OBSERVANDA EXTERNA.

FRONTIERS OF CHINA.

Vaccination, &c. Portable Medicine Chests.

Mr. Rehmann, physician to his Serene Highness the Prince of Furstenberg, has lately received a letter from his son, physician to the Russian embassy in China. This letter is dated from Kiachta, on the frontiers of China, 14th October, 1805. Mr. Rehmann, jun. writes, that he has vaccinated a great number of the children of the mogols. "They still retain," says he, "the simple manners and morals of their ancestors. They live under tents, still use the bow, and shoot their arrows with such dexterity, that in a chace with the suite of the Russian ambassador, they killed six times more game than the latter did, although they carried very good fowling-picces and rifle-guns."- Mr. Rehmann writes also, that he has discovered in Tibet a small portable selection of medicines, which may be of great service. It consists of sixty pieces, very elegantly wrapped up in paper: it comprises some remedies used in Europe, but a greater number of which the botanists attached to the embassy had no knowledge. Among them are some small sorts of fruits, or walnuts, with chemical preparations. Mr. Rehmann has presented a list of them, translated from the original Tangut. He intends to bring home with him some of these little pharmacopeias, which are very common among the Bucharese: he assures his father, that in consequence of the measures he has employed, vaccination is now propagated from Jekutzh as far as Jakutsh and Ochotzk, and consequently from England to the remotest extremity of the northern part of the globe. He is in hopes of bringing with him some valuable Chinese works for the library of his Serene Highness the Prince of Furstenberg.

Chrystal flute.

The conservatorium of music at Paris has tried a flute, made of crystal by M. Laurent, and found that it has a clear fine tone.

Greek classics, by modern Greeks. Two Greek brothers in Paris, of the name of Zozima, have set apart a considerable sum of money for the establishment of a library of the Greek classics, from Homer to the Ptolemys. A learned Greek, of the name of Coray, will edit the works, which are to be printed by Didot, on a new letter.

;

The library is intended for such of their countrymen who may learn the antient Greek they will be presented gratis to industrious scholars and active teachers, and such as may purchase copies for the purpose of giving away, will be allowed a discount of 20 per cent. on the purchase of ten copies.

Medal of Vespasian, in gold.

In the commune of Rouede, department of Lot and Garonne, as a labouring man was ploughing his field, he found a gold medal of the value of 19 francs, perfectly struck, and in a high state of preservation. On one side is seen a very good head of Vespasian, with these words: Imp. Cæs. Vespasianus. Aug. On the other side is represented a woman sitting in a mournful posture, chained to a palm tree, with her hands tied behind her back. On the exergue is the word Judea. Indigo naturalized in Europe.

A proces-verbal of the municipality of Lille, department of Vaucluse, has confirmed the success of a plantation of indigo, executed upon a large scale, and in an open field, part of the estate called Gluvinel, the property of Mr. Icard de Bataglini. It is stated in the proces-verbal, that after a scrupulous examination of the indigo produced, the commissaries were of opinion that this precious plant would be naturalized in the department, and become, at some future period, one of its principal sources of opulence. The mayor, in the name of his constituents, and likewise the commissaries, have addressed their heartfelt acknowledgment and thanks to Mr. Icard de Bataglini.

Cotton naturalized in Europe.

On some of the heaths (landes) of France, M. Louis Dupoy, a colonist of St. Domingo, at present comptroller of the customs at Dax, has succeeded in the introduction of cotton. He escaped from the severity of Dessalines, in an American vessel, to New Orleans, and thinking, very rationally, that the cotton which was cultivated very successfully in Louisiana, might be naturalized in the southern provinces of France, he provided himself with seeds proper for the experiment; which he distributed among the members of the society of agriculturists. His expectations have succeeded; very fine cotton has been produced, and the pods have attained to perfect maturity. These experiments are to be repeated; and if it can be naturalized and habituated to the climate on the landes, there can be no doubt but that this valuable plant may succeed still better in the southern provinces of France.

Inland navigation.

which

The establishment of a canal, bringing the Rhone and Rhine together, will join the North Sea to the Mediterranean, is now in contemplation. This canal, which is to take its name from Buonaparte, will cross

Lyons,

the department of the Jura, Doubs, and Upper and Lower Rhine, through an extent of 71 leagues: it will open an internal navigation from one extremity of France to the other, which must contribute to give a new impulse and direction to commerce. In consequence of this extensive plan, and with the aid of the canals of the south, of the centre, and of the cote-d'or, which all unite, a free communication will soon be established internally between the seas and rivers of France, between its capital and its numerous cities, and will extend abroad to a great part of Holland, Germany, and Switzerland. This canal will promote a safe and easy exchange of the natural and artificial productions of the south and east, with those of the north, those of Marscilles, to and from Amsterdam, without danger of any kind of damage from bad weather at sea, or from the enemy. By means of this conveniency Strasburgh, Mentz, and Cologne, will become places of rendezvous for profitable commercial operations. One of the laws lately decreed, appoints the funds, aud provides for the expences, which are still wanted for the completion of this great and important enterprise, estimated at 14 millions. The discourse pronounced on the occasion, in a meeting of the legislative body, by M. Koch, member of the tribunate, contains an historical account of this project, which was first suggested under the reigns of the ancient Cæsars. The advantage which not only France, but Europe, will derive from its execution, are enumerated with great exactness, propriety, and precision. He invites also the new sovereigns of Germany to exert their utmost endeavours in advancing the execution of the canal which is to join the Rhine to the Danube, which, with that of the present canal, will form the communication of the greatest magnitude that ever existed, and connect all the commercial operations of the European states, when at peace.

Vaccination on men and on animals.-The

rot abated, by inoculation, in sheep. The central committee for the examination of the cow-pox, have made, on the 12th of July, their report of the experiments that have been tried in France during the year 13, for the propagation of vaccination, before the Society established by the minister of the interior. The result proves to be, that the number of people who have been inoculated in the course of the year 13, in 42 departments, the prefects of which have sent in their returns, amounts to 125,992, which would make about 400,000 for the whole country; and admitting that, as in the year 10, the number of births amounted to 4,083,157, it will follow that at least one third of the children born in the years 13

and 14, have been inoculated with the cowpox.

Numerous experiments have been tried to ascertain the preservative effects of vaccination; and whether the former inoculation for the small pox was tried on those who had been vaccinated, or an intimate and habitual intercourse was established between them and patients under the small pox; whether during the return of this last epide mical disease those who had been vaccinated were exposed to the infection; whether, in fine, the three experiments had been tried on the said individuals, yet the small pox has had no influence upon those who had gone through the regular process of vaccination. One of the most important results of the report of the committee is the certainty of the progressive diminution of deaths in those places where vaccination has been introduced, and an increase in the number of deaths in other places where the practice of it has been neglected. The returns sent by some of the prefects are indeed deserving of particular notice and attention; and if the alarming account of those individuals, who have died of the small pox, be compared to the number of those who are attacked with that disease, we shall, as it were, be mathematically convinced of the utility of adopt ing the new mode of inoculating.

The inquiries which the central committee was directed to make, have not been limited to the human species; they have endeavoured to resolve the important question, whether the vaccine inoculation administered to the sheep would not be a preventative against the rot: the experiments tried at Goussainville, on the beautiful flock of Spanish sheep belonging to M. Brunard, a farmer at Sarcelles, and afterwards at Paris, but on too small a number of animals, although crowned with success, have appeared to them too trifling an argument for deciding the question in the arffimative, and the rather, as similar experiments tried at Versailles, by the Agricultural Society, had been productive of quite contrary effects. The committee, therefore, have thought proper to try new experiments on a greater number of animals; but notwithstanding their most ardent wishes to have vaccination practised upon all sorts of cattle, yet they are conscious, that since the infection of the rot had been formerly diminished by means of its being inoculated on the beasts, this last method still deserved being recommended in preference to vaccination. It has been adopted by Mr. Chaptal for his flock of Spanish breed; and last summer 700 sheep of his were inoculated with the rot, when a very small number died, and even these had caught the infection previous to the operation being performed.

of the kind. It may easily be imagined that it must be very solid, to withstand the fury of the billows; it presents on that side an angle of about 40 degrees, against which the waves break it is constructed in such a manner, that the sides will keep it close shut in proportion as they press the more upon it. The project of this enterprise had been long in contemplation; but the execution had always been postponed, through a fear of not opposing a sluice strong enough to resist the power and weight of the tides; however it appears, now the works are finished, that the apprehension was unfounded.

Instrument for measuring depths in the sea. M. Van Stipriaan Luiscius, M. D. has invented a bathometer: an instrument with which, he asserts, the greatest depths of the ocean may be fathomed. He has already had it constructed in the celebrated manufactory of Messrs. Onderdewyngaart, at Delft. Should the matter be confirmed, which there is reason to hope, according to the testimony of competent judges, not only from the construction of the machine, but also from prelimi nary experiments made on the river Macse, by the inventor, in presence of M. Van Bemmelen, lecturer on natural philosophy at Delft, and of several nautical persons, we may justly expect to obtain new information respecting this subject, and the form of the surface of the earth in those concealed abysses

of the sea. M. Van Stipriaan Luiscius has

resolved to send a well-constructed small model, made in the above-mentioned manufactory, to the principal naval powers, for farther experiment.

HUNGARY.

Canal to Pest: commerce of that town. Stephen Wedresch, land surveyor, at Szegeden, in Hungary, has published, in the Hungarian language, a proposal for a canal from Szegedin to Pest, by which the Theisse would be there united with the Danube. The river Maros, which comes out of Transylvania, increases very much the trade of Szegedin. It It is calculated that 300 ships navigate that river yearly to Szegedin, laden with salt from Transylvania, and 200 from Arad. The country round Szegedin supplies the abaldo (tobacco warehouse) at Vienna with 3,000 tons of tobacco yearly. The third principal article of exportation from Szegedin is wool; about 17,000 cwt. The fourth is the grain of the Banat and Batcher country; about 125,000 bushels. To this may be added, 41,000 cwt. cotton in transitu. A little above Szegedin the three streams of the Koros flow into the Theisse by Czourgrad. He estimates the expense of making the canal at 4,500,000, and the yearly revenue 824,000 florins. Szegedin is advantageously situated for the building of ships, from 200 to 250 tons burthen.

Urbarial regulations: state of the peasants.

From the press of Prince Esterhazy, at Eisenstadt in Hungary, (the prince's residence) Francis Brecklen, his upper landsteward, has published volume in 8vo, containing 64 pages, with six tables, called Urbarial Regulations; or Rules for Bailiffs or Stewards in apportioning the Lands occupied by the Peasants in the Kingdom of Hungary, to the Rent and Service due from thera to their Landlords, as determined to the Viceregal Comitatus of the Kingdom.--By this we learn, that a half peasant (halbe Laver) at Giula, in the county of Tolna, oce pies 11 yokes of arable land, each yoke containing 1100 square fathoms: as much me dow land as produces four loads of hay: in the homestead and garden 550 square fathoms, or half a yoke of land; should this consist of more or less, he will be allowed less or more meadow. For this be furnishes to his lord yearly, the labour of 26 days with a pair of oxen, or that of 52 days with one man instead the ninth part of his produce in kind (hemp and flax excepted): 1 florin in money; carries half a fathom of his lord's wood; pays 3ibs. of yarn, a pint of lard, a capon, a hen, and six eggs.

The quantity of land allotted to each tenant varies in proportion to the population and consequent demand for provisions; so that in the counties of Neutra, Presburg, Trenchin, Tharotza, and Oldenburg, a whole peasant occupies only 16 yoke of land, whilst on the contrary, in the county of Czanada, 33 are allowed; and in that of Csongrad 24. those counties being thinly peopled.

ITALY.

Sculpture for America.

The sculptor Thornwalson, at Rome, is now at work on a colossal statue of liberty, 22 feet in height, for the presidency of Washington, the first that ever went from Italy to America.

Manuscripts and books.

A decree fron Milan, dated 10th June, orders, that the director-general of the domains shall take catalogues of the rare malscripts and books in the suppressed moneteries, &c. and lay the same before the council of state and the general director of public instruction. The archives and Foraries shall be put under seal, and the director of public instruction shall inake a selection of the books; the most valuable will be brought to Milan; the remainder, in part, applied to the use of the Lyceum and secondary schools, and in sold in the most advantageous manner. part The viceroy of Italy has appointed Dr. Hager, of Paris, professor of the criental languages in the university of Pavia. Typographic art.

The famous printer Bodoni is invited from Parma to Milan, on very advantageous terms,

to establish a press there on a superb scale. His beautiful edition of the Lord's prayer, in 155 languages, is nearly completed: it will excel by far the Paris edition. Some time ago Bodoni published the Italiau poem, I bardo della sylvanera, by Monte, with a new letter. He is now occupied with a Greek edition of Homer, by Lamberti, librarian at Milan. This folio edition of Homer is spoken of as the most elegant which has ever yet appeared. By way of specimen of this work, Bodoni has published, through Lamberti's permission, the hymn to Ceres, in folio, which is unique in point of beauty. The Greek letters appear as if painted.

The Planisferio di Fra Mauro, which has been so long expected in Italy, has at length appeared, and three copies of it are arrived at Paris. Marini's learned work, on the papyrus of the antients, is already on the way from Rome to Paris. The life of Cardinal Borgia, by the late P. Paolino di St. Bartholomeo, is suppressed by the Pope, on account of some reflections on the Jesuits. Amoretti's lately published Lettere sulla Rhabdomantia, have excited much curiosity in Italy. retti continues to publish in numbers his Opuscula scele ti Milani. Denina's French work on the Alps is translated into Italian, by Mr. Velo, in Verona, with urany remarks and observations. Bossi, a learned Milanese has published a work at Turin against Mr. Akerblad: the title is, Letter of Mr. Bossi ⚫ on two pretended Runic inscriptions found at Venice. Akerblad is gone to Rome, his favourite residence.

POLAND.

University in Gallicia

Amo

Since the establishment of an Austrian government in West Gallicia, much has been done for the cultivation of the public nind, and the universities of Lunberg and Krakaw, which had nearly gone to decay through the dissentions in the old government, have been re-establithed, and public schools, with capable teachers, have been established in most of the principal towns.

RUSSIA.

Voyage round the world.

Captain Krusenstern is arrived at Petersburgh from his voyage round the world. He has been presented to the emperor, who received him very graciously, telling him that he meant to have visited him on board his ship at Cronstadt. For Captain Krusenstern's observations made while he was at Japan, see pages 167, 168, and 169.

Botanizing excursion in Tartary, &c.

A letter from a person in the Russian embassy, dated at Irkertz, 24th April, 1806, mentions that M. Ridowsky, botanist to the embassy, intends making the following botanical tour, from which that science may expect to receive much valuable assistance.

On the 5th of May he leaves Irkutch, and pursues the conrse of the Lena as far as Jakutz; from thence he traces the Aldan as far as its source in the Mongol mountains. These, as well as the Jablonoi Chrebet (apple mountains) will be explored, as far as the Eastern Ocean. He then goes along that shore as far as Ochotsk, where he expects to arrive in September. From thence he will either travel by land round the bay of Penchina to Kamschatka, or go by sea to Bolcheretzk, and stay there the winter. In the summer of 1807 he will examine the Kurile isles, as near as possible to Japan; and then the Alieutic isles, as far as the continent of America. On his return he will explore Bering's and the Copper isles. The winter he will spend in Kamschatka; and in the third suminer he goes through Sagalia and the isles at the mouth of the Amur, and will explore that stream upwards through Yellow Mongolia and Nertchinck, and thence return through Davuria and Siberia. He promises to pay particular attention to the class cryptogamia.

A new history of Northumberland, in three quarto volumes, will be published by Mr. Hutchinson, of Barnard Castle. The Editor proposes to include North Durham and the adjacent places. This work is intended to comprehend the local and political history, antiquities and curiosities, mineralogical and natural history, particularly of the coal and lead mines, genealogy of the principal families, biographical memoirs of distinguished characters, and a statistical survey of the county.

Mr. Thornton, a gentleman who resided many years in Turkey is preparing for publication an account of the government, religion, manners, military and civil establishments of Turkey it will be published next Christmas.

Dr. Beatty, Surgeon of the Victory in the battle off Cape Trafalgar, will publish a Narrative of the most interesting occurences on board that ship from the time of her leaving England until the day of battle, inclusive; with the particulars of Lord Nelson's death, also anecdotes of his lordship, and observations on his habits of life, &c.

A cc'lection of important facts on the navigation system of Great Britain, in two octavo volumes, is expected to appear shortly.

Mr. Arrowsmith has been for more than a year past engaged in constructing a new map