Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

ai-e perhaps aware of tbe extraordinary diversities in vreights and measures , and in their use , which exist in onr own country , The price of com , for instance , Avill be quoted in at least fifteen different Avays in as many different localities ; at so much per ctot-, per barrel , per quarter , per bushel , per load , per bay , per weight , per boll , per coomb , per hobbet , per winch , per windle , per strike , per measure , per stone . In different English toAvns

tlie bushel means—1681 bs ., 73 » llbs ., 621 bs ., 75 Ibs ., 7 iJibs ., 701 bs ., 651 bs „ 64-lbs ., 63 Ibs „ 5 quarters , 144 quarts , 4881 bs . ; ancl in Manchester , while a bushel of English wheat is GQtbs ., a . bushel -of American ivlieafc is 70 Ibs . The meaning of a stone is almost equally various . An acre of land expresses seven different quantities . These variations in measurement must be highly jneottA'enient , and prejudicial to trade ; and the labours of the above-named association are directed to bringing about a uniformity , AA'hich seems greatly called for .

The writings of Joanna Southcote have caused a suit in Chancery . A lady , named Ami Essam , loft a considerable portion of her estate to a Mr . Howe , to be devoted to the printing and publishing of "tlie sacred Avrifcings of the late Joanna Southcote . " The niece of the testatrix disputes the validity of the bequest , on the ground that tbe writings in question are blasphemous . The Master of the Eolls has taken time to examine the works himself .

The Campana Collection of Antiquities—Greek , Eoman , Etruscan , Mediaeval , and Eenaissance—is now to be seen at Paris in the Palais d'Inclustrie . The curious and valuable objects brought from Plicenicia , by M . E . fieuan , Avho Avas sent thither last year by the French Government , are also to be exhibited . The exhibition excites great interest among the Parisians . The Acclimatization Society presents it Second Annual Eeport . Its object is the introduction from forei climes into

gn Great Britain of animals , birds , fishes , vegetables , and even insects , AA'hich may prove serviceable additions to our present stock . The head of insects is not a vey extensive one , being conlined to the silkworm , Avlhch hitherto , though well known as an amusing curiosity , has never taken fan root in our climate . Several desirable animals of the sheep and deer kind , and sundry sorts of game and fish have been made the subject of

experiment . If a few only of them succeed , something will have been gained , and the Society is Avell AVortlAy of the SAApport of tbe possessors of parks , fish-ponds , ancl gardens , ancl the lovers of ¦ country occupation . Messrs . Lovell , Eeeve and Co . have in preparation a " Field , Botanist ' s Companion / by Mr . Thomas Moore . It Avill be illustrated Avith many coloured engravings of English wild flowers . _ The catalogue of the sale of the late Sir Francis Palgrave's library lias jusfc appeared , lt is a goodly octavo of nearly two

hundred ' pages , ancl contains 2617 lots of valuable antiquarian , genealogical , and historical Avorks . A very complete collection of books relative to ancient laws , Northern literature , and folklore of different nations , will be found in this collection . Some time ago the papers announced the Bishop of Exeter's gift of his noble library to the clergy of Cornwall . Wo noAV learn that a meeting AA'as recently held at Truro relative to tins munificent literary giftand that the chairman stated

, that it Avas the Bishop ' s Avish for laymen residing in the country to have access to the library as well as the clergy . It was resolved that application be made to the Bishop for 3 eave to purchase a site immediately , so that a suitable building might be at once erected . * . Sir John Eomilly has appointed Mr . liawlen Brown to ¦ calender and abstract the valuable papers relating to England in the

archives of Venice . The Venetian " Relations' begin in tlie time of Henry the Seventh ; and , as Mr . Brown ' s published volumes prove , they abound in vivid pictures of our historical personages and our national manners . Mr . Brown has peculiar qualifications for bis task . Her Majesty , on the recommendation of Viscount Palmerston , has acknowledged the services of the late Mr . Superintendent Pierse , in saving the Crown Jewels at the fire afc the Tower , in 1841 , by a munificent gift from the Eoyal Bounty , to his sister Mrs . Nash .

Mr . Collier ' s proposal for a small printing club for tho reprint of old English tracts ancl poems , has met with an embarrasing readiness of response . He has consequently , wifch the concurrence of bis subscribers , enlarged his original plan from twenty-five to fift y subscribers . The Fifth Eeport of the National Portrait Gallery has just appeared . Only three donations -vere received since the last Report : —a small painting on copper of King Charles the I

Second , painter unknown , bequeathed by the EeA * . Peter Spencer ; a portrait of Admiral Exmoath , painted by Northcote in 1801 , presented by the Dean of Norwich ; and a portrait of William Huntingdon , painted by Domenico Pellegrini in 1803 , presented by Mr . Stevens . Mr . W . Wright , Professor of Arabic in the " University of

Dublin , lias in preparation an English-Hindustani Dictionary , Avhich will be comprised in a single volume of about 800 pages . The Eev . Dr . Winslow will have ready immediately " Patriarchal Shadows of Christ and His Church , as exhibited in passages drawn from the Life of Joseph . " The Annual Eeport of the Council of the Camden Society has been presented . The Council refer to the satisfactory state of

the Society ' s finances , but regret thafc , during the past year , the numbers of the Society have been reduced by death . During the year the following publications have been issued .- —Betters of John Chamberlain , edited by Miss Sarah Williams , —Proceedings in the Comity of Kent , in 1640 , edited by the Eev . L . B . Larking , —Parliamentary Debates in 1610 , edited by S . E . Gardiner . The folkm'ing articles have been added to the

list of suggested publications during the past year : —A ColleC ' Hon of Letters from , Sir Robert Cecil to Sir George Carew , to be edited from the Originals , in the library at Lambeth , by J . Maclean , —Narrative of the Services of M . Dumont Bostacptet , in Ireland , to be edited by the Eev . J . Webb , —A Collection of Letters of Margaret of Anjon , Bishop Beekington , See ., to be edited by Cecil Monro . The library of the Camden Society now consists of eighty-one volumes—all valuable , more or less , and some of exceeding interest .

A second edition of Abel Drake ' s Wife is in the press . All throughout Germany , says the Athenceim , the poet Uhland ' s seventy-fifth birthday ( 26 th of April ) , has been celebrated this year Avith a cordiality and unanimity pleasing to behold . Banquets liave been given , choral-union meetings have been convoked , academical speeches pointing out " Uhland ' s merits as a poet ancl a patriot have been delivered , and telegraphic messages and congratulations have been sent to Tubingen Avithout number .

Tlie Eoyal Gold Medal placed annually by the Queen at the disposal of the Royal Institute of British Architects , for bestowal upon any distinguished British or foreign architect or eminent person Avho may have contributed to fche advancement of the art , has been presented this year to Prof . Willis . Other prizes have been awarded . To Mr . Wileham ( the Sonne prize of £ 5 5 *) Mr . Cockerell's £ 10 10 s . to Mr . Davies Mr . Tide's

. ; , , ; , £ 10 10 s ., to Mr . Legg ; the first student ' s ' prize , to Mr . Carpenter ; the second student ' s prize , to Mr . Fry . Mr . Street is about to make a second journey into Spain , wifch a vieAv to stAidy and illustrate the little appreciated or known architecture of that country . The Science and Art Department draws on tho estimates for the current year the sum of £ 116695 of Avhich £ 16000 is for

,, , examples , & c , granted and circulated to local schools , £ 1000 for the cireulating ^ library , £ 3000 for prizes , £ 1000 granted in aid of building schools at AVolverton and Finsbury , £ 18 , 000 in salaries to masters of schools , certificated mastars , lecturers , & c . Total for schools of Arfc , Science , etc ., £ 45 , 700 . — - £ 4750 goes for general management in London ; £ 34 , 016 for the South Kensington Museum , salaries , purchases , police , buildings ( £ 12 , 000 ) ,

& c . Jermyn Street School and Museum takes £ 6 , 677 the Geological Survey , £ 11 , 046—88 schools of the Department of Arfc contain 91 , 7 'id students . For the honour of Arfc ( writes the Athenantin , ) Ave desire fco make an earnest jirotesfc against the vulgar practice , now so rife , of subsituting a money value for an artistic value , in speaking of ictures and statues . We hear constantlthat such-and-such

p y a picture cost so many thousands of pounds—a clap-trap invention , which appeals to the same order of cast Avhich appraises the Koh-i-noor—nofc for its rarity and purity , but for the mere gold it cosfc or is saicl to have cost . These small-tradesmanlike practices are prostituting Arfc , which is thus put to dance for gold like an Egyptian Gatoasee . Creditable men ought rather to protest against the system than even

to seem to believe it . The Eeligious Tract Society have published the first volume of the Avorks of John Howe , the great Puritan Divine , and the edition Avill he completed in six volumes issued at short intervals . Mr . Henry Eogers , the author of " The Eclipse of Faith , " is the editor , and in a seventh volume he will furnish a new and comprehensive life of Howe .