He seems indeed indignant, and to feel
The impression of the blast with proud disdain,
Frowning, as if in his unconscious arm

He held the thunder. But the monarch owes
His firm stability to what he scorns,

More fixed below, the more disturbed above.

Winds have been measured, and their velocity calculated. The following is Mr. John Smeaton's table of the rate at which the wind travels:

The most decisive circumstance tending to show the great velocity of brisk winds, (says Dr. O. Gregory,) is that of the rapid passage of the celebrated aëronaut M. Garnerin from London to Colchester. On the 30th of June, 1802, the wind being strong, though not impetuous, M. Garnerin and another gentleman ascended with an inflammable air-balloon from Ranelagh Gardens, on the south-west of London, between four and five o'clock in the afternoon; and in exactly three quarters of an hour they descended near the sea, at the distance of four miles from Colchester. The distance of the places of ascent and descent is at least sixty miles; so that, allowing no time for the elevation and depression of

the balloon, but supposing the whole period occupied in transferring it in a path nearly parallel to the earth's surface, its velocity must have been at the rate of eighty miles per hour. If, therefore, the wind moved no faster than the balloon, its velocity was then eighty miles per hour, or 1173 feet per second; a celerity but little less than the greatest assigned by Kraaft: and hence it is probable, that the velocity of very impetuous winds is not less than 130 or 140 feet per second'.

A most dreadful tempest happened on the 27th November, 1703, commencing three days before it arrived at its height. A strong west wind set in about the middle of the month, the force of which was increased every day till the 27th. Great damage was sustained, and much alarm excited, both by sea and land. The late Rev. Dr. Stennett, in endeavouring to account for it, observes, that having most probably taken its rise in America, it made its way across the western ocean, and, collecting confederate matter in its passage over the seas, spent its fury on those parts of the world, whither this army of terrors was principally commissioned.' The violence of the wind produced a hoarse, dreadful noise, like one continued peal of thunder; whilst the excessive darkness of the night added to the horror of the scene. Some accounts say, that it lightened; but it is probable that this apprehension arose from there being, at times, many meteors and vapours in the air; the hurry and agitation of nature being too great to admit of thunder and lightning in their usual course.

Great loss of property was sustained; many painful accidents happened to those who escaped with

Haüy's Nat. Phil. vol. i, p. 282, and Wood's Mosaic History of the Creation of the World, p. 172, 2d edit. a most pleasing and justly popular work.

2 The whole loss of property in the above storm was estimated at four millions of money-of lives about 8000—and cattle without number!

their lives; and not a few had all their apprehensions realized, as they met death in some of its most dreadful forms. In the city of London and its vicinity, more than 800 dwelling-houses were laid in ruins, and above 2,000 stacks of chimneys were precipitated to the ground. As a further proof of its strength and fury, we are informed, that the lead which covered the roof of 100 churches was rolled up, and hurled, in prodigious quantities, to great distances. But the dreadful devastation spread throughout the country. In one extensive plain, on the banks of the Severn, not less than 15,000 sheep, being unable to resist its violence, were driven into the river and drowned. Such was the quantity of trees torn up by their roots, that a person anxious to ascertain the number had proceeded through but a part of the county of Kent, when, arriving at the prodigious amount of 250,000, he relinquished the undertaking.

If such were the dreadful ravages of this storm by land, it will be anticipated they were still more disastrous on the water. Accordingly we are informed, that the best part of our navy being then at sea, if it had been at any other time than a full flood and spring tide, the loss might have proved fatal to the nation. It was computed that not less than 300 ships were utterly destroyed by this tempest; among which were 15 of the royal navy, containing upwards of 2,000 seamen, who'sunk as lead in the mighty waters'.'

Then rose from sea to sky the wild farewell,

Then shrieked the timid, and stood still the brave,
Then some leaped overboard with dreadful yell,
As eager to anticipate their grave;

And the sea yawned around her

And down she sucked with her the whirling wave,

Like one who grapples with his enemy,

And strives to strangle him before he die.

'Wood's Mosaic History of the Creation, p. 175.

And first one universal shriek there rushed,

Louder than the loud ocean, like a crash
Of echoing thunder; and then all was hushed
Save the wild wind and the remorseless dash
Of billows; but at intervals there gushed,
Accompanied with a convulsive splash,
A solitary shriek, the bubbling cry

Of some strong swimmer in his agony.

BYRON.

The farmer usually finishes his ploughing this month. Cattle and horses are taken into the farmyard; sheep are sent to the turnip-field; ant-hills are destroyed; and bees are put under shelter.

6

6

In our last year's Diary for November', we have given the Rustic Cot', from Mason's English Garden; we now insert as a companion to it, the Old English Cottage,' by a modern poet, by no means an unsuccessful imitator of the Beppo style.

An OLD ENGLISH COTTAGE.

Sprinkled all o'er Augusta's smoky vale,
Fringing her roads full rightly as I guess,
Beflowered around and white from head to tail,
Upright and prim as beau in summer dress,
Are scores of things where citizens inhale

Their country breathings, nick-named 'cottages:'
Away! I hate them-'tis no treat to me
To see such apings of humility.

I like the pretty little homely thatch

Where lives a poor man-no, not very poor

But such a man I mean as well can catch

From oven mouth 'bout once a week, or more,

Of wholesome wheaten bread a goodly batch

To feed his children with suppose there's four-
Suppose there's six-ne'er mind-God bless him with 'em,
Providing he sufficient hath to give 'em.
Where all the live-long day right merrily

The simple housewife plies her daily care;
Because, while her good man's a-field you see,
'Tis right the woman has her proper share :

I Time's Telescope for 1819, p. 299, 300. 2 The old name for London.

I love to see her busy as a bee

With things that are not, well as things that are ; Lo! while she sings and spins, the bubbling pot Proclaims for supper there is something hot.

I like it standing where it full can catch

The healthful breeze that blows some common o'er, Where, from its half-closed little wicket hatch, We view a wide expanse of hill and moor; A slip of leather to upraise the latch,

A bunch of woodbines drooping o'er the door. Hark! two or three pigs are squeaking in the sty; Look! two or three shirts are hanging up to dry.

And oh! the pipe—brown jug—and summer seat Close by the garden-gate, where shadowing come, Brimfull of tuneful birds and zephyrs sweet,

Thick boughs that boast the apple and the plum. I love to see the windows clean and neat,

Half smothered o'er with spice-geranium-
I do not mind a broken pane or two,
Providing there's no petticoat thrust thro'.

A well-hedged garden-nicely planted out
With herbs of all sorts, and flowers not a few
In comely order spread, or bunched about-
Here the sweet pea, and there the bitter rue;
And on the larger beds the emerald sprouts

Of winter greens that cup the silver dew,
The bright red carrot, onion sweet and dry,
Potatoe, turnip hard, and crinkled brocoli.

And O! to see the chicks all budge to school!
What if they pout? pish! nothing is the matter,
It shows th' unbending wife is skilled to rule

As well in decent learning, as the platter;
To see the ducks come 'gabbling o'er the pool'

To claim their crumbs-()! 'tis a goodly clatter; Nay more, for, seeing that, one's thoughts do go forth, That they have useful hens, and eggs, and so forth.

Strong with the produce of the barley mow,

I'd like to find in use the mellow horn; I'd like to find a paddock with a cow,

Besides a decent barn for holding corn; But these are things we seldom light on now, And more's the pity.-Ah! ere I was born, Folks say, for comfortable man and woman, Such things uprose on every dirty common.