sentences, and the incorrect use of some words. These criticisms would not have been made, had it not been to convey this caution, that he, who throws stones at another ought to secure his own head.

66

In the review of the essay on manure, the writer expresses his belief that the method prescribed for making compost manure will prevent fermentation. He accuses the author of the essay of "gross ignorance of chymistry, and of the very first principles of the application of manures," and of grievous theoretical blunders." He adds, "carbon is totally insoluble in water, nor have we any evidence that it is ever received into the vessels of plants except in the state of carbonic acid, or carbonic oxide." Without pleading for the knowledge of the author of the essay, or acknowledging, or defending his ignorance, some authorities will be adduced. "Lord Meadowbank was the first individual in this country, who investigated the properties of that species of manure and explained them on scientific principles. The result is, that one ton of dung will ferment three tons of peat or moss earth. This is a most valuable discovery." (Sinclair.) Darwin,speaking of carbon, says, "as vegetable bodies contain so much of it in their composition, they may be supposed to absorb it entire, where they grow vigorously." After making an experiment upon carbon, he came to this conclusion, "which evinced that the carbon was thus rendered soluble in water." The reader will perceive from these quotations that there are high authorities against the confident assertions of the review. Other parts of the review appear to be reprehensible, but they are suffered to pass without animadversion.

The writer in the Repository, who has received the most censure and the most praise, is not entirely indifferent to either. But he would say to the young critick, as Balak said to Balaam, "Neither bless me at all, nor curse me at all." It is recommended to him, before he essays another review, to" tarry" at the manure heap, or at his laboratory, or at Jericho," till his beard is grown.* It is confidently believed, that if the Board should continue to be supported by the munificent hand of the Legislature, they will use their best efforts to perform the duties of their office without re gard to the crucible of criticism, or the retort, which emits the oxygen of praise and the azote of censure.

16

* See II. Sam. x. 5.

THE COLD SUMMER OF 1816.

MESSRS. EDITORS,

FOR THE LITERARY JOURNAL.

In the dry and cold summer of 1816, in the latter part of June, I was informed that a well about three or four miles distant was frozen in such a manner, that no water could be obtained from it. On the fourth of July, with some others, I called to ascertain the fact; and we found it completely fro zen over, and no appearance of water, except perhaps a quart in a small hole, which had been cut in the ice. On the 19th of the same month, I called again to examine it. The ice had now become detached from the stones, and fallen down to the water, which was lower than when the ice formed. The block of ice at this time was about the size of a common wash tub. On the 25th, I found it had all dissolved. This well is in the town of Lyman, in the county of Grafton, at the north-east corner of a house belonging to Daniel Moulton, Esq. occupied by Stephen Smith. It is situated on high land, 5 or 6 hundred feet above the level of Connecticut river, and about 3 miles distant. The depth of the well is from 12 to 15 feet; and from the surface of the ground to the ice was about 8. It was perfectly open the whole season, and exposed to the action of the atmosphere.

In the same town, and adjoining Connecticut river, is a plain, which in its natural state was covered with pine and hemlock. This plain is elevated 80 or 100 feet above the bed of the river. In the year 1815, about fifteen or twenty acres of this timber was felled, and on the 3d day of July, in the following year it was fired, and burnt in such a manner that scarcely any small stuff was left. On the 10th day of the same month, I was passing across said plain, and the owner of the burnt land, who was at work thereon, showed me a log which he had just removed from its bed, and which was frozen down, about 4 feet in length, and 8 or 10 inches in breadth; I saw the ice cut up with an axe, and it appeared solid as in winter. There was nothing to shade the spot where the log lay, there being no standing timber within 30 rods of it.

These facts, which may tend to shew the extreme cold of that season in this vicinity, are well known to many individuals; and you are at liberty to notice them in your Collections. CALEB EMERY.

Lyman, N. H., July, 1823.

One fourth of the number died under 10 years of age.The average age of each person was 36 years and 4 months. The annual average number of deaths was 16.

The population of Epping, at different periods, has been as follows, viz. 1399 in 1783; 1233 in 1790; 1095 in 1798; 1121 in 1800; 1182 in 1810; 1158 in 1820.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.-An esteemed friend at Portsmouth furnished us some. time since with an interesting biographical sketch of the late Gov. LANGDON. Its publication has been delayed in expectation of receiving some additional particulars from a connexion of the family of Gov. L. We hope to receive them in season for the biography to appear in our next number.

The gentleman who politely furnished us with a notice of R. CUSHMAN, one of the Plymouth pilgrims, is respectfully requested to give us some account of the descendants of Mr. C. who died in 1691.

The communication of our friend at Hallowell is received.

A valued correspondent has placed in our hands an excellent article on penitentiary systems, which will appear in a future number.

Our friend at New-London, who requests us to re-publish an account of the Great Whirlwind in this State in 1821, shall ere long be gratified-in the mean ame, he is desired to furnish us any additional facts relating to that dreadful torpado which may have come to his knowledge.

COLLECTIONS,

Historical and Miscellaneous.

SEPTEMBER, 1823.

FOR THE LITERARY JOURNAL.

Principles of Geology, or the History of Opinions concerning the Origin and Formation of the World. Collected from various Authors. By DUDLEY Leavitt.

Many opinions and hypotheses have been formed by philosophers in different ages, respecting the origin of the earth, the creation of animal beings, and the peopling of the different parts of the globe. At the beginning of the world, says Bishop Butler, there must have been either no course of nature at all, or one totally different from what it now is. As every thing in nature, though under the direction of Providence, is produced by natural causes, the nature and state of the earth, must, in some former time, have been such as to produce men and other animals, in a manner somehow similar to that in which vegetables, or some kinds of insects are produced now.

Concerning the theory of the earth, Dr. Thomas Burnet supposes that it was at first without form, and without mountains or seas. That in about sixteen centuries the crust, dried by the sun, cracked, and fell into the abyss of water which it surrounded, and thus caused the deluge. That our ocean is a part of the ancient abyss, and that islands, rocks, and mountains, are fragments of the antediluvian crust, or earthy shell which first enclosed the abyss of water.-John Woodward supposed the history in the Bible to be true, as given by Moses, and that the present aspect of the globe is the consequence of the deluge.-Mr. William Whiston's theory is, that the earth at first, was an uninhabited comet, in form of a chaos, surrounded with utter darkThe centre within the darkness or comet's atmos phere, a hot, solid nucleus, round which is the great watery abyss on which the earth floats. He supposes that the

ness.

* See Butler's analogy.