5. Ditto received from sale of priated books of the performance .. 6. Miscellaneous receipts, consisting of interest of cash deposited with Sir William Forbes and Co. by the trea 85 11 0 have we heard this lamentation uttered! without the slightest consideration by what means the public should be able to ascertain the quantum of merit alluded to. It is true such compilations demand much labour; and they seem to possess little originality: but, the judicious, whose applause alone is worth obtaining, know before hand that so it must be; It appears from the report of the Trea and their praises will be proportioned to surer, that the whole number of tickets the skill displayed by the artist, in ren sold, was 9011; and the number of per-dering his authorities subservient to his sons, who attended the six regular performances, was 8776. surer. 16 901 £5785 86 For some whimsical pretensions of the Fanatici por la Musica, see Panorama Vol I. 991. Vol II. 924. et al. Tables of the Positions, or of the Latitudes and Longitudes of Places, composed to accompany the "Oriental Navigator;" or sailing Directions for the East Indies, China, Australia, &c., with Notes explanatory and descriptive. By John Purdy. 4to, pp. 172. Whittle and Laurie, London, 1816. If we rightly understand a private note which reached us, together with this volume, we are distinguished, as well as obliged, by the present of a copy of it;-a few only being done up separately for private distribution." We are glad to have been favoured by Mr. P's. recollection;' for, though we have no thought at present of undertaking a voyage of discovery in the Great South Sea, nor any fear of a forced acquaintance, in propria persona, with Port Jackson or New Zealand, yet we can honestly recommend the labours of this writer to adventurers in Australia, Polynesia, &c. &c. We have had repeated occasion to desire from the composers of maps and charts such communications of their authorities, as might contribute to a due estimate of the merit of their labours. Away with that quackery which delights in concealment!-Or, if professors of these studies, and others equally liberal, will not violate the rules of the body, let them cease from complaint on " the little sense entertained by the public, of their merit and diligence." How often purpose. Who values a correct Historian the less, because his margin points out the sources of his information? nobody expects him to make new facts. Who can possibly complain of a Geographer, that refers for capes, bays, and promontories to those who saw them? it is no part of his duty to lay down new rocks, islands, &c. in order to become an and soul of his art; but for this be must original author. Correctness is the life depend on others. Nay more; when authorities are deficient, it is his duty to say so: this candour the public has a right to demand. An intelligent mind knows that equal, (perhaps greater) infrom its successes: and it is no small struction, is derived from its failures, as merit to point out the opportunity of success to others. The work before us, is an instance of great labour, it answers to the idea we have formed of what should be placed within reach of the public, more accurately than any we are acquainted with. It contains the names of many thousands of places, with their latitudes and longitudes marked; the authorities on which these are adopted; with notes, which speak highly for Mr. P's. diligence, and are at once amusing and instructive. By employing a small type, a great quantity of matter is comprised in a page; and the writer desires that communica tions for correction or improvement may, be forwarded to his publishers. After all, how limited is science! Some suppose that Aristotle threw himself into the sea, from absolute vexation that he could not discover the cause of the tides: we have acquired a tolerable notion of that cause; but are completely at a loss to imagine what principle governs the variation of the compass. Even in our own metropolis, on our own river, this baffles our skill;-as-after having seriously cautioned our readers against imitation of Aristotle, in his unphilosophical movement,-we shall shew, from the Author before us. Variation of the Compass.-The present Variation at London is about 24° 17' W.: lu the Thames Mouth, 24° 30': Downs, 249: Spithead, 25°: Scilly Islands, 26° 50': near Cork Harbour, 28° 15': and N. W. of Ireland,*32° 30' W. Some years hence this will change; and future geographers will have to mark E instead of W. By way of instancing the difficulties which attend marine researches, (to say nothing of dangers) with the necessity for obtaining the utmost possible precision, we insert an extract that marks a spirit and perseverance which ought to have met with success :-and this disappointment happened off the coast of Brazil, where our ships now resort, month after month, by scores. The following extract from Captain Colnett, must be interesting to every navigator traversing this ocean. On leaving Rio Janeiro, I stood away to the southward and eastward to search for the Island Grand, which is said to lie in the latitude of 45° South, and was the first object recommended to me by the Board of Admiralty, On the 17th of March, at noon, latitude by observation 39o 35' South; longitude, by the mean of chronometers, 34° 21' West; and, by account, 349 25'; variation 9o East. The sea appeared of a pale green, and we saw many birds, some of which were said, by several of my people, to be of those kinds which are supposed to indicate the vicinity of land; such as sand larks, and a large species of curlew; but neither of the latter kind of birds were seen by me. From noon of the seventeenth until six in the evening, the wind blew from the south-east, and we stood away to the southward and westward: it then became calm, and continued so till midnight, when it blew from the north-west, being, at this time, in the situation which I had often heard my old commander, Captain Cook, mention, as the position of the Isle of Grand: I accordingly entertained great expectations of seeing it; more especially as the birds appeared in great numbers during the whole of the day. In the evening we stood away to the southward, in which direction I continued my course for the night. At day-light, on the eighteenth, the surface of the water was covered with feathers; and frequently in the forenoon we passed several birch twigs, as well as quantities of drift-wood and sea-weed. These appearances conti nued until noon of the same day, when our observation was in latitude 40° 12' South: longitude by observation of sun and moon, 35° 34' West; and by means of chronometers 349 8'. At this time the appearance of the sea had changed to a dirty green; which could not be the effect of the sky, as it was very clear; these tokens of land induced me to heave-to, and try for soundings with a hundred and fifty fathoms of line, but got no bottom: we had no sooner got the lead in, when, to our great astouishment, at three or four miles distance from us, the whole horizon was covered with birds of the blue peterel kind. At the same time black whales were seen spouting in every direction, and the boats pursued one to harpoon it, but without success. Indeed, we were not very solicitous to kill black whales, and willingly gave up the chase at this time, to make all the sail we could, and to exert our utmost efforts, in order, if possible, to discover the land before night; which every one on board had possessed themselves with the idea of seeing, although at such a considerable distance from the latitude in which they were supposed to lay. During this afternoon we passed several fields of spawn, which caused the water to wear the appearance of barely covering the surface of a bank. At sun set we could seeas far as twelve or fourteen leagues; but did not perceive any other signs of land than the great flight of birds which continued to accompany us, and they were so numerous at times, that, had they all been on the wing together, and above us, instead of rising in alternate flocks, and skimming after the whales, the atmosphere must have been altogether darkened by them. And the number of whales in sight presented a fair opportunity of making a profitable voyage in the article of black oil; but my predominant object was to fulfil the particular services recommended to me by the Lords of the Admirality; and in one point I had, at this moment, the most flattering hopes of succeeding. Towards the evening, the barometer fell, and the weather began to be cloudy; but I continued standing to the southward with a fresh breeze till midnight, when we hoveto and sounded; but did not find ground with one hundred and seventy fathoms of line. The gale was increasing every hour with a heavy sea; and, by day-light, we, could only carry close-reefed top-sails and fore-sail. The weather was dark aud hazy, the sea assumed a deep lead colour, many birds and whales remained with us, and we passed large quantities of sea-weed, At noon we were in the latitude of 43° 3' South, and longitude 35° 38' West. Here we sounded, but found no bottom; nevertheless, every circumstance strengthened our conjectures that we were nearing the land, which induced me to proceed on my course, although it continued to blow hard from west-north-west. At midnight we hove-to, and sounded with one hundred and seventy fathoms of line, but found no bottom. At day-light we sounded again with two hundred fathoms of line, and were equally unsuccessful. We now made sail, and at noon our latitude was 44° 51'; longitude, by observation, 34° 59' and by mean of chronometers 33° 53' 30" West. The birds lessened greatly in numbers, and with them our hopes of finding the land, which was the object of our search. I continued, however, to cruize about for several successive days near this longitude, but saw nothing to encourage my further endeavours. the ocean, sometimes in such a quantity, that, without a brisk gale of wind, a vessel can hardly sail through them. Mr. Maxwell ascended the Zahir above. 45 leagues; and says that, according to the natives, it is navigable for 15 or 20 leagues higher up, to the Falls. He found the variation in 1796, 21°30' W. A Treatise on the Nature, Economy, and Practical Management of Bees, &c. By Robert Huish. 8vo. pp. 430, price 12s. Baldwin and Co. London, 1815. By much the greater part of the Insect tribes are concealed, as to their manners, and properties, from the re searches of man; and even of those few with which he may claim a greater familiarity, his knowledge is very imperfect. That half domesticated, and valuable insect, the Bee, is a conspicuous proof of this: notwithstanding the attention paid to its cultivation, for ages, the learned, themselves, are not agreed, on some of the most important parts of its economy. That the community of Bees is of different classes, is certain; that some labour with most exemplary This route, however, will be of some advantage to British navigators; even if no land should be discovered according to our expectations, as it will tend to unde-industry, while others do not labour, is ceive the masters and owners of whalers, who have entertained an opinion that the black whale was never to be found in bodies, so far to the eastward: for, if half the whalers belonging to London had been with me, they might have filled their vessels with oil. The expectation of the public has been raised in regard to the expedition intended to proceed up the Congo; we doubt not but our countrymen will ascend that river to the Falls; but by what means they will overcome that obstacle, we shall be anxious to learn. The RIVER of CONGO, called Zahir by the natives, and whose source, with the greatest part of its course, is unknown, is one of the largest in Southern Africa: it is above two leagues broad at its mouth, and runs so impetuously into the sea, that no soundings can be obtained on account of the velocity of the current. The waters of the river keep their sweetness three leagues to the W. N. W. of the entrance, and their effect is perceived at the distance of more than 12 leagues; the waters being there of a black tinge, with floating islets of bamboo, &c. which the violence of the stream tears off its shores, and carries into equally certain: but, as Nature does nothing in vain, it still remains a question, what is the use of drones? The history, too, of the Queen Bee, is not so clear as it might have been expected, after the many close examinations it has undergone. In short, though we have a general acquaintance with the race, yet much remains to be acquired, as is evident from the different opinions maintained by those who have the best opportunities of knowing. As the season for deriving advantage from these insects is beginning, or rather is begun; a work like the present, may, therefore, be of greater use at this time, than later in the year. The writer has treated his subject in a rational and practical manner; and we do not discover in him a disposition to patronize those random theories which some have entertained. The volume comprizes much good sense; with a proper attention to those useful maxims which are justified by experience. Mr. H. considers the national, as well as the individual, advantage, to which this not-laborious em¬ ployment might be made to contribute. We have never been able to account for the neglect of Bees in our own country. The most eminent Bee-masters we are aequainted with, are persons in the humbler walks of life; but, why should this concern be thought beneath the occupation of their superiors? On the Continent, it is not unusual for the Clergy to engage in it; and, whether the addition of a ten or twenty pounds per annum to the income of some of those among us, who complain of poverty, by means completely within their reach, in skilful management of this insect, would not prove an advantage, may deserve their consideration. As we cannot enter at large into the subject, we content ourselves with annexing a few extracts: the practical uses of the author's precepts, must be learned from the volume. of wax and honey might be extracted, far exceeding the wants of the kingdom; but this advantage appears to be most lamentably neglected, because the culture of the Bee, which is a species of rural economy the most interesting and profitable, is discarded, and we disdain to pay attention to the cultivation of that industrious insect, which proves a source of affluence and prosperity to neighbouring nations. The remedy is in our own hands; but until the system of the management of the Bee is entirely changed, no rational hope of ultimate success can be entertained. The barbarous custom of suffocating the How is it Bees to obtain possession of their treasures We do, however, import considerable quantities of wax from Africa, from the Coast of Guinea, &c. which of late have come to a good market. Mr. Huish treats on the Natural History of the Beeon the species food-Queen-&c. on the best form for Hives, with descriptions of several, as proposed by Foreign, or British Apiarians:-On the enemies of the Bee, and the disorders to which the insect is subject. He includes, also, in his account the methods of treatment, and the profits to be drawn from the products of this wonderful labourer, of which honey, no doubt, is the principal; though wax ising great quantities, in common seafar from being unworthy of notice, even in a national print of view. If it be true that a country is impoverished in proportion as it pays for the commodities of another, this country is annually impoverished in the sum of nearly 80,000l. by the mere purchase in the article of wax. The chief market for this article is in the north of Germany; at the ports of which, and particularly at Dantzic,, is concentrated the whole annual collection of the interior of Germany, and those countries immediately bordering on it. A considerable quantity of it is thence shipped to England, and the question here arises how far it is prudent or politie in England, to pay annually an immense sun for a commodity, which could be obtained in superfluity from her own domain, and which is suffered to perish for want of encouragement and attention. In our fields, our plains, our heaths and woods, we every where see a number of of those flowers from which an abundance Mr. H. gives some very rational and proper directions for the gathering of honey, and the hive he has constructed, is with a view to facilitate that operation; to which might added other purposes, for which it appears to be favourable. He moderates the expectation of obtain sons, without destroying the hive; and in this we agree with him. His method of detecting adulterations of honey may prove useful to those who purchase quantities. There is scarcely any article in commerce which is more adulterated than honey, and as it is generally sold by weight, it is mixed with heavy farinaceous substances, by which means honey is never obtained in its genuine purity. There are two methods of discovering if honey has been adulterated with flour; the first is, to dilute a little honey with cold water, and if it be impregnated with flour, the water will become of a milky colour; the second is to place some honey in a pot, which pot must be half immersed in a saucepan of water; when the water is brought to a boiling heat, the honey be comes perfectly clarified, but if adulterated, a thick scum rises to the top, which on being taken off, and suffered to grow cold, crumbles into a fine farinaceous substance, It is certainly most desirable that the Bees should be brought up at home, as much as possible; but this varies with circumstances, and we have known a ten acre field, in the course of its rotation of crops, become either a paradise or a desert to neighbouring swarms of bees. In some countries the swarms are "led forth," on somewhat the same principle as the Merino sheep in Spain are removed from one province to another; the history is among the most amusing, though not the most profitable parts of the volume. M. L'Abbe Tessier, Proutant, and others, inform us, that the proprietors of the Bees in Beauce transport their hives every year in the month of August in carts, into the country of the Gatinois, or to the environs of the forest of Orleans, about the distance of ten miles from their habitations. They there find heath, or buck wheat in flower, at a time when in Beauce, after the gathering of the sainfoin and the vetches, no further addition can be made by the Bees to their winter store. This manner of transporting the Bees is called in the country, leading them to pasture. A single cart contains thirty or forty hives. They travel only by night, and at a foot's pace, and as much as possible on easy roads. The hives are covered with linen, and are arranged in stories, those of the upper being reversed between those of the lower story. They remain about two months in the place of their pasturage. The peasants take care of them for a very trifling salary. In this season nearly three thousand strong hives are seen in a little village. When the hives are to be transported, they are placed in the evening individually on a linen cloth, in which they are wrapped, and tied round with bands of straw, osier, or packthread. Two men can carry several hives by passing a long stick through the knot of the cloth which covers them. They are thus often packed on horses or asses. They are placed topsy turvy on the panniers. If they are placed in the common way, that is, on their bottom, they must be raised and sustained at the height of some inches, especially if the journey be of some days length; for it is necessary that the Bees imbibe a renovated air. The swarms which have been newly hived may remain in this state two or three days. In cold weather the bives full of wax, honey, and bees, may be transported to any distance, by taking care only that the combs do not break one against the sects in other countries, might suggest The protection afforded to these ina hint to a nation which some describe as exhausted: have we already em ployed all the powers of creating wealth conferred on our country by nature ? 21st of September, 1787, in which there is I have by me a French newspaper of the an article dated Hanover, August 30th. "The culture of the Bee is one of the objects of the industry of the inhabitants of this province; the produce of wax is estiif we multiply this 300,000 by fifteen, we mated this year, (1787,) at 300,000 pounds; find that Hanover alone in that year, produced 4,500,000 pounds of honey. most incredible quantity to be collected in globules, by a particular species of insects. A concerning agricultural effects, art. 2 of In France, by a law Sept. 25, 1791, the 3d section, it was decreed, that Beehives shall not be seized nor sold for any public contribution, nor for any other debt. By the 524 art. of the civil code, it is decided that Bee-hives form a part of the estate on which they are placed, at least with one positive exception, that he who sells cannot take them away, unless it be posian estate on which there are Bee-hivés, tively stipulated to that effect in the con tract. and yet we accuse the French of levity Very different are our proceedings, and indifference. Some instances of even superstitious notions are adduced by our Author. Several ridiculous notions exist in the minds of the common people regarding Bees; they believe that purchased Bees never prosper, unless therefore a peasant can obtain the gift of a swarm, or has something which he can give in exchange, he will rather relinquish all the profit at tending the management of a few lives, than purchase one. In some parts of England the Bees are not suffered to go out on Wednesdays nor Fridays.-A belief is also entertained that they are subject to witchcraft; this prejudice is derived from the Greeks, ( Herod. lib. 2. cap. 281.) who had' their magicians, who pretended to tell the fortunes of persons with the productions of the Bee. The 10th of August is considered by some people as a day of jubilee amongst the Bees, and the Bees which are seen working on that day, are called Quakers, from those people not observing any heli days. |