ASIA.

The number of French emigrants who have reached the United States amount to 30,000.

A very fine American ship, the Canton packet, has been destroyed by an explosion of gunpowder at Boston. The ship and cargo, with the exception of the dollars on board, were totally destroyed. The explosion was supposed to be the diabolical act of a black man, who was refused permission to go on shore; he muttered something about revenge, went below, and blew up the powder-magazine by means of a pistol, as was supposed. He was blown to atoms himself.

"Philadelphia, June 4.

On Saturday morning last, about seven o'clock, two miles above Point Coussee, the boiler of the steam-boat Constitution burst, and destroyed all the most respectable passengers, amounting to eleven: although on the morning of the same day, at four o'clock, but five of those unfortunate gentlemen had actually expired, there could not exist a hope that any one of the eleven could survive; being completely scalded and skinned from head to foot, the nerves contracted, and the extremities destroyed.

Newfoundland papers to the 11th ult. announce the arrival of large supplies of provison from Halifax and from Ireland; so that the distress of the inhabitants, so feelingly

Admiral Malcolm, at St. Helena, has transmitted the following information, which was received from an American in the Straits of Sunda, and from the master attendant at Anjier:

His majesty's ship Alceste was lost on a rock off the north end of Middle Island, in the Straits of Gaspar, on or about the 17th of February. She was last from Manilla; struck about seven o'clock in the morning. They landed on Middle Island: no lives lost. Lord Amherst went to Batavia with three of the ship's boats and about forty men. The Ternate, one of the honourable company's cruisers, inmediately sailed for the wreck, and found them (captain Maxwell, and about 225 people, who were on Middle Island) surrounded by about seven or eight hundred Malays, expecting an attack from them every moment. They all left the wreck, and went to Batavia in the Ternate. The Cæsar, of London, captain Taylor, was taken up at 137. per ton, to take home the embassy and the ship's company, and were to sail from Batavia about the 9th of April; she was to take in 200 tons cargo. The Princess Charlotte transport had also sailed for the wreck, but was driven to leeward, and did not get there until they had all left in the Ternate. They could find no water on the island for a long time, though constantly digging; when they did succeed, they had but one butt left.

(Signed) "EDWARD BALSTON."

AUGUST.

In the course of the last five years there has been paid into the Chamber

Chamber of London, by forty-six persons, who have been excused serving the office of sheriff of London and Middlesex, no less than 20,4131. 6s. 8d.

4. The trial of Roger O'Connor, esq. a gentleman of some political notoriety, on a charge of having been concerned in the robbery of a mail coach in 1802, excited an extraordinary degree of public interest. The trial took place at Trim, in the county of Meath. Sir Francis Burdett attended as a witness. After some of the evidence had been gone through, the prosecution, which was instituted by the Post-office, was abandoned, as the witnesses were manifestly quite unworthy of belief.

The new Custom-house, just finished from the designs of David Laing, esq. is 489 feet in length and 107 in breadth. The grand front faces the river, and is of Portland stone; its centre is perfectly plain, except above the windows, where runs an entablature which is ornamented with basso and alto relievo figures placed in two compartments; the one containing allegorical representations of the commerce and industry of the country; the other delineating the costume and character of the various nations with whom we traffick. These different groups are upwards of five feet high, seem well executed, and are surmounted by the recumbent figures of Industry and Plenty sus taining an hour-dial. The ground floor of the centre part of the front offers a noble projection, characterizing the entrance to the king's warehouse, and forming at the same time an appropriate base to the royal arms, which are supported by the attributes of Old Ocean and Commerce. Six columns of the Ionic order embellish each wing,

and effectually prevent that total simplicity of style which in so extended an edifice would otherwise destroy its own effect. Under the pillars in the centre is a passage leading to the opposite street, and which, we believe, is intended for a carriage way. The east and west ends of the building are faced with stone; the north side is of brick, with stone dressings. The long room is 190 feet in length by 66 in width, and is divided by eight massive piers into three compartments, the centre dome being the loftiest: it is ventilated through each dome, and both ceiling and wall are tinted and drawn to represent stone. Excepting, however, a little decoration on the former, nothing like ornament is attempted in this spasious apartment. All the passages, lobbies, &c. are paved with stone, and groined in brickwork. On the ground, as on the one and two pair floors, the communication between the wings and the body of the house is divided by iron doors, which run on wheels in the middle of the walls, and are moved by a windlass; these doors are closed at night; and would effectually prevent the communication of fire beyond their boundaries. In addition to these salutary precautions, several fireproof rooms have been constructed, where books and papers are depo. sited every evening, and removed every morning to their respective offices. The entrances are numerous, but the two principal are facing Thames-street: they lead to halls not remarkably spacious, and these again to the principal staircases, which, with a double flight of steps, conduct to lobbies placed at each end of the Long Room, where desks are fixed for the convenience of persons having occa sion to frequent the establishment.

These

These lobbies are lighted by vertical lantern lights, of which the cielings are perforated in octangular compartments, and glazed with stained glass. On viewing the whole of this edifice we feel but one regret, which is, that it could not have had the advantage of a greater space of ground facing the river, for, like its sister building in Dublin, it stands on the very edge of the water, whence only indeed it can be seen to advantage. A wharf about 40 feet in width is now constructing, which, in addition to what already exists, will make on the whole a frontage of nearly 60 feet.

It is a very curious result of some experiments which have been made upon the river Thames, that the water of the river, properly speaking, does not actually flow into the sea, or mix with the seawater, on the approach of the tide, but is absolutely carried up and down with the turn of alternate tides, for an indefinite period. This is conjectured to be the real efficient cause of what is termed the extreme softness of the Thames water.

A very fine piece of Mosaic pavement, about 12 feet square, has been discovered on digging in a field near Farnham.

An extraordinary experiment has lately been made with complete success at Plymouth dock-yard-that of hauling up a line of battle ship on one of the building slips. The apparatus being fixed, on a given signal the immense fabric began to advance on the plane, about eight or ten inches at a time, as the purchases acted; and in the short period of forty-one minutes from the time of first heaving, a body, weighing upwards of one thousand nine hundred and sixty-four tons, was conveyed to its destined situation. In this operation we may clearly per.

ceive what is possible to be done by the inclined plane, the wheel and axis, and the pulley, in unison with 1400 men and 14 capstans.

The public curiosity has been much excited by the starting of a Bath and Bristol coach, on an entirely new construction, invented by captain Wyke, and built, under his instructions, by Messrs. Fuller, of Bristol and of Bath. The great object in view was complete safety, which is effected in an eminent degree. It consists of two apartments

the fore part is a close octagon body; the hinder part, which is for outside passengers, is open at the sides, but has a covering supported by four iron pillars at the cornersthe luggage is carried in the seats of each compartment; and the springs on which the bodies are supported are composed of a single piece of steel, thereby considerably reducing the weight of the carriage. It is on the whole a most elegant vehicle, and it is to be hoped will meet with that support, which the ingenuity of the plan, and the humane object of preventing accidents, amply entitle the proprietor to expect.

The forest of Dean is now being re-planted, in order to the production of future oak trees for the service of the state; the last time of its plantation was in the reign of Charles II.

A chain bridge is just finished at Dryburgh, for the convenience of foot passengers, across the river Tweed. The appearance of this bridge is uncommonly light and elegant, and, connected with the fine scenery of Dryburgh, is beautiful and interesting. It consists of a platform of wood, supported by chains suspended from pillars on each side of the river, at the height of 18 feet above low water, and

has

has no support under it. The pas sage is easy and level, and has very little vibration. The span between the points of suspension is 261 feet, being the greatest span of any bridge in the kingdom.

FRANCE.

Tremendous storms have ravaged several parts of France; particularly in the neighbourhood of Soissons, at Busancy, Rosieres, Septmont, and Embrief. An appeal to public charity has been made for the ruined inhabitants of all these places.

The body of Madame de Stael has been opened, and this operation has falsified the opinions given by her physicians. In her anatomy they have remarked the extraordinary dimension of the brain. A cast has been taken of her head. Madame de Stael, in her will, authorizes her son and daughter to make public her marriage with M. de Rocca, which took place long since, and to introduce to their families the son who was the issue of that marriage.

GERMANY.

The grand national theatre at Berlin has been destroyed by fire. The cause is believed to have been wilful. Twelve suspected persons have been arrested. The fire broke out during a rehearsal, and one of the performers lost his life. The building was 244 feet long, 155 broad, and 155 high within the walls.

SWEDEN.

According to a table describing the civil state of Sweden, 344 children at the breast were, during the year 1814, smothered by their mothers or nurses while asleep; and in the following year, 369 died through this kind of imprudence.

RUSSIA.

sued a decree to regulate the creation of nobility in Poland, and prevent that honour from being conferred except as a reward for public services; and requiring that a certain fortune shall belong to those who lay claim to it.

TURKEY.

An article from Vienna, dated the 10th of August, contains the following particulars of the death of the celebrated Czerny-Georges, ancient chief of the Servian insurrection. He had repaired to Semendria under a fictitious name, and was concealed by one of his friends. His intention was, to recover a treasure of 50,000 ducats which he had buried before he quitted Servia, and with which he wished to remove to Russia. But his host was cowardly or wicked enough to betray him to the pacha of Belgrade, who went to Semendria with an escort of janissaries, arrested Czerny-Georges, and a Greek who accompanied him, cut off their heads, and sent them on the 27th of July, by a Taṛtar, to the Porte. This event will increase the fermentation which was before prevalent in Servia. It is not thought that tranquillity can be maintained there; but we have yet no account of any actual disturbances.

ASIA.

The Madras gazette of the 15th March announces a melancholy accident which occurred in Columbo harbour on the 27th of January. By the upsetting of a boat belonging to the Iphigenia frigate, in which were a party of officers who had dined with the officers of the ship, seven lives were lost-ensigns Campbell, Coane, and Hanwell, of the 73d regt. lieutenant Sanders, of the Iphigenia, two seamen, and one

AFRICA.

The dey of Tripoly has presented the prince regent of Great Britain with such remains of antiquity as are moveable at Lebyda, which is famous for being the site of Carthage. The Weymouth storeship, Mr. Turner commanding, is now on her voyage thither, for the purpose of receiving and carrying to England those ancient monuments, which are represented as highly curious, and illustrative of that once splendid capital. It is stated that the dey has offered protection, as far as his authority extends, to any European who is willing to attempt the journey from Tripoly to Tombuctoo.

SEPTEMBER.

The prince regent has presented to the duke of Wellington the colossal statue of Buonaparte which was lately sent from France to his royal highness. This statue was executed by the celebrated sculptor Canova, and was intended to adorn some of the great public works in progress in Paris. The Roman sculptor had been munificently patronized by the Napoleon family; and, it is said, used the greatest exertions to make the work worthy his own and his patron's fame. The statue, after the pure taste of the antique, is but slightly draperied, and is intended to convey an expres sion of great dignity and majesty. The attempt is said to have been too daring for the sculptor, who excels beyond any other living artist in the expression and delicatetouches of poetical beauty, but who is thought to have been unsuccessful in this hazardous attempt to rival the most exalted glories of Grecian art. The work was not liked in Paris, and was hardly unpacked; it was even the subject of sharp criticisms in

Rome at the time of its execution. It has been just removed to Apsleyhouse, Hyde Park corner, the residence of the duke of Wellington.

Some very rich and beaatiful specimens of copper ore have been. obtained from the new mine lately opened in the marquis of Buckingham's estate in the parish of Stowey, about nine miles N. W. of Bridgewater. The lode is visible in a lime quarry, and about twenty feet below the surface. Some Cornish miners have arrived to work it; and an engine from that county is about to be erected on the very low land that contains it.

A cavern of considerable extent has been discovered at Spaxton, near Bridgewater. It was visited lately by several scientific persons, who experienced some difficulty in making their way to the principal chamber; but they were agreeably compensated for their trouble, by the effect produced from their lights on the pendulous incrustations of carbonate of lime, which emboss its roof and sides. Some specimens were brought away; but the owner of the spot has properly determined to preserve it in its present state, as a pleasing object of curiosity.

Some very curious antiquities were recently discovered four feet below the soil at Horsefield, near Barton.-They consist of a chain with six collars, for conducting slaves, a double fulcrum, showing the manner in which the spits of the ancients were supported for roasting meat, and illustrating the line of Virgil.

Subjiciunt verubus prunas, et viscera tor

rent.

Steam-boats appear to have come into very great and general use on the Clyde. No less than three sailed from Glasgow on Saturday, September 29, on excursions of

some