SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
Reading edition
In our volume, just completed, we noticed the origin of this Establishment; and the annexed engravings report favourably of its progress, They represent
Two of the Entrance Lodges.
Another rustic building, the appropriation of which is not yet decided.
And a glazed circular building intended as a Refreshment room, but at present occupied by tropical birds, &c.
All three buildings are thatched, and they enliven the picturesqueness of the grounds, which, in a few months will form the most delightful promenade in the environs of the metropolis. Their extent, as we have stated, is about fifteen acres. Mr. Loudon, the intelligent editor of the Gardeners' Magazine objects to their plan, although, "speaking of the gardens as such, he is, on the whole, highly gratified with them. Their chief defect, at present, is a want of unity in the different scenes which come successively into view; that is, in proceeding along the walks, the different buildings and other objects, to the right and left, meet the eye with nearly equal claims to attention, and rather puzzle than delight the spectator. We call this a defect, because it may yet be remedied by planting. The object, in such a garden, ought to be, to lead the visiter to one scene after another, and to keep every scene so far distinct, either from that which has been just passed, or that which is next to come, as that its full unmingled expression shall be produced. At the same time, there ought to be just as much indicated of the coming scene as will excite curiosity and invite the stranger to proceed. The theory on this subject has been beautifully laid down by Morel and Girardin."
The Editor then proceeds to speak of the prompt and spirited manner, in which the buildings of the Surrey Gardens have been executed:—
Notwithstanding the wintry aspect of the day, we found a group of visiters in this new curvilinear-building, who were inspecting their mightinesses the lions and large quadrupeds. There were likewise family parties in the walks, and each of the rustic buildings had its visiters. One of the prettiest additions is a beaver-dam, with picturesque and tower-like crag for the larger specimens of the Falco tribe. The enclosures for Indian and other rare cattle also aid the interesting character of the whole scene. A long glazed building is likewise in progress for monkeys, who may thus disport their recreant limbs in an exotic atmosphere. Apart from these attractions, the grounds themselves have some of the most beautiful features of landscape gardening: they abound with what artists consider bits of the picturesque. The quadrupeds and birds must surely rejoice at their removal from the murky dens of Exeter 'Change to so delightful a region as the present, even slightly as it assimilates with the luxuriance and vastness of their native forests and plains.
Above all, we are happy to find that two eminent naturalists, Messrs. Swainson and Gray have become "honorary zoologists" to this Establishment: all the animals will be first submitted to their inspection, and the species accurately defined by them; so that the advancement of zoological science will be associated with popular gratification.
REVENUE AND DEBT
Of the principal States in Europe, 1829; given from official documents, by President Von Malchulst, Minister of Finance to the King of Wurtemberg.
REVENUE.DEBT.
Russian Empire £17,420,000 £35,550,000
Austria 13,940,000 78,100,000
France 39,020,000 194,400,000
Great Britain 51,500,000 819,600,000
Prussia 8,149,000 29,701,000
The Netherlands 6,590,000 148,500,000
Sweden 2,170,000
Norway 354,000 252,100
Denmark 1,238,000 3,729,000
Poland 1,306,000 5,740,000
Spain 6,420,000 70,000,000
Portugal 2,110,000 5,649,000
Two Sicilies 3,521,000 18,974,000
Sardinia 2,750,000 4,584,000
States of the Church 1,238,000 17,142,000
Grand Duchy of Tuscany 623,400 1,834,000
Switzerland 440,000
Ottoman Empire in Europe 2,475,000 3,667,000
Bavaria 2,973,000 11,311,000
Saxony 1,009,000 3,300,000
Hanover 990,000 2,384,000
Wurtemberg 851,950 2,595,000
Baden 901,290 1,670,000
Hesse (Darmstadt) 537,260 1,184,900
Hesse (Electorate) 476,000 220,000
W.G.C.
SWIMMING.
(To the Editor.)
The practice of swimming is so pleasurable, and so conducive to health, and a knowledge of the art of such evident utility, that it is strange that in sea-girt England we should possess no treatise on the subject at all commensurate with its importance. There is a large work on the subject by Bernardi, a Neapolitan, too voluminous and discursive for general use; and by being in the Italian language, a sealed book to the English reader. A translation of this work into German was reviewed in the 67th number of the Quarterly Review; and after the observations made by the reviewer, it was really to be hoped that we should before now have possessed some valuable translation of Bernardi.
Great numbers are deterred from attempting to acquire the art of swimming by the time which they know must be consumed, under the present system of learning, before the exercise can be so far learned as to make it a pleasant recreation.
The substance of Bernardi's practical theory appears to be, the "adapting the habitual movements of the body on land to its progress in water;" and it is attested by a commission, appointed by the Neapolitan Government to investigate Bernardi's system, that "the new method is sooner learnt than the old, to the extent of advancing a pupil in one day as far as a month's instruction according to the old plan."
My reason for addressing you is, that the appearance of this communication, or a remark of your own in your widely diffused periodical, may possibly meet the eye of some individual willing and able to clothe Bernardi in an English garb.