan of Elnames to every thing and place; settled the na- Bekri, and the History of the Beni-Zian, the tives in their different districts, telling each tribe sovereigns of Tilimcen, by Ibn-Abd-el-Djelil, nathey were to inhabit such and such localities, and tive of Tenez. The first Icd (necklace of prewere to speak such and such languages. The cious stones) is only known in Europe by an Nooreele never die, and the souls (ludko, literally extract relating to the wars of the Arab tribes a shadow) of dead natives will go up and join before Islamism. The second disappointed M. them in the skies, and will never die again. | Slane ; instead of a geographical treatise, he found Other tribes give an account of a serpent of im-it was only a dictionary of the names of places mense size, and inhabiting high rocky mountains, mentioned in old Arabic poems, giving the orwhich, they say, produced creation by a blow of thography of these names, and the verses in his tail. The Australian believes in sorcery and which they are found. The third was a large witchcraft. The ceremonies and superstitions of folio volume, divided into five sections: 1st, the the natives are numerous, and involved in much│genealogy of el-Votewekkil, a Zianite prince, obscurity. The modes of disposing of the dead proclaimed sovereign of Tilimcen in 866 of the vary greatly, according to the usage of the district hejira; 2d, the necessary qualities of a sovereign; and the age of the deceased-simple burial, the 3d, amusing anecdotes; 4th, bons-mots; 5th, adburning of the body, the drying of the body in vice and exhortation. The library of Bacheterzi the sun until it is mummied, are all had recourse contains, besides about five hundred volumes on The lamentations for the dead do not termi-religion and law, two works very rare: the Maarif nate with the burial; frequently they are renewed at intervals by the women, during late hours of the night, or some hours before daybreak; and piercingly as these cries strike upon the traveller in the lonely woods, if raised suddenly, or very near him, yet, mellowed by distance, they are soothing and pleasing.-Lit. Gaz.

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of Ibn-Coteiba, and the Commentary of Ibn-Nobata on the Epistle of Ibn-Zeidoun. There are other libraries, but in them nothing of interest. Hearing that on the old pyramidal monument about twenty leagues to the south of Constantine

known in Europe as the tomb of Syphax, and to the native Medrhacen as the tomb of the Numidian kings-inscriptions in unknown characters had been lately discovered, M. Slane visited it with a view to copy them. In spite of all his investigations, he has not been able to find any Punic inscription; Roman civilization and rule for seven ages having destroyed all monuments of Carthaginian power.—Lit. Gaz.

LITERARY ANTIQUITIES OF ALGERIA.-The libraries of Algeria have just been the subject of a report to M. le Ministre l'Instruction Publique, by M. Slane, on a scientific mission in Africa. We are indebted to L'Epoque for the following particulars:-The library at Algiers contains nearly seven hundred Arabic manuscripts, collected for the most part from the remains of the public li- THE LATE A. W. SCHLEGEL-A letter from braries attached to the mosques at Constantine; Bonn states, that all the manuscripts and the and chiefly, therefore, treatises on the religion and most valuable printed books of the late A. W. laws of the Mussulman. In fact, M. Slane found Schlegel, including his works in Asiatic lanthere the principal commentaries on the Koran, guages, or concerning those tongues, edited for several works on the traditions of Mahomet, one the most part in British India, the rare books, and of the four bases of Mussulman jurisprudence, and those containing his marginal notes, have been many essays on the laws hanefite and malikite. He presented by his heirs to the Prussian governnoticed, above all, several copies of the Mokhtasirment, which has divided them between the royal of Sidi Khalil, an abridgment of the jurisprudence which prevailed in all Southern Africa; the great and little commentary of el-Kharchion, the same compilation; the commentary of Abd-el-Baki, &c. Historical, scientific, and literary works were rare, but they were in general of high importance. Such are the fragment of the Annals of Taberi, the anonymous History of the Abbasides, the Life of the Soufis by el-Menani, the PHOTOGRAPHY AND PAINTING.-Some months three incomplete historical volumes entitled Kit- ago we mentioned the union of photography and ab-el-Aghani. M. Slane mentions further, a col- painting, the production of a finished miniature, lection of treatises on the works of the Greek retaining the accuracy and tint of the Talbotype, mathematicians; the explanation of the terms of the tone and shadows being greatly improved. Mussulmanic law; a dictionary of the meaning of M. Mansion, the artist associated with M. Clauobscure words and expressions met with in trans-det, has recently made farther progress in the lations; another dictionary by the celebrated application of the solar picture to aid the more Zamakhcheri, containing the definition of obso- ancient art. The metallic hue of the Daguerreolete Arabic words; and an excellent work of type, and the not much more agreeable brown Soyouti, in which this polygraphist gives biogra- color of the Talbotype, have been and are the phical notices of the principal Arab philosophers principal objections to these wonderful works of and grammarians. Two beautiful collections of nature. The miniature-painting above referred manuscripts have happily escaped the general to, on the photography itself, was intended to destruction: one belongs to the Cid Hammouda, remove this objection, and with great success;

library of Berlin and those of the universities of that city and of Bonn. The remaining portion of his library, consisting of about 1600 volumes chiefly pamphlets, has just been publicly sold at Bonn, producing about 8000 dollars, as all fetched very high prices. A great many of the purchasers were English.-Lit. Gaz.

Gaz.

but the color is still brown. By the new method in America-yet more that which the New Couuthe truthfulness of the Talbotype is maintained, try sends out as its own-is worth considerand the color of life given to the portrait. The ing. We are, perhaps, looking on while the founoutlines are most accurately traced on a material dations of a new school of Art are laid-watching, invented by M. Mansion, and upon it he then as some one or other has poetically said," the propaints a likeness. The specimens shown to us- cess of world-making." Of all the importations copies of landscapes, and of men and horses-from the New World we have yet had, the Hutchwere most minute resemblances. With a similar inson Family is the most peculiar. The singers view, M. Claudet has been experimenting on Fi- are three brothers and a sister-all young, and zeau's process of etching Daguerreotypes, and we with a sort of homely high breeding in appearance were greatly pleased with his advancement. and manner which is prepossessing. They belong Some of the impressions were exceedingly dis- to New Hampshire, a state, we are told, rich in parttinct, and the lights and shades as marked as in singers, and especially fertile in contralto voices. the ordinary engraving. In the fainter prints, By part-singers, however, let no one imagine however, and the fainter the better for this pur-the existence of more schooling than "obtains" pose, the likeness was sufficiently clear for M. among the Tyrolese. The music of this primitive Mansion to paint it to the life. So now any one band is instinctive rather than taught. Their may have a painted fac-simile of a Talbotype, or songs are airs or scraps of airs from every country a colored impression of a Daguerreotype.-Lit. -Old World and New World,-so put together, however, and harmonized as to have an individual character. Nor do their serious part-songs fall the MOSCHELES.-The Athenæum remarks that the less pleasantly on the ears for the touch of psalmmusical world is to be deprived of one of its most ody distinguishable in most of them, which carries valued members at the close of the coming season the fancy far away to the rude meeting-house on -Mr. Mo-cheles having accepted a professorship the edge of some clearing, or to the camp-meeting in the Conservatoire at Leipsic. The association in the open air. There is, in short, a colour of of such artists as M. Moscheles, Dr. Mendelssohn, nationality over the performance; which is gone and Prof. Hauptmann, can hardly fail to render the through with a steady modesty, and withal a conSaxon establishment the most distinguished school scious enjoyment that enhances the hearer's pleaof instrumental music in Europe. It is impossible sure. Their choice of songs, too, is peculiar; for us not to look forward with regret to the loss of Longfellow's 'Excelsior,' Tennyson's May Moscheles; one of the few thoroughly educated Queen,' Hood's Bridge of Sighs,'-argue a fine professors (as distinct from executants) remaining taste for poetry anong their audiences. Perhaps in Europe-one, too, in whom a minute and rev- too large a proportion of their programme is devoerential acquaintance with the stores of ancient ted to painful subjects to be acceptable in this caremusic, is united with a cordial readiness to enter- worn land of ours; at least one or two catches tain all that is worthy and new in the modern sung with great neatness and an Ohio boatschools. Then, again, in the present dearth of man's Glee, (a far-off cousin to The Canaoriginal composers, the departure of one so indi-dian Boat Song.') fell upon the ear very cheerily vidual in his own special branch of Art, takes after the graver ditties. The whole is wound away a distinction from the artistic circles of Lon-up by a piece of family history, "embracing don, which will not be readily replaced. Previous the names and general history of the twelve to his departure, M. Moscheles will conduct the sons and daughters composing the Hutchinson Birmingham Festival in c njunction with Dr. Family," to a "never-ending still beginning" Mendelssohn, who is expected over with a new tune, which goes straight from the hearts of the Oratorio. It has been rumored for some time, singers to the hearts of the audience. We cannot that the composer is at work on the story of Eli- believe in the catholicity of any one, whether he jah;'-but we observe, also, in the Belgian papers, be a mere aimless hunter after amusement or a the promise of a Lauda Sion,' written by him, for thoughtful musician, who would repent having givthe Church of St. Martin at Liège; and which, we en these interesting persons an evening. But we are now told, he will conduct in person. We hope wish that in their future performances they would the end will be, that we shall find ourselves two dispense with any accompaniment Whenever compositions the richer. The Birmingham Fes-introduced it was detrimental, because decidedly tival will be held on the last days of August,

THE HUTCHINSON FAMILY.-What are called national melodies have ever possessed with us an interest and an importance hardly conceded by the generality of critics and historians. Abiding by the theory that there is no disconnecting of Art from social progress, we have found, throughout a range of instances too wide for enumeration here, traces in the early music of every country of primitive "manners, modes, attire," peculiarities as clearly referable to the forms of Nature as to the fashions of Man-which Civilization and Science may have systematized, but the presence of which has kept, and will to the end keep the music of Italy as distinct from that of England, France, or Germany, as each is distinct from the others. Viewed in this aspect, the music which is popular

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inferior; which their singing and delivery are not.-Athenæum.

FOREIGN ARTISTS -The following is a list of the names elected by the Fine Art section of the Royal Academy of Brussels, as Foreign Associates, on the first organization of the latter as a Belgian Instistute. In the division of Painting,— Landseer, of London; Horace Vernet, Ary Scheffer and Paul Deloroche, at Paris; Cornelius, at Berlin; and Kaulbach, at Munich. In Sculpture

Macdonald, in London; Schadow and Rauch, at Berlin; Pradier, Rude and Ramey, at Paris. In Architecture,-besides Prof Donaldson, our countryman, whose election we announced last week, Fontaine, at Paris; Von Klentze, at Munich. In Engraving,-Wyon, of London; the Baron Desnoyers, MM. Forster and Barre the elder, in Paris. In Music,-Rossini, at Bologna :