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Old Winter is come, all so cold and so cheer- Or, if thou art displanted there,

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IN memory's dear and cherish'd hour,
I saw thee like the beauteous flow'r,
That twines around Affection's shrine;
In Love's pure light thy form was drest,
I smil'd to mark thy gentle breast

Soft trembling to the sigh of mine.
When Sorrow, like a spoiler, flew,
And veil'd Love's opening bud with dew,

And hung the morn of Youth with gloom; I thought, though bow'd by Sorrow's wile, The moon-beam of thy sadden'd smile,

More fair than Pleasure's rosy bloom. Ev'n now, though Joy's attemper'd ray, Delighted o'er thy bosom stray,

Responsive to thy Lover's pray'r; Yet, gladness beaming from his eyes, Love hangs upon thy smile, and sighs, "Affection's tear hath glisten'd thine!" P. M. J.

TO THE SNOW-DROP.

By JOHN MAYNE,

Author of the Poems of "Glasgow," and "The Siller Gun."

FIRST of the Spring that smiles on me,

I pay my early court to thee!
But, well-a-day! how chang'd the scene,
Since, erst, I hail'd thee on the green!
Then Life and Love were in their prime;
Then Winter smil'd like Summer-time.
Now Life and Love are on the wing,
Now Winter riots in the Spring;
And, ev'n in Summer, nought I see
But drizzling show'rs and blights for me;
With frequent coffins passing by,
Sad monitors that Death is nigh!
O! when that solemn hour shall come,
Which seals my passport to the tomb,
Be faith and resignation mine,
And, that sweet soother, hope divine!
First of the Spring that smiles on me,
Again I pay my court to thee!
May no rude hand profane thy sweets;
No caitiff bawl thee thro' the streets ¿

To grace the bosom of the fair.
O, teach simplicity to them,
Who never knew the peerless gem!
Tell those, by Error led astray,
That Wisdom is the only way
Which leads to purity like thine-
Which leads to ev'ry grace divine!
January, 1809.

THE CALL OF A SYLPHID TO ITS KIN. DRED SPIRITS ON THE RETURN OF SPRING.

CONGENIAL spirits, haste away,

From where, in gloomy shades of night, Secure from wintry winds ye lay;

Again revive and view the light;
Again inhale the balmy airs

That o'er the mountains' summits play,
And free from sorrows, free from cares,
'Midst odorous sweets pursue your way.
By gentle zephyrs borne along,

Beneath a pure and azure sky,
We'll listen to the shepherd's song,
Or through the shady woodland fly.
On violets will we rest unseen,

In harebells sip the honied dew,
And lurk beneath the herbage green,

Where primroses the valley strew. Beside the stream where wearied lies

The village swain in rustic geer, Invisible to mortal eyes,

We'll whisper pleasure in his car. All nature smiles with gladd'ning light, The Sun displays his cheering ray, Then, rising from your shades of night, Congenial spirits haste away.

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PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES.

ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.

tina wire, communicating with the posi

WE have in different parts of the tive side, being brought in contact with

last two or three volumes of the Monthly Magazine, given an account of the discoveries made by Mr. Davy; these accounts being frequently taken from memory, by a person who has diligently attended the lectures of the Royal Institution, would necessarily be imperfect. We intend, therefore, in this and some subsequent articles to lay before our readers a more exact analysis of what has been done by this learned professor, and in the order in which he communicated the same to the Royal Society of London. Mr. Davy first described the methods made use for the decomposition of the fixed alkalies; and he found that the powers of electrical decomposition were proportional to the strength of the opposite electricities in the circuit, and to the conducting power and degree of concentration of the materials employed. In his first attempts at the decomposition of the fixed alkalies, he acted upon aqueous solutions of potash and soda, saturated at the common degrees of temperature, with the Voltaic batteries, but in these cases; the water alone was affected, and hydrogen and oxygen disengaged with the production of much heat, and violent effervesence. As water appeared to prevent the decomposition, he used potash in igneous fusion, and some brilfiant phenomena were produced; and when the platina spoon, on which the potash was placed, was made to communicate with the negative side of the battery, and the connection from the positive side was made with platina wire, a vivid and constant light appeared at the opposite point: there was no effect of inflammation round it; but aëriform bubbles, which, inflamed in the atmosphere, rose round the potash. He made some attempts to collect the combustible matter, but without success; and he only attained his object, by employing electrici Ty as the common agent of fusion and decomposition.

the upper surface of the alkali, a vivid action almost instantly took place; the pot-ash fused at both points of electrization: there was a violent effervescence at the upper surface; at the lower, or negative surface, there was no liberation of elastic fluid; but small globules having a high metallic lustre, similar, in visible characters, to mercury, appeared; some of which burnt with explosion and bright flame, as soon as they were formed, and others remained, and were merely tarnished, and finally covered with a white film, which formed on their surfaces. "These globules," says the professor,

numerous experiments soon shewed to be the substance I was in search of, and a peculiar inflammable principle, the basis of pot-ash." He ascertained that the platina was not at all connected with the result, for the same substance was produced when other metals, or charcoal, were employed for completing the circuit.

Suda, when acted upon in a similar manner, exhibited an analogous result, but it required a battery of stronger powers. The substance produced from potash, which is now denominated "Potassium," remained fluid at the temperature of the atmosphere, at the time of its production: that from soda, called "sodaum," which was fluid, in the degree of heat of the alkali, during its for mation, became solid on cooling. The globules often burnt at the moment of their formation, and sometimes violently exploded and separated into smaller globules, which flew with great velocity through the air,in a state of vivid combustion, producing a beautiful effect of continued jets of fire.

In speaking of the theory, Mr. Davy observed, that the metallic lustre of the substance from potash, immediately became destroyed in the atmosphere, and that a white crust formed upon it. This crust is pure potash, which immediately Potash, when perfectly dried by igni deliquesced, and new quantities were tion, is a non-conductor; but with the formed, which in their turn, attracted slightest addition of moisture, becomes moisture from the atmosphere, till the good conductor, and in this state it whole globule disappeared, and assumed readily fuses and decomposes by strong the form of a saturated solution of potelectrical powers. Having placed a ash. Water is likewise decomposed in small piece of pure pot-ash, on an insu- the process; for it is demonstrated that Inted disk of platina connected with the the basis of the fixed alkalies, that is, megative side of the battery, and a plaPotassiumi" and "Sodaum," act upon

this substance with greater energy than any other known bodies. Hence the minute theory of oxydation of the basis of the alkalies in the air is this:-oxygen gas is first actracted by them, and alkali formed; this alkali speedily absorbs water; this water is again decomposed; therefore, during the conversion of a globule into alkaline solution, there is a constant and rapid disengagement of small quantities of gas. From the facts related, of which we mention only a part, it is inferred by Mr. Davy, that there is the same evidence for the decomposition of potash and soda into oxygen and two peculiar substances, as there is for the decompositions of sulphuric and phosphoric acids and the metallic oxydes into oxygen and their respective bases. In the analyses, no substances capable of decomposition are present, but the alkalies and a minute portion of moisture; which seems in no other way essential to the result, than in rendering them conductors at the surface: for he has ascertained that the new substances are not generated till the interior, which is dry, begins to be fused.

The combustible bases of the fixed alkalies, seem to be repelled as other combustible substances, by positively electrified surfaces, and attracted by negatively electrified surfaces, and the oxygen follows the contrary order: or, the oxygen being naturally possessed of the negative energy, and the bases of the positive, do not remain in combination when either of them is brought into an electrical state opposite to its natural one.

After Mr. Davy detected the bases of the fixed alkalies, he found great difficulty in preserving and confining them so as to examine their properties; but he found that in recently distilled naptha they might be preserved some days with out much change. The basis of potash at 60° of Fahrenheit possessed the general appearance of mercury, so as not to be distinguished from it, but at that degree of temperature, it is ouly imperfectly fluid; at 70° it is more fluid, and at 100° its fluidity is perfect, so that different globules will run into one. At 50° it is soft and malleable, with the lustre of polished silver, and at the freezing point it becomes harder and brittle, and when broken into fragments, exhibits a crystallized texture, which by means of the microscope seems composed of beautiful facets of a perfect whiteness, and high metallic splendor. At a heat approaching redness, it is converted into vapour,

and is found unaltered after distillation. It is a perfect conductor of electricity. When a spark is taken from the Voltaic battery from a large globule; the light is green, and combustion takes place at the point of contact only. When a small globule is used, it is completely dissipated with explosion accompanied by a most vivid flame. It is an excellent conductor of heat; but resembling the metals in all these sensible properties, it is very different from any of them in specific gravity, being only as 6 to 10, compared with water, so that it is the lightest fluid body known.

With respect to chemical relations; it combines with oxygen, slowly and with out flame, at all temperatures below that of vaporization; but at this temperature combustion takes place, and the light is of a brilliant whiteness, and the heat intense. When a globule is heated in hydrogen gas at a degree below its point of vaporization, it seems to dissolve in it, for the globule diminishes in volume, and the gas explodes with alkaline fumes and bright light when suffered to pass into the air. When brought into contact with water, it decomposes it with great violence; an instantaneous explosion is produced with bright flame, and a solution of pure potash is the result. When a globule of this substance is placed upon ice, it instantly burns with a bright flame, and a deep hole is made in the ice, which is found to contain a solution of potash.

Theory:-The phenomena seem to depend on the strong attraction of the potassium for oxygen; and of the potash for water. The heat which arises from two causes, decomposition and combination, is sufficiently intense to produce inflam mation. The production of alkali in the decomposition of water by potassium, is shewn by dropping a globule of it upon moistened paper, tinged with turmeric. At the moment that the globule comes into contact with the water, it burns, and moves rapidly upon the paper, as if in search of moisture, leaving behind it a deep reddish brown trace, and acting upon the paper as dry caustic potash. So strong is the attraction of potash for oxygen, and so great the energy of its ac tion upon water, that it discovers and decomposes the small quantities of water contained in alcohol and ether. Potash is

insoluble in ether; but when potassium, the basis, is thrown into it, oxygen is fur nished, and hydrogen gas is disengaged, and the alkali as it forms renders the

ether

ether white and turbid. In ether and alcohol the energy of its action is proportional to the quantity of water they contain, and hydrogen and potásh are the constant result.

Potassium readily reduces metallic oxides, when heated in contact with them: it decomposes readily flint and green glass, with a gentle heat; alkali is immediately formed by oxygen from the oxides which dissolves the glass, and a new surface is soon exposed to the agent.

Potassium thrown into solutions of the mineral acids, inflames and burns on the surface. It readily combines with the simple and inflammable solids and with metals; with phosphorus and sulphur, forming compounds similar to the metallic phosphurets and sulphurets. When it is brought into contact with a piece of phosphorus, and pressed upon, there' is a considerable action; they become fluid together, burn, and produce phosphate of potash. When potassium is brought into contact with sulphur in fusion in the atmosphere, a great inflammation takes place and sulphuret of potash is formed. The sulphuretted basis becomes oxygenated by exposure to the air, and is finally converted into sul phate. When one part of potassium is added to 8 or 10 parts of mercury at about 60° of Fahrenheit, they instantly unite, and form a substance like mercury in colour, but less coherent, and small portions of it appear as flattened spheres. When a globule is made to touch a globale of mercury about twice as large, they combine with heat; the compound is fluid at the temperature of its formation; but when cool it appears as a solid metal, similar in colour to silver, if the potassium be still increased the amalgam becomes harder, and brittle. When the proportions are 1 of potassium and 70 of mercury the amalgam is soft and malleable. If the compounds are exposed to air, they rapidly absorb oxygen; potash which deliquesces is formed, and in few minutes the mercury is found pure and unaltered. When a globule of amalgam is thrown into water, it rapidly decomposes it with a hissing noise; potash is formed, pure hydrogen is disengaged, and the mercury remains free. The action of potassium upon the inflammable oily compound bodies, confirms the other facts of the strength of its attrac-ced from cannel coal. tion for oxygen. On recently distilled naptha it has very little action; but in naptha that has been exposed to the air, it soon oxydates, and alkali is formed, which onites with the naptha, into a brown soap that collects round the globule." On concrete and fixed oils, when heated, it acts slowly, coaly matter is deposited, a little gas is evolved, and a snap is formed. By heat it rapidly decomposes the volatile oils.

We shall in our next, give a more detailed account of the decomposition of soda; and shall now present the reader with a short analysis of the application of the gas from coal to economical purposes by Mr. William Murdoch. This gentleman by means of coal-gas completely lighted up last winter, the cotton manufactory of Messis. Phillips and Lee, at Manchester, the largest in the kingdom. The light used, was ascertained to be equal to that produced by 2500 mould candles of six to the pound. In this instance the coal was distilled in iron retorts, which were kept constantly at work, and the gas as it rose was conveyed by iron pipes into large reservoirs, where it was worked and purified, previously to its being conveyed through other pipes called mains to the mill. The burners, where the gas was consunied, were connected with the mains by short tubes, each of which was furnished with a cock to regulate the admission of the gas to each burner, and to shut it off when requisite. The burners were of two kinds: the one was upon the principle of the Argand lamp, and resembled it in appearance, the other was a small curved tube with a conical end, having three circular apertures of about the th of an inch in diameter, through which the gas issued, forming three divergent jets of flame, somewhat like a fleur-delis. This tube, from its shape and ap. pearance, was called the cockspur burner. In the whole building there were 271 argands, and 633 cockspurs; each of the former giving a light equal to four candies, and each of the latter a light equal to 21. All together require an hourly supply of 1250 cubic feet of gas, produ

The whole annual expence, allowing 5501, for apparatus, is reckoned at 600l. but that of candles, to give the same light, would be 2000, supposing candles one shilling per lb. only. This calculation was made on the supposition that the light was used only two hours per day, through the year, but if it be requi red three hours: the cost will be 6501. for gas, and 3000/. for candles. At first there was some inconvenience from the

smell

smell produced, but this is entirely done away, and it being tree from the danger resulting from sparks and snuffing candles, diminishes the hazard of fire to which cot

ton-mills are so much exposed. Mr. Murdoch claims the first idea of applying, and the first actual application of, this gas to economical puposes.

NEW PATENTS LATELY ENROLLED.

MR. DAVID THOMAS'S (FEATHERSTONE BUILDINGS,) for a perforated Vessel, Percolator and Framic, for making or preparing Potable Coffee.

HE invention claimed by this spe

Tfication consists of a perforated

urn, or vessel which may be made of various forms, a percolator, and a frame, which may be used collectively in a portable form, or separately. The principal part of the machine is an urn, furnished with a cock for drawing off its contents, which is the receiver of the beverage, prepared from the material coffee, by means of hot or boiling water, inade to pass through it. To render the orn effective, since filtration into a close vessel would soon be impeded by the compressed air, a number of small perforations are inade in the upper part of it. These are calculated to release the confined and Farified air, being open while the percolation is going on, and so contrived, that they are covered at the same time, and with the same cover as the large aperture or mouth of the urn, upon the removal of the percolator. By these means the urn becomes a close vessel, when the percolation is completed, from which neither the finer qualities, nor essence of the coffee, nor its heat, can escape by evaporation. The next part of the invention is the percola tor, or small box, which contains and confines the coffee in its pulverized state, and prevents its rising and mingling with the water, when poured in the cylinder; it is the medium through which the water passes into the urn, where it assumes the character of potable coffee. It is furnished with a cover pierced through with very small holes, which is fitted to it, either independently of the cylinder, or fixed to the latter in that part which is contiguous to the percolator. In either case, its office is the same, namely, to confine the coffee, so as to prevent any portion of the water from passing into the receiver, but through the whole mass. The bottom of the percolator is pierced or bored in the same way as its cover. The cylinder is a tube super

added to the urn and percolator, and may be regarded as a part of the latter. The frame or stand is calculated to elevate and support, at a proper height for drawing off its contents, a vessel dis

charged by means of a cock, when not

constructed in the common form of urns, whether adapted to this or any other pur pose.

The Patentee reserves to himself the exclusive right of modifying and varying the application of these principles, inventions, and improvements, according to circunstances, in such manner as may best suit the form of the vessel or its appendages, as well in respect to the perforation as to the percolator and frame, whether affecting their respective forms or situation.

MR. WILLIAM SHOTWELL'S (YORK,) for certain Improvements in the manufacture of Mustard.

This invention consists in taking mustard bran, or the offal of mustard, after as much mustard flour has been taken out as is done by the usual method. This bran or offal is wetted with water and ground, and then immersed in water, till the most ponderous parts fall to the bottom. Then, while the flour is suspended, all that is above the bran is to be drawn into a flannel, or other strainer, placed over a vat, which vat is to have a luch at its bottom; the strainer serves to filter the mustard, and prevents any particles of braa from passing into the vat. In this vat, the mustard-flour is suffered to precipitate, and the water is drawn off from the flour as close as possible, and may be used for succeeding parcels of the same sort of bran, as often as it is found to answer. During the process, the air is to be kept from the mustard, to preserve its pan

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