262 
and their instruction afforded gratis. Their 
studies will comprize commerce, manufac- 
tural statistics, merchandize, chemistry, 
technology, mechanics, hydrostatics, &c. 
applied to manufactures and drawing. The 
general course of study- will continue ‘for 
two years ; after that time, the scholars will 
be placed, according to their own choice, 
in special classes, where they will be taught 
the necessary details, in the various pro- 
cesses to which they may determine more 
exclusively to direct their attention. The 
term for these classes is one year. After 
having finished their studies, the scholars 
will receive a certificate of their abilities. 
COURLAND. 
Two plans of public utility at present 
employ the minds of the Courlanders ; one, 
the establishment of a batik in Courland, 
which it was at first hoped would be inde- 
pendent: but the emperor refused his con- 
sent, and only permitted one dependent on 
that at St. Petersburgh. The other is 
of more general utility; the Vindau is to 
be rendered navigable, and connected by a 
canal to Niemen; from 1,500 to 2,000 sol- 
diers are expected immediately to com- 
mence this great work. There is also a 
plan for opening a communication between 
the Black Sea and the Baltic by means of 
a canal. 
SWEDEN. 
The king has granted to two scholars 
{one from the university of Upsal, the other 
from that of Lund) who have distinguished 
themselves by their knowledge of constitu- 
tional law, a stipend of 200 crowns a year 
to each, for the space of two years, in order 
that they may give themselves up entirely 
to study. = 
GREECE. 
The National Assembly at Astros has de- 
vlared that public instruction shall be under 
the immediate superintendance of the le- 
gislative body; by whom it has been de- 
creed, that ‘‘a central school of arts shall 
be established at Argos, and the minister 
of the interior be entrusted with the exe- 
eution.” An inspector-general of instruc- 
tion is named, who is to inform government 
of the ‘state of the schools already esta- 
blished, to propose the establishment of 
others where required, and examine. the 
capabilities of the instructors, and to su- 
_ perintend the establishment of libraries and 
museums for remains of antiquity, &c. 
Athens already possesses five schools: 
two on the plan of mutual instruction, con- 
taining four hundred scholars; two others 
for the instruction of ancient Greek, with 
the French and Italian languages; and one 
for history and philosophy ;—all formed since 
last winter, in the midst of foreign wars 
and civil dissension. 
ITALY. <: 
Pisa.—M. Paoli Savi, professor and di- 
rector of the Musée at Pisa, has discovered 
a new species of rat, generally confounded 
with that called by Linnzus mus rattus, or 
Foreign Varieties. 
[Oct. 1, 
mus tectorum ; and promises to make known 
their-habits, as well in a state of liberty as 
servitude. ; 
The able sculptor Ph. Albacini has just 
finished a statue of Achilles, which has 
obtained the approbation of connoisseurs. 
The hero is represented as attempting to 
draw from his heel the fatal dart, sped by 
the hand of Paris. His enraged counte- 
nance, in which pain and despair are 
mingled, is raised to-heayen as if in re- 
proach. All who haye seen this work, 
agree in commending the vigour of the 
limbs, the grandeur of the subject, and the 
beautiful execution, which is worthy the 
reputation of the sculptor. The Duke of 
Devonshire is the purchaser. 
GERMANY. 
There is at present in Berlin a boy, 
between four and five years old, who has 
manifested an extraordinary precocity of 
musical talent. Carl Anton Florian Eckert, 
the son of a serjeant in the 2d regiment of 
Fencible Guards, was born on the 7th of 
December 1820. While in the cradle, the 
predilection of this child for music was 
striking, and passages in a minor key af- 
fected him so much, as to make tears come 
in his eyes. When about a year and a 
quarter old, he listened to his father playing 
the air ‘‘ Schone Minka”’ with one hand, on 
an old harpsichord ; he played it, with both 
hands, employing his knuckles in aid of his 
short and feeble fingers. He continued 
afterwards to play by ear. He retains in 
his memory whatever he hears, and can 
tell at once whether an instrument is too 
high or too low for concert pitch. It was 
soon observed, that his ear was sufficiently 
delicate to enable him to name any note or 
chord which might be struck without his 
seeing it. He also transposes into any 
key he pleases, and executes, with the 
greatest facility, pieces of fancy extempore. 
A subscription has been opened to buy him 
a piano-forte, as he has grown tired of the 
old harpsichord, and two able musicians 
have undertaken to instruct him. 
NEW ZEALAND. 
At the Society Islands, improvements in 
the arts of civilized life are rapidly proceed- 
ing. A sugar manufactory has been es- 
tablished at Otaheite, where sugar is made 
from the native cane, and a building, de- 
signed for a cotton manufactory, has been 
erected at Eimes, the machinery for spin- 
ning and weaving having been imported 
from England, and is to be put in motion 
by water-power. Cotton grows sponta- 
neously in very great abundance. 
NETHERLANDS. 
Ghent.— Besides the grand exhibition of 
pictures, open every three years, at this 
ancient capital of Flanders, there is an an- 
nual exhibition at the Society of Fine Arts 
and Literature; which was open during a 
great part of the month of May.. The funds 
were appropriated to the relief of those who 
suffered from the inundations in Holland. 
POLITICAL 
