1824.] 
RUSSIA. 
Trigonometrical and Statistical Sur- 
veys in Russia.—The “ magnanimous Vi 
Alexander appears to be a much warmer 
patron to science than to political free- 
dom. The Russian Code, in fact, pre- 
sents one of the greatest anomalies of 
modern times. While his Imperial Ma~- 
jesty ostensibly seems to patronize edu- 
cation among his vassals, from the banks 
of the Don to the banks of the Dwina, 
he is desirous of preventing the natural 
consequences of mental: improvement, 
that of the establishment of rational 
liberty, in every other state of Europe. 
In what way is this capable of explana- 
tion? Does his Majesty, or (which is 
the same thing) his Majesty’s directors, 
wish to civilize Russia at the expense of 
all the other nations of the earth; that 
_they should be interfering in the exter- 
nal and internal policy of every other 
state where they dare, either in the form 
of holy or unholy alliances? While 
they promote education to a certain ex- 
tent among all their own barbarian 
hordes, and are devoting the most per- 
severing attention, not only to the ac- 
quisition of foreign dominion by sea and 
Jand, but also in making the most com- 
plete statistical surveys of the topo- 
graphy and resources of their own 1n- 
mense empire; their emissaries are at 
the same time employed from the south- 
east to the south-west of Europe, and 
even .in America, in endeavouring to 
replunge mankind into the slavery and 
ignorance of the monkish ages, 
It isin: contemplation to erect achain 
bridge, on the suspension plan, : across 
the canal at Moika, at Petersburgh. The 
design is said to be the production of a 
Colonel Dufour, a French engineer, who 
has already constructed an clegant 
bridge near Geneva on the same model, 
which, in all essential respects, is nearly 
similar to the bridge built across the 
Tweed, by Captain Brown. 
The Russian historian, M. N. Ka- 
ramsin, has completed. the tenth and 
eleyenth volume of his great work on’ 
Russia, This author combats the au- 
thority of all former historians, with re- 
gard to the elevation of Boris Gondo- 
noff to the throne of Russia, Instead 
of considering him as an usurper, and 
the murderer of Prince Demetrius, he 
thinks he ought to be considered as the 
beriefactor of the nation, in having issued 
an edict to prevent the peasantry from 
quitting the soil on which they were 
born; or, in other words, for having 
established vassalage for slavery through- 
Monruty Mac. No. 402, 
Literary and Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
853 
out his dominions; “ this wise regula- 
tion having put an end to the disorders 
which resulted from the peasantry being 
able to enter into any other service but 
that of their own lord, which they had 
enjoyed from time immemorial, previous 
to the usurpation of Czar Boris.” This 
conselatory doctrine in defence of sla- 
very must doubtless raise M. Karamsin 
to the high rank of historian to the holy 
alliance ! 
ITALY. 
Excavations at Pompeii.—New dig- 
gings haye lately been made in the ruins 
of Pompeii, and a very beautiful bust of 
Cicero has been’ found in good preser- 
vation. Upon it is observable the 
chicken pea (cicer), which procured him 
the sirname he has rendered so illus- 
trious. It would seem that the ancient 
sculptors were very accurate in making 
exact resemblances, 
The Pope bas just purchased for the 
Vatican the great collection of works 
upon arts and antiquities which the 
Count Cicoghara had collected, and the 
catalogue of which he has published in 
two volumes. This collection has ar- 
rived at Rome in seven cases. 
GERMANY, 
The Danish traveller, Martin Fre 
derick Arendt, who died last year in 
Italy, at a village near Bologna, left 
some unpublished memoirs and narra- 
tives, The German journals had ex- 
pressed a fear that these manuscripts 
were lost; we learn that they have been 
preserved, and lately sent to Copen- 
hagen by the care of the Chevalier Chia- 
vasi, the Danish Consul-General in the 
Roman States. 
Astronomical Observations by Dr. Ol- 
bers.— He says that he has never ob- 
served any nebulous covering in Gas- 
sendus, in Possidonius, or indeed in any 
other part of the mova, nor in general 
any change in the lunar spots, which 
could not be referred to the different 
angles of illumination, and the relations 
of libration. Nor can he give any opi- 
nion as to the traversing furrows in the 
circular. mountains; and he ‘adds, “I 
must acknowledge, that, in regard to 
the beds of rivers, buildings, &c., said 
to have been. observed in the moon, I 
fear that a lively imagination may have 
frequently seen more than is shewn by 
the telescope,” 
A merchant of Gottenburg has in- 
vented a machine which can manufac- 
ture 10,000 nails in a minute, A patent 
has’ been granted to this mechanci, 
whose name is Umgewitz. 
24 PATENTS 
