If Dr Knox commenced by expressing a doubt whether took place in the direction of the wind, its first indicathere were a complete skeleton of an adult Dugong in tions were uniformly observed on that side from which Europe. He had indeed heard, that M. Cuvier had de- it was about to blow. Sir G. further noticed, as inconclared he was now in possession of five complete skeletons. sistent with the theory of rarefaction, the fact that curSo, M. Cuvier must have acquired them subsequent to rents of air seldom extended far in the same direction. the publication of his work, entitled "Ossemens Fossiles." He mentioned, as a circumstance tending to establish this By complete skeleton, the Doctor meant one prepared by a fact, that he himself, sailing on one occasion from scientific anatomist; extensive experience having clearly Stromness with an easterly wind, was shortly after besatisfied him, that skeletons, prepared in the colonies, or calmed; the wind, when it returned, veered about to difby those who are not anatomists, cannot be depended on. ferent quarters, and was occasionally violent; yet he It was not sufficient, then, to say that a skeleton is com- learned, on returning to Stromness, that the same wind plete; the person must be known who dissected and pre- which carried him out of the harbour, had continued to pared it, before the zoologist or anatomist can place im- blow steadily in the same direction for a week. Of the plicit reliance on its various details. He showed, that same import, he conceived, was an observation he had the engraving of the skeleton of the Dugong in M. Cu- made on an easterly wind of long continuance, which, vier's great work had been made from an imperfect skele- had it (as its direction indicated) swept up the Baltic, ton; inasmuch as the bones of the sternum were awant- and over the German ocean, must necessarily have abing. The remarks which he had now to submit to the sorbed a great quantity of moisture, but which remained Society, rested upon the examination of a skeleton of the excessively dry during the whole time of its continuance. animal which had come accidentally into the possession It seemed that the motion of the currents of air revolving of the University Museum, and a head of the Dugong, round a vertical axis, was most consistent with such phepresented a year and a half ago to the Society, by Mr Swin- nomena as had occurred to him at Stromness. It was ton, which was now upon the table. A short allusion also in accordance with what we might often witness-a was made to the structure of the heart of the Dugong, different current in the upper regions of the atmosphere preserved in spirits, which stood before him. There from what we experienced in the lower. It accorded was a very deep incision between the ventricles, not so likewise with the phenomena of whirlwinds. Sir G. much, however, as to separate them entirely, indicating was of opinion, that we were not sufficiently acquainted an attempt, as it were, on the part of nature, to divide this with the various indications of the barometer to infer much organ into two—an extraordinary phenomenon, in an ani- from them; and that much light might be thrown on this mal ranking so high in organization as the Dugong. There difficult matter, by a carefully conducted series of observawas a considerable diversity between many of the bones in tions with the electrometer. He also anticipated interesting the cranium belonging to the College Museum and that on results from the employment of a machine for indicating the table; they were, however, scarcely of such a decided the force of the wind, to the construction of which he character as to indicate a specific difference. But, with had devoted much time and attention. Lastly, considerreference to the tusks, (and on this matter hinged, as it ing the limited range of currents of air, simultaneous obwere, the object of the paper,) there were indeed differ-servations, at different places, would be interesting and inences seemingly specific betwixt the two crania. It would seem that this diversity in the form of the tusks had been originally noted by Sir Everard Home, but was considered by him not as indicating specific differences, but merely as having a reference to age. Dr Knox farther supported his views by a reference to the dentition of the elephant, the narwhale, and by the well-known physiological laws which regulate the growth of the human teeth. The author hoped that the length of the paper would be readily excused, when the great ignorance, even of good zoologists and anatomists, was taken into account, as to the natural history of the cetacea and other animals, which, like the Dugong, approach them in habits and in struc ture. Sir George S. Mackenzie read "A notice regarding some observed anomalies in the phenomena of the atmosphere." The great aim of the essay was to establish, that in attempting to explain atmospheric phenomena, too much had been attributed to rarefaction of the atmosphere, and that the generation of heat and cold in the air had been too exclusively attributed to the solar influence. With regard to that theory which accounted for the production of currents of wind on the hypothesis of a rarefaction of the atmosphere in one part, and a rushing from the denser parts to supply this demi-vacuum, if it were correct, that portion of the denser atmosphere which was nearest the rarified air, must first be set in motion, then a portion more remote, and thus, any person so situated as to discern the approach of a current of air, would find it advancing towards him by a retrograde motion. But the contrary was the fact; for whenever any change cry, and are said by the natives to weep when taken. The Malays frequently allude to this animal as an instance of maternal affection; and the common people preserve what they believe to be the tears of the young, under the impression that they conciliate for the wearer the affections of those to whom he is attached. The Dugong is taken by spearing: it is considered by the Malays a royal fish; and its flesh, which tastes like young juicy beef. is prefered to that of the cow or buffalo.-Cuvier," Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles des Quadrupedes." Vol. IV.-Philosophical Transactions, Vol. CX. pp. 144, 174, 315. structive. The secretary next called the attention of the meeting to a collection of objects of Natural History," presented to the Society by Mr Swinton, of Calcutta, and beautifully prepared by Dr Knox. The Society then adjourntill the first Monday in January. The meeting of the Wernerian Society, which, according to the usual rotation, should have been held on Saturday the 19th, was postponed. THE DRAMA. THERE has been little novelty at our theatre this week. "The House of Aspen" has been performed every night, and the afterpieces have not been of the newest description. Sir Walter's play has not drawn very crowded houses; and we must say that it is, upon the whole, a little heavy. It was probably judicious to arrange it in three acts; but each act is, in consequence, too long. There is a want of relief throughout; and we must again repeat, that we regret the Manager did not take the part of Rudiger. We are convinced he would have performed it in a manner that would have added another laurel to his reputation. Sir Walter Scott, having availed himself of the present holidays to go to his favourite Abbotsford, has not been present at the representation of the piece; which we regret, for more reasons than one. With regard to Mr Thomson's music, our opinion is the same that it was last Saturday. There is a great deal of genius in it; but it is too much after Weber. There is no young man in Great Britain at the present day more likely to distinguish himself in the musical world than Mr Thomson, but he must, above all things, avoid imita.. tion. We can allow him mannerism, if he chooses, but not imitation. We are certainly not at all sorry to perceive that he is an intense admirer of Weber, who has already been spoken of in the Literary Journal as the Lord Byron of modern music; but do not let him confine his admiration too exclusively to Weber,-let his soul become imbued with the beauties of other great composers also, and then his own fine thoughts will run a less risk of assuming any one particular tone, or of flowing continually in the same channel. Were Mr Thomson to fix his residence on the Continent for some months, and place himself under the tuition of Hummel, Cherubini, or some other old and practised master, he could not fail to reap much benefit from their remarks on his compositions; and whilst he probably would acquire a freer and less limited style, he would, at the same time, retain and improve all his own natural taste and talent. We have this week seen Miss Jarman again in the part of the Youthful Queen. We do not hesitate to pronounce her acting, in this piece, equal-probably superior -to any thing the stage can at this moment produce. Her picture of the young, ardent, beautiful, intellectual, and impassioned princess, is the very embodyment of a poet's dream. Had Miss Jarman made her debut in London in this part, under similarly favourable auspices as Miss F. Kemble, when she came out as Juliet, the piece would have run every night for a whole season, and we should never have heard the last of it. If the London people rave so much about Miss Kemble, who has appeared as yet only in two characters, we certainly do not see why we in Edinburgh should not be allowed to express ourselves somewhat enthusiastically regarding an actress like Miss Jarman, who is put to the severe test of taking the first female part in almost every piece that is acted, and who, although many of them are foreign to her dispositions and her genius, never fails at least to please, and more frequently to delight. We trust that Mr Murray will endeavour to secure Miss Jarman as a permanent member of his company; and at all events, we can assure him, that having accustomed us to her acting during one part of the season, he will not consult his own best interests if he does not keep her here for the remainder of it. He may have engaged the support of a succession of stars, but a single star, without the assistance which no other of the company but Miss Jarman can give, will not be satisfactory. We know this opinion to be general. Old Cerberus. METROPOLITAN THEATRICALS. London, December 21st, 1829. UrON Miss Kemble's first performance of Belvidera, .though the free-list was suspended, yet hundreds were turned away for whom there was no room; and even the orchestra, to the exclusion of all the band, excepting some half dozen violins, was let in extra seats, to accommodate about ninety persons, at one guinea each! Though suffering from severe indisposition, all doubt was very speedily at an end respecting her renewed triumph, for never was an audience more delighted, or more unanimous. Her subsequent performances have certainly been improvements on her first; and, on the whole, she may, in the present state of the stage, defy all rivalry. The new scenery is most splendid, and the other leading characters such as they ought to be, to support such a Belvidera. The Theatre, on Miss K.'s nights, still continues crowded; and, to meet the increased and increasing demand for places, one row of seats is still taken from the orchestra every evening.-Miss Foote, much improved since she was last here, is much applauded, but does not, as indeed might be expected on the bye-nights, draw great houses. The immortal" Black-eyed Susan" is yet playing, and to be played until the holidays. Drury-Lane's bad taste, and ill success in novelties, still seem to attend her; since, only on Saturday last, a new drama by Douglas Jerrold, somewhat quaintly styled in the bills," entirely new and original," was most decidedly and deservedly condemned, under the title of the "Witch Finder," although the talents of W. Farren, Harley, Cooper, Sinclair, &c. were all exerted to the utmost to make it palatable. Kean continues to draw for three evenings in the week; and were it not for him, the house would, I very much fear, realize old John Kemble's prophecy, and become "a splendid desert." He has, however, merely rung the changes as yet in Richard, Sir Giles Overreach, and Othello, though he is promised in a new character, which, for the sake of the Theatre, and his own fame, he will, I hope, take time and pains enough to study well and perfectly. The subjects of the grand Christmas Pantomimes, which we, who are in the secret, may whisper to be very excellent, are, at Drury-Lane, "Jack in a Box, or Harlequin and the Princess of the Hidden Island;" and at Covent-Garden, the old nursery tale of "Who killed Cock Robin?" which must come home to "the business and bosoms" of all its juvenile visitors.-The ponderous Mademoiselle D'jeck still continues so attractive at the Adelphi, that it is absolutely requisite to secure places ten days before-hand;-and the Cobourg has announced another still more surprising Elephant in a new drama by Tom Dibdin, with the classical cognomen of “ Siamaraindianaboo!" My next will, I expect, contain more news; and my letter therefore will be, I hope, better worth my writing and your reading. seem I am extremely glad to find that Miss Smithson see at last to have found her proper level. How the Parisians ever came to praise her as they did, was always a mystery to me, who so well remember her insipidity at DruryLane; but that she should have been praised in England, as she has occasionally been since her return, is still more enigmatical. LITERARY CHIT-CHAT AND VARIETIES. We have been favoured with a perusal, in sheets, of the forthcoming third volume of the History of the University of Edinburgh. It contains much curious and interesting matter, and shall be review. ed in the Journal next Saturday. A copy of The Excitement, or a Book to induce Boys to read, which we announced in our last, has been handed to us. It is a very attractive and pleasing volume, and will form the subject of an interesting notice in our next. Mr Klauer Klattowski, author of the German Synoptical Grammar, has in the press a Manual of German Literature, intended for self-tuition. The whole selection will be illustrated by copious explanatory notes, and the first portion of the work will be accompanied by an interlinear analytical translation. Mr Klauer has also nearly ready for publication a Manual of Icelandic Literature, with an Abridgement of Dr Rask's Swedish Icelandic Grammar. In the edition of Boswell's Life of Dr Samuel Johnson, which is now in preparation by the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker, we understand that much new light will be thrown on the manners of the time, the state of society, and the characters of persons. Many curious and entertaining circumstances which occurred in the inter vals of Boswell's visits to London will also be introduced. Early in January will be published, Part I. to be completed in about 12 Parts, of a new and highly embellished edition of Walton's and Cotton's complete Angler, with Illustrations by T. Stothard, R.A., and original Memoirs and Notes by Nicholas Harris Nicholas, Esq. In the Appendix, the celebrated Treatyse of Fysshynge with an Angle, by Juliana Berners, will be printed entire from the Book of St Albans. Mr Robert Montgomery's new poem, entitled Satan, will make its appear.nce next week. Mr A. G. Stapleton, formerly private secretary to the late Mr Canning, announces the Political Life of that distinguished individual, from his acceptance of the Seals of the Foreign Department in September 1822, to the period of his death in 1827. The next volume of Dr Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia, to be published on the 1st of January, will be the first volume of the History of Maritime and Inland Discovery. Mr Sotheby, the ingenious translator of Oberon, is about to send to press a new translation of the Iliad, which, we understand, possesses merits of no mean order. The first volume of the Family Classical Library, commencing. with the Orations of Demosthenes, translated by Thomas Leland, D.D., will be published on the 1st of January. Number 1. of Gray's Illustrations of Indian Zoology, consisting ed, will appear on New-Year's-Day. of coloured figures of Indian Animals, unknown or not yet publish The Rev. Hobart Caunter is preparing for publication a poem, entitled "The Island Bride," with an illustration by Martin. |