CHIT-CHAT: LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS.

Among other literary curiosities destroyed by fire in the Basilican library at Constantinople, was a manuscript of the Iliad and Odyssey, written in letters of gold, upon a serpent's gut, 120 feet in length.

A splendidly illustrated Pennant was sold a fortnight ago at Evans's, for nearly 2501; where, at the same time, a copy of Daniel's Rural Sports, with additional engravings, produced 51 guineas.

A Translation of Tasso's Jerusalem delivered, in the Swedish language, has recently appeared at Stockholm, from the pen of Count Skoldebrand.

A new weekly publication, called The Star Chamber, began on the 12th of last month.

A posthumous work of Rousseau, entitled 'Thoughts of an Honest Mind, and Sentiments of a Virtuous Heart,' has just been published in Paris.

The Life of Mrs. Siddons, by Boaden, is nearly ready for the press. The author is said to be in possession of some curious and authentic records, relating to Mrs. Siddons' early professional life.

The Messrs. Burfords are painting a panoramic view of the city of Madrid, of the same size as that of Edinburgh. It will certainly be a very splendid picture. That Eternal Poem, Klopstock's Messiah,' consisting of twenty books of German hexameters, has lately been done into English blank verse, by a friend of Mrs. Joanna Baillie's.

In the memoirs of Mr. J. Chamberlain, a Baptist missionary in India, just published, we find the following entry :- December 7th: O! we know not what a day may bring forth! Yesterday morning my dear wife was poorly, and by eight o'clock in the evening she presented me with a daughter!'

The government of Brazil has given orders for the establishment of Botanic Gardens in all parts of its dominions, for the cultivation of the Tea-plant; for which it is offering considerable premiums. A single proprietor is said to be already in possession of more than 4,000 plants in a state fit for use.

It has been lately proposed in the Leipzig Musical Gazette, to employ platina for the strings of instruments, instead of copper, steel, or brass. The recommendation is founded on the opinion that platina is more elastic and extensible than any other metal hitherto employed for the manufacture of strings; and, therefore, it is expected that the strings formed of it will give a fuller sound, and have the advantage of keeping free from rust.

The main subject of the forthcoming novel of Woodstock' is now no secret. It is the escape of Charles II. after the battle of Worcester, and the book takes its name from the circumstance of the King being concealed for a time in the old royal hunting seat, where Henry II. embowered fair Rosamond, and the site of which Blenheim House now occupies. We understand that the Merry Fugitive, in his numberless disguises, constitutes one of the author's very happiest portraitures, and that he is contrasted in the most effective manner with Old Noll, who at this period keeps his state in Windsor Castle, Forced, though it grieves his soul, to reign alone. The last number of the Quarterly Review is admitted on all hands to be one of the very best that has been published for many years. The leading article on Pepys' memoirs, is, we understand, the production of Sir Walter Scott, and is every way worthy of his genius. The horrid Popish blasphemies exposed in the paper entitled The Apocalypse of the Sister Nativitè, cannot fail of carrying conviction to the minds of all who read it. The castigation of the Pseudo-Philanthropists in the remarks on West Indian Slavery, will also do infinite good. This paper speaks the sentiments of four-fifths of the British people. Independently of the very interesting acccount of the late discoveries in Africa, and a capital article on the Poor Laws, there is a dose for Master Tommy Moore, the biographer of Sheridan, which, if he can digest, he must have a stronger stomach than we have hitherto given him credit for. On the whole, this number of the Quarterly is a promising specimen of what may be expected under the new Regime. Setting aside literary power, there is more common sense argument in it than has ever before been crammed into any single volume of the same work.

The British Gallery is about to open with a splendid exhibition of the whole of the Carlton House Paintings. This is only one of the numerous evidences of his Majesty's disposition to patronise the Fine Arts. Several of the chefs d'œuvres of modern artists, will be found in this collection.

Horace Smith has an ode on the death of the Exeter 'Change Elephant, in the last New Monthly, with the following admirable, and appropriate epigraph from Lord Byron:

'Tis Greece-but living Greece no more.

This is the very 'curiosa felicitas' of quotation.

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The Rev. Mr. Irving being busily engaged in examining a Bust at a sale, Mr. Squib, the auctioneer, observed, That the reverend gentleman would proba bly become the purchaser, having an eminent cast in his eye.'

It is not correct as reported in some of the weekly and daily journals, that L. E. L. is on the eve of publishing a new poem. Neither is it true that she has sustained any loss by the misfortunes of her publishers.

A Poem of great merit, entitled The Sabbath Morning,' has recently issued from the press. It is replete with beautiful imagery, elegant versification, and sound morality, and is attributed to the pen of a gentleman better known as a dramatic than a religious poet.

A Pamphlet has just been published having for its object the identification of Junius with Burke. But the case is nothing like so strong as that which was published a few months ago, referring the authorship of these celebrated libels to Lord George Sackville. Indeed Dr. Parr's proofs, as it regards Lloyd, are much more convincing. Burke was certainly not Junius.

The Literary and Political Life of Sir Philip Francis, who, during more than half a century, attracted so much public attention, is likely to be soon given to the world by one who was well acquainted with his genius and talents. The longdisputed question relating to the author of Junius's Letters will, it is said, be finally decided, when this biography shall appear. Report mentions Mr. Dubois as the author.

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Master George Noakes (no relation to Tom Styles) has been making a great noise in London during the last month by his amazing powers of calculation. His arithmetical talent is said greatly to exceed that of young Bidder, the calculating boy,' and Zarah Colburn. The stories told of him in the daily prints are perfectly astonishing, we had almost said incredible.

The late excellent Lindley Murray has expressed, in a written document as well as verbally, his very earnest desire and urgent request, that after his dicease none of his letters should be published. He has, however, given leave for the publication of some recollections of his life. This indeed is the age of Reminiscences.

Mr. Martin, the painter, has long been engaged upon a work peculiarly well suited to his powers, and of vast dimensions. The subject is the death Sardanapalus; the picture is eighteen feet wide and fourteen feet high, and, it is said, will contain above a million of figures; however, it should be observed, that a large portion of them are not much more than mere dots.

Sir Walter Scott's works have been published in Paris, in 8vo. and 12mo., in English; there are two translations in French, an 8vo. edition, and two editions in 12mo. Yet, with all these editions, comprising at least ten thousand copies, the public curiosity is yet unsated; and M. Charles Gosselin, the publisher of the best translation of Sir Walter's works in 8vo. and 12mo., has now in the press an edition in royal 12mo., with plates. M. G. intends this to be the most beautiful edition of Sir Walter Scott published in either kingdom.

Five curés at Ghent, in their different parish churches, lately preached violently on the same Sunday against the editor of a Ghent newspaper by name, and the next morning his printers came to him, and said that they would no longer work for such an impious wretch. How would the editors of our London newspapers, morning and evening, like this kind of persecution?

A gentleman of Gloucester has tried an experiment upon his trees, which is very likely to succeed, and deserves to be known. Previous to their budding out, the wood was washed over with linseed oil, applied with a common painting brush.— This appears to have rendered them completely impervious to frost, and they seem likely to bear an abundance of fruit.

The newspapers of the last few weeks teem with biographies of Pinkerton, the geographer; although there was much of mere book-making in this author's works, still he was unquestionably an able and ingenious man. His work on medals evinced considerable talent and research, and his splendid modern Atlas eclipsed every thing of the kind that had preceded it. We are sorry to add that he died in great poverty and distress at Paris.

All the Critical Journals from the Quarterly Review, downwards seem to be agreed as to the merits of the admirable little volume, entitled 'Six Months in the West Indies.' It presents the only fair and impartial view of West India Slavery that has yet been given to the British public; à view widely at variance with that delineated at the late various public meetings throughout England, by the 'righteous over much' ultra Philanthropists of the African Society.

A Greenock newspaper mentions the discovery of a curious piece of antiquity in a quarry (Auchmead), which is being wrought in that part of Scotland. It is described to be a silver or mixed-metallic horse-shoe, connected with a petrifaction of wood, and both embedded 5 feet deep in the solid rock. This situation refers it to a period so remote, that even an antediluvian existence is attributed to it.

Dr. P. A Nuttall has just published an edition of Virgil's Buclogues, with an interlineal translation, and a treatise on Latin versification. We can conscientiously declare that we are not acquainted with so useful an elementary work of the kind as this. The treatise on Latin versification contains more valuable information, simply and perspicuously conveyed, than is to be found in all our old grammars put together. There are few subjects in which people are so absurdly bigotted as school books, (witness the sale of one half the elementary books now before the public)® or the merits of Dr. Nuttall's volume would speedily ensure for it universal adoption in our public as well as private seminaries.

The present London Lion' is Carle Von Weber; and all the world and his wife are running to hear his very delightful opera of Oberon. It is not, we believe, generally known, that the public is indebted for the introduction of Weber's music into this country, to Mr. Brockedon, the artist; who being struck with the beauty of some of it which he heard while travelling on the continent, brought it over, and made Mr. Arnold acquainted with its merits. The score of Der Freischutz was subsequently obtained, and the opera was brought out at the English Opera House in that superior style which at once stamped it with popularity.

On the 17th of last month, the pictures, drawings, and sketches of the French Painter, David, were sold in Paris. The catalogue, drawn up by M. Pérignon, is extremely interesting; it mentions the Mars disarmed by Venus; the Andromache weeping for Hector; the Apelles painting Campaspe; the Buonaparte at Mount St. Bernard; with several other pictures of the principal events in the life of Napoleon; besides numerous sketches and studies made during the artist's residence in Rome. Among the modern subjects, is the drawing of the Tennis-court, several portraits, and two pictures of the members of the Legislative Assembly, and of the Convention. David, was one of the most sanguinary ruffians of the Legislative Assembly, if he be not grossly belied.

The Northern Society at Leeds, intend having an Exhibition this year, composed of both Modern and Ancient Pictures. Mr. Fawkes, of Farnley Hall, has, we understand, already offered in the handsomest terms, as many of the splendid Paintings and Drawings by Turner, which enrich his collection, as the Society may wish to exhibit. The Gallery will open in July. This is the best Institution of the kind out of London. If Manchester, instead of expending all its money upon a building, had, in the first instance- formed an Institution to occupy it, it might have had some chance of rivalling its neighbour; as it is, it can never be expected to possess an Institution half as likely to benefit the Fine Arts as the one in question.

There is about to be published, in one volume 8vo., the narrative of a tour through Hawaii, or Owhyhee; with an account of the geology, natural scenery, productions, volcanoes, &c. &c.; history, superstitions, traditions, manners and customs of the inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands; a grammatical view of their language, with specimens ; the account given of the death of Captain Cook by the natives; and biographical notices of the late King and Queen, who died in London. By W. Ellis, missionary from the Society and Sandwich Islands. We trust this volume will be free from the cant usually to be met with in publications emanating from British missionaries.

The Lord Chancellor has been sitting to Sir Thomas Lawrence for his full-length portrait. The painting is said to be for the King.

The subject of the Seatonian prize poem for the present year is The Transfiguration. The subjects for the present year are, for the Members' Prizes for Senior Bachelors: Quales fuerunt antiquorum Philosophorum de animi immortalitate opiniones, et ex quânam origine ductæ ?-Middle Bachelors: Quibusnam præcipuê artibus recentiores antiquos exsuperant?

A. M. Lagnel has constructed a machine, which is at present at work on the Rhone, by which he contrives to tow vessels against the stream at the rate of three quarters of a league in the hour; the ordinary rate of vessels towed by horses being two leagues and a half, or three leagues in a day. He has presented a model of his machine, on the scale of an inch to a foot, to the French Academy of Sciences. Dr. Holland states, that when travelling in Iceland he heard one of Mozart's melodies played and sung by an Icelandic girl, and that some months afterwards he heard the very same air sung to the guitar by a Greek lady, at Salonica. Yet the son of that immortal genius, who has dispensed delight from one extremity of Europe to the other, and still rules the entranced senses of millions, Charles Mozart, is a poor music-master at Milan !

The specimens of natural history brought home in the Blonde are intended for the British Museum, and consist of geological specimens, together with a few specimens of silver and copper ore from Coquimbo, Chili, and a specimen of tungsten from South Shetland; also an interesting series of volcanic rocks, lava, and sulphur, from the Galapagos, and from the interior of the crater of the volcano Pali, in Owhyhee. There are above one hundred varieties of birds, chiefly from Chili, with a few from the Sandwich and other Islands in the Pacific. Insects, shells, and marine subjects from the coast of America and the Sandwich Islands, constitute the remainder of the collection.

The Croakers have testified, (as Mause Headrigg did in the grass-market') against the cost of the late purchases for the National Gallery. They think £9000. too much, forsooth; and seem to consider that their tastes ought to have been consulted on the occasion. On the other hand, by all persons who have the smallest pretension to any acquaintance with the Fine Arts, they are considered cheap. Each diurnal and weekly scribe finds something to cavil at; the Titian is too blue, the Caracci too black, and the Coreggio, a copy !-The Times and Herald differ upon the subject. But this they do on every thing that is national. John Bull considers he has a prescriptive right to abuse every thing, from the national King, Church, and Constitution, to the national Gallery. Would that such hyporcritics were hung on its walls, as warnings to other birds of ill-omen. The three paintings lately obtained for this Institution are by Poussin, Annibal, Caracci, and Titian.

A splendid collection of paintings, the property of Lord Berwick and other amateurs, has been disposed of by auction within these last few days. The pictures were about two hundred in number. The principal picture was an historical composition of Rubens-The Continence of Scipio, an absurd subject for an artist to choose, since it is one of that class which is impossible to express by the pencil; this, however, was always of the least importance to Rubens, provided he could make a picture splendid and harmonious in colouring, which he has most successfully done in the present instance. The picture is from the Orleans' collection, and appears to have been painted about the same time with those of the Luxembourgh at Paris. This was reserved for the last day's sale.-A picture, which excited much interest, was a Virgin and Child, by Murillo, long distinguished as a chef d'œuvre in the Santa Cruz collection,' and for which Lord Berwick gave two thousand five hundred pounds. This was knocked down to a dealer for five hundred guineas. Mr. Phillips stated, that there was a similar one in the possession of Marshal Soult, for which the Marshal asked eight thousand guineas. Our directors of the National Gallery were in fact lately treating with the Marshal for the purchase of it. The Murillo is admirable for its composition and fine tone of colours, but the characters have a defect very common in this artist's work-vulgarity. This is more apparent in the Child, probably because we more expect a divine air. A most beautiful Fete Champetre, by Watteau, in his highly finished manner, and resembling in its tones those inthe possession of his Majesty, fetched twenty-two

pounds. A portrait of Rembrandt's Wife, as Lucretia, in a Dutch dress, by Rembrandt, fetched 190 guineas. A Ruysdael, with figures by Ostade, from Count Walmoden's collection, 90 guineas. A very celebrated picture by Vanderheyden, about a foot square-View near the Hague, with a group of Cattle in the fore ground, fetched 61 guineas. A fine picture by that finished painter, Vanderwerf, of Adam and Eve lamenting the Death of Cain, 35 guineas. A very clever Battle Piece, with portraits of Louis XIV. and Staff, by Vandermeulen, 32 guineas. A Landscape by De Koning, an inferior master, 180 guineas; a Landscape by Gaspar Poussin, 100 guineas; and Joseph interpreting his Dream, by Victor, a second-rate pupil of Rubens, for 125 guineas. The sale of the above and many other admirable pictures proportionably cheap affords a proof how greatly the 'Black-masters' are decreasing in pecuniary value.

Baudin, (brothers) booksellers, Paris, have just published the work which Buonaparte wrote in his twenty-first year, for the Academy of Lyons, and which is often referred to in the Memorial from St. Helena.

The popular belief in the venomous nature of the toad, which has of late years been rejected as a 'vulgar error,' decidedly so by Cuvier and other eminent naturalists, turns out to be correct.

O'Keefe is publishing his Reminiscences (and very amusing they are) in the New Monthly Magazine. He is in, by no means, the indigent circumstances we were led by the public newspapers to suppose.

The Boa Constrictor, it appears, from recent experiments made in India, casts its first skin on the fourteenth day after it is hatched from the egg, which is about the size of that of a goose, and soft. The serpent is at first about eighteen inches in length, and grows rapidly.

A medal has lately been struck in Germany, in honour of the celebrated Goethe. The design is by Professor Levezow, and the execution by Koenig, medalleur to the King of Saxony. On the front is the head of the poet, (a striking likeness,) crowned with the consecrated laurel, with the inscription, John Wolfg von Goethe.' On the reverse, the full-length figure of the poet, in the antique costume, between the tragic and comic muses, who are crowning him with the garland of immortality. The very excellent article, entitled The British Empire,' in the last number of the Monthly Review is said to be the production of the Rev. Mr. Croly. How could such a paper as this and the one on the Currency ever harbour under any blue cover more exclusive than the sky?

One of the neatest and most useful volumes we are acquainted with has lately issued from the press, entitled 'A General Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the United Kingdom.' By John Burke, Esq. We have had occasion to make some pretty frequent references to this volume, and find it more correct than such works generally are; although not altogether faultless. The graphical illustrations are numerous and well executed.

There is no lover of the drama who will not regret to hear that that incomparable actress, Mrs. Siddons, has met with an accident which may prove fatal to her. She lately had a severe fall, which has affected the spine of her back in such a manner as, at her advanced time of life, must be contemplated as dangerous in the extreme. A Russian Peasant, of the name of Fedor Slapuschkin, has attracted so much notice as an uneducated poet, that the Minister for Public Instruction has published his book, Leisure hours of a Villager;' and the Emperor, Empresses, and Royal Academy, have distinguished him by presents and honours.

An expurgated edition of Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, is, we perceive, about to be published. Mr. Bowdler has acted the part of Procrustes on the occasion. Really this sort of humbug has reached a very absurd climax. Mr. Bowdler might give the young ladies of England an expurgated edition of Mr. Moore's poetry with some prospect of advantage; but we cannot believe that any good can result from this cutting and maiming of our standard historians. We do not believe that any person has ever been made an infidel by reading Gibbon; nor can we suppose that the many gross allusions which occur in Shakespeare have ever operated disadvantageously on British females. Passages calculated to excite unmitigated disgust are never dangerous. It is the pruriencies of such writers as the author of Little's Poems,' and the Odes and Epistles,' which are really pernicious in their tendency. This is what John Bull has nicknamed, not unhappily, HUMFUMMERY!