of Richard de Emeldon, in 1333, and the foundation of a chantry for the repose of his soul, in the church of St. Nicholas, Dunbar, which was placed under the patronage of the mayor of Newcastle, assisted by the council and assent of the guild of the Blessed Trinity in that town.

Mr. Akerman communicated to the Society a letter which he had received from Richard Falkner, esq. dated Devizes, 25th of September, 1847, descriptive of a group of tumuli on Berkhampton Down, situated in the triangle made by the old road from Bath approaching the present turnpike road from Devizes to Marlborough, Wansdyke forming the base. They are surrounded by a fosse of a very unusual shape, 20 feet across and 3 in depth, and the ground covered by them is 80 yards in length and 47 yards broad in the widest part. The tumulus at the S. E. end of the inclosure is the largest, the diameter of the base being 63 feet, and its height 10 feet. The one at the other end is not so high, but, as it slopes into the fosse, its base is not many feet less. Between them is a Barrow of much smaller dimensions, and the three are connected together by slight bands of earth, with a fosse on each side, running a short distance up the barrows. Mr. Falkner's communication to Mr. Akerman was illustrated by a sketch taken from the south, a groundplan, and some sections. The singular arrangement of these mounds, their difference in size, and other circumstances, lead Mr. Falkner to the conclusion that this spot was the resting-place of three members of a Celtic family; and it would seem they were persons of distinction, whose place of sepulture was in after-times visited with ceremony, there being an approach to the ground 260 yards in length, formed of a vallum and fosse, still quite perfect, commanding a fine view of the barrows throughout its course. This letter was accompanied by short notices of two other groups of tumuli; one about a mile to the east of the triple barrow just described, close to the turnpike road; the other situated in one of the deep hollows of the Chalk Downs, not far from Silbury Hill, and remarkable from the length of the approaches.

A second communication from Mr. Falkner to Mr. Akerman was read, accompanying a drawing of what has been either part of a torques, or one of the coils of an armilla, or armlet, found in the autumn of 1844 on St. Ann's Hill, near Devizes. The material was fine gold, weighing rather more than 22 ounces troy. In form and character of workmanship it strongly resembled one of the gold bracelets found near Egerton Hall, in Cheshire, GENT. MAG. VOL. XXIX.

in 1831; and which is engraved in the 27th volume of the Archæologia, p. 401.

The Secretary then read a notice by Thomas Wright, esq. F.S.A., on some early Latin Stories imitated at a late period by Chaucer and Shakespeare. He instanced a fabliau from a manuscript in the British Museum, strongly resembling Chaucer's Frere's Tale, and also an early and very curious version of the incident of the pound of flesh which forms so important a part of the plot of Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice. This story is found in a variety of forms, and occurs in the literature of the East. Shakespeare is generally supposed to have taken it from the English version of the Anglo-Latin Gesta Romanorum. The version now produced by Mr. Wright occurs in a collection of Latin stories for preachers, in a manuscript written in England, early in the fourteenth century.

ANTIQUITIES OF NINEVEH.

Mr. K. Layard, on his way home from the East, having stayed a short while at Paris, and shown his portfolio of 270 drawings to M. Felix Lajard, that gentleman has laid an account of these Archæological treasures before the "Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres." Since then, Mr. Layard has arrived in London, and deposited some of his Ninevehn remains in the British Museum, and at a meeting of the Trustees, read a paper on the subject, and exhibited his drawings. Here, as in Paris, where they had the additional gratification of comparing this collection with that of M. Botta, from Khorsabad, a deep interest is excited, and we look with impatience for the arrangements of these extraordinary and important discoveries in our national establishment. M. Lajard, it appears, maintains a theory that the Nimrud bas-reliefs are several centuries more ancient than those at Khorsabad; and that from their resemblance to Persepolitan Symbols, they belong to the worship of Mithra (the Astarte or Mylitta of other nomenclatures). He dwelt with enthusiastic praise on our countryman's vast and successful labours, and on the crowning of an enterprize which had produced this grand revelation of history, religion, customs, costume, and, in short, every particular belonging to the Assyrian people and empire. The extreme luxuriousness of their Asiatic life was manifest in every article pertaining to the court of Nineveh-the rich dresses, splendid jewels, magnificent furniture, and exquisite works of art. From these it appeared that the Greeks had borrowed much from the elder Assyria.

2 B

SPAIN.

Gen. Espartero lan. 'ed at St. Sebastian on the 4th Jan. and en ered Madrid early in the morning of the 7th; he was received with great enthusiasm by the people.

An ordinance has been issued, extending the Act of Amnesty to all such as had been condemned under Military jurisdic. tion, and who were held worthy of this act of grace.

ITALY.

On the 23rd Dec. at eight in the morning, the Austrians vacated all the posts in the city of Ferrara, and withdrew into the citadel and the barracks of St. Domenico and St. Benedetto. Thus the status quo in Ferrara is re-established. The Austrians have entered the two Duchies of Parma and Modena. The (late) Duke of Lucca succeeds, by virtue of the Treaty of Vienna, to the Duchy of Parma, and has been invited to take the reins of Government.

A curious riot occurred in Milan on the night of the 3rd Jan. which lasted six hours. Among the killed is Manganini, an aged councillor of state.

UNITED STATES.

The Message of President Polk details the negotiations which Mr. Trist was authorised to open with the Mexican autho rities. They proceeded on the assump tion that the provinces of New Mexico and California were to be ceded to the United States as an indemnity for the war, and that the Rio Grande was to be the boundary. By these terms the President says he still abides, and, if necessary, to carry hostilities still further. He proposes to organise a territorial government in Oregon, and to establish a tribunal, with civil jurisdiction, in China, both measures being well calculated to extend the commerce of the United States in the Pacific Ocean. The President recommends the opening of diplomatic relations with the Pope, and the appointment of Chargés d'Affaires to the republics of Bolivia, Guatemala, and Equador. In regard to domestic questions, he announces the success of free-trade principles, by stating that during the past year the new tariff of moderate duties, although only a year in

operation, has produced 8,500,000 dollars more than the same branch of revenue had produced in the year preceding; while the value of imports had exceeded 146,000,000 dollars, and the value of domestic produce exported has been 150,000,000. The Message states that a loan of large amount will be necessary to carry on the war with Mexico; and it suggests that a portion of the loan may be raised by a war tax on tea and coffee consumed at home, and by the levy of a military contribution on Mexico.

MEXICO.

Santa Anna having issued a pronunciamento against the Provisional Government at Queretaro, calling upon them to organise a force of 50,000 men, for the purpose of renewing the war, a pronunciamento in his favour had been made by the military at Queretaro. He left Tehuacan on the 22nd of Nov. and assumed the command of the army at Oajaca. He says that he was deprived of the command by Pena y Pena, in order that the latter might find no obstacle in making peace with the Americans. He avows his determination to oppose any negotiation for peace with the American forces occupying any portion of the Mexican territory. He was said to be at the head of a force of 16,000 men of all arms.

The American army was divided as follows:-6,000 men in Mexico, under the command of Gen. Scott, wounded and sick not included; 3,000 in Puebla, under the command of Gen. Lane and Colonel Child; 800 in Perote; 4,000 in Jalapa and encamped at Sedona, under the command of Generals Cushing and Marshall; 1,200 in Puente Nacional; 5,000 went up to Mexico with Col. Butler, and the train under Col. Johnson; 1,000 in Vera Cruz and Ulloa.

ALGERIA.

Abd-el-Kader has at length surrendered to the French. His last was, perhaps, the most brilliant of all his achievements. With a handful of faithful and devoted adherents, he in the night of the 11th and 12th Dec. attacked the Moorish camps, and routed the immense army they contained, but, overpowered by numbers, and hemmed in on all sides by hourly increas

ing masses of Moors, he was gradually pushed back on the frontier of Algeria. The weather had been frightful, which impeded military operations. On the 21st of December the fords of the Moulouia became practicable, and the baggage and the families of his brave companions proceeded towards the plain of Triffa, the resolve of Abd-el-Kader having been to see them in safety in the French territory, and then cut his way through the Moors with such of his adherents as should dare to follow him. "He threw himself into the country of the Beni-Snassur," says the Duke d'Aumale, "and sought to again take road to the south, which the Emperor of Morocco had left free; but, surrounded on that side by our cavalry, he trusted to the generosity of France, and surrendered, on condition of being sent to St. Jean d'Acre or Alex

andria." He has since arrived at Toulon. 4000 men of the army of Algeria are to return to France.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

The Caffre chief, Sandilla, with 80 of his principal followers, has surrendered, with the sole condition that his life should be spared; and as this bold and scheming man has been the chief cause of the war, there appears to be every prospect of the early conclusion of peace. It was inferred that the policy of Sir Peregrine Maitland would be carried out, viz., to distribute the conquered territory into small tracts or townships, to appoint officers, erect forts, and form garrisons in various parts, so as gradually to introduce the advantages of civilised government among the natives.

LONDON AND ITS VICINITY.

Health of the Metropolis.-The improvement in the public health during the week which closed the year 1847, after a season unusually fatal, was not equal to the expectation, which we so willingly entertained at the close of our article on this subject in our Jan. number. There were registered in the week ending Jan. 1, 1,599 deaths, showing an increase above the preceding week of 352, and an excess on the average of 553. It must be observed, however, that in the mortality from epidemic influenza, properly so called, there was a decrease of 15, the deaths from this cause being 127, while in the previous week they were 142. During this week typhus caused 74 deaths; in the previous week 83. The diseases to whose increased activity the mortality is principally ascribed are measles, phthisis, and inflammation of the lungs and air passages. This is partly accounted for by the great fall of temperature which occurred on the 29th December, the thermometer on that day having fallen to 26°; whereas on the previous day it had been as high as 33°.

For the week ending Jan. 8, the deaths diminished to 1,364, being 235 less than the preceding week; but still showing an excess over the average of 257. This excess was principally due to influenza, typhus, scarlet fever, and measles. To the influenza, though this disease is steadily declining, 102 deaths were ascribed during this week. We regret to add, that no fewer than five deaths have been reported as arising from want and misery, all chil

dren of five years and under. The unusual prevalence of fever in the metropolis is shown by the fact that during the last thirteen weeks it has been fatal to 1,208 persons, whereas in the early part of last year, and generally in former years, only about one-third of this number died during the same length of time.

In

For the week ending Jan. 15 the number of deaths registered has been 1,457, being an increase over the preceding week of 94, or 350 more than the average. constant temperature and unwholesome damps, the hostile influences of the atmosphere, combine with circumstances more subject to human control, to prevent the improvement so much to be desired. Out of the total number of deaths more than one-fourth are caused by diseases of the epidemic class, principally smallpox, measles, scarlet fever, typhus, and influenza. Exactly the same number are ascribed to influenza as in the previous week, namely 102. Bronchitis and pneumonia number 283, exceeding the average by 122. The deaths of two aged persons are ascribed to privation.

The Report for the week ending Jan. 22 shows that a rate of mortality which considerably exceeds the average continues to prevail. The deaths registered amount to 1,401, being a slight decrease compared with the preceding, but exceeding the winter average by 294. Influenza continues to decline; instead of 374, enumerated under this specific disease seven weeks ago (when the mortality from all other maladies was exceedingly aggravated by the same cause)

the deaths in this week were only 89. It is worthy of remark, that during the last nine weeks the deaths in each return have exceeded the births of the same return, with the exception of a single week; and in the whole period the deaths are in a majority of 3,661, a depopulating process which, it is probable, already involves the loss of considerably more than a third of the natural increase of the year.

YORKSHIRE.

An act of the last session having transferred all ecclesiastical jurisdiction and authority, save only in causes and matters testamentary, or relating to the administration of the personal estate of intestates, within the diocese of Ripon, from the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Chester to the Bishop of Ripon, the latter has appointed the Ven. Archdeacon Headlam to be Chancellor of his diocese. His lordship has also directed that the ecclesiastical business of the diocese shall, for the present, be transacted at Richmond, where there is an established Consistory Court, with its officers, already in existence. The act came into operation on Monday, the 1st Nov., and on Thursday, the 28th Oct., the newly-appointed Chancellor held a court at Richmond, for the appointment and swearing in of surrogates and other necessary officers, and promulged rules for the regulation of the court.

Oct. 27. The Lord Bishop of Bangor, assisted by the Dean of Ripon, consecrated the new church of St. Paul's at

Hull, erected on land near the Beverley road, given by Mr. Liddell. The Rev. Kemp Bailey is appointed the Incumbent. The style of the building is early-English, with lancet windows.

Nov. 3. The Bishop of Ripon consecrated a handsome little church at Manstone, a colliery district, in the parish of Barwick-in-Elmet, erected at the expense of the Rev. W. H. Bathurst, M.A., the Rector. The edifice, which is in the early-English style, is capable of containing from 200 to 300 persons. It was erected upon a piece of land given by E. Wand, esq. of Chester Court, Selby, and Manstone, who also gave the requisite land for the churchyard, parsonage-house, and garden. The next day the Bishop of Ripon consecrated a new church at Wyke, near Bradford, dedicated to Saint Mary. style, and will accommodate a congregaIt is built in the pointed or early-English tion of about 700, all the seats being free. The site of this church and the parsonagehouse was given by Miss Richardson Currer. The church has been erected by public subscription and by grants from the Ripon Diocesan and other church building societies.

WALES.

Sept. 13. The Lord Bishop of St. Asaph consecrated the new church at Newtown. The morning service was read and the sermon by the Rev. J. Edwards, A.M., Rector, was preached by the Bishop, after which a collection was made, which amounted to upwards of 261.

GAZETTE PROMOTIONS.

Dec. 27. Royal Marines, Col. Second Commandant J. M'Callum to be Colonel Commandant; Lieut.-Col. W. Powell to be Colonel Second Commandant,; brevet Major G. B. Bury to be Lieut -Colonel.-Vice-Adm. George Barker to be Admiral of the Blue; RearAdm. Henry Gordon to be Vice-Adm. of the Blue; Capt. M. H. Dixon to be Rear-Adm; of the Blue.

Dec. 28. The brothers and sister of GeorgeJohn Earl of Lanesborough, to enjoy the same precedency as if their father had succeeded to that dignity.-William Wright Worthington, of Flixton-house, co. Lanc. esq. (in compliance with the will of Ralph Wright, esq. of that place), to take the name of Wright after Worthington, and quarter the arms.

Dec. 30. Gen. Sir Colin Halkett, to be G.C.B. -35th Foot, brevet Major J. H. O. Moore to be Major-68th Foot, Major R. W. Huey to be Lieut.-Col.; brevet Major R. L. Phipps to be Major.-Unattached, Major R. Cole, from 48th Foot, to be Lieut.-Col.; brevet Major P. M'Kie, from 3d Foot, to be Major.-Brevet, Captain

E. Kingsley, of the 3d Foot, to be Major and Lieut. Col. in the Army.

Dec. 31. Anne, wife of Capt. Manaton Pipon, and only sister to Lord Rodney, to enjoy the same precedency as if her father had succeeded to that dignity.

Jan. 1. Royal Artillery, brevet Major R. W. Story to be Lieut.-Col.

Jan. 3. Rear-Adm. Hon. F. W. Aylmer, C.B. to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue.; Capt. Hon. A. Jones to be Rear-Admiral of the Blue.John Thomson Gordon, esq. Advocate, to be Sheriff of the shire of Edinburgh.

Jan. 4. Royal Marines, Lieut.-Col. A. H. Gordon to be Colonel Second Commandant; brevet Major J. I. Willes to be Lieut.-Col.Philip Hardwick, esq. architect (together with the Official Referees of Metropolitan Buildings), to be Examiner of District Sur

veyors.

Jan. 6. Dr. John Scott to be one of Her Majesty's Physicians in Ordinary in Scotland.

Jan. 7. Capt. P. J. Douglas to be Rear-Adm. of the Blue.

Jan. 8. Vice-Adm. Sir C. Adam, K.C.B. to be Admiral of the Blue; Rear-Adm. R. Tho

mas to be Vice-Adm. of the Blue; Capt. B. Reynolds, C. B. to be Rear-Adm. of the Blue. Jan. 10. Archibald Davidson, esq. Advocate, to be Sheriff of the shire of Aberdeen.-John Cowan, esq. Advocate, to be Sheriff of the shire of Kincardine.

Jan. 14. Unattached, brevet Lieut.-Col. J. C. Smith, from Major half-pay Unatt. to be Lieut.Colonel, without purchase; brevet Major L. F. Jones, from 96th Foot, to be Major.

Jan. 21. Walter Charles Metcalfe Plowden, esq. to be Her Majesty's Consul in Abyssinia. -31st Foot, Capt. G. F. White to be Major. Commissariat, Deputy Commissary-gen. F. E. Knowles to be Commissary-general.

Jan. 22. Royal Engineers, brevet Major J. E. Portlock, to be Lieut.-Colonel.

NAVAL PREFERMENTS.

To be Captains, - Commanders W. Clark (1840), T. L. Gooch (1842), and G. A. Halsted, from the Coast Guard.

To be Commanders,-Lieutenants J. Barnes (1813), J. B. Dickson (1839), H. D. Rodgers (1837), W. Rowlatt (1838), and H. Caldwell (1841), Lieut. T. E. L. Moore (1843), of the Plover, and to proceed in that vessel round Cape Horn, and to Behring's Straits, in quest of Sir John Franklin's expedition; Lieutenants W.G. Mansfield (1845, late of the Waterwitch), J. R. Woodriff (1811), C. H. Baker (1827), and H. Leworthy (1816), all of the Coast Guard.

Appointments.-Vice-Adm. the Earl of Dundonald, G.C.B., to the command-in-chief of the squadron on the West India and North American station, to hoist his flag in the Wellesley, 72.-Rear-Adm. the Hon. D. H. Mackay, to be Commander-in-chief at Cork.-Captains L. T. Jones, to the Penelope; J. N. Nott, to the Ocean; W. A. Herringham, to the Havannah. -Commanders E. Collier, to the Ocean; C. F. Schomberg, to the Wellesley.

Members returned to serve in Parliament. Calne-Earl of Shelburne (re-elected). Sunderland-Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bart. Wells-Wm. Goodenough Hayter, esq. (re-el.)

ECCLESIASTICAL PREFERMENTS. Rev. E. A. Ommaney, to be Preb. of Wells. Rev. J. T. Pigot, to be Precentor of Rochester Cathedral.

Rev. E. H. Browne, to be an Hon. Canon of
St. David's.

Rev. W. Abbey, Salton V. Yorkshire.
Rev. J. Browne, Barming R. Kent.
Rev. J. Campion, East Acklam V. Yorkshire.
Rev. T. J. Clark, Mareham-on-the-Hill P.C.
Linc.

Rev. C. R. Clifton, North Aston V. Oxf.
Rev. R. Davies, Llanllwny V. Carmarthensh.
Rev. T. C. Dixon, Heywood, Westbury P.C.
Wilts.

Rev. P. A. Dodson, Haugh, Alford P.C. Linc.
Rev. H. P. Dunster, Woodbastwick V. with
Pauxworth R. Norfolk.

Rev. F. F. Edwards, Gileston R. Glamorgansh. Rev. J. Euoch, Whitechurch R. Pembrokesh. Rev. H. R. Fortescue, St. Michael the Archangel Ottery P.C. Devon.

Rev. C. H. Gaye, St. Matthew R. Ipswich.
Rev. C. Gibbs, Coates R. Gloucestershire.
Rev. W. L. Girardot, Hinton Charterhouse
P.C. nr. Bath.

Rev. G. Head, Aston Somerville R. Glouc.
Rev. T. F. Hill, District Church of St. Philip
and St. James, Escot P.C. Devon.
Rev. T. G. P. Hough, Ham P.C. Surrey.
Rev. T. W. Johnes, Pennington V. Lancashire.
Rev. G. H. Johnstone, Sutton St. Nicholas R.
Herefordshire.

Rev. E. J. Jones, Shire Newton R. Monm. Rev. D. Jones, Llanarmon Dyffrynceirog R. Denbigh.

Rev. E. Jones, St. Matthias P.C. Liverpool. Rev. J. M. Lewis, Brockhampton P.C. Heref. Rev. M. Lewis, Christ Church, Blackfriars P.C. London.

Rev. W. Lewis, Llanvihangel Glyn Myofyr R.
Denbigh.

Rev. J. Masters, Welch Hampton P.C. Salop.
Rev. F.H.Maude, Trinity Church P.C. Ipswich.
Rev. J. Meredith, Abergele V. Denbigh.
Rev. E. R. H. G. Palmer, Greetham R. Linc.
Rev. E. F. Parsons, Lower Whitley, Northwich
P. C. Ches.

Rev. G. J. M. Paterson, Broome and Oakley
R. R. Suff.

Rev. E. Pigot, St. Thomas, in Ashton-in-Makerfield V. Chesh.

Rev. W. Randall, New District of All Saints P. C. Leeds.

Rev. H. Rendall, Trinity Church Stepney P.C. Middlesex.

Rev. H. T. Shelton, Rodborne Cherry V.Wilts. Rev. W. H. Skrine, Charlton V. Wilts.

Rev. T. F. Stooks, St. Luke's, Berwick-st. P.C. London.

Rev. C. Vansittart, Shottesbrook with White Waltham V. Berks.

Rev. C. Ward, Wadworth V. Yorkshire. Rev. W. C. Ward, Honingham and East Tuddenham V. Norfolk.

Rev. R. P. Warren, St. James's Tregoney R. and V. of Cuby, Cornwall.

Rev. T. R. White, Stanmore R. Middx.
Rev. W. Williams, Whitgift P. C. Yorksh.
Rev. E. H. Woodfall, St. Margaret R. Canterb.
Rev. J. L. Worship, Stokesley-with-Herringby
R. Norf.

CHAPLAINS.

The Ven. C. Musgrave, D.D., Rev. T. Robinson, D.D., Rev. J. Romilly, Rev. T. Croft, M.Á., and Rev. W. H. Dixon, to the Archbishop of York.

Rev. W. Ackworth, M.A. to the Earl of Lanesborough.

Rev. J. B. Wright, to the Earl of Yarborough.

CIVIL PREFERMENTS.

Rev. S. Andrew, to be Principal of the Ordnance School, Charlton.

Rev. H. Beattie, to be Vice-Principal of the Westminster Training School.

Rev. J. M. Barton, to be Head Master of the Grammar School at Chipping Camden. Glouc. Rev. S. Doria, to be Head Master of Wigan Grammar School, Lanc.

Thomas Quested Finnis, esq. elected Alderman of Tower Ward.

James Syme, esq. (Regius Professor of Clinical Surgery in the University of Edinburgh) to be Professor of Clinical Surgery in the University of London.

Herman Merivale, esq. to be Under Secretary of State at the Colonial Office, vice Mr. Stephen.

T. How, esq. (Inspector-gen. of Customs) to be Surveyor-gen. Rob. Chapman, esq. (landing surveyor at London) to be Inspector-gen. Mr. Rolls (senior Landing-waiter) to be Landing-surveyor for London. Mr. St. John (Landing-surveyor at London) to be an additional Inspector for Liverpool.

BIRTHS.

Dec. 4. At Cottesbrooke Park, Mrs. Langham, a dau.-10. At Twickenham House, the wife of Theodore Davis, esq. a son.-15. At Kelly, Devon, the wife of Arthur Kelly, esq. a dau.-At Hingham, Lady Elinor Wodehouse,