Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

Such phantoms mislead ye,

Ye rich and ye needy,

Mere brutal entertainments only please Such greedy dolts, such groveling devotees.

For pleasures, earth-born, soon fade and The sordid sons of taste, so falsely styl'd,

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors]

LETTER XIII.

By education, custom, habit, spoil'd-
By worldly wiles and modern manners won,
Withhold all worship from the rising sun-
Except the sun that near St.Jaines's gleams,
To gain gold bounties from his future beams.
Sol spreads abroad such beauteous wares too

[ocr errors]

By Such lazy labourers ne'er begin till noon;
And then the gauds of art alone engage
The virtuosi of this vicious age.
Such pure and perfect subjects ne'er impart
One kind emotion to the courtier's heart.

[Continued from p. 136.] WE, with firm footsteps, trace the rural sod,

By nature guided, and by nature's God; Enjoying sweet, serene, and pure delights, In days of labour and love's harmless nights. Let loose from negro night's abhorr'd embrace,

With raptures greet Aurora's glowing face. With exultation view advancing dawn, Distinguish lucid lake from hazy lawn. First strike the steel that lights her tindery ray,

Transporting prelude of rekindling day; See the sun's floating forelock, quivering, rise,

Scattering rich lustre o'er the earth and skies.

Note spreading splendour from his beamy brow,

Pour liquid gilding o'er each burnish'd bough.

Behold his brilliant eyes, with blazing beams,

Dart dazzling light on hills, and woods, and

streams.

Mark how his lips salute the mountain top, Now sip from dewy plain the pearly drop Till all the landscapes, dress'd in charms

divine,

Before his full-orb'd face, extatic shine.

This is a scene to indolence unknown; To greatness, riches, pomp, and trifling ton, Incomparable scene! by Heav'n design'd, To cheer man's body, and enchant his mind.

The fond employment - the perpetual feast

Of nature's limner-and Apollo's priest!
A matchless exhibition! full and free,
For toiling hinds and rustics, wise as we.
Fantastic fashion's children idly doze,
Till these most heavenly morning land-
scapes close;

And troops of riot, wantonness, and waste, Such beauties ne'er behold! such transpor:s taste!

None quit in time debauchery's listless bed To hear sweet morning's silent matins read; Such spectacles and lectures ne'er delight The carnal crews of prurient appetite.

[blocks in formation]

One who hath often seen the solar blaze In summer's morn pour forth its first-bom rays;

Seen Heav'n's vast dome its furniture un fold,

Of richest tissue, wrought with glistering gold;

While earth's bright wardrobe fullest stores unfurl'd, [pearl'd.

Dipp'd in all dyes, with rainbow drops em Heard the glad language of prevailing love, From beasts below, and choral birds above; While every fragrant scent the nostrils fill'd, And all the soul with sacred ardour thrill. How can cold sloth in soiemn judgment sit, Tho' boasting wealth, and bragging genuine wit,

Who ne'er a pupil in her school appear'd, And seldom honest usher saw or heard; Nor e'er at morn, or noon, or hurrying eve, Instructive lessons from her lips receive.

On such pert scholars nature ne'er pre

vails

To love her truths, or listen to her tales Scarce ever can persuade such eyes to view Her choicest looks, and charms for ever

new.

But rarely can allure one lover, warm,
To speak the praises of her finish'd form;
Much less her fair, incomparable face,
Engage one bridegroom in a fond embrace.
Her frail fantastic Abigail, the while,
Wins endless wooers with her silly smile;
And with her whims and ever open arms,
Seduces wealth to seek her wanton charms
[To be continued.]

TRANSACTIONS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES.

ROYAL SOCIETY.

a much greater degree than could be HE substance of the late disco. supposed from a slight view of its

fessor Davy, is as follows:

1. That the oxymuriatic acid is a simple body, belonging to a class, in which two bodies only at present are known, this and oxigen.

2. That like oxigen it forms bodies, which are either acids, or analogous to acids, or oxides, by combining with combustible bodies.

3. That hidrogen is the basis of the muriatic acid, and that oximuriatic acid is its acidifying principle.

[merged small][ocr errors]

I have tried it in a variety of forms and sizes; with six wings the labour was less relieved; also when I gave less bevel to the ends of the wings. When I, on the contrary, without producing the intended efgave more bevel, it passed through

fects.

4. That phosphorus, sulphur, tin, arsenic, &c. by combining with oximuriatic acid, form substances analo convinced me that it is best to have Experience, therefore, has gous to acids, which have the power four wings, from six to seven inches of neutralizing ammonia, and proba- in length, from the centre according bly other alkalis, and of forming com- to the size of the churn for which it is binations with other compounds of intended, from two and a half to three the same class. inches in breadth, made plane in the 5. That phosphorus, acidified by centre or middle, about the fourth oximuriatic acid, forms a compound part of their length, and then bevelled with ammonia, not decomposable by regularly off, so that the extreme a white heat, and having characters analogous to an earth. The combinations of oximuriatic acid, with inflammable bodies, offer objects of investigation of a perfectly novel kind, analogous to, and scarcely less interesting than those belonging to the combinations of oxigen.

The chemists of the phlogistic school supposed only one principle of inflammability. Lavoisie, in his beautiful generalization, was acquainted with one only acidifying principle, or one principle which rendered bodies soluble; but there is actually another known, viz. oximuriatic acid; and it is not impossible but others may be discovered.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

Description of a Swivel-headed Churn-
Staff, to facilitate the making of

Butter.

point shall form an angle of about 45 degrees with the plane of the middle of the body of the milk; and thie points, turning rapidly round, give a compound motion to the whole, and that also alternate, and yet it does not in the least splash or throw out the

cream as'in the common mode."

A Method of stabbing Hoven Cattle, to discharge the rarified Air from the Stomach, when overfed with moist Clover Grass. Communicated by Mr. W. Wallis Mason, of Goodrest Lodge, near Warwick.

"GENTLEMEN,

"I beg leave to lay before you a trocar and a canula, for the relief of cattle when gorged or hoven. Since I have introduced it, its use has been attended with the greatest success, having, in every instance, been proved a safe, easy, and effectual remedy. R. TIMOTHY FISHER, of This instrument I am therefore inOrmskirk, in Lancashire, has clined to offer as superior to that for written as follows:which the Society granted a premium Repeated trials have now fully in 1796: as I am of opinion, that if proved that this invention will answer Hexible tubes are forced down the every purpose of relieving the hard passage which conducts to the lungs, labour of churning, which it does in most dangerous consequences must UNIVERSAL MAG, VOL. XIV.

M

[ocr errors]

2 F

ensue. An instance of this kind occurred last year in this neighbourhood, when intending to force the passage of the paunch, occasioned the loss of the animal.

"Neither the farmer nor the bailiff can be expected, when going the rounds of the farm, to carry with him, at all times, an instrument as large as one of the flexible tubes; and, even if he had it, he could not use it without the assistance of a second person; and, in most cases, the disorder would

be fatal before such assistance could be procured.

Method of increasing the Durability of
Tiles. From the French of Sonnini.

"After the adoption of glazing, varnishing, &c. to increase the hardand the process to me appears practi ness cˆtiles, tarring has been proposed, cable, and not expensive. To make a trial of it upon one of my roofs, I provided some of the largest brushes I could get, and, with an assistant, we set ourselves to coat the upper side of my tiles with tar, liquified over a gentle fire, and kept moderately hot. Four persons were employed to hand us the tiles, and, when tarred, to lay them in the sun to dry, which took three or four days, it being then the spring of the year. I had set apart the best tiles, those most thoroughly baked, and I exposed others to the sun that they might be warmed and receive the coat of tar more easily. After the

"But I have improved this instrument to answer the purpose better, as I considered that the trocar and canula, commonly used by surgeons, might be employed to advantage for the relief of hoven cattle. It will now penetrate the tense sides of the animals, and such an alteration as I have process, these appeared as if coated made materially facilitates the operation.

"The method of applying it is, to penetrate, with the trocar, through the hide of the beast to the paunch on the near side about six inches from the back bone, and at an equal distance from the last rib and from the hip

with a reddish brown varnish. Four
hours were sufficient for the prepara-
tion of two thousand. Near my house
was a tile kiln, which was just ready
to draw. As soon as it was sufficient-
ly cool, to allow the tiles to be hand-i
led, I had as many taken out as left in
for a few people to coat them with

the interior of the kiln sufficient room

bone, then to withdraw the trocar, and to leave the canula in the wound un- tar. While two or three were tarring til the air, which the paunch contain- the tiles, three others were employed ed, has escaped. The canula then may to give them, receive them when be taken out, and the wound covered tarred, and lay them in a corner of the with a plaister of common pitch, spread on brown paper about the size of a crown piece. Thus all the danger incident to the common mode of stab. bing with a knife is effectually prevented by the canula being left in the incision when the trocar is withdrawn.

kiln, where the heat was reduced to that of a vapour bath. When the kiln was quite cold, the tiles were found perfectly dried, but they had not such a shining coat as the former, because the great heat had caused the tar to penetrate into their substance. Their pores were completely stopped, "A feeding ox will thrive as well and they were rendered impenetrable after the operation as if it had never to water. Five persons tarred four been affected by the disorder. Cows thousand tiles in six hours. Some in calf are in no danger from its use. persons say that tarred tiles would be It has even been found particularly more durable if they were powdered beneficial in preserving rearing calves with iron filings and charcoal; but if and young cattle when they have been hoven or gorged, and which is generally fatal to a great number of them. The instrument is of very small expense, and its portability, and the ease by which it may be used by an individual, must be considered as recommendations in its favour."

these rendered the surfaces rough, they would detain the water, while the tiles, coated like varnish, would let it run off. Lime and tar, fats in general, whale oil, or dregs of oil, would be equally adapted to the purpose, and still cheaper."

This method is further recommended in London, &c. when tiles are

cracked by the frost; the expense is cated to it by other aromatic plants, as chloranthus, olea fragrans, commelina, sesaquaa, Arabian jasmine, and curcuma; besides, Florentine orris, which the retailers put at the bottom of their cannisters.

by no means an object in comparison with the comfort and advantage of a secure roof. Taking coal tar for this use, and calculating for a roof of a middling extent, and supposing such roof to require a hundred weight, the tar at 18s. would make the cost only two guineas.

THIS

BRITISH INSTITUTION. HIS patriotic Society, with a view to ascertain the effect of a gradual increase of premiums, have determined to add a third premium of 200 guincas, having superseded their former notice. The three following premiums are proposed for the pictures of artists resident in the United Kingdom, painted this year, and sent to the British Gallery on or before the 5th of January, 1811. First, for the best picture in historical or poetical composition, 200 guineas: second, for the next best of the same kind, 100 guineas and for the next, 50 guineas: the directors reserving to themselves the power of withholding either of the premiums if they think proper. Any picture may, if otherwise worthy, be exhibited for sale in the gallery for the respective benefit of the artists. No artist will be entitled to more thau one premium in the season. Mr. Graham, the secretary to the institution, will give any further information, if required.

FRENCH NATIONAL INSTITUTE. On the Unwholesomeness of Tea. MEMBER has published the following observations in the Journal de Physique :

A

66

"The infusion of tea, made at 70° or 80°, which is the most usual heat, does not redden infusion of litmus. Mineral acids enliven the colour when they dilute, and destroy it when they are concentrated. Alkalies turn it brown. It precipitates sulphate of iron black, and it coagulates a solution of glue, Decoction of tea has the same qualities, and it also lets fall mucilage, on alkohol being added to it. When the decoction is very strong, it dyes woollens, by the help of a mordant, of a good nankeen colour. A tincture of tea, made with alkohol, yields ink with sulphate of iron, and contains a large quantity of resin mixed with extractive matter. Half an ounce of tea yielded a drachm and a half of resinous extract. This tincture dyes silk of a fawn colour. Tea appears to contain extractive matter, mucilage, a large proportion of resin, gallic acid, and tannin. The two last principles explain the febrifuge quality assigned to tea by some medical men. When the leaves of tea, which have been infused, are dried and burned at the flame of a candle, the edge of the flame is tinged with a green colour, nevertheless, the most accurate trials could not discover the least trace of copper, either in the leaves or in their ashes: there were only found charcoal, iron, and muriate of alumine, but no pot-ash, so that if any copper be present, it must be too small a proportion to be hurtful. Superfine hyson contains the greatest quantity of gallic acid, then gunpowder tea, souchong, imperial, hysonsekin, green, tokai, peko, and lastly bohea.

[ocr errors]

Tea, before it is dried, is of a more or less fine deep green colour: its taste is bitter and stiptic. The teas that are sold vary in their appearance, as some have passed through Superfine byson also contains boiling water, and others are only most tannin, then gunpowder tea, imdried. In general, imperial tea is perial, and souchong; the other sorts deep green, green tea is pure green, do not contain any. Superfine hyson hyson is blueish green, bohea yel- is most abundant in resin, then impelowish green, peko is almost black, rial, gunpowder tea, souchong, hysougunpowder tea is greyish green, sou- sekin, green, tokai, pouchong, peko, chong is reddish. The odour of tea is and lastly bohea. Superfine hyson equally various, and does not belong also contains most extractive matter, to the plant itself, being communi- then imperial, gunpowder tea, sou

[ocr errors]

chong, hysonsekin, green, tokai, pouchong, peko, and lastly bohea.

[ocr errors]

above, that the known aversion of
Bonaparte to commerce, and his ear-
nest endeavour to provide substitutes
for the article hitherto imported into
France, were evidently the latent
causes that induced this chemist to
compose this paper, to induce the
French to forego the use of tea. How-
ever much we must, as merchants, de-
precate this conduct, we cannot but
do justice to the patriotism of its
author. Although a long course of
years will probably elapse before these
substances will drive the foreign arti-
cles almost entirely out of the shops,
yet, it is evident that the native Euro-
pean products will, at last, acquire the
pre-eminence in spite of the great in-
fluence of the mercantile class."

Hence it appears, that the teas which are most carefully prepared contain most of the astringent and resinous principles, and as these teas are carefully roasted, it is probable that the roasting developes these principles. Bohea and peko, which are gathered in May, and have probably been infused in water, before they were dried and rolled, contain very little astringent matter; but the peko contains so much mucilage, that its decoction draws out in threads, like that of linseed. For a stiptic and astringent drink, hyson or gunpowder tea must be used; for a slight tonic, without any astringency, green tea or tokai; for an emollient and detersive, bohea or peko. The leaves of tea, when fresh gathered, are of a very disagreeable bitterness, and have so strong Mr. Davy's discoveries, it is not gean action upon the nervous system, that they even occasion delirium: but nerally known that those gentlemen the preparations given to it, and the had questioned the accuracy of the Jength of time it is kept before it is inferences drawn by Mr. Davy, from used, diminish these deleterious ef- his numerous experiments respecting fects, although perhaps they do not always remove them entirely. When a ridiculous anglomania had possessed the French people, they adopted the fashion of drinking tea, and immediately all the fine ladies had the vapours; the revolution altered the fashion, and the vapours of the present beauties are now more frequently It would be pretended than real. more political to use the herbs of mists. Europe, some of which yield agree. able and wholesome beverages; but if, however, fashion must have foreign plants, the Spaniards could furnish the capraria biflora and the anserina of Mexico; and the Americans, the cassine of the Apalachian mountains; the ceanothus, the monarda of Oswego, the psoralla of the Jesuits; or there might be procured from New Holland the leptospermo, or the salsaparilla glyciphylla, but it would be still better to cultivate, at the Isle of France, the precious ayapana, which is superior to all the different kinds of tea in scent and every other particular.

With respect to the opinion which j the French chemists had formed of

"It has been observed from the

the nature of the alkalies and the earths; maintaining, that the metallic bodies from these substances, in lieu of being simple, as asserted by Mr. Davy, were compounds of the respective alkalies and earths with hydrogen, or, in other words, that the new bodies were hydrurets. Of this opi nion were Gay Lusac, Thenard, Berthollet, and most of the French che

They have now, however, changed their opinion, and done jus tice to Mr. Davy.

At a meeting of the French National Institute in the latter end of June, Messrs. Gay Lusac and Thenard read a notice containing the result of a great variety of experiments on the new metals; from all of which they conclude, after a most rigorous inves tigation, that Professor Davy was perfectly correct in his inferences, and with a degree of frankness that does them honour, they have renounced they former opinion, that these new metals are hydrurets.

« VorigeDoorgaan »