1904; } | 
Such is the fabulous narration of this 
perfon, which, however, is differently 
reprefested in feveral Tamul ancient writ- 
Ings. Her nérformanices authenticate her 
exiftence; thefé are little moral treatifes 
tinder different titles. They are intfo- 
duced inthe Tamil fchools, and read by 
the children amongtt the firtt books which 
they learn to read. The fenterices are 
all fhort and contain fome moral precept 
or maxim. They are atranged according 
to the order of the Tamul alphabet, each 
Literary and Philofophical Intelligence. 
465 
begins with a letter,; therefore it is called 
the Golden Alpliabet of the Tamuls. Th= 
following precepts will fhew the nature and 
{pirit of her writings. ¢* Do not ufe thy 
hands to do mifchicf.—Do not defire ftolea 
goods.—Kecp ftrifly to the laws of thy 
country,—-What thou doeft, do with pro - 
priety.—Speak not difrefpectfully of the 
Deity.—He who is without knowledge, 
is like a blind man.— Gain by deceit will 
at laft be loft.” 
VARIETIES, Literary AND PHILOSOPHICAL; 
Including Notices of Works in Hand, Domeffit and Foreign. 
a*, Authentic Communications for thik Article will always be thankfully received. 
) CCORDING to the annual Report 
of the vifitars, on the accounts of 
the RorvaL INstTiTuTrion for 1803, aid 
on the progrefs and ftate of the Enftitu- 
tion, it appeats that the expenditure of the 
year 1803, has been only 15781. 6s. gd. 
and in this total of expertce are included 
all the recent intprovements in the labo- 
ratory, model-room, and lecture:room, 
&c. and fome {mall part of what has been 
expended for the library and colleétion of 
minerals, Befides the return of fome 
annual fubfcribers who had quitted the 
Inititution, there has beén, fince the com- 
mencement of the prefent feafon, the ad- 
dition of three proprietors, three life fub- 
fcribers, 175 annual fubferihers, and 242 
Jadies and young perfons fubferibing to 
the Lectures only ; and the fum received 
for fubfcriptions and proprietors’ fhares, 
from the rft January to the 3rf March, 
4804, has amounted to 1902]. 12s. The 
Lecturss, Experiments, &c. are now re- 
gularly and fully attended; and there is 
every realon to fuppole, that a general in- 
tereft in favour of the eftablithment has 
been created among the imhabitants of the 
metropolis. The laboratory, which had 
been formed fome years fince, on a limited 
fcale, has this ycar been enlarged to the 
fize of 48% feet by 344, by the addition of 
the old workfhop ; on the fide of which, 
and under flues already exifting, three ad- 
ditional furnaces have been conitruéted, 
and the remainder of the {pace has been 
fitted up with feats, as a theatre, for thofe 
who attend the Experiments of Refearch; 
an arched opening being made in the wall, 
in front of the table of the laboratory. 
The chemical apparatus has been im- 
proved, and this part of the eftablifhmens 
Montury Mac, No, 115, 
is now found to anfwer very completely 
the end of enabling the Profeffor of Che- 
miftry, and his affiftants, to prepare ma- 
terials for the Chemical Le€tures, and to 
carfy on original inguiries upon new ob- 
jects of {cience. Accoilection of minerals 
has been formed during. the laft year, 
principally from prefents liberally made 
by fome of the proprietors and fub{cribers ; 
and this collection, which already confifts 
of more thaw 3000 fpecimens, will, it is 
prefumed, when arranged and delcribed, 
be found a very ufeful part of the Infti- 
tution. Great progrefs has been made in 
completing the library, the plan for which 
was formed previous to the laf annual 
meeting, and is noticed in the Report of 
the viltors at that period. The old Jec- 
ture-room, rendered ufelefS by that which 
has been built on a larger f{cale; has been 
fitted up with theives on three fides, and a 
gallery, confruéted at half the height, fo 
as to make every fhelf acceffible. The 
lifts of books undertaken to be furnifhed, 
have been moftly ,fince delivered, and pur- 
chafes have beem made in the different 
branches, as opportunities have offered ; 
in particular, the library of the late 
Thomas Aftle, Efg. purchafed for 1009 
guineas, has proved an important acqui~ 
fition to the colleétion, furnifhing in itfelf 
almoft every book in ancient Britifh HiG 
tory, Topography, and Antiquities, be. 
fides a variety of {carce and valuable books 
in other claffes. Of the total fum of 
4346). 15s. raifed by a feparate fub{crip- 
tion for this exprefs purpofe, and increaf- 
ed by intereft of exchequer -bills to 
49221. there has been expended in fitting 
up the room 207]. 11s. in falaries and 
other expences 471. 5s. 6d. and in books 
: 3P 2559« 
