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NOTES OF A READER

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THE JEWS.

The undeviating and uniform identity of the features and general character of countenance, which accompany the Jews, wherever they settle, is one of the most curious phenomena in nature; climate and all those physical circumstances belonging to localities, which work such wonderful changes in the physical character of man, appear to have no influence upon the tribe of Israel.  The circumcised of Monmouth-street is as like that of Judea-Gape, in Frankfort, as two individuals of the same nation can be; let them be by birth and residence German, English, Russian, Portuguese, or Polish, still the one and only set of features belonging to the race will be seen equally in all.—­Granville’s, Tour.

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FRENCH MUSIC.

About the year 1760, Piccini, who was the Rossini of his day, was called to Paris to reform the grand opera.  The French, roused by the elegant tirades of Rousseau, and the piquant witticisms of all the foreigners who visited Paris, began to conceive it possible that their music was not the finest in the world.  The reform which Piccini introduced, was however, but partial, and the French insisted on having Italian music adapted to French words.  They have still an opera of their own; but nothing can be more noisy, or less harmonious than the music at the Academie Royale—­all tumult, glitter, and show.  There is no ballet, except that incidental to the opera; but in scenery and machinery they surprise the English visiter.  The French military bands too are equally discordant; so fond are they of drums, that they seem to have converted the tympana of their ears into parchment.

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MATHEMATICS.

We consider it quite possible to bring down to ordinary capacities even the truths of pure mathematics, by the substitution of a less general and precise species of evidence.  We have ourselves made the attempt, and hence we are satisfied of its entire practicability.  Into what a small space would the useful and practical truths of geometry be reduced, were we to dispense with the auxiliary propositions which are required merely to complete the rigid process of demonstration.  How simple, for example, would be the doctrine of parallel lines!—­Foreign Review.

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THE SOUTH SEAS.

The government of the United States are fitting out a commercial expedition to explore the South Seas.  The vessels are to stay long enough to complete the necessary inquiries, to ensure the safety of the traders, and to give time for the establishment and consolidation of relations of reciprocal utility.  The advantages which it is evident America must derive from this undertaking will, it is supposed, not cost more than 50,000 dollars—­Lit.  Gaz.