SCHOOLS, IN LIVERPOOL AND WITHIN TWO MILES, FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF THE POOR,
Taken from the latest printed Reports, or from actual enumeration, February, 1821.

We have been urgently solicited by several most respectable friends to give a place in the Kaleidoscope to the following table, which was compiled for the Mercury. As our two publications circulate in different quarters, and as this document is interesting to the philanthropist, and as it will be very convenient for future reference, we see the propriety of complying with the wish of those who have recommended its transfer to the Kaleidoscope.

Miscellanies.

An English epicure is very likely to be disappointed at a Restaurateur's, in Paris; if he order a beefsteak ten to one but the waiter will bring him a biftick de mouton, or a biftick de veau; for these are dishes com mon in all the bills of fare: and the fact is, that the French understand by biftick nothing but a slice of meat, whether beef, mutton, or veal. Of the words roast beef, too, they have an equally vague idea. In Fouret's (a very excellent) cookery book, directions are given how to dress a "rosbif de mouton." The French bills of fare are, at first sight, quite astonishing, from the number of dishes they contain; but the charm in a

Supported by voluntary Contributions, unless great measure vanishes when they are put (as some of
mentioned to the contrary.

302 £157 The children who write pay 1d.week.
200 Originally established as a Lancasterian school.
160 Endowed by Miss Waterworth.

Workhouse

Everton and Kirkdale

St. Andrew's .....

St. James's.....

St. Mark's

St. Matthew's..

Edge-hill

All Saints'

RUINS OF POMPEII.

Correspondence.

TO THE EDITOR.

If you fear giving offence, state in the prospectus that none who cannot bear a disappointinent are permitted to compete. With respect to raising funds, several ways present themselves; but each, in some degree, may be considered objectionable. Doubtless there are some persons whom the love of distinction or of precedence tempt would answer equally well, whether rewarded will induce to write, were a subject offered; and the atwith honour or profit. Therefore let us suppose it feasible without any pecuniary inducement, and that next week a subject be proposed for a trial of ability, and for putting to the test the excellence of hidden talent. With respect I remain yours, &c. V. AUBREY.

street, Feb. 20, 1821.

THE BULL-DOG IN THE KITCHEN.

some months since, was overlooked until this The following whimsical letter, sent for insertion It is too good to be lost; and we hope that our correspondent will excuse the delay.

week.

TO THE EDITOR.

The streets of the city of Pompeii are said to be daily disincumbered. Mr. Williams, a late traveler, informs us, that he entered by the Appian Way through a narrow street of small tombs, beauti-pointing out nuisances which appear to them as such; SIR,-I frequently observe your correspondents are fully executed, with the names of the deceased, plain permit me to add one to the number, in hopes that and legible. At the gate was a sentry-box, in which your mentioning it may induce the persons who have the skeleton of a soldier was found, with a lamp in his the power, to adopt a remedy. On Thursday last I was hand. The streets are lined with public buildings, the passing St. Peter's Church-yard at the time a corpse was being interred, (if it is not an abuse of that term to painted decorations of which are fresh and entire. There call that interment which scarcely descends to meet the were several tradesmen's shops also discovered, such as earth.) By the plate on the coffin I observed it was a baker's, an oilman's, an ironmonger's, a wine shop, scarcely be said that the coffin was put under ground; the remains of a young man of 22 years, and it could with money in the till, and a surgeon's house, with chi struck as I was at seeing it so near the surface, I took rurgical instruments; also a great theatre, a temple of particular notice, and really believe the top of the coffin justice, an amphitheatre 220 feet long, various temples, was not more than four inches below the under edge of barrack for soldiers (the columns of which are scrib-corpse is laid is about six or seven feet to the west of the adjoining flags or grave stones; the spot where the bled with their names and jests), and stocks for prisoners, the north-west door of the Church. I have repeatedly in one of which a skeleton was likewise discovered. The been shocked at seeing corpses lie so very near the surprincipal streets are about 16 feet wide; the subordinate face of the ground in St. Nicholas, St. Peter, and St. John's Church-yards, but this last struck me as a proones, from 6 to 10 feet. per object for animadversion; the pernicious effects of such interments in the very centre of large towns has often been animadverted upon. Through the medium of your paper I would ask, first, is it not the duty of every clergyman before he performs his office, to see SIR,―There is, perhaps, no known animal equal that the corpses are sufficiently deposited in the earth? in courage and pertinacity to the English Bull dog. Is it not the duty of the rectors to order that no Many are the instances recorded in Natural Hisgraves are used which will not admit of a sufficient tory of the obstinacy of this creature in keeping depth? Is it not the duty of churchwardens to order its hold, even when deprived of its limbs or otherthat no one shall be interred but at a certain depth from wise mutilated by its more cruel and brutal masthe surface? Is not that sexton guilty of a breach of ter. The following astonishing but well authenthe trust the parish has reposed in him, who, for histicated anecdote will serve to show with what own ease, permits corpses to be interred so near the an amazing degree of vindictive ferocity this tribe surface of the earth as to endanger the health of the living? Lastly, if all those neglect to act as they is endued. ought, should not the civil magistrate interfere? and herein I would respectfully give a hint to the worthy Mayor. If there is no means in the breasts of any of the above, is it not the duty of the collected inhabitants of the parish at the annual vestry, to provide proper burial ground out of the town, and to order that those crowded places shall be shut up and no more corpses deposited in them for the space of 30 years, as they have ordered respecting the Collegiate Church-yard, in Manchester? I hope this subject will be taken up by some abler hand, some gentleman of the faculty will perhaps shew the danger of such a practice. AN OCCASIONAL READER. January 9th 1821.

ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Fffects of the Cold.--When one of the men who lost is fingers by the frost, put his hand into a basin of old water to thaw them, the cold communicated by bem to the water was so great that a film of ice was rmed on the surface! On another occasion when he thermometer stood at 55 below Zero, one of the theers took a bottle of fresh water up to the maintop. nd pouring it down through a cullinder, by the time reached the roofing of the ship it was congealed to irregular spherical pieces of ice, and was caught a a tin dish. The height was about 40 feet, so that I must have frozen in less than two second of time.

A chief of a society of Freemasons, in Germany, who led two years ago, left among his papers a remarkable 45. containing a complete history of all secret cereonies, views, and plans of the association. This MS. as been printed, and its publication has excited an exwordinary sensation throughout the continent.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Alarming Calculation.—It is, perhaps, no extravagant culation, that there are not less than three or four lions of these birds in this country; but even taking eir number at two millions, and each to consume in e year two stone of wheat, one of barley, one of oats, moderate estimate; that would be, of wheat 200,000 rrels, of 20 stone to the barrel; of barley, 133,333, at stone to a barrel; and, of oats, 142,357 barrels-so t, on the whole, no less a quantity than 475,190 bars of corn are actually plundered from the farmers by we winged marauders, and lost to the population.

TO THE EDITOR

SIR,It will universally be found, that they who
write a little think very highly of their compositions,
forgetting to judge of excellence by comparison, and,
by that means subjecting themselves to the derision and
contempt of mature minds. Among the irritable genus,
bad poets are infinitely the most bitter despisers of
criticism, partly owing to the rough manner in which
their heavenly inspirations are treated, and partly occa-
sioned by a smothered idea of their own inability. As

an individual, young and inexperienced, of this failing
I can attest the truth. A few years ago, being much
addicted to scribbling verses, I produced some la
mentable specimens of Parnassian inspiration. One
stanza I recollect to have thought admirably beautiful,
which I will insert merely to evince how widely judg-
ment may mislead us when estimating our own produc-
tions. To commence my divine pastorals, more sublimely

than

Tityre, tu patulæ recubans sub tegmine fagi,

I thus proceeded with ineffable fervour,
"Sublunarily I lonely rambled,

A publican, in the vicinity of Manchester, was some time ago in possession of a dog of the true unmixed Bull-breed, which had long been the pride and boast of the neighbourhood: universally victorious in all the various contests incident to bis condition. Rats, cats, badgers, bears, bulls, and (in

tation of his enlightened patrons) even his own species had fallen the numerous victims of his superior strength and heroism; until, at length the last sad effort of his daring crowned his fame, and put a fatal period to his most useful and splendid existence.

One inauspicious day, stretched out before the kitchen fire, faint with the toil of a recent battle, this four legged hero lay quietly courting the approaches of "kind nature's sweet restorer, balony sleep," his intermittent slumbers now and then broken by the bright visions of anticipated conquest; the shouts of the enraptured crowd, or the piercing shrieks of expiring eucmies still vibratiog on his ear. Meanwhile the surrounding company regaled their comely forms, and enlivened their SPORTING imagination with the nut-brown hever. age, peacefully (for it was early,) with increasing delight recounting the noble deeds of this idol of dicam," like that of Marshal Saxe, was quickly to the rustic amateurs. Alas! this "enchanting vanish for ever.

On the proud summit of an enormous mass of burning coals stood a machine clothed in the "staid hue of wisdom;", but like many other machines of the same colour, only calculated for keeping the world in hot-water. This said machine, vulgo dicto tea-kettle, beginning to feel the powerful influence of its elevated station, and forgetting the gravity entailed upon its sable garb, by degrees grew frolicksome; first venturing, humbly, as it were, to hum forth a gentle sound scarcely audible; then, as seeming to acquire boldness by success, swelling into a louder strain to attract the notice of the tuneful part of the audiquality of this verse, that I brought myself to condemn and snorting in the full pride of growing emptiIt was not till after several disputes concerning theory; and, presently, singing aloud with the most impudent confidence, puffing withal, and snoring, it. However, experience has taught me rather to trust to others than to myself for a correct value; and, under ness. But, when folly slips the curb, there is no this impression, I submit the following modification of last week's proposal.

On a bright moonlight night;
Lo! a lamb, in a thicket brambled,
Cried Bah, in a pitiful plight."

St id wisdom's hue.-Milton.

fortelling the consequences. How painful to relate the sequel? This insolent in office would needs show an utter contempt of all below, and that most unequivocally, by spurting and spitting about in all directions, without dread or discrimipation.

Our slumbering hero, hitherto unmoved by all the oratorical or musical essays of this novel antagonist, was suddenly roused from his supineness by the application of a few drops of the caustic liquid to his nervous side; wildly he scowled around, then paused indignantly a moment to «bserve whence came the challenge: soon directed by another discharge to the point of attack, be boldly, and without the least hesitation, scized upon the of. fending object and dragged it to the ground.

For a few moments this most extraordinary combat raged with the utmost violence, each party exhibiting all the fury of rancourons and remorseless hatred inflamed to the highest pitch of exacerbation.

SIR,-I lose no time in informing you, that I have seen the ghost of Sir Shaughnasey O'Shaughnasey (in the shape of a Whisky-barrel) and that, at his request, I have recovered the remaining Four Cantos of “ Liverpool," from the inglorious obscurity in which they were placed on being pilfered from his cousin O'Goster. Generous in death as in life, and The spectators, although well accustomed to the being unable himself to give worldly remuneration, ground work of fighting in the up and down he disdained disclosing the place of their concealmethod, did not dare to intermeddle in this un- ment, until he found that you had kindly offered exampled fray; a selfish sense of danger kept the finder a couple of gallons of potheen; the which them aloof. The furious and fatally triumphant I will call upon you for in due time. The oblitera quadruped shook and tore at the miscreant teakettle with the most determined and terrifiction of the manuscript, in several places, will prebravery, whilst the latter continued to deal about vent me from furnishing you with an intelligible with vengeful spite its appalling artillery, until copy of the first canto before Monday next. Mine, quite exhausted, battered, bruised, and vanquished. Sir, are the real and genuine cautos of the defunct The victory thus completely decided, our in fated Hercules of the canine race, like his great gentleman; and let no vile caitiff, pawning upon prototype of antiquity, having his last great labour you his spurious doggrels, claim the glorious prize. achieved, blinded in the deadly conflict, was seen Thine in the spirit, staggering around, clad in a burning vest, deprived of the power of distinguishing friend from foe, and ready to tear in pieces those who most pitied him; when, dire necessity! his master, in pure mercy (a sensation which the present catastrophe alone could ever have excited in him) consented to apply that last invaluable specific originally designed by nature for the cure of inveterate heroism, ancient as well as modern; but still so little understood as to be seldom properly employed.

Yes, reader! drop the generous tear of sympathy whilst with sorrowing reluctance, I am compelled by my love of historical truth, to declare to you, that the most renowned and most valiant Towser Holdfast was, as the last great reward of his ines. timable services, invested with the collar of an order, which for the number of kuight companions, must outvie all others in Christendom: namely, the order of THE ROPE; and thus dignified with a huge stone pendant, embarked for the cool abode of the Naiads, at the bottom of the river Fame. HIBERNICUS.

Denton, near Manchester.

TO THE EDITOR.

S12,-Observing in your paper, some time since, a statement that cats are liable to become rabid, or at least capable of communicating a rabid infection when wor. ried; the following corroborative fact may not be uninteresting to your humane readers :

Many years since the coachman of the late Lord Rockville, (one of the Judges of the Court of Session in Scotland) riding out, followed by a favourite dog, passed a place where a cat had a litter of kittens, an engagement took place between the dog and cat, and the coachman interfering to separate them, was bitten by the latter animal. By the time he returned home, (which, if I recollect, happened on the same day) symp toms of hydrophobia began to manifest themselves, and the poor fellow, at his own request, was tied, and bled to death.

This story I have frequently heard from my mother, ho was acquainted in Lord Rockville's family while

Thursday, 22d Feb.

LORENZO.

(A constant Reader.)

To Correspondents.

CORRESPONDENT, O'SHAUGH-
OUR QUONDAM
NASEY.-We have reason to believe, and are requested
by B. to state, that we were not correct in our late
conjecture that the lines to the memory of --, signed
SINCLAIR, in the Kaleidoscope, page 260, were to
be ascribed to our quondam Correspondent, Mr.
SHAUGHNASEY. Our surmise originated in a strik-
ing similarity in the hand-writing of the two gentle-
men.-Connected with this subject, we beg leave to
direct the attention of our readers to a communication
we have just received, and to which we have given a
place in this column. The writer asserts that he
has recovered the four missing cantos of the heroic
poem of Liverpool;" as a condition for producing
which, he claims our promise of two gallons of the
best potheen whisky. We can assure our Correspon-
dent, that should his pretensions prove to be well
founded, we shall have infinite pleasure in fulfilling
our promise both in spirit and in letter. If he should
turn out, however, not to be the genuine Simon Pure,
not only will he fail of obtaining either whiskey or
laurels, but he will, in all probability, call down the
indignation of Mr. O'SHAUGHNASEY's friend and re-
siduary legatee, DERMOT O'GOSTER, who may take
it into his head to vindicate the deceased gentleman's
honour, by means of those identical pistols which
formed so conspicuous and so formidable an item in
Mr. O'GOSTER's inventory. [See O'GOSTER's letter
in the last Kaleidoscope, page 271.]

CRUELTY TO INFERIOR ANIMALS.-X. may rely
upon it that we shall keep our promise, by publishing
the prospectus of a report we once had a share in pre-
paring, in anticipation that a society would have been
established.

CARELESS COMPOSITIONS.-We are compelled to
complain unreservedly of the MS. of the writer of
"HORE OTIOSE," with whom we have before re-
monstrated on the same score. What we now find
necessary to say upon this subject cannot be regarded
as an attack upon the capacity of a writer, whose
compositions always exhibit proofs of educated ta-
lent. If the faults of which we have to com-
plain, originated in ignorance, we should, of course,
have declined the correspondence of the writer in

question. Our remonstrance is against a culpable
carelessness, which entails incalculable trouble upo
our compositors, correctors of the press, and ourselves.
aggravated, necessarily too, by a very serious loss of
time. If B. should conceive that we are too sever
upon this occasion, we think we can prove that ou
assertions are borne out by the facts. If we were ta
voured by an interview, or with the address of ou
Correspondent, we could point out in his MS. dash
where there is not a shadow of pause in the sense
commas and semicolons similarly misplaced, a
many words actually mis-spelt; (for instance naivet
for naiveté.) These, and other inaccuracies, lead t
to conclude that B. employs an amanuensis; wh
besides committing the blunders we have specifie
makes no small confusion in the inversion of senterce
which it is our lot afterwards to endeavour to set righ
We shall be concerned, if what we have found re
cessary to say upon this occasion, should be though
to bear too hard upon our Correspondent; our objec
is to improve, and not to inflict the slightest pain,
even in an anonymous quarter.

RETALIATION. The attack of POLONIUS POTTIS
GER has already produced some of the symp
which we anticipated last week. Z. who professes t
be the friend of the absent writer of the lines sad
BELLAMY, has con e forward in prose, and Ma
peared in verse, as the champions of the assailed party
and it is not without apprehension that their fay will
be transferred to us, that we now venture to sugge
that it would be advisable to permit the matter to rest
in statu quo.
AS BELLAMY is unknown, as well a
his assailant POLONIUS, the attack of the latter is
too little importance to call for two or three pagaf
rejoinder; which, however it might amuse a fe
would be wholly uninteresting to the great majority d
readers.

NATIONAL EDUCATION.-We have stated, in an
other department of our paper, that we have been
induced, at the earnest solicitations of some mos
respectable gentlemen, to transfer from the last Mer
cury, an article compiled with great care and r
dustry, comprising a statement of the schools for the
instruction of the poor; together with the number d
pupils, male and female, in this town and neighten
hood.
We have also to notice, that our correspondent, T. F.
whose communication we shall insert in the Mercurg,
appears to be under a misapprehension, in suppo
that the table, in page 278, implies, or even insinu
ates, that the children educated by any particular se
of Dissenters, have the tenets of that sect instil
into their minds. The schools are enumerated as
"Schools established and mainly supported by a
Methodists, Dissenters, and Catholics;" and, by var
of illustration, we may point out the school of
Quakers (whose earnestness in the cause of gene
instruction is above all praise :) this school is, we be
lieve, entirely supported by the members of
society, although the scholars go regularly t
the churches. This table has, of course, in
with some other communications prepared f
week's publication, amongst which are
W-HSL
-GDERGE MEANWELL AN ANTIQUARY-EP
-A READER-A COLLECTOR-H. S. J.-VOLU
TAS-L.-and C.

We have only further time to acknowledge, T.L.C

and BRYAN O'LYNN.

Printed, published, and sold by E SMITH and Co
54, Lord-street, Liverpool

Sold also by John Bywater and Co. Pool-lane; Mess
Evans, Chegwin and Hall, Castle-street; Mr. Th
Smith, Paradise-street; Mr. Warbrick, Pubir
Library, Lime-street; Mr. G. P. Day, News
Dale-street; and Mr. John Smith, St James's-r
for ready money only.

AGENTS FOR MANCHESTER.Miss Richards
Market-street; Mr. Fowler, St. Ann's Square; and
Mr. Fletcher, Market-place.
London, Sherwood and Co.
Warrington, Mr. Harrin
Dublin, J. K. Johnston & Co. Preston, Mr. Whittle,
Stockport, Mr. Dawson.
Leeds, Mr Dewhirst.
Bolton, Mr. Kell.
Bury, Mr. Kay.
Hull, Mr. Perkins.
Lancaster Mr. Bentham

Stoke, Mr. Tomkinson
Hanley, Mr. Allbut.
Wigan, Messrs. Lyon

Ormskirk, Mr. Garside

Blackburn, Mr. Roger Northwich, Mr. Kent,

OR,

Literary and Scientific Mirror.

No. 36.-NEW SERIES.

The Gleaner.

his experienced companions, who usually ing food and clothing easy to be provided.

“I am but a gatherer and disposer of other men's expatiate at length on the never failing sub

WOTTON.

NORTHERN EXPEDITION.

[Continued from our former Numbers.]

ject of past adventures.

"I had a great treat on my route in seeing the huge and shapeless buffalo (or bison of Buffon) and witnessing the different me

"All the nations southward of this have suffered much this year from the prevailing diseases which have raged amongst them, and carried off many, especially children. They have now generally recovered their Our readers are aware that the expedi-thods of obtaining them. The most dexterous strength, but not their spirits, which are on over land, towards the shores of the way is, when a well-mounted rider dashes at always greatly depressed on the loss of relaolar Sea, under the conduct of Lieutenant a herd, singles out an animal, which he con- tives. There was an instance of keen sensiranklin, had arrived on the Athabasca trives to separate from the rest, and by ma- bility exhibited here a few days ago by a ake in June last. Upon this subject the naging his horse keeps him apart; and whole tribe, which would be scarcely exrentleman's Magazine has published inte- whenever he can get sufficiently near for pected in such uninformed minds; they deesting extracts from a private communica the ball to penetrate the hide, he fires, clined to pitch their tents this season on a on, whence we select the following passages. though going at full speed, and seldom fails spot where they had long been accustomed "The journey, a distance of eight hun-in bringing down his object. The principal to do so, for fear the circumstance should reIred miles, was performed in two months. I dangers on this service are, either that his vive the moments of grief they had all exseed not describe to you, who are so ge- horse will fall into some of the numerous perienced in the loss of many relations, or eral a reader, the mode of traveling with holes which the badgers make; or that the the place should remind them of past pleaogs and sledges, nor mention the inconve- enraged animal should turn furiously round sures in the society of friends whom they iences produced by the severity of a North when wounded, and gall his horse, or suc-were never to see again. This race of men, merican winter: but I will bear my testi-ceed in dismounting him. When the herd Chipewyans, are a mild, timid set of persony to the painful initiation into the daily are particularly on their guard, horses can- sons, excellently described in Hearne and Practice of walking on snow shoes, the mi-not be used. The rider then dismounts, Mackenzie's Voyages. ery of pained ankles and galled feet, which and crawls towards the herd through the novice invariably has to contend against, snow, taking care to remain motionless id which patience and perseverance alone when any of them are looking towards him. ll enable him to surmount : they were my You will easily imagine this service cannot ompanions for seven or eight days; after- be very agreeable, when mercury will ards I felt no inconvenience. freeze, which is often the case.

“The cold was more severe than it had been for many years. Both the old stagers and Indians have complained very much. I have not experienced more severity than I was prepared to expect; when traveling, I could generally keep myself warm by walking.

"You would enjoy the clear frosty nights; the stars appear with uncommon brilliancy, but the weather is too cold for making observations with any accuracy. The Aurora Borealis is occasionally very fine, and of the most variable kind, both in motion and

"You can easily imagine the pleasure, "The Indians have another method, by hich a traveler feels at arriving at his en-constructing a pound. The principal dexmpment under such circumstances. This terity in this, consists in getting the animals u will probably suppose to be a sheltered once to enter the roadway; fear then urges ace, whereas its preparation simply con- them on, and many men are stationed at the sts in clearing away the snow on the head to despatch them. We visited one of ound, and placing thereon branches of these places near an Indian encampment, ne, on which the party spread their blan- and one of my companions took an accurate colours." ets, coats, &c. and sleep in comfort, with drawing of the whole scene. In the drawAthabasca Lake is situate in 59 degrees N. lat.; large fire at their feet, though the ther-ings of animals he has been particularly and extends from 110 to 115 degrees W. long. It is surrounded by the dreary wilds of North America, which ometer be 40 degrees below Zero, and fortunate, which have been much wanted; for are solely inhabited by savage tribes of Indians. It is ith nothing but the canopy of Heaven to I never saw any thing bearing the least re-bounded by the Ochipeway Indians and the Great Slave over them. Here the voyageur soon for- semblance to a buffalo before. ets his fatigues and cares; and having sup"In the countries where these animals ed, lolls, stretched at his ease, listening chiefly resort (grassy plains) the natives are ith pleasure to the various narratives of much more independent than the others, hav

Lake on the North; by the Peace River, the Caribeuf Mountains, and the Strongbow Indians on the West; the great Athabasca River on the South; and by the dismal and solitary wilds of America, on the East. Hudson's Bay is about 1000 miles East of Athabasca Lake and that great extent of territory is almost uninhabited and unknown.

Scientific Records.

INCOMBUSTIBLE CLOTH.

THE GROUND.

EFFECTS PRODUCED BY TIME ON WOOD BURIED, IN | The well is supposed to have been the work of the atcient Britions, and to be upwards of 2,000 years old, "for it is 1741 years since the Romans settled here, and the section of the foundation, which intersects the line of strata above the wall is proof that they were not aware of its existence.”—Gentleman s Magasine.

MERCURIAL ATMOSPHERE.

"Whilst cutting and carrying away a part of Castle[Comprehending Notices of new Discoveries or Improve-Field, near Manchester, an ancient well was discovered about four yards below the level of the field. It ments in Science or Art; including, occasionally, sin- was square and formed of four upright posts driven at gular Medical Cases; Astronomical, Mechanical, the angles into the clay, and closed in by other logs of Philosophical, Botanical, Meteorological, and Mine- wood, placed one upon another on the outside, so as to form a kind of chest which was floored with the same It has been long admitted that in the upper part of ralogical Phenomena, or singular Facts in Natural material. The logs were rudely hewn, had never been the thermometer and barometer an atmosphere of History; Vegetation, &c.; Antiquities, &c.; to be sawn, and were five or six inches square. The upper mercury exists, having a very small degree of tension; continued in a Series through the Volume.] logs were level with the top surface of a bed of clay and Mr. Faraday has shown, by the following simple by which the well was surrounded, and into which the experiment, that mercurial atmosphere may eng timber was inserted. The wood, when first discovered, without removing the air. A small portion of merc had little more consistency than paste; but, on its ex-ry was put through a funnel into a clean dry bottle, posure to the air, became much harder and more pable of holding six ounces, and formed a stratum wood-like; it was perfectly black, and had so much of the bottom, not one-eighth of an inch in thicknest; a coal-like appearance as to favour the theory of those particular care was taken that none of the mercury who suppose that pit-coal was originally a vegetable should adhere to the upper part of the inside of the substance, At the bottom of the well some large bottle. A small piece of leaf-gold was then attached stones, such as in this neighbourhood are called bowl- to the under part of the stopper of the bottle: so that ers, were found. They were black and dirty as though when the stopper was put in its place, the leaf-gold wai they had been taken from a sewer, and the clay which enclosed in the bottle. It was then set aside in a safe adhered to the timber had also changed its colour from place, which happened to be both dark and cool, and the rusty iron tinge of the native clay to the appear- left for between six weeks and two months. At the ance of the inferior potters' clay found in Dorsetshire. end of that time it was examined, and the lead-gold Over the well were various unbroken strata of sand was found whitened by a quantity of mercury, though and gravel, which, as the bank was broken down, gave every part of the bottle, and the mercury remained appaproof that, except for about a yard and a half below rently just as before. the surface of the field, it had never been exposed to day-light since the strata had been deposited. The foundations of some ancient Roman fortifications occur a few yards to the west of where the well was formed.

"M. Gay Lussac has proposed a means of rendering the various tissues of cloths, stuffs, &c. incombustible; and the means he recommends appear superior to those which as yet have been proposed That the combustibility of these substances is diminished by their having been immersed in solution of certain salts, as of alum, mariate of soda, &c. has been long known, M. Gay Lussac considered that those salts should possess this property most eminently, which entered most readily into fusion, being enabled by that means to cover perfectly the fibre of the substances, and preserve them from the contact of the air. Guided by this thought, he substituted phosphate of ammonia and borate of soda for alum, &c. and he found that muslins thus treated could be placed in contact with ignited bodies without danger. They were carbonized, but would not inflame." Journal of Science and the Arts.

This experiment was repeated several times, showing that mercury is always surrounded by an atmosphere of the same substance.-Faraday, Quarterly Journal of Science, No. XX. p. 355.J

METEOROLOGICAL RESULTS OF THE ATMOSPHERICAL PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE, RAÍN, WIND, &c.
Deduced from Diurnal Observations, made at Manchester, in the year 1820,

The annual mean temperature is nearly forty-nine and a half degrees; being a little more than a degree less than the mean of last year. The mean of the first three months 38o 5; second, 54° 4; third, 59° 9; fourth, 44° 5; of the six winter months, 41° 5; six summer months, 57° 1. The maximum of 83° occurred on the 27th of June; and the minimum of 13o on the 1st of January: difference of these extremes 70o.

The mean annual pressure of the atmosphere is 29.70 inches; highest point, 30.64; which occured on the 8th of January; lowest 28.45, which was on the 17th of October: difference of these extremes 2.19 inches, The mean daily movements of the barometrical oscillations, measure nearly forty-four inches. Total number and changes, one hundred and twelve.

The falls of rain, hail, snow, and sleet, during the past year have measured a fistle more than thirty-two inches; which is something under an annual average. Very little rain fell during the first three months of the year; but the following month (May) was very wet; for there was nearly six inches registered; upwards of four inches fell in October. Total number of wet days for the year, 181. The reporter, as usual, has again to notice a prevalency of the south, south-west, and west winds Out of 365 notations of the wind, 214 were noticed to blow from the above points.

There has been more thunder and lightning during the former part of the year, kan has been noticed in several past ones, particularly in the month of May:

12

25

15

1 13 5

12

2

10

lightning and thunder occurred on six days, in that month, and which were in variably attended with rain; sometimes it fell in torrents; and in three instances with hail.

My friend, Mr. Edward Stelfor, of Lymn, near Warrington, has favoured me with the above account of rain. Mr. S.'s rain-guage is exactly the same as mire, and I can rely upon his account as correct. His annual register of rain for the year 1819 was 29.305 inches; for the present, a little more than 30 inches. M Stelfor noticed the temperature, on the first of January, 1820, to be 130 5; on the 3d, at 13o: and on the 22d of the same month, at 10°.

The column of rain headed Ardwick, has been furnished by my friend Mr. John Dalton: his rain-funnel is fixed about a mile out of Manchester in an easie ly direction, and is situated some little higher than mine. It has often been t marked that Mr. Dalton's annual account invariably exceeds mine, sometime by five or six inches, as in the present instance. Mr.D. thinks, that his fun being larger, may in part account for the difference.

However, I fancy there is an error somewhere. It is much to be desired, th one uniform plan could be adopted, with respect to the measuring of rain. I br furnished a gentlemanĵof Crumpsall, near Manchester, with a funnel, and the se means of measuringthe rain as Mr. Stelfor uses (see Kaleidoscope page 189;) from the results, it appears, that our accounts pretty nearly agree.