Statistics.—Weather-cock of Varro.—Lectures.— Patents. 315 
Rais : STATISTICS. 
aie the latest estimate, the population of the Danish States is 
now 1,862,000 souls, viz. in Denmark 1,100,000; in the Duchies 
of Sleswick and Holstein 689,000; in Lauenburg 30,000 ;. in 
Iceland and the Faroe Islands 52,000. 
"ON THE WEATHER-COCK OF VARRO, BEING THE FIRST ON | 
RECORD. 
So many eR Sl phznomena are connected with the direc- 
tion and changes of the wind, that philosophers have in all ages 
paid particular aftention to this branch of meteorology, as well 
as to the making of instruments to indicate it. 
The earliest instance, however, which we have on record of a 
regularly formed wind-vane appears to be that of Varro, which 
he caused to be made and put up in his garden. The fan and 
point turned on a pivot, and seem to have been constructed like 
our modern weather-cocks ; but it had the addition of a moving 
index, which went round a circle divided into eight equal divi- 
sions answering to the eight winds. ‘This circle seems to have: 
been placed horizontally. on the post whereon the vane was 
fixed. Though it is highly probable, from the interest whieh 
wind and weather must always have excited, that there were 
more simple vanes before the time of Varro; yet we have no ae- 
curate account of them. Leaves of trees aud ‘afterwards flags may 
have parasested the first weather-cocks. 
LECTURES. 
On the 22d of May Dr. Davis will commence his next Course 
of Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery and on 
the Diseases of Women; and Mr. Taunton his Course of Lee- 
tures on Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology and Surgery. 
LIST OF PATENTS FOR NEW INVENTIONS. 
To William Hazledine, of Shrewsbury, Salop, iren- founder, 
for his improved method of casting certain kinds of cast-iron 
vessels. —15th Jan. 1S19. Hi 
To John Roberts junior, of Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, mer- 
ehant, for certain apparatus for preventing stage coaches and 
other ‘wheeled car riages from overturning.—15th Jan. 
To Urbanus Sartoris, of Winchester-street, London, for im- 
provements in the construction and use of fire-arms.—23d Jan, 
To Joseph Hill, of Paulton, Somerset, for 4 machine or ee 
for the cure of smoky chimneys.—23d Jan. 
To James Fox, of Plymouth, for a method or methods of de 
minishing the loss, in quantity and quality, of ardent spirits and 
other Auids, during distillation or rectification. —28th Jan, 
To 
