Beccaria.—This philosopher of humanity having, in one of the editions of his admirable work on crimes and punishments, in that part which relates to fraudulent bankruptcy, qualified some sentiments which he had originally expressed, but which, on reflection, appeared to himself too severe, he adds in a note, "I am ashamed of what I formerly wrote on this subject. I have been accused of irreligion, without deserving it; I have been accused of disaffection to the government, and deserved it as little; I was guilty of a real attack upon the rights of humanity, and I have been reproached by nobody."
Generosity.—It is an error to imagine that men in the lowest rank of life are unsusceptible of heroic and generous sentiments. All who are susceptible of enthusiasm are capable of being actuated by them. It is the minions of fortune, those who have been pampered from their infancy, by the hands of luxury, and early accustomed to every kind of profusion, whose minds sink into torpor for want of exertion; it is such as those that are more likely to be unsusceptible of generous sentiments.
Academy of Natural Sciences.—The Academy of Natural Sciences in this city has received from the president, Mr. William Maclure, now in France, a donation of books, amounting in value to about $4000, and have received advice of another valuable shipment from the same munificent hand.
Method of preserving Vessels.—An American ship now at Cowes, built with spruce and white oak, sixteen years ago, has all her original timbers and planks in the most perfect state of preservation and soundness, owing to her having been, while on the stocks, filled up between the timbers with salt; and whenever she has been opened for examination filled up again.
General Post-Office.—The number of post-offices in the United States is four thousand eight hundred and thirty, and the length of post-roads is 71,522 miles. The amount of postage for the year 1819, was $1,204,680; the cost of transportation of the mail $717,843; and the compensation to postmasters $375,964.
Bibliomania.—At no time during the highest age of Bibliomanianism did books of rarity bear higher prices than at the concluding sale of Mr. Bindley's library. The competition for old poetical tracts and ballads was unexampled.
| L. | s. | d. | ||
| No. 1125 | Collection of Poetical Ballads from 1540 to 1670. | 192 | 0 | 0 |
| 1126 | Do. from 1670 to 1680, | 133 | 15 | 0 |
| 1127 | Do. from 1679 to 1685, | 174 | 6 | 0 |
| 1128 | Do. 5 vols. | 231 | 0 | 0 |
| 1130 | Do. | 43 | 1 | 0 |
The three first collections of ballads, and of halfpenny and penny songs, were bought by the Marquis of Buckingham. The five volumes of the same kind by Mr. Heber.
[Lon. pap.
Precious Stones.—A diamond said to be worth 20,000l. and one of the largest in the world, was among the spoils of the Peishwa, and is now in the East India Company's treasury, to be sold for the benefit of the captors. It was brought to England by the ship York. A block of amethyst, or rather a mass of amethysts, has been sent from Brazil to Calcutta. This extraordinary specimen is four feet in circumference, and weighs 98 pounds. It is in its rough state, and consists of more than 50 irregular columns, smooth, transparent, purple and white, shooting up like crystals from a common matrix.