DEAN SWIFT.

FEW names are better known within the range of English literature than that of this celebrated man. He was born in Dublin, November 30th, 1667, made dean of St. Patrick in 1713, and died in October, 1744. His writings abound with wit, and severe strokes of satirical humour, but in favour of their moral tendency much cannot be said. Our readers will, however, be pleased to see the Autograph of a man of such literary and political renown, who, perhaps, was fitter for almost any office than that of a dean.

Jonathan Swift

GLEANINGS.

Medico-Botanical Society.-The first meeting of the eighth session of the Medico-Botanical Society of London, was holden on Friday evening the 12th of October, 1827, at the Society's apartments, 32 Sackville-street, Piccadilly. Sir James M'Grigor, M. D. F. R. S. K. G. S. president, in the chair. -The minutes of the last meeting holden in July having been read, several presents to the Society were announced, amongst which were 18-56 of the seed of Argemone Mexicana, a mild purgative, from Mr. Huggins of Nevis; about 18-39 of the seed of Genista Tinctoria, from the Rev. Mr. Smirnove, a plant used by the Russians as a cure for hydrophobia; Anislies Materia Medica, from the court of directors of the East India Company; a large collection of dissertations, from Professor Thunberg of Upsal, &c. &c. Several fellows were admitted by the president. The Marquess of Lansdowne was elected an honorary fellow, and the Marquess of Donegal, Admiral Earl of Northesk, the Viscount de Habayna, the Count de Mendelsloh, Sir Gerrard Noel, &c. were elected fellows. Sir Anthony Carlisle, Sir Thomas Bowser, Dr. Burnett, Mr. Soane, &c. &c. were proposed as fellows. -The director, Mr. Frost, then delivered the annual Oration, which he commenced by shewing the advantages derivable from the extended sphere of the Society, and its use to the medical officers of the army and navy: he then pointed out the salutary effects that would occur from the regulations relative to the study of Botany by them, instituted by Sir James M'Grigor, director-general of the army medical board. He condoled with the Society on the loss it had sustained in the death of the Duke of York, and congratulated the meeting on the Duke of Clarence's acceptance of the office of patron, and on the warm interest his royal highness was pleased to take in their welfare. He recalled to their memory the handsome expressions which the Duke of Wellington had made use of on being elected an honorary fellow; and, enumerating the various occurrences which had taken place during the past year, concluded by congratulating the Society on its steady and progressive increase.-On the motion of Sir John S. Lillie, seconded by M. C. Friend, lieut. R. N. F. R. S. it was proposed that the Oration should be printed, and distributed amongst the members, and that the thanks of the meeting should be given to Mr. Frost for the same. A letter from the king of Bavaria to Mr. Yosy, the secretary for foreign correspondence, couched in the most handsome terms, was read, as also a notice offering a reward of £25, or a gold medal of equal value, for an accurate description of the plant yielding the myrrh, and which is merely supposed to be the produce of the "Amyris Kataf."

After some remarks from the president, assuring the members of the constant interest he took in the welfare of the Society, and pointing out the steps he had taken, and would take, for the promotion of its objects, the meeting was adjourned to Friday evening, the 9th of November.-The room, which was crowded to access, was decorated with a numerous collection of shrubs and flowers, amongst which were the sago, the pan, and date palms, the tea tree, the akee tree, dracontium pertusum, ficus religiosa, mimosa sensitiva, a new species of cassia, laurus, benzoin, &c. &c.

Horticulture.-There lately grew on the branch of an apple-tree, grafted only in the spring of this year, in the garden of R. Pinkington, esq. of the Willows, near Preston, an apple of the Hawthorn den kind, which measured ten inches in circums ference. The same graft has shot out four branches, measuring two feet ten inches, one foot eight inches, one foot six inches, and one foot four inches in length.

Westminster Abbey.-The following are the fees payable for burial in Westminster Abbey:-In the abbey, 542. 188.: in the cloister, 197. 6s. If a gravestone be erected, there are additional fees-viz. six guineas in the abbey, and four guineas in the cloisters; and for the burial of peers, both in the abbey and cloisters, the fees are much larger than the above, amounting to something between 120%. and 150. There is, we believe, a penalty of 50s. for burying in linen.

Singular Fuel.-The Arabs who inhabit the neighbourhood of the great cemeteries of Upper Egypt have a strange way of cooking their victuals. Whenever fuel is wanting, they descend into the tombs, and dislodging a mummy, and throwing it on their shoulders, return to their tent. Then taking a hatchet, and seizing the mummy by one leg, they hew the body into two at a blow, and afterwards cutting it into smaller pieces, make use of a leg or an arm, or a part of the trunk, as it may happen, to boil their kettle. As the ancient Egyp tians always enclosed their dead in resinous substances, the mummies are easily combustible, and make excellent fuel.

Cure for the Tooth-ache.-At a recent meeting of the London Medical Society, Dr. Blake stated that the extraction or excision of teeth was unnecessary. He was enabled, he said, to cure the most desperate cases of tooth-ache (unless the disease was connected with rheumatism) by the application of the following remedy to the diseased tooth:Alum, reduced to an impalpable powder, two drachms; nitrous spirits of ether, seven drachms; mix, and apply them to the tooth.

Abolition of Slavery.-The final abolition of slavery in the state of New York took place on the 4th July, 1827, the anniversary of the declaration of independence. As by previous laws all coloured children born since the 4th July, 1799, were free, very few slaves remained in the state. The final extinction of slavery was, however, celebrated by a public procession, &c. of the black people: and we believe the white citizens were equally glad to get rid of the nuisance and disgrace; for it is highly creditable to the republic, that its inhabitants generally have manifested an anxiety to escape from the curse of slavery, which is strongly contrasted with the blind fury of the British West India planters against all who approach the question of negro emancipation.

Lake Ontario.-It is stated that Lake Ontario is now three feet higher than usual; the rise is attributed to the heavy body of snow which fell last winter.---Lake Erie is also considerably higher than it was six years ago. Five years ago it commenced rising, and has risen gradually ever since... each successive year finding it higher than the year preceding. It is now between two and three feet higher than it was in the spring.

Caffre Marriages.-When a female of respectable rank is to be married, an address is delivered to her by one of the elders of her clan before she leaves the home of her kindred, in which she is admonished to conduct herself as a prudent housewife, to be obedient to her husband, attentive to his aged parents, and careful of whatever is com

mitted to her charge; above all, to be meek and submissive when insulted, and "to remain silent even though called a witch." On arriving at the kraal of the bridegroom, she is conducted to a new hut, the young man dancing before her, and sweeping the ground with green boughs, as an intimation that she is expected to be always neat, clean, and orderly in her household.

Savings Banks.-The total amount of stock now standing in the names of the commissioners for the redemption of the national debt, on behalf of savings' banks, is £7,833,359 three per. cents. and £6,903,229 three and a half per. cents.

Gas.-A fountain of carbonated hydrogen gas has been discovered at Portland harbour, (Lake Erie,) and preparations are making to raise itupon a pedestal, as a substitute for a lighthouse. The gas issues through fissures of a rock, about fifty feet above the surface of the water in the harbour, and is of sufficient quantity to afford a most brilliant light.New York National Advocate.

Horses' Power. This term, used as the name of a measure of power, is an expression which has had its origin in convenience. In its first application, no great nicety was necessary; but as the value of mechanical power became better understood, an exact measure, nearly coinciding with the power of a horse, and uniformity in the practice of engineers, became desirable. Mr. Watt has fixed the elementary horse-power at 1,980,000lbs. raised one foot per hour; or 33,000lbs. raised one foot per minute; or 550lbs. raised one foot per second. Mr. Watt further assigned a proportion for the low pressure steam-engine equivalent to a horse's power, which is 5.5 times the square of the diameter of the cylinder, in inches, multiplied by the velocity of the piston six feet per minute, and the product divided by 33,000, the result is the number of horses' power. The advantage of steam power is apparent; the horse can work at that rate only eight hours; the engine may be kept at work as long as it is wanted.

Literary Notices.

Just Published.

The Second Edition (enlarged) of the Parent's Monitor; or, Narratives, Anecdotes, and Observations, on Religious Education, and Personal Piety. By David Barker: 1 vol. 12mo.

Metrical Essays on Subjects from History and Imagination. By Charles Swain.

A Treatise on the New Method of Land Surveying with the Improved Plan of Keeping the FieldBook, designed for the Use of Schools, and those who wish to be Practitioners of the Science. By Thomas Hornby, Land Surveyor.

Claude's Essay on the Composition of a Sermon.

A New Edition. 1 vol.

Amusement for Winter Evenings: The Enigmatical Entertainer, and Mathematical Associate, for the Year 1828: containing New Enigmas, Charades, Rebuses, Anagrams, Philosophical and Mathematical Questions; proposed to be answered before May, 1828, to stand a chance for Prizes.

An Apology for the Modern Theology of Protestant Germany, in reply to its latest Accuser; or, Review of a work entitled, "The State of the Pro. testant Religion in Germany, in a Series of DisCourses preached before the University of Cambridge by the Rev. H. J. Rose, M. A. of Trinity College, and Vicar of Horsham, Sussex," by Dr. Karl Gottlieb, Bretschneider, Chief Counsellor of the Consistory, and Superintendant-general at Gotha. Translated from the German by the Rev. William Alleyn Evanson, M. A. Lecturer of St. Luke's, Old-street, London.

A Sermon on the Death of the Rev. D. M'Allum.

M. D. By J. Crowther.

Little Frank the Irish Boy.

Fitful Fancies. By William Kennedy.

An Address delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. John Bell, Jonathan Crowther, and others. By Richard Watson.

Tracts by the Rev. Thomas Scott, with an Introductory Essay by Thomas Chalmers, D. D.

The Elements of Arithmetic, &c. By John Dozell.

An Almanack on a New Construction, for 1828. By William Rogerson, Greenwich.

A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious Systems of professed Christians, &c. By William Wilberforce, Esq.; with an Introductory Essay by the Reverend Daniel Wilson, A. M. Vicar of Islington.

The Christian Poet: or, Selections in Verse on Sacred Subjects. By James Montgomery; with an Introductory Essay.

The Alnost Christian discovered: or, the False Professor Tried and Cast. By the Rev. Matthew Mead. With an Introductory Essay by the Rev. David Young.

The Christian's Daily Walk in Holy and Secure Peace. By the Rev. Henry Scudder. With an Introductory Essay by Thomas Chalmers. DD.

A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. By William Law. With an Introductory Essay, by the Rev. David Young.

Practical Discourses, intended to promote the Improvement and Happiness of the Young. By Henry Belfrage, DD.

The Further Progress of Colonial Reform.

Aldermanbury: or, an Address to Mr. Thomas Phillips. By the Rev. G. C. Smith, late of Pen

zance.

The Floating Chapel, and the 16,000 Hearers. By the Rev. G. C. Smith.

The Mansion House: or, No Preaching in the Open Air throughout the City of London. By the Rev. G. C. Smith.

Memoirs of the Life of Mrs. Mary Taft, formerly Miss Barritt. Part II.

The Reasons of the Law of Moses, from the "More Nevochim" of Maimonides, with Notes, Dissertations, and a Life of the Author. By James Townley, D. D.

Meditations on the Works of God, intended to illustrate the Wisdom, Power, and Goodness of the Creator. By Edward White Benson.

The Bible Story Book. Second Series. By the Rev. B. H. Draper, of Southampton. In the Press.

Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Character, Literary, Professional, and Religious, of the late John Mason Good. M. D. F. R. S. &c. &c. With numerous illustrative Selections from his unpublished Papers. By Olinthus Gregory, LL. D. &c. &c.-Expected to be ready for delivery on the First of January.

The Antidote: or Memoirs of a Modern FreeThinker. Including Letters and Conversations on Scepticism and the Evidences of Christianity. 2 vols. 12mo.

A Uniform Edition of the Works of the English and Scottish Reformers; edited by the Rev. Thomas Russell, A. M.

The Omnipresence of the Deity. A Poem. Designed to illustrate the Presence of God over the Works of Creation, and in Human Life. Elegantly embellished, and dedicated, by permission, to the Lord Bishop of London.-By Robert Montgomery. A beautiful Edition of Cowper's humorous Poem" John Gilpin," will appear about Christmas. It will contain Six Illustrations designed by George Cruikshank, and engraved on Wood by first-rate Artists.

To be published by Subscription: Observations and Illustrations of the Writings of the Poet Gray. By the late James George Barlace, author of "An Historical Sketch of the Progress of Knowledge in England."

ERRATA. Col. 876, lines 38 and 39, and col. 877, line 3, instead of arum read amm. that is, ammonia.