thoughts of the projectors of these meetings, and that their rents had in forty years advanced three or four fold. Such is represented to have been the feeling of the practical agriculturists.

DURHAM.

At a late public meeting in the Town Hall in Darlington, it was resolved to petition for a repeal of the Coru Laws. Jos. Pease, Jun. Esq. was in the chair.

ESSEX.

Dr. R. D. Mackintosh lately delivered a lecture before the Colchester Philosophical Society. The subject was Empiricism-a subject of so delicate a nature, that, in hands less able, it might rather have afforded matter of exposure to the Lecturer, than of real satisfaction to the auditory. The disquisition was confined to medical empiricism only, and was prefaced by a definition of the term, which is derived from a Greek word usually translated "experience." The Lecturer then made some observations upon the three classes of persons commonly included in the term empirics; viz. 1st, Those who have some experience (to whom the name more properly belongs); 2udly, Quacks; and 3rdly, Mountebanks. The two first named were alone commented on. Dr. M. then gave a history of the ancient schools of medicine, which were divided into three sects; viz. Empirics, Dogmatics, and Methodists; and afforded much information on this singular subject.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

Some time ago, when it became necessary to purchase a tenement and a small tract of land at Bristol, for the purpose of improving one of the docks of the bridge, the proprietor, a person in humble life, brought forward his original deed, which was a grant from King Stephen, rudely, and almost unintelligibly, written on a piece of parchment, with the signature of that monarch attached.

LANCASHIRE.

The important object of shortening the road between Liverpool and the metropolis has seriously occupied the attention of Government, and no other obstacle presents itself to the accomplishment than the expense, which is estimated at about 250,000l. This, however, includes 80,5447. 6. 6d. which is the estimated cost of a cast-iron bridge, of five arches, at Runcorn. From Mr. Telford's report, it appears that the first division of the new line of 10ad commences at the vil lage of Weedon, co. Northampton, and terminates at Lichfield, a distance of forty-six miles; the second division commences at Lichfield, and terminates at Liverpool.

A meeting of the inhabitants of Liverpool was lately held in the Town Hall, for the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of presenting petitions to the legislature, for the repeal of the corn laws, or their modification; and the object of the meeting, after some discussion, was carried. Sir John Connel is named, and by his friends very confidently, as the probable successor of Lord Robertson.

LINCOLNSHIRE.

It is worthy of remark that there is now standing in the ancient park at Bowthorpe, near Bourn, a venerable oak tree which was very fruitful during the last summer, although the trunk is hollow, and has been used as a summer-house for upwards of 400 years: it measures 48 feet in circumference, is neatly fitted up with table and seats, and will

contain a tea-drinking party of 16 persons. If the table and other furniture were removed, there would be sufficient space for 28 persons in a standing position. This tree is much larger and older than the Crawley elm celebrated by Madame de Genlis.

NORFOLK.

The expenditure for Norwich made by the Chief Constable has increased more than double within the last few years. The total increase from 1782 to 1826 exceeds ten-fold the amount of the previous year; it being, in 1781, 334l. 19s. 10d., and in 1826, 3876/. 12s. 4d. The assessment for the poorrate, for the two last quarters, has been about 11s. in the pound, which is supposed to be upon the half rent or thereabouts.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

The mineral springs of Astross, in this county, were once very celebrated, though now almost unknown. "To trace the rise and fall of this little village may afford some amusement. Of its rise to fame, Aubrey, in his Lives of Eminent Men,' relates the following history: Thomas Willis, M.D. about 1657, riding towards Brackley to a patient, his way led him through Astross, where he observed the stones in the little rill were discoloured of a kind of crocus-martis colour: thought he, this may be indication of iron;-he gets galls, and puts some of the 'powder into the water, and immediately it turned blackish ;-' then,' said he, I'll not send my patients now so far as Tunbridge; and so in a short time brought these waters into vogue, and hath inriched a poore, ob scure village. Of its fall, the following note, in the hand writing of the late Robert Bland, M.D. on a blank leaf of Radcliffe's Life and Letters' (1736), purchased at the sale of his books, explains the reason:The inhabitants of Astross, near Brackley, in Northamptonshire, having obliged Dr. Radcliffe to pay for the keeping of a bastard child, laid to him by an infamous woman of that place, the doctor told them he would put a toad into their well:' accordingly, by decrying the waters of the place, which, from the recommendation of Dr. Willis, had acquired considerable credit, they fell into almost entire disuse.' Willis died 1675, Radcliffe 1714."

OXFORDSHIRE.

The professorship in Astronomy in Oxford being now vacant, the Vice Chancellor has to signify the same in writing to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, the Chancellor of the University, the Bishop of London, the Principal Secretary of State, the Chief Justices, the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and the Dean of the Arches, who are the electors and visitors. These illustrious persons are solemnly conjured by the Founder to seek for the ablest Mathematicians in other countries as well as our own; and, without regard to particular Universities or Nations, to elect those whom they shall deem best qualified for the office. On a transmission of their choice, the person so elected is admitted by the University in Convocation.

SHROPSHIRE.

At a numerous meeting of the supporters of the Salop Infirmary lately held, it was resolved to rebuild that institution upon the same site, but upon a considerably enlarged scale. Many of the principal residents of the county were present, and before the meeting separated, subscriptions towards a building fund were entered into to an amount exceeding four thousand pounds. Among the con

tributors were-Earl Powis 5004., Viscount Clive 300., Lord Hill, Trustees of Earl Bridgewater, Thomas Whitmore, Esq, M.P., W. L. Childe, Esq. Hon. R. H. Clive, M.P., Sir R. Hill, Bart, M.P. 2002. each; and Earl Kilmorey, the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart. M.P. Lady Markham, Hon. Col. Clive, Dr. Darwin, W. W. Whitmore, Esq. M.P. Hon. T. Kenyon, M.P. T. and W. Botfield, Esqrs. J. C. Pelham, Esq. MP. 1. Pemberton, W. Cludde, and J. A. Lloyd, Esqrs. Rev. Archdeacon Corbet, W. Charlton, and J. Cotes, Esqrs. Sir A. Corbet, Bart. and Messrs. Rocke, Eyton, and Co. 1001. each.

SOMERSETSHIRE.

A public meeting was held at Wedmore on the 21st of November, to determine upon a plan of a new turnpike-road from Langport through Shapwick, the village of Wedmore, and the parishes of Cheddar, Shipham, and Rowberrow, to join the new cut of the Bristol turnpike at that place. The gentlemen from Axbridge exerted themselves in favour of another line of road, to lead through or below that town: but the before-mentioned plan, through Cheddar and Shipham, was adopted by a large majority. Independently of the solid advantages this new road will confer upon the inhabitants and trade of the places through which it will pass, it will become particularly useful to the pa rishes of Congresbury, Wrington, Churchill, &c. by giving them a shorter and easier road to the south side of the Mendip hills, as well as to the city of Wells. But the views of this magnificent and picturesque district of Somersetshire, as seen from the hills of the parish of Wedmore, and from the summit of the Mendip bills at Shipham, cannot be described in language correspondent to their beauties they must be inspected to be justly con ceived. The ascent over these hills will be so easy as to form a trotting road from Langford into Cheddar; and the distance from Bristol to that inte. resting object, Cheddar Cliffs, will be considerably shortened.

SUFFOLK.

At a late meeting of landholders and farmers at Halesworth, to petition against any alter ation of the Corn Laws, Lord Dunwich in the chair, Sir T. Gooch observed, that he could not hide from himself the privations under which the manufacturing interests laboured; but he contended that the price of corn had nothing to do with the distresses which had been and were so prevalent. Although he should do his utmost to protect the agricultural interest, he wished to be understood that he was not the advocate of high rents. All he required was, to render the farmer respectable in his station, and to make the labourer independent of the poor-rates; and to effect these objects there must be remunerating prices, which could not be obtained except the agricultural interests were protected. He thought the price of wheat at 60s. a quarter would hurt no one. Sir T. S. Gooch was understood to say, that he named 60s. now, because the reduction of taxation would make about 60s, a remuneration equal to that of 80s. heretofore. A petition was then unanimously carried.

SUSSEX.

Mr. Barton delivered a lecture on "The Geo. graphy of Plants," before the Members of the Chichester Mechanics' Institution, at the Council Chamber. The lecture was closely allied to a series given some time ago by Mr. B. on General Geography. The known talents of the lecturer drew a large company together, nor were they disappointed, however high their expectations might

WARWICKSHIRE.

WILTSHIRE.

At a Council held last month in Salisbury, a large Silver Salver was presented to the late Chamberlain, Edward Stevens, Esq. with a very appropri ate address, by James Bennett, Esq. the late chief magistrate. The salver, which is a beautiful specimen of art, bears the following inscription :— "1826, City of New Sarum. (Arms of the city.) The Mayor and Commonalty inscribe this Plate to Edward Stevens, Esq. to testify their sense of the benefits derived to the Corporation and to the Poor, from his faithful services in the office of Chamberlain during a period of ten years. (Arms of Stevens.)" Mr. Bennett immediately afterwards retired from the civic chair, carrying with him the grateful respect and attachment of the Corporation, and of the city at large; and James Cobb, Esq. took the accustomed oaths as his successor.

WORCESTERSHIRE.

A numerous and respectable meeting of agricul turists was lately held at the Swan Inn, Alcester, for the purpose of forming an Association to act with the London Central Agricultural Committee. Above two hundred of the principal farmers in the neighbourhood were present, G. F. Strattou, Esq. in the chair. Petitions to both Houses of Parliament were unanimously agreed to, and a liberal subscription of 204. from Sir Charles Throckmorton was announced in promotion of the objects of the society. The owners and occupiers of land in the neighbourhood of Stow-on-the-Wold have also agreed to petition Parliament against any alteration in the Corn Laws.

YORKSHIRE.

Notwithstanding all that has lately been said about the dulness of trade, the result of our enquiries leads us to believe that it is not materially, if at all worse than is usual at this season of the year; and we were happy to be informed, last week, which is a very favourable circumstance, that the applications for relief, and the payments to the poor, at the church wardens' office, are decidedly on the decrease, both as regards number and amount; and this, we are sure, without any wish whatever on the part of the churchwardens to be improperly parsimonious in the distribution of the poor's-rates, or to withhold aid from those who appear to be real objects of charity.-Manchester Mercury.

A numerous meeting of the inhabitants of Leeds took place lately, to consider the propriety of petitioning parliament for a revision of the Corn Laws. The various speakers on this occasion did not make war on the agriculturist, by charging him with improper views, but they temperately contended that he overrated the danger to which he

would be exposed if the proposed revision took place; and pointing out the evils likely to result from pursuing a system which had the effect of raising manufacturing rivals in America and on the continent of Europe, they endeavoured to show, that to avert these, without injuriously depressing agriculture, might be practicable, if the existing laws were judiciously revised. A petition, embodying the views of the meeting, was unanimously agreed to.

The first stone of the Scarborough bridge was laid last month by the Senior Bailiff, in the presence of the Committee and the constituted authorities of the place. A silver trowel, on which were neatly engraved the arms of Scarborough, was used on the occasion. The plate fixed on the foundation stone bears the following inscription :-" For the Improvement of the town of Scarborough, and for the accommodation of its Visitors, this stone, being the foundation-stone of a new bridge, to be called the Scarborough Cliff Bridge, was laid by E. II. Hebden, Esq. the Senior Bailiff, in the presence of George Nesfield, Esq the Junior, and the following gentlemen, who compose the Committee of Management of the Scarborough Cliff Bridge Company :W. Travis, Esq. Scarborough, J. Tindall, Esq. ditto, H. Cook, Esq. ditto, W. Chambers, Esq. ditto, Mr. J. Dale, ditto, R. Cattle, Esq. York, Mr. Sheriff Rayson, ditto, Mr. J. Elston, ditto, Mr. R. Bewley, ditto, Mr. John Flintoft, ditto, Mr. J. Ward, ditto.-this 29th day of November, 1826, in the seventh year of the reign of his Majesty, George the Fourth. Robert Cattle, Esq. of York, projector. Mr. J. Outhet, engineer. Messrs. Stead, Snowdon, and Buckley, Contractors, York."

WALES.

The gentlemen of Breconshire, as trustees of the turnpike roads of that county, came to the determi nation at a late meeting, of petitioning Government to take the mail road, from Gloucester to Milford Haven and Ireland, leading through that county, under their care, in the same manner as the turapike-road from Shrewsbury to Holyhead: the former through South Wales to the South of Irelaud, and the latter through North Wales to Dublin, with a view of having the late survey of Mr. Telford carried more efficiently into execution. The trustees on the other parts of the line will give this measure their hearty co-operation. The petition was unanimously and numerously signed, and is to be presented by Colonel Wood.

SCOTLAND.

The difficulty of procuring subjects for anatomical purposes in Edinburgh, has induced a number of medical students to go to Paris, where every facility is afforded to procure them, and lectures are given daily in several of the hospitals. The finest subjects are sold at the Hospital de Piete, for three or four shillings each.

The Provost and Magistrates of Glasgow lately convened a public meeting of the inhabitants, in order to appoint a committee to survey and ascer tain the real state of the town. Two or four men, according to circumstances, were appointed to every quarter. The accuracy of their tables is attested by the signatures of the three ministers, and forty teuars, and they exhibit a heart-rending picture of the place. The committee found fortyseven empty houses. The town contains above 900 looms, and of these 118 are empty, the hands having either left the place, or got some other employment. They found 358 families totally unable to pay their present year's rent, and almost all of them in arrears of that due at last term. One hundred and fifty-eight heads of families, with 349 children under ten years of age, and the average

This

income of each family is 5s. 5d. a week. allows 42%. 13s. 6d. for the support of 665 human beings for a week, being nearly 16d. a week to each individual. The committee farther found 200 families in which there were 468 children above, and 380 under ten years old. In their case a number of the children were able to assist their parents, and the weekly income of each family ran to 1s. 10d, which is 887. 3s. 9d. to support 1248 individuals for a week. In this last class were found 60 families with four and five children, whose average income does not exceed 53. a week. It must be obvious to every person that the utmost exertions of private benevolence can go but a short way to obviate such a frightful accumulation of distress.

A few weeks ago two canoes, with a paddle, were dug out of Locher Moss, on the farm of Mid Dargavel, possessed by Mr. Kerr. Pennant, in his Tour, informs us that he saw a canoe which was dug out of Locher, near Kilbane, and that in 1736 another of a similar kind, with its paddle, was dug out of the same morass. Since then, many successive discoveries have proved that Locher was at one time an inlet from the Solway Frith; and as this latter discovery tends so strongly to corroborate the preceding ones, we shall receive with much pleasure any farther particulars concern. ing it.-Scotch Paper.

A numerous meeting of the farmers of East Lothian, was lately held, when they came to the following resolutions:-That the tenantry of the United Kingdom are deeply interested in obtaining adequate protection for the home grower of corn; and that the interests of landlord and tenant on this subject are the same. That the most strenuous efforts ought to be made, by petitions to both Houses of Parliament, to resist the attempts made to permit the introduction of foreign corn, to the destruction of British agriculture. That the tenantry of the United Kingdom have only to make a similar effort, and they will be the happy instruments of saving themselves and their families from ruin, and of preventing much public mischief, the possible extent of which cannot be contemplated without horror.

IRELAND.

Such is the dreadful condition of the poor in many of the southern parts of Ireland, that whole families are almost daily perishing for want. In the house of industry at Cork there are not less than 840 miserable objects; and upwards of 3000 human beings who came there in the hope of ob. taining relief, are now actually in a state of starvation, and dying in the streets.

It has been ascertained by the calculation of the comparative distances of the two roads, that in the journey from London to Dublin, a saving of six hours would be effected by adopting the road through Oxford, Cheltenham, the Haw Passage, and Aberystwith, in preference to the Holyhead road.

The commencement of the late solar eclipse was not perceptible in London, owing to the unfavourable atmosphere. At 10 hrs. 15 min. 30 sec., the clouds withdrew, and the lunar disk was observed to have made considerable progress on the sun's north-west limb. The interesting phenomenon was seen without interruption till 10 hrs. 41 min., when a heavy cloud from the west concealed the combined orbs, and prevented a view of the greatest obscuration; at this period the south-west part of the heavens was free from clouds, and of a deeper blue than usual. At 11 hrs. 24 min. the eclipse again became visible, the moon having passed to the castern limb, and exactly at 14 hrs. apparent time, the solar disk was left in its full-orbed lustre. In the country it was observed, that the first impact of the moon upou the sun's disk took place

upon the upper western side, at 41 minutes 7 seconds past nine, and in little more than a minute after that time the moon's disk was distinctly visible to the naked eye. The greatest degree of obscuration was at 45 minutes 17 seconds past ten, when nearly six digits of the sun's diameter was eclipsed on its eastern upper side. The eclipse terminated at 51 minutes past eleven. At the time of the greatest obscuration, though there was a perceptible diminution of light, it was not so much diminished as to permit any of the stars to be visible to the naked eye. This is the most considerable solar eclipse which will be visible in England for ten years to come. The last solar eclipse that was visible in this country took place during the memorable trial of the Queen of England, on Thursday the 7th September, 1820, when 10 digits were eclipsed.

Another year has transpired, and still the avoca tions of the husbandman proceed, like the seasons to which they are co-operative, in uninterrupted succession-storms may generate, and the political as well as the natural horizon may be enveloped in momentary obscurity, but the all-subduing influ. ence of the sun will eventually disperse the one, as the light of reason will dispel the other. The

farmer has no right, nor does he expect, to be exempt from the ordinary casualties which are attendant upon humanity; but, although the business of his life is to provide food for others rather than for himself, yet he has an honest claim upon the soil for the labour of his hands; and however distant he may find himself removed from the attainment of affluence, assiduity will at least secure him from

want and degradation. Thus far he may congratu late himself, that if fortune is not within his grasp, the rank which he holds in society must be perma nent; his well-being is so mainly essential to the very existence of every other portion of the community, that whatever measures have a tendency to cripple his resources, and to diminish the production of grain, will inevitably, sooner or later, fall with tenfold severity upon the heads of the consumers.

Parliament is likely to be pestered with petitions and counter-petitions on the subject of the Cora Laws; but after all, if the legislature is not better acquainted with the probable tendency of the measures which it may be in contemplation to adopt than the petitioners themselves, the consequences will most likely prove equally calamitous to both parties. The present we should imagine to be a very critical period to try experiments-what with the uncertainty of things abroad-the avowed and undoubted deficiency in the last year's crop of grain at home-the farmer suffering from the latter Cause, and barely recovered from the operations of 1822-3, and the manifest inability on his part to meet the demand in full at the present Christmas audit, are subjects, we presume, which require very serious consideration, ere it is attempted to intro. duce innovations which may be productive of ruinous consequences to one party, without con.

ferring material benefit on the other. The common routine of husbandry at this season of inactivity affords but little scope for observation, and our remarks may be comprised in a few brief sentences: the attention of the farmer is now chiefly directed to the barn-doors, the delivery of grain, and the progress of his forward beasts towards that state which qualifies them for the Smithfield market. With respect to the former, it may be presumed the prices of barley and oats have been sufficiently high for the last three months to expedite their delivery, and that, consequently, the largest por. tion of each of those grains, particularly the former, has already found its way to the granary of the merchant; and although the delivery of wheat has not been so extensive as that of other corn, yet, taking into account the deficiency of the crop of last harvest, the inference is, that a smaller quantity of that grain also is now in the possession of the grower, than is usual at the present season of the year. Prime beasts come slow to hand; nor are the shambles likely to be very liberally supplied with beef of superior quality for some months to come-the scarcity of hay, the inferior quality of the turnips, and the little inducement held out to the grazier to supply the deficiency with artificial food, are all circumstances which will militate against the production of fine beef of quality during the whole of next spring.

J.

Nov. 24 R. GOOCH, Southampton, merchant. T. WATSON, White Horse-street. Stepney, Middlesex, master mariner. R. GARBETT, Wellington, Salop, builder. T. JONES, Shrewsbury, Salop, victualler. G. L. DEAN, Peel-place, Kensington, Middlesex, boot and shoe-maker. J. BILLINGE, St. Philip and Jacob, Gloucestershire, dealer. S. MUNDY the younger, Bradford, Wilts, faller and cloth dealer. J. ROGERS, Shrewsbury, Salop, grocer. G. M. EVELYN, Skinner street, Snow-hill, London, chip and Leghorn hat manufacturer. J. ROBERTSON, Tottenham, Middlesex, surgeon. J. GRIFFIN and J. M. ADAMS, of the Strand. Middlesex, goldsmiths. J. BOSS. Wyrardisbury Mills. Werardisbury, Bucks, flock manufacturer. L. BLANCHENAY, Pall-Mall, Middlesex, wine merchant. J. COATES, No. 38. Long-lane, Bermondsey, Surrey, fellmonger. J. HILL, Paternoster-row, Loudon, printer. T. TILL, Minster, Isle of Sheppy, Kent, farmer and shopkeeper. R. FERNS, Mellor, Derbyshire. J. LANGFORD, Manchester, and J. HADFIELD, Roworth, Derbyshire, merchants. F. CROSS the younger, Birtsmorton, Worcestershire, coppice wood dealer. J. MOSS, Tothill street, Westminster, shoe.

maker. R. HILL, High-street, Southwark, stationer. H. S. POTTER, Bridge-street, Southwark, cabinetmaker. S. HOPKINS, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, clothier. W. CLARK, Paternoster-row, London, bookseller. J. MARTIN the elder, Bath, carrier. A. W. LARMUTH, Exmouth-street, Spa-fields, Middle. sex, linen-draper. J. DILLON, Hereford, brazierW. ROEBUCK, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, cloth-dresser. A RUSSELL, March, Isle of Ely, grocer. J. MUSGRAVE, Bramley, Leeds, Yorkshire. cloth-manufacturer. G. HOOPER, No. 4. Eldon-street, Finsbury, Middlesex, builder. C. COPE. Birmingham, wine-merchant.. J. SIBSON, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, draper.

Nov. 28. W. SWEETMAN, Westow Hill, Norwood, Surrey, carpenter. W. FRANKLIN, Jermyn-street, Middlesex, tailor. R. PEAKER, Mirfield, Yorkshire, shopkeeper. J. GORDON, Spring-gardens, Middlesex, army-agent and banker. T. TREHERN, Hereford, carpenter. A. ANDERSON, jun. East-street, Walworth, Surrey, baker, J. BOWERS, East-street, Spitalfields market, Middlesex, victualler. J. LANGDON, the younger, Bronti-place, Walworth, Sarrey,