may be the reason, the consumption of form of proof, wherever it can conve- land. Beer is the principal drink, but the consumption is much less since the introduction of tea and coffee. If the use of beer, however, has decreased, mead and other liquors made from honey and sugar, have fallen more into disuse, since the Dutch have found, the means of procuring wines at a reasonable price, which they import from France, Spain, and Germany. They use great quantities of spirituous liquors, particularly Geneva, which they look upon as a national liquor. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, enunciation of the fact, and then proceed to demonstrate. Balimer, the father of Theodoric, who conquered Italy, wore silk next his skin, and was not subject to much cutaneous moisture. Proof-Persons of dry skins, (and no silk, (and no other materials) often obother) upon pulling off stockings made of serve electric sparks proceeding from their legs. Now Balimer, observed this phenomenon: therefore Balimer was a dry man, and wore silk next his skin. Q. E. D. ὁ Θευδρίχου πατὴρ, ὁ κατακρατήσεις Ιταλίας, Eustathius, 513. 4. Ed. Rom. Barkeep φασίν, ἁπάσης, του οικείου σώματος σπινθήρας ἀπέπαλλε. Καίτις δὲ σοφὸς παλαιός φησι περί ἑαυτοῦ, ὅτι ἐνδυομένου ποτὲ καὶ ἐκδυομένου ἀντοῦ, σπινθῆρες ἀπεπήδων ἐξαίσιοι, ἔστιν ὅτε καὶ κτυποῦντες ἐνίοτε δὲ καὶ φλόγες ὅλας κατά λάμπον, φησί, τὸ ἱμάτιον μὴ καίουσαι trical observation, that I am aware of, on This is curious, as being the first elecrecord. As another instance, that the A BIOGRAPHER fulfils bullion to notions of modern philosophers have m duty, if he confines his relation the public actions of the individual whom he commemorates, without following him into the scenes of private life. We are all curious to ascertain the personal habits and particularities of an illustrious character, and are even gratified by discovering what the Marquis de l'Hôpital enquired, respecting Sir Isaac Newton, whether he ate, drank, and slept, like other men. The reason is obvious; an acquaintance of this sort with the person and manners, embodies our idea of the subject of the narrative, and brings the circumstances of it more distinctly to our mind's eye. I apprehend that no person cam read the description of a battie, without having a graphic representa tion of the scene of action, and of the respective generals, present to his imagination; and the same effort of that power of the mind, less in degree, is exerted whilst tracing the life of an individual. Thus, whenever the name of Socrates is mentioned, we straightway perceive the promment forehead, baldness, and orng of the father of philosophy; and our idea of Queen Elizabeth is inseparably connected with a large Aff and diamond stonincher. preased the above observations as I have legomena," to an historical deduction, prowinch in some measure tends to particularize an individual of considerable importance, in the anuals of the Roman emjure. As Lapprove of a mathematical cients, I will observe, that an idea which many cases been anticipated by the anhas been favourably received amongst geologists of late years, and which indeed appears a physical probability, was first theorists, I imagine, never heard the suggested by an author, of whom these is, that the nucleus of the earth consists name. The hypothesis to which I allude of water; and certainly it solves the phowith great facility; the author mentioned, nomena of subterraneous convulsions is Gregorius Cyprius, Patriarch of Constantinople, in a tract entitled, "Maris Laudatio." p. 6. Ed. Morel. Paris. σαι, τὸ μεσαίτατόν τοῦ παντὸς, είπερ καὶ τῆς Καὶ θέσις δὲ αὐτῇ, ὡς ἐκ τῶν εἰρημένων εἰκά. y pérov ¿movivípartai tỷ duláson nat võ hóya, pen névrpov rav pay di lánasB. J. C. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIE, HAVE seldom, in my life, been more gument of Rousseau's, in favour of making forciblystrack, than by that touching ar children happy, during infancy, from the probability that they may never taste the happiness of a remoter period, but that accident or disease may bring them to an fecting than such a consideration. This early grave. Nothing can be more af led me to speculate upon the generat happiness of the inlabitants of boardingschools, and upon the carelessness with which junny a naturally tender mother consigns consigns her darling, to the care of a person almost unknown to her; and satisfied with perceiving no immediate signs of iil health, or dissatisfaction, when she comes home in the holidays, neglects to enquire how, the intermediate time has been spent; how many tears have been shed; how much of happiness, or at least the capacity for happiness, has been thrown away, by the mistaken moral views of their teachers. I beg leave most decisively to protest against any general reflections; I have no doubt but many heads of the institutions I allude to, are tender, benevolent, and excellent persons; to such, my observations do not apply, and happy are the children that fall under their care: but when I recollect the sight of an innocent creature, moistening a scanty piece of dry bread, (given her for a meal) with her tears, exposed to all the shame it was in the power of authority to inflict, for such crimes as making too much noise, or not being willing, or perhaps able, to learn a tedious task; surely I have thought these people imagine the world too happy, that they must be in such a hurry to make their fellow-creatures taste the cup of misery. I do not object to wholesome discipline, but I contend, that starvation is not a proper punishment. This evil is not so prevalent in boys' schools, as in those of girls; indeed, I am inclined to think it very rarely exists among the former; but among the latter, the notions of delicacy, fine shapes, and perhaps a little economy lurking at the bottom, are often destructive of the comforts of a hearty meal. The evils that are the consequences of this system are innumerable. Ask any physician,whether most of the sickness he meets with among the poor, does not arise from their being ill fed. Growing children, if in health, have always very good appetites; and if they are stinted, the consequence must be a loss of strength that will render them more easily the prey of any accidental disorder; and it is notorious, that one of the causes of scrofula and consumption is low feeding. The appetite easily ac commodates itself to an allowance, and the present suffering, after a while, is not so much as the future danger; it is not therefore surprizing, that it should not dwell sufficiently on a child's mind, to induce any complaints at home; to which may be added, the odium that attends an informer, the dishonour that is alfixed to any tales told out of school, and the fear of being confronted with ber governess. In the case of the slave trade, Mr. Clarkson found it impossible to induce many of his evidence to tell the same story to the house of commons, they had done to him, from fear of the resentment of the other party. The mo tive of this letter is to excite tenderness in the bosoms of those who have the care of youth; and in their parents, vigilance to discover the want of it, at those times when cross examination and enquiry is in their power. Whoever has had an opportunity of comparing the feelings of one time of life, with those of another, will find that, when very young, they are infinitely more acute, than at a more advanced age, when they are moderated by other considerations. An unkind look, or word, at that time goes straight to the heart; when older, they begin to feel that an undeserved reproof loses much of its bitterness. If Prince Ahined's glass were presented to the absent mother, she would often feel her heart wring with the sight of the manner in which her child was passing her time. I have no doubt, but the present rage for accomplishments has contributed to the destruction of the happiness, and even the life of many a delicate girl. I would have them take in as much of those einbellishments, as they have a decided taste for; but I would not make them the first object of their lives. Let them have no melancholy associations with the days of their youth, and they will probably lay in a stock of chearfulness, that may enhance their future happiness, or soften their future misery. I cannot end this better, than by giving the reader the eluquent passage I alluded to at the beginning of my letter. 46 Que faut il donc penser de cette education barbare qui sacrifie le present à un avenir incertain, qui charge un enfant de chaines de tout espece, et commence par le rendre miserable pour lui preparer au loin, je ne sais quel pretendu bonheur, dont il est à croire qu'il ne jouira jamais? Quand je supposerois cette éducation raisonnable dans son objet, comment voir sans indignation de pauvres infortunés soumis à un joug insupportable, et condamnés à des travaux continuels comme des galériens, sans être assuré que tant de soins leur seront jamais utiles? L'âge de la gaieté se passe au milieu des pleurs, des clatimens, des` nenaces, de l'esclavage. On tourmente le malheureux pour sou bien, et Fan ne • Arabian Nights. SIR, IN your miscellany of the 1st of January, 1808, you gave a statement of prisoners committed to Newgate in 1802, and four following years; there is one part of it to which I wish now to call the attention of some of your readers, in order that they may be convinced of the mischiefs which arise in a pecuniary way, from suffering brothels to remain, and permitting prostitutes to walk the streets at night. If justice and humanity are not found of sufficient force, policy may be called in, in behalf of numbers of our innocent fellow-creatures, who may, and no doubt will, if some measures are not speedily adopted, fail victims to the arts of vicious men. In the account above. mentioned, we imagine the article, "Females stealing from men's persons," to signify robberies either committed by prostitutes in the streets, or in houses of ill fame, on the persons of their guilty associates. The number in the five years amounted to one hundred and sixty-nine; as follows in 1802-31 1803-25 1804-25 1805-43 1806-45 Total 169 The number of persons in the same period committed for picking pockets, was 146, which appears worthy of notice. May we not with good reason conclude, that a great proportion of offences of the sort, bere noticed, never become public, for there can he little doubt but that many people, who were robbed in this truly disgraceful manner, would not wish the affair to be known. It might be more than a matter of mere curiosity, to have the amount of the sunis so stolen ascertained. I do not mean to decide how far the present existing laws are sufficient for the prevention of female seMONTHLY MAG. No. 183. duction, but earnestly wish those who have more legal knowledge than I have, would take pains to make themselves well acquainted with the subject,, and point out, in such manner, as may seem to them most proper any defects which may be found. One alteration is most desirable, which is, that seduction under promise of marriage, or by any artifice whatever, should be constituted an offence punishable by indictment. I wish to be referred to the best ac count of the speeches made in parlia ment by those members who opposed the A. Z Marriage-act of 26 George II. also the To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.. SIR, your Man of Letters," in an exNa late Number of your Magazine, tract from his Port-folio, very confidently asserts, "on the authority of uncontradicted tradition," that the Travels of Gaudentio di Lucca, were written by Bishop Berkeley. It is, I think, a matter of little consequence; but I am able to tell your correspondent, who really was the author of those supposed Travels. Why they were given to the bishop I could never understand. He may then know, that the "learned romance," as he styles it, was written by a Mr. Simon Peerington, a descendant of the ancient family of that name, in the county of Hereford, and a clergyman of the church of Rome. My assertion rests on the testimony of many of his relations, now dead, among whon, his nephew, the late head of the family, and who was educated by him,. has often, in my hearing, said, that his uncle wrote the work, and that he recol-. lected many circumstances of the publication. The same gentleman was the author of other works, to some of which he put his name, which are, The great Duties of Life, and the Mosaic Creation.. He was a man of learning, and of much humour, and, secretly engaging in the politics of the day, wrote many songs and satirical ballads, which were circulated among the Jacobites. The singularities of his character, though inoffensive, were not few. The latter years of his life were spent in London, where he died about the middle of the last century. I just recollect to have seen him, when I was struck by his high stature, and the gravity of his aspect. His motive for writing "Gaudentio di Lucca," was to li raise raise a little money, and to try the cre- J. B. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, T the present season, when wheat is Experiment 1.-Four potatoes, of the sort called here Captain Hart, weighing 3607 grains, were put into a saucepan with cold water, which was made to boil in five minutes, and kept simmering at a boiling heat, for an hour. The water was then poured off, and the saucepan, with the potatoes, again set over the fire. for two minutes, to evaporate the mois A daily rising in its price, and bread ture from the external, surface of the po is already exceeding dear, it becomes a duty to employ all the means in our power, to discover a substitute for that valuable article of food. If the numerous advantages which would result from the general use of the common potatoe, were sufficiently understood, we should have more than a temporary substitute for the grain of wheat, as the nutritive property of that inestimable root, and the numerous methods of preparing it for food, would be such as to exclude wheat from being any longer considered as an indispensable necessary of life, even in this kingdom, where the prejudices of the people against the introduction of any substitute for wheat, appear to be more strongly rooted, than in any other nation upon earth. As this is my opinion of the real utility of the potatoe, I am induced to undertake the solution of the question, "Is boiling or roasting, the most economical mode of cooking the potatoe ?"-in order that, if one or other of these processes should prove to be exceedingly extravagant, we may relinquish the practice, and thus in future guard against the crime of unmeaning wastefulness: a crime, which though little thought of, and not sufficiently exposed to public censure, is daily, and even hourly committed by the giddy and the thoughtless, to the incalculable injury of the needy poor. In no instance is this unnecessary. wastefulness more conspicuous, than in the daily operations of cooking the common articles of our food, in which the poor themselves are continually, though sometimes unintentionally committing this crime, the effects of which can fall only upon their own heads, and that too, at the very time it is committed. I would I had the ability to wield the pen with such irresistible power, as to command what I write to be felt, to enable me to impress upon the minds of those, whour in this world it most concerns, this simple truth, that by unmeaning wastefulness, the poor sin against themsoires! tatues. They were now taken out and weighed, whilst quite hot, and were found to weigh 3562 grains, having lost 45 grains. When they were cool enough to be handled, and ceased to give out any vapour in the temperature of the air in the room, which was 54° Fahr. they were again put into the balance, and weighed 3550 grains, having now lost 57 grains of their original weight. They were afterwards placed in a cellar for twelve hours, and then weighed 3527 grains, having lost in the whole, by being boiled, 80 grains. Thus we find that the potatoe, cooked for the table, by boiling loses little more than two per cent of its weight. But in another experiment which I made by boiling a single potatoe, which weighed 1300 grains, it lost only 10 grains after being boiled for an hour, and then cooled in a cellar for twelve hours. I confess that these experiments rather surprized me, as I had suspected a priori, that the root would have lost more in weight by boiling, and that it would afterwards have absorbed moisture from the air of a damp cellar. Hence we learn the folly of remaining satisfied with mere suppositions, when it is so easy a matter to ascertain and establish facts by direct experiments. The water in which the potatoes were boiled, acquired the colour of an infu sion of green-tea, and contained some mucilage or gum in solution, which gave it something of the flavour of high dried malt. The extractive matter which the water at first dissolved, was afterwards coagulated by the heat, one portion precipitating to the bottom, while the other formed a scum upon the surface of the fluid. If this liquor be freed from the extractive, by filtering it through fine linen, it becomes a wholesome and nutritious fluid, not possessing the least deleterious property, as has been commonly attributed to it. But I shall have occasion at another time, to notice the qualities of this fluid, when treating of the infusion of raw potatoes. Experiment 2-A Captain-Hart potatoe, weighing 1220 grains, was placed under under hot embers, and roasted for an hour, but it was not thoroughly cooked. It weighed, whilst hot, 1028 grains, and after being placed in a cellar for twelve hours, it weighed 1010 grains, having lost in the whole, though not sufficiently cooked, 210 grains, being rather more than one-sixth, or not quite 20 per cent of its original weight. Experiment 3.-A Captain-Hart potatoe, weighing 1198 grains, was covered with hot embers, and roasted for an hour and a half, when it was found to be thoroughly cooked. Before it was quite cold, it weighed 818 grains, having lost by roasting 380 grains! Being then placed in a cellar for twelve hours, it imbibed four grains of moisture from the damp air of the cellar, weighing now 82 grains. From this last experiment we learn, that when the potatoe is cooked by roast ing, it looses nearly one third, or almost forty per cent of the original weight of the root;an enormous waste ! which added to the thick hard dry indigestible surface of the roasted potatoe, that is generally left as refuse; the want of economy is so prodigious, that especially in these times, this mode of cooking that nutritious vegetable, ought not to be tolerated, even at the tables of the opulent. Where is the poor man, whose family having gleaned one hundred measures of wheat, who would cast forty of them into the river, and reserve sixty only for the supply of himself and family? Or what should we think of the rich man, who having purchased a hundred bushels of meal, were to order forty of them to be buried under a dunghill, lest they should afford nutriment to the needy around him? Yet as great an absurdity as these, is the unmeaning wastefulness of roasting the invaluable root of the potatoe. Your's, &c. Wisbech, Feb. 21, 1809. W. SKRIMSHIRE, Jan. METEOROLOGICAL ABSTRACT and REGISTER, as kept at EDINBURGH, 1808. |