many of the newly settled districts they do not exceed seven or eight.

Finding, therefore, that the number of children to a marriage is the same in America as in Europe, and that the mortality is not less in America than in Europe, that the increase in America is clearly demonstrated to have arisen chiefly from immigration, we must exclude America from all reasonings on the rate at which mankind can increase in number.

The population returns of this country are of little use to the statistical inquirer. We know that our population has increased, but it certainly has not increased at the rate of that of Sweden. The return of 1801 is evidently inaccurate; and though from 1801 to 1811, there has been an increase, that increase has not been so great as stated in the returns. If we take the number of houses for a guide, and suppose the same number of people to a house in 1690 as in 1811, the population at the former period was upwards of 7 millions, while at the latter it was 10,488,000. Mr. Rickmann's calculation from the Registered Baptisms is not to be depended on, as they have evidently been very irregularly kept. The births certainly fall far short of the true number. For instance, 61⁄2 millions of people, at the rate of the Swedish tables, would produce all the births of 1801, while the return makes our population then 9,168,000.

We conclude with observing, that we think Mr. Godwin fully entitled to insist, that, taking all circumstances into consideration, there is every reason for supposing that the increase of the population of Sweden, being nearly one half in 54 years, is the greatest that has yet taken place in any country where there has been no immigration.

An Essay on the Origin and Progress of Stereotype Printing; including a Description of the various Processes. By Thomas Hodgson, Newcastle. 8vo. pp. 190. Crown 10s. 6d. Royal 18s.

This work, of which only 306 copies have been printed, viz. 270 on crown and 36 on royal paper, contains much curious information, not only respecting stereotype printing, but its sister art of polytype printing, or the art of producing by mechanical means, from engraved or otherwise prepared plates, any number of plates capable of multiplying writing or designs by the operation of copper-plate printing. The author has with great industry collected, not only what he could find in previous writers, but every information which he could possibly obtain by assiduous personal inquiries, respecting the kindred arts of which he treats; and has communicated the whole in a concise but perspicuous manner. The execution of the volume is highly cre

ditable

ditable to his taste and accuracy as a printer, and will ensure it a place among valued and curious specimens of Typography, in the collections of those who may be able to procure a copy,which we apprehend will, even now, be rather difficult, the impression being so limited.

Recently published.

Narrative of the Operations and recent Discoveries within the Pyramids, Temples, Tombs and Excavations in Egypt and Nubia, &c. With a volume of plates, atlas folio. By G. Belzoni.

The History and Antiquities of the See and Cathedral Church of Lichfield: illustrated by numerous Engravings. By John Britton, F.S.A. 17. 18s. medium 4to. 3. s. imperial 4to. 6. 6s. roval folio.

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Description of Instruments designed for the extending Meteorological Observations. By J, Leslie. 2s.

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Professor Leslie's Course of Mathematics. 2 vols. 8vo.

Lectures on the Philosophy of the Human Mind. By the late Thomas Brown, M.D. Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh. 4 vols. 8vo. 2. 12s. 6d.

The Elements of Chemistry, with its Application to explain the Phænomena of Nature, and the Processes of Arts and Manufactures. By James Millar, M.D. Svo. 12s.

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A Description of a new Agricultural Instrument, which, by the power of one horse, performs a variety of operations in cultivation, at the rate of three acres per day. By Major General Alexander Beatson. Svo.

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An Introduction to the Study of Conchology. By Charles Woodarch. Svo. 7s. plain; 12s. coloured.

The Gentleman's Mathematical Companion, being the Twentyfourth Number, for 1821, continued Annually, with Answers for the last Year's Questions; also new ones for the next; together with some original scientific Papers selected from an extensive Correspondence. 12o. 3s.

A new Method of solving Equations with ease and expedition; by which the true value of the unknown quantity is found without previous reduction; and a Supplement of two other Forms on the same improved Principle. By Mr. Theophilus Holdred. 4to. 7s.

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Booth's Analytical Dictionary of the English Language. Part I. A Historical and Picturesque Tour of the Seine from Paris to the Sea; illustrated by 24 highly finished coloured Engravings. To be published in Six monthly Parts. By Mr. Ackerman.

Mr Ackerman is also preparing a Description of the Manners, Customs, &c. of the People of Dalmatia, Illyria, and the adjacent Countries; 2 vols. pocket size, with 32 coloured Plates. The Principles of Medicine; written entirely on the Plan of Vol. 56, No. 272. Dec. 1820.

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the

the Baconian Philosophy, to prove that the only rational Method of curing Disease, is to induce, by Medicine, a counteracting Action. By H. D. Hamilton.

A Tabular View of Medicinal Combinations. By Dr. Paris. New Editions of Ferguson's Electricity, his Perspective, and Ladies' and Gentlemen's Astronomy. Also Ferguson's Astronomy accommodated to the present State of the Science. By Dr. Brewster.

The Farmer's and Grazier's Guide; containing a Collection of valuable Recipes for the most common and fatal Disorders to which Horses, Horned Cattle, and Sheep, are subject. By L. Towne.

LXXVI. Proceedings of Learned Societies.

ROYAL SOCIETY.

THE following is a brief sketch of the speech of Sir Humphry Davy on being elected President of the Royal Society.

After expressing to the members his deep sense of the honour they had done him in placing him in their chair, Sir Humphry entered into some general views of the present state of the Royal Society, its relations to other scientific bodies, and on the prospects and hopes of science. In the early periods of the history of the Society, experiments were made with the apparatus belonging to the body of their curators and operators, under the eyes of the Society; but since the progress of the useful arts had rendered it casy for individuals attached to scientific pursuits to procure chemical and mechanical apparatus, the Fellows in general had worked in their own laboratories. "There may,

however," said the President, "occur instances in which instruments upon a great scale may be required; or very expensive experiments; and, in such cases, it is to be hoped the proposers will recur to the Society: for, by the commands of our august patron, Government has never been tardy in affording us assistance when our objects have been of national importance; and, on inferior occasions, the object might be effected by a division of expense among the members."

In speaking of the relations of the Royal Society to other scientific bodies, the President expressed a hope that they would naturally assist each other. He disclaimed any thing like patriarchal authority on the part of the Royal Society; but considered it as entitled to respect and affection "as an elder brother of the same family, acting for objects which ought to be a bond of harmony and of peace, not merely amongst the philosophers of the same country, but even amongst those of distant nations."

The

The President took an extensive view of the different depart ments of science which seemed to offer promising subjects of new investigation. In the Mathematical sciences he pointed at the application of the doctrines of quantity, weight, and number; to the elementary philosophy of chemistry; and to many other parts of general physics.

In Astronomy, he referred to the system of the fixed stars, the motions of the comets, and of the bodies which in passing through our atmosphere throw down showers of stones; for it cannot be doubted (he said) that these extraordinary phænomena do not depend upon fortuitous or accidental formations in the atmosphere; but are owing to heavy bodies which in a system where all appears harmonious must be governed by fixed laws and intended for definite purposes.

In Optics, he mentioned the discoveries of Wollaston and Young, which, followed by those of Malus, Arago, Biot, and Brewster, have opened a curious connexion between the crystalline forms of bodies and their relations to the particles of light.

In Electricity, the learned President alluded to the wonderful instrument of Volta, which he said had done more for the recondite chemico-physical sciences than the telescope for astronomy, or the microscope for natural history. He referred to the new field opened by the discoveries of Ersted, which promised to connect so intimately magnetism and electricity, and to 'solve the grand problem of the magnetic phænomena of the earth.

In speaking of the figure of the earth, the President took notice of Capt. Kater's experiments with the pendulum, and expressed a hope that his ingenious contrivance would be applied to determine the physical constitution of the surface. On this point he said, that he hoped there might be a co-operation with the members of the French Royal Academy of Sciences in completing the measurement of 20 degrees of an arc of the meridian; on which these able philosophers had laboured with so much zeal and address. He referred in this part of his discourse to the expedition to the polar regions, which he designated as equally honourable to those by whom the expedition was planned, and to the brave and enterprising navigators by whom it was executed. Such expeditions (said the President) are worthy the great maritime nation of the world, as applying her resources not for empire alone, but for the advancement of science and benefits common to all countries,-thus creating a purer species of glory than that dependent upon power or conquest.

In speaking of Chemistry, he mentioned various interesting objects of research, and congratulated the Society on the progress made in the theory of definite proportions since it was first brought forward in a definite form by Mr. Dalton.

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