Specimens of Stalactites, from a cave in the Vicinity of lake Erie, collected by General Miller, and presented by the Revd. Charles Stearns, D. D.

In 1796, the late Count Rumford made a very liberal donation to the Academy, the proceeds of which, amounting to one hundred and fifty dollars a year, were to be given every two years, as a premium to the author of the most important discovery or useful improvement that might be made in any part of the continent of America, or in any of the American islands, during the preceding two years, on heat or on light. The premium has been claimed by several persons, but has never been adjudged to any one. The fund has accordingly accumulated, and now yields an annual income of 446 dollars.

There have been received at the Boston Atheneum, recently, several late foreign works. Among them the Abbe de Pradt's History of the Congress of Vienna, Lacretelle's History of France, Tureau's view of the United States, a work on domestick servitude, by Bishop Gregoire, &c. The funds of this valuable institution have been all swallowed up in its extensive library and the building that contains it, so that many contemporary works which are very interesting, cannot be obtained. All the principal English periodical works are regularly received, but those from the Continent of Europe, from France, Italy and Germany, are only obtained accidentally. A few more annual subscribers would be sufficient to procure all the most celebrated of these, and they are quite necessary, to keep us informed of the state of those countries. We cannot help thinking, that if the publick was fully aware of the advantages attending this institution, and that for an annual subscription of only ten dollars, the subscriber is admitted at all times to the treasures both of amusement and learning which that establishment offers, that the number of subscribers would be increased so far, as to enable the Directors to obtain all the principal European journals.

We received the following note from the writer of the article on the solar spots, too late to be inserted in its proper place.

“A large spot was visible on Friday the 24th May, just entered on the eastern limb of the sun, the magnitude and the time of its appearance corresponded very well with that which attracted so much attention the first of this month. There can be little doubt, that it is the same, although its form is very different. The individual parts, of which it is composed, have the same character. On the 28th and 29th, it had approached near the center of the sun, and was very conspicuous. It was much extended, occupying about an eighth part of the sun's diameter; when seen indistinctly, it had very much the appearance of a flock of wild geese."

Mr. J. E. Worcester, of Salem, has issued proposals for publishing an Universal Dictionary of Geography, Ancient and Modern ; founded, so far as it respects the modern geography of the eastern continent, upon Cruttwell's Gazetteer, with additions and corrections. On the subject of ancient geography, the work of L'Anville will be made the principal basis. With respect to American, materials will be collected from a great variety of sources, and the work will be made far more complete, with regard to this continent, than any that has yet been published.

The work will comprise, in one large volume, and in an alphabetical series, more than four times as many articles of Geography as are to be found in the Gazetteers which have been pubJished in America. The design is to reduce the various materials to the narrowest compass possible, and to specify respecting every article, those particulars for which a Gazetteer is usually consulted.

There has recently been discovered a manuscript, which will afford much information and delight to those who are fond of investigating the early history of our country. It is a third part of Governour Winthrop's Journal, of which the two former were printed in 1790; and records events from 1644 to 1649, terminating a few weeks before the author's death. It is in perfect preservation, and some account of its derivation and authenticity will be given, we hear, in the volume of Collections of the Historical Society, now in the press. Though this writing was known and used, as well as the former parts, by Mather in compiling his heavy Magnalia, and by Hubbard in his history of New-England, yet the narrative is so much more minute and precise in its detail than those historians, that it is extremely interesting to our antiquaries. This manuscript is also marked by Prince's hand writing on the cover. We are therefore happy to be the first to announce, that it is in the hands of a Committee of the Historical Society of Massachusetts, for transcription, and that it may be expected to appear next year, in the seventh volume of their Collections.

This discovery may lead to the publication of a new Edition of the whole work, which would be well received by the publick. So many errours in mistaking one word for another, in omitting words, members of sentences, whole periods, and in some instances paragraphs, besides corruptions of proper names, and dates, are discoverable; that a complete collation of the whole volume with the original manuscript is highly important.

A pamphlet entitled "Documents and Facts relative to military events during the late war," has been published by General Boyd.

The statements it contains are calculated to gain him more credit from the publick, than it was his lot to obtain from the dispatches of the commanding Generals. A pamphlet relating to the capture of Washington, attributed to General Armstrong ; an answer to it, said to be by General Winder; another by General Izard, have also been published; all these will be useful documents to the historian, who shall hereafter give an account of that war, when the events and the actors will be described impartially, without being swayed by party or personal prejudices.

In our last number, we mentioned that a plan was on foot to found an institution for the promotion of the Fine Aris in Boston. A subscription has been commenced, and from its present state there is every reason to presume, that the sum required for the purpose, which is not large, will be obtained. The temporary pressure in money concerns which has lately taken place, rendered it expedient, in the opinion of those who had undertaken to further this design, to suspend for a short time an application to individuals, who might now be discouraged from contributing that support, which they would liberally afford at a more favourable moment. In the mean time, our artists are pursuing their labours successfully. Col. Sargent has been for some months engaged on a very large picture, of the highest grade of the historical class. The subject is the entrance of our Saviour into Jerusalem, mounted on an ass, attended by an immense multitude, strewing branches of palms in his way. The subject is treated in an epick way. A number of incidents are introduced with great judgment and effect, the grouping, the back ground and the general arrangement of the picture, possess very great merit. It is almost impossible to judge of so large a work as this, in its unfinished state, or to predict with certainty what will be the effect when complete. But we may say with confidence, that this picture cannot fail of gaining great reputation for the artist, and if the colouring and finishing should answer to the design, that it will not only be the first picture ever produced in this country, but will stand high among the great productions of modern times. Mr. Fisher, though a little impeded by ill health, has completed two or three beautiful landscapes and cattle pieces. We are gratified to perceive that the constant improvement of this artist, gives the assurance that he will, at an early period, stand at the head of his profession in this branch of the art. Mr. Morse has added two or three pictures to his collection. One a landscape with figures, rich in architectural designs, and brilliant colouring, a fine, classick composition; also a sea piece, in which the bristly appearance of the distant

outline, denotes the violence of the tempest, as well as the mountainous wave in the fore part; the sky is grand and sublime. Mr. Newton has painted a head of Diana, of great freshness and beauty, and two or three subjects of Shakspeare, which shew how well he is calculated to succeed in the branch of cabinet pictures; there is great spirit, humour and effect in the countenances and groups, and his style of colouring is rich and natural. Mr. Penniman has painted Dorothea from Don Quixotte, in the manner of one of the Italian schools. If the state of patronage here would allow this artist to pursue the more liberal branches of the profession, this picture is sufficient to shew that he would attain eminence.

The only piece of sculpture by Mr. Willard, since our last report, that we have seen, is an Eagle on a large scale, executed in wood. It is an additional proof of his skill and talent.

་

This

hasty sketch contains only a mention of a part of our artists how it is to be regretted that there is no place of exhibition where all their works might be deposited, and in a good light, so that the publick might see them to advantage, and become acquainted with the merit and resources we possess. We hope, by another season, this will be provided.

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

Mr. Loring D. Dewey has published a discourse, delivered before a private society of the students of the Theological Seminary, in New-York, of which he was a member. It is the principal object of this discourse to shew, that being justified; in the language of the New-Testament, means being pardoned. This heinous proceeding of the young gentleman, was the occasion of the following letter.

"To Mr. Loring D. Dewey

"NEW-YORK, 12th March, 1816.

"SIR-It is matter of grief to us, that any of our pupils, whom we have been endeavouring to lead into the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, should turn away from the holy commandment delivered unto him. This, misguided youth, is your own case. The doctrines which you have avowed in your discourse submitted to us, and in your conversation with us relative thereto, are so deeply erroneous, so radically subversive of the whole Gospel scheme, and so ruinous to the souls of men, that they cannot be tolerated in the Seminary under our care. shall not here be so much as questioned, no, not for an hour, whether attacks upon essential parts of the Redeemer's work, are to be permitted in any shape, or upon any pretence whatever.

It

“We are, therefore, under the afflicting necessity of informing you, that your connexion with our Seminary ceases from this day. You will consider the present decision as peremptory; and not to be altered, unless it shall please God to give you a sounder mind, and enable you to recover yourself out of the snare of the devil. That such may be your happiness is our heart's desire and prayer for you.

J. M. MASON, Principal Th. Sem.

A. R. C. New-York.

J. M. MATTHEWS. Ass't Professor
Th. Sem. A. R. C. New-York."

To Correspondents, &c. Some delay in publishing the present number has taken place, owing to circumstances which the Editor hopes will not again occur.

A Review of Drake's picture of Cincinnati, was prepared and in type for this number, but the unexpected extent of other articles has rendered it necessary to defer it to the next.

In our next number, a review of Major La Tour's history of the War in Louisiana will be given. We hope also to have a Review of Mr. Pickering's Americanisms, and Mr. Pitkin's Statistical tables.

We hope we shall be favoured, by the author of the poetical tale, with frequent contributions. The gentleman also under the signature of W-r, who sent us a translation of an ode of Horace published in our last number, will, we hope, become a constant correspondent. Amid the meretricious glare of modern poetry, the difficulty of translating an ode of Horace with simplicity, elegance, and brevity, may be disregarded by common readers; but those who have made the effort will fully appreciate it. can assure the author of this translation, that it was admired by those whose taste made them competent to judge of it.

We

We offer the best apology in our power to our correspondents, for the following errata in our last number. In the sketches of Niagara scenery, p. 321. 17th line from the top, for water the roses, read gather the roses, p. 324. 23 line, for their layers read thin layers, p. 328 for passed over, read poured over. In the elegy to T. T. Randolph, line 13th, for Heu! frustra miseris, read Hac frustra miseris. 4th line from the bottom, for finxisset, read finxissent, for aere read ære, last line, for graterque read quaterque.