of her labour ripen, and all her fondest The Critic, London Literary Journal.-John We have watched with great curiosity, for many years, the gradual progress of this literary paper; now most assuredly, so far as merit, aye, and circulation are concerned, at the head of the so-called "organs of com munication" with the reading public. The difficulties that have beset the worthy proprietors and their staff in establishing this periodical, have been such, that—but for untiring energy, unity of purpose, and a fixed determination to conquer (which, in nine cases out of ten, wins the battle), they must have suffered fatal shipwreck. culties," and its results, be written with a pen of iron on the memory of every reader of our LONDON JOURNAL. We must not stop here. It is too notorious to need comment, that the so-called organs" of "the trade" are in the habit not indeed directly offered in current coin, of noticing books for a con-si-de-ra-ti-onbut in the form of advertisements, for the insertion of which heavy prices are charged. This is not, of course, objected to by the publishers, "under the circumstances." Which way the reviewer's bias leads, "under the (aforesaid) circumstances," this deponent sayeth not. Proudly return we, for one moment, to the Critic. No favor have we here-no promise; no tacit hint of a "favorable_review if an advertisement accompany the book Opposed, manibus pedibusque, by "the we will notice them according to their sent." "Send your books," say they, "and Trade" and their minions, no helping hand merit." What is the consequence of this could they get there. No books would be grand line of demarcation between the Critic, sent for review;" no advertisements sent and the "organs " of "the trade?" Why in to reduce the cost of production. "We this. We find that a book "cut up" by the have our own organs," said the publishers; Critic, is lauded to the skies by the opposite "you are an interloper, and we shall not party. "Laudatur ab his, culpatur ab illis!"support you." They spake, and it was done! much to the astonishment of literary parneThwarted, baffled for the time, but not nus, and to the bewilderment of the casual "put down as intended, these lions among reader. In the one case, the Critic purletters held a consultation. "In the multi-chases all the books it reviews, and can tude of counsellors, there wanteth not wis- therefore afford to be honest; in the otherdom." A plan was projected, discussed, but we need not go over that ground again. approved-acted upon. Critic, decidedly THE literary The proud position now occupied by the organ the public-impels even us, in our little venture, to hold up our heads manfully. We shall do our best in a plain, straightforward manner, to please our friends, and leave the issue in the hands of the public. A phalanx of scholars was summoned to take the helm of the good ship, whilst fitting out. Soon a fair breeze sprung up; the vessel was launched, and glided steadily over the waves of opposition. Merit was recognised throughout the pages of the Critic. It was methodically made known by public advertisement, and by gratuitous distribution. The difficulties of parturition safely over, a healthy offspring stood confessed. It were needless for us to pursue the inquiry more closely, as to how its present high eminence was reached. Suffice it to say that, by means of unceasing canvass, conducted in a gentlemanly manner by intelligent men, the paper now finds its way direct from the office of publication a masterstroke of long-sighted policy-into the hands of very nearly seven thousand of the reading public! How gratifying must this be to the projectors-how galling to their grovelling, narrow-minded opponents! Fearlessly independent as we ever have been ourselves, how WE revel in the thought of this signal triumph of "right." over "might!" The pithy saying "Aide toi et le Ciel t'aidera," never was more happily confirmed. Let this "pursuit of extending knowledge under diffi 66 " of Let us add in conclusion, that we do not know, even by name (sad ignorance we grant!), one single individual who writes for the Critic. An "offering" therefore of this kind, without their privity, must prove that our sentiments are as honest as the exercise of our duty is imperatively called for— "Palmam qui meruit ferat!” *We should name here, that the Critic is not a "weekly" periodical. The proprietors wisely remark, that they can, by issuing it every fortnight, bring down the information required to the very latest moment; and thus afford a mass -a mass, indeed!-of intellectual and instructive matter that will require at least a fortnight comfortably to read and digest. It is, in truth, ment of its numerous and well-arranged subjects; a masterly production, viewed in every departand the price, notwithstanding, simply that of a common Newspaper! AGE.-Age is like the air we breathe; every one feels it, but no one sees it. MODERN SCIENCE,-No. 1. This important invention, the discovery of which is vested in MR. RUTTER, of Black Rock, Brighton, alone--has recently been introduced to the London public by means of a series of Popular Lectures. We have attended one of these lectures, delivered by Dr. T. LEGER, a gentleman of considerable scientific acquirements. The subject excited great attention from a large auditory, many of whom, although giving evidence of their having come as sceptics, left the room (Hungerford Hall) fully satisfied as regards the "Discovery," that there was something in it. So thought WE,simply because what was asserted by the lecturer, as having been discovered by Mr Rutter, was fully proven to the eye. As we shall have occasion, repeatedly, whilst discoursing on matters of popular science (for we wish to make all our essays "popular," and intelligible to the masses), to speak of this wonderful instrument as connected with certain curious, astounding, and interesting phenomena, we will now only give a succinct account of its nature and singular properties. The elemental particulars are gleaned from a lecture on the instrument, delivered by Dr. Madden of Brighton. The lecture given by Dr. T. LEGER (before referred to) will form occasion for further comment hereafter. We may just mention, that the last-named gentleman has constructed an instrument, which he considers an improvement upon that of Mr. Rutter, inasmuch as it confirms, he says, by undeniable demonstration, the truth of the discovery. But now for A DESCRIPTION OF THE MAGNETOSCOPE. "From a stand fixed firmly to the table, there rises perpendicularly a rod of wood, say eighteen or twenty inches high, having a brass knob on the top. From the knob projects at right angles with the upright a brass arm, say nine inches long, tapering to a fine end. A fine silken filament is attached to one end of a small spindle. shaped piece of sealing-wax like a fisherman's float-but the shape is not material. This is hung from the extremity of the brass arm; and the line being merely a raw thread taken from the cocoon, there is no twist or tendency to turn in it, but the plumbob hangs free to vibrate or circulate, or adopt any motion in obedience to the infinitesimal influences which are to act upon it. "Immediately underneath the centre of the bob is a small circular wooden plate, say four inches in diameter, so made as to be fixed in a horizontal position, higher or lower-that is, nearer to or farther from the lower point of the bob. On this is placed a glass dish, rather less than the tablet it rests on, and about as deep as the bob is long, The tablet is then moved upwards, until the lower end of the bob almost touches the centre of the glass dish. The bob, thus hanging down into the dish, is protected from the accidental movements of the surround. ing air. If it be thought desirable, however, the whole line and bob can be surrounded with a glass shade, such as are placed over artificial flowers or small statuary, having a hole in the top for the string to pass through. [This is preferable.] "The apparatus being thus prepared, and the sealing-wax bob hanging dead from the brass arm, and all parts at rest, the operator placed the finger and thumb of his right hand upon the brass knob, and almost without any perceptible interval the bob was evidently moved; in a few seconds it was decidedly making an effort to swing round, and in less than a minute was steadily dish, the lower end of the bob tracing a circle of careering in a circle parallel to the sides of the glass perhaps two inches in diameter, or the size of a crown-piece, from left to right, as the hands of a watch move. The lecturer said he would call this the normal motion, being that which was invariably produced, at least after some practice; but it was a curious fact, and as yet unaccountable, that many of the movements were different with different individuals-that they were often even different with a given individual on first but that there came a time when an operator experimenting and after considerable practice; could depend on the movement peculiar to himself occurring without exception. This left-toright movement invariably occurred, however often the experiment was made, the bob invariably beginning to swing with the sun a few seconds after the application of the finger and thumb to the knob. He stated, too, that many experiments which at first were difficult or gave dubious results, became sure and unvarying as the operator increased in delicacy by practice. "The mode of stopping the movement is by With taking a piece of bone in the left hand, when the When only the finger was applied to the knob, the bob set up, not a circular but a to-and-fro movement, like a clock pendulum. On stopping it, and applying the thumb only, a similar pendulation was produced, but in a direction directly across and perpendicular to the former. The direction of the swing for finger and thumb respectively, was always the same, however often the experiment might be tried-that is, calling the direction for the finger N. and S., that for the thumb was E. and W.; and if while the finger was producing the N. and S. swing, the thumb was substituted, the bob was instantly affected-staggered, so to speak-and shuffled itself into the E. and W. direction. "While the lecturer held the knob by his finger and thumb, a person standing by touched the operator's left hand with his own right, when, instead of a circular motion, an oscillatory one was produced, but in a direction different from the other two. On this, a chain was formed by the gentlemen present joining hands, and as the chain increased, the arc of oscillation increased until the bob swung as far as the sides of the dish; the contribution of a few more hands, and it must have struck the glass. If the bystander touched the experimenter with his finger (index) only, the same effect was produced as if the experimenter touched the instrument with his finger only, and so with the thumb. "Now came the extraordinary and mysterious' part of the subject. The lecturer stated that if, while the operator's finger and thumb were producing the left-to-right movement, a woman were to touch his left hand, the bob would immediately refuse to proceed in the normal direction, and be carried round in the opposite direction -right to left. [This is quite true; for we saw it proved by Dr. T. Leger, at Hungerford Hall.] No ladies were present, but the lecturer stated that anything which had been worn or carried about by a female for a length of time, or even a letter written by one, would do as well. Incredible as this may seem, it was put to the proof and succeeded. The instrument being at rest, the operator placed bis right hand on the knob, and a letter written by a lady was laid in the palm of his left, when the bob immediately commenced a circular movement from right to left. This was tried with several documents, one of which was of the date of September 27th, twenty-four days previous. One of these experiments was startling, and touches on a disputed and much-vexed question; but we may venture to state what really occurred. One letter, placed on the hand, produced an apparent indecision on the part of the bob to such an extent, that the lecturer gave it up;' he could not tell what sex the writer was. It proved to be a woman; but the writing had been penned while in the mesmeric sleep-on which the lecturer remarked, that Mr. Rutter had already ascertained the fact of the disturbing influence exerted by a somnambulist." The above abridgment of "facts" must suffice. We hardly need remark, that IF the "principle" herein involved be "true," (and we by no means pledge ourselves thus early to affirm that it is so), the doctrine of Homœopathy is likely to go rapidly a-head. We gather this, not only from what we have given above, as evolved by the "experiments;" but from the further and striking experiments submitted by Dr. T. LEGER at Hungerford Hall. We shall have an eye upon this subject, and our readers shall reap the benefit of our observations. Meantime, let us thank Mr. Rutter most cordially, and most sincerely, for the disinterestedness and energy he has displayed towards the public, from first to last. To him alone, we repeat, is all the honour of the discovery justly due. "Suum cuique!" is our invariable motto. TO CORRESPONDENTS. ALPIA.-By all means send your proposed contribution. It has reference to a subject likely to be of very general interest. CANTAB.-It is impossible for us, at this carly period, to define what you wish to know; but every successive week will assist in developing it more clearly. PHILOS.-Yes, such subjects are quite admissible; but we wish all communications to be as concise as possible. ARGUS.-Now that our First Number is issued, and our desires are made known, you will see (with your hundred eyes') what aid it is that we so much covet. We are as anxious to expose abuses, as we are to inform the public OUR EXTRA' CONTRIBUTOR'S article on "Female Costume" mind. Your assistance is gladly accepted. is received. It is "pointed"-ly clever, and shall assuredly have a place in our next number. It comes quite within the scope of our Journal to insert it. Thanks for your earnestness in the cause of Reform. SPECTATOR.-Any hint of the kind that may strike you, we shall be glad to receive. Drop it into our Letter Box. Only give us a text, and we shall well understand how to "handle it." LEGION.-We prefix this signature to express to our friends collectively how sensible we are of their kind promises of literary aid, which will be at all times most acceptable. CORRESPONDENTS sending in any "facts" connected with Science or Natural History, are requested in every case to append their names and places of abode. In no instance, however, will their names be published without their express sanction. NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS AND OTHERS.-It having been deemed expedient, to meet the views of the Trade, that this Journal should always be published by anticipation, CONTRIBUTORS AND OTHERS will be so kind as to bear in mind that they must give us an extra "week's grace," and wait patiently till their favours appear. persons who may send in MSS., but which may not be "accepted," are requested to preserve copies of them, as the Editor cannot hold himself responsible for their return. To obtain this Paper without any difficulty, our readers need only ORDER it to be sent to them by any of their local Booksellers or Newsvendors. It is published simultaneously with all the other weekly periodicals. KIDD'S LONDON JOURNAL. Saturday, January 3rd, 1852. IT MAY very naturally be asked,-Why is another Literary Journal added to the already large number of those at present existing? The answer is short and simple. The popularity of the subjects on Natural History, which we originated in the year 1849, in the Gardeners' Chronicle, (and which series of Articles are still in course of publication in that extensively-circulated paper) is such, that we are urged, positively urged, by those who wish us well, to issue a cheap Weekly medium of communication with the reading public, in which all such interesting topics can be more fully discussed, and entered upon in greater detail. It would indeed be unreasonable to expect these matters to be assigned more than a very limited space in a first-rate Horticultural paper, their introduction being incidental rather than needful. Having given the matter our mature consideration, and calculated the chances of success, which, if our friends kindly rally round our standard as promised, we should hope cannot be doubtful-we have let the casting vote be in favor of the public voice. Our good friends, the Publishers, can aid us materially in our enterprise; and we make no scruple in asking them to do so. Unita vis fortior." There is nothing comparable to the "pull altogether." Now for a passing word about our appearance to-day. It is an undeniable fact, that all FIRST NUMBERS of a New Periodical ought to be the best of any. It is as undeniable, that they are invariably the worst of any. The reason is obvious. It is just as impossible to collect and arrange the necessary materiel for a forthcoming literary work, in a few short days, as it would be to get a new machine to work perfectly when first taken, for an experimental trial, from the hands of the manufacturer. There always remains some slight improvement to be made, some little alteration or amendment to be introduced. Nevertheless, we are well content to let our first Number speak for us, so far as regards the new features which it holds out, and the plan, in outline, upon which we purpose to proceed. We see before us, a prospect of intense interest; and our weekly task, as the seasons advance, will indeed be a "labour of love." As we well know who will be our readers, our pen will move with as much freedom of thought, as it does with celerity of touch; and having the good will, and hearty wishes of the Public for our success, we have every reason to believe we shall-" go a-head!' ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. "How can I get rid of Rats?"-I am told you know all about this; having been so cruel a sufferer by their frightful depredations. I wrote to you some time since, though the Editor of the Gardeners' Chronicle, for full particulars of your loss, and also to know how you exterminated the intruders. You referred me to three back numbers of that paper, for which I have applied vainly. They are, I am told, out of print. Now I cannot help thinking, that if you were to put the public in possession of the little affair ab initio, you would not be a loser thereby; for the ravages made by rats are, I fear, in many parts of the country, alarming. Will it be asking you too great a favor, to assist me in this matter? I am sure it is of public interest, and therefore well suited to the "object" which you recognise so decidedly in your prospectus. -J. T., Hants. [We will gladly reprint these three articles, having, fortunately, a copy of the papers in our possession. The first will be found elsewhere, the others shall appear weekly.] The Cuckoo. I have just read in the Family Herald, a periodical which finds its way I believe into every corner of the globe where there is a family-and so it ought, some account copied from your writings, of the cuckoo. It would appear from the remarks made by the editor of the Family Herald, that there has been some "most interesting controversy" about this bird, a visitor so little understood in its singular habits. Do you JOURNAL? I feel curious to know all that has mean to allude to it at all in your LONDON been ascertained about its peculiarities; for, in our part of the country, all sorts of stories are told, yet few of them, I imagine, true.-ALFRED M. [It is our intention, shortly, to collect all the materiel which has been recently brought before the public in "shreds and patches." The true habits of the bird are now fully known-not all, perhaps, but those which have hitherto been matters of dispute among vulgar minds.] easily tamed, and how I must teach them to feed Gold Fish.-Can you tell me if gold fish are from my hand? I have had a pair given me in a glass bowl, but they take little or no notice of me, or any one else.-A. W. [Gold fish are very easily tamed; but their tameness is more pleasing when they are seen disporting in a pond, or large body of water. Read the following, which appeared in the Gardeners' Journal, Nov. 15:-"About the middle of July, 1850, four gold fish were put into the Victoria tank in the house in which the royal water lily is growing in the Royal Botanic tion were, at the time they were put into the tank, Gardens, Regent's Park. The four fish in quesfull grown. The water has been kept at about 85 deg,, with a supply of fresh water constantly falling into the tank. In the course then of these fifteen months, these four golden fish have laid many thousands of golden eggs, and become the progenitors of three or four generations of young goldings, numbering a visible offspring of several hundreds, and many hundreds more below a line in depth which we regard as invisible. It was found that the Victoria lily, as well as the fish, rejoiced in brilliant sunbeams, as well as heat; no shading was therefore used during the brightest sunlight of the past summer, though abundance of top air was given. Ábout a barrowload of rough gravel was laid into a shallow part of the water in the tank, and in this neither soft nor smooth bed the gold fish delighted to nurse and rear their young. The animalcules in the water are not now so plentiful as in summer, and there is besides a vast increase of little mouths to be fed. Their pasturage is therefore not so rich as it was some months ago; and so keenly do they now watch to be fed that a finger dipped into the water, and slightly agitated, will instantly bring every fish in the tank to the same spot. They are quite tame, and if the hand be dipped into the water, it is immediately surrounded by scores of little nibbling mouths seeking for a few crumbs."] The Ostrich,-I fear you have been lately too severe, whilst writing about the unnatural habits of the ostrich. I have seen somewhere in print, but cannot now remember in what publication it appeared, that this animal is very affectionate, and careful to provide for her young. If you insert this in your LONDON JOURNAL, as a query-no doubt, out of your host of readers, some one of them will be able to supply what I regret it is not in my power to send you.-J. F. [This discussion is now going on elsewhere, and the inquiry promises to be very interesting. Thanks, however, for your vigilance.] "HOW EASY HE WRITES!" "WITH what ease he writes!" said a young lady, as she laid down one of Washington Irving's volumes. Straightway we made up our mind that the young lady did not know what she was talking about. Had she said "How easy it is to read his works," we could have sympathised with her amazingly. Then, finding we could not make a satisfactory reply without compromising our honesty, we fell to making a comparison in silence. The steam-boat glides majestically and gracefully through the waters, but it is no easy power that gives to the water-traveller her steady and rapid motion. It is true she is tastefully painted and gilded; her cabins are pleasant, and her prow is decorated with specimens of the sculptor's art. But descend with the engineer to his fiery domain; swelter there in the burning pit; see the heated grease, and listen to the bursting steam; see the tremendous power of fire and water combined, until the strained and groaning boiler threatens to burst asunder, and deluge the decks with the heated fluid. You will perceive that Ease, although a mild and pleasing damsel, has a confounded rough old father. Little dreamed the admirer of Irving how much agonising toil was required to beget that ease which she so much delighted in! Yet she was not alone in her error. How many a publisher thus lightly estimates the labour of his weary author! How many tradesmen smile at the trifling employments of the man of Genius. We have been mad enough to eat a tripe supper, when we have heard the peasant draw an invidious comparison between himself and the poor wight whose intellect supplied him with bread. "I get my living by the sweat of my brow," said he, "while you are trifling away your time with books and papers." Yes, see that pale and hungry being, startled from his task by the sound of the midnight bell. See how his fingers grasp the pen convulsively, as he fears his task will not be accomplished in time-a slave to men whose pockets are better lined than their pericraniums, and who mete out to him his starveling pittance with the unwilling hand of an upper servant dealing out cold pancakes and sausage-ends, to a beggar. See him place both hands upon his snapping brain, as the fires of fancy dart from Apollo's mount upon his withering soul. Yes-"how easy he writes!" When our friends, who know what the solace of a leisure moment is, peruse our "London Journal" to-day-perhaps they will imagine "how easily" it has been produced! HINTS ON SONG BIRDS, AND OTHER DOMESTIC "PETS." 6 A hint or two have just been seasonably thrown out to us in connection with our LONDON JOURNAL, of which we think it highly desirable to avail ourselves. An unknown, but zealous correspondent, writes:"Nearly every family, Mr. Editor, keeps a bird of some kind, and feels greatly interested in all that concerns its welfare. Of these there are, of course, many sick, many ailing; and their owners, being for the most part ignorant of the mode of cure, or proper treatment, often lose their 'pets' in consequence. A vast number, no doubt, perish every year in this way. Now, if you were to encourage all persons having invalid birds, to write and consult you about them, from week to week, you would not only enlighten the public generally, and make them greatly your debtors by the remedies you would propose; but you would interest' many thousands of persons, who would gladly take in your paper if it were only to obtain this particular class of information. There is no doubt that self-interest' sways us in all we do. Why not, therefore, avail yourself of this weak point,' and turn it to your own particular advantage? Rely on it, it would cause the sale of your journal to increase rapidly, and procure you a host of staunch friends and supporters in all parts of the country. Rich and poor, high and low, old and young, gentle and simple-all have a penchant for a bird of some sort; and I very much question, whether this class of readers would not alone render your speculation a successful one. Then again, the breedingseason' is coming on; when there will be questions innumerable put to you. You will be consulted also upon a variety of other matters, to which there is scarcely any limit; all, bear in mind, having reference to the expressed object of your LONDON JOURNAL. For instance, squirrels, 'pet dogs, rabbits, pigeons, the choice breeds of fancy fowl, and I know not how many other such matters, are sure to be brought under your cognisance for advice;' and how exceedingly interesting is the discussion of these affairs, treated as you treat them, in a pleasing, 'popular' form! "Again, let me put the question in another shape. There are a class of people-a numerous class-who have the (pardonable) vanity of loving to appear in print. These, when they write to consult you, will look |