among the different Classes of Society." 1. Grant. 2. Pownall. 3. Ingle. Latin Declamations. -"Hannibalis, Poenorum ducis, laudatio." 1. Holden. 2. Fussell. Latin Verse. Lyrics, "Tibur," Holden. Hexameters, "M. Curtius in voraginem desulturus," Mr. Macleane. Elegiacs, "Andromache Græcos orat ut parcant filio," Mr. Macleane. English Essay." The Abuse of Political Theories," Hon. W. F. Campbell (eldest son of Lord Campbell). Reading Prizes.-1. Rendall. 2. Grant. Essay (on the conduct and character of King William III.)-J. Holmes, B.A. UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE. The Bishop of Ely has notified his intention to throw open to the University his Fellowship now vacant in Jesus College. Any gentleman may offer himself a candidate who is an actual Bachelor of Arts, and not of sufficient standing to incept in arts, provided that he has obtained a place in the first class, either of the mathematical or of the classical tripos, or has been elected to an University Scholarship. The Theological prize at Queen's College has been awarded to William Hamilton Bodley, B.A. The subjects of the University prizes for 1845 are as follow: I. The Chancellor's gold medal for an English ode or poem in Heroic verse; "Cabul." II. The Marquess Camden's gold medal for Latin Hexameter verse; -"domus Albuneæ resonantis, Et præceps Anio, ac Tiburni lucus, et uda Mobilibus pomaria rivis." III. The Members' subjects for the present year are, (1) For the Bachelors"Quæ revera est civitas hominum, eadem civitas Dei sit necesse est." (2) For the Undergraduates"In Platonis Republica, dominantur rationes politicæ an morales ?" IV. Sir William Browne's subjects for the present year are, (1) For the Greek Ode Napoleon in insulam Divæ Helenæ (2) For the Latin Ode "Eversosque focos antiquæ (3) For the Greek Epigram- (4) For the Latin Epigram- V. The Porson prize for the present year is Shakspere, Hamlet, Act I. from the beginning of scene 3, to the words "though none else near." The metre to be Tragicum Iambicum Trimetrum Acatalecticum. WESTMINSTER SCHOOL. The comedy selected for performance this year was the Eunuchus of Terence. The characters were thus cast:-Phædria, W. L. Smith; Parmeno, T. G. Smart; Thais, A. Pechell; Gnatho, F. H. Cooper; Charea, G. W. Randolph; Thraso, A. Merewether; Pythias, H. Ingram; Chremes, E. R. Glynn; Dorias, R. W. Cotton; Dorus, G. F. Brown; Sanga, W. G. Rich; Sophrona, W. Scratton; Laches, E. C. Burton; Simalio, H. V. Williams; Donax, R. Burton; Syriscus, R. W. Smart; Pamphila, H. R. Barker. The prologue was spoken by Mr. Randolph, as captain of the school. In the epilogue Gnatho was the principal character, having abandoned the trade of parasite, and taken up that of animal magnetist. PROLOGUS IN EUNUCHUM, 1844. Cessare nolunt Britones: nec pristinis Temporibus ille notus orbis sufficit. Ultra itur hodie; ulterius usque tenditur ; Fortasse mundus universus partibus Patebit amplioribus: fors et novas Ornabit artes purior scientia, Rerumque minuet pristinarum gloriam. At cur futura cogitamus inscii? Vos convenire, sicut antea, juvat Jam nunc Terentî gratiâ, his in ædibus, Sales Latinos Atticamque fabulam Probâstis, et probatis, et probabitis. Nec nos honorem non servamus illius Quod vindicamus unicè, cognominis, Reginæ alumnis scilicet comœdia Cura est Terentiana, sicut antea Stat umbra magni nominis Britannici. Jubente Elizâ fabulam hanc spectabitis ; Ævi memoriâ gaudeatis pristini: Lenes alumnis sitis usque judices. EPILOGUS IN EUNUCHUM, 1844. Enter PHÆDRIA and PARMENO. Ph. Quid mihi Parmeno ais? Ten' audivisse Gnathonem Jam nostrum tandem deseruisse gregem? Par. Sic factum est. Ph. Itane? at nostin' quâ mente profectus? Num fructu quæstus uberiore facit ? Par. Maxume, ut audivi, et fit Mesmerista. Ph. Quid istuc Est tituli? quæso, rem mihi pande novam, Si potes. Par. Id nequeo satis enarraresed eccum ! Qui doceat præsto hic ipse Professor adest. Gn. Vah! homini quid præstat homo! oh! quam distat inepto Callidus in mentem sic mihi sæpe venit. Ecce mihi aucupium, quali non inclytus Indus, Non Egyptiacus calluit arte magus: Credulitas populi mihi lucro vertitur, astu Confiso accrescunt gloria, opesque simul. Par. Oh! hominem audacem ! se tollere laudibus ipsum [rum? Non pudet? at cessas, Phædria, adire viPh. Te jubeo salvere, Gnatho. Gn. Mî Phædria, salve, [urbe tui? Et tu. Ph. Quis novus hic rumor in Quid cœptas? Gn. Homines (nova enim est inventa facultas), Mesmerizo. Ph. Atqui nomen id unde? Gn. Rogas? [ter, Mesmerus quidam fuit olim hâc arte magisGloria sollertis summa decusque gregis; Hunc sequor-et quæ sit Mesmerica, quantaque virtus, Exemplis doceo præcipioque palam: Quod magis ut faciam, juvenis comes additur, in quem Fiat opus: nomen classicum Alexin habet. Ph. Quæ tamen est virtus? Gn. Doctrinæ arcana profundæ, [pium: Num scrutaris? age, hoc accipe princiEst fluidum subtile aliquid, Magneticus humor, Intima corporibus per loca ubique fluens: Hunc, duo quum coëunt unà vicina, trahendo Utrumque alternâ datque capitque vice: Qualis ubi nebulæ concurrunt æthere in alto, Mox Jovis exprimitur flamma, micantque poli! [lones, Par. Aut ubi concurrunt unà duo cum nebuMox scelus exprimitur turpe, vigentque doli. Gn. Vosne intelligitis? Rectè tunc, ære soluto, Spectantum ut circa turba parata sedet, Sto coram, fixoque oculo patientis in ore, Passibus alternis doque adimoque manum: Hinc fit ut, e nostro qui missus corpore manet Par. Ah! Humor, in alterius transeat. teneo, [illac, Rimarum plena est, nunc hâc nunc perfluit Quæ pueri fixo tenditur ore manus! Gn. Non ita, sed tanquam lassus vigilare videtur; [genæ ; Fixis stant nervis membra, rigentque Quæ modo flectuntur motumque sequuntur agentis, Ceu vento ínclinat flos utrobique caput: Pungis acu, sentitque nihil; das vulnera pugno, Immotâ colaphos sustinet aure datos: Et queis sufficerent validi vix Herculis artus, Cruribus, extensis pondera vasta gerit. Par. Vulnera non sentit? Quam vellet, prælia campo Dum gerit, affectus hos subiisse Thraso. Gn. Grandior interdum se res obtrudit, et ultrà Humanum erumpit vivida vis animi. Quin acies animi prorsus acuta ruat : Mutua corporibus congruitasque animi. Par. Conveniunt? credo, nempe ut, qui credulus adsit, Inducant fictis decipiantque dolis. Gn. Corporis humani multum valet ipsa habitudo, Conditio, affectus, temperiesque valent: Spectantique fide est opus. Par. Hui! qui quærere verum Instituit, prius hunc visne adhibere fidem? ROYAL SOCIETY. Nov. 30. This being St. Andrew's day, and the accustomed anniversary of the Royal Society, the President, the Marquess of Northampton, took the chair, and the royal gold medals were adjudged to Mr. G. Boole, of Lincoln, for a mathematical paper, entitled "On a new method in analysis;" and to Dr. Andrews, of Belfast, for a paper "On the thermal changes of basic substitutions." The gold Copley medal was awarded to Professor Matteucci, of Pisa, for his researches in animal electricity. The Duke of Hamil ton was elected a trustee of the Soane Museum on the part of the society. The following were elected as the officers and council of the society for the ensuing year, those in italics being the new members :-President: The Marquess of Northampton. Treasurer: Sir J. W. Lubbock, Bart. Secretaries: Dr. Roget; S. H. Christie, esq. Foreign Secretary: J. F. Daniell, esq. Other Members of the Council: Dr. Bostock; W. Bowman, esq.; I. K. Brunel, esq.; Dr. Buckland; Sir W. Burnet; G. Dollond, esq.; The Dean of Ely; T. Graham, esq.; R. I. Murchison, esq.; R. Owen, esq.; Sir J. C. Ross, Capt. R.N.; Dr. Royle; Dr. Sharpey; J. Taylor, esq.; Rev. R. Walker; Lord Wrottesley. BOTANICAL SOCIETY. Nov. 29. The eighth anniversary of this society took place, J. E. Gray, esq. F.R.S. President, in the chair. From the Report of the Council, it appeared that 17 members had been elected since the last anniversary, and that the society now consisted of 173 persons. The report of the Herbarium Committee stated that the Herbarium had been much increased by donations, and many valuable plants had been distributed; and that equally rare ones had been received, and would be distributed early in the ensuing year. On a ballot for the Council for the ensuing year, the Chairman was re-elected President, and he nominated E. Doubleday, esq. F.L.S. and Dr. Bossey, Vice-Presidents. Mr. J. Reynolds, Mr. G. E. Dennes, F.L.S. and Mr. T. Sansom, A.L.S. were respectively re-elected Treasurer, Secretary, and Librarian. CIVIL ENGINEERS. The council of the institution of Civil Engineers have awarded the Telford medals and Walker premiums for 1844, the former to the first eleven : To W. Fairbairn, for his paper on the properties of the iron ores of Samakoff (Turkey), &c. ;-to J. Murray, for his description and drawings of the removal of the lighthouse on the north pier at Sunderland; to J. Bremner, for his papers on Pulteney Town harbour, Sarclet harbour, a new piling engine, and an apparatus for floating large stones for harbour-works;-to A. Murray, for his paper on the construction and proper proportions of steam boilers ;-to A. A. Croll, for his paper on the purification of coalgass, &c. ;-to J. Braidwood, for his paper and drawings descriptive of the means of rendering large supplies of water available in cases of fire, &c. ;-to J. Samuda, for his account of the atmospheric railway ;to C. H. Gregory, for his paper on railway cuttings and embankments;-to Captain W. S. Moorsom, for his description and drawings of the Avon bridge at Tewkesbury; to T. Grissell, for his description and model of the scaffolding used in erecting the Nelson Column ;-to C. Manby, secretary, for the translation and arrangement of the History of the Canal and Sluices of Katwyk, and the description of the works of the Amsterdam and Rotterdam Railway, by the Chev. Conrad. The Walker premium to the eight following-To the Chev. Conrad, for his description and drawings of the works of the Amsterdam and Rotterdam Railway; -to J. Leslie, for his description and drawings of the iron lock-gates of the Montrose docks;-to J. G. Thompson, for his description and drawing of the landslip in the Ashley cutting, Great Western Railway;-to J. Timperley, for his account of the building of the Wellington Bridge, Leeds;-to G. W. Hemans, for his description and drawing of a wrought-iron lattice bridge on the Dublin and Drogheda Railway;-to W. Evill, jun. for his description and drawings of the London terminus of the Eastern Counties' Railway;-to A. J. Dodson, for his description and drawings of the hydraulic traversing frame used on the Great Western Railway; to J. Forrest, jun. for his drawings and diagrams illus trative of numerous papers read at the meetings. ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE. The session of this society for 184445 commenced on the 14th Nov. The first reading consisted of a further illustration of the Greek inscription on the stele of Xanthus, a copy of which, taken by the eye, together with the Lycian inscription on the same stele, was published in the last volume of the Society's Transactions. Colonel Leake, a letter from whom accompanied the plate, has subsequently had an opportunity of examining a cast of its surface, brought home by Mr. Fellows, the result of which has been various corrections in the reading of the epigram as formerly proposed. These corrections he submitted on the present occasion to the society in the form of a new version; but which, although differing from the former in several of the words and expressions, does not materially alter the sense of the epigram, or invalidate the general inferences deducible from this monument, as stated by him on the former occasion. The date of the monument appears, from the orthography and the form of the letters, to be of the first half of the 4th century before the Christian era. Asiatic Greek inscriptions of that early date are extremely rare, and the present document is the more interesting as there can be little doubt that the actions of the same son of Harpagus, recorded in the Greek epigram, formed the subject of the Lycian inscriptions, between two portions of which the Greek epigram occurs, and consequently that the Greek furnishes a key, though it is feared an insufficient one, to the decyphering of the Lycian. The presumed date of the stele of Xanthus affords strong reason for believing that the greater part of the monuments inscribed with Lycian characters, and found in various parts of Lycia, are of the 5th and 4th centuries B. C. The style of the sculptures found on many of them strongly confirms this supposition. It was in those ages that Lycia chiefly flourished, under the delegated authority of the Greek king, but enjoying those municipal and federal institutions for which Lycia was renowned as late as the reign of Augustus. A second reading followed, comprising the life of Walter Mapes, by Mr. Wright, written for the second volume of the Society's "Biographia Britannica," now in the press. By the death of Mrs. Richards, widow of the Rev. Dr. Richards, of St. Martin's, a legacy of 50007., left by her late husband, falls to the Royal Society of Litera ture, in the council of which the rev. doctor was long an active member. A good historical article in the Edinburgh Review, last year, described the original endowment of the society by George IV. with the truly royal bounty of eleven hundred guineas a year (ten pensions to distinguished authors of one hundred guineas each, and a hundred guineas for two gold medals); and regretted that this munificent patronage had ceased with the life of the founder. The present accession will in some measure repair the loss; for it will enable the council to print, annually, perhaps, some valuable inedited MS., agreeably to Dr. Richards' will. SYRO-EGYPTIAN SOCIETY. Dec. 3. The first meeting of a Society bearing this designation, was held in Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square. The learned orientalist, Dr. John Lee, delivered upon the occasion an introductory address, in which he particularly pointed out the advantages which might and have accrued to the progress of discovery in regard to Egypto-Syrian antiquities and history, by the labours of persons residing in this country, as well as by travellers. Upwards of seventy members had inrolled their names, including many distinguished travellers and oriental scholars, such as Profs. Grotefend, Lassen, Bournouf, Koeppen, Lepsius, the Venerable Archdeacon Robinson, the Rev. Samuel Lee, Professor of Hebrew, and the Rev. Thomas Jarrett, Professor of Arabic, at Cambridge, the Rev. Drs. Renouard and Hincks, and Messrs. Ainsworth, Floyd, and Campbell, late members of the Euphrates Expedition. He stated that it was not contemplated originally that the Society should be more than a private association of those interested in Syro-Egyptian history and remains; but that, in consequence of the facilities now afforded to travellers, so great an interest had been evinced in the plans and objects of the society, that it was deemed advisable to open the doors to all who take pleasure in observing the changes which are now going on in the East-to establish lectures and conversazione, and to admit ladies as well as gentlemen. The Hon. Secretary, Dr. Holt Yates, then delivered an introductory address. Dr. Holt Yates, as hon. secretary, then communicated a detailed plan of the views and objects of the society, which proposed to itself to encourage and advance literature, science, and the arts, throughout anterior Asia and Egypt, as well as to increase our knowledge in all matters relating to the antiquities, history, natural history, and present condition of those countries. This was followed by an inaugu ral dissertation of considerable length, detailing the progress of discovery within the last half century in these very remarkable countries, the cradle of the human race, and the first home of the arts and sciences. He gave a summary account of the Euphrates Expedition, and pointed out the importance of promoting education among the natives, and of establishing medical practitioners in Syria and Egypt. He mentioned that a hospital had lately been opened at Damascus, under British auspices, and had received the sanction and co-operation of all the authorities; that 2,500 patients had been relieved there during the last four months, and that a course of medical lectures (the first, perhaps, ever delivered in Syria) had been commenced by Dr. Jas. B. Thompson, on the 1st of October last. MR. BRITTON has discovered the time and place of interment of JOHN AUBREY, which have long been sought, and regarded as desiderata relating to that distinguished Antiquary. He has also met with many facts and letters concerning him, which will tend to give much interest to the Memoir he is preparing for the Second Volume of the Wiltshire Topographical Society's Transactions. ARCHITECTURE. INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS. Dec. 2. J. B. Papworth, esq. V.P. in the chair. This was the opening meeting of the session. B. Green, esq. of Newcastle upon Tyne, was elected a Fellow; and prizes (books) were delivered to Messrs. Baker and Deane, students to the Institute, for the best architectural composition, and for the best series of sketches, on subjects proposed by the Council. Drawings were exhibited illustrative of GENT. MAG. VOL. XXIII. the painted decorations in the church of S. Francesco di Assisi, and a description was read, communicated by C. H. Wilson, esq. with some observations on the polychromatic decorations of the early Italian churches in general. The church at Assisi was the work of Jacopo l'Alemanno, father of the more celebrated Arnolfo da Lupo, and is remarkable as one of the most perfect examples of an architectural monument of that age, completed by the L painter. The entire church, withinside, is covered with colour, the work partly of Greek artists, and partly that of Cimabue, Giotto Giottino, and Guinta Pisano, and their assistants, constituting it a most precious monument of the art of those early times. The importance and merit of these works by Cimabue, have been recognized by all the writers on art. The fervour of Italian art had given vitality to the inanimate forms of the Greeks, and the figures introduced are greatly superior in style, although the arabesque decorations with which they are combined are altogether Byzantine in character, and decidedly inferior to those of earlier date in St. Mark's, at Venice. In the ornaments of Giotto and his school in the Scovigni, and Chapel of St. George, at Padua, in those of Spinello Aretino, in St. Miniato, at Florence, and elsewhere, and in the works of Fra Beato Angelico, we have indications of a more refined taste and of progress. Dec. 16. Mr. Papworth in the chair. James Walker, esq. F.R.S. President of the Institute of Civil Engineers, was elected an Honorary Member. A model and drawings were exhibited of the mode adopted by Mr. Murray in moving the lighthouse at Sunderland. A paper was read by Mr. J. J. Scoles, "On the Monuments existing in the Valley of Jehosaphat, near Jerusalem." These monuments might possess little interest if viewed merely with regard to their dimensions or architectural merits, but, as they are almost the only buildings of any antiquity remaining in or about Jerusalem, and as tradition has invested them with the names of Absalom and Zachariah, it becomes an object of some interest to the archæologist to ascertain, if possible, the period at which they were really executed. In style, they are strangely mixed, the Greek orders being blended with the Egyptian character and form. The most remarkable, "the Pillar of Absalom," exhibits engaged columns of the Ionic order, Doric frieze, an Egyptian cavetto cornice, and a high conical roof, the whole being excavated and detached from the solid rock. The Tomb of Zachariah" is of the same general character, but less decorated, and surmounted by a pyramid. There are several other tombs, but their features are less peculiar. One excavation, however, exhibits a pediment decorated with foliage of Greek character. On reviewing the architectural details, Mr. Scoles was of opinion that they are to be referred to the period of the Roman dominion in Syria and Egypt. The pyramidal form was very frequently used by the Romans in monu mental structures. CAMBRIDGE CAMDEN SOCIETY. Nov. 28. The Committee called the particular attention of the meeting to some specimens of brasses lately executed by the Messrs. Waller, of London. These will show that the ancient sepulchral brasses can be most successfully rivalled. The Earl of Shrewsbury presented elaborate casts of a third high tomb and weepers, which forms the last of the set given by his lordship. Some excellent specimens of woodcarving by Mr. Ringham of Ipswich were exhibited, and explained by the Rev. P. Freeman, chairman of the Committee. He observed, that three out of the prize competitors at the exhibition of woodcarving in London, when Mr. Ringham was one, had been brought up in a school of ecclesiastical work. A coloured drawing of a piece of old needlework, supposed to be part of a cope, now used as an antependium, from H. L. Styleman Le Strange, esq. was submitted to the meeting. A paper was then read by the Rev. F. W. Collison, M.A. Fellow of St. John's College, on the History of Altars. He adduced them from ancient writers in chronological order, which mentioned the material of the altar; showing that stone and wood had been simultaneously used in most ages of the Church; and proving that Bingham is on more than one occasion wrong in inferring from particular passages that wood was the more common material. Examples were enumerated of altars in wood, stone, gold, silver, and even in earth; and much interesting information about ancient churches was contained in the passages which were quoted. Mr. Collison next showed that Ridley's injunction for breaking down altars could not be binding upon other dioceses. He sketched the history of the disputes respecting altars from that time to the accession of William of Orange, assigning each order or counter-order bearing on the subject to its right place. One point he satisfactorily established: that stone altars were distinctly enjoined by the last enactment of the Church, at the revision in 1662; at which the Rubrick enforcing the use of such ornaments of the Ministers as were in use in the second year of King Edward VI. was strengthened by the remarkable insertion of the words " ornaments of the Church." No one could deny that a stone altar was such an ornament in the year referred to; and this Rubrick of 1662 is the only authoritative standard of the Church, repealing absolutely any intervening canons, precedents, or injunctions. In the course of some remarks on this paper, it was stated that stone tables are at this day |