zSz literary intelligence. -^'/S' ^2. 



LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. 



1 HE Study of natural history has made great progrefs in 

 Scotland of late, and the lover of that interesting study 

 pofsefses advantages here which he did not formerly enjoy. 



A few years ago there was not in this place a single collecti- 

 on of specimens in natural history, public or private, that 

 deserved to be Noticed. Since Dr Walker was appointed 

 profefsor, and read lectures on the subject, things have ta- 

 ken a great change. His own museum, for a private col- 

 lection, contains a great variety of beautiful specimens, in 

 high preservation, of animals, vegetables, and minerals.- 

 Lord Gardenston has imported from abroad, and picked 

 up at home, a select and valuable collection, chietly in the 

 mineral kingdom, to which the amateurs in that science 

 have a most ready accefs by the obliging liberality of spi- 

 rit of the owner. And the museum of Mr Weir, which 

 has been exhibited for some years past, has been a valuable 

 acquisition to the public. That gentlemai^ with a public 

 spirit that would do honour to the highest character, con- 

 tinues to make daily additions to his collection , which, 

 considering his station in life, is truly amazing, and which 

 nothing but a decided taste for that study could have pro- 

 duced. He has lately purchrRed a house in Prince's street 

 and fitted it up in the most elegant manner for the re- 

 ception of his museum, which he has just opened for the 

 public. This will afford an agreeable and instructive mor- 

 ning's lounge to the people of falhion who reside in Edin- 

 burgh. 



Mr Weir's museum, cannot, it Is true, In point of si%e, 

 be compared with that of Sir Alhton Lever, and many o- 

 theis that might be named, but in respect to the natural 

 attitudes in which the animals are placed, and their per- 



