ALMANACKS FOR THE ENSUING TEAR.

THE appearance of the Almanacks for 1837, reminds us that the sand of the year 1836 is nigh run out. The advanced guard of the legion has reached us : thus we marshal them-

1. The British illmanaelt and Companion.

2. The Household ..4lmanach and 1-car-hook.

3. The It orldny Man's .ellnian«ch and Companion. 4. The Comic Almanack.

5. Temporis Calendariunt. 6. Oliver and Boyd's Penny and Threepenny Almanacks.

7. The Golden Almanack, and the I ictoria Almanack.

8. Thompson's British Anneal. 1837.

Nos. 1, 2, and 3, are publications of the Society of Useful Knowledge ; and their general features have been noticed in re- viewing the Almanacks of the present year. The Calendars con- tain the most useful part of the information which in the days of the stamp we were fain to seek in the far costlier Court Calendars, and much besides of that sort that is found in Commercial Direc- tories, with variations suited to the particular purposes of each. The new matter is contained in the " Companion" or " Year- book," forming the supplement to each. A general review of the Parliamentary proceedings of last session, an account of the working of the new Poor-law, and abstracts of the Marriage and Registration Acts, are common to all three. Abstracts of the important public acts passed last session, a fuller chronicle of Parliamentary Proceedings including Private Bills, accounts of

the Railways, and other Public Improvements, with cuts of some of the new buildings, will be found in the first; a popular account of the Funds, Bathing, Household Statistics, are subjects peculiar to the second: and Frugal Cookery, the Poor in Ireland, Emigra- tion, and Medical Clubs, of the third.

N. 4. The'Comic wrinkles old Time's visage with laughter— one side of it at least; for opposite to the regular calendar is a page dedicated to Momus. RIGDUM FUNIDOS continues to make sport of old FRANCIS MOORE'S astrological mummeries: and his sallies are this year enlivened with droll little groups of silhou- ette figures, whose grotesqueness tells capitally. GEORGE CRUIESHANK'S new Zodiac of Fun makes every month a merry one. The apparitions of Christmas bills haunting the cosey nap

of a delinquent debtor, is a formidable commencement of the New- year : but Christmas can afford a joke, even of this grave kind, when so comically played off. The war of Cupid's archery waged from windows and house-tops on Valentine's Day, Tossing the Pancake on Shrove Tuesday, Beating the Parish-bounds in May, Haymaking in July, Cockney Sporting in September, and Brew- ing in October, are some of the most characteristic and amusing signs of the months. St. Cecilia's Day is a picture of a confusion of sounds as lively and audible as that in HOGARTICS famous pie-

Lure of the "Enraged Musician ;" and the din is even more hete- rogeneous and clamorous. No. 5 is an Astronomical Almanack, by WILLIAM ROGERSON; who seems really to possess all the lore that the impostors of the old almanacks pretended to. Those who like to speculate by an- ticipation on the state of the weather, will be gratified with astro- logical prognostics based on the changes of the moon. The courses of the planets, and the various astronomical occurrences of the year, are duly noted ; and all the usual almanack information is given.

The tao Almanacks No. 6 on the list, are comprehensive little Calendars particularly adapted for folks who live North of Tweed; as they contain lists of Markets, Fairs, Ferries, &c. in Scotland, and other local information. The political statistics, too, are very full and complete, especially in the larger of the two.

The novelty of the two in No. 7 is in the printing : one is printed in gold, the other in silver, on very dark blue paper highly glazed ; the red-letter days being marked by Italics.

The British Annual, edited by Dr. ROBERT D. THOMPSON, has two features, being both an Almanack and an Annual ; and one characteristic, scientific utility. As the days of the year do not depend upon literature or learning, the Calendar has no peculiar novelty; but is ample in its astronomical inftirmation touching sun, moon, tides, and planets ; and affixed to it is an appropriate essay on time as measured by different nations. Following this, are a good many statistical tables, about the heights of mountains, buildings, &c. the relations of weights and measures, and those things, equally sought after in both periods, ancient and modern coins, besides some other scientific information. There is then an account of some of the principal institutions for instruction in Europe, and several essays on different scientific subjects—as, the History of Magnetical Discovery, by Mr. S. DAVIES of Wool- wich, and the Recent Progress of Vegetable Chemistry, by the editor. As respects the tables, every one can perceive their uses. The essays are learned and elaborate, but too obviously addressed to the devotees of science to have a very popular air. The ac- count of the European ;Universities, &e. has not this objection; and it opens with a piece of useful information that cannot be too widely diffused.

NI VEIISITIES— ENG LA ND.

As the object of the following pages is to point out the support which the teachers of literature and science obtain in different countries, it seems unne- cessary to particularize the professors of the English Universities, as but a small proportion of them ever lecture. Of Oxford, we are informed that the emolu- ments of the professorships have never yet been inquired into by any legislative authority, nor is there any more complete or minute account of them to be found than what appears in the Oxford Calendar. The grants from the Crown were formerly made out of the hereditary revenue, and now by a Parliamentary vote; these are 1001 each. The Sanscrit is said to be 10001. The Savillian Geo. metry and Astronomy divide equally the proceeds of Sir H. Saville's estates ; the share of the former averages about 300/. per annum. Few if any of the Professors obtain any considerable addition by lecture-fees. The largest classes hardly ever exceed from twenty to fifty individuals, even in branches most likely to be popular. The Divinity is obligatory for orders; here a hundred may perhaps attend, but they are gratis. Most of the Professors can never get a class, the system of attending lectures being discouraged by the College Tutors ; the at- tendance has diminished of late, and will soon be quite extinct, unless Govern- ment will take the matter up, which they are not likely to do.

LONDON SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE.

Although.a physician cannot be a fellow of the College of Physicians without being a graduate of Oxford or Cambridge, he cannot obtain his knowledge at either of these places, because, as we have seen, no lectures are delivered there. Ile must therefore repair to Loudon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Dublin.