62 
sailor, on the island of New Provi- 
dence, being much fatigued with 
walking, sat down. on the. sea-shore - 
on What he conceived to be a large 
stone. After resting and _ sleeping 
some time, he attempted to get up, 
but found his breeches stuck fast to 
his seat.. After joining one of his 
shipmates, he observed so strong a 
smell as,to ask him where he had 
deen; and, the other telling him the 
circumstance, he advised him to go 
‘back, and bring away this stone: but 
he demurred, and said it was more 
than he could carry, “‘So much the 
better,” replied bis companion; who 
- honestly told him he suspected it to 
‘be a large lump ofambergrease, which 
was a very valuable article, and that 
he might make his fortune by it. He 
crossed the island with a horse, and 
brought it away. It was first shown 
to a Jew, who did not offer him a 
tenth part of its value. Tt soon be- 
eame known, and the captain of a 
- merchantman being at the port, bought 
it, and brought it to England, and we 
believe the house of Ellice, Inglis, 
and Co. had the selling of it. It came 
into the custody of a Mr. D. an eminent 
druggist, and was sent over to the 
Continent a few months ago, when it 
yielded, at 86s. per oz. 2,300/. 
We observe fewer works in the 
press at present than have been known 
for some years. The chief London 
publishers seem wiscly to have deter- 
mined to diminish their present stocks 
rather than enlarge them further by 
new and hazardous speculations. It 
can no longer be conccaled, that. the 
accumulation of books, with no better 
recommendation than fine paper and 
printing, has injured substantial lite- 
rature, while it has vitiated and abused 
the public taste. We are convinced 
that the maximum of advantage in the 
publication of books consists in the 
. moderation of their prices. Latterly, 
many books have been published at 
prices for which they could be copied 
by seriveners at half;—thereby super- 
seding the benefit of printing. 
Several experiments have recently 
been. made at Woolwich, on a new 
plan for affording speedy and effectual 
aid in case of shipwreck. It dilfers 
from Capt. Manby’s plan, inasmuch as 
the line of communication can. be 
made by means of a rocket instead of 
a mortar. 
The iron steam-boat mentioned in 
our last was built at the Horseley 
Literary and Philosophical Intelligence. 
[Aug. 1, 
iron-works, near Birmingham, and put 
together at Rotherhithe. She is 106 
feet long, and 17 broad; and is pro- 
pelled by a 30-horse engine, with Old- 
ham’s revolving oars, the most perfect 
piece of mechanism that has ever been 
adopted in steam-boats. 
Mr. Hoee has in the press, a new 
edition, with considerable improve- 
ments, of his “ Concise and Practical 
Treatise on the Growth and Culture 
of the Carnation, Pink, Auricula, 
Polyanthus, Ranunculus, Tulip, and 
other Flowers.” 
Sylva Britannica, or Portraits of 
Forest Trees in different parts of the 
Kingdom, remarkable for their size, 
beauty, or antiquity, 10 be drawn and 
etched by J. G. Strutt, will specdily 
be published. 
There is a probability of the Surrey 
Institution, (whose funds have been 
gradually exhausting,) being conti- 
nued, and re-established upon a bet- 
ter plan, by which its permanency 
may be obtained, and its present ad- 
vantages retained, and even enlarged. 
Its having a valuable library of circu- 
lation among its members is not the 
least important feature of the esta- 
blishment; this feature it is intended 
to enlarge, by the addition of the most 
important novels of the day, in order 
that it may furnish amuscment as well 
as instruction to a numerous class of 
readers. This Institution has_ cer- 
tainly done much towards creating a 
taste in the public mind for literary 
and scientific pursuits, and also in 
diffusing a knowledge of the useful 
arts. The lectures have been gene- 
rally well attended; and many im- 
portant facts in the arts and sciences 
have by these means been made fami- 
liar. The utility of such institutions 
may still, doubtless, be considerably 
increased. We beg leave respectfully 
to caution those gentlemen who are 
reorganizing this literary museum, to 
take care to do it on the most liberal 
basis, so as to embrace every shade 
and variety of opinion. To this end, 
perhaps nothing more contributes than 
a careful choice of the efficient officers 
of the establishment. 
The Elements of Chess, with dia- 
grams, are printing, by Mr. Lewis. 
A discovery of fossil remains was 
recently made at Atwick, near Horn- 
sea; the portion of a tusk, about 
thirty-cight inches in length, twenty 
inches in circumference at the lower 
end, and weighing 4 stone 2Ibs. was 
dug 
