The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-11-23 00:00:00

CONCHOLOG Y.

Conchslogy has lately become • favourite sod
fashionabk science. The volume of Time's Tele-
scope, just published, (onionsa a notice on this
'creating subject, from which the following is •q
extract :
" OUTLINES OP CONCHOLOGY.

0 Kant, 0 [Moe, rerwm, secrerronque MOVOII/00 ! quoit
walla listening, gram motto elided!,
" Each rams,
Each shell, each crawling insect, holds a rank
Important in the plae of Hot who framed
This scale of beings." Sruzsiartorr.
.ti Yi• I
" Shells form a link in the great chain of ollurite mud ens-)
tunic a department of ratios's! inquiry worthy there're:elms
44 men of science ; and, when we consider the wonderful
diversity of siugular and beautiful forme which they presto'
to our notice, they cannot fail to invite the attentio• of the
most common ohs* . Concitology, indeed, is a study
peculiarly adapted to recreate the senses, and insensibly to
lead us to the contemplation of the glory of God io
creation.
" This science has in a greater or Nes degree attracted
the attention of curious and contemplative minds in all
ages : the multiform hearties of shells did not escape the
observation of philorophers in the must brilliant eras of
learning; as appears obvious from the writings of Aristotle,
of Phu,. and of Minn, and we may also add, of Athennews
sad of Cicero. ' What can be more gratifying' (says Play)
then to view Nature in all her irregularities, and sportive
in her variety of *hells! Each • diflereoce of colon, du they
exhibit ; such a differesce of 'figure; Sat, concave, long,
bloated, draw. round in a circle, the orbit cut in two ; some
with • rising on the back; some smooth, some • wrinkled,
toothed, streaked, the point variously iniorted, the mouth
pointed like a dagger, folded hark, bent inward ; all these
variatioos, and many mote. furnish al once novelty, ek-
genre, sad speenlation.' Cemehoiogy, like all other liberal
itodies. was neglected in the darker era which ded to
that ofelassie efolgence ; bell, in after ages, as the mists of
Gothic telsorauce, which Med 50 king overhung the welders
world, dispersed, and the light of science, like the morning
twilight, dawoed upon the horizon of the human toiled, Coto.
chology revived, was oottotestasseeel, encouraged, and Sou-
ri•lied. And if, in later times. it resigned a preerdence to
other +mimic's, in conformity to the example of the great
Inmates, who was, perhaps, lens favourably inclined Eiwarsis
the study of shells than any other department nature, it
is plemiud to aild, list since his time ibis advert has orn
most assiduously cultivated, and that by writers no less esni-
Dewily gushiest to exalt its character, than to gine stability
to the science itself.
• EF.AUTY OF SHELLS.
" The colours of *hells are often so intensely Vivid, so
Surly disposed, and so faseifully variegated, that, as ob-
jects of beauty, they rival any of the esteemed productions
of the vegetable kingdom. Is their forms they likewise ex-
hibit au infinite variety. While some r,ma.l merely of •
hollow cup or a single tube, others exhibit the mom grace.
ful ensivolutiosisoord appear in the furls of cosies, mud spire's
end turbans ; aad in soother division, shaped like a box, ell '
Ibe ruieties of hinge are exhibited, from that of simple
esstewrion by • Ligament to the nowt comp'irslril arliculatiuM
TIT forms of shells are indeed so viiii 0000 s, and many ad time 1.
Mailittnissit,thsi a celebrated French Cosichologiat warmly e♦ i
inteniearls them to the attritive study of the architect_
ementry, however, no *orb reesioameMlatiou is nerisk-ui
meg, as many of oar beautiful arellarvients of sluff'", rartite•
tarty for ekivaney•pieees, are espied from the univalve mi.
laces. and are greatly &domed.
But shell., emu with all their beauty awl elegance,
would serer Mar cloned so much import times its ttic eyes

,L_

MELANv.
(prom slue...Oloasai H.) 31:=11,
DARING ATTEMPT kV ilea&
This agonising, between five and six o'clock, John
MaQtteen, of the 79th Highlanders, a sentinel
posted at the King's stores in Mardyke, whilst walk-
ing hie bee At the eisitser'di the Station to the
extreme end of the building, an assassin embed
from eider the shed, near the stores of John Kelly,
Fart. where the villein had concealed himself until
the soldier was within two feet of him, when he
Arad a pistol at his heed; the sentinel had heard
soma tat is the direction, and was approaching to
wateliaia the cum, when he put up his hand to
the light, end at that instant the shot was
cNtrhim-two slugs were lodged in his hand,
and the powder completely burned the hair off that
tide of his head, arid so stunned him that he could
sot see the ruffian, bat heard him retreat towards
the crows-lane leading to the Linen-hall. One of
the perish watchmen, on hearing the shot, came
to his assistance, and the gnard having been seat
for, a fruitless pursuit was made.
The Mayor and Magistrates hive offered a reward
Of 401. for the apprehension of the perpetrators.
DESPERATE ATTACK AND BRAVE AND SVC-
CIIsSRIL RESISTANCE.
At one o'clock on the morning of Wednesday
last, a party, consisting of several hundred fellows,
commenced an attack upon the house of the Rev.
Henry Bevaa, Vicar of Bruree, in this county.—
Without any previous notice whatever they fired a
volley of musketry into the windows, which were
completely demolished. They then demanded
his arms, threatening him and his family with
instant drilla unless he delivered them out.—
Upon Mr. Breen's-refusing their demand, they pro.
everted to break open the hall door, which they
soon effected, by means of sledges and iron crow
bars. Mr. Bevan and his son, a youth of about '
sixteen years of age, kept up a brisk fire upon the
mainlauts, and, alter an obstioate contest, which
lasted upwards of three hours, compelled the ruf-
fians to retreat. It is supposed that several of them
have been wounded. One min, who was dressed
iii a blue coat, prineloons, • white sash round his
waist, a cocked hat and white feathers, and who was
called by his companions "Captain Rock," has
been severely wounded, if not killed, as Mr. Bevan
had a full view of him, and fired at his white sash,
when lie instantly cried out "Oh ! murder." The'
party were met shortly after their retreat, between'
Bruree dud Charleville, by a person who sew three
wounded men on a car, proceeding towards the
latter town.
A young lad, named Graham, servant to Mr.
Bryan, behaved in the most brave and determined
manner in beating off the ruffians ; and actually,
assisted by Mr. Bevel), jun. followed them for some
distance io their retreat.