"I should be glad to drink your honour's pear to us to be any thing higher, in health in A pot of beer, if you will give me sixpence; Friend of Humanity, I give thee sixpence ! I will see thee d-'d first Wretch! whom no sense of wrongs can Spiritless outcast!" [Kicks the Knife-grinder, overturns his wheel, and exit in a transport of re publican enthusiasm and universal philanthropy} thought, style, and composition, than the numerous theological tracts that daily issue from the press. It is said, however, in this preface, that, by the labours of Mr. Gunn, "the drunkard, the liar, the swearer, the wicked of every description, were, in numerous instances, turned away from their wickedness, and enabled to do that which is lawful and right. In proof of this fact, an appeal might confidently be made to many living witnesses, who, with one voice, would ascribe this happy change in their moral conduct to a cordial reception of the doctrines taught by Mr. Gunn." This, if true, constitutes a higher praise than literary honours can bestow: the man who has been able to reclaim any erring fellow-creature, E are told, in a preface, that to bring him back from vice to the nothing was further from the wholesome rigour of virtue, performs deceased author of this work than the an act that must prove a source of idea that they would ever be made ineffable gratification; but Mr. Gunn public. "The sermons were hasty is beyond the feelings of this world; compositions, written in the early and it is rational to hope he will enpart of life, when, in compliance with joy the reward of it in the next. the prejudices of his hearers in the The number of sermons are fourteen; country, he was accustomed to read and to them are appended some lethis discourses. In a literary point of ters, addressed principally to the ediview, they will not perhaps procure much credit to their author." This we believe, considered merely as li terary productions; they do not ap Bermons and Letters. By the Rev. WE tor of the present volume. They shew the piety of Mr. Gunn to have been perennial; but we can pay no compliment to any thing else in them. They know me not, nor care to know, Stay of my hope, ETERNAL SIRE! Point thou my doubtful way; Ah! hear I thus the fix'd command? Each partial call forgot, I quit thee, O my natal Isle! And he may pardon crave, Hail, stranger-coast! though seas between, Less cruel than my own has been, Thy soothing solitudes to view, I sigh-The charm might yet renew With life unfelt before. And kind, though there the savage stray, And bright, though long, the darkest day; Oh! grant me then this last retreat, Afar this land of promise lies, But faith that land can see, Where soon the star of peace shall rise," THE NEW Mr. WM. CUBITT'S, (Barton Wood thed, and filling up the remaining Mills, Norfolk), for a Method of open space with mall flat surfaces, equalizing the Motion of the Sails of formed either of boards or sheet iron Windmills.-Dated May 9, 1807. painted. These are suspended on HIS invention cousists in apply their ends by gudgeons, or pivots, so as to open which shall cause the vanes to regulate themselves, so as to preserve an uniform velocity under those circumstances in which the wind would otherwise irregularly impel them, as is the case with the sails or vanes of mills of the present construction. This object is accomplished by forming the vanes, for the sake of lightness, with fewer cross bars than in the common me ring always to have the centre of motion as near the upper longitudinal edge of the valve as possible. Vanes thus constructed present a greater or less surface to the wind, according as it acts with more or less force on them; and if the wind be very strong or high. the valves by its impulse would turn their edges to it, and their surfaces parallel to the direction of the wind. The vanes would consequently remain wide,and of the same depth, with a small stationary, or at least have but little hole through thebottom, to draw off the motion; but, to obviate this circum- water, which hole may be stopped with stance, an apparatus is applied which a bung. This box is raised by legs causes the valves always to present their flat surfaces to the wind, or such pion of their surfaces as may be desirable. Mr. SAMUEL PHELPS'S, (Lambeth), for a Method of manufacturing Kelp, Barilla, &c. by Fermentation, in addition to Combustion.- Dated June 17, 1806. KALL, salicornia, ALI, salicornia, sea-wrack, or about three feet from the ground, and covered with boards laid cross-wise about four inches and a half at each end and side, so as to form a table; the remaining open space is covered over with two flaps, except about one in hand an eighth. One of these flaps is hung with hinges to the outward or back side, so as to form a door to lift up, and the other is simply laid in grooves, and fastened down by wooden Into the open bolts or otherwise. the mineral alkali, or furmitory, worm- space between the boards is introduced wood, heath, &c. which afford the a compresser, or washing implement, vegetable alkali, are collected, and, and to the top of it is attached a lever. after being slightly dried, are mixed The foul linen to be washed by this with straw, light dung, hay, or any machine is to be placed on each side dried plants, in order to give a greater of the compresser or washing impletenacity or firmness to the mass.ment, which is to be propelled backThese are formed into stacks, where wards and forwards, either by a lever they underg spontaneous fermenta- as above described, or by any other tion; and after that has taken place, mechanical contrivance. If it be conthe mass is burned in an open kiln or venient to admit steam into the mafurnace in the usual manner, with the chine, the water will be kept to a proaddition of wood, and towards the end per heat, and the clothes will be whiter of the combustion the fire is raised so or better bleached than in the usual as to fuse the saline residue. The way of washing, without the applicapatentee observes, that the fermenta- tion of steam. If required, this mative process thus recommended fa- chine may be converted into a churn vours the general action of chemical by a trilling alteration. athnity, as to afford a greater quantity of alkali from like quantities of the said plants than is afforded by the ordinary methods of making alkalies. Mr. W. SHOTWELL'S, (London), for a Machine for the Purpose of bleaching, washing, and cleansing Linen. Dated April 21, 1807. Mr. ELIHU WHITE'S, (London), for THIS A feet and a half long, out three a patent has been obtained. 14 inches TRANSACTIONS OF LEARNED & ECONOMICAL SOCIETIES. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FRANCE. at Bourg, in the department de l'Ain, IN M. De Lalande. N the funeral eulogium lately pronounced by Mr. Delambre, a member of the Institute at Paris, upon this celebrated astronomer, he observes: Joseph Jerome Lefrancois Lalande, Member of the Legion of Honour, of the Institute, and the Bureau of Longitudes, Professor of Astronomy in the College of France, &c. was born of respectable parents, whose name he could scarcely pronounce, at any time after their decease, without emotion. He came to Paris to study the law, and meant to have pursued it with ardour, till the sight of the Observatory produced a new sentiment in him, which all at once deranged the projects of his parents, and ever after became his ruling passion. Happily for young Lalande, he met with a ready reception from M. Lemon- and still he found opportunity to carry nie, one of the most celebrated astro- on the most active correspondence nomers of his day. This gentleman with all the learned in Europe. Astreated him with that consideration sociated with all the known acade which the learned always bestow mies, he was by no means the least upon aspiring genius, in which they useful member among them; in fact, rather see a co-operator than a rival. he was in some measure the connect When the astronomer M. Lacaille ing medium to convey to each what was getting ready to set out for the had been produced by the others. Cape of Good Hope, the principal The universal reputation he enjoyed object of whose voyage was to deter- he made use of for the promotion of mine the parallax of the moon, and the sciences, and for the benefit of its distance from the earth, he required the learned. an assistant, who should be stationed This ardent zeal, which in a manunder the same meridian, and at the ner devoured him, and his prodigious greatest distance that could possibly activity, supposes a vivacity of characbe chosen. For this purpose Berlin ter, which might be equally as inconappeared the most convenient situa- venient for himself as for others. To tion, and M. Lemonnier at first of this he added a love of truth, which fered himself on this occasion; but sometimes degenerated into a species just at the point of setting out, he of fanaticism. Every kind of managecontrived that this mission should be ment or artifice to him appeared unperformed by M. De Lalande, the worthy a tree and loyal man: of pupil he had the honour of intro- course whatever he conceived to be ducing. just or true he brought forward, the whole of his thoughts and his sentiments. Frederic, to whom M. Maupertuis had spoken of the delicacy and diffi. culty of the undertaking, could not conceal his surprise at seeing so young a commissary:" However," said he, as you have been nominated by the Academy of Sciences, you will justify their choice." The account he gave of his mission to the Academy, on his return, opened to him a free course to future fame. From that moment till the period of its suppression, a single volume never made its appearance without some important memorials from his pen. Useful to astronomy by his writings, by his example and by his pupils, his credit and his correspondence, he wished to be still more so after his death, by a medal which he caused to be cast, and which the Institute annually distributes to the author of the best memoir, or the most curious observation. Such labours and such success seemed calculated to ensure him an invariable degree of happiness; and, in fact, he long enjoyed the most Ever since 1761, he succeeded brilliant reputation. With a little his first master Delisle in the astrono- more circumspection he would have mical chair of the College of France: preserved it, without alloy, to the and to this curious part of public latest moments of his life; but that instruction he gave a new degree imprudent liberty, in which he always of splendour. This famous school indulged himself; that intrepidity, contained, in itself, professors the with which he always published his most celebrated of every description; opinions, even in the most dangerous and had the merit, and the singular good fortune, of passing through the revolution unhurt, and escaping, as it were, the general ruin. The principal proof of M. De Lalande's activity, and the facility with which he got rid of business, is, that during the whole course of his life he made it an invariable rule never to pass an evening at home. His time he divided into two parts; viz. one for business, the other for recreation; periods; that severity, sometimes rather rude, with which he repulsed systems formed by ignorance, and which ought only to have excited his pity; his continual habit of expressing his opinion on all occasions, even upon subjects where it might have been spared; all these considerations exasperated a crowd of calumniators against him, who even called his real merits in question. For my own part, connected with him by twenty years' friendship, a confident in all his to his memory. I pray God to bless thoughts, I have had, beyond a doubt, him; I hope he will be, and that he more than one opportunity of telling is already blest. him the truth, which he always pre- He was much more religious than. ferred, and afforded it a patient hear is generally supposed; having always ing, even when it made against him- shewn himself an honest man, full of self. His merits far outweigh the honour, probity, courage, and actilittle scandals he had drawn upon vity in every useful pursuit, and of himself. The period of justice has love and concern for human nature. arrived. For him posterity has now To imitate the Great Benefactor, commenced: he can no longer injure is to render homage most worthy of his own reputation: his enemies will, infinite goodness, and the Supreme no doubt, respect his ashes. I declare, Ruler of the universe. in the name of the assembly to which I have the honour to belong, that the death of our colleague will be the cause of long regret that the incalcolable services which he has rendered to science will long survive his existence. To a vast erudition he connected a happy and correct memory, a vigorous and ready concepMR CROWE's introductory lecture was employed in examining tion. He was a man of real and dis- the various objections which had tinguished merit: he will be replaced been made to the drama and the with difficulty, and perhaps, in some stage: for, as he observed, if the charespects, we shall never find his equal. After this discourse, which was heard with deep attention, M. Dupont de Nemours, member of the third class, came forward, and expressed himself as follows: Account of the LECTURES at the [Continued from page 433, col. vii.] The Rev. Mr. CROWE'S Lectures on Dramatic Poetry. racter which some had bestowed on dramatic writings really belonged to them; if they necessarily encouraged vice and profaneness, they were unfit to be made the subject of a course of lectures. He then proceeded to state what were the exceptions taken Let me be permitted to add a few against the ancient drama; as they words to the eloquent and learned appear in the writings and opinions discourse of the secretary. I was of the philosophers, in the laws of the both the occasion and the object of a Grecian and Roman states, in the very good action performed by our late poets, and in the sentiments of the colleague. After the 10th of August, primitive church, as gathered from 1792, I stood in need of an asylum. her councils and the fathers: and all M. Harmand, at present director of these he shewed to have been dithe pensions at the treasury, but then rected, either against the abuse of the one of the most distinguished pupils drama (for instance, against the licenunder M. De Lalande, gave me re- tiousness of comedy), or against thefuge in the observatory of the Four atrical representations (as the expence Nations, of which he had then the keys and folly, and immodesty, of freand the management. He also supplied quenting the stage), or against the me with all I stood in need of. M. Har- persons and profession of the actor mand, however, though married, was and mimic; but that nothing was in danger of being called out by a re- ever advanced by any of these authoquisition; he therefore infornied M. rities, to condemn the perusal of draDe Lalande of my situation; observ- matic compositions; which might, ing, "if he goes out, he will be mas- therefore, be resorted to, as a source sacred; if he remains there, he will of innocent recreation, and even of perish for want." " Run," said M. De moral improvement. Lalande, "make him easy; I will sup- Having brought various passages ply him regularly with every thing he from the Greek and Latin authors to may want." He did so; and, as well prove his assertion, Mr. C. added, as M. Harmand, encountered this that he was aware that this part of his risk at the hazard of his own life. subject might have been comprised My just gratitude now returns thanks within much less compass; that he UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VIII. F |