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tory.

March 30, THE leaf-buds of the hawthorn hedges are in general bursting in sheltered places the leaves are expanded.

April 3-5. Sharp frosts on these days have put a stop to the progress of vegetation.....

11: The cold still continues, and to-day snow fell copiously, It melted quickly in the vicinity of Edinburgh, but it lies deep on Pentland Hills.

-16: Heavy showers of snow and hail, with strong easterly gales, have destroyed much blossom of the apricot, peach, and plum trees.The Wheatear (MotacillaOenanthe,) which had made its appearance in this neighbourhood in the end of March, seems now to have again left us, on account of the renewed inclemency of the weather. Not one is now to be seen,

20. Above a dozen of Eiderducks, here called Dunters, (a rare species,) were brought to market, having been accidentally entangled in nets set for catching padles or lumpfish in the Frith of Forth.

21. Hard frosts, especially during the night, continued almost without intermission since the begining of the month, have not only suspended vegetation, but have produced a shrivelled and burnt appearance on the young leaves of many shrubs and flowers; which the previous warmth bad unfolded. Towards the end of April last year, we had several great falls of snow, but the cold was not nearly so intense as this year.

The effects of the uncommon severity of the past winter are now becoming evident in the flower-borders and in the kitchen-garden. Many peren. nial flower-roots which generally survive in ordinary winters, have been killed; and many beds of artichokes, and similar plants, have perished.

In regard to artichokes, I may men

useful to cultivators. In a garden at Lauriston I had several rows of very fine strong plants, which were earthed up in Oct. last, in the usual way. I had likewise some rows of slips or young plants, which were not in any way prepared for resisting the frost. It now turns out that the strong plants which were carefully ridged up have all perished; while the neglected slips have survived. It seems evident, therefore, that the earthing up of artichokes is a bad plan; and, instead of proving a protection, is in reality cal culated to enable severe frosts to penetrate to the remotest fibres of the roots. A slight covering of litter, without any ridging, will probably be found the best preservative.

It may to some appear a coincidence worthy of remarking, that it is, this year, exactly a century since the occurrence of the most memorable frost of modern times, that of 1709; when innumerable birds were found frozen to death in our fields; when the intense cold extended even to the south of Europe, and blasted the orange and olive trees of Italy; and when some parts of the Mediterranean Sea were covered with ice.

P. S. CANINE MADNESS. In last month's memoranda we hazarded some remarks on the proclamations lately issued on this subject, and the consequent dread and anxiety which agitated the public mind. The authorised persecution of the dogs (for such did the proclamations virtually prove) terminated on the 14th April. Great has been the slaughter, The environs of the principal tan-yards in the neighbourhood may still be seen strewed with carcases stripped of their skins. In a warmer season, the effluvia from these might have proved not very conducive to the health of the inhabitants. We may possibly have been unfortunate in not acquiring the best infor mation; but we must still say, that

every instance of supposed madness in our dogs since the beginning of March last, (for we have not learned of any real instance *,) might, we think, be distinctly traced to the orders themselves of the Magistrates and Sheriff, as its unintentional origin and cause. While we are happy to be able to make a statement so consolotary to the relations of those few children and others said to have been bitten, we certainly do not intend any reflections on our Magistrates; on the contrary, we give them praise for their vigilance and alacrity. Nor should it be accounted detracting from that praise, if we venture again to suggest to them, (in the event of any future alarm,) the propriety of an accurate investigation as to the foundation of such reports, before issuing any proclamations on the subject; and the great expediency of entrusting the execution of their orders, when issued, to policemen or other authorized officers only, and of absolutely prohibiting the interference of all tanners and curriers, and their apprentices, and of boys in general, under a penalty: Under such regulations, the Magistrates' orders might be equally well enforced, and would be as readily obeyed; while the inhabitants would be enabled to walk the streets without having their feelings shocked by being compelled to witness the butchering of mastiffs and pointers at every turn; the owners of harmless favourite dogs which

* If a single case of real canine madness has appeared in this city, on this occasion, and if real hydrophobia has, in any one instance, or in any degree, been the result, may we not hope that, in this seat of medical learning, such a case will not be suffered to pass unheeded, but will be minutely and accurately detailed? We expect, however, no such elucidation, although physicians and surgeons have attended the bitten; because we do not believe any real case has at this time existed, or is likely yet to oc

cur.

had accidentally slipped out to the street, might then hope to have them restored on payment of a small fine, instead of trembling to hear of their being massacred by curriers or blackguards; and a temptation to habits of cruelty and of theft would thus be snatched from idle, thoughtless, and profligate boys, some of whom have been known to be so bold in this iniquitous traffic as to entice away dogs from their homes with the view of slaughtering and flaying them.

We observe with sincere pleasure, that a medical gentleman of this city is endeavouring to call the attention of the public in general, and of medical people in particular, to the subject of hydrophobia,-a subject on which every one talks with fluency and confidence, while every one seems to be equally in the dark. To promote so important and interesting an inquiry, might, we conceive, be worthy of our city and county rulers, especially as they, and their predecessors in office, have, on different occasions, shewn themselves feelingly alive to apprehensions on this head, and laudably anxious to guard the public safety and health; and it is a subject equally déserving of attention and encouragement from the different literary and physical societies of this place. In the mean time, Dr ROBERTON, displaying no common zeal and liberality in behalf of the public weal, and of medical science, has come forward as an indvidual, and through the medium of the newspapers, has offered an honorary medal, in order to rouze attention and excite investigation: “I "shall (he says) till the 1st of July

next, at No. 12, Prince's Street, re"ceive Essays or Observations on the subject of Hydrophobia, marked with "the author's seal, accompanied by a

แ

separate paper, sealed also with the “same seal, and inclosing the name of "the author.. I shall then select a proper committee to examine these essays, some time within a month "after

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only a single male, and to those places where manufactures are established. In Hungary and its dependencies, the regiments are raised on the principles of the feudal system; independent of the general insurrection which takes place in times of necessity.

The frontier regiments are formed by a peculiar military constitution. They were established in a narrow district 600 miles in length, stretching along the Turkish frontier from the Adriatic towards the Dneister. The inhabitants of this district are of the Greek religion, and augmented by a considerable number of emigrants from the Turkish dominions, who are encouraged and protected by the government. Their whole population amounts to near 1,000,000 souls, and furnishes about 60,000 capable of bearing arms. They hold their lands on the feudal tenure, paying only a small quit-rent; but charge themselves with guarding the frontier in time of peace, and acting against the enemy in time of war: Under Maria Theresa they first obtained a peculiar constitution, entirely military. The country was divided into four governments, dependent on the supreme council of war; each government was subdivided into a certain number of districts, and each district supplied its regiment. These troops are principally light infantry, and known under the name of Croats, Pandours, and Warasdiners.

The Austrian territory is in general possessed of great natural strength. Bohemia is declared by Frederick of Prussia to be the most difficult country in Europe to make war in. It abounds in every kind of obstacle to the progress of an army; mountains, defiles, woods, morasses; the people are zealously loyal, and throw every difSculty they can in the way of an invader. Carinthia, Carniola, and in general, all the southern part of the circle of Austria, is also completely a country of mountains and defiles,

On the other hand, the course of the Danube to Vienna is a level country. and presents no obstacle to the progress of an army, except several great rivers, running from south to north, which fall into the Danube. Of these the most important now in the possession of Austria, are the Inn, which divides Austria from Bavaria, and the Ems, which divides Austria itself into two parts. There are besides the Salza, which falls into the Inn; the Trafen, and several others of inferior note. In the possession of the French and Bavarians are now the Iser, which runs through the middle of Bavaria, the Lech, which divides Bavaria from Suabia, and the Iller, which runs thro' Suabia. The Austrians are said to have passed the Inn and entered Bavaria; so that by this time they may be masters of the course of the Iser, and perhaps of that of the Lech.

Hungary is also in many parts moun tainous, though here too the course of the Danube is level, from Vienna to Belgrade. It is also a very marshy country. Gallicia, like the rest of Poland, is a plain, abounding with woods and marshes.

Austria has for some time past been weak in fortresses, in consequence of her frontiers having been driven in during her unfortunate wars with France. She has been very actively employed however in repairing them. Brannau, the key of her hereditary dominions on the side of Bavaria, has, it is said, been dismantled, and her chief attention directed to Ens, a town situated at the junction of the two great roads to Vienna, leading from Passau and Saltzburgh. Lintz is al so a place of strength. Vienna has stood repeated sieges from the Turks, but on account of the great extension of the suburbs, its defence was not attempted in the last French war. Prague in Bohemia is well fortified, but in a bad situation, being commanded on all sides, and requires an army to garrison it. Tabor, Budweis, Frauenberg,