ployed at the Carr Rock as were engaged at the Bell Rock; although the works of the Bell Rock were carried on at the distance of twelve miles from the land; although the former is of much greater extent than the latter;-yet the Bell-Rock lighthouse required only four years for its completion, while this season (1817) is the fifth year of the works at the Carr Rock, though it is not two miles distant from the shore. Upon enquiring into this remarkable difference, we are informed by Mr Stevenson, the engineer for the work, that the sea appears to be more easily agitated and ruffled upon the shelving rocks along shore, than where it washes over rocks in the open sca, according to observations which he has made at the Bell Rock, at the Wolf Rock, off the Lands-end, and at the Skerryvore Rock, off the islands of Iona and Tiree. But that to which he mainly ascribes the difficulties of an erection on the Carr Rock, is the smallness of its dimensions, not only as greatly hampering the operations of the artificers, but also from the total want of shelter to the boats and vessels in attendance. The Carr Rock measures only 72 feet in length, and 23 feet in breadth; whereas the material part of the Bell Rock measures about 300

feet by 280 feet. With regard to the height of these rocks above low water mark, they may be stated to be much alike, being what seamen call half-tide rocks, or wholly covered with water from half flood to half ebb tide.

From the circumscribed dimensions of the Carr Rock, it was not possible to obtain a more extensive site or base for building upon than 18 feet, and the height of the beacon is meant to be 50 feet; the elevation being of a circular form, diminishing at the top to nine feet in diameter over walls. To obtain a solid foundation, it was found necessary to excavate the rock to a depth even below the fall of the June 1817.

lowest tide; and therefore, although the base was not of great extent, yet, as the smallest agitation of the sea overflowed the rock, and drove the workmen from their post, it became necessary to erect a coffer-dam around the site of the building, and the water had consequently to be pumped out of the foundation-pit at every landing. The work was otherwise exposed to so many accidents, that although the workmen were allowed an extra premium for every tide's work, over and above their weekly wages, yet still it required about three entire working seasons to prepare the foundation; for in the year 1815, only two complete courses were built: part of the third course was laid in the month of September of that year, when a tempest put a stop to the operations for the season, by demolishing part of the unfinished third course, and also the apparatus.

In the summer of 1816, the works commenced, as usual, in May, and by the month of October, the building was got to a height, somewhat above the rise of the spring tides. In this situation it has withstood all the storms of last winter, and there is now every prospect of its being completed in the course of the current year, 1817.

From the smallness of the superficies of the Carr Rock, it was evidently impossible to erect a building of dimensions suitable to the purposes of a Lighthouse, or even sufficient for the habitation of a person, to attend the machinery and apparatus for tolling a bell. The beacon, however, our readers will recollect, is erected upon a plan calculated to admit of machinery, and is to be covered with a large bell, in the form of a cupola. We formerly gave some account of the ingenious device by which the machinery is to be put in motion: we shall here repeat it in a more correct form. A chamber is formed in the centre of the building, which communicates with

the

the tidal waters by means of a small conduit, or hole, perforated in the walls of the beacon. In this chamber, or cavity, a metallic float or tank is placed, which is connected with a rod in such a manner, that when the waters rise in the chamber, the float is elevated, and the connection - rod, in its ascent, gives motion to the machinery, which not only tolls the bell, but by the same operation winds up a weight. The use of this weight is to keep the machinery in motion, by its descent, during ebb tide, or from the period when the flood has risen to the high-water mark of neap tides, (to which the train of machinery is calculated), or till the float is again lifted, by the returning tide, to wind up the machine again. In this the great bell covering the building is to be kept continually ringing. In so far as a model can shew the practicability of this, it has been tried for years, and is found fully to answer the purpose; and we shall take an opportunity to give our readers the further particulars of this curious invention, when it comes to be tried upon the great scale.

way

View of the Present State of ITALIAN Literature.

(From the French.)

ELOQUENCE, among the Italians of the eighteenth century, was not very successfully unfolded. That which is called Political, wanted the necessary scope. The eloquence of the pulpit was frequently entangled in the thorns of theology, deformed by violent declamations, by figures and descriptions too oratorical and more than poetical, or, finally, overloaded with a heavy and misplaced erudition. Fine and noble eloquence shuns the places where all the observances are rigorous, where men feed themselves with controversy,

and reason only by syllogisms; now almost all the preachers were drawn from convents and seminaries. Need we wonder, if there arose neither a Bossuet nor a Massillon, in this land formerly rendered famous by the eloquence of a Cicero and Hortensius? Dante complained of the preachers of his time; he might still lament, that "the sheep return from their pas tures, fed only with wind." Let us mark as exceptions, however, some sermons of Tornielli, Venini, Pellegrini, Rossi, with the prayers and homilies of the bishop Turchi.

The eloquence of the bar has not been more fortunate. Assuredly this does not arise from its not being fed by a sufficient number of law-suits; thanks to legislation and manners, they have abounded in Italy, as in almost all the other countries of Eu

rope. It was reserved for Geneva, by its good laws, and, above all, by its morals, to give to its neighbours the surprising example of a single civil process in the year, among a popula tion of 35,000 souls. This example has been useless, though the territory of this republic borders on that of France and Italy.

To this moral defect was united that of an uncertain jurisprudence, of a frightful accumulation of laws, sta tutes, usages, decisions, practices, and of a procedure which increased difficulties, and prolonged quarrels. Amid this sea, of which no one knew the shore nor the depth, how could safety be hoped, unless from chance? The judge rested on the opinion of other judges. The truth could be proved only by authorities. A man must be supported, for instance, by the authority of doctors, ere he dares to believe and maintain, that water has a tendency to find its level. What should we have of the eloquence of Daguesseau and Cochin? what even of that of Demosthenes and Lysias? had they attached themselves to envelop every proposition in numerous

citations, to drown their own ideas in the ideas of another, and to make themselves understood by a barbarous jargon, such as is used at the bar, even in the capital cities of Italy.

If all the states which compose Italy should acquire a clear and certain legislation; if the publicity of pleadings were maintained, the eloquence of the forum would acquire life and force. Talent will be found among the Italians, if the nature of the institutions shall permit it to display itself. They have hitherto been able to prove its existence only by some eulogies and academical discourses. We shall not enter into the detail of such works; but we cannot omit to mention two men who have distinguished themselves in this line: one is Agostino Paradisi, a poet, and father of the learned Count Paradisi: he is author of an Eulogy on General Montecuculi, which met with a brilliant success; the other is Pietro Giordani, a living author. He has made himself known by eulogies and discourses which announce a writer of the highest talent. He appears to us simple and elegant, modest and noble; he knows both how to raise himself to the magnificence of the oratorical style, and to render the smallest details interesting. Profoundly versed in the art of writing, he manages the language with admirable grace and facility. He never says any thing but that which he precisely wishes to say, and chuses always the most correct and happy turn of expression. We take pleasure in anticipating, from his vast knowledge, and his ardent love for the most elevated studies, that he will enrich literature with some work of great value. Such, for instance, would be a history in which we should find again the order, the strength, and the savour of the ancient historians of Italy.

Our age has not been wholly destitute of good historians. Giannone,

at the commencement of the last century, wrote his history of the kingdom of Naples, which obtained only too much celebrity for him. The learned and indefatigable Muratori has published his "Annals of Italy," his " Italian Antiquities," and many other works. Gratitude is certainly due to him; for, though his works have more of solid merit than of elegance, we must not be unthankful to those who draw gold from the mine, nor reserve our praises for those who fashion it into precious jewels. Denina availed himself of the labours of Muratori. He wrote the "Revolutions of Italy,” and the “ History of Western Italy;" he wrote also the "Revolutions of Germany," the "History of free Greece,"-a "Discourse on the Revolutions of Literature." By what we know of this author, his style is easy and clear; but he wants that grace which distinguishes the ancient historians of the country. His Revolutions of Italy have the advantage over his other works; they are written in a more Italian style. We must praise him for the coolness, as well as for the activity with which he has composed; but, as happens usually to those who write much, he is rather a compiler than a historian. This observation would not be applicable to the historical works of Castruccio Buonamici. He recals with honour the ancient historians of his country, and shews that the Italians have not lost that art, in which they shewed themselves. so great.

66

Three more recent historical productions now claim our attention, viz. Italy before the dominion of the Romans," by Micali-the "History of the war of American Independence," by Carlo Botta and the "History of Tuscany before the Principality," a posthumous work of Carlo Pignotti. The first of these works is full of learning, and the matter appears methodically arranged;

but

but he has been reproached as too systematic; as insincere and obscure in his opinions; diffuse and incorrect in his style; in short, still more severe censures have been directed against him. In return, the work of Botta is distinguished by so pure a style, that readers recognize in it the taste of the good writers of the fourteenth century. The eloquence which he employs is occasionally noble and beautiful. It has warmth without pas sion; it is circumspect without meanness. His book is one of those which are quitted with regret, which secure to their author a durable reputation, and glory to the country which has given birth to them.

Every one knows with what enemies Pignotti was condemned to struggle, when he undertook the His tory of Tuscany. His style appeared to us clear, and sometimes lively and rapid. The essays which he added upon letters, sciences, and arts, are not all of equal importance, nor of remarkable depth; but they are useful to those who, without such an aid, would not know enough of the antiquities of their country, to read its history without interest and advantage. Death prevented the author from putting the last hand to his la

bour.

As this article is lengthening more than we had foreseen, we suppress the mention of the historians of cities and provinces. We shall scarcely say a few words of the biographers. But how can we not name Mazzuchelli, so meritorious by his "Writers of Italy," and his "Life of Pietro Aretino;" and Angelo Tabronis, equally indefatigable and learned, who has written in Latin with elegance the life of the great Cosmo, of Lorezzo the Magnificent, of Leo X., and of the Italians who have distinguished themselves in their learning during the two past centuries? He has like wise composed, in his own language, various eulogies of eminent persons.

The Cavalier Rosmini, known by several writings, has recently pub lished the "Life of Gian Jacopo Trivulzio, called the Great," composed with much accuracy after unedited documents. This life, written with impartiality, and in a good style, is of importance, from its connection with the history of the time.

In literary history, Tiraboschi, with his " Literary History of Italy," has become the guide and the repertory of those who write upon the same subject: he offers an inexhaustible fund of knowledge. To men of letters occupied with interesting enquiries, he is what Muratori is to political historians.

A Spaniard, the Abbé Andres, has written, in Italian, "On the origin, progress, and present state of every species of Literature." Another Spaniard, the Abbé Arteaga, has likewise given in Italian the "History of the Revolutions of the Italian Musical Theatre," a work full of judgment and

taste.

We owe to Napoli Signorelli the "Critical history of Theatres," as well as the "Revolutions of Literature in the two Sicilies." He is likewise the author of "Elements of Critical and Political Diplomacy." He appears endowed with intelligence, with vivacity, and with much knowledge: he is sometimes prolix and careless.

The learned and judicious Gingu. ené, in his literary history of Italy, "has quoted the recent work of Corniani, intitled " Ages of Italian Literature." It is a work useful to those who wish to acquire some knowledge of Italian literature, without thorny researches. We cannot finally pass over in silence the "History of Sculpture," by Count Cicognara. Of three volumes, two have already appeared. The author, a passionate admirer of the fine arts, spares in his labours neither fatigue nor expence, and places himself thus in the number

of

untry.

To be continued.

port of the EDINBURGH New Town Dispensary on the late Prevalence of Typhus Fever.

N comparing the reports of the present and preceding quarter, th the corresponding reports of last ar, a considerable increase will be served under the head of Fever.he number of patients who had aped with fever during the first five onths of 1816, was 47, or nearly 1 32 of the whole applications. In e first five months of 1817, the umber was 99, or more than one in 5 of the whole. It must be observed so, that the fevers which we saw st year, were, in a great measure, nfined to certain small districts of e town, whereas this year, they ave been pretty generally diffused er the town-that the number of ver patients admitted into the Royal firmary this year has been much reater than usual-and that there ave been more cases of fever among e higher ranks.

Although, therefore, many of the ports which have been circulated in gard to the fever in this city have en greatly exaggerated, yet there sufficient evidence of its having revailed to an extent considerably reater than usual for some months 1st. Within the last two or three eeks it has considerably diminished; d, agreeably to the observations we ade ourselves at this time last year, ad to those which have been often corded by others,, in regard to the fect of summer weather on the congion of typhus, a farther and speedy minution may be confidently exected.

With respect to the causes of the sease, we apprehend that there can no difficulty, when it is considered

absent from Edinburgh for many years that the habits of the lower orders are in general very uncleanly, -that many parts of the town inhabited by them are very close and dirty-that whole families, or even more families than one (particularly in hard times) are often crowded into single rooms-and that a great number of the inhabitants of such places, notwithstanding the exertions so li berally made for their relief, have suffered severely during the winter, both from the want of the necessaries of life, and likewise from the depression of spirits that attends the want of employment. Whether these last circumstances of predisposition can in any case amount to a cause of conta gious fever, without the application of the specific contagion, is a question, we apprehend, which it is impossible. to decide by observations made in a large town, in which fevers are continually occurring, and to which strangers are continually resorting.

With regard to the influence of the effluvia from the dunghills, which have been so improperly accumulated round the town, and of which much has been lately said, there can be no doubt of their contributing to vitiate the air in their neighbourhood; and, in this way, they may perhaps aggravate the symptoms and favour the propagation of the disease within a certain district: but when it is considered, that continued fever has never been ascertained to proceed from the effluvia arising from dead animal or vegetable matters-that such matters are to be found in so great abundance, in this and other towns, that, if they really had caused the disease, it is hardly possible to conceive, why decisive proof of the fact should not have been long afforded-that the disease cannot be produced even by the effluvia arising from a number of patients. affected with it, unquestionably its most powerful exciting cause, at the

distance