Star.
London, England, 1824-07-14 00:00:00

TRAVELS IN THE EAST.

' The celebrated Italian Naturalist, BROCCHI, is em-
ployed by the Pacha of Egypt to direct various scienti-
fic researches in the Levant. The following extract of
a letter from this ingenious traveller, dated Baalbek,
14th November, 1823, contains some curious and in-
teresting statements:
" During great part of the year I bad been wandering among the
mountains and deserts of Thebals, and had returned to Cairo, when
I unexpectedly found myself under the necessity of proceeding to
Mount Lebanon, to assist in opening a o°2l4lllms which had been
discovered there. lam now at Baalbek, and shell probably pro-
ceed to Palmyra. In all these journeys I Stave enjoyed an unip-
tcrrupted good health; indeed, I seem to have grown young, again,
notwklummsft my long beard, which, however, thank Goo! is
Iplack. TN.= Cairo to Lebanon I travelled by land, chitin;
the spots where once stood the famous cities of Cesarea, Ptolemais,
Tyie, Ildeo, &c. and in the mountains of Lebanon (for they are
not one mountain, but a large group) Inlet with many ancient rains
not mentlemed by any former traveller. Nor is this very sarprishig;
for, thanks to the protection of the Pasha of Egypt, which I en.joy, I even penetrated to the neighbourhood of Nubia, through
countries never before visited by any European, and was wen es-
corted en my journey, abundantly. supplied with provisions, and
respected by all the Bedouin Mobs that I fell in with. I hope to
return Mme laden with the spolbof the East, with a copious Her.
bariems, a lease concedes of geological specimens, and a note-book
fall of amisissmotem.
" To tell you semeddng of Mount Lebanese—You must know
the Cbtbdoe
is
is the prevailing on here; besides
which there b that of the lii-a which is involved in so mock
mystery and secrecy that It is impossible to discover what le either
its t pine or doctrine. The Christians, however, form Melo?
sleety the population of the provinces of Kesruan and albeit. The
Rank, in whose house I lodge, is a Catholic, though op account of
his once, be Ands it necessary to profess himself a Mahemetan. The
climate at that season is nearly the same as in the North of Italy;
but we have had much rain of late, dad expect soon to have snow.
I could with pleasure as several months hue; but I daily expect
orders to proceed toward Mount Sinai, between which and the
Red Sea some old mines of copper have been discovered.
As to Baalbek itself, it is a miserable piece, in which nothing
le to be found worth notice, except the ruins of the temple built by
Ante:minus Pius, and noticed more than I think it. deserves by many
preceding travellers."

The Duke of Marlborough packet arrived at Fal-
mouth on Sunday, in nine days from Lisbon. By her
we learn, that it had been arranged that the QUEEN'S
destination should be Parma, but this she protests
against, because she has not been tried : this, however,
it is supposed will avail her little. The packet left at Lis-
bon his Majesty's ships WINDSOR CASTLE, GENOA,
LIVELY, and Parmaoss, together with the French sloop
of war Lynx.
SOPHIA Sxomrs.—The Committee who superintended
the late ascent for the benefit of the widow and. children of the
late Mr. Maus have had a meeting to consider upon the means
' of relieving the necessitous condition of this female. who, though so
far recovered as to be able to walk, is likely for a long period to be a
burden to her poor parents. Mr. Roaysa proposed that the balloon
of the ill-fated aeronaut should be exhibited for a few days, and the
proceeds banded over to her. Mr. SIIIMIZAD suggested that no de.'
mand should be made for admission to view it, as the benevolent
purpose would not fail to meet with support. The proposal and
suggestion were adopted 'amidst loud applause. Accordingly, the
balloon was yesterday morning conveyed for exhibition to the gar-
dens of the Bedford Arms Tavern, and inflated with common air..
Numbers thronged to see it, or, with more probability, to see the un-
fortunate girl, who was present. She looked cheerful; but her
countenance was pale, and her frame weak.
CANTERBURY JULY 13.—Friday last, early in the
afternoon, one of the most violent torrents of rain, within memory, ,
deluged the middle part of this county : it entered from Sussex, and
passing over the entire Weald of Kent, Canterbury, and the towns
en the sea coast, discharged an immense quantity of water, stopping ,
the passage of many bridges and public ways, and laying the low
lands under water, spoiling and carrying away vast quantities of
bay and seed grass. The extreme breadth of the clouds appeared
to be about twenty miles, within the range of which great damage
has been done. In this city several of the public ways were ren-
dered impassable, and shops in low situations suffered considerably
in the destruction of their goods. The river Stour rose rapidly in a!
few minutes, and the dykes were insuffident to carry off the redun-1
dant waters. Margate suffered severely, but at Ranugete the flood
rose to such a height, near the market-place, as to lay Odle cellars
under walig, to the very material injury of the proprietors of the
goods thetTdeposited ; one of whom, the proprietor of the London
Hotel, has sustained a loss of above two hundred pounds. After
pouring down almost 'beets of water for upwards of two hours,
the atmosphere cleared up, and the evening was fair.
THE FATAL Ficrir IN COPENHAGEN FIELDS.—The
antagonist of the deceased Smith is not dead, as has
been reported; he is, however, in a very bad state, and
has undergone the amputation of the left ear to prevent
MOrtifiCatlOn.

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NEWFOUNDLAND SCHOOLS.

.....1411.111••••••
The First Annual General Meeting of the Newfound-
land School Society was held yesterday, at the London
Tavern. The Meeting was thinly attended, but this
may be fairly attributed to the circumstance that the
Society is in its infancy, and has pot yet gained so much
of public attention as it deserves.
The Chair was taken by Sir HUGH haus, and the
Report of the Committee (which we shall give to•
morrow) was read by Mr. PERCIVAL WHITE, the Se-
cretary. After describing the claims which the Co-
lony of Newfoundland had upon the Mother Country
(as being a nursery for some of its best seamen), it
noticed the want which was there felt by the lower
classes for moral and religious instruction. The popula-
tion amounted to seventy thousand, and the number of
schools was but sixteen. His Majesty's Government
had, however, shewn a sincere disposition to remove
his inconvenience; had granted SOU to the Society, a
track of land as a site for some school rooms, and had
granted also a free passage to two schoolmasters and a
schoolmistress, who sailed that very day (yesterday) for
Newfoundland, to promote the object of the society.
The expenditure exceeded the funds, notwithstanding
the encouragement of Government; and the Report there-
fore concluded by calling for support from the public.
Mr. TRANT, Mr. ROBINSON, Mr. CODNER, and other
Gentlemen, some of whom were connected with New-
foundland, addressed the Meeting in support of the ap-
plication for public assistance. Several resolutions were
adopted in furtherance of the public appeal, in thanks
to his Majesty's Government, and in expressing a hope
that by the next Annual Meeting the Committee would
be enabled to make a satisfactory report. Thanks were
voted to the Chairman, and the Meeting was dissolved.