Literature.

The foregoing is so curious that we woidd recommend the unusual phenomena to the attention of our more scientific readers , and so wc take leave of Mr . Tomlinson and his book on The Thunderstorm . NOTES ON LITERATURE , SCIENCE , AND ART .

SIR DAVID BEEWSTEB , the Principal of Edinburgh University , has received the following letter from Lord Brougham , iu reference to his appointment by the General Council as Chancellor of Edinburgh University : — " I have had the honour of receiving your letter announcing to me the great kindness of the Council of the University , and it is altogether unnecessary for me to express my respectful thanks for the high honour which they have been pleased to bestow on meor the

, pride which I have in the enjoyment of it . I only wish it were in my power to show myself worthy of it . All I can hope to do is , by the faithful discharge of the duties imposed , to testify my gratitude for the honour conferred . " The opening meeting of the Geographical Society Session was held ou Monday , November 14 th , at Burlington House , Sir R . I . Murchison in the chair . Prof . Otto Struve , of St . Petersburgh , was elected a

corresponding member ; Sir E . Borough , Bart . ; the Rev . C . Oakley ; Lord H . Scott ; H . Duckworth ; Or . Garnmie ; C . Marrett , and ]? . Tagart , Esq ., as fellows . The paper read was " Discoveries by the late Expedition in search of Sir John Franklin and Party , " by Capt . M'Clintock , R . N . Professor Tischeredorf , the Leipzig scholar , has , on the philological exploration of Asia Minor , originated by the Russian Government , ¦ lighted upon a codeswhich by him and other competent judges

, has been acknowledged to be the oldest of the New Testament in existence . The treasure trove was discovered iu one of tho Sinaitic monasteries . Those who have been fortunate enough to inspect the precious parchment are quite overwhelmed with its importance for the correction of the most mutilated text of holy writ .

At the meeting of the Syro-Egyptian Society on the Sth instant , Archdeacon Raymond in the chair , a paper was read by Dr . Jolowicz , being "Au Inquiry into Manetho ' s Egyptian History ; whether it was founded upon Tradition , AVritton Documents , or the Sculptural Monuments . " The author first pointed out the disagreements between Herodotus and Diodorus , and showed from these , as also from their own statements , that these historians built upon simple tradition . The priests

did not quote to them any historical documents , or refer them to any writings for further knowledge . Again , when Clemens describes the sacred books o £ the Egyptians , be does not describe any as historical . Hence Dr . Jolowicz concludes that there were no historical writings in existence ; and he further shows , on turning to Manetho ' s History , that that was drawn directly from the inscriptions on the temple walls . This should make us -place great reliance on Manetho's list of kings' names .

But the case is otherwise with respect to the history of tho invasion of Egypt by the Hycsos , or Shepherd Kings . This Dr . Jolowicz considers was drawn from tradition , like the histories of Herodotus and Diodorus , and entitled to less weight . Air . Sharpe thought that Dr . Jolowicz had made probable several important points : — 1 st , that Herodotus and Diodorus were wholly guided by tradition ; 2 ndly , that Mauetho , in his list of kings , was guided by the sculptures on the walls ; but in his

account of the Shepherd Kings , he relied solely on tradition , as there were uo historical books to guide him . Archdeacon Raymond agreed with the view of the subject that Manetho ' s History was drawn directl y from the templo walls . AY . H . Black , Esq ., believed that as the history had only come to us in fragments , data might yet come to light by which the discrepancies in Egyptian chronology might yet be reconciled . Professor Dowe , of Berlin , has published a pamphlet on the use that

may be made of tho stereoscope in detecting commercial or literary forgeries . If , says the professor , an original document and a copy of it , bo placed together in the instrument , the slightest variations will become instantly apparent . The test is applicable to MSS ., lithographs , engravings , printed books , bank notes , aud all similar productions . The reflecting stereoscope of AYheatstono is that which Professor Dowe roconimends for tho purpose .

At the meeting of the Chemical Society , on tho 8 th instant , Dr . E . Smith read a paper " On tho Immediate Source of the Carbon excreted by the Lungs . " Prof . Bloxaui read a paper ' ' On the Crystalline Hy . urates of Baryta and Strontia . " He showed , in opposition to the statements of most authors , that hydrate of strontia , unlike hydrate of baryta , is decomposed a ^ a red heat . The Institution of Civil Engineers met on November 15 th , G . P . Bidder , Esq ., V . P ., in the chair : the paper read was " Ou the Origiu ,

Progress , and Present State of tho Government AVater AVorks , Trafalgarsquare ; with a few facts relating to other wells which have been sunk or bored into the chalk formation , " by Mr . C . E . Amos . Iu the literary world there is more news than usual , Mr . Skeet aunounces two works by authors who propose for the first time to make their appearance in the literary arena . Miss Crichton , who came out , wo are reminded , on the London stage a few years back , in opera , has

since that time been residing in Italy , where a dangerous illness so impaired her vocal powers as to compel her to relinquish her profession . Her work , " Before the Dawn , " is intended to illustrate the condition of the peopie of Italy previously to the recent struggle . Mr . AVinwood Reade , a nephew of the celebrated Charles Reade , has written a- novel of college life , entitled " Liberty Hall , Oxou . " Afr . H . H . Tilbury , the well-known comedian , writes to the Times

that a report is in circulation , that he is dead , and that it is untrue . Long live the Bishop / of the Haymarket , and may his shadow never grow less ! I Air . Thackeray ' s circular to the contributors to his forthcoming shilling monthly magazine , though , we believe , intended for the present to be as it is marked , a " private" paper , has found its way into the columns of one of our contemporaries . The new periodical is to be

called " The Cornhul Magazine . " Prom the circular we learn that there is "hardly any subject" which will not be treated of in its pages . The magazine will start with the new year . Its staff of contributors already engaged includes Sir . Sala , Air . Hannay , Air . Thornbury , Air . Hollingshead , Air . Sloy Thomas , aud other names familiar in the magazines . Its proposed scale of payment to contributors is said to be liberal , in return for a complete renouncement of copyright . The Now A ork correspondent of the Publishers' Circular says : — " Do you ever see our American Illustrated News , Harper's Weekly ? Air . Charles Dickens ' s new story , < A Tale of Two Cities , ' is reprinted iu it ,

with illustrations by au American artist , John M'Lonan . The illustrations are exceedingly good , and , in my opinion , interpret the text m a peculiarly characteristic manner . A serious charge is made against au English paper called the Wdcome Guest . It seems that the proprietors of that paper , under its recent management , luade a bargain to publish George AVilliam Ctirtis ' s new story , 'Trumps , ' from advance sheets . The paper published several chapters of the story , and on changing

publishers , a few weeks since , at the commencement of the present new series , with more ingenuity than honesty , abruptly brought the story to a conclusion in words written by another person . The real story ' Trumps , ' by Mr . Curtis , of Nile Notes celebrity , is now in course of publication in this city , and the action of the Welcome Guest has been strongly commented on here . " Air . Gladstone has been elected by the matriculated students to the

important office of Rector of the University of Edinburgh . He had a majority of 116 over his opponent , Lord Neaves , one of the judges of the Court of Session , the numbers for the respective candidates being 013 and 527 . The election of Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow took place on Tuesday , when Lord Elgin was chosen by a majority of all tile nations , the total numbers being , Elgin , 553 ; Disraeli , 411 . Tho total number of residents in Cambridge University during the present term is 1 , 652 , 1 , 097 of whom reside within college walls ) 550 in .

lodgings , and five iu Dr . Humphry ' s Hostel . The number of matriculations this term was 39 S , tho matriculations in 1858 having been 364 . At the beginning of the year M . Afnquet , the author , brought an action before the Civil Tribunal against Al . Alexandre Dumas , to have himself declared the co-author of eighteen of tho principal works bearing the name of the latter gentleman , and as such entitled to half the sums which they have realized or may realize . But tho Tribunalafter

hear-, in" - what both parties had to say , came to the conclusion that though Maquct had undoubtedly " collaborated " very largely in the works of Dumas , yet that he had voluntarily entered into an engagement not to require his name to bo published as one of the authors , aud that he had entered into pecuniary arrangements with Dumas which prevented the latter part of his lication from being granted .

app James AA ard , the Paul Potter of tho English school , and the oldest of the Royal Academicians , died on AVednesday evening , at the patriarchal age of ninety-one . James AVard ( sa } 'S the Alhcnwum ) , was not only an artist himself , but the centre and representative of a family of artists . Ho was the brother-in-law of Morland , the father-in-law of Jackson , the father of George Raphael AVard , tho engraver , uncle of William AVard ,

the engraver , and grandfather of Mrs . Edward JI . AVard , whoso works are among the delights of female artists' genius in our own day . He began life as au engraver , in which profession he obtained a'first rate