"The harl is now to be separated from the reed, after the manner practised on flax and hemp, either by manual labour or machinery now in use in those manufactories. This operation was performed in my experiments by hand, and with implements constructed by myself, but which I consider too simple here to describe.

"The harl being separated from the reed, it requires next to be beaten, that it may become more ductile for the operation of dressing, which may be performed with such implements as are used for dressing flax or hemp. "This operation being accomplished, the produce of the nettles is arrived at a state ready for spinning, and may be spun into various qualities of yarn, either by hand, or by machinery constructed for the purposes of spinning flax or hemp; and this yarn may be successfully substituted for the manufacturing every sort of cloth, cordage, rope, &c. which is usually made from hemp or flax, and is particularly calculated for making twine for fishing-nets equal to the Dutch twine imported for that purpose, the fibres of the nettles being stronger than those of flax, and not so harsh as the fibres of hemp.

In the course of my experiments on nettles it often occurred to me, that the refuse, and such parts as were da maged in different processes with the undergrowth, might be applied to useful purposes, and in addition to the nettle manufactory, as applicable to the purposes for which hemp and flax

are used. Another source of produc tive labour of great magnitude would be derived from a new substance, cap able of being converted into so many beneficial uses, if my speculations! should be finally accomplished. In contemplating these subjects, I was induced to believe the refuse and undergrowth might be converted into paper of various sorts, "according to the changes they might be made to unders go from the several operations necess sary to reduce them to a proper state for this use; having frequently obser ved, with regret, the deterioration in the quality of writing and printing paper, occasioned by the use of cotton rags in the paper manufactory; which evinces itself even to the most super ficial observer, who may only casually open many of the modern publications, and which it must be admitted is of the utmost moment, as it endangers the preservation of works of literature. Being convinced of the superior strength of nettle substance, I thought, could my speculations be reduced success fully to practice, it would not only remedy this great evil, and operate as an antidote to the use of cotton rags in that part of the paper manufactory, but eventually effect a reduction in the prices of books, which for some years have been rapidly increasing, and are now become excessive, to the great ob struction of disseminating useful knowledge among mankind, and contribute to the diminution of our exports in that material branch of commerce. W »

"In addition to the above incentives, the consideration of the high price of paper, chiefly occasioned, as I conclude, from the extravagant price of linen rags, and impediments to the procuring a foreign supply of them, arising from the circumstances of the times; and seeing that the use of linen cloth is in a great measure superseded by the very general introduction of cloth manufactured from cotton, which

consequently must materially diminish the supply of linen rags, and, proba bly, in process of time, from the increa, sing substitution of cotton cloth for linen, linen rags, particularly of the finer qualities, may be totally annihilated. Urged by all these considerations, which were forcibly impressed on my mind, and feeling assured of the practicability of reducing the substance of nettles to a state necessary to the production of paper, and confident in the superior strength of such paper, if it could be manufactured from a substance so substantial, I was most powerfully impelled to attempt to reduce to practice what in theory I had so warmly cherished. The attempt was ardu ous, not only from an entire want of knowledge of the manufactory, and of the necessary utensils, but I was destitute of any proper implement to engage in the undertaking with any probability of success; hoping however by perseverance to succeed, I proceeded, and found on my first rough trial my expectations realized.

The most favourable condition of the lint, with a view to the paper manufactory, is to begin with it after it is hackled; in order that the fibres may be divested of the skins which enclose them, as, when it is intended to make white paper, having gone through that process, it would greatly facilitate the bleaching, and be the more easily disencumbered of the gross particles.

"When I signify as my opinion, that the fibres of nettles should be dressed the same as for yarn, previous to their being prepared with a view to the making of paper, I wish not to be understood to convey the idea that the operation cannot be dispensed with; because I conceive, that by the aid of such machinery as is in use with the paper manufacturers, or by some improvements therein, they might be brought to a pulp easily, even when

T

the nettles are first gathered, should it, with a view to saving of labour, be deemed necessary; but the practicability of this I leave to the experience which time may hereafter afford...

"My operation of bleaching the fibres for paper was performed on the grass, which I deem preferable to the new mode of bleaching with water impregnated with air by means of oxige nated muriatic acid gas; because the old mode of bleaching on grass weakens the strength of the fibre, leaves it more flexible, and thereby expedites the mas ceration, which in some degree compensates for the time it requires longer than by the chemical process. But for bleaching of yarn or cloth made of whatever substance, the chemical process, if scientifically conducted, experience has convinced me is pre-eminently superior, as it gives additional strength to the yarn, greater firmness to the texture of the cloth, and is an immense saving of time, labour, &c.

"After the lint is bleached it should be reduced to a proper length for paper, and then macerated in water after the manner of rags, and undergo similar processes till the substance is converted into paper, which may be easily accomplished by manufacturers, and the substance of nettles made to produce paper of the first quality and the most substantial.

"In my process the lint was reduced by scissars to particles as minute as was practicable with such an implement; then it was macerated in cold water about ten days, and brought as much to a pulp as could be effected without the aid of grinding, &c. Being a stranger to the composition used to procure the adhesion of the particles, if any is used for this purpose, tried several glutinous substances, none of which answered so well as a solution of gum; but I am well aware this cannot be generally used, being too expensive.

I

"After the pulp was impregnated with the solution, I then spread it thin on a wire frame of my own construction, which process, except drying it, with me was final. Not being possess. ed of the means of pressing the paper any more than grinding of the lint, and for want of the film which adheres to the lint being dressed off, 1 could completely destroy the colour, so as to produce a clear white without pick. ing out every discoloured particle, which I so well accomplished, that when I had reduced the staple in length, in this state it was perfectly free from colour; the deterioration which ensued when converted into paper was occasioned by the solution of gum.

"My processes were the fruits of

my own conceptions, and I desire it may not be understood, that I presume to recommend them for practice, being conscious, that the manufacturers of paper, hemp, and flax, from analogy, are possessed of the knowledge of operations and means more consonant and infinitely superior.

"These several manufactures from the new substance of nettles, patronized by the stimulating approbation and recommendation of the Society of Arts, &c. I with all due deference venture to predict will rapidly increase the capital of those individuals who engage therein, afford new employ ment to the poorer classes of society, and become a new source of wealth to the nation. EDWARD SMITH."

April 28, 1810.

Ar a time when so much petulant folly is daily circulated amongst an ignorant multitude, about the extinc tion of public virtue, the growth of corruption, and the utter baseness and venality of all statesmen of all parties, we have no small satisfaction in communicating some record to our readers, of a life whose every act supplies so me noble refutation of the calumny. Whatever may have been the errors of Mr Windham's judgement, malice itself can cast no aspersion upon his honour and it is a circumstance ; redounding in no slight degree to the glory of his moral character, that, though there was no set of men in the state, to whom his independent politics had not at some period occasion ed offence, there was not an individual of his acquaintance, in or out of government, who did not uniformly retain, and acknowledge, an unqualified respect for the purity of his motives and the incorruptibility of his mind.

The time is long past when the bio. graphy of a great man was an amusing romance. The eminence of political power, which, in ancient days, was to be climbed only by a precipitous and pathless ascent, is now attained by an approach, of which the steps are pretty regularly hewn, though the course may be a little more tortuous.

VOL. IV. PART II.

Tournaments, and poisons, and prisons, and rescues, and ransoms, no longer diversify the secret history of the cabinet; and we cannot woo our readers with a melting tale of

Disastrous chances, Of moving accidents by flood and field, Or hair-breadth scapes in the imminent deadly breach.

But we will attempt to furnish, what, in our opinion, is of a nature more interesting than a thousand corporal adventures; a review of the conduct of a great mind, under all the varieties in which it displayed itself during a political life, fruitful, beyond all former example, in novel principles, in popular alarms, and in revolutions of frightful magnitude; a survey of those intellectual energies, by which the destinies of half the civilized world were affected, in a mode neither indirect nor remote. In order to this end we shall not confine ourselves to a bare sketch of the private life of Mr Windham, insulated from the eminent individuals, with and against whom he distinguished himself; but rather endeavour to present a historical picture of his time, taking care, of course, to preserve his portrait the most prominent figure and main object of the piece.

The family of Mr Windham, which

a

was ancient and honourable, had been settled, for about three centuries, at Felbrigg on the north-eastern coast of Norfolk, when their estates in that neighbourhood, which were very considerable, descended to Colonel Wil. liam Windham. He was a man of lively talents; and lived on terms of intimacy with Marquis Townshend, Mr Garrick, and other men the most distinguished in that day for genius or wit. He married Mrs Lukin, a widow Lady, by whom he had one son, William Windham, the subject of the present memoir.

William Windham was born, in Golden Square, in the city of Westminster, on the 3d of May, old style, A. D. 1750. He was sent, at the early age of seven, to Eton school, where he had remained about four years, when he suffered a heavy calamity in the death of his father. He continued, however, to pursue his studies there, till he was about sixteen years old, when he quitted school with a high and deserved reputation. Those, who were acquainted with him in af ter life, will be little surprised at finding, that he was not more distinguished for the rapidity of his studious talents than for the enterprising openness and manly gaiety of his temper and courage. Dr Barnard, the head master, used to relate, when the names of Windham and Fox had become celebrated in the parliamentary annals of their country, that they were the two last boys he had ever flogged. It was for eloping together to see a play at Windsor, that this chastisement was inflicted.

From Eton he transferred the seat of his studies to Glasgow, where, under the tuition of Professor Anderson, and Dr Robert Simson, the cele brated editor of Euclid, he laid the foundation of those mathematical acquirements of which he afterwards be

came so accomplished a master. In the September of the following year, he was entered a gentleman commoner of University College at Oxford, where his tutor was Sir Robert Chambers. It is not

little remarkable, that, at

the most enthusiastic season of life, when young ambition burns most brightly, and hope is perpetually at hand to fan its fires, a man of Mr Windham's fervent soul, and possess ing, as circumstances afterwards evinced, so peculiar a turn and talent for political business, should have been to tally indifferent to all public affairs. So absolute was his apathy at this period, that, as he was wont himself to relate, it was a frequent jest amongst bis con temporaries to exclaim, "Windham will never know who is prime minis ter." He had not attained the age of twenty-one, when he actually declined the advantageous offer of the secretaryship to the new Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the Marquis Townshend.

In the year 1771, Mr Windham quitted the university. It was not long before the ardour of his tempera ment induced him to form an attach. ment to a lady in the immediate neigh. bourhood of Felbrigg, who seemed to return his affection with equal warmth. But on a sudden, when all things were apparently ripening for their union, she became involved in a connexion with a gentleman already married, which terminated in a disgraceful elopement. We forbear, through motives of delicacy, to mention names and minute particulars. Mr Windham resolved to seek relief, in a change of scene, from the distress of this afflicting event. He therefore joined, as a passenger, in the expedition un der Commodore Phipps and Sir Joseph Banks, which had for its object the extension of geographical discovery towards the North Pole; but indispo sition compelled him to desist from his