Imatges de pàgina
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to his talents, and obtained for him, new proofs of esteem. Chriftian VII. the prefent king, would have fixed him in his capital; but notwithstanding the most prefling folicitations, and all the diftinctions that were offe.ed him, the love of his country made him return into the bofom of his family. He was born at St. Germain des Noyers in Brie, near to Lagny, the 22d of March, 1720, of parents who are ftill remembered with veneration, throughout that country. He died the 14th Fructidor, the year 7.

The republic of letters, has juft loft Citizen TURPIN, at the age of 90 years. He is the author of a vaft number of hiftorical works, but has not been placed however, in the rank of diftinguished hiftorians. His principal labours are, "The History of the Koran, &c."-"History of the life of Mahomet, the Arabian legiflator."--"Civil and Natural History of the Kingdom of Siam.',

Hiftory of the Governments of the Ancient Republic." The French Plutarch." For fome time he carried on "The Lives of the Illuftrious Men of France." He was near 80 when he published the continuation of "The Revolutions of England.”

Bavius VOOR DA, jurifconful and profeffor of laws, in the university of Leyden, a man equally diftinguished for his learning, and his virtuous character, died the 21ft of laft Meffidor, aged 70 years.

C. PLANTERE, author of feveral Dramatic works, died lately at Paris. He wrote the Midas au Parnaft, Agnes de Chatillen, les deux Hermites, et la famille indigente: Like many

of his predeceffors, the latter part of his life was spent in great mifery; and he has left a widow and 3 children behind him, totally unprvoided for. The adminiftrators of the theatre, de Feydeau, have brought forward two of his works, for the benefit of his family; and the government has admitted one of his fons into the confervatcire, where he will be educated at the expence of the republic.

GRESNICK, the mafician, known by his various compofitions for the theatres of Louvois and Montarfer, died at Paris, on the 24th Brumaire, (Dec. 3d, 1799) at the age of 47. He was equally celebrated for the facelity of his method, and the fweetness of his melody. He has left behind him, an Opera for the Theatre of Arts, the words of which are from the pen of Madame Viot Bourdie; it is called la foret de Brame.

On the 9th of July laft died, at Madras, aged 77, George Baker, efq. of Aller, in the county of Devon. Early in life he failed for India, and was long and variously employed by the company, always to the benefit of the public, and to his own honour. A confiderable part of his income he annually devoted to the nouleft of purpofes; that of relieving the wants of the indigent and the afflicted; nor have the effects of his benevolence ceafed with his life, for his bequests have been more liberal to various charitable inftitutions in India and in England; and the poor and diftreffed of many parishes of his native county, will have reafon to blefs the memory of their benefactor.

We conclude the account of Provincial Occurrences for this month, by obferving that the affluent ftill continue unremittingly to exert themselves in mitigation of the wants of the poor, and in adminiftering to their comforts.-The establishment of Scup Shops extends even to the remoteft villages, and many thoufands are daily fupplied with bread, coals, and other neceflary articles, with a liberal and unfparing hand.

We are forry, however, to find that a difpetition to riot has been manifested in fome places, which but ill accords with the duty or intereft of the malcontents, and we trust that the bounty fo cheertully extended to them, will induce them to await with patience the expected return of better times-O PEACE abroad and PLENTY at home!

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1 SMALL efteem it as a particular favor, if you will allow me to correct an erroneous paragraph, which appeared in your obituary for laft month. Daniel Malthus, efq. is there mentioned as the tranflator of fome pieces, from the French and German; I can fay from certain knowledge, that he did not translate them. The turn of his mind, very little difpefed him to imitation, or to the corying in any way the works of cthers. Whatever he wrote, was drawn from the original and copious fource of his own fine understanding and genius; but from his fingularly unoftentatious and retired character, and his conftant defire to hun every thing that Eight attract notice, will probably never be known as his.

Feb. 19 h, 1800.

I am, Sir,

Your's, &c.

T. ROBERT MALTHUS

Mifieke corre&ed.-The elements of the new comet, calculated by Dr. BURCK. HARDT, inferted in page 895 of cur Magazine, have fince been found erroneous; wing to an error of 8 minutes in the direct afcenfion, in the obfervation by Meir, which had been used in the calculation, and to a tranfpofition in the reduc

tion of the obfervation. The corrected firft obfervation by Mechain is now as folJows: on the 6th of Auguft, direct afcenfion 1070 55′ 41′′; declination north 42. 505. Immediately on the difcovery of the error, Dr. Burckhardt calculated from the obfervations of the 10th and 21st of August, and of the 2d of September, elements of the orbit, and found the following: time of the paffage through the perihelium, 1799, on the 7th of September, at 6h 46' 49" medium time at Paris : longitude of the node 9° 15′ 21′′; inclination of the orbit 51° 10' 7"; longitude of the perihelium 3° 40' 25"; elongation of the perihelium 0,841,456 motion retrogade. Mechain calculated this orbit according to La Place's method, and found the following elements: time of the paffage through the perihelium, 1799, on the 7th of September, at 4 34' 20" mean time; longitude of the node 35 9° 33′ 38′′; inclination 50° 52' 27"; longitude of the perihelium oz 3° 36' 4"; elongation thereof o,83868.

MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT.

THE cargoes of the EAST INDIA Fleet, lately arrived from Bengal, Madras, and Bombay confist of the following articles, viz.

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Befides Privilege Goods, confifting chiefly of Cotton-Wool, Sugar, Coffee, Pepper, Cochireal, Indigo, and other Drugs.

Raw Sugars continue to advance, as there has been of late a greater demand for exportation; the deftruction of a confiderable quantity by fire, may likewife have had fome little influence on the price in London. St. Kitt's are from 6os. to 82s. per cwt. St. Vincent's, Nevis, Jamaica, and Tortola, from 58s. to 79s. Granada, from 575 to 80s. Ditto, clayed 67s. to 988. Dominica, Antigua, Barbadoes, Martinico, and St. Domingo, 58s. to 78s. Refined Sugars are of courfe advanced. Lump Sugars are from 915. to 1045. Single Loaves, from 98s. to 110s. and Powder Loaves, from I Los. to 120s.

Coffee is likewife higher within the last three or four weeks. 1323. to 1445. per cwt. Fine Coffee, from 1453. to 158s.

Good Coffee is at prefent from

The East India Company have declared for fale on the 25th of April next, 8500 bags of Black Pepper, prompt the 1st of Auguft following; and that they will fell no more Pepper until September fale, except fuch as may be damaged, uncleared, in privilege or private trade, or under the neutral property act.

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Spanifb-Wool has lately rifen a little; Leonefa is at prefent from 4s. 6d. to 4s. 9d. per lb. Segovia, from 45. to 4s. 5d. Soria, from 3s. 6d. to 4s. 3d. and Seville, from 3s. to 3s. 10d. Cotton-Wool has advanced about 1d. per pound.

Grafi Seeds have advanced confiderably notwithstanding the late importations of this article from France and Holland. Foreign Red Clover is from 21. to 61. 58. per cwt. White Ditto, from 21. 158. to 61.

The PUBLIC FUNDS continued pretty fteady for feveral weeks, notwithstanding the expectation of a large loan, 3 per cent Confols being from 60 to 61 from the beginning of the month to the 21st, the day on which the loan was negotiated, when they got to 63, but fell a Ettle the next day. The amount of the loan was fixed at 20,500,0 ol. making 32,185,000 1. new stock, and though it was taken on terms lefs advantageous to the fubfcribers than any of the loans during the prefent war, it immediately bore a premium from 2 to 3 per cent, which however has fince been somewhat lefs.

During

During laft feafon the following number of fhips were cleared out at Elfineur, viz. English 2590, -Danith 1571,-American 152,-Papenburghers 97,-Oldenburghers 3,-Lubeckers 54,Portuguese 2,- Swedish 1674,-Pruilians 1420,- Roftockers 137,-Hamburghers 5,-Bremeners 61,-Ruffians 13-Total 7848.

The Communications of our Friends, who refide in Manufacturing Districts or Sea Ports, to this Article, will be acceptable.

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MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT.

HOWEVER unfavourable the feverity of the froft and suddennefs of the thaws in the laft month might be to the growth of the young wheats, and to the carrying on of the various neceflary operations of hufbandry, the general mildness of the greatest part of the prefent, has tended very materially to redress the injuries that were fuftained. The wheat crops for the most part, but more efpecially fuch as had the advantage of being put into the ground early, are confiderably improved in their appearance, particularly fo far as refpects their vigour and colour. In a great many inftances in different districts they cover the ground weil, and are free from patchinefs, which often takes place after fudden alterations of froft and thaw. Such, indeed, as were fown at late periods, feem to have fuffered lefs than was commonly fuppofed, and are coming forward in a more promifing manner than could have been expected from the changeable ftate of the weather about the clofe of the laft, and beginning of the prefent year. During the chief part of the month the very effential bufinefs of manuring has been carried on with the greatest alertness and expedition. Molt of the hay districts, particularly thofe of the fater kinds, have had their fields well coated and properly wrought in. Some has likewife been carried out upon thofe fallows which are intended for barley in the more fouthern counties, fuch fallows being now in a confiderable state of preparation in these places; but in the northern parts of the kingdom, in Wales and Scotland, but little has yet been done in rendering the lands fuitable for the reception of the barley crops, as the fowing of this grain,commences at a later period. Nor has the plough been idle for the feveral last weeks in fcarcely any part of the island. In the midland and other districts more to the fouth, befides the barley fallows, much other field work has been begun; while in the northern counties the old leys and other grounds have been broken up for the oat crops. The two laft weeks of the month have alfo been extremely favourable for the cutting, plafhing and planting of hedges, and for the clearing up of ditches, as well as for many other of the fnialler operations of the farmer. While fuch uncommon fcarcity of wheat is experienced, every ftep fhould be taken, every encouragement given, to provide for the enfuing year; with this view, and in order to fave as much as poflible the prefent fcanty stock of this fort of grain, the dibbling of spring wheat ought to be practifed, as far as it can be, in all foils that will admit of it, for though the quantity per acre, in this way, caunot be fo great, on the whole there may be a confiderable produce

Grain. From the general deficiency in its produce and the badnefs of its quality in many cafes, ftill keeps a little on the advance. The average of England and Wales, by the lait returns, was for Wheat 103s. Id. for Rye 70s. 5d. for Barley 49s.1d and for Outs 33s. 78. per quarter. In Bucks, the average was 116s. and in Northumberland 79s. 10d. being the highest and the lowest of the county prices.

Potatoes, though they must now be difpofed of from their tendency to fprout, still keep up their prices. In the London warehouses they fell from 4s. to 128. the hundred weight, according to fort and quality.

Cattle. The dearnefs and fcarcity of hay and many other articles neceffary to the feeding and fatenning of animals, added to the extenfive file of them for fome time part in a half fed state, muft render good fat ftock extremely fearce and high in price. And lean ftock will foon, no doubt, confiderably advance, as the demand is daily increafing. Beef fetches, in Smithfield, finking the offal, from 33. 4d. to 5s. 23. per tone of eight pounds.

Sherp. Good fat Mutton, from the failures in the crops of turnips, their not being fo good in quality as ufual, and the injury which they have fustained from the frofts and other caufes, in becoming every day more difficult to be obtained, confequently is on the advance in price. One circumstance however is, that the rot, notwithstanding the uncommon wetness of the autumn and winter months, has yet made its appearance very little among thefe animals. Lambs are in general fine, and have lately done well in fartening; though, from the dearnefs of the different articles which are neceffary for the purpofe, they must fell high. Mutton fells, in Smtihfield, from 4s. to 5s. per stone.

Hogs are becoming more fcarce, from various causes.

His advancing in price.

Strato is alfo dear, though fomewhat lower than it has been.

WE have preferred the valuabir Life of GENERAL WASHINGTON, which enriches our prejent Number, to a curious Life of SPALLANZANI, which has just ap· Beared in the French Journals, but which will be inferted in our next.

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To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

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IN compliance with my promife, that, if I made public what I confider as likely to be a useful difcovery with refpect to the manufacturing of fweets, and which may probably lay the grounds for making fugar in Europe, I would firft fend it to your useful Magazine; I now haften, as the feafon for planting is fully arrived, to communicate what has occurred to me relative to that fubject.

Having fome years paft become ac-, quainted with Mr. HENRY SMEATHMAN, to whom the honour of first raising a blufh on the cheeks of Europeans for having been concerned in that barbarous traffic the Slave Trade, exclufively belongs; I naturally caught a fpark of that honeft fire which warmed his manly mind, and gladly contributed my poor endeavours in the common caufe of human nature, exerted to roufe the public to a proper fenfe of the cruel wrongs done to our almoft neighbours, whofe unoffending fimplicity, and the impoffibility of their ever giving the fmalleft difturbance to our national commerce, ought, if any thing could infure mankind from unprovoked annoyance, to have afforded them fecurity.

That but small fuccefs has hitherto attended the efforts of thofe engaged in their caule excites no furprife; for, how indeed fhould men who care fo little for the natural rights of their own children, as to fell their votes at elections, and, with them, the conftitution they inherited from their forefathers, be alive to the immutable privileges of a foreign country? We therefore both agreed (long before he died a martyr to 'this object) that until fome method could be found out of manufacturing fugar in Africa, or cultivating it in Europe, no great fuccefs was to be ex. pected from any plans to abolish the flave. trade.

Many circumftances have prevented me from becoming a useful affociate in this generous plan; yet I beheld with much fatisfaction, in common with all difinterested men, the agitation of fo noble a question; and the united efforts of others to procure the article fugar from maple, beets, and faccharine vegetables.

MONTHLY MAG. NO. 57.

Such a wifh, fo formed, could not long quit the mind; and, during my tours to

the continent, few vegetable fubftances prefented themselves without examination as to their capability of producing sweets, but nothing appeared fo likely to contribute to the wished for end, as the Turkey corn of Lombardy, immenfe quantities of which are cultivated in Piedmont, the Pope's States, &c.

We faw great fappy ftems, containing a fweet juice, which hogs would greedily devour, growing clofe as fugar-canes, making the fame appearance, raised nearly in the fame manner, and whofe ufes were inconceivably varied.

Of the grain we ate polenta, equal to wheat in nutriment; of the bloom we had delicate brooms, fitted up with light but ftrong handles made of the ftalk; while the dried leaves afforded clean and elaftic ftuffing for mattreffes; even the green fmall unmatured ears were not thrown away, for of them we had excellent frittura, by dividing them into quarters, and frying them in batter like young artichokes the juice of these plants alone remained unufed, and on that my attention was fixed; yet years paffed on, after my return home, without making any experiment; chiefly owing to an erroneous idea that the plant could not be cultivated in England.

At length fomebody told me, that Mr. Dibdin, of Hampftead, conftantly raised very fine ones in his garden; and having procured fome feed of the American mottled wheat, in cones, I fteeped them, and planted them about four inches deep, in common mould; they rofe to eight, nine, and even ten feet high, without hoeing; but being much occupied, the firft year paffed away without making trial of their juice.

Next year I again planted them, exactly in the fame fpots, about four or five in the fpace of a foot fquare; and, to my great furprife, they again grew, without any manure, to as great a height as the preceding year.

This favourable circumftance greatly contributed to my making the experiment; therefore, after gathering the fruit in October, which was very large and per

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fect,

fect, I cut down the green canes, and having by an awkward procefs (not poffefling the means of preffure by roller or fcrew) extracted a fufficient quantity of the juice, with which they then abounded, I foon reduced it, by the fimple procefs of boiling, to a rich fyrup.

This was tafted by fome Weft India planters, and owned to be very much like the fugar-cane juice, previous to granu lation; alio by a diftiller of eminence, who faid, if it did not take up too much water to break it down, it might be found of great use in his art. One ingenious gentleman thought it might be converted into beer; another, that it might compofe wine; and by all who have tafted it, it has been acknowledged to be a pure syrup.

In this manner the little at firft made has been in a great measure diffipated; but I have still some small quantity by me, that I have kept for fixteen months with out any apparent alteration.

Thus, that a rich fyrup may be extracted from the cane of the American wheat, or Turkey corn, is afcertained; whether fugar can be produced, must remain to be tried by thofe who understand that procefs, and poffefs the neceflary apparatus; and it is alfo as clear that it may be easily railed in this country.

During all this time not having found one perfon who has even conjectured the nature of the plant from whence I extracted this fyrup, I think I have reafon to conclude that it has not hitherto been thus applied by any one but myself.

If it fhould appear that I am mistaken, it will give me no concern; but a great, deal of gratification will it afford, if this fweet should ultimately be found useful, by enabling us to raife fome of that produce, which is now only procured by the continual deportation of the helpless and unhappy inhabitants of Africa.

Your moft obedient humble fervant, Bifbopfgate, G. CUMBERLAND. Egham, Surrey, March 1, 1800.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

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que gloriofum ex ore ejus exiit. Plaut. Trin. v. 97. Neque de illo quicquam neque emeres neque venderes. Schell. Præcepta Stili bene Latini, vol. i. p. 291. ed. Sec. Prifci ras nec (neque)—nec (neque) præmittunt fæpe vocabulum negans, v.c. nullus, nibil, non, &c. Cic. Mil. Non poffum reliqua nec cogitare nec fcribere. This peculiarity feems not to have been prefent to the mind of the great Bentley, when on the Andria of Terence, act i. fc. ii. v. ult. he wrote the following note, Vera fine dubio et vetufta illa lectio eft neque haud, non neque hoc : Sic Plautus ter quaterque, Nofter iii. 3, 31. At ego non poffe arbitror, neque illum hanc perpetuò habere, neque me perpeti.

Allow me to remind your correfpondent who propoles an ingenious interpretation of Virg. Ec. I, 54. of a paffage in the Æneid. I. 602, "magnum quæ fparfa per orbem," which will fhew that the genius of the Latin language is not violated by the ellipfis of the verb eft after depasta.

While I have my pen in my hand allow me to detain your claffical readers another moment, to propofe a correction of a paffage in Homer, II. XXII. v. 346. for αι γαρ πως read αι γαρ ως. See Odyfit. xv. 156. and in vindication of the metre I. XIV. 521. By the critical fcholar the emendation, whether approved or not, will be inftantly understood on reading the paffage. I am, Sir, your's, &c. Chefbunt, Feb. 23, 1800.

E. COGAN.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. [Communicated by DR. BEDDOES.]

SIR,

OON after my paper on the word tyde

was published in the Monthly Magazine, it occurred to me that the epithet (high) is applied to the word time as well as tyde.

Ex. It is high time to do a thing.

In Chaucer may be found many examples in which tyde was used to mean time. Ex. Meal-tyde for dinner-time.

My reasons for believing that tyde, though it fignifies time, is the fame word as tyde, ufed to exprefs the rife and fall of the fea, may be feen in your Magazine of last May.

Allowing it to be true that the epithet high ufed of the tyde of the fea, has been retained with this word when it means time; I fhall be glad to find in your Magazine a folution of its meaning in its latter fituation (as applied to time), and to be informed why it may not be found lowtime as well as high-time to do a thing.

To

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