India, 1883-4 to 1887-8 (18. 3d.); and Trade Reports for 1889-Spain, Barcelona (2d.); France, Boulogne (2d.); Russia, Taganrog (2d.); Borneo, Territory of the British North Borneo Company (1d.); Spain, Philippines (1d.); Argentine Republic, Emigration (1d.). SCIENCE MATHEMATICAL SCHOOL-BOOKS. An Elementary Treatise on Geometrical Optics. By R. S. Heath, M.A., D.Sc. (Cambridge, University Press.) - The present abridgment of the author's larger work, which we reviewed more than a year ago (see Athen., No. 3113), contains a clear, though concise exposition of geometrical optics, so far as the subject can be treated without appealing to higher mathematics than elementary trigonometry. The last chapter gives an interesting explanation of the rainbow. Solutions of the Examples in a Treatise on Algebra. By Charles Smith, M.A. (Macmillan & Co.)-We favourably noticed the author's treatise on algebra some months ago (see Athen., No. 3176). The solutions now published are clear and full, and will no doubt be welcomed by teachers, "many of whom can ill afford time to write out detailed solutions of the questions which prove too difficult for their pupils." Elementary Statics. By the Rev. J. B. Lock, M.A. (Macmillan & Co.)-The author treats his subject with the same clearness and the same attention to the perplexities of the beginner which characterize his mathematical works generally. The chapter on graphic statics is particularly good. We do not, however, much like his word "resolute," as an abbreviation for " resolved part." t." The advantage in the way of abbreviation is infinitesimal, and far outweighed by the disadvantage of needlessly adding to the already superabundant nomenclature of mathe matical science. A Course of Easy Arithmetical Examples for Beginners. By J. G. Bradshaw, B.A. (Macmillan & Co.)-This is a good collection of examples, well arranged, well graduated, and clearly printed. Longmans' School Arithmetic. By F. E. Marshall, M.A., and J. W. Welsford, Μ.Α. (Longmans & Co.) - This is a somewhat extensive work, comprising over four hundred pages; yet we have not come across a single page which we could fairly pronounce redundant or unnecessary. It is, in short, one of the best arithmetic yet published-clear, complete, and eminently practical. An appendix contains a large number of papers set at various public examinations. treatises on ASTRONOMICAL NOTES. We regret to hear of the death of Dr. Warren De La Rue, which occurred on the evening of Friday, the 19th inst., at the age of seventy-four. He was a native of Guernsey, and was for many years senior partner in the well-known firm of Messrs. Thomas De La Rue & Co., devoting his leisure to science, particularly to astronomy, in which he effected great improvements in celestial photography, which he applied especially to obtaining photographs of the moon. In 1860 he joined the famous Himalaya Expedition to Spain for the purpose of observing the total eclipse on July 18th of that year, and succeeded in obtaining an excellent series of photographs of the eclipsed sun. In conjunction with the late Prof. Balfour Stewart and Mr. Loewy he published several series of researches on solar physics, founded on observations made under his directions at the Kew Observatory. In 1857 he established an observatory of his own at the village of Cranford, in Middlesex, in which work was carried on until 1873, when it was dismantled and the instruments presented to the University of Oxford, where a University Observatory was thereupon founded, and excel lent work has been since carried on under the direction of Prof. Pritchard. Dr. De La Rue's scientific labours were not confined to astronomy, but he made a number of valuable experiments on the electrical discharge, the results of which were communicated to the Royal Society; and also published papers on chemical and electrical subjects in the Memoirs of the Chemical Society and other scientific journals. After being for some years one of the honorary secretaries of the Royal Astronomical Society (of which he became a Fellow in 1851, and was awarded the Gold Medal in 1862), he was elected its Pre sident in 1864; and he twice filled the office of President of the Chemical Society. Besides being a Fellow of the Royal Society, he was a Corresponding Member of the French Académie des Sciences, and of various other foreign scien tific institutions. We also regret to announce the death, in his seventy-seventh year, of the well-known constructor of submarine telegraphs, Mr. R. S. Newall, F.R.S., F.R. A.S., of Gateshead, where he established an astronomical observatory, in which was erected in 1868 a telescope with an objectglass (then the largest in the world) 25 inches in diameter. This fine instrument was made by Thomas Cooke, who died shortly after its construction, partly from the labour and anxiety which this caused him. Not much use has been made of it at Gateshead, and just before his death Mr. Newall offered it to the University of Cambridge. The planet Mercury will be at greatest eastern elongation from the sun on the 24th prox., and as his northern declination will be great about that time (on the 19th he will be only 3o to the south of ẞ Tauri), he may be visible for a short time to the naked eye after sunset. Venus (which will be in inferior conjunction with the sun on Tuesday next, the 30th inst.) will become visible as a morning star about the middle of next month in the constellation Aries; she will attain her greatest brilliancy on the 6th of June, and her greatest western elongation on the 10th of July (two days before Mercury arrives at his). Mars will not be visible during the summer months. Jupiter, however, being in Sagittarius, will be visible nearly the whole night until the month of August; he will pass the meridian at midnight on the 24th of June. Saturn is in Cancer; he sets now soon after midnight, and will gradually cease to be visible in the evening. Mr. Burnham has discovered with the great 36-inch telescope at the Lick Observatory a small companion, of the eleventh magnitude (Struve's scale), very near the star a was not perceptible with the 12-inch, even when searched for afterwards under very favourable conditions. He has also detected small companions near (though not quite so close to their primary as the one near a) several other bright stars in Ursa Major. Ursæ Majoris, which M. Belopolsky communicates to No. 2888 of the Astronomische Nachrichten a paper containing the results of several determinations of stellar parallax which he has deduced from a discussion of the meridian observations of the late Herr A. Wagner at Pulkowa. For the two stars of 61 Cygni he obtains parallaxes of 0"-47 and 0"55 respectively; for Sirius, 0"43; for the two stars of v Draconis, 0"-32 and 0"-28 respectively; for Herculis, 0"-40; for y Herculis, 0"-11; and for 10 Ursæ Majoris, 0"20. SOCIETIES. ASTRONOMICAL.-April 12.-Mr. W. H. M. Christie, Astronomer Royal, in the chair.-Mr. Knobel read a paper, by Mr. S. W. Burnham, 'On the Trapezium in Orion,' giving measures of the positions of the stars which tend to show that there is no appreciable change taking place in their relative positions. A new small star, just on the limit of vision with the Lick 36-inch refractor, has been discovered by Mr. Burnham in the Trapezium region. -Mr. I. Roberts read a paper 'On Photographs of the Nebulæ 81 and 82 Messier, and the Nebulous Star in Ursa Major.' Enlarged copies of photographs of these objects, taken by Mr. Roberts with 3 hours' exposure, were handed round the meeting. 81 Messier appears to be decidedly spiral in character, with a bright central nucleus, and numerous small stars-or brighter points of nebulous light-scattered along the spiral streams. 82 Messier, which was described by Sir J. Herschel as a beautiful ray of nebulous light, is seen in the photographs to break up into masses of brighter light connected by a fainter envelope of nebulous matter. Mr. Roberts was of opinion that it is also a spiral nebula seen in projection.-Mr. Ranyard described the structure visible in photographs of the great nebula in Orion which Mr. Roberts had lent him for examination. The structure is of a totally different character from that shown in the Andromeda nebula and in the smaller spiral structures and curving rays which reminded nebula 81 Messier. The Orion nebula contains great him of the structures traceable in the corona. There is a general curvature of all the tree-like structures in the nebula towards a central line. Similar synclinal groups of structure have been repeatedly noticed the coronas which have been different eclipses. The tree-like structures are all brighter and narrower in their lower parts, and they appear to have their origin somewhere in the region of the Trapezium. -Mr. Knobel read a paper, by Prof. Holden, On the Photographs of the Corona taken during the Solar Eclipse of January 1st, 1889.' The paper was accompanied by a large drawing which showed remarkably broad polar rifts filled with narrow structures curving away from the sun's axis of rotation as indicated by the solar spots. On either side of the equatorial regions were groups of syn clinal coronal rays curving towards radial axes inclined at angles of about 30° to 40° to the solar equator.-Mr. Wesley drew on the black-board a diagram the structure visible in the coronas of 1878 and 1889, and pointed out the striking contrary flexure of the rays at the edges of the synclinal groups, a feature which has been observed in many other coronas. - The follow ing papers were presented and taken as read: 'On an Error in Brünnow's Formulæ for Differential Refraction in Distance and Position Angles,' by Mr. W. H. Finlay, Observations of Comets made at the Orwell Park Observatory in the Years 1888-9,' by Mr. J. I. Plummer,-' Probable Errors of Greenwich Determinations of Right Ascension at Different Zenith Distances,' by Mr. A. M. W. Downing.-' On the Proper Motion of 85 Pegasi,' by Mr. J. E. Gore, A Catalogue of the Stars of the Fourth Type,' by Rev. T. E. Espin, Note on an Error in Le Verrier's "Tables du Soleil," by Mr. R. T. A. Innes,-and 'On a Method of supporting a Large Mirror when Silvering, by Mr. E. Crossley. ARCHEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. - April 4. - Mr. C. D. E. Fortnum in the chair.-Rev. Precentor Venables sent a paper on a silver chalice and paten and a gold ring lately found in the tomb of Bishop Sutton at Lincoln. The chalice was described as belonging to type a of Mr. Hope's classification. The Chairman spoke of the large size of the ring, resembling those found in the graves of bishops on the Continent. -Mr. Hope called attention to the form of the chalice and its resemblance to that from Berwick St. James, Wilts, now in the British Museum; and Mr. Micklethwaite added some observations corroborative of the conclusions which Precentor Venables and Mr. Hope had arrived at.-Mr. Hartshorne spoke of certain peculiarities in the manner of the construction of Bishop Sutton's grave, which recalled some of the characteristics of the tomb of Archdeacon Sponne at Towcester of a later date.-Mr. J. Bain read a paper On Fougères and its Lords,' a reminiscence of feudal Brittany. - Mr. Hartshorne gave a description of a coat of mail made up of six-inch squares with the links fastened together by twisted wires instead of the usual rivets. He suggested that these pieces of mail had been made for the reinforcement of the shoulders or other vulnerable parts of linen jacks, the mail being sewn into the thickening or stuffing of these body garments. The peculiar method of closing the links had not hitherto fallen under the notice of antiquaries. NUMISMATIC. - April 18.--Mr. H. Montagu, V.P., in the chair.-Mr. F. W. Yeates was elected a Member.-The Rev. G. F. Crowther exhibited five coins of Ethelwulf of different types, one with the cross moline.-Mr. L. A. Lawrence exhibited a halfgroat of Henry IV. having the king's head, like that of Richard II., in a tressure of nine arches, all fleury except that on the breast: on the king's breast was a slipped trefoil, and there were pellets at the sides of the crown, also a halfpenny of Edward IV., struck at York, with CIVITAS EBO On the reverse. -Mr. Montagu exhibited a remarkably fine series of the gold coins of Edward VI., including a pattern double sovereign of the highest rarity, the only other specimen known being in the British Museum. Dr. B. V. Head contributed two papers on Greek imperial coins struck at Ephesus in the reigns of Trajan and Antoninus Pius, one of which bore the remarkable inscription, Ο ΝΕΩ[κόρος] ΕΦΕ[σίων] ΔΗ[μος] ΕΠΕΧΑΡ[αξε], coupled with the type of the captive Parthia seated at the foot of a trophy of arms; the meaning of the inscription being that the people of Ephesus engraved upon this coin a group of a trophy and captive in commemoration of Trajan's conquest of Parthia. Dr. Head stated that this coin afforded the only instance in Greek numismatics of the employment of the containing examples of eighty species not included in Mr. Boulenger's former list, and from Mr. A. Н. Everett, on the zoo-geographical relationships of the Island of Palawan and some adjacent islands. In this paper it was contended that Palawan and the other islands intervening between Borneo and Mindoro form an integral portion of the Bornean group, and do not naturally belong to the Philippine Archipelago, with which they have hitherto been treated. The writer founded his contention upon the grounds (1) that the islands in question are connected with Borneo by a shallow submarine bank, while they are separated from the Philippines by a sea of over five hundred feet depth; and (2) that a verb ἐπιχαράσσειν as applied to coin-types, though comparison of the Bornean and Philippine elements the word occurs in this connexion in Plutarch ('Poplic.,' ii.). ، LINNEAN.-April 18. Mr. Carruthers, President, in the chair.-Rev. R. Collie was admitted a Fellow of the Society, and the following were elected: Messrs. P. Goiffon, T. W. Shore, and R. W. Scully. -In view of the approaching anniversary meeting, the following were appointed auditors: for the Council, Dr. J. Anderson and Mr. Jenner Weir; for the Fellows, Mr. T. Christy and Mr. D. Morris. The President called attention to a valuable donation of books on fishes, including the celebrated work of Bloch, recently presented to the Society's library by Mr. F. Day, who, he regretted to say, was lying seriously ill at Cheltenham; upon which a cordial vote of sympathy and thanks was unanimously accorded.-Mr. J. K. Jackson, Curator of the Museum, Kew Gardens, exhibited specimens illustrating the mode of collecting at Ichang, China, the varnish obtained from Rhus vermicifera, so largely used by the Chinese and Japanese for lacquering. He also exhibited some Chinese candles made from varnish seed oil.-On behalf of Mr. H. Hutton, of Kimberley, some photographs were exhibited showing the singular parasitic growth of Cuscuta appendiculata on Nicotiana glauca.-Dr. Cogswell exhibited specimens of vegetables belonging to four different families of plants to illustrate the symmetrical development of the rootlets. - Prof. M. Duncan exhibited under the microscope, and made some remarks upon, the sphæridia of an echinoderm.Dr. Masters gave a summary of a paper On the Comparative Morphology and Life-History of the Coniferæ, a review of the general morphology of the order based upon the comparative examination of living specimens in various stages of development. These observations, made in various public and private "pineta," supplemented by an examination of herbarium specimens, demonstrated the utility of gardens in aid of botanical research. The mode of germination, the polymorphic foliage, its isolation or "concrescence," its internal structure, the arrangement of the buds, the direction and movements of the shoots, were all discussed. In reference to the male and female flowers, the author described their true nature, tracing them from their simplest to their most complex, or most highly differentiated, condition, and showed that, so far as known, the histological structure and development were essentially the same throughout the order. Various special forms, such as the needles of Pinus, the phylloid shoots of Sciadopitys, and the seed-scales of Abietineæ, were described, and their significance pointed out. The phenomenon of enation, with the correlative inversion of the fibro-vascular bundles in such outgrowth, was considered in relation to the light it throws upon certain contested points in the morphology of the order. The chief teratological appearances noted in the order were detailed, and their significance discussed. The various modifications were shown to be purely hereditary or partly adaptive, and dependent on permanent or independent arrest, excess, or perversion of growth and development, and various correlative changes. Lastly, the polymorphic forms of the so-called genus Retinospora suggested that in studying them we might be watching the development and fixation of new specific types. ZOOLOGICAL.-April 16.-Dr. A. Günther, V.P., in the chair.- The Secretary exhibited a pair of a fine large buprestine beetle of the genus Julodis (Julodis ffinchi), obtained near Karachi, and a molecricket (Gryllotalpa vulgaris) from Bagdad.-Mr. Sclater made remarks on the animals he had noticed during a recent visit to the Zoological Gardens of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Antwerp. Communica tions were read: Mr. O. Thomas, on the mammals of Kina Balu, North Borneo, from the collections made on that mountain by Mr. J. Whitehead in 1887 and 1888; the species represented in Mr. Whitehead's collection were twenty-one in number, of which six had proved to be new to science,-by Mr. G. A. Boulenger (the second communication), mmunication), on the fishes obtained by Surgeon-Major A. S. G. cation), Jayakar at Muscat, on the east coast of Arabia, the two collections recently received from Mr. Jayakar | in the fauna of Palawan, so far as known, shows a marked preponderance of the former over the latter element; while the Philippine forms are also more largely and more profoundly modified than the Bornean species. This fact indicated that they had been longer isolated, and consequently that the fauna of Palawan was originally derived from Borneo, and not from the Philippines, though a considerable subsequent invasion of species from the latter group had taken place. METEOROLOGICAL.-April 17.-Dr. W. Marcet, President, in the chair.-Mr. R. C. Mossman and Mr. E. H. Ryan-Tenison were elected Fellows. -The following papers were read: 'On the Deaths caused by Lightning in England and Wales from 1852 to 1880, as recorded in the Returns of the RegistrarGeneral,' by Inspector-General R. Lawson. The total number of deaths from lightning during the twenty-nine years amounted to 546, of which 442 were of males, and 104 of females. In consequence of their greater exposure, the inhabitants of rural districts suffer more from lightning than those of towns. It appears also that vicinity to the west and south coasts reduces the chances of injury by lightning, and that distance from the coast and high land seems to increase them. - The Diurnal Range of the Barometer in Great Britain and Ireland,' by Mr. F. C. Bayard. The author has reduced the hourly records of the barometer at the nine observatories, Aberdeen, Armagh, Bidston, Falmouth, Glasgow, Greenwich, Kew, Stonyhurst, and Valencia, during the years 1876-80. The curves of inland places are smoother than those of places on the sea-coast, and the curves of places to the westward are more irregular than those of places to the eastward. As we go from south to north, the general tendency of the curve is to get flatter with a lessened diurnal range.-Note on a Working Model of the Gulf Stream,' by Mr. A. W. Clayden.-' On the Rime-Frost of January 6th and 7th, 1889,' by Mr. C. B. Plowright. The author gives an account of the very heavy rime which occurred in the neighbourhood of King's Lynn on these days, when the fringe of crystals upon twigs and branches of trees was about two inches in length. The weight was so great that nearly all the telegraph wires were snapped and an immense number of branches of trees broken off. MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. MON. Institute of Actuaries, 7.- 'Table of Coefficients arising out of the given Mortality Table for finding Annuity-Values at any Rate of Interest that may be Required, Mr. T J. Searle. Aristotelian, 8. Some Curious Parallels between Greek and Chinese Thought, Canon A. L. Moore. Surveyors' Institution, 8. TUES. Antiquaries, 2.-Anniversary Meeting. Royal Institution, 3.- Italian Renaissance Painters, Dr. J. P. Society of Arts, 8.-'The Northern Waterway to Siberia, Capt. WED. Royal Institution, 11.-Annual Meeting. Entomological, 7. THURS. Royal Institution, 3.-' Animal Locomotion, Mr. E. Muybridge. Archæological Institute, 4-Notes on Ritual Ecclesiology in East Norfolk, Mr. J. L. André. FRI. SAT. Royal, 41. Camden, 4.-Annual Meeting. Linnean, 8. Chemical, 8. Shorthand, 8.-' Script Phonography.' Mr. T. S. Malone. Society of Arts, 8. Secondary Batteries, Mr. W. H. Precce. Geologists' Association, 8. Philological, 8. Report on my Dialect Work, Mr. A. J. Ellis. Seeley had hoped to proceed to Kazan, but has been prevented by the severity of the winter, the navigation of the Volga being closed, and the roads from Moscow to Kazan almost impassable. THE British Association, which has lately, by the extent of its donations, acquired the right to be represented on the Council of the Marine Biological Association, has selected as its representative its president-elect, Prof. Flower. COL. R. G. WOODTHORPE, C.B., R.E., well known for his important geographical explorations in Chitral, Assam, Burma, and other parts of India, has been appointed Deputy Quartermaster-General of the Intelligence Branch. Col. Woodthorpe is a most energetic and capable officer, and will, no doubt, render valuable service in his new appointment; but it seems a curious arrangement, especially in the present unsettled condition of Indian trans-frontier politics, to remove an officer from a delicate and important sphere of duties for which he is so obviously qualified. Unless this is the prelude for the transfer of survey and geographical matters to the wing of the Military Department of the Government of India (for which there is much to be said), the step seems one to be regretted in the interests of the Foreign Department of the State, and of its future policy towards its trans-frontier neighbours. FINE ARTS 'THE VALE OF TEARS.'-DORE'S LAST GREAT PICTURE, completed a few days before he died, NOW ON VIEW at the Doré Gallery, 35, New Bond Street, with Christ leaving the Prætorium, Christ's Entry into Jerusalem,' 'The Dream of Pilate's Wife,' and his other great Pictures. From 10 to 6 Daily. -Admission, 18. The Coins and Tokens of the Possessions and THE author of this work in his preface Society of Arts, 8. The Karun as a Trade Route, Major- tion,' and other works, it will be seen that a General Sir R. M. Smith. Royal Institution, 9.- Aluminium, Sir H. Roscoe. Royal Institution, 3.- Opera in England, Mr. J. Bennett. Science Gossip. THE Royal Society are about to follow up their Report of the Krakatoa Committee with another extra volume-a 'Monograph of the Horny Sponges.' The work, which is now passing through the press, will consist of about 950 pages of text and fifty plates. THE mission of Prof. H. G. Seeley, who has gone to Russia with credentials from the Foreign Office, granted at the instance of the Royal Society, to study the Permian or Trias Reptilia in the museums at St. Petersburg and Moscow, promises to be perfectly successful. Mr. great deal of the ground over which Mr. Atkins's labours extend has already been gone over by previous writers on numismatics. Mr. Atkins has divided his subject into sections arranged geographically, viz., Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australia. These are again subdivided into separate series, to each of which is devoted a concise historical and numismatic preface. Under Europe are described the coinages of the Channel Islands, of the Isle of Man, of Hanover from George I. to William IV., and the smaller issues of Gibraltar, Malta, the Ionian Islands, and Cyprus. There is only one coin in this section to which we need call attention, as the various series are so well known. This piece occurs in the coinage of the Isle of Man, and is described by Mr. Atkins as a "penny (?)"; but in a note he adds that it is "much more probably a medal, as it is much larger than any of the pennies of the period," which it resembles in type. That the piece was intended for a coin and not for a medal is pretty certain, as will be seen by its general type and fabric. Being about double the size and weight of the penny, it was most probably intended for a pattern of a twopenny piece. There was no silver local currency at that time in the island, and a twopenny piece may have been considered by those who had charge of the mint a convenient coin for public use, as it was in this country in the year 1797, when such pieces were issued for circulation. As there is no record of a twopenny piece having been ordered to be struck, the proposal was no doubt not accepted, and thus the great rarity of this coin is accounted for. The Anglo-Hanoverian section, which occupies over a hundred pages, is a little out of place in a work of this nature. This coinage has never been considered in any way connected with the English series, and its issue was not under the control of the English Parliament. The coins certainly bear the portraits and titles of the English sovereigns from 1714 to 1837, yet the coinage itself remained purely German in character as regards its types, denominations, and standard. By far the most important section of the work is that which next follows, and which deals with the coinages of the British possessions in Asia, especially those in India. The sketch which Mr. Atkins gives of this portion, certainly a difficult one, is in the main fairly accurate and lucid. The coinage of India for centuries was divided into two distinct systems: in the Northern districts the Mohammedan standard prevailed, and in the Southern the Hindu, the unit of the former being the rupee, and of the latter a small gold coin called the hun, but designated by Europeans the pagoda a Portuguese appellation derived from the form of the native temple which was figured upon it. Mr. Atkins in his introduction to this section supplies tables of the values of these two systems, to which might well have been added a third giving the relative values of the coins of the two standards, viz., 3 rupees=1 pagoda, 1 rupee 12 fanams, and 14 paisa 75 cash. The fals is a division of the Mohammedan rupee, and not, asstated, of the Hindu fanam; it was the original pie sikka which was afterwards called the paisa. The coinages issued in India under the auspices of the East India Company are divided into three main series, viz., of Bombay, Bengal, and Madras. These Mr. Atkins has severally classified in their chronological order so far as the material at his disposal would admit; and the task was by no means easy. The coins bearing the mint names of Moorshedabad and Arkot, some of which were struck at Birmingham, are easily distinguishable by the regularity of the inscriptions and by their accurately circular form; but the identification of pieces issued at other local mints by the East India Company is often difficult, as they resemble closely in fabric similar coins struck by the independent rulers. Through these intricacies Mr. Atkins has wended his way carefully and with success, but in the task of transliterating and translating the inscriptions he has found a fearful pitfall, and has thrown himself headlong into it. The reading of the inscriptions on Oriental coins presents many difficulties even to those well acquainted with the written languages. In the Mohammedan series of India the words of the inscriptions rarely run on in their consecutive order, but are scattered over the field of the coin in a most confused manner. Sometimes the inscription begins at the top of the coin, sometimes in the middle, and at other times at the bottom; one half of the word is often in one line, and the other half in another. The native artist in making the dies first considered the general aspect which the piece to be issued would present, and if he had a word or a letter too much for the space he had to cover, he thought nothing of leaving it out altogether. After a little practice, when the various formulas in use are known, the difficulties of reading the coins, which at first sight seem insurmountable, are soon got over, and the various words and letters which make up the inscription can be easily, so to say, picked up, and where omissions occur the necessary words supplied. That Mr. Atkins was not equal to this task is very clear to any one who has a slight knowledge of Arabic or Persian, and it is much to be regretted that under the circumstances he did not obtain the assistance of some one competent to revise this portion of his work. As it is, words are wrongly spelt, letters are incorrectly transliterated because the author did not understand the use of the diacritical points, inscriptions are blundered, and in many cases the translations are at fault. A few instances may be given by way of illustration. At p. 156, 49, no one, unless acquainted with the coin, would know that the Persian inscription was intended to show that the coin was "struck at Calcutta." On the next coin the inscription "four annas " is still more blundered and utterly unintelligible. At p. 157, 54, the inscription "the victorious monarch" is translated "the Emperor Shah Aulum." At p. 168, 30, the Persian word panj, expressing "five," has taken a most droll form, though it is given correctly in the illustration below. At p. 169, 37, dou fanam is represented in Persian characters as "war nelim." At p. 183, 41, iek rupya appears as "iek ruk." But perhaps the most curious blunder of all occurs in the transliteration of the word duit, which is found on a coin of that denomination struck at Bandarmassin (p. 216, 1), but which is given as "it 92," because the author has mistaken the letters dal and waw for the figures representing 92, which they appear to the uninitiated to resemble in form. Throughout there is the greatest confusion in the letters dal, ra, and waw, which Mr. Atkins has not been able to distinguish from each other. In dealing with the coinages of America and Australia Mr. Atkins found himself on safer ground, as he had no Oriental inscriptions over which he could trip, and, besides that, he had at his disposal some sound standard works to guide him. The work is well illustrated throughout with numerous woodcuts, which, being distributed in the text, render a comparison of the description and the illustrations very convenient. THE SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS AND THEIR SIGNBOARD. THE Moment has now arrived when I trust that you will see fit to publish, in its entirety, the accompanying correspondence; for it seems to me proper that in your journal, one of the recognized art organs of the country, should be recorded the details of an incident in which the element of grave offence is, not unnaturally, quite missed by the people in their indignation at the insignificance of the object to which public attention has so unwarrantably been drawn-a "notice board"! -the common sign of com merce ! Now, however slight might be the value of the work in question destroyed, it is surely of startling interest to know that work may be destroyed, or worse still, defaced and tampered with, at the present moment in full London, with the joyous approval of the major part of the popular press. I leave to your comment the fact that in this instance the act is committed with the tacit consent of a body of gentlemen officially styled " artists," at the instigation of their president, as he unblushingly acknowledges, and will here distinctly state that the "notice board of the Royal Society of British Artists" did not "bear on a red ground, in letters of gold, the title of the society," and that "to this Mr. Whistler during his presidency" did not "add with his own hand a decorative device of a lion and a butterfly." This damning evidence, though in principle irrelevant for what becomes of the soul of a "Diocesan member of the Council of Clapham" is, artistically, a matter of small moment-I nevertheless bring forward as the only one that will at present be at all considered or even understood. The "notice board" was of the familiar blue enamel, well known in metropolitan use, with white lettering, announcing that the exhibition of the Incorporated Society of British Artists was held above, and that for the sum of one shilling the public might enter. I myself mixed the "red ground," and myself placed, "in letters of gold, the" new "title" upon it-in proper relation to the decorative scheme of the whole design, of which it formed naturally an all-important feature. The date was that of the society's Royal grant, and in commemoration of its new birth. With the offending Butterfly it has now been effaced in one clean sweep of independence, while the lion, "not so badly drawn," was differently dealt with-it was found not "necessary to do anything more than restore it in permanent colour, and that," with a bottle of Brunswick black, "has accordingly been done"; and, as Mr. Bayliss adds, with unpremeditated truth, in the thoughtless pride of achievement, "the notice board was no longer the actual work of Mr. Whistler"! This exposure of Mr. Bayliss's direct method I have wickedly withheld, in order that the Philistine impulse of the country should declare itself in all its freshness of execration, before it could be checked by awkward discovery of mere mendacity, and a timid sense of danger called justice. Everything has taken place as I pleasantly foresaw, and there is by this time, with the silent exception of one or two cautious dailies, scarcely a lay paper in the land that has been able to refrain from joining the hearty yell of de light at the rare chance of coarsely, publicly, and safely insulting an artist ! In this eagerness to affront the man they have irretrievably and ridiculously committed themselves to open sympathy with the destruction of his work. I wish coldly to chronicle this fact in the archives of the Atheneum for the future consideration of the cultured New Zealander. J. M'NEILL WHISTLER. The following is the correspondence referred to: (Morning Post, April 1, 1889.) "The Tower House, Tite Street, Chelsea, March 30. "SIR, Pray accept my compliments, and be good enough to inform me at once by whose authority, and upon what pretence, the painting, designed and executed by myself, upon the panel at the entrance of the galleries of Suffolk Street, has been defaced. Tampering with the work of an artist, however obscure, is held to be, in what might be called the international laws of the whole Art world, so villainous an offence, that I must at present decline to entertain the responsibility of the very distinguished and Royal Society of British Artists for what must be due to the rash and ill-considered zeal of some enthusiastic and untutored underling.-Awaiting your reply, I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient, humble servant, "J. M'NEILL WHISTLER. "To the Hon. Secretary the Royal Society of British Artists.' To this letter Mr. Whistler's messenger received the following verbal reply, "There is no answer-that is your answer." Telegram from Mr. Whistler to the Council of the Royal Society of British Artists, Suffolk Street : "Congratulations upon dignity maintained as artists left in charge of a brother artist's work, and upon graceful bearing as officers toward their late president." "To the Editor of the Morning Post. "7, North Road, Clapham Park, April 1, 1889. "SIR,-As you have considered Mr. Whistler's letter worthy of publication, and as Mr. Whistler has himself urgently drawn my attention to it by two telegrams, I ask you to complete the publication by inserting this simple statement of the facts as they occurred. The notice board of the Royal Society of British Artists bears on a red ground, in letters of gold, the title of the society. To this Mr. Whistler, during his presidency, added with his own hand a decorative device of a lion and a butterfly. On the eve of our private view it was found that, while the title of the society, being in pure gold, remained untarnished, Mr. Whistler's designs, being executed in spurious metals, had nearly disappeared, and what little remained of them was of a dirty brown. The board could not be put up in that state. The lion, however, was not so badly drawn as to make it necessary to do anything more than restore it in permanent colour, and that has accordingly been done. But as the notice board was no longer the actual work of Mr. Whistler, it would manifestly have been improper to have left the butterfly (his well-known signature) attached to it, even if it had not appeared in so crushed a state. The soiled butterfly was therefore effaced. On Saturday, while the society were happily receiving their guests at the private view, Mr. Whistler's messenger repeatedly clamoured for an answer in writing to his letter. The public can judge for themselves whether, having regard to the style of Mr. Whistler's communication, the answer sent by our hon. secretary was not sufficient and to the point. -Yours, &c., "WYKE BAYLISS, "President of the Royal Society of British Artists." "To the Editor of the Morning Post. "April 2, 1889. Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère?' "SIR, I have read Mr. Bayliss's letter, and am disarmed. I feel the folly of kicking against the parish pricks. These things are right in Clapham, by the common. Vilà ce que c'est, c'est bien fait-fallait pas qu'il y aille! fallait pas qu'il y aille!' And when, one of these days, all traces of history shall, by dint of much turpentine, and more Bayliss, have been effaced from the board that 'belongs to us,' I shall be justified, and it will be boldly denied by some dainty student that the delicate butterfly was ever 'soiled' in Suffolk Street. -Yours, &c., "J. M'NEILL WHISTLER." fine-Art Gossip. THE Royal Academy will be opened to the public on Monday, the 6th prox. The private view is fixed for next Friday. ments of which we have already described, is appointed for Wednesday next, the 1st prox. THE private view of the Exhibition of the Society of Painters in Water Colours is appointed for to-day (Saturday). The gallery will be opened to the public on Monday next. THE private view of a collection of drawings by Mrs. Allingham is appointed for to-day (Saturday), the 27th inst, at the gallery of the Fine-Art Society. The subjects are views taken "On the Surrey Border." On the same occasion there will be on view at the same place about twenty-five exquisitely finished drawings-distinguished by their brilliant and beautiful colours of still life. They are the works of Miss Bertha Patmore, elder daughter of the poet of 'The Angel in the House.' Miss Patmore has likewise illuminated on vellum a certain number of title pages for books. In these she has adopted the style of the fourteenth century. MR. ALMA TADEMA's new picture, which is one of his most ambitious and happy efforts, represents a procession of many figures which has arrived in front of a temple placed on high above the level of the sea, and in brilliant sunlight. It is called 'A Dedication to Bacchus,' and depicts the consecration of a child to the service of the temple of the wine-god. An aged vine-grower and his family have brought ght the little girl to the altar erected before the portico, where the high priest and priestess, and the virgin choir to whose company the child will belong, greet them with the glad music of their voices and instruments. Four stalwart sons of the old man bear upon their shoulders a sort of litter, on which is placed a huge ox-skin filled with the first wine of the vintage, and intended as an offering to Bacchus. Beyond this we are not at liberty yet to speak of a picture which demands special criticism. The private views are appointed for the 3rd and 4th prox. at Mr. Lefèvre's Gallery in King Street, St. James's, where other pictures by the same artist have been shown. It will be exhibited to the public on and after the 6th prox. It is of the same size as the 'Vintage,' by Mr. Tadema, and forms a companion to that picture. It will be engraved in pure line by M. A. Blanchard en Being an open-air scene, it contrasts suite. with the 'Vintage,' an interior. On Saturday, May 4th, Messrs. Christie, Manson & Woods will sell F. Walker's picture 'At the Bar,' which was exhibited at the Academy in 1871. The head of the woman, afterwards partially obliterated by the artist, has been restored by by Mr. R. W. Macbeth, guided by Walker's small version of the same painting. THE prospectus of the lectures to be given in connexion with the Chair of Archæology at University College, London, has been issued. As had been announced, the lectures are intended to form an organized course of general archæology, and not to be confined (as was the case during Sir Charles Newton's tenure of the chair) to classical archæology. The professor, Mr. R. S. Poole, will deliver an inaugural lecture on May 8th, and will undertake the special branches of Egyptology and (assisted by Mr. Evetts of the British Museum) Assyriology: on the former subject one lecture and three demonstrations will be given in May and June; on the latter one lecture by the professor and two demonstrations by Mr. Evetts in June. Meanwhile Prof. Boyd Dawkins will lecture for the professor on 'Prehistoric Archæology' on May 15th, with a demonstration at the British Museum on May 22nd; while Mr. Balfour, of the PittRivers Museum, Oxford, will deal with 'Savage Art.' THE Salon, Paris, will, according to custom, be opened to the public on Wednesday next, the 1st prox. Nearly three thousand pictures THE private view of the exhibition at the New Gallery, some of the most important ele- | have been accepted. IT is reported that in the Certosa at Pavia the graves of Gian Galeazzo de' Visconti and Isabella of Valois have been found. Their corpses were well preserved and were clad in red embroidered velvet. In one tomb were found a sword, dagger, spurs of gilt bronze, and a vase bearing the armorials of the Visconti. In addition to various pictures we have already mentioned as intended for the Grosvenor Exhibition, the private view of which is to be on the 29th inst., Sir J. Millais will send his 'Shelling Peas' (see Athen., No. 3207) and 'A Portrait'; Mr. F. Goodall his 'Pets of the Hareem' and 'An Egyptian Landscape'; Mr. W. Logsdail, 'A Portrait'; Mr. J. Swan a lion picture called 'A Fallen Monarch'; Mr. J. Sant, 'A Young Juliet'; and Messrs. A. East, D. Murray, W. Wyllie, Henry Moore, J. Waterlow, McWhirter, Aumonier, E. Parton, N. Hemy, and K. Halswelle will contribute various landscapes and seascapes, among which Mr. H. Moore's two works are conspicuous for vigour and beauty. M. Fantin will send 'A Flower Piece,' and there will be pictures by Messrs. A. Goodwin, A. H. Boughton, J. Pettie, T. Graham, Heywood Hardy, C. W. Kennedy, G. P. Jacomb Hood, R. B. Browning, the Hon. J. Collier, and Briton Riviere. The last-named contributes his 'Prometheus' suspended from a cliff. Mr. Hook sends his 'Trailing the Spiller' (Athen., No. 3201). In the Journal of the Camera Club for April Mr. John Brett has published a carefully thoughtout essay on the 'Relation of Photography to the Pictorial Art,' in which he offers suggestions to photographers ambitious of being considered members of the artistic profession, which tend to show the limits as well as the true functions of what those gentlemen call their "art." Mr. Brett admits the great value of the camera in reproducing drawings in facsimile for a few shillings each, and he is of opinion that the tendency of photography is to disenchant the "average public" with the world in which they live; but it is probable that the scenes presented to the "desultory spectator are calculated to awaken in his progeny an interest in the visible world which might otherwise have remained latent." Mr. Brett's notion that by means of photography and heredity future generations may be elevated is fascinating, and deserves attention. His sense of humour must, of course, have been pleasantly tickled while he offered counsel of this sort to the Camera Club, and blasphemed gods in whom some of the members believe. THE French sculptor M. Louis Adolphe Eude died on the 10th inst. He was born in 1818 at Arés (Gironde), and became a pupil of David d'Angers. He made his début at the Salon of 1847 with 'L'Amour,' a statue; in 1859 he obtained a medal of the Third Class; in 1877 a medal of the First Class was awarded to him for his 'Retour de Chasse.' 'RECENT CONVERSATIONS IN A STUDIO,' which will be the opening article in the May number of Blackwood's Magazine, is by Mr. W. W. Story, the well-known American sculptor and writer. THE famous Romanesque relic, or rather its ruins, the church of St. Julien le Pauvre, near Notre Dame, Paris, has been handed over to the Paris congregation of the Greek Catholic rite. MUSIC THE WEEK. ST. JAMES'S HALL.-Mr. Lamond's Recital. Royal Academy of Music. CRYSTAL PALACE.-Mr. Manns's Benefit Concert. THE interest of Mr. Lamond's second recital on Thursday last week chiefly consisted in the opportunity afforded of gauging the young pianist's ability as a composer. Besides some minor pieces there were two important works from his own pen in the programme, namely, a Pianoforte Trio in B minor, Op. 2, and a Sonata in D (MS.) for piano and violoncello. In both of these we notice some excellent qualities and also some defects, the latter being due to inexperience and overweening ambition. Mr. Lamond's subjects are generally clear and melodious, not particularly original, perhaps, yet capable of effective treatment. In the general structure of the movements the composer shows himself a good musician, and he has evidently learnt a great deal from Brahms. His weakness consists in not recognizing the value of conciseness. In nearly every instance the subject-matter is treated at too great length, and a movement which promised to be interesting becomes wearisome before the close. The writing is clear and intelligible, but there is too much of it. It is as well to direct Mr. Lamond's attention to this, since there is sufficient merit in his works to justify the hope that he may eventually take high rank as a composer. He was assisted in them by Herr Straus and Signor Piatti, so that they were heard to great advantage. His solo efforts were confined to minor pieces by Chopin, Henselt, Tausig, and Rubinstein, in all of which excellent tone and a broad, vigorous style were again noticeable. There was a good deal that called for approval in the orchestral concert of the Royal Academy of Music on Thursday last week, and a few features of an unsatisfactory nature. Dealing with the latter first, we would suggest that if it be impossible to improve the balance of the choir by strengthening the male contingent, choral music for mixed voices should not be performed. No good object could be served by such an ineffective rendering of the finale to Mendelssohn's 'Loreley, and the soloist, Mlle. Chèron, would have been heard to more advantage in less exacting music. To finish with our objections, it should be noted that the proportion of virtuoso music in the programme was far too large. The first movement of Rubinstein's Piano Concerto in D minor was vigorously interpreted by Miss Dora Matthay; Mr. Gerald Walenn showed admirable style and technique in two movements of Wieniawski's Violin Concerto in the same key; and Mr. Frank Hollis in the allegro of Raff's Piano Concerto in o minor, Op. 185, and Miss Rodbard in Liszt's Hungarian Fantasia, also justified their appearance in St. James's Hall. The only instrumental item by a classical composer was the first movement of Beethoven's E flat Concerto, neatly and unobtrusively rendered by Mr. Gilbert R. Betjemann. We are far from saying that modern music should not be included in the curriculum of the Academy, but the works of the greatest masters should certainly have a more prominent place than was accorded them on this occasion. Of the vocalists the most promising were Mr. Edwin Houghton and Miss Amy Clapshaw. The former displayed a fine tenor voice in the Handelian air "God breaketh the battle" from Dr. Parry's 'Judith,' and the latter an excellent method in Rossini's "Bel raggio." Dr. A. C. Mackenzie conducted the concert. In one respect Mr. Manns's annual concert last Saturday proved far more interesting than could have been anticipated. Much of the programme may be dismissed with simple record. It is unnecessary to say anything concerning the 'Midsummer Night's Dream' and 'Tannhäuser' overtures, the rendering of Liszt's Concerto in E flat by Herr Stavenhagen, or the vocal efforts of Madame Nordica, Mlle. Tremelli, and Mr. Brereton. What made the occasion memorable was the first performance of Mr. Frederic Cliffe's Symphony in F, Op. 1. It was hoped that the work would be included in the scheme of the approaching Leeds Festival, but this could not be, and Mr. Manns deserves the thanks not only of the composer, but of musicians generally, for giving the symphony a place in his concert. Mr. Cliffe is one of the many excellent musicians who owe their success to the National Training School of Music, and he is now a professor of the pianoforte at the Royal College. Though his Symphony in c minor is his Op. 1, it can scarcely be credited that it is his first essay in orchestral music. From first to last the scoring is extraordinarily rich and varied, and though a large orchestra is employed mere noise is carefully avoided. This, however, is by no means the most conspicuous merit in the work. The themes are almost invariably interesting, and they are frequently handled with such masterly skill that the effect is exceedingly fine. The first movement, which we are told is a record of impressions received during a visit to Norway, is elaborate, vigorous, and as successful as it is ambitious. The bright scherzo which follows seems weak by comparison, though taken by itself it is excellent. The gem of the work, however, is the slow movement, a ballade in a flat. Here the composer shows a depth of expression and a command of orchestral colour rarely to be met with save in the works of the greatest masters. The finale, though animated and generally effective, is not remarkable until the end is approached, when a theme from the ballade is reintroduced in a manner suggestive of a triumphant hymn, bringing the work to a magnificent climax. If it were not for a sense of vagueness in places we should pronounce the symphony a masterpiece, but, even as it is, no finer instrumental work has been placed before the public for a long period. The impression it made on the audience was unmistakable, Mr. Cliffe being twice called to the platform amid tumultuous applause. The season of the Crystal Palace Concerts just ended has been in every way as successful as any of its predecessors, the list of works performed showing a large number of interesting novelties, and even a greater proportion than usual of works by Britishborn composers. NEW MUSICAL LITERATURE. Operatic Tales. By F. R. Chesney. (Ward & Downey.)-In this volume the plots of twenty told, somewhat in the are same way three operas as Charles Lamb dealt with the plays of Shakspeare; that is to say, the past tense is used in dealing with the incidents, and the general style is sufficiently simple to bring the narratives within the comprehension of youthful readers. The operas treated are those which hold the stage at the present time, together with a few belonging to a past age, such as Tancredi,' 'Luisa Miller,' and 'I Vespri Siciliani.' It cannot be said that the author gives much insight into the inner meaning of the more serious works, such as 'Faust, Lohengrin,' and Die Meistersinger,' and, on the whole, the book is too superficial to be of much value except to those who, without such aid, are unable to understand the dramatic foundation of an opera. We have also received Half a Century of Music in Liverpool, by W. I. Argent (Liverpool, Egerton, Smith & Co.). This pamphlet was suggested by the jubilee of the local Philharmonic Society, which was celebrated recently. It is a s originally The really a reprint of series of articles contributed to the Liverpool Mercury. author writes in a bright and cheery style, and he implies rather than asserts that Liverpool is not so unmusical as is generally supposed. The unfortunate Max Bruch episode is impartially dealt with, and Mr. Argent renders full justice to the German musician, who was placed in a false position by the injudicious partisanship of his Lancashire admirers. SCHUBERT'S SYMPHONY IN C. In reference to the remark in the Athenœum of April 20th, p. 516, I beg to say that I adhere to the number 10 for Schubert's great Symphony in c, because I think that the evidence on the point given in the Atheneum of November 19th, 1881, was conclusive, and has not been invalidated. The documents there quoted prove that the Gastein Symphony was delivered to the Gesellschaft, and was paid for; while an inspection of the autograph of the Symphony in cshows it to be an independent work with its original title-page. The consideration named by your reporter does not strike me as cogent. The Gastein Symphony was written eight years after the No. 6, and was probably as difficult as the No. 10, and no relief would have been obtained by adopting it. The recent discovery of Beethoven's two cantatas, more than ninety years after their composition, shows that one need never despair in such cases. Things of the kind get mislaid and lost, but rarely destroyed. G. GROVE. Musical Gossip. An enormous number of sacred concerts were given in London on Good Friday. The 'Messiah' was listened to by over 8,000 persons at the Albert Hall, 3,500 at the People's Palace, and 4,500 at the Mile End Assembly Rooms. The last-named performance was the first of a "grand musical festival" which lasted until Tuesday this week, the other works in the scheme being 'Elijah,' 'St. Paul,' and 'Belshazzar.' The audiences on each evening were as large as the building would accommodate. CONCERT work has been entirely suspended at the West End during the past week, but it will be resumed next week, and the summer season promises to be one of the longest and busiest for many years. SIR CHARLES HALLE's chamber music concerts commence on Friday next, and a highly interesting feature of the series will be the first performance in England of the three quartets of Cherubini, the publication of which we announced a few weeks ago. The programme of the second concert will include a Pianoforte Trio in E flat by Martucci, Op. 62. THE Richter Concert of June 24th will be given in conjunction with the Wagner Society, and the programme will consist of extracts from all the master's music-dramas in chronological order, concluding 'Parsifal.' with the Grail scene from THE Handel Society will give an invitation concert at the Portman Rooms on Wednesday, |