THE Scots Magazine, AND EDINBURGH LITERARY MISCELLANY, For JULY 1813. Description of the Abbey of LINDIS- Dry shod, o'er sands, twice every day, FARNE. The pilgrims to the shrine find way; THE Abbey of Lindisfarne is situ ated on an island of the same name on the coast of Northumberland, which is sometimes also called Holy Island. It is celebrated in the annals of the English Church, as having been for a long period the episcopal seat of the see of Durham. By far the most celebrated of its bishops was the sixth in number, St By pointed aisle, and shafted stalk, Cuthbert, from whom the whole property of this extensive see received the name of "St Cuthbert's Patrimony." Any attempt on our part to give a description of this remarkable edifice is fortunately superfluous. Mr Scott, having made it the scene of some of the most interesting events in his Marmion, has painted it in a manner combining antiquarian truth with poetical spirit, which leaves nothing to add. From the coast they bore away, Ard reached the Holy Island's bay. The tide did now its flood-mark gain, And girdled in the Saint's domain : For with the flow and ebb, its stil Varies from continent to isle; The arcades of an alleyed walka On the deep walls the heathen Dane Exposed to the tempestuous seas, Winds, waves, and northern pirates' hand: Shewed where the spoiler's hand had been ; Obser would fail me; but as the object is placed in the most frequented part of the city, I need only call to it the attention of the numerous passengers. A single glance must shew them how elegant this erection is, and how appropriate its situation. How beautifully does the colouring of the brick and new wood harmonise with the dark walls of the venerable structure to which it is appended! It seems very probable, amid the present zeal for delineating national antiquities, that some eminent painter may be speedily employed in taking a view of this cathedral. How fortunate therefore that it should previously have received this additional ornament. I scarcely think, that the invention of the greatest artist could have suggest. ed so judicious and appropriate a foreground. But further, it is agreed by all the best writers on architecture, that one of the first excellences in any building, is to indicate, by its appear ance, the purpose for which it was erected. A church should not resemble a palace, nor a castle a mon astery; but each should suggest to the spectator what it really is. Now I will venture to say, that, of the thousands who daily pass, there is not one who can hesitate for a moment, as to the nature of this erection, or the purposes for which its worshippers enter. But besides these merits in point of taste, I am inclined to look deeper, and to believe, that our magistrates had an important moral object in view. It is well known that a number of persons feel a wish studiously to conceal the worship which they render to this divinity. This is at once unmanly, and, by inducing habits of dissimulation, may vitiate the whole character. We all remember the saying of the Roman consul, who wished his house to be made of glass, in order that every thing done in it might be seen by every passenger. Upon this noble principle our magistrates have acted. Not only ALTHOUGH I have sometimes taken occasion to hint at some steps that appeared to me erroneous on the part of our worthy Magistrates, I can faithfully assure you, that nothing affords me greater pleasure, than to bestow praise where it appears to be due. An occasion, I am happy to say, now offers, which not only admits, but imperiously demands such a tribute. I allude particularly to certain specimens of ecclesiastical architecture which have recently been exhibited, and which must excite the admiration of every lover of the fine arts. I dwell not now on the matchless church which they are erecting in Charlotte Square, the fine taste displayed in which I may hereafter, take occasion to point out. At present, however, they have laudably turned their attention to an object still more interesting; to the cathedral of St Giles's, the pride of Edinburgh, and one of the noblest remains of Gothic architecture of which this country can boast. Not satisfied with the beauties which it already displays, they have still farther embellished, its front by erecting a temple to a divinity, the worship of which is so natural and universal, that Christianity itself has not sought to supersede it. The exquisite propriety of such an arrangement is too obvious to require any illustration. If Pagan temples have been advantageously converted into Christian churches, why should not the latter, in their turn, be made subservient to a purpose, which conduces so much to the case and comfort of the human race? What beautiful and agreeable associations thus arise in the mind! But the felicity of the connection is still surpassed by the beauties of the execution. On this subject, language have they raised this edifice in the most public and frequented spot of the whole metropolis; but they have constructed it in so open a manner as to leave no room whatever for such culpable concealment. Upon the whole, I am fully of opinion, that the Magistrates of Edinburgh deserve the thanks of the public for adorning in so tasteful a manner our ancient Cathedral. I trust we shall soon see a representation of this structure adorning the frontispiece of your Miscellany, in order that, should it share the vicissitude of human things, some memorial of what it has been may be transmitted to future ages. CIVIS. Memoirs of the Progress of Manufactures, Chemistry, Science, and the Fine Arts. THE Society of arts, London, re commends a Process for making Bread from Potatoes and Wheat Flour, as practised under the Direction of H. B. Way, Esq.-Sixteen pounds of potatoes were washed, and when pared weighed twelve pounds. After boiling they weighed thirteen pounds, and were then mixed, whilst warm, with twenty-six pounds of flour: the potatoes were bruised as fine as possible, and half a pound of yeast added. Four quarts of warm water were added to the mixture of potatoes, yeast, and flour, and the whole well kneaded together, and left two hours to rise, and then weigh. ed forty-six pounds and four ounces. The whole made six loaves and two cakes, which were baked at two separate times, in my iron oven, each baking taking two hours. The six loaves and two cakes the day after being baked, weighed forty pounds and twelve ounces. The oven is made of wrought iron on Count Rumford's plan, to heat from a separate fire-place. The time from the fire being lighted till the bread was baked at twice, was five hours, in which time six pounds of Walls-end coals, and three pounds of cinders were consumed, besides a small quantity of wood used merely to light the fire. Expences of Bread made from a Mixture of Potatoes and Wheat Flour, and Comparisons in Price with Wheaten Bread. March 10, 1812.-16 lbs. of potatoes, pared and boiled, weighed 13 lbs. 4 lbs. allowance for interest and loss on the stock bought in October 1811, say 25 per cent. makes s. d. 20 lbs. of potatoes, at 6s. 6d. per sack of 240 lbs. the actual price when bought, 26 lbs. of fine flour, at 51. per October 1811, sack of 280 lbs. Half a pint of yeast 6 lbs. of coals, at 21. 18s. 6d. per chaldron, of 2808 lbs. 5 lbs. of cinders, and wood for lighting fire 40 lbs. 12 oz. of bread at the 0 61 9 3 02 0 11/ 0 1 10 3 above date, at 1s. 4d. the quartern loaf, of 4 lbs. 5 oz. 8 drams, would have been 12 6 Leaves a saving of 26 lbs. of flour at the rate of 80 loaves, of 4 lbs. 5 oz. 8 drams each to the sack of 280 lbs. would only have made Gain in bread by 16 lbs. of potatoes, is more than half a pound of bread for each pound of pota toes 2 3 Ibs. oz. dr. 32 4 4 8 7 12 40 12 0 The The iron oven has been in use more than 15 years; it is 20 inches deep, 16 inches wide, and 16 inches high; and has been recently fresh set to heat from a separate fire-place, which is 10 inches deep, 7 inches wide, and 7 inches high, the bars of the fireplace 14 inches from the bottom of the oven. Mr. Way's bread had been sent from Bridport Harbour to the Society on the 10th of March 1812; and had been examined and tasted at sundry times by members of the Society, from the 12th to the 26th of March, so that the greatest part of the loaf had been eaten. What remained on the 26th had every appearance of bread made wholly from wheaten flour well fermented, and well tasted, without being in the least mouldy or stale, though it had been baked fourteen days. Mr Leslie, the Professor of Mathematics in the University of Edinburgh, who may, without doubt, be fairly esteemed one of the most sound philosophers of the present age, has furnished us with an ingenious contrivance, for the purpose of determining the different rates of the evaporation, which at different times goes on upon the surface of the globe. This instrument, which he has thought proper to denominate the Atmometer, from the Greek words arμos, vapour, and μstgoy, a measure, is admirable for its simplicity. Into the neck of a thin hollow sphere, about two or three inches in diameter, made of a porous kind of earthen ware, very similar to that of which our modern wine-coolers are manufactured, is inserted, and firmly cemented, the lower open extremity of a graduated water which has been recently boiled, and the brass cap again carefully screwed on. In this state, its surface having been previously wiped dry, it must be exposed freely to the air by suspending it in a convenient situation. The water will now make its way through the various pores of the lower vessel, in proportion to the rapidity of the evaporation which may be going on at its external surface, and the quantity which thus transudes and is evaporated, will be measured by the descent of the column of water in the tube. Another instrument, of somewhat similar, although more delicate, construction, has also been lately invented by the same gentleman, the purpose of which is to enable us to ascertain the degree of humidity of the atmosphere. Its lower part is formed of a very thin ball, turned out of a bit of finely-grained ivory, having a neck joined to it by means of an accurate screw, into which is inserted a slender glass tube. Previously to using it, the ivory ball must be dipped into water, of which, when it has absorbed a due quantity, it is then filled with mercury, and the neck with the tube screwed on. Upon exposure to the atmosphere, it is sufficiently evident, that if it be comparatively dry, it will attract moisture from the ivory ball, which will consequently shrink and become less capacious, and squeeze the mercury up into the tube; but that if, on the contrary, the atmosphere be more humid than the ball, it will necessarily be enlarged, and thus cause a descent of the mercury. glass tube, which is accurately closed Anecdotes, Sc. Historical and Lile at its top, by means of a brass cap, fitted to it with a collar of leather. When the instrument is required to be used, the brass top being removed, the ball and tube are to be filled with distilled water, or in lieu thereof, rary. CHINESE MARRIAGES. ALL marriages in China being made by parents, the parties are |