zive of Austria. The herbaceous cuphorbia look so differently at different periods of their growth, that it is often difficult to determine the species; but from the very entire edges of the involucre, and the roundness of the leaves, we are inclined to doubt if this be the same as has been described and figured by Jacquin, in the Flora Austriaca.

Euphorbia meloformis. A much better figure of this plant, though uncoloured, is to be seen in the Annâles du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, and copied from thence in the first volume of Annals of Botany, pl. 2. It is a diœcious plant, and we believe the male only has been as yet seen in this country.

The Botanical Magazine for last month contains

Aloe rigida of Decandolle; the expansa of Haworth.

Aloe pentagona, of Haworth.

Anthericum longiscapum, of Jacquin; from Mr. Haworth's collection. This, according to Mr. Ker, is the asphodeloides of the late edition of the Hortus Kewensis, as is proved by the specimen, preserved in the Banksian Herbarium. It is not, however, the asphodeloides of Linnæus, Miller, &c.

Tradescantia erecta, an annual plant; native of Mexico.

Fothergilla alnifolia var obtusa, and var majar. Dr. Sims describes another variety, under the name of scrotina. This genus was named in honor of Dr. John Fothergill, by the late Dr. Garden, of Charlestown, South-Carolina. For an interesting life of the lastmentioned author, by Dr. Smith, see Dr. Rees's Cyclopædia, article Garden.

Arctolis glutinosa, a new species, as appears, though Dr. Sins is not certain with respect to the genus, to which it ought to be referred; drawn at Lee and Kennedy's Nursery, Hammersmith.

Phlox carolina; an old inhabitant of our gardens, but probably for some time lost, and now recovered by Mr. Fraser, of Sloane Square. The smooth leaves and rough stem nited, seem to be sufficient to distinguish this from every other known species.

METEOROLOGICAL REPORT.

Observations on the State of the Weather, from the 24th of November 1810, to the 24th of December 1810, inclusive, Four Miles N.N.W. of St. Paul's.

THE quantity of rain fallen since the last Report, is equal to about 4 inches: this, though less than one-half of what fell during the preceding month, must be considered as a large quantity for the season, and perhaps a wetter autumn and early part of the winter were never known in this portion of the Island. In various districts of the kingdom there have been alarming and destructive floods, but no inconvenience, in this respect, has been felt in the metropolis and its neighbourhood, for, notwithstanding there have been eighteen days on which there has been rain, yet the intermediate periods have given ample time for the waters to run gradually off.

The average height of the barometer is about the same as it was the last month, viz 29.3, and the mean temperature not quite 39. We have had two or three sharp frosts, but they were of short duration, lasting in general but a few hours. On the mornings of the 1st, 2d, and 3d, and again on those of the 9th and 11th, the thermometer has been as low, or lower, than the freezing point: in one instance, as is seen above, it was at 26° in another, at 27; the other days of the month have been unusually mild, and the common excla. mation is, That Christmas has come before we have even felt the winter blast. In London, one of the thickest fogs remembered in the day-time, occurred about two o'clock on Sunday the 16th. The metropolis was almost enveloped in darkness, and artificial lights were resorted to a full hour and half earlier than the usual time. This fog did not extend to the villages about town. The wind has blown chiefly from the westerly points; on eight days it has been due west, on thirteen N. W. and on five S.W. We cannot reckon more than seven or eight days of bright sun-shine, and on one there was some snow.

Highgate, Dec. 24, 1810.

TO THE THIRTIETH VOLUME OF THE

MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

VOL. 30. No. 208.]

JANUARY 31, 1811.

PRICE 23.

HALF YEARLY RETROSPECT OF LITERATURE.
HISTORY, CHRONOLOGY, &c.

In this class we have to notice a
work of no ordinary consideration.
“A new Analysis of Chronology, in which
an Attempt is made to explain the His-
tory and Antiquities of the primitive
Nations of the World, and the Prophe
cies relating to them, on Principles
tending to remove the Imperfection and
Discordance of preceding Systems." By
WILLIAM HALES, D. D. In three Vo-
lumes, Vol. I. 4to.

This work, we are assured, is the result of many years study of the history, antiquities, and prophecies, respecting the principal nations recorded in the Bible; namely, the Hebrews, Is raelites, and Jews, the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians, the Medes and Persians, the Grecians and Romans. It was originally suggested by the embarrassments and interruptions experienced by the author in his historical researches, who found, what most scholars have had such frequent cause to lament, that the chronological systems even of the best writers, as they stand at present, are utterly insufficient to adjust and harmonize the leading dates of sacred and profane history; all of them differing from each other, more or less, in the principles upon which they are founded, and in the application of those principles: sometimes adjusting sacred by profane chronology, and sometimes the reverse, without any settled rule or standard.

In a short, but modest preface, Dr. Hales has explained the methods taken to produce the "New Analysis."

"His first attempt was to examine carefully the principles upon which the reigning systems were built, in order to seck a solid foundation for a general system. This led him into a minute investigation of the evidences for and against the longer and shorter computations of the Patriarchal generations from Adam to Abraham, found in the Masorete and Samaritan Hebrew texts, in the Greek version, and in Josephus; MONTHLY MAG. No. 208.

and the result was a conviction of the untenableness of the shorter computation, which he discovered to have been first fabricated by the Jews, about the time of the publication of the Sedar Olam Rabba, their great system of chrono. logy, in A. D. 130.

"His next attempt was to retrieve the genuine chronology of Josephus, many of whose leading dates had been adulterated by his early editors, in order to make them correspond with the Jewish system, which unfortunately was too soon adopted by several of the primitive christian writers."

The rectified era of the creation, B. C. 5411, forms the basis of Dr. Hales's system.

The first volume of the work (all that is now before us,) is confined to Dr. Hales's preliminary apparatus; in which he appears to have thrown all such matters as were merely of a controversial nature. It contains, 1. A General Introduction, shewing the necessity of his undertaking, from a re. view of the present state of chronology, of the leading systems, and of the means of improving it, on scientific principles. 2. Elements of Technical Chronology; and 3. Elements of Sacred Geography; both essentially connected with Historical Chronology, and designed to supply defects, and to correct mistakes, in the elementary treatises of Beveridge and Wells.

The second volume, which we shall have great pleasure in noticing hereafter, is to comprise the whole body of Sacred, and the third the several branches of Profane chronology.

Another work of first-rate impor tance will be found in "Annals of the East India Company, from their Establishment by the Charter of Queen Elizabeth, 1600, to the Union of the London and English East India Companies, 1707-8. By Joux BRUCE, Esq. M. P. F. R. S. In three Volumes, ito.

The annals of the East India Company, the author observes, form a subordinate

4 P

subordinate branch of the political and commercial history of England, and unfold the rise and progress of the greatest commercial association, which has appeared in any country, or in any age.

The evidence upon which this review of their affairs has proceeded, has been drawn from documents preserved among his Majesty's archives in the State Paper Office, and from the records of the Company, in the Indian Register Office. in a preliminary dissertation, Mr. Bruce has traced the rise and progress of the intercourse of the European maritime nations with the East Indies, including the history of the Portuguese and Dutch establishments.

The work is divided into three chapters; each occupying a volume. The first, comprehends the rise and progress of the London East India Company, from the year 1600, to the restoration of their charter by King Charles II. in 1661. The second details the commercial relations of England, from the restoration to the revolution in 1688, with the events affect ing the Indian sovereignties in the countries in which the London East India Company had established factories or seats of trade. "Chapter III. after referring to the political and commercial relations to England, from 1688-89 to 1707-8. discovers the sources and characters of the successive speculations for an open, and for a separate trade, which terminated in the establishment of a second, or the English East India Company; and brings under notice the facts which satisfied the Legislature and the publie, of the necessity of entrusting the East India trade, to the exclusive management of the united company of merchants of England, trading to the

East Indies."

The third volume contains the peerage of Scotland. The fourth and fifth volumes, the peerage of Ireland. At the end of the two Peerages are "Conclusions." One, containing an appeal to facts that in ancient times the Scotch acted right in leaguing with France against England; and right also, at another period, in sacrificing their own importance to the good of their country. The other, reciting a short outline of "the oppressed state of Ireland from the conquest by Henry II. till the reign of George III." and endeavouring to prove "that nothing short of a union of Parliaments could afford true relief to Ireland.”

The removal of the Portuguese government from Lisbon to South America gives the first part of "The History of Brazil," by ROBERT SOUTHEY, a livelier interest than it might possibly have had in times of greater quiet. In the preface the author assures us that something more is comprised in the present work than the title promises, "It relates the foundation and progress of the adjacent Spanish provinces, the affairs of which are in latter times. inseparably connected with those of Brazil. The subject may therefore be considered as including the whole tract of country between the rivers Plata, Paraguay, and Orellana, (or the Amazons,) and eastward towards Peru, as far as the Portuguese have extended their settlements or their discoveries.

"The onlygeneral history of Brazil," he adds, is the America Portu gueza of Sebast. da Rocha Pitta, a meagre and inaccurate work, which has been accounted valuable, merely because there was no other. There are many copious and good accounts of the Dutch wars. Earlier information is to be gleaned from books where it occurs rather incidentally than by design. Authorities are still scarcer for the subsequent period, and for the greater part of the last century printed documents almost entirely fail. A collection of MSS. not less extensive than curious, and which is not to be equal led in England, enables me to supply "British Family Antiquity, illustrative this chasm in history. The collection of the Origin and Progress, of the Rank, was formed during a residence of more Honours, and Personal Merit of the Nothan thirty years in Portugal, by the bility of the United Kingdom, accom friend and relation," (the Rev. Herpanied with an elegant Set of Chrono- bert Hill,)" to whom this work is in Logical Charls." By WILLIAM PLAYFAIR, scribed. Without the assistance which I have received from him, it would

To the annals of each of these periods the author has subjoined results, affording in a short compass, from authentic evidence, the progressive aspects of the Company's rights. Here also we have to anounce the third, fourth, and fifth volumes of

have

have been hopeless to undertake, and impossible to complete it."

The present volume comes down no farther than the year 1640. At a future time we shall hope to present our readers with an elaborate detail of the contents of the complete work. We need not add that Mr. Southey's stile is clear and elegant.

In this division of our retrospect, also, we have to notice "The Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politics, and Literature, for the year 1795." Toward the close of the preface the volumes for 1796 and 1804, are announced to be in the press, and the proprietors add "they will be speedily followed by other volumes, both of the old and new series; and we have a well, grounded hope that, in the course of a reasonable time, the arrear which we have incurred will be discharged, and the Annual Register be thenceforth laid before the public with due punctuality."

THEOLOGY, ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY,

"Biblia Hebraica, or the Hebrew Scriptures of the Old Testament, without points, after the text of Kennicott, with the chief various Readings, selected from his collation of Hebrew MSS. from that of De Rossi, and from the ancient Versions, accompanied with English Notes, Critical, Philological and Explanatory, selected from the most approved ancient and modern English and Foreign Biblical Critics. Part I. Comprising the Book of Genesis." This work, printed at Pontefract in Yorkshire, is in fact but a specimen of one intended, and is given to the world that it may be ascertained what patronage the whole is likely to receive.

"The object of the editor has not been to give all the variations found in MSS. or the ancient versions; but to select such as the state of the text seems to demand, the best critics judge to be genuine, or at least probable and deserving notice. Such various readings have been preferred as contain the matrices lectionis-correct grammatical errors-supply omissions-and give beauty, strength, and propriety

to the text.

"The English notes have been chiefly collected from the works of the most eminent critics; and the editor flatters himself that the emendations proposed are such as will meet the approbation of competent judges. To the critical remarks of the fearned Dr. Geddes he

In this class also, we have to notice

A brief View of the Doctrines of the Christian Religion as professed by the Society of Friends, in the Form of Question and Answer, for the Instruction of Youth." By JOHN BEVANS.

Nor must we forget "The Works of the Rev. THOMAS TOWNSON, D. D. late Archdeacon of Richmond; one of the Rectors of Malpas, Cheshire, and some time Fellow of St. Mary Magdalen, Oxford. In two volumes. To which is prefixed, an Account of the Author, with an Introduction to the Discources on the Gospels,and a Sermon on the Quotations in the Old Testament." By RALPH CHURTON, M.A. Svo.

It is with pleasure we see the works of any author of profound ability collected by an editor: but a still greater pleasure to see the amiable trait which marks the publication of the present volumes. Mr. Churton " was the younger son of one of Dr. Townson's parishioners, a yeoman. At a proper age he was put to the grammar-school in Malpas, with wishes of being edu cated for the church. It pleased God that both his parents died; but he continued at school; and his worthy master the Rev. Mr. Evans, mentioned him to Dr. Townson, who made him presents of books, and frequently assisted and directed his studies. By Dr. Townson's recommendation he was entered at Brasen-nose in 1772; and the same generous hand contributed one half towards his academical expences. In 1778 he was chosen fellow of his college, and his kind friend and benefactor lived to congratulate him on being presented by that society, March 12th, 1792, to the rectory of Middleton Cheney, in Northamptonshire."

The first volume of Dr. Townson's works, beside the life, introduction, and sermon, mentioned in the title, contains the "Discourses on the Four Gospels;" with a "Sermon on the manner of our Saviour's teaching."

The second volume contains, Dr. Towuson's "Discourse on the Evan

gelical