The National Register. — London, England, 1816-05-06 00:00:00

~►r.~ 1 ~. ti"ftbical NUIIIIER r01 . U1.1 sl'1.;(1:31A Est LEx. Perremit restia,et in ',vigour diuniriatur nurgibus .----...imerto.ynt graves ruptiurtrr hialu. 0%. Mer. I. 7. •. 5511. THERE 'is no class of diseases more calculated to striize the timid mind with dread and apprehension than eontagiouslkvers, nor any against which it is more diffi cult to guard, when the state of the atmosphere and other circumstances are favoundsle to their prorogation. The, chief of these maladies is the plague, of which, however.* we at present know nothing in this eountrrmore •than the name. Of its destructive ravages here in final= times we have abundant testimony, and it may be a cutiOtta subject of enquiry, to what is owing our long exemption from its invasion. That the nature of the disease is mi t:henget and its virulence unabated, tire have sufficient pmof, not only adduced by those who have witnessed its prevalence in other countries, but also contained in vari ous public documents. We must therethre attribute our present safety either to a more strict vigilance employed now, than in timmeetimes, to prevent 'aito importation of the infection, or to some change in the public or domestic state of living 'in the inhabitatos, which would render the imported infection inefficient to propagate the disease, or calculated to prevent its erigin here, should sack for merly have been the souroe of the disease. Tbat it -is: owing -to the 'former of 'these two causes, there is some difficAry in believing. It is hanUy to he imagined, that the methods best adapted to pretent the importation of infection should not have been enforced with the greatest rigour by those generations olio had sufiered the most severely froth the disease ; and it must be acknowledg , ed that there must have been a greater fiwility of doing so in the confined extent of commercial intercourse at that time compared with the present ; yet all their Mints were ineffectunl to prevent the occasional introduction of the disease. It is veryextmordinary, that fin- a considerably longer period than a century, with such extensive com munications with all parts of the world as our increased commercial transoctiona require, no accident:4 circum stance should ever have produced at least the introaction of infected substances, in spite of the most rigid enact ments of quarantine laws. Our personal intercourse with the regions most infected with plague, leis of late years been out of all proportion greater than at any cor nier period, vet nu interruption to our exemption from the disease has ever taken place. When in Egypt., our troops were attacked with the disease ; mid although many hun dreds, perhaps thousands,returned from that country,by no chance did it happen that either theirpersons,theirclothes, or whatever articles they possessed, ever prookseed a com munication of the disease, notwithstanding the Egyptian Ophthahnia,an infictious eomplaint,was imparted by them. The immense increase of population also In the metro polls is to be taken into the account ; the largest cities being always most liable to the attack and propagation of contagious diseases. Prom these and similar filets has originated an Opinion, that the plague, even if imported into this country, would not produce the destructive mortality it formerly did, owing to the many improve ments which have taken place in the mode of building, and in securing more free ventilation, as well as in the domestic conveniences of living, and that its propagation might as easily be checked us that of an ordinary fever. This opinion has been entertained by some of the most eminent medical characters ; and a confirmation of it, whilst it should not induce us to relax our precautionary measures, would at least Aim' great satisfhction to the philanthropist. An enumeration of some of those changes which may be supposed to operate in this manner may not be superfluous. One of the most obvious certainly is, the mode of building ; the streets of modern date being much wider, so as to afliml a more free ventilation, and to prevent a stagnation of find air. Another improve ment, perhaps still inure important, is the universal intro duction ofatains or common sewers, whichcarry off what ever filth might otherwise give rise to infection, or afibrd facility to its propagation. A considerable source of dampness or putrid moisture, so favourable to the produc tion of fevers, is entirely obviated by the practice of paving the streets now generally adopted. There is reason also to believe, that a greater reganl is paid to domestic and personal cleanlineas, than was the case a few ages back, and this circumstance must claim a share in the causes likely to prevent the origin or propagation of disease. A consideration of these various circumstances, whilst it is highly interesting. to the Medical Philosopher, will not be permitted to influence the practitioner; nor would any measure founded on the affirmative of the proposition be recommended, unless it were possible to arrive ut a greater precision of information titan it is at present in our power to attain. G. Two fine whole-length portraits of the nukes of Sussex and Kent. painted Co. the Grand Lodge of Free illamins, were placed on Monday in their I at the Freemasons' Tavern; that of the Royal Grand Master appears in the costume of an Highland Chief, as Earl of Inverness. Both these pictures arc highly creditable to the pencil of Sir %V. Beckley. 'llllr, lIATIONAT, nwanlit I.l7'Elt.llt 1' 4• SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. Several artists and amateurs of different nations, who obtained per mission some time ago to search the Temple of Phewalia, dedicated to Apollo. on 'Mount Cotylus, in Arcadia. were .r• fortimete as to discover the whole frieze of the interim of the temple. 14 is of marble; 9ti fed in length, and upwards t•f two feet in height; contains a hundred figures, in nib refielv f and is little damaged, except from the fall which it experienced at the tiestruetion of the temple. It exhibits two sub jects: ono, consisting of fifty-three ffi.rVres, represents the combat of the Amazotts with the Hellenians; the other, of forty-seven figures, the combats of the Centaurs and I.apithw, at the marriage of Pirithous. The exeeirtion of these works:arid% an evident proof that they belong to the period when sculpture was at its highest degree of perfection. .t. lettowfrom Home, dated October 214th, 11415, bays: Thew has heat found in the Appian Way an ancient sundial drawn on marble, with the names of the winds in Greek. 9t is exactly calculated for the meridian of this city." The King of Naples his ordered the excavations at Pompeii to he eluitintted. Besides a mosaic pavement, survophagi, fragments of co lumns, &e. there has been found a bust of Seneca, inscribed with his name. The university of Heidelberg is about to mover this('-eight ancient manuscripts taken front it in it'd% when the city was plundertil by the imperial general Tilly. They were sent. are present, by Duke 'laxi ntilian of Ilavaria,•to Pope Gregory XV. and coninyed front Heidel berg to Rome by that eminent scholar Leo Allathis (Allazzi), who was a native of the island of ('hie, and studittl in the Greek college at Rome. Ilfirty-eight of these manuscripts. binning part of soo in the Vatican, which the l'apal ttovernment ceded-to the French Republic in were deposited in the National Libriry at Paris; but on the genertd`restoration of the works of literature and art, of which the French had rubbed almost every country in Europe. they were claimed bt the pro-rector of the university of I leidelberg ; and the Pope has given his consent to their being slimmed to the library of that institu tion. Among these manuscripts are the famous Codex Palatines Ma the Greek Anthology ; several small pieces-4n Geography ; four valu able manuscripts of Plutarch's works, anti'several others. In the course of the late excavations at Pompeii, an ancient bathing room was discosttred, in witch werCfbund an A ntonina and an Agrippa, as large as hie, and of the finest westuanslnp. Cases in which bleeding tad been practised with success in the reire of H vn u o PHOBIA were pcbli,lied, sonic time ago, in various journals. Professor 11 edam' hair foond the sante treatment to he equally effica cious in Germany; and the public will soon be gratified with an ac count of some of the cases. Another remedy for the cure and prevention of canine matlncss is in an Ame rican Journal, to have been found, in a plant called the sago, first discovered in Guatimala. and brought into notice by I Sr. F. G. Fuer°, Bishop of Chiapu, about tSt. year /Su?. it is 'nearly allied to the cotton phuit, awl to the when of south 'Carolina, which in many Tespeets it resembles. It is considered also as a certuist'remedy for the bite or sting of wny poisonous reptile whatever, if takets inward ly as soon after the bite as possible. Ilia al ounce of the powdered seed should be infused for a short time in three or four Winces of warns water, or wine; and, when settled, given to the patient to drink, ap plying the white sediment which remsristr. in the firm of a poultice, to the wessind. It is settl.ms neres. - sary to repeat the dose: and when the seed cannot he procured, its place may be supplied by the green leaves pounded. drinking the juice, and applying the bruised leaves by way of poAltice. The Paris Papers state, that as si)on as sentence was passed on our countrymen they were conducted to the Prison of La Force. The inhabitants of Quebec, and merchants of London connected with Canada, have recently united in raising a subscription to present to ('apt. R. H. Barclay, H. N. a service of plate, as a mark of their high approbation of his conduct in that country ; and particularly to express their admiration of his gallantry in action with a supe rior American force, on Lake Eric, on the 10th of Sep tember 1 8 13. Ast E RICA N ELoourstcr.—The birth-day of General 'Washington was celebrated at Vernon in February last,. by a grand procession and dinner, at which some hundreds of the Federalists attended. On that occasion, an ad dress was pronounced by Henry R. Storrs, Esq, from which is selected the by passage on the sub ject of the French Revolution:—" French Liberty was the offspring of Corruption—she was nursed in the arms of Li centiousness—she was educated by harlots and Me rderers. Her counsellors were Infidelity and Treason—the instru ments of her support were the sword and the firebrand. With these she desolated France and wrapped Europe in a general conflagration."—Adverting to the French Revolution, he said—" The pirate washed his hands and became an admiral. The assassin dropped his dawer and became a hero. The harlot put on white robes, and be came a princess. The gamester laid aside his cards, and became a . /inancier." WiNEs.—lt appears, that the number of pipes of wine imported into this country from Oporto, the last year, unwonted to 31,641};--exported to other parts of the world only 1434 pipes.—The customs duty on this branch of commerce only, theretbre, amounted to at least 1,676,9001. ! liEhtEr or LterxsFn VICTVAI.T.EIN.—In answer to various Petitions to Parliament from this useful btxly of the community, Lord Finley writes as tidlows to a Gen , tleman iu Worcester:—" I have now the pleasure to you from the first authority, that relief is about to be given, and will extend nearly to the amount of the ad ' ditional duty."—Our readers will perceive that the prayer of the petitioners will be in a great measure answered. IW e understand that a publican renting a house antler 151. per annum. taking out Ale, Wine, mul spirit centys, pays annually 151. 135.: a lion:;e above 501. rent, paystbr such licences 191. 135.; and it h:ts been ascertained that, in a grout number of instances, a tax is thus im pmed of I s NI. per bottle on wine, and front 2s. to Ss. per gallon on spirits.—(llriaa Journal.) "101 DILIM.ITIC REGISTER. -...a1.-- DRURY-LANE. The Benefit of Mr. RAE took place on Monday night, at this Theatre; and a new Melo-drama entitled The Prodigal, was brought forward on the occasion. The outline of the fable is this : Phanor (Mr. RAE) has been persuaded by Nardw: (S. PENLEY) his false friend and secret rival, that Znlica (Miss KEux), his wife, is untrue to him. Phanor tbrswears his wife, abandons his father's house, and falls into the snares of Nardoc, and a female called Seinroudr, who entice him to the gaming table, plunge him into extravagance, strip him of his pose sessions, and compel him to seek refuge with a peasant on one of his own estates, which is purchased with the money won from him by the treacherous Nardoc. there a sea sonable band of Scythian robbers arrive to co-operate with him in an attack on his enemy's newly-acquired castle— they doteat and plunder Nardoc ; but the Prodigal, who has woundod him, is surrounded in the fray, and thrown into a cavern by the tyrant's order. In the mean time Mira, with unalxited tenderness, has followed and watched over his fortunes in a slave's habit ; and, by her active zeal, a royal guard is procured at the moment when Phanor is at the point of execution, by which his life is saved, his re-union with his faithfid wife accom plished, and Nardoc sentenced to the death he had pre pared tin. his Victim. Thestory of this production, though not new, is capable of exciting a powerful interest. The characters are Scythians and Persians in their native countries. The piece, has, of course, the advan tage of picturesque scenery, and splendid decorations. It afilirds room fir bustle and energy, in which the princi pal performers were not deficient, and went oil very A new musical piece in one act was produced on Thursday night, entitled, " The Count of Anjou, or More Marriage:l than one." The business of this sketch may be very shortly de: scribed. The Count of Aojon maker his appearance at the (.Oi of King Ilenra the First, and is married to that Monarch's itattehte'r. ()n this , occasion a Nobleman, who had formerly aspired to the hand of the Princess, and been banished for that offence, is brought forward by the Bridegroom ac a fellow-wan ior ; and his doom is revoked by the King. on learning that he is about 10 mate himself to a Pair s illager. This busineks happily arranged. Britannia, Hibernia, aunt Co/rib/lid, descend from flue skies, Had entertain the company with a dance. The Lion :111141 Unicoro neNt 'mike their appearance. and the piece ctincluih!s Wilk "Gout sure the This trifle is very loyal ; and, being produced in com pliment to the Royal Nuptials, was received with tint most loyid acclamations. The dresses were beautiful-- the language is easy; and thou! , ti there is little of &hie, it is managed with dranintiv effect. The dress of Miss NAsu, in the character of the Princess Matilda, woo magnificent ; and, indeed, they were all splendid. A very splendid Operatic Spectacle is in preparation at Drury-lane Theatre; the music !)y Mr. Parry. In consequence of Kean's perCimance Jim two nights only, at the Greenock Theatre, the prices were raised; and those who proposed to procure seats were obliged pre-: viously to give in their names; after which a drawing took place to ascertain the sua-esfal candidates in thig Dramatic Lottery! Mathews has proceeded from Edinburgh to Dublin, where he is now playing with great applause at the Crotr. street Theatre.—lneledon has succeeded him at Edin. burgh A benefit humanely given by the Managers of the Edinburgh Theatre to the widow and orphans of tha late Mr. Eyre, was the greatest overflow ever remember. ed in that city. The correspondence respecting the seizure made ot► board the Ordnance transport the Assiduous, in the begin. ing of February, has been published. Them were up. wards of :10 packages, which had been shipped at Rouen, by the British Assistant Continiary of Ordnance, at containing models ante ordnance-stores ; but the greater part of the contents proved to be French cordials, gloves, silks, shawls, prints, pictures, &c. Two of the cases addressed to the Prinee Regent were, in consequence of an order from the Treasury, sent from the King's ware— ionise to Carhon-house. One of the cases contained guns aud swords, the other prints and pictures, the duty on which iunounts to 801. Nothing is stated in the car• respondence as to the subject of these prints. Among the parties to whom the other packages were addressed, we find the names of Sir G. \Vood, Sir W. Congreve, Sir W. Robe, S.J. Tibbs, Esq. J. Trotter, Esq. .1. Dela field, Esq. Lady Dixon, Laub• Frazer, &v. The decision of the Board of Customs or Treasury with regard to the latter articles has not transpired. The Gluaaca•xlrr Aaron!. says--" In the extensive pa. rich of l.mavau•hes, Monmouthshire, there is not a farmer -11 1 left who is enabled to pay either Assessed or Property Taxes." ; V . ; The Manx _flrerfiter announces the sale of 12 estates; five of them for the payment of taxes 1--These arc insu- a . - "t •: for taxes. The Isleof Man perms no Property 'fax, Assessed < ~.. I . %xes, Duties on Newspapers, or any other Government •1: ••. Toics ; yet it is described in the Paper alluded to, as, being in kmost depressed state., l ~ i \_ r..