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have too many reasons to fear, that it will be made to adorn the royal library at Berlin, rather than any of our college halls, or the capitol at Washington. A gentleman, who visited Ebeling but a month before he died, speaking generally of his character, says, 'I find him one of the most esteemed and respected of the German literati-formerly chosen professor of Göttingen, and spoken of with the greatest veneration by the first men there. He was the bosom friend of Klopstock, and is intrusted with his papers.' He was at this time beginning a journal for American history, geography, and statisticks. An article in a Hamburgh paper, written by an associate professor, Grohmann, represents him as a man of great moral worth, ardent in his friendships, diffuse in his benevolence, and eminent in his christian faith and virtues. We hope hereafter to give a more just account of the life and works of a man, who has been so celebrated in his own country, and who has discovered so much enthusiasm in the interests of ours.

The new earth, Thorina.-BERZELIUS, the great chemist of Sweden, has lately discovered a new earth. While analysing the deuto-fluate of cerium, and the double fluate of cerium and yttria, he found in them a new earth, which he had before extracted from the gadolonite of Korarvet, but in too small quantities to determine at that time with precision what it was. He found it in greater abundance among the minerals of Fimbo, and ascertained many of its properties. When separated by the filter it has the appearance of a gelatinous, semitransparent mass. When dried it becomes white, absorbs carbonick acid, and dissolves with effervescence in acids. It was called Thorina, from Thor, an ancient Scandinavian deity. Berzelius has not as yet been able to obtain it, except in small quantities, and does not suppose, from what he has examined, that he has discovered all its properties.

Cleaveland's Mineralogy-We are happy to learn, that this excellent work, which is an honour to our country, and an acquisition to the scientifick world, has been announced for republication in England. We have also seen a letter from a gentleman in Germany, stating the pleasure it gave him to see this book carried every morning into the celebrated Hausman's lecture room at Göttingen, and used as a book of reference and authority.

Professor Bigelow's Medical Botany.-The first Part of the American Medical Botany, noticed in our last, has just issued from the University press. We think it cannot fail to answer fully the very high expectations of the publick, as well in respect to the science and extent of research, as the accuracy and indus try, which the author has brought to the work. The typographical Vol. VI. No. 1.

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execution is elegant, and the drawings are finished in a style of correctness and beauty, which we have seldom seen equalled.

We have not seen Dr. Barton's work on the same subject.

Maclure's Geology of the United States. The principal part of the two first chapters of this work, was published in the sixth volume of the Transactions of the Philosophical Society at Philadelphia. It was afterwards translated into French, and published in the Journal de Physique, for February 1812, accompanied by a geological map. These chapters have been enlarged, and two others added, and the whole work, as now published, was read as a memoir before the American Philosophical Society, and inserted in the first volume of their Transactions, new series.

The first chapter contains general remarks on the method of pursuing geological researches, with a few observations on the different chains of European mountains, compared with those of the United States. The second,-Observations on the geology of the United States, &c. The third,-Hints on the decomposition of rocks, with an inquiry into the probable effects they may produce on the nature and fertility of soils. The fourth,-The probable effects, which the decomposition of the various clusters of rocks may have on the nature and fertility of the soils of the different states. This work is the production of a man deservedly distinguished in America and in Europe, for his sientifick attainments, and contains numerous facts and valuable speculations on subjects of great national interest.

University Intelligence.-On the 5th of November the Honourable ASAHEL STEARNS was inaugurated University Professor of Law, in Havard University; and LEVI FRISBIE, A. M. former professor of Latin, was inaugurated Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity. The ceremonies were commenced by a prayer from the Rev. PRESIdent Kirkland, followed by the customary addresses on these occasions.

The address of the professor of Law contained a brief sketch of the character of the Grecian, and of the ancient Roman jurisprudence, of the civil and of the feudal law, and of the formation of the present system of English law. It was distinguished by its historical research and learning, delivered in a plain, pure, and correct style.

The address of the professor of Moral and Political Philosophy was intended to be upon the necessity, the objects, and the influence of the science of morals. We regret that he was prevented by indisposition from delivering the second part of his discourse. Yet notwithstanding this, we believe that few publick performances have ever been heard by any audience with greater

interest and delight. The last head, under which a discussion was very happily introduced of the moral influence of some of the most distinguished writers of the present day, excited particular attention. The whole performance was characterised by the good sense and importance of its thoughts, by its religious purity and strength of moral sentiment, by the justness of its criticisms, by its richness of language, and glow of imagery, and by that tone of deepfelt sincerity, uttering vera voces ab pectore imo, which gives their highest value and charm, to the writings equally of the philosopher and the orator. If we may be allowed to borrow a style of imagery from one portion of the discourse itself, we should say that it afforded us a similar feeling of pleasure to that which we enjoy in one of our fine, clear days of autumnal sunshine, when the earth is loaded with fruits, and throwing forth, at the same time, all its variety of later flowers, and when our woods have begun to assume the rich colours of the season; when all around us is full of warmth, and plenty, and beauty; yet all is shaded, and softened, and rendered more interesting by those serious reflections which attend the decline of the year.

We trust that both discourses will be printed, and that we shall hereafter have the pleasure of expressing our opinions more particularly.

In our number for July we published the statutes of the professorship of law. We regret that we have not room to insert the statutes of the Alford professorship. They shall appear in our next number.

At the annual commencement this year, sixty seven young gentlemen received the degree of Bachelor, and forty four of Master of Arts in regular course; three received the degree of Bachelor, and six the degree of Master, out of course; eight received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in course. The degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on his Excellency JOHN BROOKS, and on the Honourable JEREMIAH MASON;-the degree of Doctor of Divinity, on the Rev. DANIEL CHAPLIN and the Rev. NATHANIEL THAYER; the honorary degree of M. D. on Francis Vergnies.

The officers of the University are, at present, twenty Professors, two Tutors, Librarian and Assistant Librarian, Registrar, Assistant to the Professor of Chemistry, Regent, five Proctors, Private Instructer in Mathematics, and Instructer in the French and Spanish Languages.

There are more than forty resident graduates, thirty of whom are engaged in the study of Divinity. The law school is established according to the statutes and regulations, published in our number for July. It has commenced with a respectable number of students, and under as favourable auspices as could be expected. Terms of admission to the freshman class in the year 1818, are the same as those of last year, excepting a variation in respect to the

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mathematicks, as follows. In 1818, instead of the whole of arithmetick, candidates for the freshman class will be examined in the fundamental rules, vulgar and decimal fractions, the extraction of the roots, the doctrine of proportion, simple and compound, with its usual applications to mercantile questions, and algebra to the end of single equations. By 'applications' is understood, fellowship, tare and tret, los and gain, commission, brokerage, alligation medial and alternate.-The rules in Webber's system which are excepted, are circulating decimals, arithmetical and geometrical progression, interest, equation of payments, annuities, position, single and double, permutation, combination and composition of quantities, and logarithms; these rules being embodied in the algebra, which will be taught in the University.

GEORGE TICKNOR, Esq. who, with Professor EVERETT, is now absent in Europe, has been appointed by the corporation Smith Professor of the French and Spanish Languages and Literature, and Professor of Belles Lettres.

Reading Room of Harvard University-Those gentlemen who have sent newspapers and other periodical publications to the Reading Room of Harvard University, are requested to accept the thanks of the proprietors. The publications received will, at the end of each year, be bound and deposited in the library. Any gentlemen who are editors of such works will confer a favour upon the University, and will serve the interests of literature, by sending them as donations. It will be always desirable to obtain complete files at least for the current year.

It is possible that there may be some valuable publications in the more distant parts of our country, with which we are not acquainted. If this notice should be seen by their editors, we beg them to believe, that such publications would be considered as particularly valuable. Packages too bulky to be forwarded by the mail, may be sent by any other conveyance to Cummings and Hilliard's Bookstore, No. 1, Cornhill, Boston, directed to Andrews Norton, Librarian of Harvard University.

Conflagration of Havre de Grace. The readers of the North American Review will recollect, that an article under this head was published in the number for July. As doubts have been entertained by many, and pretty freely expressed by some, both in this vicinity and at the south, respecting the correctness of the statements there made, the Editor has been at the pains to procure the testimony of several gentlemen of known reputation in Maryland, who were, as well as himself, eye witnesses of the transactions which he has described. He would again state, that he was personally knowing to every thing he has related, and that his only motive for bringing the subject before the publick at this late period, was to give a true account of an affair of considerable

importance in the history of our late war, and to correct, if possible, some errours, which had already made their appearance, at least in two respectable histories of the times. He is permitted, by the politeness of the gentlemen above mentioned, to publish the following, in confirmation of what he has said.

"Havre de Grace, Sept. 13, 1817.

DEAR SIR.-Agreeably to your request, several of your friends here have perused the account of the conflagration of Havre de Grace in the fourteenth number of the North American Review. The circumstances of that event are still fresh in our recollection. The impressions produced by a scene in which we were so deeply interested, and which was the cause of serious injury to many among us, cannot be easily eradicated, and we have no hesitation in saying, that your account is calculated to give a very correct and impartial view of that transaction.

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• With respect, &c.

MARK PRINGLE,
SAMUEL HUGHES,
PACA SMITH,

WILLIAM B. STOKES.

Abstract of meteorological observations for August and September, taken at Cambridge. By Professor Farrar.

Thermometer.

Barometer.

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Whole quantity of rain in August 2.48 inches-in Sept. 2.72.

Abstract of meteorological observations, taken at Brunswick.

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By Professor Cleaveland.
August, 1817.

Mean monthly temp. from three observations each day

66.63**

do. do.

do. from maxima of heat and cold

64.80

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Days entirely or chiefly fair

16

15

do. do. do. cloudy

Directions of the winds in proportional numbers, viz.

S. W. 24.-S. E. 5.-N. E. 5.-N. W. 4.-W. 3.-S. 3.-N. 2. Prevailing forms of the clouds, cumulus and cirrocumulus. Lightning on the 15th only, during the month.

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