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22 ships, and the navigation of the Nile is protected by a great number of gunboats, each carrying 40 men. The revenues of Mahomet Ali, as Viceroy, amount to 25 millions of Spanish Piastres. They proceed from customs, taxes upon the manor, successions devolved to the treasury, tolls, fishingboats, demesnes of the state, contributions from conquered provinces, and from caravans. The Viceroy pays 100,000 pounds sterling to the Sultan; and sends the same amount to the treasury at Mecca; also 800,000 measures of grain, rice, &c. to Constantinople; be victuals the Caravan of Cairo, holds a brilliant court and often sends presents to the Sultan, and the favourite Sultana, as well as to the ministers and persons in favour at the seraglio. The present population of Egypt does not exceed three millions; there are 2486 cities and towns; 957 of them in Upper Egypt, and 539 in the Delta.

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DENMARK.

Ducky of Holstein, Fredericksgate Colony of the Poor. This rising estáblishment was formed by means of a joint stock consisting of 180 shares, each amounting to 100 rix dollars (about 201), by annual subscriptions of about 5. each, payable for four years, and by donations of unlimited amount. In November, 1821, all the shares were disposed of. The canal subscriptions produced 600 rix dollars, (about 1207.) and the donations 700, (about 1407.) so that the whole money obtained amounted to 19,300 rix dollars, (about 2,1927.) the directors of the establishment have entered into a contract for the construction of twenty houses for the colony, at the rate of 300 rix dollars (about 607) each, stones and mortar not included. At the time of this agreement, that is to say, at the beginEur. Mag. Feb. 1823,

ning of 1822, four houses and one stable were finished; sixteen other houses, as well as that of the inspector were far advanced. In the mean time they are grubbing up the timber on the land belonging to the colony. This beginning, fortunate in many respects, has not proved favourable to the cattle, a great part of which have perished.

GERMANY.

The Jesuits have attempted to purchase a Convent at Rhab in Hungary, but have been prevented by the government. They have met with a similar fate at Vienna, but in the dif ferent towns of the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily they are in possession of as many as 25 colleges.

The largest collection of what are denominated early printed, or block, books are in the Royal Library at Munich. The very intelligent and learned librarian at the Court of Bavaria has printed a specimen or fac simile of one of the most curious, which he liberally distributes to foreigners who may happen to visit the library, and are anxious to obtain possession of so rare a relick.

RUSSIA.

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The Chevalier de Filistry has published at St. Petersburgh an abridgment of the Russian History, and has in consequence received very liberal presents from the Emperor and Royal Family.

A traveller who had remained some time at Nowaja Semlja, and who has just returned to St. Petersburgh, has given an account of the peculiar eonsequences arising from the division of the days and nights in that latitude. The country is covered with frozen snow, and enveloped in darkness from the middle of October to the end of February. The inhabitants live by the chase and by fishing, and having no watches to mark the approaching tran sitions from darkness to light, or from light to darkness, they have contrived the following means of marking the time. In each cabin there is a pot filled with oil from the sea-dog; and which is made to burn as a lamp for exactly twenty-four hours, and is replenished with great punctuality. No thing can be more magnificent than a summer's night in these regions, the sun appearing in the horizon with an immeasurable disk, and presenting to the naked eye the deep red hue of burning coal.

Columns of the Church of Isaac. The enormous columns of granite destined for the portico of this new church

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are very remarkable. To shew their size, we will here give the comparative size of the known ancient and modern columns. 1st, The column of Alexandria, called Pompey's Pillar, occupies the first rank. It is of red granite, its height is 67 feet 4 inches, 11 lines; 2dly,are the columns of the church of Isaac, the height of which is 56 feet; 3dly, the ruins of a column found near Mount Citorio at Rome, 52 feet 4 inches; 4th, the columns of the portico of the Pantheon, 46 feet 9 inches, 11 lines in height; 5th, the columns of the cathedral of Casan, at St. Petersburgh, 42 feet high; 6th, two columns of St. Paul's Church at Rome, 38 feet 4 inches, and of the same height are the columns of the bath of Dioclesian, and those of Caracaua now at Florence near the bridge of the Trinity.

According to the resolution of a committee named for the enfranchisement of serfs, a quarter of those living in Livonia recovered their liberty on the 10th of October last. New enfranchisements will take place from year to year; and in 1825 personal slavery will be entirely abolished in this province, all the inhabitants of which, restored to the dignity of men and citizens, will enjoy their natural rights.

The Russian Academy at St. Petersburgh, founded in imitation of the French Academy, has already finished a Dictionary of the Russian language which will appear in six volumes.

ITALY.

M. Michele Leoni continues to publish his excellent translation of Shakspeare. He has neglected nothing in order to do justice to the richness, variety and sublimity of the original. His powers are superior to the generality of translators, and he never weakens Shakspeare's thoughts by feeble expressions or a verbose style.

SPAIN.

The French Charta has been trans-lated into Spanish with notes, in which the translator endeavours to prove that it is greatly inferior to the Constitution of the Cortes of Cadiz.

NETHERLANDS.

Chess.-An amateur of chess in Brussels has discovered the secret of the Automaton Chess-player, which, he says, consists in concealing under the table a person who directs the moves. He has constructed a machine representing the table, and the drawer in which the pieces are kept, in order to

prove that the real player may lie concealed in a recess behind that drawer, while the interior of the table is exposed to public view, and quit his hiding-place as soon as the doors of the table are closed; and it is declared that he has, by repeated exhibitions, convinced thousands of persons of the practicability of such an arrange

ment.

FRANCE.

Mons. Casati, a traveller recently returned from Egypt, has brought from that country, amongst other antiquities, sixteen rolls of papyrus, two of which are in the Greek character, one in the Greek and Egyptian characters mixed, and the rest are in hieroglyphics or hierotiques, accompanied by symbolical figures. M. Casati has also in his possession many MSS. on papyrus, torn and injured by the awkwardness of a priest. These antiquities were from the island of Elephant. These latter fragments appear to be written in Latin, the letters are large, but so overloaded with flourishes and lines that it is difficult to decipher them. The three MSS. described above were procured from Thebes, and were sold to M. Casati by the Arabs, who assured him they were discovered at the same time with the Contract of Ptolemy, published by M. Boekh, and with the other Greek MS. in possession of Messrs. Salt and Drouetti. According to the account of the Arabs, the whole of them were found in the same earthern vessel in the sepulchral caverns of the capital of the country. The first of these MSS. is ten feet six inches long and eight inches broad, and is covered from one end to the other. The second MS. is only two feet long by one foot broad. The third MS. although of great antiquity, is far less ancient than the preceding. Mons. St. Martin has made a report upon these MSS. to the Institute, and which may be seen in the Journal des Sçavans, for September last. The MSS. have been purchased for the Antiquarian Department of the King's Library, and Messrs. Raoul, Rochette and St. Martin purpose to have them printed.

Great Zodiacs of Esné and Dendera-M. Champollion, jun. by means of his alphabet, with which he can interpret the hieroglyphics, fixes the former to the reign of Claudius, and that of the latter, to the reign of Nero.

GREAT BRITAIN.

Mr. Ackermann has just issued a periodical publication in Spanish, under the title of Periodico Trimestre, intitulado Variedades; o Mensagero de Londres, which contains a number of plates, exhibiting striking landscapes, buildings, furniture, and fashions.

A Catalogue of the library of Napoleon,late Emperor of France, which was removed from St. Helena, by order of his Majesty's government, has just been published. The books, it seems, have been purchased by Bossange and Co., and are now on sale. Many of the works are illustrated and adorned with notes and observations in the hand-writing of the exile.

Exploratory Travels; or an Account of an Epedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains, performed in the years 1819-20, by order of the government of the United States of America, is compiling from the notes of the Gentlemen composing the Party by Mr. Ed. win James the botanist and geologist of the Expedition.

The subject of the next novel by the author of Waverley is said to be The Gunpowder Plot.

Mr. Dunlop, the author of The History of Fiction, has in the press, a History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age.

Mr. W. J. Bankes, M. P., has presented to the University library several valuable books recently printed at Milan and Venice, among which are classical works edited by Angelo Maio, the learned librarian of the Vatican; the Chronicle of Eusebius, by Aucher; Ciakciak's Italian, Armenian and Turkish Dictionary; and Aucher's Armenian and English Grammar. Most of these rare and curious works are on fine paper, and are rendered more valuable from the limited number of copies which were printed, in some instances only twenty having been struck off.

The Royal Library.-We congratulate the learned upon the King's gift of the library, collected by his late Majesty, to the British Museum. There are few collections enriched with so many rare books, as well as books intrinsically valuable. It embraces every branch of literature, especially dictionaries, early printed books, and old English Poetry.

WORKS IN THE PRESS. Major Long's Exploratory Travels to the Rocky Mountains of America, in 3 vols. Svo. illustrated with Maps and Plates,

A Treatise on Mental Derangement, being the Substance of the Gulstonian Lectures delivered in the Royal college of Pysicians, in May, 1822. By Francis Willis, M.D. 1 vol. 8vo.

The King of the Peak, in 3 vols. 12mo. By the Author of the Cavalier, &c.

Wine and Walnuts; or, After Dinner Chit Chat, 2 vols. 12mo. By a Cockney Greybeard.

The Third Volume of the Transac tions of the Literary Society of Bom bay.

Shortly will be published, in small Svo, Body and Soul. Vol, Second, containing Filial Affection-The SuicidePhilosophy and Religion-The Recovery The Excursion - Pastoral Visits Grace-The Rector's DeathThe Penitent Woman, Also a new edition of Vol. First.

A Poem, entitled the Judgment of Hubert, is about to make its appear

ance.

Fifteen Years in India; or, Sketches of a Soldier's Life. Second edition, Being an attempt to describe Persons and Things in various Parts of Hindostan. From the Journal of an Officer in his Majesty's Service, in 1 vol. 8vo.

The Edinburgh Annual Register for 1819 and 1820, are nearly ready for publication.

Dr. Pring, of Bath, has in the press, An Exposition of the Principles of Pathology, and of the Treatment of Diseases. In one vol. 8vo.

Mr. Bird, author of the Vale of Slaughden, &c. has a volume in the press, entitled Poetical Memoirs.

Mr. J. H. Wiffen has in the press a Translation in English Verse of the Works of Garcilasso de la Vega, surnamed the Prince of Castilian Poets, with a Critical and Historical Essay on the Rise, Progress, Decay, and Revival of Spanish Poetry, and a Life and Portrait of the Author. Printed of an uniform size with Lord Holland's Lives of Lope de Vega and Guiller de Castro, It will be published in March.

A new Volume of Hansard's Parliamentary Debates is on the eve of publication.

Sir William Gell's Tour through the Morea, in one vol. 8vo., and Mrs. Stothards Memoirs of her late Husband, Charles Alfred Stothard, F.S.A. will ap pear in a few days.

The Annual Biography and Obituary for 1823, will be published early this month.

THE DRAMA.

KING'S THEATRE, ITALIAN OPERA.

THE first masquerade for this season has taken place. The house was transformed, in the manner usual upon such occasions, into a species of amphitheatre, on the arena of which the candidates for whimsical fame exhibited their motley characters, or tripped it on the "light fantastic toe" to the music of two bands, which alternately played dur. ing the night, The boxes around were also partially filled with spectators, and the gallery crowded to overflowing. In consequence of the arrange. ments which had been previously made by Mr. Ebers, the number of characters at this masquerade exceeded what we have been accustomed to see at such exhibitions; a. circumstance which gave an appearance of picturesque ya riety to the whole assemblage, and rendered it more gay and pleasing to the eye, and also more animated than we should otherwise have found it. Almost every notorious part that ever was represented on a stage, from the deepest tragedy to the buffoonery of Billy Waters, might be seen dressed at least, if not performed, among the crowd. There might also be discovered, among the masks and dominos, several persons of distinction in the fashionable world, some of whom appeared to have courted the jests which were sported on them by the transparency of their disguises.

We have to notice a new dance, under the imposing title of a "comie ballet," named La Noce du Village, composed by M. Aumer, the balletmaster, whose Carnaval de Venise made a very strong impression in his favour, and prepared the public to expect every thing from his talent. The Noce du Village is a mere divertissement, confined not only to a single act, but to a single scene. It is, nevertheless, a very pretty divertissement, and is the vehicle of some good dancing by M.and Madame

C Vestris, Mademoiselles Mereandotti and Varennes, and of some picturesque grouping by the Corps de Ballet. The solitary scene, too, is well imagined and skilfully arranged, much to the credit of Signor Zara, who has been for some years attached to this theatre, and is one of its best supports.

La Donna del Lago, by Rossini, has been brought out at this theatre. The story is well known to every body who is likely to feel any interest in an Italian opera, being formed upon, or rather is an abridgment of, Sir Walter Scott's poem, which it follows closely, and is tolerably well dramatized by Signor Tottola, of Naples, where it was first and quite unsuccessfully performed. Madame Ronzi de Begnis was the heroine of the piece; and if her figure derogated in a slight degree from the portrait drawn by the poet, her excellent acting and singing removed every other impression. We have heard her in more perfect voice, but never more gifted with the beauties of style and expression. Signor Curioni, as the Knight of Snowdon, exhibited much energy. Signor Porto, who was Douglas, gave a bass song, in the first act, with considerable spirit, which produced an encore. Signor Reina, the last new tenor, personated Roderic Dhu: Malcolm was represented by Madame Vestris with success, particularly in the duets with Madame Ronzi de Begnis; the voices contrasted well and harmonized finely with each other. Some of the dresses are in good costume, that of Madame Vestris in particular. The only new scene was the first in the piece, exhibiting a view of Loch Katrine and the surrounding mountains, but it was an extremely fine one. This was by far the best performance, and the most attractive opera, of the present season.

DRURY LANE.

Goldsmith's comedy of She Stoops to Conquer was brought forward to introduce Liston for the first time on this stage in Tony Lumpkin. The interest of the performance was somewhat lessened by the apology made at the commencement of the evening for Munden,

who had been disabled by an attack of illness from undertaking the part of Hardcastle. The place of this great master of broad grins was supplied by Terry, who performed the part with his usual correctness and ability, but we missed more than once the aspect

of Munden, whose laboured, strongly marked humour would have so finely contrasted and set off the rich plumpadding countenance of Liston, bursting with spontaneous drollery. It is needless to follow Liston through all the scenes of his excellent performance. Mrs. Davidson was Miss Hardcastle, and performed it with undiminished spirit. The rest of the Play was well got up.

All dramatic performances being for. bidden on the night of King Charles's Martyrdom, a part of The Messiah was given at this house, with one act of Miscellaneous Music, and a Sacred Opera by Rossini, under the title of Cyrus in Babylon, or Ciro in Babi lonia. This is one of his early productions, and many of his fifty-times. repeated passages may be recognised in it. There is a certain airiness running through it, and in places it is almost pretty; but it has nothing of the grandeur which should be found in this species of musical drama, and contains not a single thought that can be recollected after the voices and instruments have ceased sounding.

The tragedy of King Lear has been performed, for the first time this season, under circumstances which could not fail to add considerably to its attraction. The text of Shakspeare was in some instances restored, and the ori. ginal catastrophe, as written by our immortal Bard, afforded Mr. Kean an opportunity of making one of the most powerful appeals to the heart which the stage has ever boasted. No language can do justice to its excellence. The audience hung with breathless attention upon every word be uttered, and many a tearful eye bore testimony to the power with which he represented the agonies of a broken heart.

The musical play of Guy Mannering attracted an overflowing audience, and Miss Stephens made her appearance in the character of Lucy Bertram. In addition to the songs which properly belong to the drama, Miss Stephens introduced "The last rose in summer," and "Leeze me on my soldier's love." She was in excellent voice, and was much applauded in all her efforts. The only novelty, however, was a new

Dandie Dinmont in the person of Mr. Sherwin, from the York Theatre. Mr. Sherwin displayed not only a just conception of the part he had undertaken, but a good deal of that humour which peculiarly belongs to it. His voice we thought deficient in strengh, and his accent in richness, but, taken altogether, the effort was highly respecta ble, and certainly it was attended with a good deal of applause. Mr. Liston's Dominie Sampson was, as usual, a source of high entertainment. Mr. Braham and the other performers sus tained in their respective degrees the reputation which the public had long since assigned them.

A new farce under the title of Deaf as a Post, amounts to little more than a re-cooking of an old piece of a similar description, called The Deaf Lover. As its continuance in this world will be but of short duration, a detailed ac count of it is unnecessary,

Artaxerxes was performed at this theatre to a crowded house, who witnessed the exertions of Miss Stephens and Mr. Braham, as Mandane and Arbaces, with as much satisfaction as there petition of an opera, which begins to fatigue from its want of novelty, can be expected to elicit. Nothing would exceed the delightful execution of the well-known Irish air, introduced by Miss Stephens, which was loudly encored.

Rossini's opera The Lady of the Lake has been introduced at this theatre, adapted to English words. The whole opera was not attempted to be given; only a selection from it forming one act of the Oratorio, The best part of the finale to the first act, comprising a triple chorus that is capable of producing a powerful result, was omitted. The first part of the Oratorio was well put together, and Mrs. Salmon, Miss Stephens, and Mr. Braham, sung some charming songs from the Redemption; the chorusses went off well; and at the end of it, Madame Camporese gave, in a very superior manner "Tu ch'accendi," and Mr. Moschelles played a very animated Piano-forte Concerto, being his first appearance in London this season.

COVENT GARDEN.

THE greatest novelty of the month at this theatre has been a new play in five acts, called Nigel, or, The Crown Jewels, dramatized from the Scotch novel, entitled The Fortunes of Nigel,

The plot departs from the novel in most of its details. Dalgarno, a gay nobleman, subservient to Buckingham, is the hero of this play; and his tools are, the bully Peppercole, and Skourlie,

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