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Poetry.

HEAVEN.

Celestial voices, soft and clear,
Salute from far my wond'ring ear,
And back to primal darkness hurl'â
Recedes from sight this nether world,
Its woes and crimes, its guilt and tears,
Its laughing hours, and mourning years;
And beams a fairer, brighter scene
Than mortal eye hath ever seen.

And all within that calm retreat
Immortal flowrets blossom sweet;
And suns eternal brightly glow,
And living waters ceaseless flow;
And hovering round that starry place
Are angel forms of matchless grace;
Unknown in that pure realm of day
Or sickening blight, or swift decay.
Here roars the tempest loud and dread,
There peace unveils her gentle head;
Here weep the injured and opprest,
There, there the weary are at rest!
Here cold neglect the heartstrings rend,
There Mercy bids the warfare end;
And having kiss'd the chastening rod,
The spirit seeks its pitying God.
Here sudden storms the soul surprise,
There no grim clouds of blackness rise:
Here friends are false, and love betrays,
In yon blest world whereon I gaze,}"
All, all is truth!-no fiction there
May flatter hope to win despair;
No Judas with a proffer'd kiss
Mask his own traitor hideousness.
Here, dimly seen, we feebly trace
The glories of redeeming grace,
And dark to erring sense appears
The sorrows of revolving years;
While, rebel to his Maker's will,
More blindly dares to question still,
And scorns the monitor within
Which else had shown the canker-sin.
Sin rules, and reigns, and riots here,
No sin may ever enter there;
Realm of eternal blessedness
There all is purity and peace.
And, Lord! on thee my soul relies,
Hear, and accept its sacrifice;
The past atoned, the future blest,
Oh! let me enter into rest!

Liverpool.

LINES.

SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN THE DINGLE BELONGING TO MR. YATES, TOXTETH PARK.

May, 1824.

The sun had sunk in western clouds, And twilight spread its mantle still, When lonely, far from busy crowds

I pass'd the hamlet, school, and mill; To stray unseen in Dingle Vale,

And rest in rose and woodbine bower, While fragrant sweets float on the gale From many a little pencil'd flower.

To watch the moonbeam's flickering play,
O'er Mersey's calm and silvery flood;
While soft is heard the dashing spray

Slow murmuring thro' the echoing wood. Be such an hour (as sure 'tis meet)

To God and contemplation given; Humbly to bend before His seat,

And ask the promis'd gift of Heaven. Wisdom, to ope the mental eye,

To mark Jehovah's glories spread, In yonder azure studded sky,

And spangled mead, on which I tread. Sweet spangled mead! how richly dress'd! Here wild flowers gay unnumber'd throng; With Snowdrop, grace of lawn confess'd, And Daisy, theme of Poets' song. Here hid, and gemm'd with evening dew, Lies the wild Violet's drooping head, Whose balmy leaves, of sapphire blue, Sheds perfume round its mossy bed. Here, too, I've seen the fair stream poured From rocky fissures bold and free;

Say was the Naiad e'er allured,

By floods more fair 'neath shrub and tree? But here I pause, and pausing mark,

The sun's lost rays on western clouds; Adieu! loved vale of Toxteth Park; Again I seek the busy crowds.

REMEMBEREST THOU ?

A translation of the beautiful French Song, "Te souviens-tu?"

"Remember'st thou," 'twas thus a warrior chief
Address'd a vet'ran who implored relief,
"Remember'st thou, when 'mid the battle's tide,
The sword that sought my breast thou turn'dst aside ?
Beneath the colours of our dear-lov'd land,

We both then fought the foeman hand to hand;
My rescued life will e'er thy feats avow,

But soldier, say, that field remember'st thou?
"Remember'st thou those days, too swiftly flown,
Whose brilliant course brought France such high renown?
Remember'st thou on Egypt's wond'rous piles

We grav'd the record of our fame and toils;
And with a conqueror's waving hand unfurl'd
Our standard o'er the cradle of the world,
Though winds, and waves, and deserts join'd the foe?
Say, soldier, say, those deeds remember'st thou ?
"Remember'st thou Italia's martial host,
Before our ranks her brightest laurels lost?
Remember'st thou Iberia's chieftain's proud
The prostrate knee before our columns bow'd?
Remember'st thou Germania's glorious plain,
Where four short suns embrac'd our bright campaign,
And swift-wing'd vict'ry wreath'd each hero's brow,
Say, soldier, say, those days remember'st thou?
"Remember'st thou, when 'mid the frozen North,
Our victor bands were proudly marshall'd forth;
When pillar'd snows benumb'd each wearied frame,
But could not quench our bosom's martial flame?
Our frequent sighs then mix'd with wide alarms,
But when th' inspiring trumpet call'd-' to arms!'
Each tearful eye resum'd its wonted glow;
Say, soldier, say, those toils remember'st thou ?
"Remember'st thou that day's inglorious doom,
When living France sank nerveless to the tomb;
When fair Lutetia, friendless and undone,
Beheld her courts by haughty foes o'errun?
Deep in thy heart engrave that day accurst,
And when, at length, stern war our chains shall burst,
Ne'er let thy chieftain ask, with angry brow,
'Soldier! thy country's wrongs remember'st thou ?'

"Remember'st thou-but here my trembling voice
O'er proud achievements can no more rejoice;
Eventful time may those bright days restore,
Till then, old man, our mingled tears shall pour;
But o'er my cot should Death's cold pinions ware,
And lull my sorrows in the tranquil grave,
While calmly close my eyes on all below,
Thou may'st repeat once more-remember'st thou.""

SONNET.

I've mark'd yon moon glide thro' the azure sky,
When all was calm as in a summer's lake,
And when the thunder spirit forth did fly,

Still thro' his cloudy mantle would she break.
The lovely streamlet in yon woody dell,

Unchangingly has murmured in its bed; And the sad tree, which o'er its waters fell,

In childhood's days, still droops its sorrowing head. I've mark'd a form of love, in whose wild gaze Hope's dying beam was struggling with Despair, Bow at his foot, who once had joy'd to praise The wreck of loveliness now trembling there: But he had chang'd-and now his freezing eye Stung the pale sufferer's heart and bade her die. T. HA Fairfield, near Manchester.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,-Being highly delighted with your intended liberal project, of giving so full a scope to the improvemen your young classical friends, I (boasting of that prin herewith inclose you a few lines, the spontaneous fa of my own uncultivated muse, hoping that, if they bea anticipated by a more beautiful, and therefore more des serving copy, on the same subject, you will grant then. though imperfeet, publicity through either of your exi lent miscellanies. By doing which you will induce again to occupy a few minutes in your behalf, as well oblige-Yours, very truly, ALIQUIS

DE VERE.

Pandite nunc hyemis portas admittere veris
Tempora, quum grato flore virescit humus
En pastor pecudes lætos ad flumina ducit,
Ubera nunc hædum pendula lacte fovent.
Huc venit agrestis comitanti vomere campos,
Visere, quos quondam sæva gelavit hyems
Aspiciens frondem nascentem ex arbore gaudet,
Et rigat herbosos fertilis imber agros.
Nunc videt, ut pullos damno gallina tuetur,
Ut vocat inveniens quodque juvabit eos
Hic sator observans sequitur vestigia tauri,
Atque manu plena semina spargit humo.
Sol sequitur solem noctem nox ordine grato,
Et fortuna suum fausta coronat opus.
Nunc labente die labor absit, et alma volupta

Hic manet, et curis corda domusque vacant
Nunc cratera mero cingunt, et pocula spumant

Muneribus Bacchi, dum venit alma sopor.
Quum splendore micat solito lux crastina reddea
Sudores homini, quos toleravit herl
Luce torum primâ genialem linquit agrestis,
Et laudat servis progenieque Deum
Tunc opus assequitur gaudens in jugera culta,
Hic vivit felix, atque beatus abit.

ALIQUI • The antepenultima of "agrestis" being commo

supra.

EPIGRAM.

On a Cantab who was pluck'd for Orders. Ned cut off his queue, and was powder'd with care, Yet sadly mistaken was Ned, For tho' he had taken such pains with his hair, The Bishop found fault with his head,

A

ON CÆSAR-A FAVOURITE DOG.

"The cat will mew, the dog will have his day."

Ambition's tooth dispersed through Cæsar's veins,
Avirus keen, which fir'd his laurel'd brains,
Made lust of power through his fancy fly,
Till Brutus rais'd the vengeful arm on high.
So fell our Roman-but his canine friend

Bray'd a much more ignominious end;

Death's minion came, produced the fatal string;
While doleful yells, his last sad requiem ring:

la vain he cough'd and kick'd, and kick'd and cough'd, When hoisted from the earth he swung aloft;

A halter dire denied the breath of life,

And struggling nature yielded up the strife.
What laboured verse can such a loss deplore?—
Weep, all ye spaniels-Cæsar is no more!

Curs droop your ears, and slouch the curling tail,
And with a grief unfeign'd, his loss bewail!
For he by divers virtues proved to be
An honour to his noble pedigree.

Now cold and stiff he lies, his cares and woes

Are wrapt for ever in a sound repose.

No more his footsteps, light in social glee,
Shall scour the path, or bound across the lea.
And when the metal tongue of midnight sounds,
When ghosts and goblins make nocturnal rounds,
When dismal serenades of cats are heard,
Or dying scream of some ill-fated bird,
When to the moon-beams distant watch-dogs howl;
Or 'bout the hen-coop, pigeon stealers prowl;
No more shall he their dire approach declare,
By barks resounding through the misty air.

And when night-walking rogues are on the wing,
When sticks resound, and guardian rattles spring,
When tom-cats scar'd, along the pavement fly,
and eurs join chorus with the hue and cry;
Or when a home-bound Bacchanalian band
In mingled symphony their throats expand,
With force display the emulative roar;

Or twang some nasal strain unsqueak'd before-
Roused by the echoes of the horrid sound,
No more shall Cæsar from his slumbers bound-
A rattling peal of hollow threats upsend,
From rude attacks, his confines to defend.
Oft when the morn in splendid beauty rose,
And light upsprung, her curtains to unclose,
Would he in waiting stand, my steps to greet,
And frisk with joy unfeign'd about my feet;
Or with expressive gestures run before,
To wait the harsh unbarring of the door;
Pleased would he run to meet the morning gale,
With nose erect, its fragrance to inhale,
And by a thousand antic tricks declare,
His love of liberty and morning air.
When hydrophobia's fear o'erspread the town,
And men rush'd forth to hang, slay, stab, or drown;
When the portentous bag on shoulder slung,
With stiffed snarls, or dying growlings rung,
When each rapacious tan-yard pit was spread
With faithful dogs, the dying and the dead;
When war exterminative was declared,
When age, nor sex, nor quality was spared;
Then might we view the squealing lap-dog dragg'd,
By hands unhallow'd, and with turnspits bagg'd.
In vain old maids their pamper'd pets deplore,
And frothing vengeance, sportsmen stamp'd and swore.
Then damsels were despatch'd on eager feet,
To search each nook and corner of the street,
To call the runaway, or else by bribe
Release the fallen favourite of his tribe;
But oft nor bribes, nor searches would avall,
And each return'd, to tell the mournful tale.
While thus the work of devastation spread,
While forth stalked horrid war and havock dread,

Cæsar life still enjoys, nor hutch and chain
The dictates of his free-born will restrain;
Now on the lawn, entrench'd by trees and rails,
His wearied limbs with slumber he regales;
Now more submissive to his stomach grown,
He turns to masticate a half-picked bone;
For forage, if he sallies forth to glean,
By some sly lynk-eyed butcher he is seen—
But ere the foeman makes his victim sure,
He gains his fortress-there he stands secure.
Now slaughter bids her thirsty minions cease,
To bless once more the canine world with peace-
When on a luckless day a rabble throng
Hooting a poor half-famished cur along:
His blood with madness fires, his legs he plies,
And snaps each living object as he flies;
But ere" the King of Terrors" cross'd his path,
And check'd the kindled foamings of his wrath,
His fang, envenom'd, entered Cæsar's hide-
The fatal bullet reach'd him, and he died.
His victim straight arraign'd, a trial stood-
Was doom'd to suffer for his "country's good;"
Then death ignoble stay'd his bright career,
And left a memory to friendship dear.

DER FREISCHUTZ.

OR

Literature, Criticism, &c.

LEARNED QUOTATIONS.

Good heavens! I really haven't patience
To see how soon on such occasions
Some folks forget all moderation,
And write themselves into a passion.

Oh! quam terribiles exarsit pronus in iras!!

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,—It is, I believe, the purport of some “wise saw,” that "two to one are enough to kill a man ;" and I expected that we should last week have seen a "modern instance" of its truth, in the controversy that has so long trespassed upon the columns of the Kaleidoscope, and exercised the patience of its readers. My calculations

have, however, proved erroneous; the stout-hearted Anti-Sutor has again advanced resolutely "into the bowels of the battle," hacking and hewing at the arguments of his three opponents, like a very Achilles, strengthed, I presume, by the reflection, that

"Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just."

I conceive that your unflinching correspondent is rather testy and choleric; accordingly, I shall so far "observe his humour," as to apologize for the liberty I am about to take, in comparing him to that fabulous "many-headed" monster of antiquity, the Sernaan Hydra. It certainly did appear to me, that the convincing reasoning of Y. Z. had

▲ NEW SONG TO THE TUNE OF "OH, MISS BAILLIE! UNFOR lopped away the heads of his discourse; and I concluded,

TUNATE MISS BAILLIE!"

[From a London paper of a few weeks back.]

On Friday, at Drury-lane, they gave the Winter's Tale. The house was full of coughs and orders, though, in general, Sapio and the Freischutz are the only things that fill the house. Foreign names are the only things that go smoothly down at present; if they have all the consonantsin the alphabet in them, so much the better. We have so little to say about theatricals this week, that we shall take the liberty of filling up the space with a song, which we have just received from a correspondent, on the Freischutz: A chevalier of Hanover, with crotchet, breve, and quaver, Is quite the rage, and Shield and Arne are now quite out of favour:

In vain you talk of native art, 'tis all an useless labour,
For nothing now goes down but Carl María Herr Von Weber.

Oh, Von Weber,

The magical Von Weber,

For tragic squalls, and magic balls

Commend me to Von Weber'

Mozart himself is quite forgot, and even for Rossini,

"that when the brains were out, the man would die ;”but, behold! he has again "risen in his place," more vigorous than ever; and displaying a most marvellons multiplication of hostile visages, he asserts that

"E'en tho' vanquished, he can argue still." In a former communication, I had occasion to acknowledge my gratitude to my redoubtable opponent for his kind civility; and I am now happy to congratulate him on his excessive modesty. He knows too well" that self-praise is always unbecoming, and he has hastened to disclaim, with the utmost gravity, any the slightest intention of setting up for a "second Daniel." Verily, in this instance, we can attach no credit to the sincerity of his asseveration; we also "know too well" that

It is the witness still of excellency,

To set a strange face on its own perfection. But your impartial readers will not be guilty of the same injustice; they will bestow the meed of praise on that eminent perfection; they will behold, with due admira.

John Bull (who paid him once so well) now does not care ation, the modest ingenuity that detected, and pointed out, pin, he

Forswears Don Juan and the Barber, now he's got a high touch
Like Meinherr Weber's sulphury and devil-roasting Freischutz.
Oh, the Freischutz,

The dull, eternal Freischutz;
Weber's first, and most accurst,
The everlasting Freischutz!

At the Lyceum first we had this thing of fire and fury,
At Covent Garden next, and now, we have it at Old Drury;
With hell-fire blasting, bullets casting, fiends and females
erying,

Chorus singing, owlets swinging, and the Frieschutz frying!
Oh, the Freischutz,

The dull, eternal Frelschutz;
Weber's first, and most accurst,

His everlasting Freichutz!

But let us not forget to praise that milk white owl so rare, Whom Shakspeare's witches thought of when they said, "that fowl was fair:"

And let us not forget to be to Mr. O. Smith civil,
Who looks so charmingly red hot, one dares not damn the devil
Oh, the Freischutz,

The dull, eternal Freischutz,
Weber's first-but not his worst——
The dull, eternal Freischutz.

At Covent-garden they intend to get another opera
of Weber's up, to which I don't intend to give a copper-a;
In wonders, and in blunders, and in thunders, 'tis so scanty
Oh, how unlike the Freischutz is the stupid Euryanthe!

Oh, Euryanthe,

Endless Euryanthe!

Gaping, scraping, squalling, bawling, Drawling, Euryanthe!

imaginary misconceptions; they will evince due astonishment at the comfortable assurance that encouraged its possessor to declare, "that he had proved that his antago nist had neglected the study of his own language ;" and they will vote him well entitled to that elevated station, from which his modesty alone has induced him to shrink.

A. S. has told us, that he cannot comprehend the meaning of the allusion to the fox; but has, at the same time, taken occasion to produce a most convincing proof that he is not in a similar predicament; and, to do him justice, a most magnificent brush he has displayed. When I first saw the very fantastical banquet" of learned fragments that he has introduced in his last epistle, I was, of a truth, sore afraid, and was tempted to exclaim, with Jack Cade, "Away with him! away with him! he speaks Latin."— Till then I flattered myself that I had withstood the vehement assaults of his eloquence, without sustaining any material injury; but when, resolved to foil me at my own weapons, he came forward "collected in his might," and opened against my "devoted head" such a tremendous fire of quotations, "of all sizes and calibres," I quailed before the "pelting of the pitiless storm," and my heart sunk within me in exceeding great fear. I acknowledge the enormous presumption of the allusion, and, in deep contrition, I hasten to express my full belief, that he no more resembles the unlucky fox, than any "three-tailed Bashaw" in the Turkish dominions.

There is one part of A. S.'s (sit nullum in omine pon- | But it would be pedantic and futile for me to sally forth dus!) epistle that I cannot at present comprehend, with into a field of inquiry so often and so ably explored; and the utmost exertion of my ingenuity, and that is the para- I hope that this hasty note may creep into a snug corner graph wherein he adverts to a certain prospectus. Now, of the Kaleidoscope, and hide its diminished head, without with the said prospectus, and every thing thereunto apper- either provoking warfare or fanning the bright flames of taining, I am totally unacquainted; and, in contradiction controversy. to his "must," I beg leave to state, that I have not read it, and, consequently, am not able to gratify him by delivering my opinion on the subject. I have merely to remark, that the arrogance of the little author of the prospectus alluded to is surely not inferior to the superlative assurance of the man, who, in a miserable tirade, stigmatizes, as Gothic and barbarous, a practice that is supported by the example of the brightest and most illustrious ornaments of the literature of the present day.

In concluding my last, I was induced, by a gentle spirit of charity, to submit a wholesome piece of advice to the notice of your correspondent; and, in return for this officious conduct, I was rewarded by sundry "hits," which, though certainly not palpable, were administered with great good will, and indicated a violent effervescence of wrath in the giver. To this treatment I submit, and confess that I have richly merited it, for I cast my pearls, &c. and I ought neither to marvel, nor murmur, because my ill-advised kindness has subjected me to an uncourteous demonstration of gratitude.-Yours, &c. January 5, 1825.

TRANSLATIONS, &c.

QUOTATOR.

"Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites."-Ecl. iv.

TO THE EDITOR.

In my last communication, I observed an error, which must have arisen from the compositor having mistaken my n for u, and o for i, as my writing is often very indistinct.

at two miles an hour, would impel it at ten or twenty miles an hour, if an extra force were employed at first to overco the inertia of the car, and generate the required velocity" Your correspondent, A B C, explains the nature of the firm to be employed, by reference to a weight passing over a pulley, and descending with an accelerated motion, and further co tends that the constant action of the steam-engine is a power of the same kind.

I shall adopt the illustration of a weight and pulley, by which I think I shall be able to prove that the startling

conclusions, attempted to be drawn, are altogether erroneous

In the first place, I will admit that "the friction is the same for all velocities;" that is, it is the same in equal spaces The friction on a surface of three feet is the same, whether the carriage move at the rate of four or fourteen miles per hour; but it does not follow that the quantum of friction and

I forgot to mention that a friend of mine has tried various experiments with spiders, the result of which I shall submit to your consideration at a convenient season. therefore, of resistance) is the same in fourteen miles as in four. It is rather singular that Virgil (Geor. iii. 409) should On the contrary, it will be found that the quantum ef re make mention of wild asses; but certain it is, that hesistance, from friction, is in proportion to the distance evercome; in equal times, therefore, the quantity of resistance, does mention them, and in one place only, which might at the rate of twelve miles per hour, will be three times give us reason to suppose that they once existed in Italy, great as at the rate of four miles per hour; therefore, the unless we conjecture that he gives the appellation to a distinct class of animals.

"Sæpe etiam cursu limidos agitabis onagros."

Scientific Records.

O. R.

power employed must be increased in the same proputan. We will illustrate this by reference to the weight and pulley. B

Fig. 1.

Let B be the body to, be moved; the weight connected with the body to be moved, by a ley, x. The distance from B to x the same as from W to G. Let the weight #be 1, and its velocity, v, 3. The moving power, therefore, is #v, being the weight multipled into its velocity, or 3× 1=3.

[Comprehending Notices of new Discoveries or Improve-line passing over a pul-
ments in Science or Art; including, occasionally, sin-
gular Medical Cases; Astronomical, Mechanical, Phi-
losophical, Botanical, Meteorological, and Mineralogical
Phenomena, or singular Facts in Natural History;
Vegetation, &c.; Antiquities, &c.; List of Patents;
to be continued in a series through the Volume.]

RAIL-ROADS AND NEW MECHANICAL PARADOX.
(Continued from our former papers.)

In the Mercury, dated December 17, we were the
first to question the reasoning of a very able writer in the
Scotsman, who laid it down as a law, that, "abstracting
the resistance of the air, if a car were set in motion on a
level rail-way, with a constant force greater in any de-

SIR,-Perhaps, as an old correspondent, you may not deny me the pleasure of casting in my mite, and lifting up my head amid the seges clypeata which enters the lists, and seems to crowd with "bristling spears" the arena of ancient learning and modern erudition. Your correspondent, Y. Z. very justly observes, that transla-gree than is required to overcome its friction, the car - tion, or attempted translation, must materially deteriorate the sense of an ancient poet, or classical historian, as well as destroy that pith and laconicism which characterized the original expression; but, in almost numberless instances, it also banishes that sound or harmony of words suited to the subject, which critics have so ably com-position has been copied into several of the London and mented and enlarged upon. Thus, in Virgil's first eclogue, what reader can overlook the resemblance of this line to the sound of a pipe:

"Formosam resonare doces Amarillida sylvas.” And in the third Georgic, where two sturdy bulls are joining battle, to contend for the field, their efforts, as they struggle and bellow, are almost presented to the ear, as well as the eye, by the following lines:

64

GEOR. III. 222.

Versaque in obnixos urgentur cornua vastɔ Cum gemitu; rebount sylvæque et magnus Olympus." And in that very beautiful description of wintry Scythia, and Rhodope, which Thompson has so closely imitated, when he describes the hunting of deer in the snow, that his lines might be taken for a literal translation of it. Virgil thus represents these animals contending with the opposing mountains:

66

GEOR. III.

Confertoque agmine cervi Torpent mola novâ, et summis vix cornibus extant: Hos non immissis canibus, non cassibus ullis, Puniccave agitant pavidos formidine pennæ ; Sed frustra oppositum trudentes pectore montem." And throughout the tale of Orpheus and Euridice the beauties of Latin poetry are highly conspicuous; where the unfortunate lover is just on the threshhold of light, and breaks the league of Orcus by looking back, a crash was heard through the realms of Avernus: the words

used have a certain hollowness of sound which accords very closely with the occasion:

"Terque fragor stagnis auditus Avernis.”

would proceed with a motion continually accelerated,
like a falling body, acted upon by the force of gravitation;
and, however small the original velocity might be, it
would, in time, increase beyond any assignable limit."
The whole of the article in support of this strange
provincial papers without any comment; and we believe
the reasoning had passed undisputed until we ventured
to question its correctness." As we must abide by the
consequences of our temerity, should we be in error, we
may be allowed to claim the merit of having brought the
subject to the test of investigation, if our views of the
point at issue should ultimately prove correct.

In the Mercury of the 24th of December, we published
a letter of a correspondent, who, like ourselves, conceived
the paradox under consideration to be untenable. That
letter was succeeded by another from a gentleman, who,
under the signature of A B C, contended for the existence
of the apparent paradox. The letter which we now pre-
sent to our readers is intended as an answer to that of
A B C in the Mercury of Jan. 7. Thus we may hope
that the point will be soon set completely at rest, one way
or the other.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE LIVERPOOL MERCURY.
GENTLEMEN,-I think it will not be difficult to demonstrate

the fallacy of the reasoning on which this supposed paradox
is founded. The Scotsman states that "the friction of rolling

and sliding bodies is the same for all velocities;" and that
"it follows from this law, that, abstracting the resistance

of the air, if a car were set in motion on a level rail-way
with a constant force, greater in any degree than is required
to overcome its friction, the car would proceed with a mo-
by the force of gravitation;" and that "the very same
tion continually accelerated, like a falling body, acted upon
amount of constant force, which impels a car on a rail-way,

The whole of the original article from the Scotsman on
this subject may be found in the Kaleidoscope of the 28th of

December.

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B is attached by a line to a pulley, y, of double the diameter of the pulley in the former experiment, and by this means is drawn over twice the space. Wis attached by a line to the same pulley as before, which pulley is fastened to the pulley y, and turns upon the same centre. Now it is evident that the weight acts at a mechanical disadvantage of one-half as compared with the resisting body, B; therefore, if the ratio of friction of B continue the same, yet the quantity being doubled, the power to overcome it must be doubled To obtain this increased power, we will double the weight, which will now be 1X1-2. Its velocity will be the same, and, consequently, the space passed through will be the same, viz. from r to G. The power, therefore, will still be v; that is, 236, bed double the power which was required in the forms experiment.

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notions of your correspondent, AB C. He supp
But I am willing to take my illustration according
the line attached to the weight W, and that attached to
body B, pass over one and the same pulley. It follows (56-
in order to double the velocity of B, you must dea
city of W, which he proposes to effect by some extract
impulse, to be maintained by the force of gravitation
W will still be ), £1
result, however, is exactly the same.
16-6, the same as in the last experiment.
v (its velocity) will be 6; therefore, the real power, wi

Now it is abundantly evident that the operation of a tas
engine is similar to that of the power in figure 2, na
times. If it be required, therefore, to impart an incre
weight, or pressure, moving through equal spaces in e
velocity to the body or carriage, it must be effected i
maintained at a mechanical disadvantage, viz. by a
plication or an increased diameter of the wheels, the
of the engine, therefore, must be augmented in proporti
the increase of velocity to be obtained. This conclusion
destroy the paradox, but, I apprehend, will correspulit
the fact. Yours, &c.

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No. IV.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

TO THE ADITOR

STR-As the least part of weight came at first from a wheat corn, so the least part of long measure was at first a barley corn, three of which with us in England were to make one inch; but as I stated in my first letter that the Avoirdupois ounce was derived from the Roman Uncia, so I now conend that the division of the foot into twelve inches (or uncia) was not fortuitous, but certainly had its origin from the division of the As or Libra into twelve parts. The Roman Pes, or foot, was divided into four palmi, or hand-breadths, twelve pollices, or thumb-breadths, and sixteen digiti, or fingerreadths; each digitus was supposed equal to four barleycorns hordei grana) consequently their foot was to ours as four to hree, or sixteen of our inches; but having, as I may call it, popular division into twelve parts, or unciæ, which had rerence to the As, I am of opinion we have retained the same the division of our foot to the present day; and as the 4s as applied to any thing divided into twelve parts, as an inheitance, an acre, liquid measure, or interest of money, it may hot perhaps be thought too bold, to hazard a conjecture that he word assize is also derived from the same term, and not rom Arris, the participle of the French verb Asseoir, signifyng a sifting of the Judges to hear and determine causes, but or Assise, signifying mensura, or the apportioning to every an throughout their circuits equal justice in equal scales, ording to the standard As.

ingly, by forming this vacuum under the piston by means of the condensation of steam, that Newcomen succeeded in his improved steam-engine; and this continues, indeed, to be still the great principle of the engines of the present day, namely, the creation of a vacuum under or above the piston. Mr. Brown, then, proposes to create this speedy vacuum by means of the combustion, for example, of coal or oil gas, a gas-burner being lighted within the cylinder, and allowed to consume the internal air, part of which it condenses into water. Now, admitting that this plan is practicable, and that the machinery which Mr. Brown has described could be made to work with effect, let us see what would be the expense of this power. Coal-gas sells in Edinburgh at 12s., oil-gas at 40s.: take the coal gas, then, and suppose that every cubic foot of this gas is capable of creating an equal space of vacuum-a circumstance which is by no means proved even to half the extent; but let this advantage be set against the raising of its water of condensation, and other impediments which the steam-engine may have to encounter; and suppose that a steam-engine consumes 20 feet of steam per minute for every horse power, which will be found near the truth; then, by the same rule, a gas-engine would consume the same quantity, which is equal to 12,000 feet per day, and would cost, therefore, £7 4s. per horse power, for gas alone. Such a sum, however, would maintain at least 30 horses, and this consideration alone is sufficient to prove that the engine has no chance of success, let its mechanism and operations be ever so perfect; unless, indeed, it can be shown, that every cubic foot of gas is capable of weights and measures, "Celui qui regle les Poids et les Me-creating 30 cubic feet of vacuity, instead of only half a foot, the usual estimate of chymists. Where the gas has * See Miege's Dictionary. Hence, perhaps, and with great to be made on purpose for the engine, its application apference to better authority, the appointment of twelve Judges A twelve jurymen may have had the same origin; for pears still more dubious, as gas-making forms a business ong the Romans an inheritance was commonly divided abundantly nice and complex of itself, and quite incom♦ twelve parts, called Uncia: the whole was called As.patible with that simplicity which every mechanical power should possess.--Constable's Edinburgh Philosophical es, Hares ex asse, Heir to the whole; Hæres ex semisse, ex sie, dodrante, Heirs to the half-third, three-fourths, &c. gnificant as the subject may appear to the incurious, it is, ever, evident, that our division of the common foot is not uitous, but derived from the Roman Pes, whilst masters his island, at least 1800 years ago; and that to their diviof the As or Libra into Unciæ, we owe both our avoirduunee and inch, both of which being now established by hment on scientific principles, may be considered as perated and doubly "Imperial."

From this word likewise comes the assize of bread, the assize

inckstone says, "Our ancient historians inform us, that a dard of longitudinal measure was ascertained by King keb answers to our modern yard, should be made of the ary L who cominanded that the Ulna, or ancient ell, et length of his own arm; and one standard of measure ngth being gained, all others are easily derived from ce; superficial measures are derived by squaring those of th, and measures of capacity by cubing them;-that unKing Richard I. in his Parliament holden at Westminster, 1197, it was ordained, that the custody of the Assize or

dard of weights and measures, should be committed to din persons in every city and borough. These original dards were called Pondus Regis and Mensura Domini Regis, are by a variety of subsequent statutes to be kept in the

sequer, and all weights and measures to be made conform

thereto; but, as Sir Edward Coke observes, though this so often by authority of Parliament been enacted, yet it I never be effected, so forcible is custom with the multi"The yard being now determined by the present act of ament on mathematical principles, and a strict uniformity rights and measures throughout the kingdom established, anticipated that great and increased advantage to the e must be the consequence of its adoption.-Yours, &c. ember 7, 1824. ANONYMOUS.

BROWN'S GAS VACUUM MACHINE. his machine having excited considerable attention = here and in England, we consider it right to state opinion in regard to it. We shall feel happy, both on unt of the patentee and the public, to find that we ▲ been mistaken in the view we are now to lay before readers. In this period of boundless speculation too A caution cannot be used. The object of this engine, s name implies, is to obtain power by means of the nam created by the combustion of inflammable gas. well known in mechanics, that a vacuum, in whatever it is produced, forms the source of great mechanical er. It was by means of a vacuum, produced by the Jensation of steam, that Captain Savery contrived to water in his steam-engine. It was also remarked by Celebrated mechanic, Dr. Hook, in regard to some which had been proposed for working by means of a ,"If (said he) a speedy vacuum could be made er your piston, your work is done." It was accord

Journal.

Astronomy.

ON THE NAMES OF THE DAYS OF THE WEEK, &c.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR, I was asked by a young friend the other evening, explanation of the names that are assigned to the days of who was at home for the Christmas vacation, to give an the week, and the months of the year. The youthful mind is extremely inquisitive, and it is highly proper to satisfy the inquiries of youth, when information is sought on subjects as are suitable to their capacity.

be

Presuming that an explanation of these names may acceptable to many of your juvenile readers, during this holiday season, and that it may not be uninteresting to some who have attained the years of maturity without investigating the subject, I shall make no further preface or apology than the following:

Danish, Norman (French), and Celtic. Each of these people introduced their language, literature, and customs; and thus we derive from them the names given to the days of the week, and to the months of the year.

SUNDAY,

The first day of the week, so called from its being set
apart by our Saxon ancestors for worshipping the idol of
the Sun. Sunnan-dæg, Saxon; Sontay, Danish; Sonday,
Teutonic; Sonnday, German; Sondagh, Dutch; Dies
Dominica vel Dominicus, Latin; Dimanche, French.
MONDAY,

The second day of the week, was, in like manner, for-
merly devoted to the worship of the Moon.-Monandæg,
Saxon; Montay, German; Maendagh, Belgic; Lundi,
French; Dies lunæ, vel feria secunda, Latin.

TUESDAY,

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The seventh day of the week, was observed as a day of rest, in commemoration of God's resting after the sixth day of the creation. It is still kept by the Jews on Saturday: the meaning of the Hebrew word for Sabbath is rest. As Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week, Christians have since set apart that day (Sunday) instead of Saturday, for religious worship; and it is, therefore, by many, called "The Lord's Day."-Sabbathum, Latin; Sabbat, French; Sabbath, German. JANUARY,

The first month in the year, so called from Janus, the most ancient of the kings of Italy who was deified after his death.-Januarius (quaia Jano sacratus) Latin; Januarius, Januar, or Jenner, German; Janvier, French.

FEBRUARY,

The Romans, under Julius Cæsar (who was assassinated at Rome, before Christ 43 years) invaded Britain, and converted this island into a Roman colony, imposing an annual tribute on the inhabitants. This subjugation continued for several centuries, until the Romans were compelled to withdraw their forces from Britain for their own protection. The Britons being much harrassed by the Picts and Scots, invited over the Saxons to assist them in repelling those rude invaders; but the Britons soon found that these allies became enemies, possessed themselves of their country, and in the year 828 united the heptarchy The second month of the year, so called from Februis (or government of seven Saxon kings, under whom Eng- (Latin) i. e. the expiatory sacrifices offered up by the gland was divided) into one kingdom under Egbert, who Romans for the purifying of the people in this month. first assumed the title of King of England. The Danes-Februaris (dict. quod tum in extremo mense anni populus februaretur, i. e. lustraretur et purgaretur) Latin afterwards invaded England, and although they were successfully opposed by Alfred, and Edward the Elder, the Februarius, Februar, or Hornung, German; Ferrier, Danish princes, Canute, Harold, and Hardicanute, successively, enjoyed the English throne. In 1041 the Saxons again got possession of power, and Edward the Confessor The third month of the year, dedicated by the Romans to and Harold the Second ruled as kings, until William the Mars.-Martius, Latin; Mars, French; Martuis or Marz, Norman (styled the Conqueror) defeated Harold at Hast-German. The Romans used to compute the year begin. ings, and William was crowned King of England in 1066. ning with March as the first month. This sketch of British history is sufficient to account for the English language being a compound of Latin, Saxon, The fourth month of the year, deriving its name from

French.

MARCH,

APRIL,

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[Continued from a former number.]

He would observe stars irregularly scattered over the concave surface of the heavens, and differing in lustre, and apparently in magnitude. He would see many emerge, as it were, from below the plane of the horizon, and others never reach the horizon, but continually move round a fixed point in the heavens. But these motions are, in general, only apparent, and take place from a combination of a variety of different notions. In these, Astronomy

|

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present, adieu.

Liverpool, Oct. 13, 1824.

[To be continued.]

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↑ See Professor Vince's Practical and Complete Astronomy.

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