perfect with the seal, presented by the late to much injury front sudden and careless Earl Stanhope. The Saloon. The dome of this grand apartment was painted by La Fosse. It has generally been described as representing the Apotheosis of Iris. Walpole, in his Anecdotes of Painting, deviates still farther from the truth, by naming the subject the Apotheosis of Isis; but the most probable conjecture is, that the painter meant to exhibit the birth of Minerva, that Goddess fully attired being the most prominent figure. Jupiter is immediately above her; and about hin are three female figures with stars over their heads, administering to him; one of them pouring nectar, or some healing ointment, upon his head. On one side of Minerva is Vulcan; and close to him Cupid with an axe in his hand: on the other side is Mercury, seemingly starting to announce the happy tidings on earth. The other heathen divinities surround this group in admiration of the event: and in a lower compartment, opposite the chimney, are the Vices expelled from Heaven on the manifestation of Wisdom. In six medallions near the corners of the room are some of the principal atchievements of Minerva. Between these are groups of winged boys, emblematically alluding in their several employments, to Arts, Sciences, Commerce, and War. The landscapes and architectural decorations are by J. Rousseau: the garlands of flowers by John Baptist Monoyer, the most eminent flower painter of his time. Over the chimney is a full length portrait of King George II. by Shackleton: and in the middle window stands a table, composed of a variety of lavas from Mount Vesuvius, presented by the Earl of Exeter. Department of Natural History. 8th Room. Minerals.-This room contains, besides the local collections in the cases round the room, the valuable donation of Mr Cracherode disposed in two tables, nearly in the Linnæan order; and a much more extensive series arranged according to Werner's system of Mineralogy, in 210 drawers in the imposts round the room. Also Minerals from Derbyshire-SiberiaThe South Seas-Volcanic ProductionsRock Stones, from Germany-and miscellaneous; several Meteoric Stones, that fell in France, in Yorkshire, and in the East-Indies. 9th Room. Petrifactions and Shells: also several fossil bones; as of the N. American Mammoth, &c.-and the Cracherodean Collection of Shells. Along the bottom of the tables in this and the next room are deposited a great number of volumes and packets, containing collections of dried plants; and as these articles are liable handling, it is hoped that no person will attempt to remove them without particular leave. 10th Room. Vegetables. Zoophytes. British corallines, disposed in such a manner as to represent landscapes; they consist of the several species, figured and described by the celebrated Mr. Ellis. Sir Hans Sloane's collection of insects; somewhat injured by length of time. In the imposts round this room runs a series of drawers, containing a very numerous collection of seeds, fruits, and other vegetable articles. Over the chimney are two fern trees. Over the door next the chimney is a small curious fish, that grows to a vast size, is arm or young, but very perfect, specimen of a ed with a large horn, and is sometimes known to attack a ship (which it perhaps mistakes for a whale), and that with such force as to drive the horn or sword through the timber. An example of this, from a larger fish of that kind, is preserved in the same frame; and also the tail of a large one over the case. 11th Room. The Birds in this room are disposed, so far as convenience would admit, according to the Linnæan mode of arrangement, viz. into six great divisions or orders, the separations of which are marked by white lines between each. Some birds however, on which they are contained, could not conveniaccount of the large size of the cases in ently be stationed in their proper order, and are therefore disposed on the upper part of the general divisions. We must not omit a curious picture, executed long ago in Holland, of that extremely, rare and curious bird the Dodo, belonging to the tribe Gallina, and a native of the island of Bourbon. The picture was taken from a living specimen, brought into Holland soon after the discovery of the passage to the EastIndies by the Cape of Good Hope, by the Portuguese. 12th Room contains a general and extensive collection of fishes, serpents, lizards, frogs, &c. as well as many specimens of quadrupeds, preserved in spirits. Department of Antiquities. 1st Room. The Terra Cottas belonging to the collection of the late C. Townley, Esq. 79 articles. ed Room. 17 articles. Greek and Roman Sculptures, 3d Room. Ditto, 46 articles. 4th Room. Ditto, 15 articles. 5th Room. Roman Sepulchral Antiquities, 45 articles: among them a mosaic pavement, lately discovered in digging the foundations for the new buildings at the Bank of British Museum. England; presented by the Directors of the 6th Room. Greek and Roman Sculptures, 100 articles. 7th Room. Roman Antiquities, 8 articles. 8th Room. Egyptian Antiquities. Egyptian mummies with their coffins, also a manuscript taken from a mummy, written on papyrus, in the Egy; an language. The smaller articles contained in this room, too numerous to be separately described in a succinct account, consist of mummies of the Ibis, and of sacred animals; of idols in wood, stone, porcelain, and bronze; of vases, the lids of which are severally adorned with a head of Isis, a hawk, a wolf, or a baboon: of fragments of statues; of sistrums, amulets, and a great variety of other monuments of art, which serve to illustrate the religious worship of the ancient Egyptians. 9th Room. Egyptian Sculptures. Principally collected by the French in different parts of Egypt: they came into the possession of the English army in consequence of the capitulation of Alexandria, Septeniber, 1801. They were brought to England, in Feb. 1802, under the care of Col. Turner, and were sent, by order of his Majesty, to the British Museum. 39 articles. (532 coins are placed, as far as it can be ascertained, in chronological order. The second head, comprising modern Gallic, Scotch, and Irish coins, and likewise coins, consists of Saxou, English, Anglothe coins of foreign nations. This class is arranged according to the respective countries to which the coins belong, those of each country being kept separate. The third head comprises a class considerably more modern. ton, 78 cases, containing an extensive variety 12th Room. Collection of Sir W. Hamilof antiquities. this room is deposited the extensi. and va 13th Room. Prints and Drawings. In luable collection of prints and drawings, the ed by the Rev. C. M. Cracherode.-The conmost important part of which was bequeathtents of this Room, as well as those of the coins and medals, can be seen only by a few persons at a time, by particular permission. From a schedule, which was handed about at the time of the purchase, we collect the fol lowing totals of the contents of Sir Hans Sloane's Museum; but as this document is by no means No. 1. Is a large Egyptian sarcophagus, authentic, we must request our readers to of breccia, brought from the mosque of Saint consider these numbers rather as approximaAthanasius, at Alexandria. It is coveredtions than as accurate enumerations. with hieroglyphics both within and without. -This has had the name of "Alexander's Tomb," conferred on it by some. No. 2. Is another large Egyptian sarcophagus, of black granite, also covered with hieroglyphics, inside and outside: it was brought from Grand Cairo, where it was used by the Turks as a cistern: they called it, "The Lover's Fountain." No. 23. Is the Rosetta stone, containing three inscriptions of the same import, one in hieroglyphics, another in the ancient vernacular language of Egypt, and another in Greek. These inscriptions record the services which Ptolemy V. had rendered his country; and were engraved, after his death, by order of the High Priests, during the minority of his son, Ptolemy VI. 10th Room. Greek and Roman Sculptures, 86 articles. 11th Room. Coins and Medals. 1. Ancient Coins; 2. Modern Coins; 3. Medals. The first of these heads consists of Greek and Roman coins. The Greek coins are arranged in geographical order, and include all those which are struck with Greek characters, in Greece or elsewhere, by kings, states, or cities, which were independent of the Romans. With this class are placed likewise the coins of free states and cities, which made use of either the Etruscan, Roman, Punic, Spanish, or otharacters. The Roman Library of printed books and manu scripts, including books of prints and drawings... ..........Vols. 50,000 Coins and medals.. 23,000 1,125 1,500 542 Antique idols, utensils, &c...... Amphibia. 1,555 521 1,436 5,845 5,439 1,421 Shells, echini, entrochi... 334 55 Miscellaneous artificial curiosities...... 2,098 38 vols. fol. and 8 quarto. the contents of this noble establishment, and We have now given a complete detail of from the augmentations which it is constantly receiving, we indulge the hope that it will ere long become the first repository of its kind, in point of utility and consequence, that the world can boast. HEBREW BIBLICAL MSS. IN CHINA. IN Panorama, Vol. III. p. 341, may be seen Dr. Kerr's very interesting account of the extant copies of parts of Holy Scripture among the Syrian Christians at Cochin, and, as every thing tending to further discoveries of a like kind, has its importance either immediate or relative, we take a pleasure in laying before our readers, what information has lately reached us from the Continent, on the subject of copies of parts of the Hebrew Scriptures, extant in China, with the addition of the first and second books of the Maccabees in Helrew. The discovery of this enlargement to our stores of Hebrew philology may prove of considerable consequence to sacred literature; these books may gratify us with phrases hitherto found but once only in what we already possess, (and therefore difficult) elucidated by position or connection; or words, which now, to speak Hebraically, "have neither friend nor brother," may receive their true sense, from their cognates, in these historical documents. If the Greek translations that we already possess are faithful, these novelties will offer but little difficulty; if they present additional facts, that will be so much gain to general history and to a period of history which we are previously acquainted with, and on which we can judge, by means of the Greek writers. Our readers will observe for themselves, the alleged deficiencies of books, preserved by these Jews, with the damaged state of the most valuable, but as great obscurity reigns over the whole of the account, that particular may justly be doubted. Not every applicant was likely to be favoured with a confidential communication of all the books held sacred by this community. Not every one is master of the Hebrew language sufficiently to command the attention of the Custos of such MSS. Not every one is sufficient judge of the probable age of a MS. to venture an opinion on that circumstance; and a person, adequately qualified, would perhaps find great difficulty in obtaining from the jealous government of China, permission to visit and examine Kai-fong-fu, at leisure. We have, however, discharged our duty in reminding the learned world of these remains of antiquity, of biblical antiquity, and must leave to Providence the direction to those means which may be happily instrumental in rendering these long buried documents of use to our Holy Religion, and to Sacred Literature. Observations on the History of the Jews in China: together with a Description of their Sacred Books in the Synagogue of Kaifong-fu; with an Appendix respecting the Origin of the Pentateuch; by P. Ig natius Kögler. Published at Halle in 1806, in German. THE very early period at which the Jews had arrived and settled, in China, is a very remarkable circumstance in the history of that people. In the year 73 of the Christian æra; of course, very shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem, according to some writers of strict veracity, seventy Jewish families, taking their route from Persia, through Chorasan and Samarcand, settled in China. That in quisitive writer, Paulus, about 20 years ago (in a letter to Eichhorn) compared this al leged date of the arrival of the Jews in China with a chronological account, discovered among the Jews at Cochin, respecting some of their brethren who had settled in the Mogul territory 187 years before the birth of Christ. By the comparison of these accounts with each other, he has proved the probable authenticity of both. The merits of the Jesuits in modern times in their endeavours to propagate Christianity in that vast empire, is well known. This industrious and indefatigable sect deserve our thanks for their communications respecting the Jews there, the most remarkable of which comprizes an account of the Sacred Writings preserved in the Synagogue of Kai-fong-fu, the metropolis of the province of Honan. The first remarks on this subject are by Murr, in the 7th part of his Journal of Arts and Literature, under the title of Notitia quædam P. Ignati Koegleri de Bibliis Judæorum in Imperio Sinensi. The original was published by him with additions in 1805. Of that work the present appears to be a translation, with remarks by the editor, elucidations by de Sacy, and O. G. Tyehsen, and a letter of P. Gozani. The remarks are preceded by an account of sundry treatises respecting the Chinese Jews; among which those of Deguignes, Renaudot, and Brotier, certainly are the best. The remarks themselves contain nothing but extracts from the writings mentioned, and consequently nothing new. The German translation of Kögler's original Latin can boast of but slen-. der attractions, and presents no additional researches or information. Mr. M. the translator, says he undertook this work not merely for the learned, but in hopes he might interest the European Jews on the subject; these are, however, so much occupied in passing events at home, that they cannot be supposed to take any lively interest in what concerns their brethren at such an immense distance. The account of the Sacred Writings in the possession of the Chinese Jews, may be abridged into the following statement. They preserve their Hebrew writings in their public Synagogue at Kai-fong-fu, which was built in the year 1163. In the most investigation. M. Koegler himself does not appear to have been in Kai-fong-fu, from any hint in his notes; and he certainly would not have omitted that circumstance, had he himself seen these Chinese MSS. According to the history of the Chinese missionaries, his residence was at Pekin; his notes, we may presume, were compiled from the accounts of other Fathers, This however is certain, that Hebrew literature is not the study for which the sons of Loyola have been greatly cele brated, or on which they have most earnestly holy place are seen thirteen rolls of parch- COVERY OF DIAMONDS IN BRAZIL, TOGETHER WITH SOME PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO THE QUALITY, &c. OF THOSE PRECIOUS STONES, THE LAWS RESPECTING THEM, &c. &c.. which are always kept locked. The Jews A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE EARLIEST DIShave some other Hebrew books; but most of these are much damaged, and some of them are totally illegible. The Thorah has but 53 Paraschoth (divisions or sections) the 52d and 53d being reckoned but one. The biblical books are divided into four classes, 1. The Pentateuch. 2. The Supplement, viz. Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, and the Psalms. 3. The Book of Ceremonies, or the Ritual Book; the Prophets, and the Books of Chronicles. 4. The historical books, Esther, Esra, Nehemiah, and the two books of the Maccabees, alo in Hebrew. The Proverbs, Job, Solomon's Song, and Ecclesiastes, they have not: however, they may, perhaps, says Koegler, have more books than they acknowledge, or more than they themselves know of, as they are exceedingly ignorant, and do not seem to evince the least inclination for literature or science; neither will they suffer any person to take any books away from their places, and it is impossible to run them over singly in the Synagogue; as they lie there in the greatest confusion. The pronunciation of the Hebrew language by these Jews, is very different from that of the European Jews:-For example,♫, they pronounce Thoulaha. or Thoulaze; Pieleshcitze; now Schmotze; p Vajekelo; rampa Piemizepaul; Or, Teveliim. It appears from this account that the information contained in Koegler's description of the books extant among the Chinese Jews will not greatly enrich Hebrew Biblical literature. The most desirable circumstance to be known, if we could discover it, would be the age of these manuscripts: but nothing can be collected from the Jews themselves with any degree of certainty on this point. Eichhorn noticed these MSS. in his preface, but his observations, that the different writers who have mentioned them, had but a dark and imperfect view of them, is very correct, and we are still therefore uncertain whether they may or may not deserve There was a time when diamonds were found only in the East Indies, principally in the lower part of Indostan; and during the period when the Portuguese were powerful in the east, the whole of the European commerce in diamonds was carried on through Lisbon. These precious stones were brought from Goa, which is adjacent to Golconda, where the famous diamond mines of the east are situated. The Dutch having obtained the ascendancy in India deprived the Portuguese of a source of wealth, which chance, however, soon restored to them. In 1729, the colonists of Brazil discovered those diamond mines, which at present supply the chief demand of Europe. Near the town of Serro do Frio, says Don Sarmento, in the Government of the Gold Mines, there is a place called by the natives Cay-The-Meria, where, as well as in the little river named do Milho Verde, they have found gold for several years back. The miners, who dig the gold in these paris, sift the earth, and the sand on the river's bank, for the purpose of separating the ore. In performing this operation, it frequently happened, that they found several stones, of which, at first, they made no account; and it was not till 1728, that a miner bethought himself of working or grinding the stones, the result of which was, that he found them to be diamonds. He thenceforward took care not to let one of them escape his attention, and the other miners, following his example, eagerly sought after these valuable gems. After having carefully searched the earth, they had recourse to the river, where they not only found the diamonds in greater abundance, but procured them with the utmost facility. Experience and a little reflection led them to imagine, that the diamonds came from a distance, that they were not the produce of the places wherein they, were found, but were brought thither by the current of the river: nevertheless, their source has not hitherto been discovered. Sanguine hopes are however entertained on this subject, as in mining several mountains adjacent to the town, innumerable particles of a hard and beautiful species of crystal have lately been met with. The weight of the Brazil diamonds is, ordinarily, from a grain to six carats; there are some, however, of greater size, and one has been found which weighs no less than 46 carats. According to the author above named, in hue, solidity, and every other property the Brazil diamonds are equal to those of the east, but there are few jeweilers who hold this opinion. It is observable, he adds, that the diamonds found nearest to the surface of the earth, being consequently exposed to the action of the air and the sun, are more strongly incrusted than the others, and, of course, lose more in the polishing. It is not absolutely certain, says Sarmento, that the diamonds of Brazil are brought down by the torrents; and such too is the decided opinion of the author of "L'Histoire des deux Indes." From the moment that the Portuguese discovered diamonds in Brazil, they pursued their researches; and with such success that one fleet from Rio Janiero brought home 1146 ounces. This abundant supply lowered the price of the article by three fourths; but the Portuguese minister adopted measures which quickly restored it to its original standard. one contractor diamonds to the amount of 5,000,000 crusadas or £1,125,000 sterling, and no more, annually, in virtue of an expreas agreement to that effect, which has ever been held sacred: the price of the dia mond was rated advantageously to the contractor. These precious stones are bought in a raw state by us, or by the Dutch, and after being cut, are disseminated throughout Eu rope, but especially France, where this gem was most eagerly bought up. They are less hard, pellucid, and brilliant, than those of the East Indies, but they are far whiter. Their value is about £10 per cent under that of the former. The law, which insures to the king of Portugal the exclusive possession of the largest diamonds found in Brazil, ordains that the slaves who find them shall be granted their freedom, and that the king shall pay their master 400,000 reis. If a free-man be the finder, he is to have a similar sum. These promises are likewise held forth to such slave or free-man as shall discover those who conceal diamonds. If a slave discover his master, the king grants him 200,000 reis, besides his liberty. Those who act contrary to this law, not only lose the diamonds which they purloin, and their slaves, but often are put to death. The pu ishments inflicted on the slaves are, commonly, whipping, condemnation to the gallies for life, or immediate death. The diamond seekers are obliged to render an exact account to the king's comm.ssary of all such diamonds as they or their slaves discover. The commissary deposits the diamonds in a case covered with iron, and secured by three locks: he has possession of one A company, with an exclusive privilege of the keys, the viceroy has another, and the to seek for, and to vend, the diamonds of Provado de Hazienda Real, has the third. Brazil, was instituted; and in order to limit This case is put into a second, on which are its cupidity, it was allowed to employ no placed the seals of the three personages already more than 600 slaves afterwards, however, mentioned; the three keys being inclosed withthis restriction was annulled, and the comin it. The Viceroy is not permitted to view the pany was permitted to employ as many slaves contents of the cases, but merely consigns as it should think proper, on paving 600 the whole to the third strong box, upon the crusadas (about £75 sterling) for every lock of which he places his seal. The openminer. By the two contracts, the courting of the treasure takes place in the presence reserves for its own use every diamond which of the king, who makes choice of such diashall be found to exceed a certain weight. monds as he approves of, paying to the finders A law, which forbad, under pain of death, a price which is regulated by the law already any infringement on this privilege, did not mentioned. appear sufficient to insure compliance with it, but rather tended to depopulate the places adjacent to the spot, and to turn the surrounding country into a vast desert. Within the space of 100 leagues, there is only one village to be seen, and this is inhabited by the agents and slaves of the company! The agent of this privileged body in Europe, was no other than the government itself. Prior to the emigration of the court of Portugal to the Brazils, whatever the produce of the mines might be, government delivered to "There never has been found a diamond,'' says the Abbé Raynal," which could be put in competition with that sent from Brazil to the king of Portugal; its weight being 1680 of ascertaining its value, yet an English writer carats or 125 oz Although there is uo mode has been bold enough to compute it at the enormous sum of £224,000,000 sterling !! If, however, as some lapidaries assert, this reputed diamond be a topaz, the above com putation must be egregiously erroneous." |