448 
found these remains, also discovered a 
tooth of the mammoth or mastadon, 
embedded in shell limestone. Though 
the whole of the south-east part of 
France presents undoubted traces of 
volcanic agency, even tradition is silent 
respecting their occurrence. 
Among the statistical researches re- 
garding Paris, recently published, the 
following suicides will afford a fair op- 
portunity of comparing it with those of 
‘England. According to the estimate of 
‘the deaths during 1819 and 1821, it 
‘was remarked that mortality amongst 
males up to 25 years, is greater than 
‘amongst females ; and that from this age 
up to 50, there die more women than 
men. It is reckoned that more women 
than men arrive at advanced age. In 
1821, 348 suicides were attempted ; in 
244 of these cases death ensued. 
As a proof of the great attention, 
manifested by the French government, 
to the improvement of the Arts and 
operative Science in France, a valuable 
work is now in the course of publication 
in periodical numbers, containing an ab- 
stract of all the existing French patents, 
with the period of their'expiration, ac- 
companied by observations on their 
practical utility and value, in the various 
departments of the Arts. The work 
appears under the immediate auspices 
of the Minister of the Interior. 
_ The propelling of musket-balls by 
‘steam was practised ten years ago by 
M. Girard, who, for the defence of Paris 
against the allies, prepared a_ boiler 
mounted on a carriage, and an appa- 
ratus attached; such that, on turning 
a handle, six barrels received balls and 
-steam, at the same time, and discharged 
180 shots per minute. Several of these 
machines are said to have been found 
by the allies, and destroyed on their 
getting possession of the place. 
Ancient Samnite coins, and the vases, 
in fragments, in which they had been 
contained, were lately dug up, on the 
felling of a very ancient oak in the forest 
of Ardennes :' the coining of these pieces 
‘is conjectured to have been 1,028 years 
prior to the Christian era, or in the reign 
of David over the Israelites. 
EGYPT. 
The celebrated Prussian traveller, 
Baron Riipple, though frustrated in the 
plan. of his route, suggested by his last 
communication, by the reverses in the 
affairs of Mohamed Ali Pasha, has at 
length been enabled, under an escort 
‘from the army of that chieftain, to cross 
to the eastern bank of the Nile, from 
Literary and Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
[Dec. I, 
the vicinity of Kurgos, and proceeding 
over a desert plain, near the village ot 
Durkah, formed chiefly of alluvial mud, 
and covered with brambles and rushes, 
discovered in many places the remains 
of camels, &c., indicative of former cul- 
ture and population. He also discovered 
in the neighbourhood of a deserted 
village, lately occupied by the Arabs, 
some shafts of columns, whose capitals 
adorned with heads of Isis, &c. indicated 
them to have ,been a portion of some 
ruined temple. He discovered also, to 
the east of these, several groups of 
sepulchres of various forms; one of 
which he describes as distinguished by 
its peculiar figure, having a base pro- 
jecting stone, 20 feet square and 6 high, 
surmounted by a tower of prismatic 
form, 15 feet high, adorned with Egyp- 
tian sculpture, representing the apotheo- 
sis of the defunct; the attitudes and 
drapery of some of the figures in which 
he considers as so superior to every 
thing he had previously seen in Egypt 
or Nubia, and approaching so near to 
the Grecian style, that, contrary to 
generally received opinion, he conceives 
them to be of more recent date than 
those of Meroé. The Baron has also 
been very assiduous in making astrono- 
mical observations, for which the fine 
atmosphere of Nubia is very favour- 
able; but he found the great heat of 
the climate affect the accuracy of his 
instruments very materially. His pro- 
gress has been attended with great dan- 
gers; and the fate of his companion, 
Mr. Hey, who preceded him in the as- 
cent of the river, is very doubtful. The 
courage, zeal, and perseverance of Baron 
Riipple, should he survive the perils of 
his venturous travel, promise important 
obligations to science. 
ITALY. 
Remains at Pompeii.-A pamphlet 
has been recently published at Leipzig, 
entitled De locis Pompeianis ad Rem 
Medicam facientibus, in which the au- 
thor, M. Cheulant, describes the proba- 
ble state of the medical art, at Pompeii, 
at the period of its destruction, from 
the surgical instruments and medical 
apparatus found, by which he detected 
the ruins of the Temple of Esculapius. 
It is remarkable how nearly many of 
them resembled those now in use. 
Professor Cazzeri presented, recently, 
to the Society of the Georfili of Flo- 
rence, a branch of the cotyledon coccinea 
in full vegetation, although it had been 
detached trom the plant sixteen months, 
and had remained: by- chanee during -the 
whole 
