standing to find nothing laudable in rior stability of the extreme stanthe world we live in and those who cheons, on the construction of which are most clamorous in depreciating and the mechanism of the base-work, their own times, do it from inability the whole, as a barrier against heavy to talk better, or from habitual cattle, depends. When the extent of peevishness which casts a gloom the fence is great, the main-stancheons are relieved, at expedient distances, by other principal stancheons. An improvement in the mode of joining horizontal wires, qualifies every part of the length equally to bear the highest degree of tension.

round all the events of life.

Yet, perhaps, a moralist might find just cause for complaint in the present day. We have lived, Mr. Editor, to see prostitutes pensioned, and the friends of prostitutes supported by subscription. We have lived to see a shameless demagogue insult the throne and the virtues of the people, by opening a subscription for a woman whose morals are destroyed and whose conduct has been flagitious. Let us expect that we may next be called upon to subscribe for the relief of convicted felous who have had the misfortune to be tried at the Old Bailey.

April 14, 1809.

DESCRIPTION of a

No CROAKER.

NEW INVISIBLE
FENCE for PLEASURE GROUNDS:
(with a Plate).
Sir,

BEG leave to submit the enclosed

for insertion in the Universal Magazine, should you consider it at all interesting to your readers.

Description of a New Fence for enclosing Pleasure Grounds, invented by Mr. Jas. Pilton, King's Road,

Chelsea.

The invisible fence in this simple form of the height of three feet six inches, has, in the Royal Pleasure Grounds at Frogmore, and in various parks of the nobility and gentry, been invariably found adequate to exclude the largest and strongest kinds of grazing stock. Increased in height two feet, the fence becomes applicable to deer parks. Deer have never been found to injure it, or attempt to leap it, and appear to avoid it as a snare, probably deterred by its transparent appearance. When it is intended to keep lambs out of plantations, perpendicular wires, comparatively small, are interwoven upon the lower horizontal wires and to protect flowers and exotics from hares and rabbits, it is only necessary to additions to the upright wires. On narrow the interstices, by minute substances so small, presenting a round surface, neither rain nor snow can lodge; independent of which, by a coating of paint, they are preserved from the effects of the wea

ther.

The strength attained by the principles on which the materials are manufactured, and the erection of the fence is conducted, cannot be justly conceived but by a person who has witnessed the effect of a considerable force impressed or weight lodged on a single wire of a fence erected.

THE basis of the invisible fence is elastic iron wire, manufactured, prepared, and applied by a process discovered and matured by the undersigned. Of this infrangible material, which, for the main-wires, must be drawn out to the thickness of a small reed, continuous strings are inserted horizontally through upright iron string allows it to bend, and, on the The tempered elasticity of the tort stancheons; the interval between removal of the oppressing force, the the strings is about nine inches; be- vigorous recoil of the wire, vibrating tween the stancheons about seven till it reassumes a perfectly strait line, feet. The horizontal wires, in a state shews that a violent shock cannot of tension, are fastened to two mainstancheons at the extremities of the fence, passing at freedom through holes drilled in the intermediate stancheons. The tension of each horizontal wire is preserved by the supe- April 14, 1809.

warp it.

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

J. PILTON.

Mercier and Chervet, printers, 32, Little Bartholomew Close.

CRITICISM.

"Nulli negabimus, nulli differemus justitiam."

A MONUMENT of PARENTAL AFFEC- the companion, the scholar, and the TION to a DEAR and ONLY SON.- man. We feel our loss on a thouSecond Edition, 1809. 1 vol. pp. sand occasions. Every object of daily 176. concern recals it to us. There is nothing we do which does not remind in its image is not mingled. But let us of it: nothing we think of whereus return to Mr. Gilpin.

WE E do not recollect ever to have read any narrative which af fected us more than the simple, unadorned one which we are now about to notice. It is written by the Rev. Joshua Gilpin, of Wrockwardine, in the county of Salop; it is inscribed to his parishioners; and it commemorates, in a pathetic manner, the acquirements, the virtues, the christian piety, and the death of his only

son.

When we first sat down to read this interesting little volume, we were impressed with the belief that the excellencies of the subject delineated, were somewhat exaggerated, for, he was uniformly pre-eminent from his cradle upwards. But our rebukes, upon this point, were soon silenced, when the father appealed to the feelings of the reader in the following

words:

"I here entreat him, once for all, to shew me the indulgence due to a bereaved parent, who speaks from the fullness of his heart, and whose feel ings, on such a subject, will submit to no control," p. 59.

His son appears to have been a young man of considerable acquirehe ever attempted composition. His ments; but it does hot appear that father, indeed, has preserved a translation by himself, of some Latin verses written by his son; but it would have been more acceptable had he submitted the original to his readers.

cise a work which appeals so strongly We cannot coldly sit down to critito our feelings: we pass over, therefore, two or three passages in which our opinion differs from that of Mr.

Gilpin, in particular, where he represents the motives to his son's acquisitions to have no reference to human distinctions or applause. We fear it would require the most acute sophistry (and even that would be vain) to shew that any other principle than worldly distinction and worldly applause can operate to the attainment of mathematics, languages, &c. We have no reason to believe that they will be of any avail in a future state, Yes, most willingly shall that indul- and they are not enjoined by scripgence be conceded. Sacred be the ture. To pursue them, therefore, as sorrows of a parent who mourns for a religious duty, or merely from reli the loss of a pious, an affectionate, an gious motives, is not only inconsistent accomplished, an only child! Probe but impossible. Their incentive and not the mind that bleeds from God's their end are human. visitation; and, let human pity allow for human frailty, if tenderness, in such a task, hold the pen of truth, and delineates what she fondly be- "Wherever we journeyed, he was lieved, rather than what, perhaps still making his passage through the really was. How severe must be the valley of the shadow of death. Through affliction of a father who sorrows for this dark and solitary region every a child so early conspicuous in all man must necessarily pass: but the that could ingraft the pride of man passage admits of a wonderful variety. upon the feelings of nature! How Some men are hurried down this valmany passions, deprived of their ley with a rapidity which will not alwonted object, must thus be turned low them to mark the terrific furniinwards to prey upon the heart with ture of the place; while others are unavailing torture! We mourn, not led through it with slow and solemn only for the son, but for the friend, steps-Multitudes tread this road unUNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. XI. 2 S

As a specimen of Mr. Gilpin's composition, the following may be read with pleasure:

der the torpors of a stupid insensi- fantine state, and exhibited him with bility; and many rush along it amid glee when the operation was over-she the turbulence of a raving delirium- now undertook that office for the last some few favoured individuals are al- time, and performed it with such lowed to pass this way in a state of marks of tender concern as must ever complete recollection and composure; recommend her to our esteein. Dur and sometimes an extraordinary per- ing this familiar interval, he confessed sonage is carried through it in a kind to his faithful attendant, that, through of holy triumph. Our dear son went a night of more than ordinary restlessdown into this desolate valley without ness, he had been exposed to almost disquietude, and walked deliberately insurmountable difficulties. And it through it without apprehension. We was agreed between them, in order to attended his steps from the beginning avoid a recurrence of the same inconto the end of this painful journey, veniencies, that another chamber without ever withdrawing ourselves should be immediately prepared for from his side. We observed the him, which would allow her to sleep changes that took place at every stage, in a contiguous closet. Such an ar we marked every turn of his counte- rangement had been often proposed nance, and caught every expression by us, and not without considerable that fell from his lips. But while we were solicitous to sustain his weakness and to smooth his path, we found him in circumstances rather to afford, than to require, support. An invisible arm sustained his soul, and supplied his wants. He neither felt any distress, nor feared any evil; for God was with him, even He who giveth songs in the night, and who turneth the shadow of death into the morning."

"At length the day arrived, which we had so long dreaded, and for the approach of which we were still so little prepared. About seven in the morning of Tuesday, September the 9th, we walked into his chamber, and found him sitting on the side of his bed in the act of dressing. He reccived us with an affectionate smile, and answered our enquiries with all the calmness and caution imaginable: but there was an appearance of languor and debility about him which could not be concealed. At our pressing intreaties, he admitted the assistance of his watchful nurse, who has been already mentioned in this memoir, and whose ready attentions at the Wells added greatly to his gratifications there. Many a time had she dressed him with accuracy in his in

anxiety: but, till this time, he had resolutely refused all attendance in the night, and would not even permit a light to be left in his room. He pre sented himself at breakfast with an air of satisfaction, and joined in our morning devotions with all his usual composure. Had the weather allowed it, he was to bave spent an hour abroad. This, however, being prevented by an unfavourable forenoon, he sweetly applied himself to that little volume, which was always within his reach, and seldom out of his hand. His ordinary gentleness was exemplary; but through the whole of his deportment on this day, there was a lamb-like patience, which filled us with admiration; though it was observed, that his respiration was surprisingly quickened by the slightest exertions, and that he was unable to converse without frequent pauses.

"He sat down to our dinner with a tolerable degree of appetite, and appeared at the close of it to be somewhat refreshed. After this meal, it was customary with him to doze for an hour in his chair, while we silently guarded his repose, and sent up our supplications to heaven in his behalf. We were thus watching near him, when he suddenly turned upon us an expressive look, which seemed intended to bespeak our attention. He had long desired to make us acquainted with several interesting particulars concerning the state of his mind; but perceiving our inability to bear any such communications, he had reluc tantly forborne to open his heart.