51 2 
Literary and Philosophical Intelligence . 
The Lancasterian system lias been in¬ 
troduced into many of the principal 
towns and cities of Italy, as in Naples, 
Milan, Brescia, Valenza on the Po, 
Rivoli, See. and schools on this plan 
are establishing in Genoa and Rome. 
The Abbate Cesola and M. Caupin have 
employed themselves in forming simi¬ 
lar ones in the city and environs of 
Nice. Nor has this method of instruc¬ 
tion met with less eucouragement in 
Florence, in which city is the 44 Flo¬ 
rentine Institution,” a very remark¬ 
able establishment, being, in fact, a 
combination of several schools. It is 
under the immediate patronage of go¬ 
vernment, and is superintended by 
Zuccagni Orlandini, the first projector 
of the plan. He is assisted by Borcini, 
Pierrotini, aud Giuliani, young men 
who zealously co-operate with him in a 
design so patriotic, and tending so 
greatly to ameliorate the condition of 
their fellow citizens. This institution 
does not confine its instruction to the 
mere elements of reading and writ¬ 
ing ; in the preparatory school, are 
teachers for elegant penmanship, arith¬ 
metic, drawing, geography, and history. 
SPAIN. 
In the beginning of August, the 
Conde de Toreno, said to be the most 
influential man in the Spanish Cortes, 
addressed a letter to Mr. Bentham, 
from Paris, requesting his observations 
on the draught of a proposed penal 
code for Spain, as prepared by the le¬ 
gislative committee; and in that view 
towards the close of the month, caused 
a copy of that work to be transmitted 
to him. The subject, embraced in its 
whole extent, would have drawn upon 
Mr. Bentham for much more of his 
time' than could be spared for it. But 
in deference to an application coming 
from so respectable a quarter, we took 
occasion to communicate his thoughts 
on a few of the most prominent points, 
in a series of seven letters. A Spanish 
translation of them, as they were sent 
over, has been for some time making at 
Madrid, under the inspection of another 
leading member of the Cortes, who had 
declared, and probably has, before this 
time, manifested his intention of hold¬ 
ing them up to the view of the august 
assembly to whom those of Mr. Ben- 
tham’s works that are in French, are so 
well known. Before the consignment 
of this article to the press the discussion 
on that proposed code has commenced, 
and before this Number of our Maga¬ 
zine is published, will not improbably 
j^*I cUT.- 1 f 
have been concluded. On this occasion 
it is most gratifying to discover so much 
mind in the Spanish public, and to find 
that so much of it is applied to a sub¬ 
ject of such prime importance. Be¬ 
tween forty and fifty paeluts of obser¬ 
vations were sent in from different 
quarters—bodies, and individuals to¬ 
gether—in consequence of an invitation 
that had beeu made public. It is, at 
the same time, interesting to see so 
much notice taken, on the opening ot 
the discussion, of the works of our il¬ 
lustrious countryman ; the reporter of 
the committee thinking it necessary to 
make an apology for not having followed 
exactly the plan traced out by him; 
though he did not state any thing in 
the shape of a reason in support of it; 
also, on the other side of the question, 
the like apology was made, but still 
without anjr more attempt at reasoning 
than before. 
GERMANY. 
The monument erected at Witten¬ 
berg in honour of Martin Luther was 
installed with great solemnity on 
the 31st of October. The statue by 
Mr. Schadow, is a masterpiece. Before 
the statue was uncovered, the ancient 
and celebrated hymn 44 Ein feste Berg 
ist, wiser Gotl}' was sung in chorus, 
and had a sublime effect. Dr. Nitsch 
then delivered a suitable discourse, at 
the conclusion of which, a signal being 
given, the covering of the monument 
fell, and disclosed this noble work. 
In the evening a bright fire was kindled 
in iron baskets placed around the mo¬ 
nument, and was kept up the whole 
night. All the houses, not excepting 
the smallest cottage, were illuminated; 
the town-house, thelyceum, the castle, 
and the barracks, were distinguished 
by suitable inscriptions, and a lofty il¬ 
lumination between the towers of the 
town announced the sense in which the 
inhabitants of Luther’s native place 
honoured his memory. 
UNITED STATES. 
Mr. Ralph Buckley, of New York,, 
has invented and obtained a patent for 
a fire shield. It is intended to protect 
firemen whilst employed in extinguish¬ 
ing fires, but particularly designed to 
prevent fire from spreading. It is made 
of a metallic substance; thin, light, 
and impervious to heat; it is of a length 
and breadth sufficient to cover the 
whole person, and it may be used in se¬ 
veral different positions. For example: 
when used in the street, it is firmly fixed 
on a small platform, with wheels, and a 
short 
