NEW SOCIETIES.

Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. The extensive interests connected with the Asiatic department of the British territories, have at length induced the formation of a new Society under the above title; which, for talent, rank, numbers and respectability, has never been equalled in the infancy of any similar establishment. At the general meeting held for the final arrangement of the society, at the Thatched House, St. James's Street, on the 15th of March last, it was announced that the number of names on the list already exceeded three hundred; from among whom twenty-five were elected to form the council. His Majesty declared himself patron of the society: the Marquess Wellesley and the Marquess of Hastings were nominated Vice Patrons; and the Right Honourable C. W. Wynne was elected President; H. T. Colebrooke, Esq. Director; Sir G. T. Staunton, Bart. Sir J. Malcolm, Sir A. Johnston, and Colonel Wilks, Vice Presidents; and Dr. Norhden, Secretary. Under the auspices of a society so constituted, much valuable intelligence will doubtless be made public.

Asiatic Society of Paris.-The first public meeting of this society, of which MM. Silvestre de Sacy, de Lasteyrie, Abel Rémusat, Chézy, Moranas, Fauriel, &c. are the most active members, was held in the hall of the Society for the Encouragement of National Industry, on April 1, 1822; and such has been the zeal and industry with which its members have been actuated, that at the general meeting held on the 21st April, last, the Secretary announced that the following works had been published at the expense of the society during the last year: A Japanese Grammar, A Mantchouan Dictionary, Fragments in Sanscrit, A Collection of Fables in Armenian, and A Georgian Grammar, accómpanied by a Vocabulary. At this meeting, so interesting to the students of the Oriental languages, as well as to the inhabitants of the East, the Duke of Orleans, who presided, pronounced a discourse full of judicious ideas, finely expressed, on the advantages of the study of foreign languages, and quoted, in illustration of his argument, the remark of Charles the Fifth, that a man who knows several languages is equal in value to several men: and M. de Sacy, president of the coun

cil, described the object which the society had in view, and the means which it possessed of facilitating Oriental studies. We heartily wish every success to a society so well calculated to enlarge our acquaintance with the literary stores of the East.

Slave Trade.-A society has been established in London for the purpose of mitigating, and gradually abolishing the state of slavery throughout the British dominions. The individuals composing this society are deeply impressed with the magnitude and number of the evils attached to the system of slavery which prevails in many of the colonies of Great Britain; a system which appears to them to be opposed to the spirit and precepts of Christianity, as well as repugnant to every dictate of natural humanity and justice. They long indulged a hope that the abolition of the slave trade, after a struggle of twenty years, would have tended rapidly to the mitigation and gradual extinction of negro bondage in the British colonies; but in this hope they have been painfully disappointed, and after a lapse of sixteen years they have still to deplore the almost undiminished prevalence of the very evils which it was one great object of the abolition to remedy. Under these circumstances they feel themselves called upon, by their duty as Christians, and their best sympathies as men, to exert themselves in their separate and collective capacities, in endeavouring by all prudent and lawful means, to mitigate and eventually to abolish slavery itself as existing in our colonial possessions.

NATURAL HISTORY.

Importance of the Natural History of India.-M. C. G. C. Reinwardt, who has succeeded the late M. Brugmans in the chair of Natural History in the university of Leyden, took possession of that honour on the 3d of May, and pronounced a Discourse" De augmentis quæ Historiæ Naturali ex India Investigatione accesserunt," in which, after rendering homage to the memory of his predecessor, he proceeds to offer some important considerations to naturalists. This able professor, who was, in 1815, sent to Java by the King of the Netherlands, returned thence last year, after having visited Timor, Banda, Amboyna, Ternate, and the north-east extremity of Celebes. During his stay of seven years in India, he transmitted several pack

ages to Europe, the greater part of which, by an uncommon fatality, have been swallowed up by the sea. Fortunately his manuscripts and drawings, and the large collections with which he embarked, have escaped this fate. We are informed that he is now occupied in arranging his observations, in order to give them to the world as speedily as possible.

Meteoric Iron.-An elegant sabre, fabricated from a portion of the mass of meteoric iron, which was brought from the Cape of Good Hope by Captain Barrow, has been presented by the late Mr. Sowerby to the Emperor Alexander. His Imperial Majesty testified considerable satisfaction on the receipt of this curious present, which he acknowledged by the gift of a brilliant ring.

Diamonds of India.-The interesting paper of Mr. H. W. Voysey, read before the Asiatic Society of Calcutta, contains much valuable information on the diamond mines of India. The alluvial soils at the base of the Necla Mulla mountains, near the rivers Kistna and Pinaar, are the most productive sources of this precious gem. These include the celebrated mines of Golconda, which are very numerous. The most remarkable among them are those of Gani Parteala, which are the only ones at present worked; and even in these, the labours are confined to searching for the rubies

in the ancient mines. It is a received opinion among the workmen, that the diamonds increase in bulk, and that those which are now met with of any size, are the refuse of others which had formerly been collected, but which were then thrown aside. The facts here mentioned are by no means new they were described by Patrin upwards of twenty years since; and furnished him with an illustration of the extraordinary theory which he then broached, that "diamonds are merely the matter of light in a concentrated form."

Persian Turquoise.-An article, referring rather to the use, value, and employment of the Turquoise in Persia, than to its natural history, has appeared in the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal. The author has pointed out Hishapuz and Firuskah, as localities which furnish a great quantity of this precious stone, but without giving any idea of the strata and minerals which accompany it. It bears in Persia the name of Firoozi.

Opium is characterized in a report addressed to the Emperor of China by the Viceroy of Canton, as "an article, the poison of which is no less fatal to the heart of man than to the public morals." This Governor accuses the Portuguese of Goa, the English, and the Americans, who, he says, have the misfortune to have no king, as the nations who venture thus to poison China.

I. ARRIVALS IN ENGLAND. Marquess of Hastings, Barclay, Dec. 1st.; sailed from Calcutta, June; and from Madras, 13th of July.

From Bombay, Dec. 1.-The Melpomene, Mowbray, sailed July 12th.

From Mauritius, Dec. 15.-The Emily, Copeland, sailed 25th of June; Britomart, Neach, sailed 15th of Sept.

From Cape of Good Hope, Dec. 15.The Hero, Ritchie; Matilda, Collins; and Emulous, Hunt; all sailed in Sept.

II. ARRIVALS IN EASTERN PORTS. At Calcutta, May 8.-Nantaise, Watier, from Nantz, Oct. 14.-10. Kent, Cobb, London, Jan. 6.-11. General Kyd, Nairne, London, Feb. 10.-16. Westmoreland, Coulter; Liverpool, Dec. 10. Timandra, Wray; London, Dec, 16. -17. Ogle Castle, Pearson; London, Dec. 11.-Windsor, Haviside; Mellish, Cole; Pilot, Gardner; Sophia, Sutton; all from London.

At Madras, June 17.-Britannia, Luke; -18. Stentor, Harris ;-21. Pyramus,

Brodie ;-23. Atlas, Mayne; and Norfolk, Greig; Cadmus, Talbert; William Miles, Beadle; Madras, Clark; General Palmer, Truscot;-July 19. Kains, Cunningham; all from London.

At Bombay, July 6.-Asia, Pope; Charles Forbes, Brydon;-11. Royal George, Ellerby;—— -12. Euphrates, Meade; all from London July 11th.

At China, Aug. 1.-Bombay, Hine, from London.

Off Anjeer, July 12.-Bombay, Hine; from London, Tobacco Planter; from Liverpool, August 1. Lowther Castle, Baker.-19. Vansittart, and Warren Hastings, from London.

At Ceylon, June 28.-Speke, Macpherson, from London.

At the Mauritius, Aug. 19.-Cape Packet, Kellie; Speke, Macpherson, Sept. 23, from London.

At the Cape of Good Hope, Sept. 2.Greenock, Richmond, from Leith; Belinda, Coverdale, from London.-5. Jupiter, Park; and Albion, Best, from

London.-7. Royal George, Reynolds, from London; Ŏct. 16.—Eliza, Brown, Sept. 17.-Mars, Bishop, Sept. 30.Ellen, Camper, from London, Sept. 21. -H. M. S., Larne, from Portsmouth; Sept. 21.-Mary, Boyd, Oct. 10.Windsor Castle, Lee, Oct. 12.-Kerswell, Armstrong, Oct. 29.-Courier, Mainwaring, Oct. 25, all from London. III. SHIPS SAILED FROM ENGLAND. For Madras and Calcutta.-The York, Talbert; Belle Alliance, Rolffe; and Clyde, Driver.

For Bombay, Dec. 1.-Acteon, Briggs; -19. Mary Anne, Craigie.-21. Hannah, Shepherd; and Cambridge, Barber.

For Singapore, Dec.21.-Nassau,Carns. For Batavia, Dec. 30.-Guardian, Sutherland.

to the sailing of the Jupiter, on the 25th of July. Commodore Charles Grant was at Madras, in the Liffey: the Sophie, 18, Captain Ryves, had sailed for Trincomalee. The Company's ship Atlas, Captain Mayne, was to leave Ma dras for China, on the 2d of August. The Jupiter left the Mauritius on the 16th of October. General Sir Lowry Cole, suite, and garrison, were all well; and had been joined by Colonel Guy Le Strange and family, from England. George Smith, Esq., Chief Justice of the island, had died suddenly. The Ariadne, 26, Captain Moorsom, left the island on the 2d of October, for Madagascar, on an official visit to King Randama. The Jupiter arrived at the Cape on the 26th of October, the Hon. Com

IV. SHIPS EXPECTED TO SAIL SHORTLY, For Calcutta.-H. C. S. Berwickshire, Captain Shepherd; H. C. S. Duchess of Athol, Captain Daniel; and H. C. S. Macqueen, Captain Walker.

For Madras and Bengal.-Duke of Bedford, Cunningham; William Money, Jackson; Catherine, Mackintosh; Golconda, Edwards; Exmouth, Owen; Lord Hungerford, Farquharson; Tyne, Warrington; Christiana, Hall; and Lady Raffles, Coxwell.

For Bombay.-H. C. S. Duke of York, Captain Campbell; H. C. S. Castle, Huntley, Drummond; and Thomas Coutts, Captain Chrystie.

St. Helena, Bencoolen, and China. General Harris, Welsted.

For Ceylon.-Thames, Litson; and Orpheus, Findlay.

For Batavia and Singapore.-Caroline, Harris; Rosanna, Rixson; and the Joseph, Christopherson.

On Saturday Dec. 20, arrived at Portsmouth his Majesty's ship, Jupiter, 60, Captain G. A. Westphal, from Calcutta, whither she took the Right Hon. Lord Amherst, Governor General of India, and suite, who landed at the Presidency in good health on the 30th of July, after a pleasant passage of four months and 15 days: the run from the Cape to Madras was done in the short space of 33 days. The Jupiter left Lord and Lady Amherst in good health, on the 19th of August. General Sir Alexander Campbell, commanding the forces at Madras, had been dangerously ill, but was declared out of danger previously

ship was to sail on the 6th of November for England. The Larne, 24, Captain Maryatt, and Slaney, 26, Capt. Charles Mitchell, had arrived at the Cape, and proceeded on to the Indian station. Commodore Nourse had left Simon's Bay, in the Andromache, to visit the eastern parts of his station. The Delight, 18, Captain Hay, sailed on the 6th of October, with despatches for the Mauritius. The Espiegle, 18, Captain Chapman, was under orders to proceed with the Colonial Commissioners of Inquiry, to Algoa Bay and the Mauritius. Captain Owen had not been heard of since he left Simon's Bay, on the surveying expedition along the coast. Lieut. Col. Frazer, of the Cape Corps, was dangerously ill at Graham Town. The Jupiter left St. Helena on the 9th, and Ascension on the 14th of November, but had no communication with the shore. The Driver, 18, Captain Bowen, was about to sail for Rio Janeiro, to undergo repairs. The Jupiter has had a stormy passage home of precisely four months. She has brought despatches and letters from the several places at which she touched. The despatches were landed on Saturday evening, in charge of Captain Alexander Ellice, R. N. (late first Lieutenant of the Jupiter), who immediately proceeded with them to London. Major Stratford, Military Secretary at Madras, and Colonel Hutchinson, from the Cape, are passengers. The crew of the Jupiter were severely attacked with cholera morbus, but by the skilful and great attention of the surgeon, they all happily recovered except four seamen.

India-By the arrival of his Majesty's ship Jupiter, from India, we have received letters and papers from Calcutta to the 16th of August. The rains during the month of July had been unusually heavy throughout Bengal-the number of rainy days in that month being 27, and the quantity of water fallen 28 inches: on two successive days 4 inches fell. To show how much this quantity exceeds the usual fall of rain in that month, in India, the following is given as the register for several preceding years :-In 1785, 12 inches; in 1796, 6 inches; in 1797, 15 inches; in 1798, 8 inches; in 1799, 10 inches; in 1800, 7 inches; in 1801, 8 inches.

This unusual fall of rain had already produced serious effects on the indigo crops of that country. Some letters, of the latest date, assert that the crop of indigo for the season would only be about 70,000 maunds, while that of the year preceding was 120,000 maunds. A letter from Moorshedabad, dated on the 6th of August, contains the following paragraph: "I have nothing new to give you, except the loss of one-third of the indigo expected in Bengal; but the prospects at Ghazeepore, Benares, Juanpore, and Azimghur, are equal to those of last year, and higher up there is every reason to expect much more than was made last season. As the quality of this will doubtless be better than formerly, it will be likely to stand a comparison with the Bengal indigo; for owing to the immense quantity of rain on this side of Buxar, the quality of Bengal indigo must of course be very inferior to former years."

The ship Argyle, proceeding from Calcutta to China, on the 11th of August, was discovered to be on fire. By prompt assistance, scuttling the deck, and throwing overboard the bales of cotton composing her cargo, the fire was extinguished, though the ship had to return to port. It was supposed to have been done intentionally by some person on board.

Orient. Herald, Vol. 1.

The burning of widows alive still continued in full practice in Bengal. At Serampore a widow had been recently burnt with the corpse of her deceased husband; and the last wish of the unfortunate victim, to see her only child before she expired, was barbarously refused. On the 14th of August a widow was burnt alive near Ishurah, within a few miles of Calcutta; and some persons passing near saw the ashes of the dead bodies, and the halfextinguished embers of the burning pile, with the miserable orphan child bewailing the loss of her mother, and several other children near her.-These scenes are a stain upon the British rule in India, which cannot be too speedily wiped away.

The Lahore Ukhbars state, that the Sikh army, under the command of Runjeet-Singh, had arrived on the frontiers of Caubul, towards the end of April, and had attacked the Dooranies on the 20th, and killed a great number of men. After this victory he had entered the Caubul territories, and the King of Caubul had retired to the interior of the country.

From Nagpore we learn that Mr. Jenkins, the Resident, was on a tour through that part of the country. He had already visited the source of the Nuddea river, and was about to visit the sources of the Soane and the Nerbudda. He had a professional gentleman with him, who was furnished with instruments for measuring the heights of the mountains in their route.

Lord Amherst reached Madras about the 24th the 20th of July, and on of that month was honoured with a splendid entertainment in the Banqueting Room of that Presidency, at which Sir Thomas Munro, the Governor of Madras, and all the principal functionaries of that government assisted. The usual interchange of compliments took place on this occasion. Lord Amherst was received with the same applause that every new ruler is sure to be greet. ed with; and those who complimented 2 C

him were of course deemed worthy of his flattery in return. The administration of his illustrious predecessor, Lord Hastings, was the model he proposed to follow in his public career; and the gentleman on his left, Sir Thomas Munro, was the example he proposed to imitate in his personal conduct: each, no doubt, the very best that could be chosen. We shall see, however, whether Lord Amherst will redeem his pledge, and break those degrading fetters which Lord Hastings has the honour of having first removed from the Indian press, though again put on by his temporary successor. The learned Judges of Madras joined in the general voice of compliment and eulogium, and all was as bright and promising, according to their predictions, as it ever had been on all former occasions of a similar nature.

On the morning of the 26th, Lord Amherst and suite embarked from Madras, in the Jupiter, with all the honours that the settlement could confer, and proceeded immediately to Bengal where they arrived in safety, and were received with a repetition of those demonstrations of joy and satisfaction which have formed a part of the stateproceedings on the arrival of every Governor General that has ever yet gone to India, from the commencement of our rule over that distant country. Not many days before the arrival of Lord Amherst, the Indian papers were occupied with the most complimentary reports respecting the Governor then in power-Mr. Adam. This gentleman had distinguished his short reign by the enactment of laws, the very existence of which is a standing insult to the British inhabitants of India, as it pronounces them unfit to be trusted with the free expression of their sentiments, a privilege before enjoyed by the humblest of the subjects over whom these British inhabitants rule. Yet they were so insensible of the degradation to which Mr. Adam's measures had reduced them, that some of them at least, in the true spirit of eastern sycophancy, formed themselves into a committee to wait on him for the purpose of requesting him to sit for his full-length picture, to be placed in some conspicuous situation in Calcutta.. Not the least remarkable part of this remarkable occurrence, is, that at the head of this deputation, consisting of about twenty persons, of whom seventeen were men holding places of large emolument under Mr. Adam's administration, was Mr. Fergusson, the late eloquent advocate of the liberty

of the press in India; but a still more recent eulogist of the man who framed and passed a law for annihilating that liberty and fettering every press in the country! It should be added, however, that when Mr. Fergusson denounced the censorship of the press as illegal, and the licensing system as equally contrary to law and justice, he was not in office but that when he was at the head of the deputation to flatter Mr. Adam, who for several years exercised that censorship, and was the author of the licensing system, Mr. Fergusson was high in office, having been made Advocate General by Mr. Adam himself! These changes need no comment. The interview of the deputation with Mr. Adam took place at the house of Mr. W. B. Bayley, the late Chief Secretary to the Indian Government; and Mr. Fergusson's address to Mr. Adam is said, by the papers, to have been so "pathetic and affectionate" that the latter was "quite overcome by it. In his reply, Mr. Adam expresses his

grateful sense of the high honour conferred on him by his countrymen, the British inhabitants of Calcutta ;' whom, it will be remembered he had insulted in the mass, by telling them not long before, that they could not be trusted with the liberty they enjoyed in their own country: that they were the servants of himself and his employers, and had no right whatever to express opinions on the acts of their masters! He had prohibited, under the severest penalties, the exercise of any scrutiny into his acts, or those of his colleagues in office; and yet he considers the "flattering expressions" of the same individuals as conveying the proudest proof that his merits were deemed worthy of the honour intended to be conferred by them!! and says that "such are his sensations of delight, that his uncontrollable agitation absolutely incapacitates him from returning any adequate tribute of acknowledgment for the high and inestimable mark of favour and distinction manifested towards him by the British inhabitants of Calcutta"!!! If any individual among these inhabitants had ventured to question his title to this honour, or to remind him of the fact that a committee of twenty can but very inadequately represent the feelings of the British community of India; which, could they be freely expressed, would evince a decided disapprobation of his public character and conduct; the reward would have been immediate banishment without trial of the individual so daring to