The Sun.
London, England, 1818-01-03 00:00:00

MINERALOGY.

We always feel great pleasure in giving an. ex-
.tended circulation to Acts of private muni,ficence
and liberality, as they cannot fail to havea .bene-
ficial effect; and to prove interesting to our
Readers. Indeed they may influence others, who
have the opportunities and the means, to enrich,
by their donations, the Public Repositories of tke
Works of learned and scientific men. With few
exception's, the Libraries and Museums of our
Universities and Public Schools are not so .exten-
sive as might liave been expected from their re-
mote establishment, and the means- possessed by
the members of them; but as a more liberal and
enlightened spirit is awakened, there .is little.
doubt but that in another half century Great Bri-
tain will probably possess .the most choice and
extensive collection of books, missals, mann-
scripts, paintings, minerals, awl other specimens
of Nature and Art, in all their various branches,
than any other country. -
Many years ago, COLONEL Nate, well known
to the Public by his Mineralogical Methoirs in the
Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh,
visited Greece and the Greek Islands, with the
view of studying their antiquities and natural his-
tory. He brought with him, from these classical
regions, a valuable collection -of minerals and
mountain rocks, all of which he has patriotically
presented to The University of Edinburgh,- This
interesting donation was accompanied • w;t11- a
magnificently-printed geolOgical description of
Geeeee, and engravings of Grecian scenery, exe-
ctitetfin'the highest style by an excellent artist,
after the sketches of-the Colonel. Since COLONEL
lmai.E.'s time many of our countrymen have tra-
versed these delightfol countries ; among them,
Mr. JOHN FOSTER, Junior, and Mr. COCKERELL,
who we trust 'will soon give to the world the re-
sults of their researches, which,_ from their talents
and .general acquirements, and the length of time
they resided in Greece and Asii, and the valuable
discoveries of antiquities they are known to have
made, even under circumstances not always the
most encouraging, are anxiously looked for by
the lovers of the fine arts, and the literary and
scientific world. •

MARKS OF DISAPPROBATION.

A CURIOUS FACT RELATED BY A GENTLBMAN WHO

WAS PRESENT, AND .W HOSE VERACITY IS UN..

DOUBTED.

The following whimsical circumstance occurred
a short time ago at a private Theatre which had
been fitted up over a stable. The play was " The
Iron. Chest." During one of Sir Edward Morti-
mer's most serious soliloquies, a loud hiss was
heard; the indignant Sir Edward came forward
and addressed the audience, offering to resign the
part if they considered lie did not do it justice.
cries of " No, no, no !"—go on !" &c. &c. became
general. He resumed ; but had not spoken halt a
dozen words before a louder hiss struck his ear ;
he would have challenged the insulting author,
had not a Gentleman called out It is the
hastier cleaning the horses below ;" which really was
the case; 'the furbisher of 'quadrupeds rubbed and
hissed away without a thought that he was
wounding the feelings of the worthy • Baronet -in
he hayloft.

The celebrate(' Chemist BERZELLUI has been
raised to the Rank of Nobility by the King of
SwapEN, -(1n account of his great talents as a
chemical philosopher. We trust his Majesty, on
conferring this dignity on the learned Professor,
also pr.csented him with an income sufficient to
maintain it.

THE SERPENTINE RIVER.—On Thursday the
ice was excellent in the centre, at the west end of
the river ; and onit, about 3 oclock, were many
superior skaters. The water still presented
the same singular appearance as it did on the
preceding day—one half being still free from ice.
It issaid,.that all the ice-wells in the metropolis
were, previously to the late frost, completely
empty,a circumstance which createdgreat anxiety.
Every (lay some accident has occurred from the
folly and overity of the skaters. On Tuesday
a young man was drowned ; and on Thursday
another fell in in consequence of unskilfulness
in the management of his skates ; the ice broke
front a heavy fall, where it was not sufficiently
strong to hear 'the concussion : nothing see ions,
howevir, occurred. On the north hank there
were many carriages ; and on the south side, nu-.
merous parties of ladies. There were also pre-
sent-some Frenchwomen in full Parisian costume.

STEEPLE CHASR.—A match for 100 guineas a
side was rode
,on Tuesday by Mr. Melprop, of
Yeovil, Herts, and Mr. Arnold,.of Stamford-hill.
The parties started from Coleshill hut, about six
miles from Watford, to go across the country to
a hOuse*Of Mr.. Arnold's, four miles from Vade's
Mill, Herts. The distance, as a crow would fly,
to uses Sportsman's phrase, is computed to be 26
miles.' Notwithitanding the hai.y,fog...,y weather,
Mr. Arnold did his gronnd in one hour and 52
minntes, having swam his hotly* dimwit a river
to cover,,his-ground. Mv. Mel Prop arrived within
the two hours, having been thrown out by the
river.: It is considered a masterviece of perform-.
ance.of the sort, as neither ever touchiest on a ;oad,
but. to cross it. Some. daring leaps were made
without accident.

BURGI.ARY,-"On Thursday night, the premises
of Mr. HOLKMAN, brewer, Maze-pond, South-
wark, were entered by some thieves at the office
window, the shutters of which they forced open
with a large iron crow. They carried off a double
lArometer
.and thermometer, a large pier glass,
and other property.
RPBBRRY OF A BARN.—On Wednesday night
last some thieves broke open the barn of WILLIOI
H(*LRTT,Esq.ot Shoreham, its Kent, and carried
utia large quantity of wheat, barley, and oats (sup-
posed in a cart), to a very considerable 'amount;
and also a number of sacks. The Farningham
Association have offered a reward of ten gtiineas
for the, apprehension of the offenders.
The Holyhead mail which left London on Mon-
day last, contained some boxes of gold coin,
amounting to abOut WOOL each ; upon opening
the seat depository in the inside, at Coventry, one
of them was ascertained to be missing, though
secured by a patent lock. It is supposed to have
been stolen by an inside passenger, who remained
in the coach by himself during the'ssipper time at
Itedburn.—(Birmingham.pronirle)