ural and physical, not depending at all on custom or habit. The discovery of Dr. Wollaston shows why they correspond; viz. the nerves from each corresponding part unite in the same filament. It is remarkable that Newton, with a sagacity almost prophetic, had suggested the probability of this very anatomical structure, or one similar to it, as accounting for the fact of single vision.* Considered as an anatomical fact, not one in the human frame is more indicative of design, whether we regard the importance of the end, or the mechanical nature of the contrivance by which it is effected.

***

The discovery of Doebereiner, a German chemist, that the presence of platinum in a spongy state, has such an influence on the affinities of oxygen and hydrogen gases, as to cause them instantly to combine and form water, has been applied by himself and others to some practical purposes. Prof. Turner, of Edinburgh, has made it the means of detecting minute quantities of hydrogen gas in the atmosphere. By immersing a ball of spongy platinum mixed with clay and sand, in a tube of air, in which is contained a small quantity of hydrogen, the latter combines with the oxygen of the atmosphere, in that proportion which is necessary to form water, the effect and the degree of it, being indicated by the diminution in volume of the contained air. Doebe

* Fibris nimirum, quæ sunt in dexteriori parte utriusque nervi, coeuntibus uno in loco, et progredientibus deinceps conjunctim ad cerebrum per nervum qui est a dexteriori parte capitis, fibrisque quæ sunt in sinisteriori parte, &c. Optice Lucis, Quæst. 15.

reiner has himself applied this discovery also to the production of an instantaneous light, which may be continued at pleasure, and which has been called a philosophical lamp. If a small jet of hydrogen be thrown upon a coiled wire, which has been dipped in muriate of platinum, or upon a fragment of spongy platinum, the hydrogen instantly takes fire, and combining with the oxygen of the atmosphere, produces a brilliant light, the platinum itself remaining unaltered. This Lampe Pneumatique' has been modified, for more convenient use, by Gardin of Oxford, Cummings of Cambridge, and Adin of Edinburgh; but the principle is the same in all, and it is doubted whether any of them are superior to that of Doebereiner, the inventor.

**

M. Bendebendsen, a German physician, has attempted to prove the magnetic influence of the stars, the sun, and the moon, and to ascertain the best means of using this influence in therapeutics. The persons supposed to be subjected to this influence, seem to be those who suffer under nervous complaints, walking in sleep, &c. In making trial of the influence of the stars, he recommends great caution, since their influence is sometimes salutary, and sometimes dangerous. That of the moon is more mild, and may generally be used with safety on somnambulists. The planets in this respect, are to be classed with the moon.

"The Doctor has experienced the most happy effects in making use of the solar influence in his treatment of a woman whom he mentions."

Bull. Univ. June 1824.

**

RELIGIOUS.

Religious Institutions dear to the people of God; a Sermon delivered in Berlin, Kensington, on the day of the Public Thanksgiving, Dec. 9, 1824. By the Rev. Royal Robbins.

The Excellence and Influence of the Female character; a Sermon, preached in the Presbyterian Church in Murraystreet, at the request of the New-York

Female Missionary Society. By the Rev. Gardiner Spring, D.D.

God the proper object of gratitude; and Thanksgiving a necessary evidence of its sincerity; a Sermon, preached in Pittsfield, Mass. on the day of the State Thanksgiving, Dec. 3, 1824. By Rufus William Bailey, A. M. Pastor of the Congregational Church.

A Discourse on the Proper Character of Religious Institutions; delivered at

the opening of the Independent Congregational Church in Barton Square, Salem, Tuesday, 7th Dec. 1824. By Henry Colman.

The Discriminating Preacher; a Sermon preached in the North Church in the city of Hartford, Dec. 1, 1824, at the Ordination and Installation of the Rev. Carlos Wilcox, as Pastor of said Church. By Gardiner Spring, Pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church in the city of New-York.

A Vindication of the Divine Inspiration of the Bible; by human Reason and Argument. By M. M. B. Philadelphia. 18mo. pp. 256.

and Joseph W. Moulton, Counsellor at Law.

The Adventures of Congo, in search of his master. An American Tale: containing a true account of a shipwreck; and interspersed with Anecdotes, founded on facts.

Antiquarian Researches; comprising a History of the Indian Wars in the Country bordering on Connecticut River, and parts adjacent: and other interesting events, from the first landing of the Pilgrims to the Conquest of Canada, by the English, in 1760. With notices of Indian depredations in the Neighbouring Country; and of the first planting and progress of settlements in New-England, New-York, and Canada. By E. Hoyt, Esq. author of several Military Works. 1 vol. 8vo.

Lionel Lincoln: or the Leaguer of Boston. By the Author of the Pioneers, Pilot, &c. New-York. 2 vols. 12mo.

John Bull in America: or the New Munchausen. New-York. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 226.

A Physiological Essay on Digestion. By Nathan R. Smith, M. D. Professor of Anatomy and Physiology, in the University of Vermont. New-York. 8vo. pp. 93.

Views in New-Haven and its vicinity; with a particular description to each view. Drawn and Engraved by J. W. Barber.

Remarks on Washington College, and on the "Considerations” suggested by its establishment. Hartford.

THE American Colonization Society held its Eighth Anniversary at the Capitol in Washington, on Saturday evening, the 19th of February. It was attended by an audience of high respectability, among whom were General Lafayette, the Judges of the Supreme Court, several eminent members of the Bar, and many of the reverend Clergy. Wm. H. Fitzhugh, Esq. presided. The Annual Report was then read by the Rev. Mr. Gurley, Resident Agent of the Society. The prospects of the Society are represented as being, on the whole, encouraging. The town of Monrovia is increasing with rapidity; its defences are complete, and its in

habitants, for the most part, are contented and happy. The Society's attempts at home, towards an augmentation of its funds, have not yet met with that success they so well deserve.-but the Directors are animated with a determination to persevere in their laudable efforts, until they shall have succeeded in rendering the undertaking an object of national enterprise. When this point shall have been reached, they look upon complete success as certain. The death of Gen. Harper received an appropriate notice, and his enthusiastic devotion to the great design of the Society, was commemorated with becom ing eulogy.

The Rev. Loring D. Dewey, in two communications from Hayti, to the Editors of the New-York Observer, represents the reception and accommodation of the emigrants to that Island, as being even more favourable than the most sanguine could have expected.

Want of Bibles.—An agent of the American Bible Society states that "Recent accounts from two County Societies in Kentucky present the following facts: The Commissioner of taxes found in his district, one half of Harrison county, 400 families without the Scriptures. Another Commissioner in Scott county, out of 572 taxable persons, found 327 destitute, some of whom were professors of religion.

"I have no doubt," he adds, "but that three or four millions of our population are unblessed with the light of God's word in their houses. If the American Bible Society, in eight years, has been enabled only to issue 309,000 Bibles and Testaments, when will it be able to meet the wants of the destitute in a country whose population is doubling every twenty-five years? In addition to all this, Mexico and South America are crying to us for the word of life. Shall we do any thing for them, or must we leave them to the mercies of the Christians of Great Britain, who are, indeed, already doing much more for the southern parts of our continent, than we are enabled to do."

Connecticut Missionary Society.From the twenty-sixth Annual Narrative of the Missions of this Society we gather the following facts: Forty missionaries have been employed, some of them during the whole year, and some for shorter periods. Their fields of labour have been, the western counties of New-York, New Connecticut, and other parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and New-Orleans. The expenses of the Society for the year amount to $7,696.90. The contributions of the churches in May, amounted to $1,934.25. Every year of the history of this Society furnishes new evidence of its importance, and strengthens its claims on all who regard the best interests, civil as well as moral, of our western settlements.

DONATIONS TO BELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

In the month of January.

To the American Education Society, $2,488.43.

To the American Bible Society, $2,778. Bibles issued from the Depository, 1,082, Testaments 1,018.

To the American Board of Missions, $3,335.83, exclusive of legacies, &c. To the United Foreign Missionary Society, $1,517 56.

To the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, since Dec. 29th, $2,179.56.

Godfrey Haga, Esq. a citizen of Philadelphia, lately deceased, has left an estate of more than $300,000, which he disposed of by will, in the following

manner:

"To the Pennsylvania hospital, the sum of $1,000. To the Northern Dispensary, $1,000. To the Southern Dispensary, $1,000. To the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, $1,000. To the German Society, $2,000. To the Bible Society, $4,000. To the Widows' Asylum, $5,000. To the Orphan Asylum, $10,000. To sundry persons, $50,500. To the Brethren's Church, (the Moravian Church,) in Philadelphia, $2,000. For the relief of superannuated preachers, their widows, and missionaries and their widows, belonging to the Brethren's Church, $6,000. To the Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Heathen, $30,000. This constitutes a fund, the interest of which is to be applied by the Society for the purpose of educating pious young men at Nazareth Hall, for the Gospel Ministry.

The rest of his estate, valued at more than two hundred thousand dollars,is bequeathed to the said Society for propagating the Gospel among the Heathen, and to be appropriated from time to time, as the Society shall direct. Mr. Haga, who had no patrimonial estate, acquired his large fortune by industry and economy. Throughout life, he sustained the character of a good man, (we use the word emphatically,) and did not wait till the hour of death to become charitable. For his connexions, both in this country and in Ger

many, he made provision while he was in the enjoyment of health. His donations for the relief of the poor, and to public institutions, were many and munificent.When the Brethren in Philadelphia determined a few years ago to rebuild their Church, he gave

them five thousand dollars: and those who were best acquainted with him, say, that from the time of Mrs. Haga's death, until his own dissolution, he expended in charity, more than one hundred thousand dollars."

Jan 5.-The Rev. CHARLES WHITE, over the Church in Thetford, Vt., as colleague Pastor with the Rev. Dr. Burton. Sermon by the Rev. President Tyler, of Dartmouth College.

Jan. 12.-The Rev. SAMUEL EVERETT, at Milford, N. H. Sermon by the Rev. Elisha Andrews, of Princeton, Mass.

Jan. 12. The Rev. SIMEON WOODRUFF was installed Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, in Strongville, Ohio. Jan. 18.-The Rev. JAMES ABELL, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Oswego, N. Y. Sermon by the Rev. Henry Smith.

Jan. 19.-The Rev. JOHN SESSIONS, over the Church at Adams, N. Y. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Platt, of Rutland.

Jan. 19.-The Rev. DARIUS O. GRISWOLD, Over the Church at Watertown, Conn. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Hart, of Plymouth.

Jan. 20.-The Rev. WILLIAM H. LEVERETT, over the Baptist Church in Roxbury, Mass. Sermon by the Rev. Daniel Sharpe, of Boston.

Feb. 2.-The Rev. L. E. LATHROP (installed) over the Congregational Church and Society in Salisbury, Con. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Bradford.

Feb. 5.-The Rev. WILLIAM CROOKSHANK, over the Reformed Dutch Churches of Flatlands and New Lotts, L. I. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Bogart, of North Hempstead.

Feb. 8.-The Rev. ALBERT BARNES, over the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, N. J. Sermon by the Rev. John M'Dowell, D. D.

Feb. 9.-The Rev. SAMUEL BARRETT, over the Twelfth Congregational Church in Boston. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Lowell.

Feb. 16.-The Rev. SYLVESTER WOODBRIDGE, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Greenville, N. Y. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Porter of Catskill.

Feb. 23.-The Rev. JOSHUA LEAVITT, Pastor of the Church in Stratford, Conn. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Taylor, of New-Haven.

CONGRESSIONAL.

AMONG the most interesting subjects which have occupied the attention of Congress, during its present session, are the occupation of the Oregon, the suppression of Piracy, and the honours shown to General Lafayette. The bill authorizing the occupation of the Oregon, previous to its being passed, was so amended as to provide only for a military occupation of the mouth of the river. This amendment was adopted for the purpose of avoiding a violation of the treaty with Great Britain, which provides that the boundary line on that

frontier shall remain unsettled ten years.

On the subject of Piracy, the President, in a message to the Senate, suggested three expedients; one, by the pursuit of the offenders to the settled as well as unsettled parts of the Islands from whence they issue; another, by reprisal on the inhabitants; and the third, by a blockade of the ports of those Islands. These suggestions have given rise to a bill in the Senate, which embraces the several expedients proposed in the message, and which has been for some weeks a prominent topic of debate. The opposers of the bill

contend that it introduces a new principle into the rights of nations, and that a resort to the measures proposed by it would be in effect a declaration of war with Spain. This objection was anticipated by the President, and obviated by him on the ground that the Spanish authorities are utterly incapable of suppressing the practice in question. The discussion of the subject has led to a disclosure of facts which, in respect to its atrocities, and the numbers concerned in it, exceed conjecture. It has been made to appear that not only the miserable wretches who are immediately engaged in it,but that thousands of the citizens, and even the local authorities, are implicated in this nefarious business. "Your table," said Mr. Mills of the Senate, "is loaded with the melancholy recital. The representations of individual sufferers; the communications of your authorized agents in the very theatre of their cruelties; the united voice of the whole commercial community; the official reports of your Navy Department, and the recommendations of the Executive, all combine in urging the necessity of active and energetic measures to arrest the progress of this infernal practice. Indeed, it seems to be admitted by all, that something must speedily be done."

A resolution has been submitted to the Senate, by Mr. King of N. Y. in the following words: "That as soon as the portion of the existing funded debt of the U. S. for the payment of which the public lands of the U. S. are pledged, shall have been paid off, then, and thenceforth, the whole of the public lands of the U. S. with the net proceeds of all future sales thereof, shall constitute and form a fund, which is hereby appropriated, and the faith of the United States is pledged, that the said fund shall be inviolably applied, to aid the emancipation of such slaves, and the removal of such free persons of colour in any of the said states, as by the laws of the states respectively, may be allowed to be emancipated or removed, to any

territory or country without the limits of the United States of America." This resolution recognises one fact which has been constantly denied at the south; viz. that slavery is a national and not merely a state or individual concern. On many accounts we are glad that this great evil should become a subject of national legislation, in any form; but of the expediency of the measure proposed by Mr. K. we have strong doubts. We should hope that the free States would be willing to make any possible sacrifices for the deliverance of a million and a half of human beings from the lowest condition of humanity, and for the redemption of the national character from its worst reproach; but whether pledging the wealth of the nation as a fund in which the slave holder may rest secure of an equivalent for his supernumerary slaves, whenever he may find it for his interest to dispose of them, be the readiest way to accomplish the object contemplated, is a question, and not the only question involved in the resolution, which requires deep and solemn

consideration.

A very interesting document from the Department of War, exhibiting a detailed plan for the concentration and colonization of all the Indians within the limits of the United States, has been submitted to Congress, accompanied by a message from the President. We forbear to remark on this project here, as our limits forbid, and also because the subject demands more reflection than we have at present time to give it.

The electors of President of the United States having failed to make a choice, the election devolved on the House of Representatives. That body proceeded on the 9th of February to the discharge of this duty, and the result of their balloting was, for John Quincy Adams, 13 states; for Andrew Jackson, 7 states; for William H. Crawford, 4 states. Mr. Adams therefore, having a majority, was declared duly elected.

strong-siding.