The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-14 00:00:00

THE SIN, LONDON, THURSDAY EvEmi IN; (3-, FEBRUARY 14 I 8 6.

‘.1.14 . 17;1; , LA; r',4: 1:1".

_ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

(~arix
C.'onipanA

Clam(lu • rte.,
yeiterd ty .

"ratites,
this la,y.

A full meeting of this sowety was held on Monday
evening ; Admiral W. F. Beechey, president, in the
chair.

BINIIIII6BI done
this day

• Among those present were, Sir Roderick Murchison,
Sir G. Back, Sir Charles Fellow,', the Earl of Sheffield,
General Sir Harry .Jones, Count Strazlecki, Lieuten-
ant Colonel Lefroy, Dr. Rae, Captain Gordon, R.N.,
Mr. Calvert, Q.C., Mr. R. M. Milnes, M.P., the Hon.
H. S. Law; Captain Thomas Miller, R.N., Mr. Duncan
M'Gregor, Mr. Brooking., Mr. Arrowsmith, Mr.
Galton, Dr. Hodgkin, Colonel Everest, Rev. C.
G. Nicolay, Rev. S. Clark, Rev. W. Oxenhain,
Mr. Osborne Smith, Mr. Harris, Mr. Latrobe,
Mr. Ashurst Majendie, Mr. Joseph Glen, Mr. W. B.
Hume, Mr. Findlay, Mr. Walker, Capt. the Hon. H.
A. Murray, Major Kane, Admiral the Hon. C. B.
Elliott, Mr. E. J. Harrington, Consul Brand, Mr..
Lionel Gishorne, Mr. Whitmore, Mr. John Brown, Mr
Lawrence Oliphant, and Mr.
. The Right Hon. Sir T. Fremantle and Major Vincent
Eyre were officially introduced, upon their election.
Sir W. 11. Logan, F.R.S., Chief Geologist and Com-
missioner of Canada; Captain Sherard Osborn, R.N.,
C.B. ; J. H. Mandeville, Esq., late her Majesty's Mi-
nister Plenipotentiary at Buenos Ayre.s ; Rev. A. R.
Ashwell, M.A.; G. F. Brooking, Esq.; M. H. Brooking,
Esq. ; T. H. Newman, Esq.; J. H. Plower, Eiq. ; and
N. F. Simmons, R.N., were elected Follows.

94 - 96
94 - 98

Among the dc>nation, receivei since the previous meet-

ing the following mcre important ones were mentioned :
—United States Naval Astronomical Expedition to the
Southern Hemisphere during the years 1849, '5O, '5l,
and '52. By Lieutenant J. M. Gillis. Two vole. 4t0.,
numerously illustrated. Presented by the author. The
Imperial Atlas of Modern Geography. By Messrs.
Blackie and Son, of Glasgow. Parts Ito 7 inclusive.
Second Edition of the Art of Travel. By F. Galton.
Memoirs of Admiral krreenstern, edited by Sir John
Ross ; together with the Transactions of the Royal Uni-
versity of Christiania, and of the Royal Academy of
Sciences of Madrid.
The papers read were—

_ _
1. Remarke on the Open Sea in the North Polarßasin,
by Robt. White, Esq.;
.communicated by Jno. Barrow,
Esq., F.R.G.S. The reports of the existence of an open
Polar sea hair, been corroborated by Dr Kane's expedition,
and the paper proposed to show that the action of the sun
and the oceanic currenta within the Arctie circle naturally
explained such a phenomenon. The inclination of the
earth's axis referred the normal line ofextreme cold to the
Arctic circle, the action of the sun on the Pole being con-
tinuous during the Arctic summer, while its influence is
distributed overthe regions adjacent bytheirdaily rotation.
floe currents likewise circulating round the Pole convey
warmth there ; while they retain heat enough to become
the carriers of frozen masses to the temperate regions.
The evidence of Barentz, Wrangel, Penny, Belcher,
and Kane, concurring on this subject, calls for further
investigation in the direction pointed out by the course
of the warm stream. The President said that a work of
his had been quoted in support of an open sea, and there-
fore he would refer to the passage in question, and to
the authorities usually cited by advocates of that
opinion, for the purpose of showing that there was no
foundation for it. He concluded by mentioning several
cases in which reports of an open sea had been fol-
lowed up without success ; and there was reason to be-
ieve that Dr. Kane's discovery, if pursued, would lead
either to a vast inland basin, or a sea covered with the
ante moveable and impenetrable mass of ice which had
stopped Parry, M'Clure, Gollinson, and Belcher, and all
other Arctic navigators.
2. Report of Surveyor R. Austin, commanding the
Expedition to Explore the Interior of Western Aus-
tralia, N. and E. of the Settled Districts, communi-
oicated by the Colonial-office. This expedition was
ordered by the local Government of Western Aus-
tralia, and despatched in June, 1854, under the com-
mand of Mr. R. Austin, who was directed to proceed
to Northam, and examine the country towards the
E.N.E., in search of a region called by the natives Cow-
..:owing. Advancing northward and eastward, as far as
the latitude of Cape Cuvier, he was then to turn south
tod west, in search of the Gascoyne, or any other large
elver likely to fall into the sea, in the same, neighbour-
soed. A ves:el vim sent to the mouth of the Gascoyne li
to look out fsr him. Mr. Austin found Cowcowing ab. u
60 miles N.E. of Northam, and proceeded in the same
direction as far as 118 deg. E. long., acid 31 deg. S. lat.;
when, pushing northward to 27 deg. 30 min. 8. lat., he
came upon a great marsh, winding and lowing N.W.,
At an eltitude of 1,896 feet above the sea. From this
marsh the drainage appears to fall through Lake Moore,
Lake Cowcowing, the Salt River, and the Avon, to
the ocean. Passing the southern borders of the marsh,
Ur. Austin proceeded in a north-westerly, direction till he
approached 26 deg. S. lat., in long, 116 deg., and again
,u long. 115 deg., when lie was compelled to retreat on
the Murchison River, which he reached on November.
After leaving the mar-6, he passed some large tribu-
taries of the Murchison, cnning from the N.E., ire-
planted by many natives, and various animals. The
country traversed was very indifferent and waste to the
westward. The geological features evince great mine-
-alogical interest, and are sttifl to indicate gold fields of
he richest character, confirming Sir It. Murchison's
views on those regions.

3. Not( s on the Probable Condition of the Interior
of Australia ; by Mr. H. Landor. From the evidence
Afforded by the wind and temperature in the several
colonies of Australia, the author assumes that the
treater part of the interior is covered with shallow
rater in winter, which evaporates in summer, when
•he ground becomes parched and burnt up, under the
intense beat experienced by Captain Sturt. The coon-
'ry may be more favourable along the northern water-
parting, which, however, he thinks, cannot be moon-
r.ainous ; and this track will probably be explored by
the expedition now on the Victoria.

4. Progress of the North Australian Expedition, by
A. C. Gregory, commander ; communicated by the
Colonial-office. A communication from Mr. Gregory to
the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and another from
Ar. Wilson, the geologist, to Sir Roderick Murchison,
announce the arrival of the North Australian Expedi
ion at the mouth of the Victoria River, on the N.W.
coast. The expedition left Mofeton Island on August
12th, in the Monarch, barque, and Tom Tough, schooner.
Port Essington was sighted on September let, and on
;he same day the Monarch grounded on a reef at the en-
trance of Port Patterson, where the ships remained till
ieptember 10. After leaving the reef the ships parted
company, and Mr. Gregory having reached B'unders
in the Tom Tough, and found a good landing-place with
water, returned in, search of the Monarch, which he
Found at Point Pearce, landing the horses on a beach
two miles distant from the ship, advantage having been
aken of his absence. As the horses were towed through
the water, out of fifty, five were drowned. Water
was found with difficulty six miles from the beach,
and there the horses were encamped, and were
rapidly recovering front the effects of the voyage.
From thence, the horses will he driven round the
'lead of the Firzmaurica river, through a rugged sand-
stone country, to meet the rest of the party at Kangaroo
Point, on the Victoria ; from whence a start will be
made about the end-of October. The geological indica-
tions give promibe of a country in the interior, and it
is hoped that another communication may be received
eefore the expedition is completed. Although many
fires and traces of natives have been seen,, none of the
aborigines have been met with.
Sir RODERICK Muucansois directed attention to the
great irsportanne of the expedition, and to the impera-
tive necessity for the occupation and settlement of
Northern Australia.

Count STRAZLECKI, concurring in the views taken by
r Roderick, complimented the society for having urged
an the notice of Government so desirable an undertaking,
nd remarked that so much importance was attached to
it, in a commercial as well as in other points of view, by
many of the city merchant 4, that Mr. Uzielli, a member
of the society, had volunteered, in the event of the Go-
vernment's refusing to send out this expedition, to ad.
vance 10,0001. for the purpose of carrying out the objects
in question.
After a tow brief observations from Mr. Uzielli, the
meeting adjourned to the 25th inst.

LITERATURE.

German Reading :Book. By Dr. M. M. Fiscae

Daiid Nutt, 270, Straw!.

Henceforth, from the date of the issue of this
little volume througleahe press; Dr. Fischel ought
to be regarded as a veritable Benefactor to the
English Student of German Literature. Altogether
it appears to us one of the most masterly elemen-
tary productions which has for a considerable while
come within the range of our observation. In its
general design, no doubt, it has a certain kind of
family resemblance to the works based upon the
system popularly known as the Hamiltonian. Yet
the obvious similarity alluded to is such as in no
essential respect whatever to militate from the
value of the claims put forth by Dr. Fischel's
volume to the merit of distinctive individuality—
as implied through the wording of the very title-
page. " A German Reading Book"—it unquestion-
ably is—" on an eutirely new principle :" although
one, it may be, originally suggested by the general
system already particularised. In illustration of
our meaning it will only be necessary briefly to
explain in a few words the character •of the
very novel enterprise, as it appears to us,
here brought, by the ingenious German master
of Queen's College, under our critical consideration.
It is nothing less agreeable and attractive than
"A Story by Franz faloffmann"—a charming story
in twelve chapters—printed iu companion pages,
giving the reader upon the left hand the German
original, and upon the right hand a literal English
translation. A version line for line ! nay, more
than that, actually word for word ! ! The identity
of each line clearly indicated by numerals in the
margin—and the sienification of the idiomatic ori-
ginal being strongly impressed upon the reader's
memory by the force of the contrasting syntax of
the two languages. Ex. gr.—" 'He, mein Bursche,'
Sagte der mann, welcher ihn in den Kreis seiner
Gefahrtcn gebracht hatte, Ich frage dich ob du
mit uns aus denaGefangnisse entwischen willst?' "
is explained to mean not freely,—"' Ha, my lad,'
said the man who had brought him into the midst
of his companions, I ask thee whether thou wilt
escape with us out of the prison ?' " but literally,—
" 'Ha my lad,' said the man, who him into the
circle Of his companions brought had, I ask thee,
whether thou with us out ofthe prison escape will.'" A
single example like the one here particularised will
be sufficient—ex uno disce ermines—read it! examine
a,nd you have the key to the whole mystery.
Hey-presto—and, at the mere waving, as it wore,
of the magic pen of Dr. Fische], in his capacity, as
at once the compiler and editor of this admirable
version of "A Story by Franz Hoffmann,"
aimnl-
taneouslyin idiomatic German and distorted English
—there crumble away to nothingness the rugged
and mountainous difficulties, apparently blocking
up the pathway to the acquisition of the German lan-
guage by the English student, just then beginning
perhaps to aspire to the appreciation of the German
literature. Dr. Fischel's great motive-power as a
teacher is precisely what was the motive-power of
Danton as a statesman—viz., to dare. Instead of
allowing his pupils, like inexperienced swimmers,
to stand shivering upon the brink of the unknown
tongue, trembling and shuddering perpetually over
the dry rules of the grammar—be makes them
plunge boldly into the stream of learning, at once,
by placing a German book, without further
delay into their hands, and enabling them, as we
have seen, to begin reading it on the instant. The
result is little short of the miraculous. Scarcely
has the student mastered the orthography of the
language, and got by heart the first simple prin-
ciples of its etymology, when he finds himself with
this pleasant tale by• Franz Hoffmann before him,
floating pleasantly onward to a perfect (though
while it is being acquired scarcely perceptible)
acquisition of the laws, the peculiarities, and the
irregularities of the German syntax—the ear, the
taste, and the nice discrimination of the attendant
master alone enabling any one of course to obtain a
knowledge of the crowning grammatic ac-
complishment, that of the prosody, regulat-
ing the variable inflections, and the quantities,
and the accents, and the emphasis, and in short
the general pronunciation. Turning page after
page glibly, following lino after line, tracing out
word after word, the reader opens the book, may
be, hardly able to stumble through a sentence, and
closes it capable (unless he be inherently au unmiti-
gated and iunnifigable dullard) capable—what shall
we say without exaggeration ?—well (honestly then);
capable not only of readingand understanding, but
actually, to a very great extent, of enjoying and ap-
preciating, net simply a Hoffmann, but a Gcethe or
a Schiller. Hurrying on from the perusal of a
nameless little story abbett .Pierre and Captal to
that of a world-famous idyl like " Herman and
Dorothea," or of wondrous lyrics like those by the
celebrant of " Fridolin," and the "Gods ofGreece."
Honour to the ingenious scholiast whose skill has
thusdeftly,endowed his pupils with an Open Sesame
to the hidden treasures of the glorious literature cif
his fatherland 1 Pro?eeding to the details of the
plan here unfolded to the wondering contempla-
tion of his disciples, De. Fischel explains to them
at the outset, that is to say, through the medium
of his brief prefatory announcement, how it is he
contrives to insinuate into their minds, during the
course of an agreeable and facile perusal of a story
by Franz Hoffmann, a familiar acquaintance with
the rules of the German grammar ! This he ac-
complishes by means of a sprinkling of illustrative
foot-notes as lucid as they are apposite. Foot-
notes conveying among other instructive frag-
ments of information, a notion of the various
ideas involved in a single word, giving all its
other meanings (besides the one supplied in the
text), both proper and figurative. Added to
these, moreover, there are foot-notes explanatory
of idioms, and, appeaded to the whole story, an
elementary German Grammar—so that to all in-
tents and purposes the single volume before us,
marvellously complete in itself, comprises in one
work the usually scattered advantages of a Reading
Book, a Grammar, and a Dictionary. In other
words, it is a literal Vade Mecum, a veritable re-
pertory of instruction upon the no longer recondite
study of the German language. As affording addi-
tional testimony of the value of the remarkable
volume under notice—here are the five hints as to
the manner in_which the book ought to be used
(luring the process of its systematic examination.
Firstly—the student is informed, for example, that
" the English line on the opposite page, having the
same numeral at the side as the German, is the
literal translation of the German Tide"—as we our-
selves Lave already here exemplified. Secondly—
it has been arranged that " when two English
words arc required for translating one German word
they are connected by a hyphen"—a most judi-
cious arrangement, it will be allowed, when it is
remembered how many are the composite words
in the German language. Thirdly, by an adroit
arrangement, whenever " a German word is not
required in the English it is translated, but placed
between brackets [ r —while, on the contrary,
" words which are necessary in English, but are
wanting in the German, are placed within paren-
theses ( )"—occasions, as might be conjectured,
of not by any means unfrequent occurrence.
Fourthly, " when the German separable compound
verb is translated by one word, that word is to go
in the place of the vtrb ; and to call attention to
the prefix, a (p.) has been inserted, signifying par-
ticiple, the translation of whick is already con-
tained in the - verb" s— by which simple contriv-
ance a constant source of bewilderment to a tyro
is at once overcome. Fifthly, and this, too, is re-
peatedly occurring—" where the cases are different
in German from the English, they are indicated iii
the German text by the letters g, d, or a," meaning,
of course, respectively, genitive, dative, or accusa-
tive. And with these five little keys in his hand
the student quickly enough discovers how very
easily he can unlock the mysteries of a noble, and
at the outset an apparently almost inscrutable,
language. The volume is one which, of Assail,
stamps the reputation of Dr. Fiechel as that of an
eminent German teacher, who is at once a profound
and a popular grammarian.
A Plea for Urania. Piper, Stephenson, an

Spence.
It is unquestionably a very remarkable curiosity,
to say the least of it, this "Plea for Urania"—being.
nothing less than a Popular Sketch of Celestial Phi-
losophy, or, in other words, an argument in favour
of the most ancient of the various olo:pioesn, tehxearnolion7
A.
of all the ologies, Astrology ! treatise the book
before us, in fact, proves itself to be,
tion—written for the mast part in a logical and some-
times even in a strictly philosophical spirit, though,
occasionally running off in its style into the oddest
sort of serio-comic whimsicalities ? The anony-
mous author is evidently a wag as well as a stu-
dent--otherwise we should not have him penning so
facetious a preamble to his really erudite disqnisi-
tion as that fantastic reference to the taboo upon
Urania with which he introduces his readers to the
more recondite chapters, relating subsequently to
the once vaunted,
ce but now for the most part ex-
ploded, science of Judicial Astrology, the science,
as it is more sublimely designated by its votaries,
of Celestial Philosophy. Whoever the writer of
the volume may be—he has manifestly mastered
his theme very surprisingly. He is " up" in its
mysteries. He is among the number of the ini-
tiated. Nay—he is not merely initiated himself,
but bent apparently upon tearing away the veil of
the weird Elousis for the roXXot—macadamisivg
a highway for the vulgar crowd along which they
may penetrate, if they list, to the very heart of the
labyrinth—treading
not " lightly," but _heavily,
loudly, resoundingly upon the " holy ground,
traversed during past ages by so many sages from
Zoroaster down to Zadkiel 1 That We are