her to be one belonging to a herd, dates for precedence, before the which I previously understood were business can be amicably adjusted; enclosed in a field near a mile dis- for it is very observable, they always tant. Alarmed at her appearance I walk in lineal procession, preceded went out in order to take her back; by a chieftain, or leader, which is but as soon as I left the house, she unanimously acknowledged by the ran before me apparently in the whole herd. The rest follow in order, greatest concern, frequently looking according to their contested deciback to see if I was following. In sions, each being most tenacious of this manner she continued across her allotted station; which did not several fields till she brought me escape that accurate delineator of to the brink of a deep and danger. nature, Bloomfield, who, in his ous morass; where, to my great “ Farmer's Boy,” makes the followsurprise, I beheld one of her asso- ing beautiful allusion: ciates nearly enveloped in the swamp “The right of conquest all the law they underneath. The distressed animal,

know: after much difficully, was extricated Şubordinate, they one by one succeed; from its perilous situation to the no And one among them always takes the small satisfaction of the other, which

lead: seemed to caress and lick it, as if it

Is ever foremost, wheresoe'er they stray, had been one of her own offspring.

Allowed precedence undisputed sway;

With jealous pride her station is main. Every observer of the animal cre. tained, tion must be aware, what a regular for many a broil that post of honour degree of subordination exists a- gained.” mong herds of cattle that have been But a tacit responsibility seems to long accustomed to ruminate to- devolve on their leader, for the care gether. The instinct of the cow, in and welfare of the whole, which has. this respect, is by no means the been fully exemplified in the preceleast predominant. When a farmer, ing anecdote: the concerned cow makes his first selection, he, of being the premier of the herd. course, has a great variety of the To account for this wonderful same species, and (if we may pre- degree of instinct, in this part of the

judge from analogy) endued animal species, is beyond my penewith a diversity of dispositions; tration; I leave the subject for hence, for some time it is entertain- matured philosophy to investigate. ing to behold the many disputed

Your's, &c. points that arise among the candi

J. HOLCROFT.

a

ON THE UTILITY OF COAL GAS LIGHT.

THE following details, relative to Balton and Watt, was fitted up at An, the coal gas light, one of the great derston the latter end of the summer est improvements of which modern of 1809, and Mr. Gillespie's works times can boast, are taken from an were illuminated in this manner at interesting Memoir read before the the beginning of November. Since Philosophical Society of Glasgow, that time some great improvements by Mr. Richard Gillespie, by whose have been made and the whole now publick spirit, and at whose works, constitutes a very pleasing exhibi- . this great experiment of perma- tion. Two iron retorts, of a seminently lighting an extensive manu- cylindrical form; each capable of confactory by gas, was first undertaken taining about one cwt. of coal, yield in Scotland. The apparatus, made by at every charge 750 cubick feet of

a

a

gas, which, after being washed, so any particular flame may be kindled as to deprive it of any disagreeable immediately, and no trimming or smell, is conducted into a large snuffing is required; neither are any cubical plate-iron gasometer, of a sparks thrown off, as from a burning capacity equal to 1120 cubick feet. wick: 1 1-3 cubick feet of gas yield The gas evolved by the regular the same quantity of light as procese of carbonization, during the moulded candle of six in the pound, day, is here stored up for use. From which is found, on the average, to this magazine, which floats in a last 2 1-2 hours. The contents of water cistern, a main pipe issues, the gasometer are, therefore, equal which afterwards branches into in- to 900 such candles. To fill it renumerable ramifications, some of quires three cwt. of coals, value at them extending several hundred 6d. each cwt. ls 6d. coal for heat. feet under ground; thence to emerge ing the retorts during the composi. diffusing over a multitude of apart- tion, 18. Hence, for 28. 6d. a quantity ments a kind of artificial day: so of light is procurable from coal gas, vivid is the illumination. The flame, which obtained from candles would however, though exceedingly bright, cost about 101. But from the above is very soft and steady, and free from charge for coal, we must deduct that dazzling glare which has been the whole expense of what goes into so greatly complained of in the other. the retort, for this acquires additional wise beautiful light of the Argand value by being charred; and is lamps. No trouble attends this mode eagerly bought up by the iron. of illumination; the occasional at- founders. A large quantity of tar is tendance of one man in the gas

also obtained in the condensing pit, house, to charge the retorts, and as well as ammoniacal liquor, from mend the fire, being all that is ne- both of which considerable returns cessary. Ou turning a stop-cock, may be reasonably expected.

MISCELLANY.

TER

OF PARIS.

INK POWDER.

PRESERVATIVE PLASTER PARIS. A report has been made to the A committee has been busily emFrench National Institute, on a me ployed in examining a process of moir by M. Tarry, relative to the the late M. Bachelier, for the comcomposition of writing ink. The position of a PRESERVATIVE PLASauthor has succeeded in making an

Houses built of INK which cannot be destroyed by stone, are quickly covered with an the acids or alkalies, and which has earthy coating, of a dirty gray coonly the slight inconvenience of al- lour; and this first change is the lowing its colouring matter to be cause of the deterioration which deposited rather too easily. “The they soon afterwards undergo. A discovery of M. Tarry,” says the small kind of spider fixes his web reporter, “promises a great benefit in the hollows on the surface of the to society; viz. the introduction of an stone. These webs accumulate, and, ink, which, not being susceptible of with the dust which they collect, being obliterated by the chymical form the earthy crust just mentionagents at present known, will put an ed, in which lichens sometimes take end to the falsification of writings, root, and which naturally retain a which is but too common."

constant humidity at the surface of

the stones; the frosts then produce torsos have also been found, and a considerable injury, and give occa head of Mercury, which appears to sion for those raspings, which are, have belonged to the statue in the in themselves, a real deterioration. garden of the pope, and now in the A plaster, therefore, became a Chiaramonti museum. Several pipes desideratum, which should fill up and gutters for carrying off water the inequalities of the stone, without were also discovered, and twenty making the angles look clumsy, or rooms of very small dimensions, deadening the carvings, and which lighted only from the top. These should resist rain and other effects are presumed to have been the of weather. The late M. Bachelier fornices, frequently alluded to by had made some interesting experi- Martial, Seneca, and Juvenal. ments on this subject; and the above committee, aided by his son, have

JOHN D.CASSINI. succeeded in producing a plaster

He had such a turn for Latin which has resisted the tests to which they exposed it, and which gives poetry, that some of his compositions fair grounds to expect that our

were printed when he was only buildings will, in future, be protect- eleven years old. In 1652, he deed from the causes of decay above termined the apogee and eccentrici. enumerated.

ty a planet from its true and mean

place, a problem which Kebler had To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

pronounced impossible. In 1653, he Sir-A correspondent requests on the great church of Bologna, on

corrected and settled a meridian line some of your readers will inform

which occasion a medal was struck. him of the best method of preparing In 1666, he printed at Rome, a the composition which is now used for VARNISHING COLOURED

theory of Jupiter's satellites. Cassini

was the first professor of the royal PRINTS, so as to make them resemble paintings in oil.

observatory in France. He made I do not pretend to assert that the he discovered the four satellites of

numerous observations, and in 1684, following is the best method of pre- Saturn; 1695, he went to Italy to paring a composition for that pur, examine the meridian line he had pose; but I have used it, and found settled in 1653; and in 1700, he it answer. Take of Canada balsam

continued one ounce; spirit of turpentine two which Picard had begun.

that through France ounces; mix them together. Before this composition is applied, the drawing or print should be sized

SIR ISAAC NEWTON. with a solution of isinglass in water; SIR Isaac had a great abhorrence and, when dry, apply the varnish of infidelity, and never failed to with a camel's-hair brush.

reprove those who inade free with W. W. Revelation in his presence, of which

the following is an instance. Dr. Subterraneous Passage discovered. Halley was sceptically inclined, and

The subterraneous passage, by sometimes took the liberty of sportwhich the Roman emperours went ing with the Scriptures. On such privately from the palace of the an occasion sir Isaac said to him: Cesars, on Mount Celius at Rome, to “Dr. Halley, I am always glad to the Flavain amphitheatre, has lately hear you when you speak about asbeen discovered, besides a number tronomy, or other parts of matheof architectural fragments, capitals, maticks, because that is a subject corrices, and vases, the remains of which you have studied, and well its splendid decorations. Some fine understand; but you should not tattle

DRAW

INGS

AD

During the time of general Bel. The following parody is written leisle's confinement in Windsor beneath the above lines, at an inn in Castle, as a party of soldiers were the West: marching there, to be set as guards over him, a gentleman had the cu- Whoe'er has travelled much about, riosity to ask on what business they

Must very often sigh to think, were going; when one of the offi- That every inn will turn you out,

Unless he's plenty of the chink. cers, fond of punning, replied: “We are going to Windsor, to keep a General Fast.

King Charles II. of England, spending a cheerful evening with a

few friends, one of the company, The following lines from Shen- seeing his majesty in good humour, stone, are often scribbled on inn thought it a good time to ask him a windows:

favour, and was so absurd as to do Whoe'er has travelled life's dull round,

so. After he had mentioned his suit, Where'er his stages may have been,

the king instantly and very acutely Must sigh to think he still has found,

replied: “Sir, you must ask your The warmest welcome at an inn. king for that.”

POETRY.

LINES ON THE DEATH OF HUGH “ Now, methinks I hear it say,
MEYLER.

Haste, my brother! haste away
Written on Good Friday, 1809.

From a world of various wo,

From the shades of death below. [By Joseph Blockett.]

Hasten, soaring spirit, blest, “ Muse of sorrow, heavenly guest,

Hasten to thy brother's breast.
Come, possess my aching breast !
Quick my trembling hand inspire

“ Hark! the kindred shade replies, To touch with skill the hallowed lyre;

As through yielding air it flies, The hallowed lyre, whose strains impart

Yes, my brother, yes, I come Comfort to the bleeding heart.

Exulting o’er the rayless tomb:

Summoned to an equal seat,
Alas! see where, in manhood's bloom,

Cherub may a cherub greet.
A victim to the dreary tomb,
The parent's hope profoundly sleeps;

“'Yet, what means this hollow moan? And see; oh see! what parent weeps: Weeps o'er the plant he reared with pride; Hovering round me in my flight

Ah! it is my parent's groan Which scarcely blossomed e'er it died.

To the azure fields of light. “ Come then, soother sweet of grief,

"Cease then, cease, fond parents dear ! Muse of sorrow, bring relief.

Check, ah! check the tender tear. From thy solitary cell

Soon our transports ye will share, Kindred notes of passion swell;

And, in realms of purer air, Notes, like Gilead's balmy power, Meet the rich award of heaven, To assuage the anguished hour.

Which to suffering worth is given.” ? « But what sounds are those I hear,

Domestick Farewell to Summer,
Hovering on my listening ear?
Sure some heavenly minstrel brings Sweet Summer hours, farewell!
Solace from celestial strings:

And every sylvan shade;
Yes, I see, in yonder cloud

The upland wood, the sheltered dell, An angel strikes his harp aloud,

And deep romantick glade; And with strains of soothing peace Already Autumn, pacing nigh, Bids the muse of sorrow cease.

Displays his golden pageantry,