Star.
London, England, 1830-10-21 00:00:00

A PEW WORDS ON THE PHENIX.

" The bird of wooder.".

This rem aria is not mentioned by Homer. Hesiod says the
exceeds all other creatures in age except the nymphs, see 1,
flOri of HOLLAND'S Inelll4klloll tf IN weed. HICRODOTIII, Miter&
the earliest writer who gives a detailed account of this bird'
ngi have also another sacred bird, which, except in a picture, j
have never seas :it is called the pbenix. It is very uncommon ever,
arnoag themselves; far, scantling to the Ilellopolitans, it comes thee,
but ewe b the awes of 400 years, and then only at the decease of thi
parent bird. If it bear any resemblance to its picture, the wings an
partly et a gold and pertly ot a aimson color. and its fonn and gee an
cre perfectlyt like the eagle. They relate one thing dit which surpasse,
ty : they say that it comes fray Arabia to the temple of tin
sun. bearing the dead body of its parent, enclosed In myrrh, which t•
buries. It makes a ball ot myrrh shaped like arlm, as large as it 1.
able to any, which it proves by experiment. This dons, it excavates
the mama, into which it introduces the body of the dead bird ; it again
clone the aperture with myrrh, and the whole incomes the nine weight
as when com " posed entirely of myrrh; it then proceeds to Egypt to the
temple of the sun.

The expression of Job, C. 29, v. 8, " Then said, I shall die E.
my nest, and shall multiply my days as the sand," bas bees;
understood by same of the ancient intermixes. to be an allusion tc
the plientz. The Istria rabbins were the list to propose this eapli.
cation, and some of the Christian fathers adopted it.

Xnutux, in his abeidgenent of Dien Cassias, says that the phialr
same into Egypt, and was believed to moose the deeds of Tiberius,
as voL L p. 269 of Mitanzie's inneelatioa.

Tacrstrs, Await, b. I. c. 28, says that "in the Consulship ui
brakes Fabius and Ludas Intentus the mizacsksts bird, known to the
said by the name of the phenix, after disappearing fee a win of ages,revisited Egypt." This corresponds whit the -reign of Tiberius,
A. U. C. 787.
Nun-, b. le, c. 8, makes hs last appearance in =take place,
C. A. U. 800 but the people considered has an las
A bong descriptios of the phenix may be found in Acatur s
Taftus, and an elegant one in Pogroms Alst.L, b. 3. e.. 9, as
also OVID Meksis. b. 16. v. 392.
"The bird named the phenix, visits Egypt every GOO years, during
which three it is said to Liy all over India. There is never but one
and it emits rays of the colour of gold, and resembles in size and shape
the cask. It sits on its nest, which it makes for itself with spices near
the faunal= of the Nile. What the Egyptians say of its coming into
their country, is said also by the Indians, with this added, that whilst
it le burninitself in its nest, it singe a farewell dirge."—Paimos.
vita Tues Life of Appoilonius, b. 3. C. 49. or p. 179 of BERWICK%
Thinsistien.

Milton only once mentions the phenix.
" Down thither prone in Hight
Re (Raphael) speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky
Sails between worlds and worlds ; with steady wing,
Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan
Winnows the buxom air; till, within soar
Of tow'ring eagles, t' all the fowls he seems
A Oasis, gas'd by all, as that sole bird,
When to inahrinc his reliques in the sun's(
Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies.'
Paradise Lost, & S. o. 906.

Dr. T. Burnet esteems the phenix an emblem of the globe ;
after a long age, will be consumed in the last fire, and regenerate another
world. " "fis an apologue, or a fable with an Interpretation, and was
intended as an emblem of the world ; which, after a long age, will be
consumed in the last fire, and from its uhes or remains will ari.r
another world, or a new formed heavens and earth."—Theory of Ow
Barth, ea. 2, p. 24.
This work celled forth the admiration of Addhon ; he dedicated or.
otitis Spectators to it, sad wrote a Latin ode in he praise. Gibbon.
speaking of the third part. says, "He (Burnet) blends philosophy,
and tradition into one magnificent system; in the description
of he displays a strength of fancy not inferior to that of Milton
himeelE'L-Derfilste cad Fall, c. lb.
Al. P.llly addsces the fable of the phenix as one, among many other
Mothossies, of the truth of his most singular theory, i, e. that the bleak
nod desolate Tighe. of Siberia were the primitive seat of science, 011:
abide 11 the Got nee drawn, the famed Atlanddes, who, descending in
Woe ages frees the overflow* plains of Scythia, and down the steeps
etarecasus, bought with than into Southern Asia the rudiments of
the arts and edema, sod the worship of the sun and fire.—See vol. 1.
pl. 214 ef hie blears to robin on the Atlantis of Plato. _ _

J. J. W.

EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY OP A HUMAN SEE.
LETON.

The parish of Plamstead. in Rant, has been kept in a state of un-
common excitation for several days poet, in consequence of the disco.
very of a human skeleton, buried in a part of the Royal Arsenal at
Woolwich. For some months past the work of extending the arsenal
has been carrying on, and the convicts from the hulks at ;Woolwich
have been employed in excavating a large plot of ground, fad* put.
pie of making foundations for some storehouses that are intended to be
built. The convicts, who are under the command of Capt. ‘Williams,
whilst thus employed, one day last week discovered a human skeleton,
quite entire; they instantly gave information to their overseer, and he di-
rected that it should not be removed till some °tithe authorities connecteti
with the arsenal had seen it. Consequently, the dreumstance was
made known to Dr. Hanle, Sir. Marsh, of the glo
to the establishment, and weal other gentlemen, who "
repaired imme-
diately to the spot, sad the skeleton was immediately conveyed to the
surgery in the arsenal for inspection. It was found under ground, at
a depth of about three feet six inches, leg upon a piece of plank
stbout a foot wide; the teeth were in a a date of preservation, an.!
the set was complete. On the right side r the skull there was a eds.!'
hole, whiddeinppmed to have been indicted with some pointed instre-
o
mem. Irma site appearance of the bones, the beauty of the teeth, and
formation of the look it is supposed to be the skeleton of a female.
of about 10 or Mi yam of age ; but the fact of the sex is left in name
doubt, se pert of the pelvis is destroyed. From the appearance of the
bones, it is believed that the body had been burled at least 30 years.
Immediately after the discovery was made. an investigation was set
on foot to endeavour, if at all possible, to trace out the manner In which.
the body had been there deposited. It appears, upon inquiry, that the
ground has been the property of Government for the last 20 years, and
had been kept inclosed as waste. Previous to its coming into posseesior.
of Government, it was in the occupation of a Mr. Marshall, one of th,
clerks in the Ordnance Department, whose residence was pulled dune
about twelve years since. At that time the spot of ground was th.
garden. It being the decided opinion of the professional gentle-
men, that the bones, from their state, had been deposited thirty year
ago, an old plan of the plot of ground, made at that time, and in
possession of Mr. Dell, of the Ordnance Department, was referred
to, when, upon minute examination, it was ascertained that o.
the precise spot where the skeleton was found, stood sonu
stabling belonging to a farmer named Harwood, who is long since dead.
and only one nephew, who resides at Plum:teed, survives. However.
nothing could be obtained from him to solve the mystery in which the
affair is enveloped. One old man, who worked in the arsenal about le
years ago, states that at that period, a man named Smith, now a resident
in the parish, who was at that time in the employ of Mr. Marshall. epee
being asked one morning " if there was any newt stirring :=" he replied
" no, none that I am aware of, only our servant maid has run away from
us." This man,who is between 70 and 80 years of age,was sent for Won.
the Magistrates, and questioned as to whether he made such an ()beer.
ration, and whether he was in possession of any information respecting
the disappearance of any female at that period ? when he denied alto-
gether having made use of such an observation, and declared he was to-
tally ignorant of any fact that would lead to the solution of the mystery.
as he was never aware of any person, male or female, having been misses:
from the neighbourhood, at that time, or at nor other. The same in.
quiries have been instituted throng! the 1.21101, hut without any
fact being obtained in development of the eireunis..oters.

litatTltio.—The BriKhtou Stthecription Harriers met
brilliant Sold at the Devil's itske on Monday, where a bouncing harr
presently gave willing action to •• diva, nu-Naiad horses," and chang-
log varieties to the amusements. In the midst of the rapid and mu-
sical career, a second puss got up in front of the dogs, which was in.
stoutly chopped, and the chase with the tomer continued. Victory
in the end lent her trophy to the pack. and another good run ended si.

BIRTHS.
The IGth Inst. at Clishume-park, the seat of Load Ribblesdale, the
Lady Ribblesdale, of a daughter—The 17th inst. in Charles-strset,
Berkeley-square, the lady of E. Walpole, Esq. of a daughta—The
11th inst. at • lee. Rent, the lady of R. Boyd, £sq. of a son—At
Richmond, on the 17th inst. the lady of J. C. hlcieris, of the Madras
civil welt*, of a son.

MARRIED.
The lith inst. at Horsley, Gloucestershire, Capt. J. J. Tucker,
R.N. mooed son of ths lam B. Tucker. of Trematon Castle. Corn-
wall, to Sabine Ann, second daughter of Tice.Admind J. Young,
Bartoo.end, Gloucestershire.

DIED.
At his ragtime., Faiey-hall, in blottiagium. mar Elthamir Kern.
W. Smith. Esq.—The 17th last. at Tiwnham.gerso, in her 811th year.
Rhonorr wife of the Rm. Dr. Cartels—The llth inst. at Plaissace,
Jersey, Mary Reeler, wife of T. Hector. Esq. of Hone-place.

LOWDON : Piloted sod Published by Jolty AIAYNE subs *Loa.
°Pries, No. 1, Pickett-place, Temple Biz.

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