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A METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL, for MAY,, 1796, at Southgate, Middlefex.

D. H. B. T.) P. JW.

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OBSERVATIONS.

N. B. By perfectly clear is meant, a sky all blue and clear in the horizon-By clear, a sky blue but hazy in the horizon-By partially clear, a sky in which there is more blue than cloudsBy cloudy, a fky covered with light clouds—By very cloudy, a sky in which the clouds are darkB. ftands for Barometer, at the head of the column; T Thermometer; P. Pluviometer; and the figures denote the number of ounce measures that have fallen on the fquare in the last 24 hours-W. &c. means the quarter the wind blows from-The firft expreffion of the Thermometer given each day is the lowest degree of heat in the preceding night, unless the contrary is noticed.

AGRICULTURE.

AGRICULTURE.
Monthly Report for July..

THE frequent fhowers which have fallen in the last three or four weeks, have proved very unfavourable to the HAY HARVEST. The crops were, in general, abundant, but on account of the untowardness of the weather, the hay has been got in at a very unusual expence, and in fome places, for want of a fufficient number of hands, a confiderable quantity has been fpoiled. Hay has, in confequence, advanced one-fifth in the London markets, fince this time laft month.

The change of the weather has, alfo, had confiderable effect on the growing WHEATS. In Scotland, and in the northern districts, the early crops of this grain are already much infected with the yellow ruft, and the continuance of cold, ftormy, moift weather augurs ill to the late hope of a productive harvest. In the midland districts, much wheat has run to straw, and in many places it has been laid by the late fevere ftorms. In the eastern and western diftricts, the profpect is more favourable; and although fome corns are touched with the yellow blight, producing fmut, yet, in the weft, more particularly, a plentiful harveft may be confidently expected. In the last week of June and July, the average prices of wheat, throughout England and Wales, have been refpectively 80s. 6d. and 8 rs. 4d. the quarter.

In the fouth and weft the BARLEYS alfo wear a very promifing appearance, and may be expected to be nearly as abundant as they were last year: a fortunate circumftance for those districts, on account of the general and total blight and failure of the APPLE-TREES. As little little or no rain fell on the north-eaft fide of the island, during the months of May and June, the fpring-fown corns had fuffered much before they were refreshed

by the fhowers of July, and, in confequence, there muft in those places be light crops of OATS, BARLEY, and BEANS. The PEAS promife better. In' diftricts farther weft, where meist weather was lefs wanted, the fpring-corns, in general, cannot fail to be far more luxuriant.

The TURNIP-CROPS, and other kinds of WINTER-KEEP, have been effentially ferved by the late rains. The FALLOWING alfo goes on to advantage, the fhowers bringing the annual weeds into vegetation, and the foil not being so wet as to prevent the ufe of the plough.

Though the price of BUTCHERS' MEAT has been on the decline, yet STOCK of all kinds have kept up their enormous prices, in almost every part of the kingdom. SHEEP, and WEANEDLAMBS, and STORE-STOCK, have, indeed, been fold at fome late fairs for prices hitherto without example. In the midland counties, this advance is afcribed to the plentiful stock of hay and other fubfiftance on hand; in the fouthern and western diftricts, it is afcribed to an actual fcarcity of live ftock-an alarming fact, which is faid to be clearly demonftrated at all the fairs and markets.

There has been little fpeculation at the late great wooL fairs, and the buyers have been, in general, very tardy. The prices have varied, between 155. and 168 to 255. and 26s. per ftone. The uncertain afpect of our political connection with Spain, has been one caufe of this want of fpirit in our wool-markets.

The HOP plantations continue to thrive, and to afford the prospect of a good crop. The market has been dull, and prices have declined from 10s, to 15s. per hundred weight fince our last.

TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

THE length of feveral temporary articles have unavoidably compelled us to defer, till our next Number, the favor of A Poor Northumbrian" -The Conclufion of the Paper on the Similes of Homer, &c.-The Differtation on Outlawry-And fome interesting articles relative to Ireland and Scotland.

Several other accepted and valuable communications on Speculative fubje&ts, will appear as early as poffible. Our Preface will beft explain the preference we neceffarily give to all Communications of a practical nature, or which appertain to matters of fact.-We fball be glad to receive a specimen from M. of Chichefier.—We thank our Correfpondent at Worcester, and promife an early a tention to his favour.

We intreat that our friends in Ireland and Scotland will, in future, fupply themselves through the medium of their respective Bookfellers, in the ufual way of obtaining the other Monthly Publications.

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To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

ONE of your correfpondents, who fubfcribes himself M. H. has, in the Fifth Number of your Magazine, made fome obfervations on a letter of mine, inferted in your First Number, relative to Helvetius's Treatife on Man, his Intel. lectual Faculties, and his Education: you will, therefore, I prefume, allow me to make fome remarks on your Correfpondent's Letter, by way of reply.

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M.H. fays,, that "to talk of a human, "being, commonly well organized, with "an abfolute incapacity for learning, or, "what is fynonymous, for receiving knowledge, is furely equally abfurd "and unphilofophical." I never had the moft diftant conception that any human being, commonly well organized, had any abfolute incapacity for learning, or receiving knowledge. Your Correfpondent's remark feems founded on a quotation I gave from Huartes, a Spanish writer on Education, of whofe work there is more than one tranflation in the English language. I gave the quotation from Huartes, as the obfervations of a writer of fome celebrity, whofe fyftem was in diametric oppofition to that of Helvetius; but I am very far from concurring in all the fentiments of Huartes. I think the fyftems of Huartes and of Helvetius both erroneous.

Nothing that is advanced by M. H. has in the leaft convinced me of the truth of the system of Helvetius. Many of his obfervations may be readily admited, though that fyftem fhould be totally falfe. Those who can be taught the first rules of arithmetic, may be led to make a greater progrefs; the fenfes may be rendered more acute by ufe, and bodily and mental powers are much ftrengthened by exercife and habit; accidental circumftances fometimes lead men to a MONTHLY MAG. No. VII.

vigorous profecution of fome particular object, and they thereby acquire a degree of celebrity which they would not otherwife obtain; and education has a very powerful effect in the formation of the human character, and operates ftrongly with refpect both to morals and to literary acquifitions. But when all this is admitted, it amounts to no proof, that the intellectual powers of all human creatures are originally equal, and that the apparent difference of their powers is the refult only of difference of education, accidental circumftances, and difference of fituation. It appears to me, that neither Helvetius, nor your Correfpondent, has produced a fingle argument, in fupport of this hypothefis,

that is conclufive.

Referring to a paffage of Huartes, your correfpondent remarks, that fome particular train of circumstances might have led certain ftudents, "in the courfe "of their education, to apply to the

study of one fcience in preference to "another." This may be admitted, without difficulty, but it will not thence follow, that all men are equally qualified to pursue the fame fcience with the fame fuccefs, if their dilligence, and their external advantages, are perfectly fimilar. Students may frequently be found, who difcover a confiderable thirst for knowledge, and who employ much application, and who yet never make the fame progrefs with others, who do not dif. cover the fame ardour for the acquifition of knowledge, nor the fame application. This cafe fo often occurs, that I fhould fuppofe it hardly poffible for any fchoolmafter, or the head of any feminary of learning, to be a difciple of Helvetius. Dr. Johnfon fays, "It has been ob"ferved, that the moft ftudious are not

always the most learned. There is, "indeed no great difficulty in difcover3 X

"ing,

may

"ing, that this difference of proficiency arife from the difference of in"telectual powers, of the choice of "books, or the convenience of informa"tion." In many cafes, it is apparent, that this difference has not arifen from any deficiency refpecting the ufe of good authors, or the conveniency of information, and appeared only to arife from the difference of intellectual powers. Rouffeau, fpeaking of himself, fays, "I "am not made like any one I have feen. "I dare believe I am not made like any one exifting. If I am not better, at "leaft, I am quite different. Whether "Nature has done well or ill, in break"ing the mould the caft me in, can "be determined only after having read me." Without adopting the ideas of Rouffeau, a man must have a great deal of faith, who can believe, that fuch very fingular men as Voltaire, Rouffeau, and Dr. Johnson, had nothing in them originally different from the generality of men; and that whatever difference afterwards appeared, was merely the refult of education, fituation, or accidental

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"it is to the most trifling incidents the "moft illuftrious citizens have fome"times owed their talents. From whence "I conclude, that chance acts in a like manner on all mankind; and if its "effects on ORDINARY MINDS are less "remarked, it is merely becaufe MINDS "OF THIS SORT are themselves lefs "remarkable." If fome minds are ordinary, and others not ordinary, and if there are minds originally of different forts, the fyftem of Helvetius is not true. Helvetius alfo fays, that, "in children, "the difference of understanding and "character is not always very obvious." But if it be ever very obvious, can the fyftem of Helvetius be well grounded?

M. H. fays, "That virtue, as well as talents, are the product of education, "is a propofition for the truth of which "we may appeal to univerfal experi"ence." Univerfal experience would certainly prove nothing like it. That education produces very confiderable effects; that a good education may greatly tend to improve a man's talents, and to lead him to a virtuous courfe of action that particular fituations and circumftances often operate ftrongly in the formation of human characters; all this may be readily admitted, but it amounts to no proof that man's talents and virtues are merely the effect of education.

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The flatements of Helvetius appear fometimes to be inconfiftent; and it is difficult to reconcile fome of his obfervations to his general fyftem. He fays, "I fhall prove, by the aid of facts, that

Speaking of different claffes of men, your correfpondent afks, "Who will "look for honefty among lawyers?" I fhould not take it for granted, without fome proof, that even our reverend judges were all men of incorruptible integrity; but furely all lawyers are not all equally knaves. Sir George Jefferies and Sir Matthew Hale were both edu cated lawyers, and both practifed in the courts of England; and yet they were certainly very different characters.

M. H. fays, "The inftitution of the "Jefuits proves, on the fureft of all "foundations, that of experience, the "force of difcipline. A Jefuit,

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every part of the world, amidst all "the phyfical variations of tempera"ment and climate, was the fame cha"racter, having his views directed "towards the fame end." It is natural to fuppofe, that there might be a general refemblance in members of the fame community, educated in the fame manner, and trained up with the fame views; but there can be no reafonable doubt, and the hiftory of the Jefuits will prove, that thofe who were intimately acquainted with that fraternity, difcovered very confiderable variations in the cha. racters of individuals, with refpect both to morals and intellectual acquifitions. The fociety of Jefuits, therefore, can afford no proof of the truth of the fyftem of Helvetius.

M. H. talks of "the true method of "GENERATING TALENTS." I do not know that there is any method of GENERATING TALENTS; though it is certain, that powerful motives, and interefting fituations, will lead men to a vigorous exertion of their talents, and occafion actions to be performed, and works to be produced, that would not otherwife have had an exiftence. All

1796.]

What man is made for.

this, however, amounts to no proof that the original powers of all men are equal. But your Correfpondent fays, that the "notion of natural powers, aptitude, and difpofitions, has been productive " of infinite mifchief: it has a tendency "to produce habits of indolence, de"fpondency, and vicious indulgence:" and it is certain, that for men haftily to fuppofe that they are incapable of literary or fcientific attainments, or that fuch attainments are confined to a few men of fingular and uncommon genius, would be a very pernicious fentiment; but fuch ideas are not very common; nor is it neceffary, in order to avoid them, that a man should become a dif. ciple of Helvetius.

I fufpect, that the man who fhould affert, that all men are equally tail or equally thort, equally fat or equally lean, would approach as nearly to the truth, as the man who afferts, that the intellectual powers of all men are naturally equal, and that there is no difference but what refults from education, or from accidental circumstances.

I confider the fyftem of Helvetius as a fanciful hypothefis, not fupported by any proper or fufficient arguments, and repugnant to the general fentiments and experience of mankind: but I am not certain that Helvetius's book may not be fomewhat the more entertaining, and have the more admirers, on account of parts of its being paradoxical, agreeably to an obfervation of his tranflator, Dr. Hooper: "A man who is master of a "fine ftyle, and is well verfed in fo"phiftry, will always fhine by taking "the paradoxical fide of a question. He "that fhould attempt to prove, that we "fee the light of the fun at mid-day, "how justly foever his arguments were "ranged, and how beautiful foever his "language, would have but few readers: "whereas, he that should affert, that "we fee the fun's light at midnight, "and fupport his affertion in pleafing language, by fomething like argument, "would have many admirers. For the "human mind, though not convinced, "is always pleafed to find the appear "ance of argument, where it has no "right to expect any argument at all." Though I do not confider the general fyftem of Helvetius to be founded upon truth, I think that he has made many obfervations which might be attended to with advantage, in the establishment of a new feminary of education; and I am

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SOON after the marriage of the dau phin and dauphinefs of France (the late unfortunate Louis XVI. and Antoinette) when all the converfation ran upon the fplendid fire-works exhibited. at their nuptials, a friend of mine, happening to be at Paris, was much amused with a circumftance to which he was witnefs, in a room full of company. A boy about feven years old, poffeffed of rather more than an ordinary degree of that forward vivacity which is fo characteristic of the youthful part of the French nation, was haranguing, in the midst of the circle, with great volubility and em phafis, on the fubject of fire-works, and giving a defcription of what he conceived would make a perfect spectacle of that kind. But while he was painting, with all his eloquence, the immenfe volumes of flame, and prodigious explo fions, that filled his imagination, a byftander ventured to obferve, that all the people employed about them would be in danger of being blown to pieces. "Ob (fays the boy, with a nonchalance worthy of the privileged orders)-Ob, ils font faits pour cela." "It is what they are made for."

This expreffion has often come into my mind, on reflecting upon the destiny of the great bulk of mankind, in all paft, and in the prefent periods; and I have wifhed, if poffible, to fatisfy myfelf what, in reality, the human race was made for; and I confefs, willing as I am to entertain better hopes, I cannot difcover from any principles of philofophifing, fo fure a ground for reafoning concerning the future condition of mankind, as the uniform experience of fome thousands of past years. If I breed up a horfe for the courfe, or a dog for the chace, or a game-cock for the pit, it is because a long courfe of experiments has convinced me that fuch is the nature of thofe animals, and that I am pretty fure of finding in the progeny thofe qualities and difpofitions which I remarked in the parents. May not then a king of Pruffia, with equal reafon, train a num.. ber of two-legged unfeathered creatures, called men, to pillage, enflave, and murder other men, at the word of com

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