Such

narrow-minded, his works cannot last. is the judgment we have repeatedly given in these columns on his historical volumes. The last New Quarterly Review, London, (decidedly the ablest standard of literary criticism among the British Quarterlies,) slashes him into pieces. It says:

"The work is a scaudal to modern history. Every successive volume serves only to illustrate the necessity of this judgment. A third instalment has just appeared, and, after the labor of reading it over, we lay it down with still increasing surprise. So much slovenly carelessness, gross ignorance, and offensive conceit, were never before allowed to scrawl their autographs, and call them history. Sir Archibald's instinct for blundering is too potent to be corrected by any industry in criticism. We have here all the old faults. Sir Archibald is neither industrious nor well-informed. He never strays away in search of a classical allusion, but he misconceives it when obtained, and distorts it in using it. Although he appears to have mastered the rudiments of French since we spoke to him last on that subject, his attempts to twist a French idiom into English are as amusing as ever. His geography is even worse than that taught by the Irish Education Board; for even that learned body does not, we presume, teach its scholars that Georgia is a part of Asia Minor. His references to history-we mean the great notorious facts, the bluff cliffs, high mountains, and glaring light-houses of history-are so shamefully inaccurate, that if a man were to talk as Alison writes, he would be hardly thought fit for the society of edu cated people. His ignorance of historical authorities is so dense, that he has actually never heard of the only original native history, and the only authentic collection of state papers, that treat of the periods he pretends to chronicle."

The critic admits these charges to be extreme, and scarcely credible; but proceeds to prove them by an overwhelming list of blunders-and pours a hail-storm of critical missiles upon the knighted historian.

From Charles Knight's "Old Printer and Modern Press," we learn that, in 1853, there were three times as many books published in England, as in 1828; that the comparative increase in the number of volumes was not so great, showing, that of the new books more single volumes were published; that the total cost of one set of the new publications had increased by more than one-half of the former cost; that the average price of each new work had been reduced nearly one-half; and that the average price per volume had fallen about 58. below the price of 1828. A further analysis of this Annual List shows, that of the 2530 books published in 1853, only 287 were published at a guinea and upward; and that of these only 206 were books of general information; while 28 were law-books, and 53 of the well-accustomed dear class of guinea-and-a-half novels. Decidedly the quarto dynasty had died out.

The London Athenæum says that the fact "of 175,000 Leaves of Fanny Fern having been sold in the United States, is the saddest satire it has ever read on America and Americans."

The following Professors were appointed at the last commencement of Asbury University, Indiana-Rev. Daniel Curry, D. D., President, and Professor of Mental and Moral Science. Rev. B. H. Nadal, A. M., Professor of English Literature and Normal Instruction. Rev. E. E. E. Bragdon, A. M., Professor of Latin Language and Literature. Rev. S. E. Ferris, A. M., Adjunct Professor of Law, and Principal of Preparatory Department. Hon. A. C. Downey, A. M.,

Professor of Law.

Alexander Von Humboldt.-A writer in Blackwood, thus describes this veteran :—

"Age sits lightly upon his active head. Still full of unrecorded facts and thoughts, he labors daily in committing them to the written page,-for the grave, he tells you, waits him early now, and he must finish what he has to do before he dies. And yet he is as full at

the same time of the discoveries and new thoughts of others, and as eager as the youngest student of nature in gathering up fresh threads of knowledge, and in following the advances of the various departments of natural science. And in so doing it is a characteristic of his generous mind to estimate highly the labors of others, to encourage the young and aspiring investi gator to whatever department of nature he may be devoted, and to aid him with his counsel, his influence, and his sympathy. We found him congratulating himself on the possession of a power with which few scientific men are gifted--that of making science popu lar-of drawing to himself, and to the knowledge he had to diffuse, the regard and attention of the masses of the people in his own and other countries, by a clear method and an attractive style in writing."

There are in New-Hampshire 2,294 schools; 87,825 scholars; average wages per month of male teachers, exclusive of board, $16 42; of females, $7 18; children from 4 to 14 not attending school, 2,669; from 14 to 21 who cannot read or write, 428; school-houses built last year, 70; incorporate academies, 46; money paid for tuition in academies and private schools, $23,494 30; raised for public schools, $212,324.

The Paris correspondent of The Boston Atlas says that strange rumors have gone abroad of late concerning the determination which, after mature reflection, has seized upon George Sand, of retiring forever from the world and leading a religious life. For this purpose she is said to be now busy interbuilding and arranging her house in Berri for the reception of six ladies, whose conduct and government are to be subjected to the theory laid down by St. Theresa. A French correspondent of an English periodical says:

"Perhaps nothing in France has received a greater shock from its recent revolutions than its literature. Most of the distinguished writers of the generation which is passing away have been involved in political disasters, and have been prematurely swept from the stage. Victor Hugo lives a broken exile in the isle of Guernsey. Lamartine is almost forgotten. You sometimes meet in Paris a half-negro whose hair has lost its color and become white, and who stoops alarmingly in the shoulders-it is Alexandre Dumas. This popular writer resides with his daughter, at the Maison d'Or, on the Boulevard, but has lately taken a small "hotel" in the Rue d'Amsterdam. I passed one evening on the Boulevard a gouty old man, bent almost double, who seemed hardly able to drag himself along; he was returning from the Diran, a sort of estaminet, celebrated as a place of reunion for men of letters, and was pointed out to me as the celebrated critic Gustave Planch, but he looks now like a critic of the past. Alfred de Vigny, the author of St. Mars, is a tolerably constant attendant at the Academie Française, and still holds up his head comme un Saint Sacrement, to use a French phrase: his locks hang long, like those of the Franks described by Thierry; but, alas! they are no longer black. Emile Deschamps has retired to Versailles, where he cultivates his garden more than the muses. Sainte-Beuve has thrown himself into the Moniteur Universel, where he has turned a prophet of evil, and appears in wearisome articles, which are read only in the provinces. The bibliophile Jacob (Paul Lacroix) must also be classed among the forgotten ones, as well as his brother, who once enjoyed a reputation as a writer of romances and dramatic pieces, and who has Some of the married the sister-in-law of Balzac. writers of a higher class of literature remain, such as

Guizot, Villemain, Augustin Thierry, and Victor Cou

sin; but of these Guizot alone is active."

Important Railroad Inventions and ImprovementsAmerican Artists at Florence-The MicroscopeAsphaltum-Researches at Pompeii - Crawford's Great Work-Greece and Washington-Etherization -Leutze's Statue of Washington-Dr. Elster.

A TRULY great reform has been introduced in London, which promises to let the sun shine into its streets, and which ought to be adopted by all our railroad and steamboat companies. By an ordinance of the government, the "smoke nuisance" is abolished; furnaces are to consume their own smoke. Steam-vessels on the

Thames between London-bridge and Richmondbridge are to consume their own smoke. Constables may be empowered to enter and inspect furnaces and steam-engines. Soot is the greatest nuisance in our own railroad travel, though the dust is bad enough; for the former, at least, there is no apology.

As steam conveyance is the great power of the age, all its improvements are preeminently important. To the above we are happy to add an item, apparently well authenticated, respecting Miller's invention for breaking cars. For some time past this invention has been in operation upon the Pontiac road. The apparatus consists simply of a steam-pipe extending from the locomotive to a cylinder attached to each car of the train, and in which there is a piston that operates upon the brake by means of an iron rod. This apparatus is extremely simple, and is under the absolute control of the engineer. The power can be applied to the brakes almost instantaneously upon the first indication of danger. In a late trip upon the Pontiac road for the purpose of giving the invention a practical test, the brake was first applied while the train was going at the rate of twenty miles an hour, and the train was brought to a dead stop in a distance of fifteen rods, without reversing the engine or causing the slightest jar. It was next applied while the train was going at the rate of thirty miles an hour, and in a distance of thirty rods, and in twenty seconds of time, the train was again brought to a dead stand. This was repeated the second time, and with the same result as to time and distance, and again without reversing the engine. If this had been done, the cars would have been stopped in about two-thirds of the distance and time. The value of such an improvement, in the increased safety of travel, is inestimable.

We have also the pleasure of recording a very important improvement in the manufacture of rails. A triumphant experiment of the vertical double-acting rail-mill took place lately at the Trenton Iron Works in the presence of the stockholders, directors, and officers, and a large number of spectators. The machinery was run through rails from 18 to 21 feet in length, 7 inches in height, weighing 93 pounds to the yard, in an average time of 1 minute to each, to the admiration of all present. The peculiarities of this invention are, that rails are run through at a welding heat in about one-half less time and with one-third less labor than by the old

horizontal rollers. The chief advantage accomplished by this new machine is the ability to roll flanged bars of great width, and such as cannot be made by the ordinary means in use. It is proposed to make wrought-iron beams in these rolls, and they are well adapted for this purpose. The triumphant success of the experiment created a sensation of joy throughout the company present. The foreman of the gang of men in charge of the new mill, Mr. David James, mounted the rolls and proposed three cheers for the victory they had just accomplished. These were given with great enthu siasm by the whole crowd. This invention is an important one to the Company, and gives a degree of success in the manufacture of railroad iron not enjoyed in any other establishment in this or any other country.

American Artists at Florence.-A correspondent of The Richmond Inquirer writes from Leghorn as follows:

"At Florence I saw Powers at his studio, having just completed a statue of Washington for the state of Louisiana. He has taken Houdon's statue in our capitol as his model, changing the column from his left side to the right, and giving to him rather a meditative air. The workmanship is excellent. Hart has finished a bust of J. J. Crittenden of Kentucky. No man can execute a better one. And now let me tell the ladies of Virginia that Hart thinks, in about two years more, he will send home the statue of Henry Clay. I saw our friend Barbee, who, with Hart, dined with me, and seemed to be just getting to work. All seemed pleased that young Galt was to execute the statue of Mr. Jefferson."

Was the microscope known to the ancients? is a question among antiquarians. We notice, in foreign papers, that a glass has been discovered at Pompeii, about the size of a crown piece, with a convexity, which leads one to suppose it to be a magnifying lens. Now, it has been said that the ancients were not aware of this power, and the invention is given to Galileo by some; to a Dutchman, in 1621, by others, while the compound microscope is attributed to one Fontana, in the seventeenth century. But, without a magnifying glass, how did the Greeks and Romans work those fine gems which the human eye is unable to read without the assistance of a glass? There is one in the Naples Royal Collection, for example, the legend of which it is impossible to make out unless by applying a magnifying power. The remarkable fact is, that the glass in question was found with a stone ready cut and polished for engraving thereon, which stone is now also to be seen in the Museum of Naples. It would appear, therefore, that a worker of gems possessed and used this instrument.

The Earl of Dundonal, better known as Lord Cochrane, has taken out a patent in this country for a composition of asphaltum for the covering of telegraphic wires, and for the making of foundations for piers and lighthouses; for the preservation of all wood under water; for the making of pipes, tanks, &c. Since the introduction of the electric telegraph in the United States, it has been found impracticable in certain states of the atmosphere to transmit intel

ligence along the wires from their exposure to atmospheric influences. By the earl's invention this difficulty is removed, and an impor

tant desideratum effected in the art of telegraphing, as the substance employed completely envelops the wires, which will be carried underground instead of being, as at present, stretched on high poles-thus being more efficient, much more secure from injury, and getting rid of the inconvenience of poles and wires in public thoroughfares. The composition is indestructible, and can be supplied at little more than half the cost of anything previously used.

Researches at Pompeii-Canosa.—A correspondent of the London Athenæum says: "At Pompeii the works were for a long time suspended. A bronze statue of Apollo had been brought to light, a little larger than life, Roman in style; it was found near the small theater. The excavations are now being prosecuted very feebly, but with a view to discover the lower part of the boundary walls of the ancient city. The point of greatest interest, however, has been, and still continues to be, Canosa, in Puglia,and the excavations of the Greek tombs have been carried on under the able direction of Signor Carlo Bonucci. These tombs are in the form of small chambers, decorated with columns and paintings. Here have been found objects of quite a novel and extraordinary interest, in arms, terra-cottas, and glass; ornaments of gold, as necklaces, bracelets, diadems, earrings, and rings; cameos and vases which are remarkable for the beauty of their paintings, and the interest and the grandeur of the subjects. I have already spoken of the wonderful vase on which is represented the wars between the East and the West, or Asia and Greece, in which Darius is seated in the midst of his satraps, while the various provinces of Asia, personified by beautiful women, bring their offerings for the war; and I only allude to it now for the reason that I have just seen some fragments of these beautiful productions of art. When I speak of fragments, it should be known that no part is missing, and that the vase will be restored to perfection."

Crawford's Great Work.-A correspondent of an English journal, writing from Rome, speaks as follows of Crawford :

"From Mr. Gibson's I pass to Mr. Crawford's studio, where everything now yields to the grand work ordered by the United States Government. It is to be of statuary marble, and is to be placed at the eastern extremity of the Capitol extension at Washington. As it engages much of the attention of the artistic world, I will give a detailed description of what it is to be; for at present nothing is to be seen but huge portions of plaster models. The central figure of the pediment represents America standing on a rock, against which the waves of the ocean are beating. She is attended by the eagle of the country; while the sun rising at her feet indicates the light which accompanies the march of liberty. In one hand she holds the rewards of civic and military merit-laurel and oak wreaths;her left hand is extended toward the pioneer, for whom she asks the protection of the Almighty. The pioneer is the athletic figure of a backwoodsman clearing the forest. The Indian race and its extinction is explained by the adjoining group of the Indian chief and family. The son of the chief is returning from the chase, with a collection of game slung on a spear over his shoulder. In the statue of the Indian chief, Mr. Crawford has endeavored to describe the despair and profound grief resulting from his conviction of the white man's triumph. The wife and infant of the chief complete this group of figures; while the grave,

being emblematic of the extinction of the Indian race, fills up this portion. The opposite half of the pediment The first figure on the right of America represents its is devoted to the effects of Liberty and Civilization.

Soldier. He is clothed in the costume of the Revolation, as being most suggestive of the country's strug gle for independence; his hand upon his sword indicates the readiness of the army to protect America from insult. By the soldier is placed a Merchant, sitting on the emblems of trade; his right hand rests upon the globe, by which the extent of American commerce is symbolized. The anchor at his feet connects his figure with those of two boys advancing cheerfully to devote themselves to the service of their country. The anchor is easily understood to be the emblem of Hope: behind them sits the Teacher instructing a youth. The Mechanic completes the group. He rests upon the cog wheel, without which machinery is useless. In his hands are the emblems of trade; and at his feet are some sheaves of corn, expressive of fertility, activity, and abundance, in contradistinction to the grave at the corresponding corner."

Here is a short announcement that savors of old times: "The Greek government has selected a marble block in the Parthenon for the monument of George Washington, now being raised in the city named after him. It is to bear the following inscription:-'To George Washington, the heroic general, the high-minded citizen, the founder of modern freedom, the land of Solon, Themistocles and Pericles, the birthplace of ancient freedom, dedicates this old marble as a sign of reverence and admiration." "

The

A foreign correspondent of the Tribune writes that "whatever political differences there may be between the politicians of the two countries, the learned men of Germany have a high estimation of the scientific character, as well as of the attainments of our countrymen. English are too jealous to give us due credit for our discoveries, and the French too uncosmopolitan. The Germans freely acknowledge our claims to the greatest scientific discovery of the century, namely, that of Etherization. Until lately chloroform was in general use on the continent as well as in Great Britain, but it will soon be supplanted by a milder and less dangerous agent, namely, sulphuric ether, which was originally employed in Boston. A death occurred a short time since at the General Hos pital from the use of chloroform. In a conver sation a few evenings since, at the Imperial Institute, with Hofrath von Oppelzer and Haller -the former the most distinguished physician, and the latter the first chemist of Austria-I found both of these eminent men in favor of the Boston method of etherization." The Boston faculty was the first to apply the new discovery; and it has invariably adhered, in at least its hospital practice, to etherization-rejecting chloroform. It has hardly had a single evil result to report. We believe with this writer, that the new agent, or at least its new ap plication, is the greatest improvement of the age. It should be used in every painful operation in surgery, in all instances of childbirthin almost every case involving severe pain. It is God's greatest gift of the times to our poor humanity.

Leutze's statue of Washington at the Battle of Monmouth will be shortly exhibited at Brussels. It is at present in the sculptor's studio at Berlin.

Dr. Elster, a well-known German writer on Art, died suddenly, a short time since, at Berlin.

In any country Mr. Jay would have reached distinction; but in his own he acquired that admiration and renown which the union of goodness and greatness can alone command.

The ancestors of John Jay were French Huguenots. Augustus Jay, his grandfather, was one of the three sons of Pierre Jay, an opulent merchant of La Rochelle. On the revocation of the Edict of Nantz, Pierre fled from the persecutions which followed this insane measure of Louis XIV. He sailed for England, the vessel containing all that remained of his fortune. Two sons accompanied their father, one of whom he had the misfortune to lose during the voyage. The other, a brave man, died in England of wounds received at the celebrated battle of the Boyne, when he fought under the illustrious Count Schomberg, in one of the French volunteer and Protestant regiments.

At this period the grandfather of Mr. Jay embarked from England, with other Huguenots, for South Carolina; but, not liking that climate, he proceeded to NewYork. In this province he settled at Esopus, which, at the time, was a favorite residence of the French Protestants. Thence he removed to New-York and married Miss Bayard, in 1697. He died, much respected, at the advanced age of eighty-five, leaving three daughters and one son, (Peter,) born in 1704, who married a daughter of Jacobus Van Cortlandt. These were the parents of John Jay. Before the American revolution, he had retired from mercantile pursuits to an estate at Rye; but was forced to leave it, at the commencement of that struggle. He died at Poughkeepsie in 1782.

His son, John Jay, was born in the city of New-York, December 1, (old style,) 1745. An estimable mother instructed him in the first rudiments of literature. When eight years old, he was placed in the school of the Rev. Mr. Stoep, rector of the Huguenot Church, New-Rochelle, and at fourteen entered King's, now Columbia College, then recently founded. Dr. Johnson was president of the institution, and was succeeded by Dr. Cooper, both accomplished scholars, the latter especially excelling in Belles lettres. It is a well-known fact that some of the best American minds have graduated from this venerable seat

ilton, Dewitt Clinton, and Washington Irving. After taking his Bachelor's degree, he was admitted to the bar about 1768.

In the year 1774 Mr. Jay married Sarah. daughter of that distinguished patriot. William Livingston, Governor of NewJersey. Soon he attained great eminence as a lawyer, not only in New-York, but in the neighboring provinces of Connecticut and New-Jersey. The American revolution was now about to break out, a momentous era, and his fellow citizens began to look up to him as a guide through the dark and gathering storm which was evidently approaching. In 1774 he was selected as one of the delegates to the first American Congress-an imperishable honor. The members of that august body will ever command the gratitude, not only of the American people, but of the world. In 1776 he was chosen president of Congress. The next year he was a member of the convention which framed the constitution of New-York, and made the first draft of that paper. During the year 1778 the government of this state was organized, when Mr. Jay became its chief justice. We find him, the next year, again in Congress; and, while its presiding officer, he was appointed minister plenipotentiary to Spain. The objects of this mission were to obtain from that nation an acknowledgment of our independence, a treaty of alliance, and pecuniary aid. Early in the summer of 1782 he received the appointment of a commissioner to negotiate peace with England; but to continue the Spanish negotiations also.

Dr. Franklin, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Laurens, joined Mr. Jay in concluding the treaty of peace, and all arrived at Paris in 1782. That important treaty was signed in 1783, and the following year Mr. Jay returned to the United States.

During the year 1787 there was an alarming riot in the city of New-York, caused by the culpable imprudence of medical students, who had disinterred some dead bodies for dissection. Such was the excited state of the public feeling, that the young men were compelled to seek protection from the violence of the populace in the city prison. A large crowd assembled for the purpose of forcing them from this retreat, and of inflicting on them summary punishment. The militia were or