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But in this age of genuflexion,

We from fuch things difgufted turn; To eat and drink 's out of the question,

What do we now? We live and learn." "And learn? what learn the ladies, pray?" Sir, did you want a wife? Why-yes"They learn to draw, to fing, to play, To march, to skip, to dance, to drefs. While men are studying claffic rules, Immers'd in grave recefs at College, Our fex are taught, at boarding-fchools, Moft fuperficial knowledge.

Ever, with fylphic lightnefs they

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Repeat our merry pranks, and then a bumper fill.

Ye men who worship hoards of gold,
Yet pleasure dare not tafte,

Can I but laugh, fuch men-moles to behold;

Or fuch as riches only know to waste,

Twine, where the loves and graces blend; Mere fquirrels, cracking nuts, and fquander

Nor e'er explore that nobler way,

Which does to heav'n-born fcience tend.

Some men of fenfe there are advance,
The fofter fex may be too wife,
Wou'd rather wed fair ignorance;
A blank preferring to a prize!

Hear Ofmyn cry, "What! fhou'd the fair,
"Abftrufely educated then,
Profoundly deep refearches fhare,
"Study with scientific men?
"Forbid it all ye fofter powers,

"Ye Loves forbid it-Cupid-Venus!
"What! no advantage ftill be ours,
"No difference, ye gods! between us!
"Your genius foaring fuch a height,

"Cannot defcend to houfehold stuff;"
That female, Sir, who acts not right,
Believe me, does not know enough.
She who your learn'd refearches fhares,

Who fees the work in fenfe fublime,"
Will not neglect domeftic cares;

She knows" for all things there's a time!"

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ing them in hafte;

Philofophers, who wink and blink

With clofe-glafs'd, peeping eyes,

Can I but laugh, profoundest Sirs, to

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To chatter, moan like you; then off I'll

flee,

And jeer you all at once in fome high-laughing glee.

Ye patriot fouls, fo wond'rous grave,
So loving, good, and wife,

Boating your country you but wish to fave;

-Ye lanky fpiders, fnaring filly flies, Oh! how I fit and laugh, to trace your filken lies!

But Kings and Queens, and fuch like things,

I rev'rence much; and never,
No never, will I laugh at Queens or Kings;
But crowns from red-caps, faith! I can-

not fever,

And I could laugh at both for ever and for

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And while our hearts are blithe, ne'er dream of life's decay.

Thus

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ΑΙ

LTHOUGH within this holy hall The beauteous arts have never stood To image on the ftoried wall

Our pilgrim-prophet doing good; We need no painting's gaudy fhow

To print his kindnefs on our heart, Who, while he wept at human woe, Pour'd balfam on the fufferer's fmart, Tho' here no fculptor's pious hands

Engrav'd the mighty victim's death, We can obey the lov'd commands Taught by his laft, his dying breath. We claim no organ's folemn tone

To wing our praifes to the sky; The incenfe of the heart alone Climbs with a welcome wing on high. Not on the marble altar's brink

Only defcends Devotion's tear; Simplicity high thoughts may think, To God the fimple mind is dear.

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BLITHE Aphrodite ever young

Was fhapen from the foam of fea: Of purer crystal I am sprung, And fmoother billows fashion'd me, Cupid and I both bend our bows,

By Beauty's temples both incline; He o'er his eyes a bandage throws; A twofold luftre gleams from mine. Like him, the fringed brow I feek,

And aid each lurking charm to fpy; Like him, I pillow on the cheek,

And nettle near the languid eye. A quiver on his fhoulder fhines, In rattling cafe my powers I hide : In couples, he the young confines; In pairs, a graver throng I guide. Of him let head-long paffion learn: Philofophy learns much through me. Can you not yet my name difcern

I've help'd you, I fufpect, to fee?

VARIETIES, LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL, Including Notices of Works in Hand, Domeftic and Foreign.

D

Authentic Communications for this Article will always be thankfully received.

R. DARWIN's new work, intitled

Phytologia, or the Philofophy of Agriculture and Gardening, with the Theory of Draining Moraffes, and an improved ConAruction of the Drill Plough, is fo far ad. vanced at the prefs, that it may be expected before Chriftmas; it will form a farge quarto volume, illuftrated with plates.

A new and elegant edition of the Botanic Garden, in 2 vol. 8vo, with all the plates of the quarto, and a beautiful engraving of Fufeli's Night-mare, is, we understand, now ready for publication.

Mr. GODWIN has advertised a novel in four volumes, under the title of St. Leon.

Dr. MOORE has in forwardness a mifcellaneous work in three volumes, from which may be expected the fame degree of amufement that has been afforded by all his former works.

D'ANQUETIL'S Univerfal History, lately published at Paris, is in the hands of an able translator, and will foon be published, in vols. 8vo.

MISS STARKE, the author of the Widow of Malabar, and of other works, has in the prefs two volumes of Travels in Italy, between the years 1791 and 1798. This lady perfonally witnessed all the revolutions which took place in that country, from the capture of Nice in 1792, to

the

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the recent expulfion of Pius VI. from the Ecclefiaftical State. Belides the gratification which her work will afford to political inquirers, it contains a defcription of the préfent actual ftate of Italy, and very copious and minute inftructions for the ufe of invalids and families, who, fhe afferts, may éven at this period vifit Italy in the moft perfect fecurity.

Dr. BEDDOES, who is indefatigable in the cause of useful fcience, announces the early publication of a popular medical work, in which he intends to unfold that portion of the order of nature, which regulates the movements of the animal machine, and along with the principles, to ftate explicitly thofe practices relative to the prefervation and recovery of health, upon which alone unprofeffional readers can fafely venture. Dr. Beddoes benevolently wishes to render health a main object of education; to deter the ignorant from tampering with the fick, and to curtail the dominion of empirical impofture." The first number of this important work will appear after Chriftmas, and the whole will be of confiderable extent, and be enriched with engravings.

Mr. MAGEE'S, of Dublin, Difcourfes on the Scriptural Doctrines of Atonement and Sacrifice, with additional Remarks on the Mode of Reafoning employ. ed by the oppofers of thofe doctrines as held by the established church; and an Appendix, containing fome ftrictures on Mr. Beltham s Review of Mr. Wilberforce's Treatife, will (peedily be published. Mr. TURNER of Featherstone-buildings, who has been for feveral years engaged in investigating the remains of Saxon literature, is about to publish the first volume of a hiftory of the Anglo-Saxons, from their first appearance above the Elbe to the death of Egbert. It is his intention to give the world a fecond volume in continuation, from the Death of Egbert to the Norman Conqueft; and a third, upon the laws, manners, government, literature, and religion of the Anglo-Saxons. This work will prove a valuable addition to the hiftorical productions of Great Britain. While the first two volumes trace the origin and establishment of a nation, which by its progrefs in commerce and civilization, in arts and literature, has dimmed the luftre of the Roman name; the third will delineate its early character, and trace through the wildom of its inftitutions the melioration of the Saxon from the age of Hengift to that of Edward.

HERDER'S long celebrated work, which has been fome years in the hands of the

tranflator, is, we understand, likely to appear in the course of this month, in one large volume in quarto, under the title of The Philofophy of History, and, from the affiftance which the ingenious tranflator has received, we have reafon to believe that there are few tranflations fo well executed. The literal tranflation from the German of the title of this work is Ideas for the Philofophy of the Hiftory of Man.

A new edition of Letters for Literary Ladies having been called for, Mifs Edgeworth has re-written the fecond letter on the advantages of cultivating the female understanding; and no pains have been fpared to improve it, and to affert more diftinely the female right to literature.

Mrs. CAPPE, of York, is intending to publish further particulars of the three excellent inftitutions in that city, of which fome account has already appeared in the Monthly Magazine. She proposes to ininterfperfe Reflections on Charity Schools and Friendly Societies in general, on their utility, and on the objects at which it is defirable they should aim.

We fome time fince announced the eftablifhment of AN INSTITUTION, the fuppofed object of which was the diffufion of knowledge. We now understand that its prefident is the EARL of WINCHELSEA, and its fecretary Dr.GLASSE, well known as one of the managers of the prifon in Cold bath-fields.

Mr. BROWN, furgeon, will fpeedily publish a work in three parts. Part first, containing a defcription of the anatomy and phyfiology of the brain. Part fecond, the nature and treatment of hydrocephalus internus. Part third, an Analysis of the courfe of lectures which he is nowdelivering.

A tranflation of the Life of Madame de CLAIRAUT, the late celebrated French actress, is in the prefs.

The following process is given by Mr. SHELDRAKE, and published in the Tranfactions of the Society for encouraging Arts, &c. for the preparation of a spirit varnish with gum copal, one of the most valuable of all that are known in the arts, and not generally made public. Reduce to fmall pieces two ounces of copal, put them into a large glafs veffel, and pour upon them one pint of fpirit of turpentine, previously mixed with one eighth of fpirit of fal-ammoniac; cork the glafs, but make a small hole through the cork, and fet it upon a warm fand bath. The great difficulty confifts in managing the beat, which fhould be kept up just at that gentle boiling heat which will allow of the bubbles that are formed at the bottom, to be count

ej

ed as they rife to the furface. If this regular heat be fteadily kept up for a fufticient time, the copai will well, and gradually diffolve, excepting a very final refiduum; but if it be fuffered to flackenor be raifed higher, the folution ftops, and cannot be brought back to the diffolving ftate. The veffel fhould not be opened till fome time after it be cold, otherwife the contents will be thrown out of the glass with great vehemence. The fpirit of turpentine fhould be of the best quality, fuch as is fold at Apothecaries Hall. This varnifh is of a deep rich colour when viewed in the bottle, but gives no colour to the pictures on which it is laid.-Copal will allo diffolve in fpirit of wine, with the affiftance of camphor. Diffolve half an ounce of camphor in a pint of pure fpirit of wine; put it in a glafs, and add four ounces of copal, in finall pieces; apply heat with the fame precautions as in the laft folution, till the copal is diffolved. A part of it, however, feparates as the liquor cools, but will ferve for another operation. This forms a very bright folution, and is an excellent varnish for pictures; and where the varnished fubftance will admit of being moderately heated, the camphor as well as the spirit will be driven off, and will leave the copal pure on the work, and probably quite colourless and tranfparent. Copal will diffolve with the fame eafe in fpirit of turpentine, by the affiftance of camphor, but not in fo large a quantity.

In the Monthly Magazine for Septem. ber laft, an account was given of fome interefting experiments by Guyton, in Paris, on the combuftion of the diamond; whereby it was proved to be a fubftance fimilar to charcoal, but containing much more of the pure carbonic principle. This fact has been farther afcertained by the very fingular experiment of fubftituting diamond inftead of charcoal, in the converfion of a fmall portion of malleable iron into steel. For this purpofe, a very small crucible of the pureft foft or malleable iron was made out of heads of nails, and fitted with a ftopper of the fame metal, clofely fitting. Into this a fmall diamond was put, the remaining space around the diamond was filled up with filings of the fame iron, and the ftopper rammed in very close. The whole was then inclofed in an earthen crucible, this laft in a larger of the fame material, and the whole clofely luted, and expofed for about an hour in a very ftrong forge furnace. When all was cold, the crucible of iron was found melted down into a but

ton of caft fteel. This, when broken, exhibited a perfectly fmooth, uniform fracture, and not a veftige of the diamond remained. The fteel was exactly fimilar to that known in England by the name of caft fteel. The inference from this curious experiment is, that as diamond will perform the office of charcoal, in converting iron into fteel, its nature is the fame or very similar to that of charcoal.

Mr. DUTTON, the author of the Literary Cenfus, has in the prefs a didactic poem, in four cantos, intitled, THE PHILOSOPHER OF NAXOS: it will be publifhed early in the month of December.

Mr. PARKINSON, of Hoxton-square, author of the Medical Admonitions, has in the prefs, befides the chemical work we have already announced, a fmall popular medical work, The Villager's Friend, confifting of obfervations, intended to preferve the health, and promote the happinefs, of the hufbandman and mechanic."

The refearches of Prouft into the nature of the falts of iron, has fuggested an inprovement in the preparation of common ink, by previoufly calcining to whitenes the green vitriol which is ufed as the bafis of all writing-inks. The following proportions will give an excellent black ink.

Gall nuts in powder, four ounces; green vitriol, calcined to whitenefs,, two ounces and a half; water, two pints. Thefe materials must be left to infufe cold for 24 hours, and then add ten drachms of gum Arabic. The ink fhould be preferved in a ftone jar, flightly covered, fo as to keep out the dust.

In the Profe Efays and Tranfactions of the Highland Society, vol. i. is given a receipt for deftroying caterpillars on goofeberry bushes, which has obtained a premium from the Society, after due examina. tion. It is as follows: Take one Scotch pint (two quarts English) of tobacco liquor, and mix with it one ounce of alum; when this is diffolved, dip a brush in the liquor, and as foon in the beginning of the featon as you perceive the leaves of the bufles to be eaten by the grub, or covered with its eggs, which is generally on the under fide, hold the leaf up, and draw your hand gently over the hairs of the brush, by which a small shower of drops of the liquor will fall on the leaf, and wherever they touch the egg it will be deftroyed, or if the worm should be hatched, it will perish in a few minutes, and may be fhaken off without injuring the leaf.-The tobacco liquor here mentioned, is the fuperfluous moitture contained in the roll tobacco,

which is preffed out, and mixed by the tobacconifts with four or five times its quantity of cold water, and fold in this ftate, as a liquor for deftroying bugs. It is in fact, nothing more than a strong infufion of tobacco in water; and may be made equally well by adding water to any kind of tobacco.

The following extract from a letter from the celebrated Montgolfier, to one of his aeroftatic friends, dated March 24th, 1789, and given in the laft number of the Annales de Chimie, will fhew that this ingenious philofopher was the first that conftructed the Parachute, an inftrument for defcending from great heights, which is now brought to confiderable perfection inFrance. "An idea has occurred to me, which I will immediately communicate to you, as perhaps you may derive fome advantage from it in cafe of an accidental feparation from your balloon, when in the air. It is to make a parachute, by means of which you may come down from any height without danger or inconvenience. The principle on which I reafon is the following. A mafs of matter, when at reft, cannot be moved without being truck by another mafs in motion; and the motion acquired by the former, is at the expence of that of the latter. Thus, a hundred weight of matter, when at reft, if it is fet in motion by an equal quantity of matter, moving at the rate of twenty feet in a fecond, the united maffes will only move at the rate of ten feet in a fecond. If the body in motion only weighs ten pounds, the whole will proceed only at the rate of two feet in a fecond. Hence, if eight hundred weight of air be inclosed in a bag among the clouds, and the bag, with a man attached to it, only weigh two hundred weight, the fall of the whole will be retarded three-fourths of its velocity. If to this be added the resistance of the air against the falling body, you fee that a manmaydefcend veryagreeably even from the clouds; and fo, if you pleafe, you may fhower down an army into a town, as Mr. Brante and I did a few fheep, in the experiment which we made yefterday afternoon. For this purpose we made a filk bag, from feven to eight feet in diameter, and of the form of a hemifphere. We tied twelve cords, each feven feet long, to the margin of the bag, at equal distances from each other; and to the other end we fattened a strong ozier basket, and beneath the basket, we fixed four logs blad ders by means of a napkin. A fheep was put in the basket and the whole apparatus thus loaded, weighed fifty pounds. We took this to the top of the highest tower in Avignon, which is about a hundred feet MONTHLY MAG, No. LII.

from the street, and I launched it of, with all my ftrength, to make it clear the wall. For the first fifty feet, the fall was very rapid; but the parachute being then fully expanded, the defcent became very gradual, fo that the crowdoffpectators ran underneath to receive it. As foon as the bafket touched the ground, the fheep took to his heels with all his might. He was brought back and made much of by the crowd, and taken up again to the tower, and made to defcend again unhurt. This voyage was repeated fix times, and the fheep was not in the leaft degree injured by any one of them. From this experiment it appears, that a hemifphere of filk, twenty feet in diameter, would enable a man to defcend with fafety from the clouds; and I would advise you to furnish your balloon with one of them. Seventy-five ells would be fufficient for this purpofe, which, at fifty-five fols the ell, would not make the whole machine come to more than ten louis."

LALANDE writes to M. von Zach. Paris 25th July 1799. "At the present folftice we obferved here, with the greatest attention, the obliquity of the ecliptic. From feven feries of obfervations, the medium refult was 23° 28' 5", 5; that is, 7" more than in my Tables. De Lambre found it to be 4" lefs: however, we cannot comprehend whence this difference could arife; for Méchain, from ninetyeight obfervations, found it the fame as we had done."

In M. von ZACH's Tab. Mot. fol. f. Ix. the medium obliquity of the ecliptic for the 21st of June 1799 is 23° 28' 3'', 65, and confequently the difference from Lalande's obfervation is only 1", 85. If De Lambre's determination were the true one, the obliquity of M. von Zach's Tables correfponds with it to within 3 of a fecond.

VIDAL, of Mirepoix, has fent Lalande a valuable Catalogue of 887 fouthern ftars, betwixt the 35th and 45th degree of fouth declination. Thefe ftars the latter intends to infert in his Hiftoire Celeste, of which 440 pages are already printed. The progrefs of the work is much retarded by the author's being under the neceffity of fending the proof fheets of Darquier's Obfervations as far as Touloufe.-Lalande's Bibliographie Aftronomique is printed as far as the 184th page, year 1622. Extract of a letter from LEOPOLD VON

BUCH to M. von Zach, dated Paris, 22d July 1799.

As Monte Cavo (Mons Albanus), the highest mountain in the vicinity of Rome, the extenfive profpects from which may be SY reckoned

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