said to him, Sire, you carry all hearts away On examining the work itself, we meet with you.' The king unhesitatingly replied, with an assertion respecting certain digniwith a good-natured smile, 'Hearts, perhaps, ties, which "survived the abolition of the sire; but not a single soul.' This witty al-feudal system, as parliamentary peerages; lusion to the unprofitable part he had taken in namely, the baronies of Arklow, Athenry, the proceedings of the congress can hardly un- Barrymore, Clanrickarde, Delvin, Dunboyne, dergo translation without losing its force." Dunsany, Fermoy, Gormanstoun, Howth, KilBon-mot of Talleyrand." The reigning leen, or Rathregan, Kinsale, Lexnan, or Prince of Reuss, during the time of the French Kerry, Ophaley, Slane, &c.; that they have republic, commenced an official despatch with from time to time been inherited, and are now the words, The Prince of Reuss acknow- enjoyed in direct opposition to the English law ledges the French republic.' M. de Talley- of dignities on which such claims are founded." rand, whose business it was, as minister of Knowing something, as we do, of the titles menforeign affairs, to reply to the note, wrote at tioned, we do not hesitate to affirm (with all the head of his, The French republic is due deference to the author), that whilst some happy to make acquaintance with the Prince of these have never been held by persons who were peers at any time, others have actually descended by the very same rules as English peerages. Arklow, for instance, was resumed by the Act of Absentees, in the reign of Henry VIII. as part of the estate of the heir general of the Earl of Ormonde. various amusements of Vienna, and the nu- 6 Non, non! tout fuit dans le vieil âge; Ah! la nature aurait été plus sage We had intended for our third extract a A View of the Legal Institutions, Honorary THIS title exhibits a goodly bill of fare, from Athenry and Delvin have both been declared, by the law officers in Ireland, to be baronies in fee and in abeyance; and the present barony of Ophaley is a title created by patent to heirs male by Philip and Mary. We are, therefore, at a loss to understand our author, and have come to the conclusion, that he cannot mean what he says, or know what he means; and it certainly does appear strange, that with respect to one of those mentioned (Clanrickarde), he should make an assertion which is directly in contradiction to a document cited by himself in page 340; where, after the bishops and peers in due order named, there appear a few other names, amongst whom is William de Burgo, chief of his nation," with this announcement to all their names, "Isti nondum sunt de parliamento." If these words denote the dignity of peerage, it must be by some interpretation which does not transpire from the ordinary translation: we wish the author himself would interpret. Prince,' said I, I will not intrude upon you any longer.' And I,' replied he, will not wait any longer. Lend me your arm, and let us go homewards.' As we walked along, the prince's conversation bore a tinge of melancholy, which was evidently the result of the little disappointment he had just sustained. One might be tempted to believe,' said he, that in life reflection comes only as a last misfortune. When old, we live by the heart and the imagination: when the body begins to decay, it is only love that can warm us we We sat down, therefore, with a determination still live. Yes, prince; but the advantage to see out the entertainment, ab ovo usque ad of experience and reason must not be for- mala, and, of course, began with the dedication gotten. True, reason helps us to tolerate" to his Grace Arthur Duke of Wellington" and console, and that is to love. He then re- (with 15 other titles), whom, however, our verted to some of the brilliant incidents of his author rather uncourteously tells, "that auThere is another assertion, page 103, to long career; detailing several of his feats of thentic information scarcely needs the patronage which we must advert. Talking of the office arms, without forgetting the moments he had of great names;" yet when he reflects that of standard-bearer, the inquiry concerning the devoted to love. But,' added he, as he finished his Grace is descended from those ancient dig- origin of which derives such interest from being the picture, life is like a cup of clear water, nitaries, the hereditary standard-bearers of inscribed to the Duke of Wellington, as a dewhich is disturbed as we drink it; the first Ireland, he considers that the following attempt scendant from that ancient dignitary!, the drops are ambrosia; but the sediment is at the might gain additional interest by being inscribed author asserts" that it descended to the prebottom. After all, what does it signify? Man to his Grace." sent standard-bearer, the most noble Richard arrives at the tomb as the wanderer reaches We are not disposed to be captious, but the Wellesley, Marquess, &c., who at the coronathe threshold of his home: and here I am at perusal of this dedication induced certain mis- tion of George the Fourth was allowed his me. Good night!' I then left that excel-givings as to what might be the future com-rights and precedency as hereditary standardet and extraordinary man, whose only foible, plexion of the work; and we turned at once to bearer of Ireland." Now we assert, and we paps, was that of not accommodating his the preface. Here the author very naturally assert it on authority, that the marquess did taste to his age, and giving credit to the fable mentions the assistance he has had in his not claim these rights, was not allowed them, of the Loves crowning the gray hairs of Ana- labours, and the sources whence he has drawn and did not hold precedency as hereditary standcreen with roses." his information. ard-bearer of Ireland on that occasion. To several noble and exalted individuals he takes leave to express his thanks for their polite attention to his inquiries. We confess we could hardly stand this; but We have also a new historical fact related at as it occurred within about a hundred pages of page 334-namely, that Henry the Fifth had the end of the book, we gulped down our little a son Thomas, who was in Ireland between feeling of hysteric, and got through our criti- But it is to the Honourable William 1414 and 1419. We should be sorry to throw cal labour, the remaining results of which shall Butler that his expressions of gratitude are discredit on "the ancient registry of Armagh,' be comprehended in three brief sentences. most unbounded; indeed, he does not scruple in which it is said to be stated-but we cannot Anecdote of the King of Denmark." Lustig, to state, that it is to this gentleman's know- help expressing surprise at not having met the which means a merry fellow, is the name given ledge of British and foreign dignities, as well mention of such a person in any other authorin the German regiments to the soldier who as (of) disinterested friendship, that we are in- ity whatsoever: we had been under the imuses his comrades by his gaiety and humour. debted for the essay on the Butlerage of Ire-pression, however erroneous, that his majesty This title was very appropriately given to the land. How far such knowledge might be use- was not then even married. King of Denmark at the congress of Vienna. ful in establishing the antiquity of, or producing It is not now our intention to undertake the Portical considerations had prejudiced against an essay on the dignity in question, some might task of selecting the valuable documents reim most of the sovereigns in the early part of doubt; but an extract from the essay will corded in the work; but we cannot help exthe congress; but his agreeable manners, his speak for itself. "In Ireland, as is stated in pressing our disappointment (to say no worse) ready wit, and unaffected humour, soon gained the early records, the office or dignity of here- at the attempt of our author" thus to give a for him the best wishes of his brother mo- ditary Chief Butler, has been enjoyed by the new colour to those valuable documents, and arths. When about to quit Vienna, the ancestors of the Earl of Ormonde from time im- to draw conclusions which are not borne out peror Alexander, who had conceived an memorial, and was conferred upon Theobald by the documents themselves, nor are in acaffectionate regard for him, in taking leave Walter, soon after 1170, by Henry the Second!"cordance with the history of the country: for Mothers and Daughters, a Tale of the Year 1830. instance, amongst others, page 21—“ All cases The author is an Irishman. But is the title progress of the narrative, no one could deny which could not be decided, on account of of author so new to individuals of that nation, high praise to the talents which bring out the their difficulty, before those justices in the as to call for its repetition throughout so many various motives into action. We select the county courts, are referred by the Magna pages of the work? Indeed, so frequently sketch of a love match, by way of specimen. Charta of England to the Court of King's does it appear, that a mischievous wag, on "Lady Maria Willingham was a person who, Bench; but no such power of reference is pro- taking up the book in our study, to underscore with indifferent features, had always managed vided by the charter of Ireland." Would not the two words, "the author," actually spoiled to be called pretty; with very moderate abilithe reader infer from this, that the Court of nearly (together with our temper) one quarter ties, had maintained the reputation of being King's Bench was in existence at the time of of a hundred of our best pens. extremely clever; and with a narrow selfish Magna Charta? We need make no further The important announcement in the title, heart, was continually cited as the most excelremarks on the inconsistencies of the work. of" Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, &c., lent woman in the world. The tact which had Let us, then, turn to something pleasant. In &c. &c.," may be the mode in Ireland-here, thus universally enabled her to assume a virtue the essay on the Desmond family (page 254), we generally write F.S.A.; at all events, the where she had it not, was of course a qualificawe have the materials for a very pretty series latter method would have enabled" the author" tion of no feeble force. Early in her fashionof Tales of a Grandfather," respecting the to have gratified the public with, at least, the able career it had whispered to her, that a Hackett family, which, if the "author" will initials of some of those other learned Societies dress of the last new Parisian mode was an be so good as to impart to us, we may weave no doubt intended by the &c. &c. &c. admirable mask for the body; an earnest, and into the columns of the Literary Gazette, for We shall now take our leave of Squire deliberate, and mysterious tone of conversation, the edification of the public, and the consola- Lynch, with a recommendation equally ap- a most imposing cloak for the deficiencies of tion of all the lineal descendants of Sir Paganus plicable to any one who undertakes to support the mind; and she was well aware that the Hackett himself, who will, no doubt, now be an hypothesis in opposition to received opi- heart is usually taken upon the trust of these all alive to the hereditary dignities of their nions, to be careful that, in selecting docu- preceding and more ostensible endowments. family; and some of whom may, perhaps, ments, he may not choose those which not She therefore confined the demonstrations of be a little astonished at the " spread eagle only do not bear upon the case in point, but her virtue to a refrainment from all sins unreissuing from a ducal coronet, surmounted by a are in direct contradiction to it. cognised as of the highest ton; and to a pathetic mitre proper"-which is preserved to this day vibration of the head and elevation of the eyes, as the crest of the family, but respecting which, whenever the delinquencies of other people alas! no tradition explanatory is preserved: came under discussion. In one respect Lady however, it is satisfactory to know that the Maria had appeared to rise superior to her own arms are recorded-and where, good reader? THIS is a lively and amusing work, belonging failings, and to have suffered a remission of why-in the most ancient collection of heraldic to the class of fashionable novels-but to the her callous egotism;-she had made what is emblazonments now remaining in Ireland, better class. It is quite one of the modern called a love match. But love, like other sad namely, Mr. Robertson's. Query, can this be school,-no plot with difficulties to unravel, dogs with an ill name, is rendered responsible the "extensive, valuable, and authentic col- and mysteries to be disclosed; but it is an for many a crime, in addition to his own unlection of coach-painters' books," advertised in animated picture of society, with its ridicules justifiable criminalities; and if ever Cupid the Morning Chronicle, 12th May last, to be a little exaggerated-or perhaps not so much could have proved his innocence by an alibi, it sold by Christie, on Monday, 17th May, exaggerated, as taken in the extreme point of was most assuredly in the instance of Charles at one o'clock. If so, what becomes of the view. The characters are drawn with tact Willingham's elopement with Lady Maria de hereditary dignity of the Hacketts? and all rather than depth; hence, however, they have Vesci! I have already asserted that she was the old Irish and Scots family arms, many of the merit of being more generally true;-the neither handsome, clever, nor amiable. At the which (as the advertisement saith) have ge- motives of the many lie on the surface. The period of what was termed her 'rash marriage,' nealogies for centuries back? besides some dialogues are very spirited,- the common- she was nearly five-and-twenty, with a portion thousand French, Italian, and German coats, places of conversation are invested, with an of three thousand pounds, Irish currency; and not to be found in any other collection in animation for which they ought to thank the attached, as a Bath and Cheltenham appendEurope, for the best of all reasons-like the author. Known persons and known events age, to a deaf mother, the dullest dowager crest of the Hacketts, they were the inven- are turned to the best account; and considering extant throughout the united realms of Great tion of the aforesaid coachmakers. Bless us! the great body of readers whose chief amuse- Britain. At Ramsgate, where, through her shades of Garter, Clarencieux, and Norroy, for ment is to wonder "Who is meant by Lord qualification of ladyship,' Lady Maria maincenturies back, arise! and repel this foul Such-a-one, or Mrs. So-and-so," and who do not tained a very creditable degree of ball-room slander! or let it go forth and choke itself, as object to "Roscius' self for being second-hand," precedency, the De Vescis became acquainted most probably there are many existing coach- the writer has, at all events, fallen in with a with Mr. Willingham, the eldest son of a makers' collections quite as extensive as the pretty general taste of the times. Whether family of opulence and county antiquity. He one quoted; in any of which, however, it this taste be a good one or not, we have no was fresh from college, or rather, he had still a would be quite absurd to look for any tradition space to discuss; but it shews talent in an term and a degree in prospective endurance; further than the usual statement of whether author to perceive, and still more talent to fall being three years younger than the fair tactithe bill was paid or not. The chances are, cleverly in with it. By the by, the donors of the cian from Bruton Street, who had brought the that Mr. Robertson was fortunate in not hav-fète at Boyle Farm little knew the service they faded looks and blighted hopes of another ining any tradition attached to the entry of the were rendering the literature of their day; fructuous season to be repaired by the breezes this is the third novel in which that fête has of the Isle of Thanet. After dancing, riding, Somewhat too much of this. If we had been described, and has led to some important walking, and flirting together, with the assimore of the documentary, and less of the event. A late divorce has been equally service- duity becoming a watering-place, Charles Wilauthor's historical and legal evidences (re-able; being absorbed in politics is now the reigning lingham very properly fell in love, and Lady marks), we should consider the book as va- cause for matrimonial neglect in these fictitious Maria very naturally fell into a fit of musing. luable; but where such documents are gravely annals. French in their philosophy, French in She considered that her lady-mother was paratreated of, we should expect them to be accom- their style, these pages remind us of some of the lytic, that her lordly brother and his wife were panied by sound legal and accurate historical cleverest memoirs of Parisian literature. They far gone in severe evangelism, that her proobservations, and at all times, if not with more are a collection of excellently sketched portraits, spects were extremely precarious, and her modesty, at least with less dogmatic assump- of amusing conversations, of descriptions of means most unaristocratically limited; and in tion. And if the author does take upon him- passing events, balls, dinners, wound together, consequence of these lamentable coincidences, self to criticise the works of others (page 331), with a little love and a good many marriages. she thought it, on the whole, advisable to sigh he should be careful at least that his work They are, indeed, part and parcel of the social and grow sentimental in honour of poor Charles should be free from the offences which he at-history of the times. Not an historical romance and his honest passion; and to sanction with tributes to theirs. Be it observed, that the after Sir Walter Scott, only enacted in modern introduction to the new edition of the Statutes, days; but rather "chronicles scandaleuse," like which is thus criticised by the author, is the those of Comines, and, like those chronicles, joint production of the late Lord Colchester, with nothing of what is commonly called scandal Sergeant Taunton, and Sir Thomas Tomlins, in them. arms. who are accused of little acquaintance with the The first volume is by far the best: real life her smiles his application to his father for a maintenance, and to her own maternal countess dowager for her hand. Unfortunately the replies of both were unpropitious. Sir Claude Willingham having a favourite second son, was by no means anxious for the early marriage of his heir-apparent, and consequently restricted his promise of an income for the young couple to a thousand a-year; and on the receipt of of being what it purports to be, and a very | The origin and progress of their friendship this almost interdictory intelligence, the dowa- lively and amusing panorama of actual life. Paris's Life of Sir H. Davy. WE resume our notice of Dr. Paris's Memoirs was, however, too curious to be passed over without a slight notice. Davy sought to ingratiate himself with Mr. Watt by metaphysical discussions; but, instead of admiration, he excited the disgust of his hearer. It was by mere accident that an allusion was first made to chemistry, when Davy flippantly observed, that he would undertake to demolish the French theory in half an hour. He had touched the chord, the interest of Mr. Watt was excited, he conversed with Davy upon his chemical pursuits, he was at once astonished and delighted at his sagacity, the barrier of ice was removed, and they became attached friends. Mr. Wedgwood and his brother Thomas also spent a winter at Penzance; and I have reason to believe that their friendship was of substantial benefit to young Davy.” The next incident in the history of our juvenile philosopher was his introduction to the late Dr. Beddoes, an event from which may be dated, in a great measure, the rapid progress he made, both as an experimental chemist and public lecturer, and which formed the immediate precursor to his engagement as assistant, and soon afterwards principal lecturer on chemistry at the Royal Institution. The following extracts afford so beautiful a specimen of the inductive genius of Davy, in his earlier philosophical researches, and which, perhaps more than any other quality, contributed to raise him to the highest pinnacle of chemical renown, at the same time that it forms the first indications of his attention to the highly important branch of science termed agricultural chemistry, that we cannot resist its quotation. In a letter to his excellent friend Mr. Gilbert, while engaged in some experiments at the Pneumatic Institution at Bristol, he says: ger, whose head had been shaking for years past with the palsy, redoubled its movement in negative vehemence. 'Her consent to such a miserable match for her dear Maria? Never!' She could not hear of it with patience. Like of the Life of Sir Humphry Davy,-a work other stupid old women, poor Lady De Vesci, which is fully calculated to repay the most however, contrived to defeat her own views on attentive perusal of every class of readers, the subject. At all times a bore of the most both on account of the strong interest that stupendous magnitude, she grew thrice doubly must ever attach to the personal memoirs and tiresome under the irritations of the disaster scientific career of the late President of the which threatened her domestic peace. She Royal Society, and of the great industry which concentrated all her prose into ceaseless dia- the biographer has shewn in the collection of tribes against the folly and wickedness of im- his materials. provident marriages, and the thriftless frivo- "The most prominent circumstance (observes lity of the young men of the age; and she in- our author) in the history of this period of sisted on keeping her superannuated kitten per- Davy's life, (his nineteenth year,) is his intropetually under her own eye in a stifling Rams- duction to Mr. Davies Giddy, now Mr. Gilbert, gate parlour, enlivened only by an elaborate the late distinguished president of the Royal effort in lambswool knitting, and the daily lec- Society. The manner in which this happened ture of the Globe newspaper. Lady Maria had is as curious as its result was important; and been long compelled to evening casino;-it it furnishes another very striking illustration was now hinted as a morning recreation, by of the power of simple accident in directing our way of sedative. In vain did Charles Wil-destinies. Mr. Gilbert's attention was attracted lingham languish on the pier, and mope upon to the future philosopher, as he was carelessly the cliffs; her ladyship was secluded as strictly swinging over the hatch or half-door of Mr. as a nun of any sisterhood in Spain. He fixed Borlase's house, by the humorous contortions his gaze upon the daily airings of the dowager's into which he threw his features. Davy, it may chariot, and indited a sonnet thereupon; then be remembered, when a boy, possessed a counthought of the Cambridge horrors of his en- tenance which, even in its natural state, was suing term, until his grief absolutely expanded very far from comely; while his round shoulders, itself into elegiac stanzas! Both effusions, inharmonious voice, and insignificant manner, accompanied by an epistle in simple prose, far were calculated to produce any thing rather more to the purpose, he bribed towards the than a favourable impression. In riper years dressing-table of Lady Maria; who, having no he was what might be called good-looking,' feelings of filial reluctance to subdue, finally although, as a wit of the day observed, his ceded to the united influence of three such tender aspect was that of the bucolic character. missives; and to escape from a dreary home The change which his person underwent, after and beggarly prospects, ran away with him on his promotion to the Royal Institution, was so the following morning, and was always said to rapid, that in the days of Herodotus it would "One of Mr. Coate's children accidentally dishave perpetrated a love-match! So much for have been attributed to nothing less than the covered that two bonnet canes rubbed together the judgment of the world!" miraculous interposition of the priestess of produced a faint light. The novelty of this The contrast between the two sisters-in-law Helen. A person who happened to be walking phenomenon induced me to examine it, and I is touched with the neatness of a camel's hair with Mr. Gilbert on the occasion alluded to, found that two canes, on collision, produced pencil; and the discontented duchess, the fair observed that the extraordinary-looking boy in sparks of light as brilliant as those from the and speculating sisters, &c. would be exquisitely question was young Davy the carver's son, who, flint and steel. On examining the epidermis, finished pictures in any moral portrait gallery. he added, was said to be fond of making che- I found, when it was taken off, that the canes We cannot but remark in passing, that it is mical experiments. 'Chemical experiments?' no longer gave light on collision. The epiderin painting faults and follies that our author exclaimed Mr. Gilbert, with much surprise; mis, subjected to chemical analysis, had all the excels; she draws the weak, the vain, if not if that be the case, I must have some conver-properties of silex. The similar appearance of with all her heart," with "all her head." sation with him.' Mr. Gilbert, as we all know, the epidermis of reeds, corn, and grasses, inAll her good people are as dull as good people possesses a strong perception of character, and duced me to suppose that they likewise conMary Willingham is a most he therefore soon discovered ample evidence of tained silex. By burning them carefully, and exemplary young person, but certainly a very the boy's singular genius. After several inter-analysing their ashes, I found that they conuninteresting one. views, which confirmed him in the opinion he tained it in rather larger proportions than the Though we have given only one extract had formed, he offered young Humphry the use canes. The corn and grasses contain sufficient from this work, and classed it among the of his library, or any other assistance that he potash to form glass with their flint. A very fashionable novels of the day, we ought to say might require for the prosecution of his studies; pretty experiment may be made on these plants that, in our opinion, it possesses merits to raise and at the same time gave him an invitation to with the blow-pipe: if you take a straw of it above that class, as it has hitherto generally his house, of which Davy often availed himself." wheat, barley, or hay, and burn it, beginning provoked our criticism. If fairly and wittily Another anecdote given by the biographer at the top, and heating the ashes with the blue done, we see no cause why the upper ranks also shews how much accidental circumstances flame; you will obtain a perfect globule of hard should not have their chroniclers, as well as govern the fate, or rather the progress, of indi-glass fit for microscopic experiments." any other grade of society; and it is against viduals. Can any thing afford a stronger evidence of the slip-slop of pretenders and mere book ma- "During the following year an event oc- that originality of mind which distinguished nufacturers, who have never had access to the curred which contributed in no small degree to this eminent chemist through his early career, drawing-rooms of even middle life, that we the advancement of Davy's prospects. Mr. than tracing out the constituent elements of have set our face. This work, on the contrary, Gregory Watt, who had long been in a declin-glass in a blade of grass ? strikes us as being the production of one who has ing state of health, was recommended by his The numerous experiments which Davy made seen the follies she satirises. Whoever the au- physicians to reside for some time in the west upon himself, by inhaling the various deleterious ther may be, we should think a lady, and with of England; and he accordingly proceeded at gases, in order to ascertain their effect on the some masculine assistance, to account for many once to Penzance, and took up his abode as a animal economy, are well known to all scientific of the touches we see scattered over these lodger and boarder in the house of Mrs. Davy. readers; but we feel the following judicious repages she has acquitted herself most satisfac- It may be supposed that two kindred spirits marks of Dr. Paris on those truly hazardous could not be long in contracting an acquaint- experiments too important to omit their quotaUpon the whole, then, so far from condemn-ance with each other; in fact, an intimacy of tion:-" The scientific and medical world are Mothers and Daughters, by applying to it the warmest nature did ultimately grow up alike indebted to Davy for this daring experithe damnatory phrase of fashionable novel, we between them, and continue to the very moment (breathing carburetted hydrogen gas); and ght in justice to except it as a rare instance ment of Mr. Watt's premature dissolution. if the precautions it suggests be properly at too often are. torily. 66 sure. [Second Notice.] tended to, it may become the means of preserv- The Working-Man's Companion: The Results | the expression of our satisfaction on perusing ing human life. The experiment is also valuof Machinery. Under the superintendence them, may lead many to enjoy the same pleaable, as affording support to physiological views with which its author was probably unacof the Society for the Diffusion of Useful quainted. In the first place, it may be necesKnowledge. 12mo. pp. 216. London, 1831. Castle's Manual of Surgery, &c. 3d edition. sary to apprise some of my readers, that the IN the apparent momentary failure even of the Knight.. pp. 515. London, E. Cox. hydro-carbonate here spoken of differs very little from the gas now so generally used to illumi- severity of the law to stay the progress of THE words "third edition," in the title-page, nate our streets and houses. We have just ers, and of still further use to enforce the ex-volume is enlarged, and has notes added from render laudatory notice unnecessary: and we mischievous incendiaries and machine-breakwill only say we think them deserved. The seen how deadly are its qualities, and that even hortations of the religious and the peaceable, the works of other distinguished surgeons. in a state of extreme dilution, it will affect our sensations. The question, then, naturally sug- ment of the working-classes; and it will we have here a direct appeal to the judggests itself, how far this gas can be safely in- be impossible for any man to peruse care- The Life of Tilian. By J. Northcote, Esq. R.A. troduced into the interior of our apartments? fully the well-chosen and well-digested facts Did we not possess any direct evidence upon contained in this little volume without being IN a former No. we mentioned our intention of the subject, the answer would be sufficiently convinced of the folly and absurdity of his quoting Mr. Northcote's chapter "On the enobvious, since it is impossible so to conduct its hatred of machines, and his criminal acts to couragement of art in England and Italy." combustion that a portion shall not escape un- prevent their employment, or to attempt, by Parts of it are too bitter for our taste; and it burnt. Such is the theory; but what is our exunavailing violence, to check that which contains some assertions, in the accuracy of perience on the subject? That pains in the must go forward." which we do not entirely concur; but as the head, nausea, and distressing languor, have The author has brought before us a great frank and earnest expostulation of a man of been repeatedly experienced in our theatres and saloons, by persons inhaling the unburnt body of facts to shew, that through the power acknowledged talents, it is entitled to respectful of machinery the working men of this country attention. We find, however, that, though gas: that the atmosphere of a room, although possess, however poor they may be, many of ready printed for our Gazette, we must cancel it, spacious and empty, will, if lighted with gas, the comforts which make the difference be- and be content to refer our readers to the oriconvey a sense of oppression to our organs of tween man in a civilised and man in a savage ginal; and especially all who are interested in respiration, as if we were inhaling an air con- state; and further, that in consequence of the cultivation of the Fine Arts. The pressure taminated with the breath of a hundred per- machinery having rendered productions of all of new and important works upon us at this sons. In the next place, Davy's experiment is sorts cheaper, and therefore caused them to be period forces us to relinquish the task which important, inasmuch as it proves, that in cases more universally purchased, it has really in- we would otherwise have cheerfully performed; of asphyxia, or suspended animation, there creased the demand for that manual labour for Mr. Northcote's essay on this subject is full exists a period of danger after the respiration which, it appears to some of them, reasoning of excellent matter. has been restored, and the circulation re-esta- only in a few instances, it has a tendency to blished, at which death may take place, when diminish. Independently of all considerations we are least prepared to expect it. Bichat has shewn that, when dark-coloured blood (venous) other claims to an attentive perusal even by Ar the meeting of the Society on Wednesday of momentary interest, the work possesses many is injected into the vessels of the brain, by classes for whom it is not designed, yet from means of a syringe connected with the caro- whom we are sure it will meet with a cordial evening, the gold Isis medal and fifty guineas tid artery, the functions of the brain become immediately disturbed, and in a short time entirely cease. The effect is precisely similar, whether the dark-coloured blood be transmitted to the brain by the syringe of the experiment. alist, or by the heart itself. Thus, in the case of asphyxia, the dark-coloured blood which has been propelled through the vessels during the suspension, or imperfect performance, of respiration, acts like a narcotic poison on the brain; and no sooner, therefore, does it extend its malign influence on that organ, than deleterious effects are produced, and the animal, after apparent recovery, falls into a state of stupor, the pupils of the eyes become dilated, the respiration laborious, the muscles of the body convulsed, and it speedily dies-poisoned by its own blood." "In the experiment which has given origin to these reflections (adds Dr. Paris), Davy distinctly states, that after having recovered from the primary effects of the carburetted hydrogen gas, and taken a walk with his friend, he was again seized with giddiness, attended with nausea and loss of sensation. The imperfectly oxygenised or dark-coloured blood had evidently affected the brain, and his life, at this period, was probably in greater jeopardy than in any other stage of the experiment." The preceding remarks on the deleterious effects of respiring carburetted hydrogen, as well as those which follow, concerning the extreme boldness of our late distinguished chemist in attempting to inhale the still more poisonous gas, carbonic acid (the choke-damp of miners) are entitled to the most serious attention of every class of readers who may be exposed to the depraved atmosphere which results from the use of gas-lights, or the unventilated passages and cellars of buildings. (To be continued.) reception. ARTS AND SCIENCES. were voted to Mr. Andrew Ross, for his new dividing engine. Mr. Ross's communication consists of two parts. The first is a Proper Lessons to be read at Morning and mode of obtaining the divisions for circular diEvening Prayer on the Sundays and other viding engines, depending, in the main, on the Holydays throughout the Year. Oxford, 1831, same principles as have already been employed, Clarendon Press: London, Gardner; Whit- but varied in some of the details. Mr. Ross taker: Derby, Mozely and Son: York, Wil-first divides his circle into forty-eight parts by ALL the lessons for the year read in the tion of each method. The points thus formed continued bi- or tri-sections, or by a combinaChurch of England, printed separately from being carefully marked on the limb of the circle, other religious matter, in a beautiful little vo- the intervals are then subdivided in the followlume, is a publication worthy of the most ing manner :-An arc, equal to one of the spaces grateful reception. son and Sons. The Infant's Daily Sacrifice. Pp. 75. to be subdivided, is procured, and is divided as correctly as can conveniently be done, and to the same degree of minuteness as it is intended to divide the plate of the engine. The radius A SWEET little book of short hymns for child-of this arc is to be equal to that of the engine; ren, and adorned with many appropriate plates. and whatever errors there may be in its oriIt is a delightful composition, in the purest, ginal divisions are corrected by the following the kindest, and the most truly Christian spirit; pious without austerity, and admirably calculated to make a right impression on the minds of children. A Narrative of the Peninsular War. By and Co. process: A second arc, having an angular value equal to the first, with a radius only onehalf or one-fourth as great, is, together with the first, attached and made concentric with the plate of the engine. The divisions of the first are transferred by means of radial lines to the second, the spaces between them being, of course, diminished in proportion to the radii of the respective arcs. When the second arc A LIVELY narrative, founded on personal ob-has received a counterpart of the divisions of servation, even after the numerous and laborious volumes which have been published on the events of this remarkable struggle, ought to find favour with the British reader; and such being the character, such we may hope will be the success, of Major Hay's work. The gallant officer saw much service, and was in the midst of many an extraordinary scene. Of these he has drawn evidently true, as well as interesting, pictures; and though we do not find it indispensable to quote from his pages, at this overwhelming season of novelties, we trust that the first, it is placed on the circumference of the engine plate, and there fixed so that the divided arc shall occupy exactly its proper angular space on the limb of the plate. The divisions of the second arc are then transferred to the first or larger one, a single interval on this latter comprising two or four on the former, according as the radius of the one is twice or four times as great as that of the other. In this manner, the errors of any particular intervals become gradually distributed among the rest, and by repeating the process a sufficient ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. CAPTAIN ROSS. WE anticipated hearing of this adventurous navigator on the return of the North Sea whalers. The last No. of the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal contains two paragraphs -one relates to his detention in Baffin's Bay, and refittal from the wreck of a Greenland ship, and of which we have already given an account; the other represents our brave commander and his crew as having been forced back to Lively Bay, in Baffin's Bay, where they spent last winter. NEW COMET. number of times, are reduced to invisible quan- tioned on the subject. On one occasion, having abroad, to the foreign reader what may be tities. The second part of Mr. Ross's commu- caused expansion by an injudicious application acquiring at home, and to both the assistance nication consists of a description of the ap- of the plaster to a female marble bust, the neck which an impartial analysis and comparison of paratus by which the divisions of the engine broke under the hands of the workman; and their respective labours is calculated to bestow. plate, corrected as above described, are trans- the artist himself, before he was allowed to Another portion of the plan is, we believe, by ferred to the arc of circles of other instruments. model from the famous busts of Sir Isaac New-making it thus a first object to collect foreign This is usually done by means of small teeth, ton and Lord Bacon, in Trinity College, Cam- and domestic geographical works of modern cut on the edge of a large horizontal wheel: bridge, had to give a bond for the payment of date, and however fugitive in their nature, to these teeth being acted upon by an endless 10007., in case they should sustain damage from facilitate reference to members, by keeping screw, about an inch in diameter. The truth the same cause, or otherwise; moreover, he was them regularly filed and catalogued in the Soof such an engine depends, first, on a perfect bound by the contract to model with his own ciety's library, and accessible in its readingequality between all the teeth in the wheel; hands. Mr. Deville then went into a long room. And the whole, we are persuaded, will and, secondly, in an equality in all parts practical explanation of his subject, the details greatly extend both the usefulness and popuof the spiral formed by the threads of the of which would not be very interesting to the larity of the Institution. screw, as well as in the inclination of those general reader. The meeting-room was unthreads. The obstacles to perfect success in usually crowded. these particulars, arising from slight differences in the density of the metal, or in the sharpness of the cutter, are such as have per THIS Society met on Monday evening for the haps never been entirely overcome by the most first time after the holydays; G. B. Greenough, celebrated artists, however nearly they may Esq. V.P. in the chair. After reading minutes have approached it; and the wheel and screw, of the previous meeting, list of donations to the when once out of the maker's hands, are no Society's library, and other formal matters, a longer susceptible of any correction, whatever communication was read, addressed to the errors may be discovered. Mr. Ross's engine Society by Captain Smyth, R.N., regarding the consists likewise of parts, which act as a Columbretes, a small group of volcanic islets toothed wheel and endless screw, but so con- near Majorca, the largest of which Captain S. structed, that each tooth of the wheel, and identifies with the Ophiusa of the ancients, in every part of the screw, admit of unlimited opposition to the French and some other writers, correction and adjustment by the person using who conceive Formentera to be the island thus Soon after six o'clock on the morning of the it. The teeth of the wheel are only 48, and named. His arguments are chiefly founded on 7th of January, Mr. John Herapath, at Cranconsist of brass cocks, into which are tapped the quantity of serpents found in it, therein ford, discovered a brilliant comet in the east, steel screws, the axes of which lie in the plane agreeing with the accounts given of Ophiusa; a few degrees above the horizon. He states it of the wheel, and at their ends are tangents whereas the inhabitants of Formentera boast to equal a star of the second magnitude, with to the circumference. These ends being ground that no venomous reptile can live upon it: be- a tail of from 1 to 2° in length. At about a perfectly flat form the virtual faces of the sides which it appears probable, from other cir- quarter to seven it was 60° 49′ from Arcturus, teeth, and are capable of being at any time ad- cumstances, that Formentera was the Pityusa and 52° 44′ from Alpha in Lyra; so that, says vanced or withdrawn: they give, therefore, to Minor of antiquity, as Iviza was the Pityusa Mr. H., " by a rough projection, its place was the wheel that perfect and constant power of Major. The position of Captain Smyth's ob- Sagittarius 224°, with 11° north latitude." adjustment which has been mentioned. The servatory erected on the Columbretes, (in con- Sir James South has also seen and ascertained same power is obtained for the endless screw, by veying which to its place, by the way, the sea- this comet: our own Astronomer Royal for forming it of one deep, thin thread, winding men were absolutely impeded by the number of the Literary Gazette reports to us-" A comet round a cylinder four or five inches in diame- serpents, from two to three feet long, and finely has been observed in the constellation Ophiuter. Into this thread are tapped 90 screws, at striated with dark zigzag lines on a bright yel- chus. The unfavourable state of the atmo equal distances, having their axes parallel to low ground,) was lat. 39° 53′ 58′′ N., long. sphere during the whole of the present week, that of the cylinder: the ends of these screws 0° 44′ 27′′ east of Greenwich. Formation, has prevented any opportunity of tracing its form the stops to those in the cocks of the purely volcanic; vegetation, dwarf olives, gera- course." wheel, and, like them, are capable of easy and niums, prickly pears, myrtles, and brush-wood; unlimited correction. Thus the circumference zoology, exclusive of serpents, chiefly rabbits, of the wheel is divided into 4,320 equal spaces, with abundance of crabs and other shell-fish every one of which may afterwards be correct-along the shores; a tolerably good circular hared, if required. bour, with from five to twelve fathoms water ON Thursday evening the sittings were reOn Tuesday evening the first illustration for in it-bottom but indifferent: and it is said sumed after the recess; J. W. Lubbock, Esq. the season was given. Mr. David Pollock, that fresh water can be procured by digging, V. P. in the chair. Part of a very important one of the vice-presidents, took the chair, and but Captain Smyth did not find it. After this, paper, an analysis of which we shall give herestated that the rotation of these evening illus- an extract was read from the log of the private after, was read. The communication is entrations had not yet been finally arranged; Mr. ship Layton, Hurst master, which, in February titled, "on the equilibrium of fluids, and the Aikin, the secretary, however, would deliver last, discovered a very dangerous reef, or rather figure of a homogeneous planet in a fluid state," me observations on the silk manufactures at group of low, rocky islets, in lat. 8° 40' N. by James Ivory, Esq., F.R.S. Dr. Paris prethe next meeting, by which time the course of long. by chronometer 149° 30′ east of Green- sented a copy of his Life of Sir H. Davy. instrations for the whole session would be wich, situated consequently between the Several other scientific presents were made to fixed upon, and communicated to the Society. called Hogolen and the island marked Anonyma the Society. The Earl of Selkirk, in pursu On the present occasion Mr. Deville would in Krusenstern's chart of the Pacific, but which, ance of a notice given at the former meeting, address the meeting on the art of casting in in some other charts, is called Falo, or Lawas proposed by Professor Powell, of Oxford, plaster. Mr. Deville having taken his place murah, both belonging to the Caroline chain. for immediate ballot, and was elected a Fellow. at the lecture-table, remarked on the difficulty Thanks were voted to the respective contribuof obtaining good plaster of Paris in the French tors of the above papers, and the meeting adcapital; all the casts in the gallery of the journed. group LITERARY AND LEARNED. ROYAL SOCIETY. SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. JANUARY 13. Thomas Amyott, Esq. treasurer, in the chair. The Secretary concluded the reading of Mr. Woodward's paper, descriptive of the remains of Roman camps, roads, and stations, in the county of Norfolk, and of Roman pigs of lead, rings, coins, &c., which have been found at various places in that county. Louvre were composed of the best plaster, We understand that the council of this Somade from Newark stone, exported from Eng-ciety has it in contemplation, instead of publand for that purpose. Mr. D. then minutely lishing exclusively its own transactions, to edit described the process of mixing the plaster with a journal of geographical science generally, in river water, strengthening it with a little which it will include, with its own papers, malt liquor avoiding salt, which, though it reviews and analyses of geographical works, tended more rapidly to settle the plaster, in a whether published at home or abroad, transshort time corroded the bust, giving it the lated extracts from foreign journals; in a word, FAIRFAX MANUSCRIPTS AND AUTOGRAPHS. appearance of decayed outline. The evils of recent and interesting geographical and statis- MR. CHRISTIE this week concluded a three the plaster becoming posted, or catching cold tical information from all quarters, and howso-days' sale of the books and manuscripts brought (we use the artist's own phrase), were then ever obtained; the object being at once to com- from Leeds Castle, in Kent, of which he last glanced at, and the student and amateur cau- municate to the English reader what is gaining year sold the furniture and paintings. The |