of cash payments the discount of good bills falling due at short periods cannot lead to any excess in the amount of bank paper in circulation, appears to your com. mittee to be a doctrine wholly erroneous in principle, and pregnant with danger ous consequences in practice. excess." He considers "the amount of the bank-notes in circulation as being controuled by the occasions of the public, for internal purposes;" and that "from the manner in which the issue of banknotes is controuled, the public will never call for more than is absolutely necessary for their wants." Another director of the bank, Mr. Harmon, being asked, If he thought that the sum total of discounts applied for, even though the accommodation afforded should be on the security of good bills to safe persons, might be such as to produce some excess in the quantity of the bank issues, if fully complied with? he answer persons, and such paper as is for real bona fide transactions, we cannot materially err." And he afterwards states, that what he should consider as the test of a superabundance would be, "money being more plentiful in the market." It is material to observe, that both Mr. Whitmore and Mr. Pearse state that "the bank does not comply with thể whole demand upon them for discounts, and that they are never induced, by a view to their own profit, to push their issues beyond what they deem consistent with the public interest." But before your committee proceed to make such observations upon this theory as it appears to them to deserve, they think it right to shew from the evidence, to what extent it is entertained by some of those individuals who have been at the head of the affairs of the bank. The opinions held by those individuals are likely to have an important practical influence; and appeared to your coinmited, "I think if we discount only for solid tee, moreover, the best evidence of what has constituted the actual policy of that establishment in its corporate capacity. Mr. Whitmore, the late governor of the bank, expressly states, The bank never force a note in circulation, and there will not remain a note in circulation more than the immediate wants of the public require; for no banker, I presume, will keep a larger stock of bank notes by him than his immediate pay ments require, as he can at all times procure them." The reason here assigned is more particularly explained by Mr. Whitmore, when he says, "The banknotes would revert to us if there was a redundancy in circulation, as no one would pay interest for a bank-note that he did not want to make use of." Mr. Whitmore further states, "The criterion by which I judge of the exact proportion to be maintained between the occasions of the public, and the issues of the bank, is by avoiding as much as possible to discount what does not appear to be legitimate mercantile paper." And further, when asked, What measure the court of directors has to judge by, whether the quantity of bank-notes out in circulation is at any time excessive? Mr. Whitmore states, that their measure of the security or abundance of bank-notes is certainly by the greater or less application that is made to them for the discount of good paper. Mr. Pearse, late deputy-governor, and pow governor of the bank, stated very distinctly his concurrence in opinion with Mr. Whitmore upon this particular point. He referred to the manner in which bank notes are issued, resulting from the applications made for discounts to supply the necessary want of bank-notes, by which their issue in amount is so controuled that it can never amount to an 1 Another very important part of the evidence of these gentlemen upon this point, is contained in the following extract: "Is it your opinion that the same se curity would exist against any excess in the issues of the bank, if the rate of the discount were reduced from 51. to 4l. per cent.?" Answer. The security of an excess of issue would be, I conceive, precisely the same." Mr. Pearse."I concur in that answer.' "If it were reduced to S. per cent.?" Mr. Whitmore, "I conceive there would be no difference, if our practice remained the same as now, of not forcing a note into circulation." Mr. Pearse. "I concur in that answer." Your committee cannot help again calling the attention of the House to the view which this evidence presents, of the consequences which have resulted from the peculiar situation in which the Bank of England was placed by the suspension of cash payments. So long as the paper of the bank was convertible into specie at the will of the holder, it was enough, both for the safety of the bank and for the public interest in what regarded its circulating medium, that the directors attended only to the character and qua lity 498 Dr. Carey, on his Invention for Relief of Ships in Distress. [Jan. 1, lity of the bills discounted, as real ones and payable at fixed and short periods. They could not much exceed the proper bounds in respect of the quantity and amount of bills discounted, so as thereby to produce an excess of their paper in circulation, without quickly finding that the surplus returned upon themselves in demand for specic. The private interest of the bank to guard themselves against a continued demand of that nature, was a sufficient protection for the public against any such excess of bank paper, as would occasion a material fall in the relative value of the circulating medium. [We should do injustice to our readers, and to the able authors of this valuable Report, if we curtailed it farther; we propose, therefore, to finish it in the usual Supplementary Number, published on the 15th of January.] To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. I SIR, AM happy in being able to satisfy the enquiries of your correspondent E. E. M., relative to a method of preparing pencil drawings so as to prevent their becoming obscured, or the strength of their shades lessened, by rubbing or exposure. The best known method (and which is in use by many artists) is to wash a solution of the best isinglass in warm water, all over the surface; to be of a gelatinous consistence when cold, but used warm, and applied with a soft brush. This will preserve them perfect, and at the same time improve their appearance. Some artists wash their sketches with milk, to prevent the effects complained of, which answers the purpose so far; but prevents all tinting, or any applica tion of colour to them afterwards. S. P. have got? And in the same manner, how many points A.A. get in the follow. ing instances: when A.A. win one double and one single, and B. B. one single; when A.A. win one double and one sin gle, and B.B. one double; when A.A. win two doubles, and B. B. one double; when A.A. win two singles, and B.B. another single; when A.A. get two doubles, and B. B. none; and when A.A. get two singles, and B. B. none; and whether, in any instance, it is possible for A.A. to WHISTENSIS. get only one point. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, AVING observed in the pages of HA your Magazine, that Captain Manby has lately exhibited an invention for the relief of ships in distress, by means of a ball and rope thrown from a mortar on shore; for which invention he has been rewarded by a parliamentary grant of two thousand pounds, I hope that, with your accustomed candour and impartiality, you will permit me to state, that, with the exception of a small and not necessary addition, the invention originated with me, and was by me gra tuitously communicated to the public above seven years ago, through the me dium of the Monthly Magazine for November, 1803, in a letter signed with my name. Captain Manby's addition to my invention, appears to be only a grapple, which I consider as not necessary, for the following reasons: 1st. If the ball do not exactly reach the ship, the grapple is wholly useless; whereas, according to my original plan, if the ball and rope come any where near the ship, the crew may grapple them from on board. 2ly. If Captain Manby's ball do reach the ship in this case too the grapple is nearly useless, because, without its aid, the people on board will, of themselves, be sufficiently alert in catching and securing the rope, as the means of their salvation. At all events, Sir, allowing to Captain Manby whatever praise may be due to him for his addition of the grapple, which has so fortunately secured to him the parliamentary grant, I hope, at least, that the impartial reader will allow me some little share of credit for the original and principal invention-Sic vos, nou vobis. Islington, Dec. 14, 1810. J. CARLY. See Monthly Mag. for September, p. 15% For the Monthly Magazine. JOURNAL of a recent VOYAGE to CADIZ. (Continued from p. 319) I December 12, 1808. WAS much gratified one evening by a visit to the academy of Painting, &c. It is not attended in the day-time, but is open only at night, throughout the year, excepting a short vacation which is just past. There are in it from three to four hundred persons, of all ages, who study, under proper masters, writing and draw ing; every article of paper, pens, pencils, &c. is furnished by the institution, which has existed about thirty years, and is a national charge. The students are divided into classes, according to their abilities and progress; it may with more propriety be called an academy for Drawing, because the brush is not introduced; and, when a student wishes to perfect himself in painting, he is sent to Italy for instruction. The drawings are made from the best selected pieces that have been produced by former students. In one room a num ber of boys were writing, in another copying some simple part of the body, in another the face, groups, &c. others were studying architecture; some copying the Venus de Medici, from a plaster cast: and in this room were several casts from the antique; among the rest the celebrated Laocoon, which it is unnecessary for me particularly to describe; I will therefore only quote Thomson's descrip tion of it: "The miserable sire, Wrapt with his sons in Fate's severest grasp, The serpents twisting round their stringent folds Inextricable tie. Such passion here! The last room we entered was opened I had not room in my last to mention gointo Spain, the indifference of the vernment as well as of the people, to accomplish the undertaking. The gloomy unfinished state in which it now is, gives one the idea of a mountain turned inside outward. It is now only a thoroughfare from one part of the city to another; and no inhabitant would stop there to look around him, were not an image of the Virgin placed within an enclosed altar, having a solitary lamp, which sheds its rays on the passenger. The walls are in the form of a cross; the small part of the roof that is covered, is supported by beautifully-fluted columns of white marble; the pedestals are of variegated marble, and, with part of the That the touch'd heart engrosses all the columns, are cased with brick to preserve view; Almost unmark'd the best proportions pass look Imploring aid, and half-accusing cast; More tender touch'd, with varied art, his sons All the soit rage of younger passions shew: them from injury. The high altar was to be ornamented with the varieties of marble found in Spain; some of the pilasters, columns of porphyry, &e. just visible at the edges of the casing, give an idea of the grand effect intended to be produced. The centre was to be surmounted by a dome, of which only the supporting pillars are erected on the roof; these are not covered, the interior, therefore, is not preserved from the effects of the weather. Immense quantities of large blocks of marble and stone, in an unfinished state, are scattered in every direction, and raise a regret that so magnificent an undertaking should not be completed. The The vaults for interment, underneath the church, are formed, but they have not buried in them, nor will they for reasons given 10 a former letter; I am told that they are curiously constructed, but are now damp and unwholesome. I, therefore, did not enter them. The outside walls, as well as the inner, are composed of white marble; they are made a convenience of by ballad-singers, who decorate them with their songs; and they serve to shelter the fruit-girl from the rays of the sun. Not far from hence is the inclosure where the bull-fights are exhibited. It is an amphitheatre, built of wood, upwards of two hundred and fifty feet in diameter, and will contain eighteen thousand persons; the price of admission is a dollar each : but the circumstances of the times have occasioned a forbiddance of this. amusement, which the Spaniards consider as forming a part of their nati onal character-it is so, if cruelty and Borture belong to it. The last bull-fight was at Malaga, in the course of the sum mer, for the purpose of raising money to set the Spanish troops in motion, Although it is confessed to be a barbarous spectacle, yet I never heard of a Spaniard who did not delight in it; they go miles (rather leagues) on such an occasion, and take pride to themselves in witnessing the cruelty, the torture, and the courage, alternately shewn by the bull, the horse, the dogs, and the men. I have often heard it described, but shall fail in my attempt to give you a correct notion of it. A bull is chosen for his ferocity, and let loose from a dark confinement into the area, where are in waiting the spearman (called the picador) on horseback, and his attendants on foot; who, when the bull rushes on the horse, endeavour to draw him off by throwing at him coloured woollen cloaks. The animal generally aims at goring the horse in his sides, and is often successful in throwing him and the rider; sometimes killing both on the spot. If the buil do not shew sufficient courage in his attacks, he is worried by large dogs, and pierced with barbed rockets thrown into his body. When he is subdued, and no longer able to maintain the contest against so many adversaries, the prizefighter enters on foot, and with a dexterous blow with a sword, stabs him in the vertebrae of the neck, causing him to vomit torrents of blood, while he is after ward dragged from the area by mules, decorated with flags, &c, amid the shouts of the spectators, It is usual, on these occasions, for the bull to be dedicated to some personage of rank; aud if those are present whose name is announced, the prize-fighters receive a reward for the honor conferred. I had the curiosity to see the interior of the building; it is well arranged with rising seats, fancifully painted and orna mented; but it is in coinplete decay, the wood-work being rotten, and the area covered with vegetation. The woman who has the care of the place, shewed some of the dogs which are engaged in the bull-fight; they are very large, and superior in size and ferocity to the English mastiff. On her describing the amusement, she expressed her sorrow at the discontinuance of it; but added a hope, that “ere long, a bull may be killed to the honour of Ferdinand VII. and the British mation." Adjoining this place is the prison, a large strong building; I found it would be improper to go withinside, though an officer's guard is always on duty, and was therefore contented to pass it, remarking its neatness on the outside, and the following inscription over the entrance: Hatred to crimes-Pity the criminal." "Odio al delite-Compadece el delinquente. Beside this prison is a house of correc tion for women, and a building for the felons who are sentenced to slavery. There are not many of the latter now here, the few we see are employed on the fortifications, or dragging carts about the town; they are chained two and two, and are attended by a file of soldiers and a corregidor, who applies the whip to them occasiona.ly The number of these wretches is considerably lessened, in consequence of their having been formed into a corps of sharp-shooters, to which they were in general well adapted, as they were chiefly smugglers, and had had their abode in the mountains. They have, however, proved since being in the army their gratitude for their freedom by their attachment to their country's cause, and by their ra lourous behaviour with the enemy. I will quote an honorable testimony to them, from the Gibraltar Chronicle of the 26th of the last month. "The towa of Lerin was occupied by the sharp. shooters of Cadiz on the 23d of October, and defended until the morning of the 26th. These men were composed of the slaves and other prisoners who had their liberty granted to them on condition that they should enter into the army; they they were commanded by Don Juan de la Cruz Mongeon, and they defended themselves against 2,000 infantry and 300 cavalry, until they had not a car tridge left; and they had refused the flags of truce which the enemy had offered to them: toward the end of the day of surrender, the enemy displayed howitzers and cannon, with 6,000 infantry and 300 cavalry, whom the sharp-shooters wished to charge with the bayonet, rather than surrender; but they were prevailed on at last by La Cruz, to offer a flag of truce, which was accepted by the enemy, and in consequence of their gallant defence they were permitted to surrender prisoners of war; and the officers had their swords returned to them by the French. Nearly all the sharp-shooters have since deserted from the French, and La Cruz has arrived at Madrid." lunteers of the place, who amount to upwards of three thousand; they take great pains to acquire a good discipline, and have a very respectable appearance; they wear an uniform of brown cloth, and andther of scarlet, which is handsomely and superbly adorned with silver lace. The officers are very fond of shewing themselves as such, by wearing an undress uniform, according to their taste, when not on duty; and in this respect they are peculiarly fanciful. Their muskets are principally Spanish: some of the corps have English ones, but they are not much approved; the complaint is, that the lock is too delicately made, and the men often break it in exercise, and that the barrels are too short. Their own muskets are, to be sure, most clumsy heavy things, and the bayonet is shorter by three or four inches than our's; this is not regarded, as the Spaniards do not practise the charge, but you know how efficacious this instrument is in the hands of English soldiers. The spirit of patriotism seems to be infused into all ranks, conditions, and ages; the very infants in arms, and school-boys, are dressed in the national uniform. Many little bands of the latter parade with their wooden muskets, anxious to imbibe "the bubble reputation at the cannon's mouth;" they march through the streets with music, and some favorite saint preceding them, to which every person on its approach reverently takes off his hat. (To be continued.). For the Monthly Magazine. Account of the DUCHY of COURLAND; from MALTE-BRUN's late PICTURE of The smugglers and others, who inha bited the deserts and mountains of Spain, were a few years ago very numerous; but a cordon of troops having been established on the frontiers during the present war, an end was put to their traffic, and those men have chiefly entered into the army. Of the very few regular soldiers now here, the greater part are composed of them; they are robust active fellows, but badly disciplined, and worse clad as soldiers; and on parade, remind one of Falstaff's ragged regiment. They wear a brown jacket and pantaloons, often in tatters, with scarcely a shoe on the foot, or a shirt on the back, seldom looking cleanly, and the face is almost covered with the mustachios and enor mous whiskers. An English soldier, on a march of eight-and-forty hours, would not appear so dirty and miserable as these men when presenting arms to the governor. There is no attention to neatness about the men, either from their own received the first intimation of inclination or the pride of their officers; nor can one much wonder at it, while their ill-fortune. They beheld themselves their pay is so small, that after a va- almost wholly excluded from the sea, riety of deductions for clumsy accoutre- which, towards the north, formed the ments, shoes, and other clothing, besides natural frontier of Sarmatia: they turned their provisions, which are found them by their attention and their efforts towards contract, they have barely a penny per the repossession of Livonia, which offered day clear in their pockets; and this is left them some sea-ports. They should have I been contented to have strengthened then to purchase tobacco with! those ties which united Courland to their Republic, by leaving the Swedes in pos➡ session of a province which rendered them neighbours, and consequently enemies to the Muscovites; but neither the system of natural alliances, the utility of frontiers wisely circumscribed according establishing to locality, nor, in fact, the necessity of have often remarked their great strength in throwing a large bar of iron weighing ten or twelve pounds, which they cast from the hand, in a swinging attitude, to the distance of thirty or forty feet; but this, their only amusement, they are forbidden enjoying. The garrison duty is performed by vo POLAND. WITH the loss of Prussia, the Poles |