clouds. By Mr Reeve at Greenwich, XXI. An account, that, on the 2zd of November 1763. juft before fun rife, the thermometer by Farenheit's feale was as low as 104, at Cardington in Bedfordshire. XXII. Some remarks on the first part of the Abbe Barthelemy's memoirs on the Phenician letters, relative to a Phenician infoription in the Isle of Mal· ta. By J. Swinton. This infcription, with a Phenician D alphabet deduced from two transcripts of it, is exhibited in a copper plate, numbered Tab. XII, but referred to ss Tab. XI. The article cannot be abridged. The inscription which is a mixture of Hebrew and Syriac, as tranflated by Mi Swinton, is as follows: "Abdaffar and his brother, Aferim "Hammar, who (alo) is the ion of "Afferim Hammar, the son of Abdaf"far, have made a vow to Melearthus *(or Hercules) the (rutelary) God of Tyre, the metropolis; in their turn"ings and windings, (or in their "crooked navigation) may he bless "(or profper) them." XXIII. (See XXIV. XXV. XXVI. above.] A catalogue of so plants from Chelsea garden, pursuant to Sir Hans Sloane's will. XXVII. A table of the places of the comet of 1764, obferved at Paris. This cannot be abridged. XXVIII. XXIX, and XXX. Contain various aftronomical obfervations which thofe who wish to fee at all, muft, to be satisfied, see at large. XXXI. See above. XXXII. Obfervations and experiments on different extracts of hem lock by Michael Morris, M. D. Dr Wade, an eminent phyfician at on, having lately communicated to medical fociety at London, many in which the extract of hemlock E F prepared at Coimbra in Portugal, had been given with fuccefs, though extracts prepared at Lisbon, and by Dr Stork's apothecary at Vienna, had been uni@ccesfully administered,in various diforders, for three years. Dr Morris thought an experimental enquiry into the component parts of these extracts might produce fome ufeful knowledge; he, therefore, made several experiments, the refult of which was as follows: The extract of Coimbra is not fo moift as other extracts; it contains one sth foluble in fpirit of wine, three 4ths of which confift of an oily eifential falt, the remainder being a refin; it contains a far greater quantity of an effential oily falt, and refin, than the other extracts. Dr Morris concludes this paper with the following queries, and obfervations: As the oils, falts, and refins, are the most active parts of vegetables, may not the falutary effects of the Coimbra extract, be owing to its retaining these parts in greater quantity, having been given to the quantity of a drachm and an half, twice a day. As thefe active oily falts, and refins, are foluble in fpirit of wine, we have the means of obtaining them from the extract of our own hemlock in fufficient quantities for ufe, without fatiguing the ftomach with the naufeous inactive part of the extra&. But as experience only can fhew whether the virtues of hemlock refide in the whole extract, or in the faponaceous parts foluble in fpirit of wine, he leaves the question to be determined by experiment. XXXIII. An effay on the ufe of the ganglions of the nerves, by James Jobufton, M. D. In this effay Dr Johnston endeavours to prove "that ganglions are the in"Aruments by which the motions of "the heart and inteftines are render"ed uniformly involuntary; that to "anfwer this purpofe is their_ufe, Gunknown to us, no less than that of "which they fubferve by a fracture "the brain, though it seems not im"probable, that the firft may be ana"logous to the laft." That the determinations of the will are, as it were, intercepted, and prevented from reaching certain parts of the body, by the means of ganglions in all nerves, that have a ready communication with the foul, either by affecting it with perceptions, or obeying its commands; ganglions being never found either on the olfactory, optic, or auditory nerves, any inore than upon the nerves and inftruments of voluntary motion. XXXIV. An account of three meteors feen in North America. Thefe meteors were luminous bo. dies, of globular shape, which exploded with a noife like thunder, heard to the distance of 80 miles in one inftance, and 200 in another. XXXV. Some new properties in conic fections, by Edward Waring M. A. These cannot be abridged. XXXVI. An account of the effects of lightening, at South Weald, in Effex; by Dr Heberden. South Weald is about 18 miles from London, fituated on a confiderable hill that overlooks the adjacent country, and having the church nearly in its center. At the Welt end of the church is a tower, and in one corner of the tower a round turret, about four feet wide and eight feet high; in the top of the wall which was leaded, were feveral iron bars fo bent as to meet in the middle, and fupport a weather-cock. B C On Monday the 18th of June, 1764, between twelve and one o'clock, there was a form at this place, attended with fime uncommonly loud thunder, and on the fame day, about three hours afterwards, the lightening happened in London, which damaged St Bride's fteeple, and fome houses in Essex fireet. The lightening at South Weald truck E the weather cock, and paffing along the iron bars, rushed against the wall of the turret, in which it made a breach about four feet wide from the top of the leads of the tower. The building was alfo damaged in other places, near the iron bars of the windows, and a wooden frame within the church that ferved to support a canvas on which the commandinen's were written, was damaged in a direction from an iron hold faft, by which it was fecured. And the whole appearance of the damage done, favours the conjecture of the ingenious Dr Frank lin, that by metallic rods, reaching from the roofs of buildings to the ground; the effects of lightening might be prevented. No. XXXVII. XXXVIII. XXXIX. are wanting, No. XXXVI. ending with p. 200, and No. XL. "eginning p. 201. (To be continued.) F G induftrious poor, and to reconcile H The writer of this has been credibly informed, that one house only, in the West of England, confumes more corn By the poor, the writer would be underftood to mear, the loweft class of laborious per who either receive alms, or pay nothing to the poor's rate; the fecond clays of poor, by which is meant the meaner tradelmen, shopkeepers, manufacturers, and perfons of narrow incomes, have undoubtedly suffered, and do fuffer much by the prefent high price of provifions, because a greater propor ion of their feanty incomes is taken firm them for the fupport of the former class of poor, than in years when provifions are cheap; confe quently when they want it most. they have the leaft to fupport themfelves; whereas the ing duftrious labourer, by exerting his diligence in proportion to his demands, makes his earnings correfpond with his wants, by which means he tuffers nothing; for no one pretends that there is a real want of provisions in the kingdom, but, on the contrary, that there is a fufficient flock of all forts, to fupply all who have money to purchase. in in one year, in the former of those branches, than is produced in the fame time in the whole Vale of Evesham, the molt fertile fpot, of the fanie extent, of any in this kingdom: And he has been farther well informed, that the house here alluded to, is but little in comparison of other capital houses in and near this metropolis. This is no fpeculative affertion; but what may be proved by the books of excife, whenever thofe books shall be thought of confequence enough to be confulted by that power which alone can redress the grievance. Murmuring, scheming, reproaching, profecuting, abolishing the bounties, nor any other means that man can devife, will do much towards proAmoting ple. ty, when the seasons are unfavourable. This feems to be fighting against the decrees of Providence. All that man can do upon these occafions is, to lay down fuch rules, and contrive fuch regulations as to make the advantage refulting from them as general as it is poffible. Opening our ports to receive fuch fupplies as our neighbours can afford us, ftopping any uunatural confumption of grain among ourfelves, and giving all fitting encouragement to the importation of every neceffary of life, from whatever country it may be fent us, are regulations that bid as fair for alleviating the Cweight of this heavy calamity, as human prudence can devife. But aim B It is a known truth, that the growth of potatoes is of infinite confequence to the maintenance of the poor, in a neighbouring kingdom; but it is as well known, that, were the poor of this kingdom to be driven to the use of them as a staff of life, their complaints would be grievous, and yet the nou rifliment they afford is both pleasant and falutary. No one can complaining at impoffibilities by idle and imof the price of thefe; they have been plenty even to furfeiting. Far be it from me to advance any arguments to the difadvantage of the induftrious poor. I am as fenfible of their importance to the public as the most zealous of their advocates, and would point out every means my weak underitanding could fuggeft, to administer to their comfort and real happiness; but it never can contribute to either, to fill their minds with imaginary evils, and to anticipate their diftrefs, when no fuch distress, perhaps, will ever overtake them. I have been told, that a starch, equal in goodness, if not beter than that made from corn, may be made from potatoes, but that there is a law to prevent it. If this should be fact, furely that prohibition may be taken off, without injury to any body; and the potatoes that now are a dead commodity, may be used in the room of bread corn that is fo much wanted, to the mutual advantage of the starch maker & the community. This alteration, if it fhould be fuffered to take place, would amoft undoubtedly lower the price of wheat; but that can by no means operate to any confiderable degree upon the rate of other provifions; nothing but kindly fealons can make cattle fat; nothing but plenty of grain, more than fufficient for man's ufe, can make the ufe of it general in feeding other animals; and nothing but the kindly production of every vegetable can operate fo as to reduce the price of all D practicable fchemes, and endeavouring to lower provifions, by perfecuting those who make it their lively hood to furnish them, are ftrange methods of proceeding. I would ask thofe worthy magiftrates who have tried the experí ment, What mighty effects have been produced by profecuting butchers,higlers, graziers, dealers in cattle, or other engroffers, by what denominati on foever ftigmatized? Has this exertion of the magisterial authority lowEered he price of any of the neceffaries oflife, in the places where the laws against thefe people have been carried into execution with the utmost force? I declare I know of none; but I know where these proceedings have had the contrary effect. F G I know a city of no inconfiderable note, where the magiftrates carried the laws into execution with fuch rigour against those they deemed ingroffers, &c. that, though a plentiful market before, none of those people who used to fupply the neighbouring villages, dared to come to it to buy their little ftock, the confequence of which was, that moft people who were wont to furnish them, ceafed to bring in their provifions to fell, by which means the courfe of the market was diverted to another channel, and the price of provifions was advanced upon the inhabitants at least one third. In this corporation the zealous governing magistrate, left the man who bought four pigs on a marketday fhould caufea fcarcity, made feizure of the monopoly, and diftributed the number very equitably; the informer The regulations for the production of plenty are of a deeper reach; they mult take their foundation from the nature of things, and muft rife into act by flow degrees. B The depravity of manners among the loweft clafs of poor in and near this metropolis, is notorious; their idle· nefs, debauchery, infolence, inhuma. nity, and brutifhnefs, but, above all, their roguery appear more and more glaring every day; infomuch that cheating and over reaching among C them is approved and applauded as a proof of genius, pilfering is encouraged, and thievery unaccompanied with acts of violence, is fcarcely attended with any reproach; nor is the company of the thief thought difgraceful among his poor neighbours. To fuch a D pitch of wickedness are the poor of this kingdom arrived! begin. A reformation of manners among all degrees of people, particularly the loweft clafs, who are notori oufly the molt profligate, must be earneftly endeavoured; fome, necef fary regulations for the comfortable fupport of infancy and old age, the lame, infirm, and the ditreffed, mufl be established; fome punishment for the idle, fottish, and sturdy must be devifed; and fome reward appointed for the fober, induftrious, and modeft, fuch as are employed in the lower offices of life, as day labourers in huf bandry, or labourers in the cultivation or improvement of any kind of land; and thefe duly attended to, and well adminiftered, would probably be productive of much good. A reward of 5. a year, or more, to a poor induftrious family, to be obtained by certificate at a full veftry in the parish where they refide, where the character for good morals, honest principles, and laborious diligence fhould be the only confiderations to obtain it, would operate more to encourage industry, than any proportion of poor's money, as now affeffed and applied, that could be appropriated. A fund for this purpose might easily be raised, and many other ways de vised for the encouragement of labour and good morals among the poor. Suppofe that after a certain period, for inftance 20 years labour in the fervice of the public, with fair characters, and in their own parifh. every fuch poor husbandman's family fhould have a certain proportion of wafte land allotted them, which they might either. fell or occupy in any of the un ultivated forelts of this kingdom, which are now a burthen to the crown, and of little ufe to the public. One foreft F might be appropriated without injury for that purpose, by way of trial, as the prefent great officers who hold it, and derive no inconfiderable emoluments for fo doing, would probably be at reft before the first claimants would be entitled to their proportions G of it. The hope before thefe poor families of being one day made freehold ers in their native country, would infpire many with the fpirit of industry and activity, who now are groveling under the weight of dejection and diffipation, as hopeless of ever mending their condition, or being any thing better than day-labourers, during the courfe of their painful lives. Some fuch excitements as thefe to industry, feem neceffary to rouze the present de If, for these things, the divine difpleasure is poured forth upon us, andfamine fhould enfue, it will be in vain to cry to man: Relief muft come from a fuperiour Being. Let us, therefore, instead of increating their complaints, E endeavour to awaken their understandings, and convince them, if poffible, that it is for their crimes that they are justly punished. Could this be effected, (which is the end of all divine chaftisements) the calamity that is now complained of will be productive of the happiest confequences. The honeft induftrious poor will then no longer groan under the intollerable burthen of fupporting the lazy, wicked, and abandoned poor, and every one will then bear his own burthen with patience and refignation. How many thousands are there now in this metropolis, and in many other parts of the kingdom where the grievance is still more feverely felt, who, when the money is drawn from them for the ufe of the poor (as they are called) have no money left for the ufe of their own half naked families. This is a fact well known to those who hold the office of collecting this molt oppreffive rate. Here then lies the erievance, and here the remedy must genera te generate race of poor in this kingdom, from that fullen and untractable humour into which they are falley, which not only threatens poverty and Want to themselves, but univerfal diftrefs to the community. I am, Sir, yours, &c. Y.D. A That through the window barn bore at men's eyes, Are not within the leaf of pity writ. READ.-Nor thofe milk-paps That through the widow's barb bore at men's eyes, Are not within the leaf of pity writ. B C This author, in defence of his alteration, fays, that he thinks Shakespeare would not have chofen to give milk paps to a virgin: That the double negative is common in Shakespeare, and that barb is a kind of veil. But, if by milk-paps Shakespeare meant paps that contained milk, he could not, with more propriety, give them to a widow than D to a maid. If he meant paps intended for milk, he might give them to a maid with the fame propriety as to a widow. If it is allowable to call widows breafts milkpaps, because they had contained milk, it is allowable to call virgins breasts milk paps because they might contain milk. As to the double negative, though it E fhould be allowed here as an inaccuracy common to Shakespeare, the fenfe of the paffage is, notwithstanding, wholly deftroyed by reading or instead of for. The fentiment which Sbakespeare intended to exprefs, is this: "Let not the looks of the virgin induce thee to fpare her, for her breasts, though F intended for the purpose of fuckling infant innocence, are, notwithstanding, destitute of pity." The reafon for destroying the virgin is not affigned, if, instead of for, we read war; neither has the last verte," Are not within the leaf of pity writ," the least connection with thofe that go before. That Shakespeare intended to affign the reafon of the injunction in this instance, appears from his having done it in others: Paty not honoured age for his white beard. Strike me the matron It is her habit only that is honeft, Then he proceeds, are not the virgin, for though How has this author here juftified the exclamation with which he concludes his piece, Alas, poor SHAKESPEARE! ACT II. SCENE 2. good even Varro. This good even appears to have been before dinner. The paffage, therefore, has been fuppofed faulty; but this author fhews that good even, or good den, was the ufual falutation from noon. [See Romeo and Juliet, A&t II. Scene 4.) Good even occurs in Hamlet's greeting to Marcellus, A&I, Scene 1, which has, upon a false supposition of its impropriety, been altered by fome editors to good morning. HAMLET. A& IV. Scene 6. A meffenger fpeaking of Laertes to the HENRY VII. A. II. Scene 6. Gone flightly o'er low fteps, and now are Where powers are your retainers; and Domestic to you, ferve your will, as't please For words, read words. "The Queen rifes naturally in her de"fcription; the paints the powers of go vernment depending upon Wolfley, under First part of Hen. VI. A&I, Scene 8. For went, read wont, were accustomed. Went feems to be better than wont. The gunner fays that he has been informed by (pies, that the English went to overlook G the city, through a fecret grate in a certain tower, and that hoping they might go thither again for the fame purpofe, he had planted a piece of ordnance against it, but had watched three days for their going thither again, without fuccefs. This does not look as it they were quant to go; (i, e.) went H frequently. The fenfe feems to be, have. ing heard that they went once, I have conceived hopes that they may go again. Henry the Vth. Chorus, in da IV. |