GREEK ANTIQUITIES.

From a letter, dated Athens, May 27, 1831, addressed to the Minister of Public Instruction of France, by M. Raoul Ro chette, entrusted with an archæological mission into Greece, we glean the following particulars :—

At Syra, the Syrus of the ancients, and the country of Pherecydes, an island situated in the centre of the Cyclades, he met with a collection of antique marbles recently formed at Syra, some of them of that place, and others from the neighbouring islands; and hitherto unknown. They consist of inscriptions and basso-relievos, principally of funereal subjects, the inscriptions all in Greek. One of them was the pedestal of a statue in honour of the Emperor Adrian, undoubtedly brought from Delos;-a beautiful antique marble still bearing the Greek dedication in all its integrity. This pedestal has been recently converted into a font, and placed at an angle of the portico around the principal church. There exists in some parts of the town, indeed on the rock on which it is seated, remains of inscriptions, which would well repay researches.

In the isle of Myconi, M. Rochette found more than one curious monument to draw and describe, and acquired a beautiful Greek inscription engraved on the two faces of a piece of red marble. He likewise copied some inscriptions at Delos; but the mass of ruins which cover almost the entire soil of the sacred isle, is so considerable, that it would require the lapse of months, and a hundred workmen to dig continually, in order to exhume the buried monuments. But this is a task that only a government can undertake; and it is an enterprise I have taken the liberty of recommending to King Otho, who proposes to excavate at Delphos, and who would certainly not find fewer treasures at Delos.

The letter then proceeds to describe the recent purgation of the Acropolis of Athens from the modern structures with which it was encumbered. Much of the architectural elements of the Propylæa, which had been employed as materials in the Turkish fortifications, have been restored to their places; others are lying on the ground, where they can be measured with greater facility, and studied very closely. Among the most interesting ap pearances which have very recently resulted from this double work of demolishing and restoring, is the little Temple of Victory without wings, which had so long been a problem to antiquaries, as much as the Propylæa themselves, buried in Turkish buildings, had remained a mystery. This little temple is now found

entire, with its four columns on both its façades, and with the walls of its cella on three of its sides. Each block of marble marked with the imprint of the time of Pericles, has been brought from the middle of a mass of masonry, and restored to its ancient place. The sculptures of the frieze have likewise been found; these escaped the hand of Lord Elgin, as they were hidden, like unhewn stones, in a modern wall; all that is wanting are the four fragments of the frieze which are now in London. The mosque erected in a part of the cella of the Parthenon will soon disappear; excavations are being made in the masses of rubbish which still cover the soil and avenues, and four beautiful fragments of the frieze have been found; and, though long buried in the ruins of the edifice, they have not suffered from attacks of age or barbarism. They are all four of different subject and character.

In an excavation opened last year at the south-east angle of the principal façade of the Parthenon, numerous fragments of the ancient temple of Minerva, burnt by the Persians, have been found at a depth of about twelve feet; they were undoubtedly buried by the Greeks themselves, as materials of no value, when they constructed the Parthenon under the administration of Pericles. But they are at the present time precious remains of the history of art; they consist of tiles, called antefires, of fragments of cornice and frieze, of burnt-coloured earth, which are authentic monuments of a taste for polychrome architecture.

An account of the principal recent improvements at Athens will be found in our Magazine for Sept. 1837, p. 288.

Lately, on searching for stone near the garden of Woodperry House, in the parish of Stanton St. John, Oxfordshire, the pavement of a chancel of a church was discovered, with two head-stones, exhibiting ornamental crosses. The pavement consisted of yellow glazed tiles, curiously divided for adaptation to use in various parts. Under these stones the

bones of two skeletons were found in a very perfect state. A tradition is still handed down in the neighbourhood that the greater portion of Woodperry, with its church, was destroyed by fire, and never rebuilt. Woodperry formerly was the property of Richard, Duke of Cornwall, King of the Romans, and at the time of the dissolution of monasteries, under Henry the Eighth, was possessed by the Abbey of Osney. It was purchased in the reign of Mary, by New College, Oxford, to which it now belongs.

The anarchy in Spain becomes from day to day more irremediably confounded, and more deeply stained with blood. Half the capital is in a state of war with the nominal Sovereign, who resides in the other half-and every day discloses a new conspiracy pervading the whole city. The army is divided like the country and the towns-one division adhering to one general, another to another-and it is hard to say whether they prosecute more zealously their hostilities amongst themselves or against the Carlists. The war with the latter has assumed a new character-instead of meeting in the field, the belligerents content themselves with shedding the necessary quantity of blood, by the slaughter of whatever unarmed political opponents may fall into their hands.

An insurrection took place at Valencia on the 23d Oct. in which General Mendez Vigo, the Captain General of that city, was murdered by the infuriated populace; after which between thirty and forty Carlist prisoners, were brought out from their dungeons and deliberately butchered. Again, on the 4th Nov. in reprisal for the slaughter of 55 prisoners taken by Cabrera at Villiamalifa, an equal number of Carlist prisoners, confined in a the gaol of Valencia, were brought out and shot. At Saragossa a political inquisition sits, under the name of the Junta of Reprisal, daily sending its victims to death.

AFRICA.

The French have recently taken possession of the Stora, a new naval station on the Algerine coast. The occcupation of the province of Constantine is completed. The roads of Stora form one of the best naval positions of Africa. The Romans seem to have been aware of all its advantages, for considerable ruins prove that a numerous population was formerly crowded together on the spot. It will be very easy to make use of the walls, which are very strong, and which may be raised on the same foundations. Vegetation is extremely luxuriant in the whole country; from Col de Kentorse large and lofty trees fill the valleys, and every thing indicates the elements of the highest prosperity, which require only judicious and active direction to be rapidly developed,

CIRCASSIA.

The Russians are not successful in their warfare with the hardy mountaineers of Circassia. In a recent engagement, they were defeated with great slaughter; chiefly in consequence of the desertion of a body of Cossacks of the Black Sea, with officers, arms, and baggage, to the Circassians. Desertions are very frequent ; and the number of Polish and Russian soldiers in the Circassian army is sufficient to justify the formation of a distinct corps of deserters. The Russian General Rajowski had offered terms of pardon and submission to the Circassians; but they were indignantly rejected, with the intimation that all future proposals of accomodation would be torn in pieces, and the bearers put to death.

INDIA.

For some time past the Government of India have been adopting very active measures, in consequence of the position assumed and persevered in by Persia. The Shah of Persia, who was raised to his throne mainly by British assistance, has within the last two years been under Russian influence; and Persia can no longer be looked upon as a barrier against the progress of Russia, whose dominion, extending over the greater part of the extreme North of Asia, reaches in a southerly direction to the borders of the Caspian Sea, and the northern frontier of Persia. Stimulated by Russia, the Persian undertook an expedition against Herat; an important place, to which a small principality is attached, in the territory of Afghanistan. In consequence, Lord Auckland determined upon sending 30,000 men, composed of native and British forces, towards the northern frontier. It is composed as follows:-two troops of Horse Artillery; Major Pew's Camel Battery; two companies of European Foot Artillery; two companies of Sappers; her Majesty's sixteenth Lancers; Second, Third, and Fourth Regiments of Bengal Light Cavalry; her Majesty's Third and Thirteenth Regiments of Foot; the Hon. East India Company's European Regiment; Second, Fifth, Sixteenth, Twenty-seventh, Twentyeighth, Thirty-first, Thirth-fifth, Thirtyseventh, Forty-second, Forty-third, Forty-eighth, and Fifty-third Regiments

of Bengal Native Infantry. This force was to assemble at Kurnaul on the 31st of October, and thence proceed vid Bhutneer, Bhawupoor, and Mithenkate, to Candahar, Caubul, and Herat. This force was to be joined by from 45,000 to 50,000 men, furnished by Runjeet Sing, the sovereign of the Punjaub. The object of this demonstration must, of course, in the first instance, have been to prevent the absorption of Herat by Persia,

not so much for Persian, as for Russian objects. In the interim, news has arrived that the Schah of Persia has been completely discomfited at Herat, his army utterly broken up, and himself obliged to fly. He had made an assault on the town, and was repulsed with great slaughter, and the loss of all his guns. The Russian Ambassador and European Aid-de-camp were killed, the former having received three balls in the body.

Sept. 24. His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge embarked at Fal. mouth, on an extended tour, in which he is attended by Colonel Cornwall. On the 2nd Oct. he arrived at Lisbon, and was received by the Portuguese Court under the travelling name of Lord Culloden. On the 14th he was at Gibraltar, and was present at the reception of the Queen Dowager, on her voyage to Malta.

Oct. 10. The consecration took place of Christ Church, at Eccleston, in the parish of Prescot, built solely at the expense of Samue! Taylor, Esq. of Eccleston Hall. It is a neat Gothic edifice, adapted for the accommodation of 600 persons, and is fitted up in the interior in a manner much superior to the great majority of modern churches. The ceiling is entirely of oak, in pannel-work, and the principal timbers which are left open to the sight are enriched with carvings and pendants. The front of the gallery, the enclosure of the altar, and the holy table itself, as well as the panels of the doors, are all of ancient carved oak, descriptive of sacred subjects. The pulpit and reading-pew are also of carved oak—the former a very ancient one removed from St. Saviour's, Southwark, during the recent alterations. Mr. Taylor has been his own architect; and every portion of the building seemed to indicate not only a correct acquaintance with the principles of the noble art, but a most judicious application of them to the devout purpose for which the building is designed. A collection, which amounted to upwards of 801. was afterwards made for the purpose of building a school, to be attached to the church.

Oct. 11. At the Maidstone Quarter Sessions the question as to the liability of the owners of the New Terrace-pier, at Gravesend, to pay the penny toll to the corporation of the town, who are the proprietors of the Town-pier, was decided. The facts of the case are briefly these:

In 1833 or 1834 the old corporation of Gravesend built the Town-pier, at an expense of about 32,000, having been authorised by parliament to borrow 19,000l., and to levy a toll of 1d. a-head upon all passengers landing, either upon the pier or within the parishes of Gravesend or Milton. The corporation on going out of office purchased the Block-house Fort, which had belonged to government, and built the Terrace-pier and garden on the premises. They then refused to pay the customary Id., which the Town-pier Act authorised the existing corporation to levy; alleging that, as the government property had been exempted from the toll, the buildings on the same ground should continue also exempt. The corporation brought the recusants before the mayor and magistrates of Gravesend, who decided that the defendants should pay the ld. The latter appealed to the Quarter Sessions, whence they were referred to the Court of Queen's Bench, by which court they were ordered to have the case tried at the Quarter Sessions. The magistrates have there decided, that Captain Tisdal, of the Star, in whose person the question was tried, must pay the toll. Both parties are to pay their own costs.

Oct. 16. A singular and disastrous event took place at Dunkirk, about a quarter of a mile from Northwich, Cheshire, in the instantaneous sinking of a plot of ground, nearly an acre in extent, to the depth of fifteen or twenty yards. At the depth of about fifty yards from the surface runs a vein or mine of rock salt, of about fifteen yards in thickness, which at this spot had, as usual, been worked and excavated, before sinking to the lower vein, at the depth of about 100 yards. For some time past this upper mine had been considered insecure, from the pillars left to support the superincumbent earth being in a tottering state, and the men had discontinued their work. The ground gave way, with a tremendous roar, and the rock-house, tower, gin

house, engine-house, stables, and two cottages, were thrown into a heap of ruins at the depth of fifteen yards from the surface; and twelve individuals, who were on the premises, were also carried down, and most of them overwhelmed by the falling ruins of the buildings. It is thought that seven persons were killed.

Oct. 22. A destructive fire occurred in the houses of the Masters of Harrow School. It broke out in that of Mr. Colenso, the Mathematical Master, and extended to that of the Head Master, Dr. Wordsworth, both of which it destroyed. The latter was refronted some years ago in the Elizabethan style by the late Master Dr. Butler; but must now be entirely rebuilt. The loss incurred amounts to many thousand pounds; but will be nearly, if not quite, covered by the insurances.

At a recent meeting of the Common Council of London, the Committee for the London Bridge Approaches, &c. made their report that the improvements authorised to be made in East Cheap, Little Tower-street, and Gracechurch-street, have been wholly effected; that Upper Thames-street has been widened from East-cheap to Fish-street hill; that a rectory house for the rector of St. Mary Woolnoth has been built in King Wil liam-street; and new burial grounds have been provided for the parishes of St. Michael, Crooked-lane, and St. Magnus, London-bridge. The further improvements recommended are the widening the line of streets from Lothbury to the north side of the New Post-office, the further improvement of Upper Thames-street, and the completion of the improvement in Lothbury from Moorgate-street to the church.

The Corporation having determined to

persist in maintaining the Cattle Market at Smithfield, some extensive improvements have been made in it. The whole surface, comprising upwards of six acres, has been repaved upon a new and improved level, with a number of additional shafts running into the immense sewer upwards of twenty feet below the surface. The footways have been completely altered, and the rails and pens entirely remodelled. A new carriage-way has been also formed, leading from Long-lane round by Smithfield-bars, and the Ram Inn and West-street, to King-street, along which the public will have a quick thoroughfare on market-days. The whole of the improvements have been designed by Deputy Hicks, and the Common Council almost unanimously sanctioned an outlay which will probably amount to between 30,000l. and 40,000l.

Ecclesiastical Changes (continued from p. 43.) Dated 28th July, 1838. The Sees of St. Asaph and Bangor to be united when either of them shall become vacant. The average annual amount of income of the Bishop to be 5,2001. The annual income of the Bishop of St. David's to be 4,5007. upon the first avoidance of the See. On the first avoidance of the See of Llandaff, the annual income to be raised to 4,2001. and until an episcopal house of residence be provided for the Bishop, to receive the additional annual sum of 3007. The whole County of Lancaster, in the diocese of Chester, excepting the Deanery of Furnes, to be detached from the Diocese of Chester, and be called the Diocese of Manchester. The Collegiate Church of Manchester to become a Cathedral Church; the Warden and Fellows to be called Dean and Canons. The annual income of the Bishop to be 4,5007.

GAZETTE PROMOTIONS.

March 28. Col. Sir Horace Seymour, K.C.H. to be extra Equerry to her Majesty the Queen dowager.

Oct. 19. Henry-Peach, infant son of the late Henry Peach Keighly, brevet Major 3d E. I. cav. and Judge Advocate-gen. at Fort St. George, in compliance with the will of his great-uncle Samuel Peach, of Canton, in China, Idlicote, co. Warw. and Portland-place, esq. to take in addition the name of Peach.

Oct. 24. Anthony Oliphant, esq. to be Chief Justice of Ceylon.-John Taylor Gordon, esq. MD. to be physician extraordinary to the Duke of Cambridge.

Oct. 25. Alex. Earle Monteith, esq. to be Sheriff Depute of Fifeshire, vice A. Clephane, esq. dec.-Dennis Phelan, esq. of Clonmell, co. Tipperary, to be an Assistant Commissioner of Poor Laws.

Oct. 26. Wm. Henry Brehaut, esq. to be Clerk of the Peace for the district of Montreal, in Lower Canada.

Oct. 29. Royal Artillery, Lieut.-Colonel G. Turner to be Colonel; Captain and brevet Major C. Cruttenden to be Lieut.-Colonel.

Nov. 1. Lieut. Col. William Reid, C.B. to be Governor and Commander in Chief of the Bermudas or Somers Islands.-George Louis, of Colyton, Devon, esq. Barrister-at-law; and Aneurin Owen, of Egryn, co. Denbigh, esq. to be Assistant Tithe Commissioners.

Nov. 2. Major F. M'Bean to be Lieut.-Col. by purchase; brevet Major R. Willington to be Major.

Nov. 5. Major J. Macphail to be Lieut.Governor of Dominica.

The Right Hon. Stephen Lushington, Judge of the High Court of Admiralty, was sworn of her Majesty's Privy Council,

Nor. 9. 334 Foot, Major T. Reid to be Major.

Nov. 19. Knighted by patent, Capt. George Tyler, R.N. Lieut.-Governor of St. Vincent's.

Aug. Hearn Gilbert, gent. Purser R.N. to accept the cross of a Knight of the order of Isabella the Catholic, conferred by the Queen Regent of Spain for his services at the raising of the siege of Bilboa.

Nor. 20. John Gage, of Coldham hall, in Stanningfield, Suffolk, esq. in compliance with a settlement made by his late brother Robert Gage Rookwood, esq. to take the name of Rokewode after Gage, and bear the arms of Rokewode in the first quarter.-95th foot, Major-Gen. Sir John Buchan, K.C.B. to be Colonel; Brevet, Captains T. Savage and T. Bonnor to be Majors.

Member returned to serve in Parliament. Chipping Wycombe.—Geo, Robt. Smith, esq.

ECCLESIASTICAL PREFERMENTS.

Rev. E. V. Lockwood, (late Chaplain of the
House of Commons) to be a Prebendary of
Canterbury; the Rev. E. Repton and the
Rev. T. Frere (also late Chaplains to the
House) to be Prebendaries of Westminster.
Rev. Michael Keating to be Archdeacon of
Ardfert.

Rev. G. J. Dupuis to be a Fellow of Eton.
Rev. E. J. Ash, Brisley R. with Gateley V.
Norfolk.

Rev. W. Bailey, Queen Square episcopal chapel,
Westminster.

Rev. J. R. F. Billingsley, Wormington R. Glou.
Rev. Martin Connolly, Boynagh R. Galway.
Rev. J. Croft, Eaton Bishop's R. Heref.
Rev. Joseph Dewe, Rockland R. Norfolk.
Rev. John Dufton, Warehorne R. Kent.
Rev. R. W. Elgee, Kelmakea R. Wexford.
Rev. D. Evans, Llanllwchaiarn R. Card.
Rev. J. G. Fawcett, Stockton on the Forest
P.C. Yorkshire.

Rev, N. C. Fenwick, Killenick R. Wexford.
Rev. G. D. Grundy, Lees P.C. near Oldham,
Lancashire.

Rev. J. V. Hamilton. Little Chart R. Kent.
Rev. John Harding, Walkerne R. Herts.
Rev. J. Harington, Little Hinton R. Wilts.
Rev. E. Harston, St. Stephen's R. Ipswich.
Rev. T. A. Holland, Greatham R. Hants.
Rev. J. Holmes, Lower Peover P.C. Chesh.
Rev. F. P. Hulme, Birch in Warrington P.C.
Lancashire.

Rev. T. Jackson, Ovingham P.C. Northumb.
Rev. R. C. Lane, Deal R. Kent.
Rev. G. H. Langdon, Oving V. Sussex.
Rev. - Miller, Bognor P.C. Sussex.
Rev. C. Radford, Englishcombe V. Som.
Rev. T. Saunders, Moulton V. co. N'p'n.
Rev. T. G. Simcox, Smethwick P.C. Staff.
Rev. J. V. Stewart, Portsea V. Hants.
Rev. J. Taylor, Newmarket P.C. Cambrigesh.
Rev. C. Taylor, Lydney V. Gloucestershire.
Rev. W. H. Teale, Asgarby P.C. Lincolnsh.
Rev. W. Tyrrell, Raddanstown R. Dublin.
Rev. J. Watson, Bremilham R. Wilts.
Rev. W. H. Wilkinson, All Saints P.C. Portsea.
Rev. H. Wood, Burrowbridge new ch. Som.
Rev. T. Underwood, Diddlebury V. Salop.
Rev. J. C. D. Yule, Coleridge V. Devon."

CHAPLAINS.

Rev. T. H. Ashworth to Earl of Carnarvon. Rev. D. Campbell to the Duke of Leeds. Rev. M. Enright to the Earl of Castlestuart. Rev. C. J. P. Eyre to Lord Methuen.

Rev. F. Fulford to the Duchess of Gloucester.

Rev. E. N. Hoare to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

Rev. T. Lloyd to Earl Cowper.

Rev. J. Thornycroft to the Earl of Stamford and Warrington.

Rev. E. Winder to H. M. S. Victory.
Rev. Mr. Davies to Whitecross-street Prison.
Rev. T. England to the Reformitory, Isle of
Wight.

CIVIL PREFERMENTS.

Wm. Wilberforce Bird, esq. to be third member of the council of India. Chas. Ellis Heaton, esq. Barrister-at-Law, to be Clerk of the Peace for Middlesex, vice E. C. Selby, esq. resigned.

W. Beale, esq. LL.D. of Trin. Coll. Camb. to be Head Master of Tavistock Grammar School.

Mr. Norman M‘Donald (private secretary to Lord Morpeth) to be First Clerk of the Irish Privy Council.

The Rev. Richard Okes to be Lower Master of Eton, rice the Rev. G. J. Dupuis.

Mr. W. C. Ross, Mr. D. Roberts, and Mr. R. Westmacott to be Associates of the Royal Academy of Arts.

BIRTHS.

Oct. 2. At Theobalds, Herts, the wife of Col. W. Miles, a son.- -8. At Brussels, the wife of T. Wathen Waller, esq. a son.9. The Hon. Emilie, wife of the Rev. Henry Gray, of Almondsbury, a dau.-15. At Upper Grosvenor-st. the wife of V. Dent, esq. a đau.

-20. At Brighton, Lady John Russell, a dau. -At Burghley, the Marchioness of Exeter, a dau.-22. Lady F. Jemima Goodeve, a dau.-23. In Berkeley-sq. the Hon. Mrs. Spalding, a son.--In Dover-st. the Viscountess Valletort, a son.At Oulton-park, Lady Grey Egerton, a son.-24. In Baker-st. the wife of F. M. Montgomerie, esq. a dau.-At Looe, Cornwall, the wife of Capt. Toup Nicolas, C.B. K.H. a son.-25. At Amport House, Hants, the wife of S. Cosby, esq. a dau.- -26. At Childwick Bury, Herts, the wife of J. Lomax, esq. a dau.-27. At Bruges, the wife of William Stainforth, esq. a son.

Nov. 1. At Wanlip Hall, Leic. the lady of Sir George Palmer, Bart. a son.- -At Scraptoft Hall, Leic. Lady Angela Pearson, a dau. --2. At Hammersmith, the Baroness de Moncorvo, a son.-4. At Alnwick Parsonage, the wife of the Rev. L. Shafto Orde, a son.9. At St. Melion rectory, Cornwall, the wife of the Rev. G. Somerset, a dau.-6. At St. Leonard's-on-the-Sea, Mrs. Goodenough, wife of the Dean of Wells, a son.-7. At Hurdcott, the wife of the Rev. Reginald Pole, a dau.In Belgrave-st. the Countess of Pomfret, a dau.-8. In Grosvenor-sq. the Countess of Galloway, a son.-12. At Chelsea College, Lady Wilson, a son.-15. At Harewoodhouse, Yorkshire, Lady Louisa Cavendish, a son.-16. At Elsham, Line, the Lady Mary Corbet, a dau.-17. At Harewood house, Yorkshire, Lady Caroline Lascelles, a dau.

MARRIAGES.

June 1. At Hobart Town, the Rev. John Little, of St. Andrew's Church, to Mary Gascoigne, fourth dau. of John Burnett, esq. late Colonial Secretary of Van Diemen's Land.

Sept. 6. At Olney, Bucks, the Rev. Thomas Welton, of Upper Clapton, to Mary Ann, second dau. of Mr. Samuel Baker, farmer and inn keeper of Olney.

Sept. 18. At Thorpe, near Norwich, the Rev. Henry Long, Rector of Newton and