ORIGINAL ANECDOTES, BY PHILARCHON.

The lady of Mr. Grosvenor, of Oxford, (the well-known surgical operator on contractions of the limbs, by friction,) was, just after her marriage, playing at whist in a party, and succeeded in winning game after game. Turning round to an University man, who stood at her elbow, she exclaimed, "There! do you not think, Sir, I have played my cards well?". You have indeed, Madam, (replied the wit,) for you

have won the Rubber.'

The conversation, at a party, turned upon the duration of connubial happiness; and various anecdotes were related, of couples living in harmony together for nearly half a century. At length, some one observed that he knew a pair who had been married upwards of fifty years, and that the husband (who was the survivor) had assured the relater that they never exchanged a cross word during the whole period. "What think you of that, my Lord?" said a gentleman to a worthy old Scotch prelate, who was mute during the former part of the conversation. Why, Sir, (replied his Lordship, in the true Scotch accent,) I think it must a' been very dool!' (dull)

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

It is understood that Captain Sabine, the naturalist, does not proceed with his proposed work on the Arctic Expedition.

The name of the New Tales of my Landlord, which are in preparation, is Montrose, and we imagine the story is of course founded on the romantic exploits of the gallant Marquis of that title.

We hear of a new Poem, from the pen of Mr. Montgomery.

Mr. Dillon, whose tragedy of Retribution, as we noticed in our review at the period of its publication, gave promise of an " All hail, hereafter," is again about to appear before the public tribunal, as a tragic author. A new play of his has been accepted at Covent Garden.

The Imperial Library of Vienna contains 360,000 printed volumes, 12,000 manuscripts, and 300,000 engravings. In the Library of the Vienna University, there are upwards of 110,000 volumes; and in the Academy of Theresa, in the same city, 50,000. The Library of the Duke of SaxeTeschen contains 60,000 volumes; that of Prince Von Lichtenstein, 30,000; the Imperial Library at Prague, 120,000; and the Library of Gratz, 100,000.

SPANISH SOUTH AMERICA.

We are not prone to give the notices of Authors, on their intended works, as, without meaning any disrespect either to them or their publishers, we presume to think the public had better see the performances before opinions are hazarded, and not rely on the impartiality of the writers, who naturally admire their own offspring, or of Booksellers, who sufficiently express their favourable sentiments

round the moon till about ten o'clock. Friday, 1-Thermometer from 24 to 41.

JANUARY 1819.

"In preparation for the press, and speedily will be published, the most clear and authentic Narrative yet detailed, of the Fate of the Expedition which sailed from England in the year 1817, to join the

Patriotic Forces in the Provinces of Venezuela and Caracas.

"This work will embrace all the particular occurrences attending the formation of the different corps, under their respective Colonels; together with a copy of the agreement entered into by Don Lopez Mendez, both on behalf of himself, and in behalf of his government, with the different Colonels of corps, officers, noncommissioned officers, and men; as also all those various casualties which attended the voyage from England to the Spanish Main.

"It will treat of the reception given to the British troops on their arrival at the city of Angostura, on the river Orinoco, the then seat, as it now is, of the Republican government. It will caution all those whose confidence and too easy faith in the protestations made them by the Deputy of Venezuela, resident in London, and guaranteed to them collectively and individually by the said Luis Lopez Mendez, in his articles of agreement, as well as all future Colonels who may be induced to aid and assist the cause, not to give credence to any promises of a pecuniary nature, which he the said agent may even yet have the impudence and temerity to hold out to them, and the audacity and dis

honesty to disavow when called upon to perform them!!!

"To this Narrative will be annexed a journal of the Author's passage up the Orinoco and River de Apure, to the town and garrison of San Fernandez. The state of the Republican army at that period, (viz. 23d May 1818,) and a detail of the manner of its retreat before the Royalist troops, after the action at Calabosa; together with the reasons which obliged the Author to make good his retreat also (in company with General Bolivar) to Angostura, and, finally, to return to England.

"To this statement will be added, the Author's opinion, as to the ultimate success of the cause in which the Patriots have, for the last eight years, been engaged; taken from observations made by himself, during the period he commanded the British brigade in the service of the Venezuela Republic.

Barometer from 30, 64 to 30, 70. Wind SW. and NbE. 0.-The morning cloudy, noon clear, and the sun pleasantly shining most of the afternoon; in the evening it was foggy, which soon increased much, and overpowered a halo which was beginning to form about six.

Saturday, 2-Thermometer from 27 to 39.

Barometer from 30, 66 to 30, 62. Wind NbE. 0.- A strangely overcast heavy day. Sunday, 3-Thermometer from 33 to 44.

Barometer from 30, 53 to 30, 46. Wind SbE..-The early part of the morning cloudy, the rest of the day generally clear. Monday, 4-Thermometer from 24 to 38. Barometer from 30, 40 to 30, 32. Wind SW. Generally hazy, with faint sun-Generally shine; the evening cloudy, the thermometer rose to 38, and it thawed quite fast; at ten foggy, and freezing.

Tuesday, 5-Thermometer from 26 to 40. Barometer from 30, 35 to 30, 38.

Wind N. -Generally overcast, with a thick fog in the morning. Wednesday, 6-Thermometer from 29 to 43. Barometer from 30, 36 to 30, 31.

Wind SE. 4. Generally cloudy till noon, after when, the clouds gradually diminished, and it became quite clear.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Lara's verses have that degree of merit which would recommend them to the Literary Gaette, but we should be glad to know if they are previously published in any other

We beg to be excused from L. S.'s civility, and shall be much obliged to Favon to put menace into execution.

Though the character of the writer (Mr. JB of R.) of an able poetical critique, afered for our page, is a guarantee of impality, it would yet be transgressing an etWished rule with us to insert it without wing the work, and being thus enabled perrmally to answer for it. We trust this tice will not be ill received, as the fairness windependence of our publication would hazarded by an opposite course.

ERATUM. In the verses To an Old Friend meil in the eleventh line, for " since," read

New Publications.

rent and Teacher, as the most useful series of Books that can be put into the hands of young people, each book containing the principles of the art or science on which it treats; and written in so clear and easy a style, that it can be understood by the meanest capacity.

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P. & M. beg to inform their friends that they have very superior wove Ciphering Books, now on sale, made of the stoucest and finest paper, well bound, and ornamented with handsome emblematical Copper-plate Title Pages, at the following price, for ready-money only :One quire, or 96 leaves, 3s.

Also, excellent foolscap Ciphering, and post and foolscap Copy Books, ruled and plain, with every other description of Stationary for the use of Schools.

Just republished-Sell at Nine Pence each, or bound very neatly in Two Volumes, with elegant Frontispieces, prise 12s. the First Series of

DR. MAVOR'S CATECHISMS; or First Prin

planatory Notes, collected from various Grammars, for the Use of Schools. By Wm. MAVOR, LL.D.

The sale of eight very large Impressions, confirms the value of the Notes attached to this Grammar, and fully indicates the character which Dr. Mavor's Edition continues to sustain in Schools, for accuracy and neatness.

London: Printed for Lackington and Co.; Scatchard and Co.; G. and W. B. Whittaker; Longman and Co.; Baldwin and Co.; Boosey and Sons; J. Richardson; G. Wilkie; and R. Fenner.

Thomson's Annals of Philosophy.

This Day is published, s. 6d. No. 73, for January 1818.

ANNALS OF PHILOSOPHY; or Magazine

of Chemistry, Mineralogy, Mechanics, Natural History, Agriculture, and the Arts. By THOMAS THOMSON, M.D. F.R.S. L. and E. Regius Professor of Chemistry, Glasgow.

This Number contains the following Articies:-M.Thenard on New Combinations of Oxygen and Acids; Dr. Prout on the Phen mena of Sanguification; Dr. Murray's Experiments on Muriatic Acid Gas; History of Anthrazothionic Acid, by Theodor Von Grotthus; Method of separating Iron from Manganese, by the same; Combination of Carbonate and Hydrate of Lime, by the same; Description and Plate of an improved Microscope; Notice by Dr. Leach respecting Animals brought from the Arctic Regions; Analytical Review of Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural Society, Vol. II. Part II.; Proceedings of the Royal and Linnæan Societies; Cause of the reddened Snow brought from the Coast of Baffin's Bay; Report of the Sea Snake of America untrue; a Variety of other Scientific Notices, Meteorological Tables, &c.

London; Printed for Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, Paternoster-row; where complete sets may now be procured, the early volumes having been reprinted.

Pawley's New General Atlas.

This Day is published, printed on superfine imperial 4to, containing sixty Maps, beautifully engraved, from the designs of GEORGE PAWLEY, Esq. Geographer to Government,

A NEW GENERAL ATLAS, consisting of a

AND

No. 104.

REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.

A Journal of Science and the Arts. No. XII. Edited at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. London 1819. 8vo. pp. 402.

This, as well as being the latest, is one of the best Numbers hitherto published of un useful and interesting work. It contuins, besides other valuable matters, wine good observations on calculous orders by Mr. Brande, and an exceldescription, with plates, of the Agua Marbles, unfortunately purchased for the Crown Prince of Bavaria, and lost to this country, notwithstanding the Fefforts of the writer, Mr. Cockerell. But Lir

principal inducement to take it up for our review, is to present our readers with the detail of some fearfully curious experiments made on the body of a murverer, after his execution at Glasgow, by Dr. Ure, and of which he read an account the Literary Society of that city, on the 10th ultimo. After taking a genenad view of his subject, and arguing that the comparatively slight effects proGnced in preceding galvanic experiments arose from inattention to the weak contractile movements of the musalar masses through which the energy was directed, and to the necessary dis

PRICE 8d.

taic battery consisted of 270 pairs of 4 inch plates, with wires of communication, and pointed metallic rods with insulating handles. The appalling phenomena exhibited are thus related:

Exp. 1. A large incision was made into the nape of the neck, close below the occiput. The posterior half of the atlas verte bra was then removed by bone forceps, when the spinal marrow was brought into view. A considerable incision was at the same time made in the left hip, through the great gluteal muscle, so as to bring the sciatic nerve into sight; and a small cut

was made in the heel. From neither of these did any blood flow. The pointed rod connected with one end of the battery was now placed in contact with the spinal mar

row, while the other rod was applied to the sciatic nerve. Every muscle of the body was immediately agitated with convulsive movements, resembling a violent shuddering from cold. The left side was most powerfully convulsed at each renewal of the electric contact. On moving the second rod from the hip to the heel, the knee being previously bent, the leg was thrown out with such violence

as nearly to overturn

one of the assistants, who in vain attempted to prevent its extension.

Exp. 2. The left phrenic nerve was now laid bare at the outer edge of the sternothyroideus muscle, from three to four inches above the clavicle; the cutaneous incision the side of

tection between the positive and nega

tive poles of the battery, the learned rutleman quotes the researches of Dr. Wilson Philip (particularly mentioned in the Philosophical Transactions,) from appears that the galvanic

which it

crgy is capable of supplying the place the nervous influence, and enabling the mach to digest food after the nerves bservient to digestion are cut off.* Dr. Tre then proceeds to describe the experi

ments made (Nov. 4th) on the corpse of

* murderer Clydsdale, who was a midized, athletic, and extremely muscuman, about 30 years of age. He had • The experiments were made on rabbits: in which the eighth pair of nerves were died by incisions in the neck speedily died, appaly of suffocation, the food remaining unaltered eir stomachs; but after the same operation was armed, galvanism being transmitted along the erre below its section to a disc of silver in con

with the skin opposite the stomach, no diffi*er of breathing occurred, and the process of on was carried on, so long as the experiwere persevered in, as perfectly as in

the sterno-cleido-mastoideus. Since this

nerve is distributed to the diaphragm, and since it communicates with the heart through the eighth pair, it was expected, by transmitting the galvanic power along it, that the respiratory process would be renewed. Accordingly, a small incision having been made under the cartilage of the seventh rib, the point of the one insulating rod was brought into contact with the great head of the diaphragm, while the other point was applied to the phrenic nerve in

the neck. This muscle, the main agent of

respiration, was instantly contracted, but with less force than was expected. Satisfied, from ample experience on the living body, that more powerful effects can be produced in galvanic excitation, by leaving the extreme communicating rods in close contact with the parts to be operated on, while the electric chain or circuit is completed, by running the end of the wires along the top of the plates in the last trough of either pole, the other wire being steadily immersed in the last cell of the opposite pole, I had immediate recourse to this method. The success of it was truly won

brity rabbits, whose nerves were uncut!! derful. Full, nay, laborious breathing, in, VOL. 111.

the electric discharges.

In the judgment of many scientific gentlemen who witnessed the scene, this respiratory experiment was perhaps the most striking ever made with the philosophical apparatus. Let it also be remembered, that for full half an hour before this period, the body had been well nigh drained of its blood, and the spinal marrow severely lacerated. No pulsation could be perceived meanwhile at the heart or wrist; but it may be supposed that, but for the evacua

tion of the blood, -the essential stimulus of that organ, -this phenomenon might also have occurred.

Exp. 3. The supra-orbital nerve was laid bare in the forehead, as it issues through the supra-ciliary foramen, in the eyebrow: the one conducting rod being applied to it, and the other to the heel, most extraordinary grimaces were exhibited every time that the electric discharges were made, by running the wire in my hand along the edges of the last trough, from the 220th to the 227th pair of plates; thus fifty shocks, each greater than the preceding one, were given in two seconds: every muscle in his countenance was simultaneously thrown into fearful action; rage, horror, despair, anguish, and ghastly smiles, united their hideous expression in the murderer's face, surpassing far the wildest representations a Fuseli or a Kean. At this period ral of the spectators were forced to leave

the apartment from terror or sickness, and one gentleman fainted.

Exp. 4. The last galvanic experiment consisted in transmitting the electric power from the spinal marrow to the ulnar nerve, as it passes by the internal condyle at the elbow; the fingers now moved nimbly, like those of a violin performer; an assistant, who tried to close the fist, found the hand to open forcibly, in spite of his efforts. When the one rod was applied to a slight

incision in the tip of the fore-finger, the fist being previously clenched, that finger extended instantly; and from the convalsive agitation of the arm, he seemed to point to the different spectators, some of whom thought he had come to life.

Other experiments were added, to ascertain the quantity of residual air in the lungs; but these, though important to science, do not court extract. Dr. Ure seems to conclude that but for the inci

sions into the blood vessels in the neck and wounds of the spinal marrow of the criminal, life might have been restored!!

An Ode to Scandal; to which are added, Stanzas on Fire. By the late Right Hon. R. B. Sheridan, London 1819. pp. 23.

The publisher of these short poems (Mr. W. Wright) asserts their authenticity, and tells us that the comedy of "The School for Scandal" was founded on the Ode. Not being in the secret either of proprietor or vendor, we cannot take upon ourselves to vouch for or to contradict the accuracy of these statements. All that we can do is to reprint a specimen of the work, and express our opinion of its merits. The Ode to Scandal is altogether rather a clever performance, than one that will confer any glory upon the of its presumed writer. Indeed it must be a very superior production which can enhance the literary character of Sheridan; and the present is of too slight a fabric to set up any pretensions to that rank. It is nevertheless, as far as it goes, a jeu d'esprit not unworthy even of the talents of him to whose pen it is ascribed. The following description of Scandal's scholars is more humorous than remarkable for correctness of language or versification:

name

"Lord! who'd have thought our cousin D.
"Could think of marrying Mrs. E.?
"True, I don't like such things to tell;
"But, faith, I pity Mrs. L.
"And was I her, the bride to vex
" I would intrigue with Mr. X.:
"But they do say that Charlotte U.
"With Fanny M. and we know who,
"Occasion'd all, for you must know
"They set their caps at Mr. O,
"And as they courted Mrs. E.
"They thought, if she'd have cousin D.
• That things might be by Colonel A.
"Just brought about in their own way."

To deserve the highest praise, compositions of this class should be polished to the utmost: and it is therefore we are rather inclined to fancy that this Ode was founded on the School for Scandal, than that the School for Scandal was founded on this Ode. Mr. Sheridan would scarcely have committed even the minute inelegancies pointed at by our italics, nor, in so short an extract, have recurred to the same literal rhyme on D. and E. Our next quotation is in a better manner, and we may praise it by repeating its own first line.

"And see Ma'am Harriet toss her head, "Lawk! how the creature stares:

"Well, well, thank Heavens, it can't be said " I give myself such airs."

A personification of Candour (not Mrs. Candour) follows; and an episode of an artless girl destroyed by the poisonous breath of slander, which concludes rather impotently;

Or mute on the pathway she gazes,
And weeps as she scatters her daisies;
Or else in a strain, more distractingly loud,
She chaunts the sad thoughts of her fancy,
And shivers and sings of her cold shroud.
Alas! alas, poor Nancy!

It would be unjust to so small a publication to deprive it of novelty by copying much more of it, and we only add the just and pretty lines with which the

Ode concludes:

To Woman every charm was given,
Designed by all-indulgent Heaven
To soften care;

For ye were formed to bless mankind,
To harmonize and soothe the mind:
Indeed, indeed, ye were.

But when from those sweet lips we hear
Ill-nature's whisper, Envy's sneer,

Your power that moment dies :
Each coxcomb makes your name his sport,
And fools, when angry, will retort
What men of sense despise.

Leave then, such vain disputes as these,
And take a nobler road to please,

Let CANDOUR guide your way;
So shall you daily conquests gain,
And Captives, happy in your chain,
Be proud to own your sway.

As it may be a matter of curiosity to some of our readers, we subjoin a fac

simile of Mr. Sheridan's signature attached to this Ode.

There is nothing brilliant in th Stanzas on Fire.

Horace Walpole's Letters to the Rev.
W. Cole. 4to. pp. 259,
(Concluded.)

We take up our pen to add a fe further extracts to our review of the entertaining volume.

On a visit to Berkeley Castle, M Walpole says,

The room shewn for the murder Edward 2d, and the shrieks of an agonizin king, I verily believe to be genuine. It a dismal chamber, almost at top of! house, quite detached, and to be approach only by a kind of foot-bridge, and fro that descends a large flight of steps t terminate on strong gates; exactly a situ tion for a corps de garde. In that roo they shew you a cast of a face in plasto and tell you it was taken from Edward I was not quite so easy of faith about the for it is evidently the face of Charles 1.

The steeple of the church, lately rehu handsomely, stands some paces from t body; in the latter are three tombs off old Berkeleys, with cumbent figures. T wife of the lord Berkeley, who was suppos to be privy to the murder, has a curie head-gear; it is like a long horse-sh quilted in quatrefoils; and like lord Fo pington's wig, allows no more than breadth of a half-crown to be discovered the face.

Though an antiquarian himself, Author laughed at the pursuit general and especially at those branches whi he did not eare for.

I bought (says he, June 1775,) the voluine of Manchester, but could not re

it; it was much too learned for me, seemed rather an account of Babel t Manchester, I mean in point of antiqu To be sure, it is very kind in an author promise one the history of a country to and give one a circumstantial account the antediluvian world into the barga But I am simple and ignorant, and des no more than I pay for. And then for progenitors, Noah and the Saxons, I h no curiosity about them. Bishop Lyt ton used to plague me to death about rows, and tumuli, and Roman camps, all those bumps in the ground that do amount to a most im imperfect ichnograph but, in good truth, I am content with arts when perfected, nor inquire how in niously people contrived to do with them and I care still less for remains art that retain no vestiges of art. Bryant, who is sublime in unknown kne ledge, diverted me more, yet I have