Page images
PDF
EPUB

fore it is added to the other materials; and the fugar fired in about a pint of milk, and being freed from lumps, the whole must be, mixed and kneaded well together. This may be done in a very few minutes, and the dough will be inftantly fit for rolling out and baking. It is to be obferved, that the milk with which the cake is moistened if four or coagulated will be preferable.

To make pot-af cake light and good, it is necefiary to conduct the baking brifkly. Therefore the fift ftep towards making it 'fhould be, to kindle a fire that a fufhciency of hot coals may be feasonably provided. By the aid of thefe the dough, though perfly flat and unleavened when put into the baking pan, will be puffed up during the operation, into fine and fpungy cake.

If it is your with to make a cheaper cake than the one for which directions have been given, rye flour may be employed in the place of wheaten, fweet lard in ead of but ter, and treacle or melafies in 1 eu of fugar. The pot afh will enliven thele, but the cake will be injured by a mixture of eggs. Thefe appear to invilcare and entangle the alkali fo much as to prevent its rarefying or expanfive force. It is there. maxim in preparing this cake, that the plainer and fimpler the materials are, the better it will be. Some under this idea add cream inftead of butter or lard.

fore a

I do not pretend to be a profound chemift, Sir; but I underfond that the air which puffs up the cake, that I have defcribed, is the carbonic acid. The pot afh employed ought therefore not to be in a caustic state, but muit have been exposed to the atmosphere long enough in a jar bottle, or feme fuch thing, to have become a carbonate. Thus the fubftance to be mingled with the cake is a carbonate of pot-afb. It is well known that caloric, if duly applied, will expel the carbonic acid from the vegetable alkali, and the brifk heat of a baking-pan feems confiderable enough for this purpofe; though I am inclined to think that the loctic acid of the four milk, by a fuperior attraction for the pot afh affifts in the extrication of the fixed air, and thereby facilitates the procefs. By this means, if the ingredients are well proportioned, the cake never tastes of the alkali, which is now no longer a carbonate but a lectate of pot-afb.

Pleafe to caution thofe, Sir, who wish to make this kind of cake, that they do not, in their eagerness to have it light, add pot afh too much over the common rule, which would not culy give the cake an alkaline talte, but make it as heavy as it would

have been had pot-afh not entered the mixture. I think from what I have heard the chemifts fay, the reafon must be this; the carbonic acid of the pot ash being fet loofe in a quantity difproportioned to the other ingredients, instead of diffufing it felf gently through, and raifing the cake, flies in a body too great for the compofition to contain, and finds vent by bursting holes in the cake, and leaving it in a state very far from fpungy. This is an error which experienced hands feldom commit.

Thus our American houfe-wives are enabled to provide light cake for their vifitors and friends, in a few minutes. And really, Sir, this is a great convenience in a rural fi.uation, where a woman cannot fend to a baker, for rufk, tea, cake, or bifcuit, and where perhaps yeaft is not to be got, and her leaven is fpoiled. even if she had plenty of leaven, where the company cannot wait three or four hours for carbonic acid to be produced in the common mode by fermentation, to raise a batch of dough for them.

Or

It is a matter of furprife to me, that this method has not been known generally and followed in Europe. There is a faving Loth of time and of fuel in making it. The materials are not cofily, and the cake itfelf is highly nutritious and wholefome. And I am quite of opinion with Dr. Mitchill, in his letter to Mrs F.--that no small part of its falubrity is to be afcribed to the portion of pot-afh mingled with it, and lying ready to neutralize and quiet any fuperfluous feptic acid, with which the ftomach of a child or of a grown perfon who eats it, may happen to be incommoded: and I am further of opinion, that the introduction of this kind of bread into ufe in Great Britain, if it is not already practiled there, and in other parts of Europe, would have a very beneficial and happy tendency in bettering the condition of the middling and lower orders of houfekeepers. I hope, Mr. Editor, that you and Mr. Loft will recommend pot-afb cake to them, and inftruct them how to make it.

I cannot for bear here, however, to men. tion, that, although our American women have always employed potah, that I fupea foda is preferable. The carbonate of foda is a mild and friendly falt; more congenial to the human conftitution, than the carbonate of the other alkali. I have no doubt the fubftitution of the mineral for the vegetable bañs, would be an excellent change in the receipt. The reafon why pot afh and not foda has been ufed among my countrywomen, is evident

enough;

enough; pot afh, being one of the staple commodities of the Site, is cheap and plentiful, and they are all well acquainted with it; whereas foda is dearer, and more fcarce, and, being a foreign and imported article, they know very little about it.

I mentioned, Sir, that the carbonate of pot-afh was a good thing for rendering bread or cake light, where yeaft or leaven were not to be got, and when great difpatch was neceffary. Yet there is a method of preparing a fermenting mixture, with which the Long-Island-women are well acquainted, that I fhall take the liberty of mentioning to you. It is this: Take as many hops as may be held between the thumb and three fingers, put them into a pint and a half or a quart of water, and boil them well together. If you have fome apples or a pumpkin in the house, cut a few flices of either of thefe and throw in, and it will be all the better. Then pour the liquor off, or ftrain it through a coarfe cloth, and add three or four fpoonfulls of melaffes, and ftir in as much flour as will mingle with it to the confiftence of thin batter. Set the whole in the corner of the kitchen fire-place, or in any temperature of moderate warmth, until a fesmentation takes place, which will happen in a few hours, and then mix it with your flour, and knead it up with your dough, as in common cafes of breadmaking. By this mixture there will be a fufficiency of carbonic acid gas extricated to puff up bread enough for one baking of a family of eight or ten perfons.

Be pleafed, Mr. Editor, to take notice, that dough and bread are mdae light by an extrication of air from the yeaft, leaven or alkali, and not by a fermentation, as is commonly believed, extending through the whole lump. As I am perfuaded, however, that, befides the good done by the carbonic acid gas, when pot-afh is ufed in making cake, that the alkali alfo has fome beneficial effect; I cannot conclude without recommending the confideration of this matter to all the public economifts, and the ufe of the bread made light with it generally to the people at large. I am, Sir, your's, with much consideration and obfervance, MARGARETTA A KERLIE.

Cedar Grove, on Long Island.

August 19, 1799.

[blocks in formation]

Why does the word reclufus in Latin always fignify open, and the word reclufe in English (which is manifeftly formed from the other) univerfally mean shut up?

That the participle paffive reclufus always means open, is undeniable from the following quotations out of Ainfworth's Dictionary:

Rechfus, a, um part. (1) Opened, fet wide open. (2) Difcovered, revealed, difclofed. (1) Domus reclija: Hor. Ep. ii. 1, 103. (2) Reclufa fores: Ov. Met. vii. 647. Occulta pecunia reclufa funt. Tac. Ann. 16. 32.4.

That recluse in English, whether fubftantively or adjectively ufed, means but, is immediately demonftrable out of Johnfon's Dictionary:

Reclufe, adj. [reclus, French; reclufus, Latin]. Shut up; retired.

This must be the inference of a mere contemplative, a reclufe that converses only with his own meditations. Decay of Piety. The nymphs Meliffan, facred and reclufe to Ceres, Pour ftreams fele&t, and purity of waters. PRIOR, I all the live-long day Confume in meditation deep, reclufe From human converfe.- PHILLIPS. Reclufe, n. f. a retired person.

It seems you have not lived fuch an obfti nate reclufe from the difputes and tranfactions HAMMOND.

of men.

[blocks in formation]

this country is Baretti's; but it is far from being good.

The best grammar in the French and Spanish languages is that of Joffe, lately published; and to which is added a courfe of exercifes: the rules are perfpicuous and eafy, and each under its proper head; the exercifes judicioufly drawn up, and the greatest difficulties illuftrated by notes. The beft in Spanish and English is Fernandez's; though what is to be admired in Joffe's (method) has been too much neglected in the former: befides, his courfe of exercifes is written in fuch bad English that half of the fentences are unintelligible.

Having no knowledge of the German language, and but an incompetent one of the claffical books in our own, I will not venture to aniwer the fe particulars of his inquiry. I am, Sir, your's, &c.

October 15. 1799.

CLAUDIUS.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

IN

SIR,

N anfwer to your correfpondent, Suditone, who, in your last Number, afks which are the moft approved Spanish grammars and dictionaries, and beft calculated for the English ftudent, I beg to obferve, that we have neither one nor the other in our language that can be depended upon: for Del Pino's and Fernandez's are very defective; and, Baretti's Dictionary is fhamefully deficient in words of the greatest confequence. But if any chufe to purfue the ftudy of the Spanish language through the medium of the French, he will find the way very clear by making use of Joffe's French and Spanish Grammar; to which is added, a copious selection of exercises, &c. London, 1798; and of Gattel's Nouveau Dictionnaire Efpagnol et François, o François et Efpagnol; which is a very complete compilation of thofe of the Spanish and French Royal Academies; in 4 vols. 4to. Lyons, 1790. X. Y.

Cambridge, October 19, 1799.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

[blocks in formation]

Dr. Sims introduces his paper by ftating, as a motive for its publication, his having feen an account of a trial for a capital offence, in which the learned Judge pronounced, that "no homicide could be deemed infane who knew that it was a man, and not a dog or cat, that he killed.” Whatever this gentleman might be in law, he was certainly no Judge in medicine.

After having noticed the imperfection of all previous definitions of infanity, the author proceeds to advance one which, I fhould imagine, was peculiar to himself. In order to escape any imputation of unfairness, it may be proper to quote literally, and in connection, the whole of what it is my prefent intention to criticife. Dr. Sims obferves,

"Were I to hazard a definition of infanity, I fhould call it, the thinking and therefore fpeaking and acting differently from the bulk of mankind, where, that difference does not arife from fuperior knowledge, ignorance, or prejudice. By folely attending to the former part of this definition many of the wifeft men have been accounted mad, which, however, fhews that to be the bafis of the definition in

the general opinion. I have laid the ftrefs upon thinking differently from mankind, be. caufe fimply acting differently does not conftitute infanity. The highwayman is not infane, because he is not convinced that he acts right; whereas infane perfons ever act from a thorough conviction of rectitude."

This definition of infanity will appear, upon a little examination, to be not lefs exceptionable than any that has gone before it.

In Dr. Sims's opinion, "thinking and therefore speaking and acting differently from the bulk of mankind" is not fufficient to characterise the disease; for, in the next fentence, he obferves, that by attending merely to this "many of the wifeft men have been accounted mad;" and therefore he adds, "where that dif ference does not arife from fuperior knowledge, ignorance, or prejudice.” But will this latter part of the definition fupply any deficiency in the preceding? A fingular notion is either true or falfe; if true, it does not conftitute infanity; on the other hand, if it be erroneous, the error muft originate either from ignorance or from prejudice. Superior knowledge cannot Turely be regarded as, in any inftance, a fource of error. If a man entertain a false opinion, it inevitably must be owing either to his not knowing all the arguments upon the fubject to which that falfe opinion refers, which is ignorance; or to his not being able, in confequence of fome undue bias, jufly to appreciate their

value, which is prejudice. Dr. Sims's addition, therefore, to the vulgar definition of infanity is merely verbal; and leaves it, of course, precifely as liable to objec'tion as it was before.

The Doctor next remarks, "I have laid the ftrefs upon thinking differently from the bulk of mankind, because fimply acting differently does not conftitute infanity.` Now, on the contrary, it would seem, that if a man acted differently from the rest of mankind, without thinking alfo differently,, the incongruity and inconfiftency of his

conduct in this refpect would, fo far from being an evidence againft, prove an additional prefumption of, his derangement. A striking and an habitual oppofition between opinions and actions cannot fairly be regarded as any argument in favour of foundness of mind.

[ocr errors]

Dr. Sims obferves, in the next place, that a highwayman is not infane;' and for this reafon, " because he is not convinced that he acts right." A high wayman, therefore, in thofe cafes where he is convinced that he acts right, of course falls under the imputation of infanity. If a man, for inftance, having a numerous family ready to perifh for want of pecuniary aid, fhould fancy that he was, by the cruel neceffity of his fituation, justified in deducting from the purfe of an opulent perfon a few unneceffary guineas, in order to rescue from prefent mifery, and an impending death, thofe who are, and ought to be, moft dear to him, this man would deferve the title of a maniac! Affaffins, who have acted without a consciousness of criminality, and the pious perfecutors of herefy, in every period of the church, who, in the indulgence of their fanguinary zeal, have thought that they did God fervice, are all likewife involved in the same sweeping definition.

Dr. Sims's very next obfervation appears, if poffible, ftill more remarkable than any that has preceded it. "Whereas infane perfons ever act from a thorough conviction of rectitude." What an enviable and what a refpectable clafs of men are maniacs! Formerly we have been told, that there was a pleasure in madnefs which none but madmen knew; and now we learn, that for their happiness they are not more diftinguished than for the uniform uprightness of their intentions. The main object of all education ought to be the production of moral merit; the moral merit of any character must be allowed to confift in the acting uniformly from a thorough conviction of rectitude, and the acting uniformly from a thorough conviction of MONTHLY MAG. NO. LII.

[blocks in formation]

HE demand for German plays and

T novels is sufficient to call forth tranflations of the more eminent productions of that clafs with all defirable rapidity. May it, not be hoped that for compofitions of a more folid kind a market might also be

found in Great Britain?

The opinion of Gibbon has affigned high value as an hiftorian to Michael Ignatius Schmidt; whofe Hiftory of the Germans fills four large octavo volumes, and extends to the reign of Charles the Fifth. An English translation of this found national hiftory would certainly be inftructive, and furely acceptable, to the public.

J. W. von Archenholtz has compofed a moft lively Antigallican History of the Seven Years' War in Germany, from 1756 to 1763. This original document (for the author was himself a diftinguished of ficer in the Pruffian fervice) is remarkable for natural narrative, for epic bufinefs and butle, and for that attaching sympathy which only an agent, not a by stander can excite. Thefe three hundred pages, publifhed in 1788, were tranflated in 1789 into French, and in 1790 into Latin.

Frederic Schiller's Hiftory of the Thirty Years' War could not but intereft * attention by the celebrated name of the author, by the great refemblance between our own times and the anarchic period of which it treats, and by that Tacitus-like diction, where every epithet hits and brands as a dart of fire. The fame author has begun, but not completed, an account of the Revolution of the Netherlands.

John Müller's Hiftory of the Savifs Confederacy merits and requires abridgement.

Konrad Mannert's neat and learned Hiftory of the Immediate Succeffors of Alexander will, it is to be hoped, be resumed and continued to the expiration of the Ptolemaic Dynafty, when his geographical excurfions are ended. His History of the Vandals alfo is a little work of merit.

Antiquaries only would purchase the

* A translation has recently been announced by Colonel Blaquiere. 5 U voluminous

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

The

The like difficulty of fale would attending their judgments of a nation: and we Juftus Möfer's Ofnaburgian History, al- ought always to keep this circumstance in though confpicuous for legal knowledge view, if we would avoid too haftily adoptof feudal times. But, in this latter cale, ing unfounded opinions concerning the nait seems natural to expect from the pa- tional character of the Ruffians. triotifm of the Duke of York fome pa- traveller who fhould form his opinion of tronage of a tranflation, which muft elfe the lower orders in England or France be a mere facrifice of toil and time to the from the populace of London and Paris, English undertaker. would commit an egregious mistake: but certainly much greater would be his error, who in a fimilar cafe fhould draw a conclufion concerning the Ruffians in general from the inhabitants of Mofcow, at a time when refinement and the cultivation of the mind bore a ftill lefs proportion than at prefent to the means of procuring the gratification of their vitiated appetites. This remark will appear to be founded in truth, when I impartially lay before the reader what I have feen, heard and calculated concerning the fondness of the Ruffians for brandy.

Other names of eminence in the depart ment of civil history might be mentioned; as that of Vofs, who has written concerning the Stuart family; but their works feem lefs neceffary in a country not meanly ftocked with native hiftoriographers. If, however, the English Univerfal History should, at fome future period, be reprinted, very important and extenfive improvements may be derived from the German refaccimento of that work.

TEUTONICUS.

For the Monthly Magazine.

ON THE PROPENSITY OE THE RUSSIANS
TO DRUNKENNESS.

IN

By A BETHMANN BERNHARDI, of Freyberg.

N two books lately published, the propenfity of Ruffians to drunkenness is fill painted in the most dreadful colours. In one of them it is faid: "As foon as the peasant receives any money, he immediately gets drunk: Ruffians of every rank and condition are, during one half of the year, in a state of intoxication."*— In another, though some regard is paid to what Storch lays concerning the now greater infrequency of drunkennefs; yet, on the authority of older writers, as if their accounts of Ruffia were still applicable.to the prefent ftate of that country, we are told, that "in ladies of even the highest rank, a flight degree of inebriation is not confidered as unbecoming," and that "the common people, when they had money, even now got drunk 204 days

* Sketches of a picture of Ruffia, p. 104, 105.

Materials towards a complete knowledge of the prefent ftate of Ruffia.

Even at prefent, greater quantities of fpirituous liquors are drunken in Ruffia than in other countries. The well known cuftom of taking a dram before every meal, for the purpose of whetting their appetite, is, as far as my obfervations went in Mofcow and Petersburg, ftill predomi nant among perfons of both fexes; and has been adopted even by foreigners refident in thofe cities. At least they never entertain a guest without offering him fpirits before dinner-even in Riga, where however they are in general not very partial to Ruffian manners and cuftoms. Befides, in the interior of Ruffia, the ufe of liqueurs, or fpirits diftilled with feveral forts of fruit, is much more common than in other countries. At the table of a well regulated family in Mofcow, I saw several forts of fuch fruit-brandies fucceffively handed round. When, therefore, it is faid in

*Meiners's Comparison of Ancient and Modern Ruffia, part i. p. 222.

On the contrary, they drink lefs wine; probably because it is extremely difficult to obtain any that is even tolerable; at least the wine that I drank in the interior of Ruffia was bad, and in part worfe than I had ever found it elfewhere.-In Riga, indeed, the wine was in general good; and the table-wine fre

quently

« PreviousContinue »