316 Useful Arts.-Scientific Miscellanies. Delphinum juvenem rapuit Mors invida, square? [VOL. 4 was stated by tradition to have been the inn or civic residence of one of the Translated by "S. R." in the Gen- Dauphins of France. If it were, it must tleman's Magazine for 1807 : have been of the Dauphin Louis, who Death snatch'd ourDauphin-need the cause be told? came into England in 1216 to wrest Counting his virtues, he believ'd him old. Moser, in his "Vestiges Revived," mentions the Dolphin, or rather the Dauphine inn, from the fleur de lys, cognizances, and dolphins, with which it had been adorned. It stood on the Eastern side of Bishopsgate street Without, near the end of Houndsditch, and the sceptre from John. The appellation of dolphins is given in literary history to the 19 commentators on the Classics, employed by Louis XIV. of France, for the benefit of the Prince, under the direction of M. de Montausier his governor, Bossuet and Huet his preceptors. USEFUL ARTS. M.R. R. Aust's machine for freeing the hours: and pieces of this thickness are shaft horse of a laden cart when stated to become sufficiently dry to fallen will from its cheapness and simplici- work after being placed in a warm room ty,contribute to obviate the serious incon- or work-shop for twenty-four hours.veniences of those frequent and distress- By this treatment, the wood is someing accidents which daily occur in the thing improved in its general colour; crowded streets of the metropolis. It and those blemishes, which are techniconsists of the simple addition to the cally called green veins, are entirely recommon props of the cart of an iron moved. The eggs or larvæ, also, of bar and hook about half their length, any insect, which may be contained in attached to the top of each prop, and a the wood, will be destroyed by the bent iron prong at the bottom to prevent heat of the steam.-Two very importheir slipping the props are strength- tant advantages are said to result from ened with an iron ferrule at each end. Mr. Callender's process. In the first When a horse falls, the props are taken place, a considerable part of the capital, from their usual fastenings, with the which is vested in wood lying to season hooks attached to the shaft ends; the during many months, may be saved. forehorse chains are then hooked in at And secondly, as none of the small the top of the props, and, as they stick wood, from two to six inches thick, is in the ground when he pulls, he raises ever seasoned, according to the usual them perpendicular, and they pull the course of trade, chairs, ballustrades, shaft up after them; the horse's and similar articles, which are usually on the props increases as they become made of such wood, must necessarily more upright, which is essential, as it be very subject to warp, which incongives the best help to the fallen horse venience is prevented by adopting the when he is about to rise. expeditious mode of seasoning above Mr. Callender's method of seasoning described.-New Mon. Mag. mahogany, for which the Society re- Rubbing the skin with camphorated oil is warded him, is both simple and effica- quitoes in hot countries.--- Abel's China. the best protection against the attack of muscious. The following is his process:- Bark. By numerous experiments recentHaving provided a steam-tight wooden ly made, it is indubitably proved, that larch box, capable of holding conveniently bark answers every purpose in tanning as such pieces of mahogany as are fit for The bark of the willow tree burnt to ashchairs, &c. he adapts to it a pipe from a cs and mixed with strong vinegar, forms a lixivium which effectually eradicates, by reboiler, by means of which he fills the peated application, warts, corns, and other box (after the mahogany has been put cutaneous excrescences.---New Mon. Mag. into it,) with steam, the temperature of An experiment to distil by steam is making which is about equal to that of boiling at Roscrea, under the inspection of excise water. The time required for wood, an Great expectations are entertained by those officers and several experienced distillers. inch and a half thick, is about two concerned, as to the saving of time and fuel. power oak bark. Nov. 1818. VOL. 4.] Historical Particulars of Aix-la-Chapelle. 317 AIX-LA-CHAPELLE, AND THE EMPEROR CHARLEMAGNE. From the New Monthly Magazine, November 1818. HISTORICAL PARTICULARS OF AIX-LA-CHA PELLE; WITH ANECDOTES OF CHARLE MAGNE. FACTS relating to a city celebrated The first who there received the Imperial crown, and with it the heirship to all the dominions of the mighty Charlemagne, was his only remaining son, for the many great events of which Louis le Debonnaire. This young it has been the theatre-and now so Prince's coronation by Hildebert, Archparticularly brought into public notice by the present Congress, cannot, it may be supposed, fail of gratifying the curi osity this circumstance is calculated to excite. It is therefore hoped, that the following little account will not at the present time be considered as out of season. bishop of Cologne, took place in the life-time, and in the presence of his father, who gave, during the ceremony, a striking proof of his despotic power, by telling his son, just as the Archbishop was going to circle his head with the Imperial Diadem, to take it from the hands of that prelate, and place it there himself! The antiquity to which Aix-la-Chapelle lays claim, is confirmed by its be- Thus he was, it may be said, a selfing mentioned in the Commentaries of crowned Sovereign over the vast empire Cæsar and the Annals of Tacitus. The of bis father; the only bounds to which Romans, when they were at war with were, to the West, the Atlantic Ocean the Germans, had fortresses raised, and and the Ebro-to the South, the Medcolonies established there; but when iterranean-to the North, the German the virtues of its mineral waters and hot Ocean and the Eyder-and to the East, baths became fully known, it was in- the Raab, and the Mountains of Bohevested with the rights and privileges of a mia. city, by the name of Aquægranius, or the Waters of Granius. Its present name is derived from the church, which was built and dedicated by Charlemagne, to the Virgin Mary. Among the many events considered in those days of comparative darkness, as miraculous, either through superstitious credulity, or ignorance of the natural causes which gave to them that appearance, two of a curious nature are recorded as having occurred at Aix-laChapelle. It is well known that Aix-la-Chapelle, which had been destroyed by the Huns in the reign of Attila, was repaired, beautified, and enlarged by that When the time appointed for the great Prince, who, charmed by the consecration of the church of Notre pleasantness of the surrounding country, Dame arrived, Charlemagne fixed his made it the seat of Empire; and it is mind on having as many bishops to said that what was the Town-hall, form- assist the Pope, Leo III. in the percd at that period part of his palace. By formance of the ceremony, as there a decree of the Golden Bull, it was ap- were days in the year. This full numpointed to be the place of coronation ber the Emperor, with all his power, for all the Sovereigns of the Empire; could not muster: two were still wantand so much superstition was after- ing when all those who could be colwards attached by those Sovereigns, in lected were assembled in the church, regard to the being consecrated in the and his Holiness was preparing to bechurch of Notre Dame at Aix, that if gin the service. Ere he could do so, any of them were prevented from receiv- however, to the surprise and delight of ing their crowns in that city, they en- every one, Mondolphus and Gonduldeavoured by their liberality to the phus, two bishops who had for years Town and Church, to avert the ill-for- slept quietly in their graves, at Maestune which might arise from their being tricht, suddenly appeared among their compelled to perform the ceremony brother prelates; and after properly elsewhere. performing their part in the solemnities 318 Aix-la-Chapelle-The Bishops Mondulphus and Gondulphus. [VOL 4 of the day, they merely waited to re- cred emblem, and with arms devoutly ceive, at their conclusion, the benedic- crossed upon the breast, solemnly protion of the Pope, which having done nounced their oaths of fealty. they again vanished from every human eye. To commemorate this miracle, there was a painting hung in the dome of the church at Maestricht, which contained their ashes, representing an angel holding a scroll, on which were written these words: On this the visionary cross, which still hung immoveably fixed over Notre Dame, from a brilliant white became red as blood! which this religious Prince immediately construed into a divine call upon him to perform a crusade; for when the miraculous appearance,and equally miraculous change Arise, Mondulphus and Gondulphus, and repair in its hue were reported to him, he ex to the consecration of the church at Aix. claimed, in a transport of holy zeal, “ If God spares my life, I will pass over And on their tombs are these Latin into the countries beyond the seas, verses : Excitus hac area Mondolphus, Aquisque dicare where I will shed my blood for the remission of my sins, and for the honour and glory of my Redeemer Jesus Christ." It was during the inauguration of Rhodolphe I. in the same church, that History, however, makes no mention the second miracle awed and gratified of his having performed his promise; those who witnessed it. The ceremony on the contrary, it remarks that he never had scarcely commenced, when the even went into Italy to collect his revepeople were struck by the appearance nues. This Emperor, when only of a large cross, of dazzling brightness, Count de Hapsbourg, gave an exemself-supported in the air, just over the plary proof of Christian humility, which holy fabric. This was immediately it might have been imagined would construed into a heavenly sign that God have procured him the surname of “Piwas pleased to sanction the choice the ous.' It happened, while he was one electors had made of that Prince, thro' day riding in the country, that he met a the advice of his confessor, Albert, Bi- priest, who was on foot, and bearing shop of Ratisbone, of the Order of St. the Holy Sacrament to some sick perDominic, and styled the "Great," from his great learning and philosophy. son. On discovering this circumstancee, he instantly descended from his horse, When the Electors were about to which he obliged the priest to mount, take the oath of allegiance to the Em- saying, "Never could I endure to reperor, the sceptre, which according to flect that while Rhodolphe rode, the ancient custom they were to touch sacred minister of God was carrying the while doing so, was not to be found. body of the Saviour of the world on Of this incident Rodolphe, with great foot." The priest, much affected by presence of mind, ingeniously availed this trait of piety and feeling, seems to himself, to render the ceremony more have been suddenly inspired with a impressively solemn. While seated in prophet's powers; since he then forethe chair of Charlemagne, awaiting the told that he would become Emperor, return of those who were still in search and that his posterity would reach the of the sceptre, he suddenly took the cru- pinnacle of human greatness. cifix from the altar, and turning to the But to return to Aix-la-Chapelle.— Electors who surrounded him, he ex- Charlemagne was buried in the church claimed, with devout enthusiasm, "Be- of Notre Dame, seated on a throne of hold this symbol of our redemption, white marble, which, instead of being and the redemption of the whole world polished, was entirely covered with from sin. This shall be my sceptre !" plates of solid gold: these last have As he uttered these words, he piously disappeared for many, many years. On kissed the cross, then extended it to- the throne, in modern times, it was the wards the Electors, who, penetrated custom for the Kings elect of the Rowith reverential awe, bent over the sa- mans to receive their crown and the VOL. 4.] Winter-Nature and Usefulness of Snow. 319 homage of the Electors. When Otho scimetar of his great predecessor. These III. (in 1001) convoked the Assembly he probably took with him on his return of the States at Aix-la-Chapelle, he to Rome. caused the tomb of Charlemagne to be A brief retrospective account of some opened, when he found, as mentioned of the Diplomatic Acts which were (at above, the Emperor seated on the the Diets held at Aix) passed into laws, throne, and dressed in the robes and in- will perhaps prove a satisfactory conclusignia of royalty. Otho took from sion of the particulars of a city which is thence all of the habiliments which had now the seat of much interesting obescaped the effects of damp, and the servation to Europe. ornaments with which the corpse was It is worthy of remark, that in one of decorated; these consisted of a gold the very first Diets (805) acts were cross, which was suspended from his passed which were revived again in the neck, the crown, the sceptre, and the polished age of Louis XIV. To be concluded in our next. W1 THE NATURALIST'S DIARY. JANUARY, 1819. From the London Time's Telescope. Winter, armed with terrors here unknown, INTER now unfolds his awful most singular and striking in the varicus train, vapours, clouds and domains of boreal cold and desolation; storms;' and all nature appears but one where dreary waste; yet cold and gloomy as this season usually is, it offers to the grateful mind many an interesting subject of contemplation. Among these, may be mentioned the effects of the hoar-frost, or of the dew or mist frozen. This adheres to every object on which it falls, and produces figures of incomparable beauty and elegance. Every Of the uses of snow something has twig and blade of grass is beset by it been said in our former volume; we with innumerable glittering pearly shall now speak more at large on this drops, or silver plumage. These ap- interesting subject. All those who pearances are still more striking, the inhabit parts of the earth exposed to farther we proceed to the north. snow, agree in considering it as one of But winter, in our temperate regions, the means employed by nature to give exhibits very few phenomena, in com- plants more strength, and make them parison with what is visible in the expand with more vigour. Several are arctic circle. Thomson, therefore, has even persuaded that winters, producing judiciously enriched his noble conclu- no snow, presage a bad harvest, and a sion of the Seasons with all the circum- feeble state of vegetation; and they stances of picturesque beauty, or terrific ascribe its influence to the salts, which grandeur, that could be borrowed from they say exist in congealed water. scenes far remote from us. The fam- That, after a very severe and cold ished troops of wolves pouring from winter, plants should be stronger and the Alps; the mountains of snow roll- more active in proportion as they may ing down the precipices of the same have been covered with snow, is proved countries; the dreary plains over which by the experience of every one engaged the Laplander urges his reindeer; the in agriculture. The canse is simple wonders of the icy sea; and volcanoes and natural. All plants are capable of Aaming through a waste of snow; are supporting cold in a greater or less objects selected, with the greatest pro- degree. There are some which cannot priety, from all that nature presents be exposed to the temperature of mett 320 Winter-Nature and Usefulness of Snow. [VOL. 4 ing ice without perishing, while there a portion of oxygen, which has a powerare others in which the most intense ful effect on the principle of germination, cold makes no alteration. Each plant and determines the seeds, which would has certain limits as to its resistance of have otherwise perished, to grow, to cold, a certain temperature beyond expand, and to augment the number of which it cannot go, without the danger plants that cover the surface of the earth. of being frozen and destroyed. The 'A very considerable number of the earth, as is now well known, has heat plants we have the art of appropriating accumulated in its interior parts: this for our nourishment and wants, are heat is perceived in all subterraneous sown from the end of September to the places of sufficient depth to prevent the end of December. Several of them external heat or cold from entering. germinate before the cold commences Snow is a bad conductor of heat, cold its influence upon them, and changes penetrates it with difficulty; and its the principle of their life. The snow temperature, when it melts, is zero. which covers the rest, acting on their When the earth is covered to a consid- germs by oxygenation, compels them erable depth with snow, the cold of to reward the trouble of the farmer and the atmosphere, in contact with it, tends gardener, and multiply the quantity of to cool its mass; the internal heat of the useful productions. earth tends to warm it. Throughout the mass of snow there is a strong contest between the heat and cold: a portion of the snow is melted and carried to zero, the medium temperature, wherein the plants are situated. The suow has the properties of keeping the plants it covers at the temperature of melting ice; of preserving them from the influence of a greater cold; of supplying them with continual moisture; of preventing a great number perishing, and still more from languishing; and, consequently, of imparting more strength and vigour to vegetation. It appears, then, that we may explain a part of the influence snow has upon vegetation, without having recourse to the salts or nitre which it is said to contain, but which analysis and experiments have proved do not exist. It has also been demonstrated by experiment, that snow is oxygenated with water; that, in the germination of seeds in particular, the presence and contact of oxygen are absolutely necessary for the plant to expand; and that, in proportion to the abundance of oxygen, the more rapidly the seeds will grow. Most plants, permitted to attain their perfect maturity, shed on the earth a part of their seeds, which, thus abandoned and exposed to the action of cold, are covered and preserved by the snow. At the same time they find, in the water the snow produces by melting, The influence of snow on vegetation cannot be better summed up, than by saying that, in the first place, it protects the plants and the seeds from the violence of the frost; in the second, furnishes them with a continual moisture; and in the third, makes a greater number of seeds to germinate.' No more our park-like fields display Swollen, dark and stained, and half congealed, |