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nent Professor of Botany, and a superintendant or head gardener every way qualified for his office, it seems to be a national disgrace, to suffer the finest plants in the collection to pine for want of room, or to rot owing to a deficiency of shelter, by withholding a small grant of the public money, sufficient to renew or to raise the roofs of the hot-houses. The noble Dragon-blood tree (Dracæna draco), formerly mentioned, has for these two last years been casionally pushing its strong leaves through the panes of glass; and if the roof be not speedily raised, the plant, by far the grandest of the kind within his Majesty's British dominions, must be inevitably lost! A large and splendid specimen of the Date Palm, (Phoenix dactylifera), has, at this moment, its elegantly pinnated fronds also bent back by the glass of the roof. We shall only remark, that it is impossible to believe that the true state of this Royal Garden can be known to the Prince Regent or his advisers.

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HAVING always taken an interest in the progress of the Fine Arts in Scotland, we hail with pleasure the appearance of a master, who must undoubtedly rank in the first class of her landscape painters. Mr Wilson, a native of this city, has resided for some years in Italy, where he assiduously availed himself of the ample means of improvement afforded by that country, and the classic environs of Rome. He has executed several very finished representations of the scenery in the neightourhood, which, along with others,

he is now privately exhibiting here.

Mr Wilson, we understand, intends to have engraved under his eye, two prints from his principal landscapes, which contain views of Tivoli and of Rome. They are to be subscribed for at a guinea each. We consider him as entitled to every species of encouragement from the lovers of the arts.

We expect to be able, in our next, to present our readers with some observations on the principal pieces contained in this interesting exhibition.

Doctor Hutton, in reply to an observation of Dr Davy, has lately published the following account of the curious experiments made in 1774, at Schehallien, " About the year 1774, says he, "there was much conversation among some of the most scientific members of the Royal Society, about the universal attraction of all matter, and in devising some general and familiar proofs of it. It was then concluded that it would be a very decisive and, indeed, palpable proof, if it could be experimentally shown that any hill attracted a plummet, drawing it cular direction towards itself.-Afsensibly aside from the perpenditer several reports of the Royal Society, Mr Smeaton announced

that he had discovered the mountain Schehallien, one of the Grampian hills in the north of Scotland, possessing the desired properties in a very eminent degree; being a very lofty and narrow ridge, very steep, extending a great length east and west, and very narrow from north to south. This hill was in consequence deemed sufficiently convenient for making the experiment; and a person, who had been an assistant to Dr Maskelyne, at the Royal Observatory, was engaged by the society, and sent down to Scotland to take

the

the necessary measures about the hill, to ascertain its shape and magnitude by horizontal measurements, and by vertical sections in a great many directions and situations; and, lastly, by placing a proper instrument and plumet against the middle of the sides of the hill, to observe by zenith distances, the deviation of the plumb-line towards the hill. Before the survey and observations were quite completed, at the request of the society, Dr Maskelyne himself went down to Scotland, to see how the business was carried on; and brought back the account of the survey, with the report that, having tried the plumet on the opposite sides of the hill, each side attracted it between 5 and 6 seconds from the perpendicular, and in fact, that the sum of the two opposite attractions was just equal to 11 6-16th seconds.-Thus, then, the original question was satisfactorily answered in the affirmafive, viz. that the hill, a mass of dense rocks, did sensibly attract the plummet, and draw it aside from the perpendicular direction of the earth's gravitation, and that by a certain quantity. The next consideration was, whether and how these observations and measurements could be employed, in comparison with the magnitude and effects of the whole earth, to determine its mean destiny, in comparison with that of the mountain. -The magnitude and novelty of these nice calculations, the requisite portion of science and ingenuity for making them with effect, were such as appalled every mind, and every one shrunk from the task; when at the request of the president and council of the society, I undertook the performance; and, after incessant Labour during the course of a year, produced the result of the whole, to the entire satisfaction of all the society. The account of three cal

culations was published in the Phi. losophical Transactions for the year 1778, and in volume xiv. of my Abridgment of these transactions; and, though in a very condensed form, occupied no less than a hundred quarto pages in that work, containing only the results of niany thousands of intricate calculations. The conclusion from all which was, that the mean density of the whole mass of the earth is nearly double that of the mountain, being to the former in the proportion of 9 to 5; whence it appears that the density of the earth is about five times that of the water."

· on

Dr. Reuben Mussey, of Massachussetts, lately published, Experiments and Observations Cutaneous Absorption. These experiments show how the system may be supported in cases of emergeney, without the reception of food by the stomach. They explain how extreme thirst may be allayed by sailors in distress, by the immersion of their bodies in salt water; as the salt will not percolate through the pores of the skin to increase thirst, though the water will be absorbed by the skin, and refresh, if not nourish them. In his first experiment he remained immersed in a pretty strong watery infusion of the rubia tinctorum, two hours and forty five minutes." The urine he voided three hours after he left the bath,

was slightly tinged with red, and treated with a solution of the common sulphat of iron, it gave a tinge of a purplish brown." In the second experiment, "I continued”. says he, "three hours in the madder bath. The portion discharged five hours after leaving the bath was a little deeper-coloured than common Sherry, or Sicily wine. Treated with the sulphat of iron," a strong purplish brown precipitate was produced." In the several succeeding

succeeding experiments, the results were similar, the third excepted; in which however he remained immersed but one hour and five minutes. In his subsequent experiments, he tested the urine voided after he had been into the madder bath by the "caustic or moderately-carbonated potash, which turns urine slightly tinged with madder of a cranberry, red." To detect whatever there might be of fallacy in the experiments, the caustic potash was put into urine, in which there could be none of the colouring principle of the madder, and no change took place in the colour of the urine. We consider these experiments as involving points of the deepest consequence to the perfect knowledge and skilful treatment of the human body.

The new Astronomical Observatory at Gottingen will be completed with the utmost expedition early in the ensuing year. Harding, the celebrated discoverer of Juno, is, in the mean time, at the king's expense, gone to Paris, to confer with the astronomers of France.

Halle has experienced, in a very distinguished manner, the patronage of King Jerome and his ministers, who seem to be zealous to afford succour to the arts and sciences. The finances of this academic institution lately amounted only to 50,700 franks, whereas the expences exceeded 106,300 franks; the deficiency has, however, been supplied; and the annual salaries augmented with 8,100 franks. This University sustained a considerable loss by Reil's removal to Berlin.

The literary institutions of Franconia have been considerably augmented from the funds of the suppressed school at Closterbergen; and the Pædagogium, which continues to be directed by the Chancellor Niemeyer, and which, for

of

the education of youth, is one the most flourishing and best-regu lated schools of the country, receives equal, and in some respects greater, support from the King of Westphalia, than it used to receive from the King of Prussia. The botanic garden, under the immediate care and direction of Sprengel, is, for variety and rarity, particularly distinguished among the German University gardens. The library alone receives annually from King Jerome, the sum of 1,800 dollars, for the purchase of new books and other necessary articles.

M. Louis Petit Radel, a member of the Institute, has been long occupied with the developement of a general theory relative to the primitive establishments of Italy and Greece, and he has accordingly dedicated his attention to the ruins of ancient cities. The city of Tarragona, the walls of which were built by the Scipios, has excited the most lively interest, and he has dis covered that the stones then used by the Romans were all marked with Celtiberian characters of an age much anterior.

A Monsieur Cronstat, a French chemist, who has lately arrived in London, has astonished our sugarbakers by the exhibition of a new and shortened process for refining sugar. He effects, in two or three days, what has usually been performed by the ordinary process only in as many months; and, what is equally important, he produces the finest sugar from the present refuse of the sugar-houses. Should the process be made public, we shall introduce it into the Scots Magazine. We are, however, enabled to state, at present, that the new process does not require the use of bullocks blood, and other offensive materials hitherto employed by the sugar-bakers.

Effects

Effects of Fashionable Education, 1763, I received from Squire Hopeillustrated in the History of Billy

Hopeful.

SIR,

TO THE EDitor.

ful, our hero's father, a pressing invitation to dinner. I had already been his parochial schoolmaster upwards of four years, without receiving any similar attention, or

A CONSIDERABLE time ago, indeed any attention water to ac

you and your readers were made acquainted with my eventful history as a Teacher. As my principal attention has always been directed to the classics, l'know little or nothing of chemistry, and hence my admirable plan of Polite Education, formerly hinted at, is very much in statu quo. On applying to several gentlemen of chemical celebrity, I find no difference of opinion as to the practicability, and advantage of the plan. The only difference of opinion exists as to the mode of applying this admirable scheme. One thinks it may be best effected by a shock of Electricity, another by an Injection, and a third thinks it may be most successfully administered in a Magnum Bonum. In the mean time, till I can bring my plan to maturity, I think I cannot better serve all ranks of society, than by sketching the education and biography of Billy Hopeful.

I am, Sir, yours, &c,

MALCOLM M'DOMINIE. 11th Jan, 1812.

BILLY HOPEFUL was an only son, whose mother died when he was three years old. By his father he had the prospect of an estate, worth L.500 a year. His uncle, who inherited the family estate, had reached the wrong side of fifty, and was still unmarried, so that our young hero, on the demise of his father and uncle, had a fair prospect of succeeding to at least 1.4000 a year, besides considerable expectations from maiden aunts, grand aunts, &c.

Some time in the summer of
February 1812.

was therefore totally at a loss to account for the honour now conferred, and it more than once occurred to me, that the company was to consist of a batch of drunken farmers in the neighbourhood, and that poor Malcolm was invited to be the butt of the company. Be the event or the intention what they might, I deemed it prudent to accept the invitation. Having put on my best coat, my triple cocked hat, my fringed muslin cravat, my ribbed black and white stockings, my priest-gray waistcoat, and a pair of new shoes purchased expressly for the occasion; and having made above fifty resolu tions not to get tipsy, I repaired to his honour's at the hour appointed.

On entering the room, to my very great surprise, I found the company consisted of Squire Hopeful, his son Billy, a natural son named Horatio, and Misses Euphemia, Dorothea, Jemima, Clementina, Xantippe, and Penelope, all antiquated maiden aunts or cousins, of the right worshipful family of the Hopefuls. Such a sight totally disconcerted me, and to tell the truth, might have disconcerted a much greater adept in the art of bowing than ever I could pretend to be. I therefore made my awkward bow as well as I could, and instantly seated myself on my centre of gravity on the nearest chair.

This first embarrassment over, I soon found myself tolerably easy, as the gentleman himself, and the ladies, were extremely attentive. It now occurred to me (for I was at that time a good looking young fellow) that his honour had

rent

sent for me, in order to offer me the hand of one or other of said ladies, with a situation in the custom house or excise.

Dinner at last appeared, and after it a bottle of wine, when the Squire relieved my anxiety by addressing me as follows. "Mr MacDominie, I have heard that you are a schollard, thoff I am no great judge of them kind of things. My natural son Horatio (a boy about five) I mean to place under your care. The ordinary schoolfees are 6s. a year, but I mean to allow you 10s. which, you know, is very handsome." I nodded assent. ` In continuation he informed me, that he had boarded him with an old woman within a few yards of my school, at 2s. per week. That his brother Billy's old clothes would serve him well enough, and that the cumulo expence of the boy might be about seven pounds per annum.

This important affair being settled, he told me he wished to take my opinion on a matter of infinite importance, namely, the education of his son and heir Billy; and having descanted on the youth's great expectations, the antiquity and heroic deeds of his ancestors, &c. &c. asked me ingenuously what I would do, were I in his place? He made a solemn pause, and the ladies were all attention. If the boy were mine, said. I, I would send him along with Horatio, and treat them exactly alike.

What a scene followed. The Squire was completely petrified, or rather horrified. Miss Jemima fainted. Miss Clementina's eyes reeled in her head with indignation, and the other ladies quitted the room with precipitation. After this hurly burly was appeased, and Misses Jemima and Clementina had left us, the Squire told me, I had said a more impolite and improper thing, than ever proceeded

from a human mouth, adding, with uncommon emphasis, that it would be monstrously shocking to treat a legitimate like an illegitimate child.

Finding it needless to argue the matter farther, I told him he was the best judge, and could take his own way. I took my leave as soon as decency permitted. At the time appointed Horatio was sent to school, and by the time he was fourteen, had made himself master of all the inferior branches of education, necessary for business, besides a sufficient knowledge of the Greek and Roman classics. He was bound apprentice to a merchant of some eminence, who in process of time, gave him a small share of the concern, as a reward for his industry and honesty. From one step to another he gradually ascended, and at the age of forty had secured a handsome competence with which he retired and purchased a small estate near the spot of his nativity. You would not imagine he had one drop of the blood of the Hopefuls in his veins, for he never seduced a female, broke a porter's head, demolished a lamp, fought a duel, or killed a fox in his life.

Our hero Billy was only three months younger than his illegitimate brother Horatio. From the great tenderness of his friends, and the infinity of different plans daily suggested for his polite and genteel education, he was allowed to gallop about, with a servant to attend him, till he was nine years old, before any thing decisive was resolved on. The sextumvirate (if I may use an Iricism) of ladies before mentioned, were so much attached to him, that they could not bear him out of their sight, and as they lived together in one house in the genteel town of where there was an academy, he was at last put under their charge. No

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