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

MAT 3. coicoi monitor. "..N UMBER Nll. RALUS POVULI BUPItV.MA err trx. Pi rrrnit in 11111,711er dontinntur rnorilitnis urbis. -aura.aue grates cupiantar hiatn. Or. MET. I. ?. v. 512. THERE is no class of diseases more calculated to strike the timid mind with dread and apprehension than contagious fevers, nor any against which it is more diffi cult to guard, when the state of the atmosphere and other circumstances am favourable to their propaation. The chief of these maladies is the plague, of which, however, we at present know nothing in this country more than the name. Of its destructive ravages here in former times we have abundant testimony, and it may be a curious subject of enquiry, to, what is owing our long exemption from its invasion. That the nature of the disease is un changed, and its virulence unabated, we have sufficient proof, nut only adduced by those who have witnessed its prevalence in other countries, but also contained in vari ous public documents. We must therefore attribute our present safety either to a more strict vigilance employed now, than in former times, to prevent the importation of the infection, or to some change in the public or domestic state of living in the inhabitants, which would render the imported infection inefficient to prepagate the disease, or calculated to prevent its origin here, should such for merly have been the source of the disease. That it is owing to the former of these two causes, there is some difficulty in believing. It is hardly to be imagined, that the methods best adapted to prevent the importation of infection should not have been enforced with the greatest rigour by those generations who had suffered the most severely froth' ire disease ; and it must be acknowledged that there must have been a greater facility of doing so in the confines' extent of commercial intercourse at that time compared with the present ; yet all their efforts were ineffectual to prevent the occasional introduction of the disease. It is very, extraorditutry, that fur a considerably longer period than a century, with such extensive com munications with all parts of the world as our increased commercial transactions require, no accidental circum stance should ever have produced at least the introduction of infected substances, in spite of the most rigid enact ments of quarantine laws. Our personal intercourse with the regions most infected with plague, has of late years been out of all proportion greater than at any for mer period, yet no interruption to our exemption from the disease has ever taken place. 'When in Egypt, our troops were attacked with the disease ; and 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 produced a com munication of the diseasa, notwithstanding the Egyptian 0 ph thuhnia,an infixtious complaint,was imported by them. The immense increase of popult at also in the metro polis is to be taken into the account ; the largest cities being always most liable to the attack and propagation of contagious diseases. From these and similar facts 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 as 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 afford great satisfaction to the philanthropist. An enumeration of some of those changes which may be supposed to operate in this manner may sot be superfluous. One of the most obvious certainly is, the mode of building ; the streets of modern date being much wider, so as to afford a more free ventilation, and to prevent a stagnation of finil air. Another improve ment, perhaps still more important, is the universal intro duction ofdraias or common sewers, whichcarry off what ever filth might otherwise give rise to infection, or afford 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 regard is paid to domestic and persarial cleanliness, than was the MSC a few back, and this circumstance must claim a share in Tre l 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 at a treater precision of inferniatiou than it is at present in our power to attain. G. Two fine whole-length portraits of the Dukes of Sussex and Kent, painted for the Grand Lodge of Free masons, were placed on Monday in their Hnll, at the Freemasons' Tavern; that of the Royal Gland Master sprars in the costume cf rn Highland Chief, as Earl of Inverness. Both these pictures are highly crcditable to Cie r encil of Sir W. Beechcy. THE NATIONAL lIWISTINft. LITER-MY 4• SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. Several artists and amateurs of different nations, who obtained per mission some time ago to search the Temple of Phegalia, dedicated to Apollo. on Mount Cotylus, in Arcadia, were so fortunate as to discover the whole frieze of the interior of the temple. It is of marble; 96 feet in length, and upwards of two feet in height; contains a hundred tigit•es, in alto rellevo, and is little damaged, except front the fall which it experienced at the destruction of the temple. It exhibits two sub jects: one, consisting of fifty-three figures, represents the combat of the Amazons with the lielltnians; the other, of forty-seven figures, the combats of the Centaurs and Lapiilix, at the marriage of Pirithous. 'The execution of these works affords an evident proof that they belong to the period when sculpture was at its highest degree of perfection. A letter from Rome, dated October 2Stli, 1815, says : " There has been found in the Appian Way an ancient sun-dial drawn on marble, with the names of the winds in Greek. It is exactly calculated for the meridian of this city." The King of Naples has ordered the excavations at Pompeii to be continued. Resides a mosaic pavement. sarcophagi, fral.,mients of co lumns, fcc. there has been found a bust of Seneca, inscribed with his name. • The university of Heidelberg is about to recover thirty-eight ancient manuscripts taken from it in Ityti, when the city was plundered by the imperial general 'filly. '!'hey were sent, as a present, by Duke Maxi milian of Bavaria, to Pope Gregory XV. and conveyed from Heidel berg to Home by that eminent scholar Leo Allatius tAllazziy, who was a native of the island of Chin, and studied in the Greek college at Rome- Thirty-siOt of these manuscripts, forming part of 500 in the Vatican, which the Papal Government ceded to the French Republic in 1797, were deposited in the National Library at Paris ; hut on the general restoration of the works of literature and art, of which the French; had rubbed almost every country in Europe, they were claimed by the pro-rector of the university of Heidelberg; and the Pope has given his consent to their being returned to the library of that institu tion. Among these manuscripts are the famous Codex Palatinns of the Greek Anthology; several small pieces on Geography ; four valu able manuscripts of l'lutarch's works, and several others. In the course of the late excavations at Pompeii. an ancient bathing room was discovered, in which were found an Antonin and an Agrippa, as large as life, and of the finest workmanship. Cases in which bleeding had been practised with succe , 3 in the cure of HYDR01.1101:1A were published, some time ago, in various journals. Professor Ilufeland has found the same treatment to be equally effica cious in Germany; and the public will soon be gratified with an ac count of sonic of the cases. Another remedy for the cure and prevention of canine madiars is said, in an American Journal, to have been found, in a plant called the sapo, first discovered in Guatiniala, and brought into notice by Dr. F. G. Fuero, Bishop of Chiapa, about the year IMO 2. It is nearly allied to the cotton plant, and to the ochre of South Carolina, which in many respects it resembles. It is considered also as a certain remedy for the bite or sting of any poisonous reptile whatever, if taken inward.. ly as soon after the bite as possible. Half all ounce of the powdered seed should be infused for a short time in three or four ounces of warm water, or wine; and, when settled, given to the patient to drink, ap plying the white sediment which remains, in the form of a poultice, to the wound. It is seldom necessary so repeat the dime; and when the seed cannot be procured, its place may be supplied by the green leaves pounded, drinking the juice, and applying the bruised leaves by way of poultice. The Paris Papers state, that as soon as sentence was passed on our coantrymen they were conducted to the Prison of La Forte. The inhabitants of Quebec, and merchants of London connected with Canada, have recently united in raising a subscription to present to Capt. R. H. Barclay, R. Ist. 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 Erie, on the 10th of Sep tember 1813. AmEnrcAN ELOQI7ENCE.—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 fhilowirn , passage on the sub ject of the French Revolution: —"'"'Freneh Liberty was the offspring of Corruption—shewas nursed in the arms of Li centiousness—she was educated by harlots and murderers. Her counccllors 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 generil ennflagration."—Adverting to the French Revolution, he said—" The pirate washed his hands and became an admiral. The assassin dropped his dagger and became a herd. The harlot put on white robes, and be came a princess. The gamester laid aside his cards, and became a financier." _ . WIN E S.—lt appears, that the number of pipes of wine imported into this country from Oporto, the last year, amounted to 31,6411;—exported to other parts of the world only 1434 pipes.—The customs duty on this branch of commerce only, therefore, amounted to at least 1,676,9001. ! RELIEF OF LICENSED VICTUALLERS.—In answer to various Petitions to Parliament from this useful body of the community, Lord Ehnley writes us fidlows to a Gen tleman iu Worcester:—" I have now the pleasure to tell you from the first authority, that relief is about to be given, and will extend nearly t , ) the amount of the ad ditional duty."—Our reader.; will perceive that the prayer of e petitioners will be in a great mesoure answered. We understand that n publican renting a house under 151 per annum, taking out Ale, Wine, and Spirit Li cences, pays annually 151. 135.; a house above 501. rent, paystbr such licences 191. 155.; mid it has been ascertained that, in a great number of instances, a tax is thus im posse(' of Is (id. per bottle on wine, and from 2s. to Ss. I er gall cu on ,spirits.—(l3thiui Justrual.) 101 DRAMATIC REGISTER. DRURY-LANE. The Benefit of Mr. RAE took place on Monday night, at this Theatre; and a new Ntelo-drama entitled The Prodi ,, al, was brought forward on the occasion. The outline of the fable is this : Phanor (Mr. RAE) has been persuaded by Nardoc (S. PENiEv) his false friend and secret rival, that Zulica (Miss KELLY), his wife, is untrue to him. Phanor forswears his wife, abandons his father's house, and fills into the snares of Nardoc, and a female called Scmroude, who entice him to the gaining_ table, plunge him into e x t ravagance , s t r i p hi ni o f hi s ps... 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. Here a sea sonable band of Scythian robbers arrive to co-operate with him in an attack on his enemy's newly-acquired castle—. they defeat 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 Zulica, with unabated tenderness, has followed ant 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 fleitlifil wife accom plished, and Narctuo sentenced to the death he had pre. pared for 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 affords room for bustle and energy, in which the princi. pal performers were nut deficient, and went off very well. A new musical piece in one act was produced on Thursday night, entitled, " The Count of Anjou, or More• Marriages than one." The business of this sketch may be very shortly de scribed:— The {'neat of Anjou makes his appearance at the Court of King Henry the first, and is Mal rigid to that Monarch's daughter. On 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 as a fellow-warrior; and his doom is revoked by the King, on learning that he is about to unite himself to a fair villager. This business happily arranged, tiritannia, Hibernia, and Caledonia, descend from the skies, and entertain the company with a dance. The Lion and Unicorn neat make their appearance, and the piece concludes wan► "God sere the King." This trifle is very loyal ; and, being produced in coin. plimeat to the Royal Nuptials, was received with the most loyal acclamations. The dresses were beautiful— the language is easy; and though there is little of fable, it is managed with dramatic effect. The dress of Miss NASH, in the character of the Princess Afatilda, was magnificent; and, indeed, they were all splendid. A very splendid Operatic Spectacle is in preparation, at Drury-lane Theatre; the music by Mr. Parry. Ih consequence of Kean 's performance for two nights only, at the Greenock Theatre, the prices were raised; and these who proposed to procure seats were obliged pre viously to give in their names; after which a drawinz took place to ascertain the succesful candidates in this Dramatic Lottery! Mathews has proceeded from Edinburgh. to Dublin, where he is new playing with great applause at the Crow. street Theatre.--Incledon has succeeded him at Edina burgh. A benefit humanely given by the• Managers of the Edinburgh Theatre to the widow and orphans of the late Mr. Eyre, was the greatest overflow ever roraembetp. ed in that city. The- correspondence respecting' the seizure made o 4 board the Ordnance transport the Assiduous, in the begin. ink; of Febniarv, has been published. There were up. wards of 30 packages, which had been shipped at Rollett a by the British Assistant Commissary of Ordnance, as containing models and ordnance-stores ; but the greater part of the contents proved to be French cordials, gloves, silks, shawls, prints, pictures, &c. Twa of the cases addressed to the Prince Regent were, in consequence of an order from the Treasury, sent from the King's ware. house to Carlton-house. One of the cases contained guns and swords, the other prints and pictures, the duty on which amounts to 801. Nothing is stated in the cor respondence as to the subject of these prints. Among the parties to whom the other packages were addrt.ssed„ we find the names of Sir G. Wood, Sir W. Congreve, Sir W. Robe, S. J. Tibbs, Esq. J. Trotter, Esq. J. Dela. field, Esq. Lady Dixon, Lady Fraser, &e. The decision of the Board of Customs or ; Treasury with regard to the latter articles has not transpired. The Gimlet-4( r Journal says-4 In the extensive pa. rish of Lanvaebes, Nlonmouthshire, there is not a farmer left who is enabled to pay either Assessed or Property Taxes." The )fanx Advertiser announces the sale of 12 estates; five of them for the payment of taxes !—These are insu lar taxes. The Isleof Man pays no Property Tax, Assessel Taxes; Duties on Newspapers, or any other Government - Taxes ; yet it is described in the Paper alluded to, its being in a most depressed state.