From a Bather at Liverpool to his Friend at Rochdare inquirers respecting his lordship's health, no one was

(i. e. Rochdale.)

more sedulously punctual than the Bishop of E- -r;
and the invalid seemed to fancy that other motives be-
sides anxious kindness might contribute to this solicitude.
One morning he ordered the messenger to be shown into
his 100m, and thus addressed him: "Be so good as to pre-
sent my compliments to my Lord Bishop, and tell him
that I am better, much better; but that the Bishop of
W has got a sore throat, and a bad cold, if that
will do."

Mayr, May 16.—A singular animal has been observed
by the fishermen here of late. It appears like a man
as far as the breast. It has no hair on the head, and the
body and face is black. It eludes all attempts made to
take it. It is thought this water monster may be a sea-
otter, or one of the sea animals wandered from the
northern ocean.

To Correspondents.

INDELICATE PLACARDS.-We insert the following
note of a correspondent, upon a subject, which we, as
well as our brother journalists, have frequently brought
before the public with very little effect. The cure for
this evil is very simple, however, as we shall show,
after having disposed of our correspondent's com-
plaint.

Eh! Tummus, theaw's miss'd it wearily ot t'did naw come wi' us-theaw may say what t'loikes abeawt th' Meyles, and Laythom, and Blackpool, but owd Lerple for moy money, I say yet-theaw said theaw'd seen aw as wur to be seen; but by'r Mdy there's mooar thin as mitch again t' be seen neaw as there wur when thee and me coom here th' last toime! Whaw mon they'n getten boats neaw ot gooan by a steeom engine!theaw may stare! but it's as true as th' Alminick-and us three coom i' one un um aboon twenty moile.Egadlins! I cud hardly perswade Sam Dootson t' venture abooard on her: he wur feeort ot gooing by steeom wud be summat loike floying or being blown up-but it's nowt o' th' soart, mon-they dreiven throof th' wetur juist th' same as t'other boats used t' do-bu: istid o' sails they'n two wetur wheels ot gooan splash, splash, splash-scrat, scrat, scrat, abeawt ten or eleven moile an heawr; and it's by far th' yeasiest and cheppest way of a country lad can get hither-indeed I think it's welly chepper thin walking; for besoide saving shoe-leather, one can do wi' so mitch less ale-" and then one's th' benefit o'th sawt wetur aw th' way fro' Runcorn. Theaw used t' make ackeawnt of theaw cud taste th' sawt if t' licked thy lips as far off as Saint Ellen; but theaw may have it this way aboon twice as far. Here's yoar Jim says theaw dusn't loike ony body knowing mooar tin thee, and theaw'll be saying theaw's yecord o' theese steeom boats before-but there's one thing I'm shure theaw's ne'er yeeord on. Istid o' those foine bathing kallivans theaw used t' tell on, they'n made a greyt thing ot they cawn a "Floating Bath ;' and, solidlee, I think it's th' noicest place I wur ever at i'my loife. When I first went abooard on it, I thought it wur a ship beawt botham, and I're rather shoy o' jumping in, as sum chaps did, for feeor o' gooing cleeor throof into th' river; but, heawever, I fun there wur a botham, and a vast foine botham too; and awtogether it's neeotest, th' safest, th' cleeonest bathing ot ever I 'I had sin' I're born. One may have a dip at ony time o' th' tide-oather at hee wetur or at low wetur-and there wur a felly abooard towd me as th' wetur wur as good and as strung, and had as mitch fyzic in it at low wetur as it had at hee wetur. Sam says this cannot be true, and ot th' felly wur nowt but trotting us; but, heawever, we'll bring a bottle o' booath soarts whooam wi' us, and eawr folk may try for theirsels.Besoide bathing, one may stay abooard a whole and look abeawt one; and one sees mooar o' th' river and th' shipping fro' this place i' one heawr, than fro' ony other place in a whole wick. Then there's aw soart o' meyt and drink abooard, and I think i' my guts t' best and t' cheppest ot I fun i' aw th' teawn-and we seet amung a peawrcel o' gentlemen reading th' newspapers and smooking. We geet oytch on us a poipe, but these quality wur smooking summut elze ot look'd like pigtail tobacco. It had some soart of an eawtlandlish name, as I cud na quoite gawm; but whotever it wur, oather it or their drink did um good, for they'r very merry. They sung! and they leawgh'd!! and when I sung th' "Owdham Recruit" for um, I'll be shot if they did not leawgh harder than ever. Indeed, if t'le believe me, Tum, I'se never i' better company sin I'se kersunt-but I'll tell thee mooar abeawt it when I cum whooam; and I'll oather perswade thee t' go wi' me th' next bathing toime, or I'll gi' thee leeof t' caw met a ninnyhommer as lung as my name's

TIM BOBBIN.

new Liverpool Improvement Bill, empowering the magistrates to suppress this nuisance of indelicate placards. Upon consulting the bill itself, we were glad to find the following clause, under the head of "Penalty for posting up or distributing indecent Hand. bills. And whereas, in the said town of Liverpool, the practice of posting up and distributing indecent hand-bills prevails to a very great extent, and is extremely offensive to the inhabitants and to the public in general: Be it therefore enacted, That in case any person or persons shall post up on any house, building, or place, within the said town, hand and distribute, or cause to be so posted up, handed, or distributed, any hand-bill or hand-bi of an indecent tendency, the person or persons so offending shall, for each and every offence, forfe and pay any sum not exceeding

be levied and recovered as other penalties are reco verable by this act."

to

Sir JOSEPH BAKKS.-The memoir of the late president of the Royal Academy is postponed in order to admet an article which will be perused with no common in terest. We allude to the biographical notice of S Walter Scott, and the attempt to deprive him of the honour attached to the author of the Tales of ty Landlord.

CHARLES DANGLE shall not dangle in attendance long at our Editorial Temple, in which he shall have the first vacant niche. He will perceive, in a preceding column, that another correspondent (P.) is on the same scent as himself.

PETER PITIFUL, with whose unanswerable queries we were favoured some time since, may rest assured that he is not forgotten. We shall introduce him to our juvenile readers, as the winter approaches. In the mean time, we shall be glad to receive The Enquirer, No. 2.

To the Editors.-I wish, through the medium of your
paper, to notice what I think a most scandalous
nuisance to this town; I mean the pasting of many
quack doctors' bills on the walls of almost every
street, some of which are worded in the most inde-
'cent language. If a lady be walking through the
streets, some of these impudent papers are sure to
meet her eye. Indeed, not only this, but it often
happens, that boys, who are engaged for the pur-R. P. will oblige us by stating the subject of the letters
pose, deliver one of these papers into her hands.
Such a nuisance as this should not pass unnoticed.
Hoping an amendment may result from your in-
serting the above, is the wish of

"A FRIEND TO MODESTY."
We believe there is scarcely an individual in the
town, who has not noticed the nuisance in question;
and as it is not probable that the persons interested in
obtruding such disgusting trash will ever be induced,
from a sense of shame, to discontinue thus to disfigure
the walls, some other remedy must be sought, and a
very easy one presents itself. We take it for granted,
that, although the law may not authorize the magis-
trates to prohibit the pasting up of these bills supon the
walls, the permission of the person to whom the wall
belongs, or the tenant of the premises thus disfigured,
is strictly requisite; and that any placards, attached to
such walls, without the leave or against the consent of
such proprietor or tenant, might be taken down by
himself, or any person duly authorised by him. If
we are correct in this supposition, the nuisance might
be very easily got rid of; and the mode we recommend
is this. Let a person be appointed for the express
purpose, if by the magistrates it would be all the bet-
ter; if not, he might be commissioned by any indi-
viduals interested in the suppression of the nuisance.
His office should be to look out for placards of a par
ticular description, for the purpose of removing them,
or rendering them illegible. If there were any oppo-
sition to be apprehended on the part of the advertiser
(who would hardly, however, venture to appear before
the magistrates in defence of his placards) or even ad-
mitting that the parties engaged to pull them down
were liable to an action for damages; still, under such
a supposition, there is another course to be pursued,
which is strictly legal. Let the person engaged to ef-
face the placards make previous application, for leave,
to the party to whom the wall belongs: that being
obtained (and there would be no difficulty in the
way, particularly if the recommendation came from
the magistrates) the man might proceed to clear the
walls without any apprehension of interruption. As
those bills often adhere too firmly to the wall to admit
of being easily detached, we should recommend that
they be effaced by means of a large brush and black
paint, or any cheap and effectual wash. If such a
process as this were once set on foot, the parties who
now violate public decency would cease to issue their
papers, as soon as they discovered that they were use-
less to them.-We had written thus far, when we
were informed that there is an express clause in the

he enquires after, and which we fear have been mis laid.

We are much obliged to OMICRON, for the translation we solicited; and it would be an additional favour if he would send the solution previously to publica

tion.

PATHOS and BATHOS.-The composition copied out fr our convenience, by S-L, is excellent in its way: we wish we could say as much for the penmanship of the transcriber.

The extracts of A GLEANER are judiciously selected, and very well adapted for our work.

We thank A FRIEND for his copy of the Boy of Egre mond; and have to make our acknowledgements to another for transcribing "Laud's Consecration," & We thanks SPINS. &c. and shall look over the odd numbers he has sent for inspection.

TITYRUS QUILLET! shall be introduced to our readers most probably in our next.

T. P.'s tale is not original, we believe; and his French will require "touching up" a little.

The expected original paper on the structure of the heart is not yet come to hand, and will, we fear, arrive too late for the present publication.

We have no doubt that the Chinese dinner, promised by a correspondent, will be relished by our readers. COOKERY IN DAYS OF YORE.-The article on this subject, furnished by another friend, is very acceptable. We thank J. B.-M. C.-A. M. W.-T. P.-A. M.T. -and YOUR READER, for their communications.

Printed, published, and sold

BY EGERTON SMITH AND CO.
Liverpool Mercury Office.
Sold also by John Bywater and Co. Pool-lane; Messrs.
Evans, Chegwin and Hall, Castle-street; Mr. Thos
Smith, Paradise-street; Mr. Warbrick, Public
Library, Lime-street; Mr. G. P. Day, Newsman.
Dale-street; and Mr. John Smith, St. James's-road,
for ready money only.

No. 7.-NEW SERIES.

OR,

Literary and Scientific Mirror.

Scientific Notices.

[ORIGINAL.]

“UTILE DULCI.”

TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1820.

PRICE 34d.

by the combined agency of heat and of the atmosphere, organ, and a superficial observer, on viewing the heart, they are again circulated and diffused.

Among the variety of organs and functions, the union and co-operation of which constitute that mysterious organization which produce the phenomena of life, none is more curious or important than the circulation of the blood and in reviewing the structure and economy of the apparatus by which this beautiful function is carried on, every well regulated mind must admire the providential wisdom so sensibly manifested in its constructionism, constructed by the hand of man, we should surely and arrangement.

would not suppose its structure to be so complicated; it is only when anatomically examined that we discover its internal construction, and are enabled to trace four cavities, which are separated from each other by a fleshy or muscular partition.

The left auricle and ventricle serve for the general or the greater circulation, as it is sometimes termed: the right auricle and ventricle are the organs for the pulmo

We shall now proceed to consider the agency which maintains the circulation of the blood in the human frame: and in reviewing this important function, STRUCTURE & ECONOMY OF THE HEART. the HEART will be found to hold the first station. It is not only the most elaborately constructed, but it is Each auricle has two openings; by the one it receives also the great central power which chiefly excites and the blood from the veins, by the other it transmits the preserves the motion of this fluid. As the ocean, the blood to the corresponding ventricle. In like manner rivers, and the streams, may be said to constitute the each ventricle has two openings, one communicating arteries and veins of our globe, and as air and caloric with the auricle from which it receives the blood, the are the agents which produce the circulation of the wa- other communicating with the artery through which the ters; in the human body, the heart is the central organ blood, so received, is transmitted. The left auricle comwhich works the machinery of the circulation. And as municates with the pulmonary veins which return the we would be struck with an ingenious piece of mechan-blood from the lungs: the left ventricle opens into the aorta which distributes the blood through the general no less admire a piece of mechanism constructed by the system. This blood is brought back to the right auricle hand of the Creator. The steam-engine which raises by the vena cava: from the right auricle it passes înfo water to afford to a great city an adequate supply of this the right ventricle, to be circulated through the lungs fluid, so necessary for the wants of man, is surely less by the pulmonary artery. an object of curiosity and admiration than the engine which Almighty Wisdom has placed in the centre of our bodies, which sympathises with every passion and emotion of the mind, which performs its allotted func-nary or lesser circulation. tions, under all circumstances of the body, whether asleep or awake, at rest or in motion, and which excites the circulation of the blood through an uninterupted circuit, and distributes this vital fluid to every part of our frame The blood in the human body having a double circulation to perform, one through the general system, and the other through the lungs, it necessarily requires a moving power for each circulation. Accordingly we find that the heart is a double engine, and that each side of this organ is a distinct moving power, the left of the aortal, or greater circulation, through the body, the right of the pulmonary, or lesser circulation, through the lungs. As the heart receives blood by the veins and transmits it by the arteries, it evidently requires a separate chamber for each of these purposes, and, on inspecting it, we discover that it is furnished with the necessary number of cavities suitable to these duties which it has to perform. It has two receiving cavities connected with the veins, and two forcing cavities communicating with the arteries.

The circulation of the blood in the human body is effected by means, in many respects, similar to those which produce the incessant circulation and distribution of water over the general surface of the earth. In the phenomena of each we witness the same simplicity of contrivance, the same uniformity of action, the same circle of activity; and both fluids in their course answer a variety of purposes equally interesting and important. By mans of the blood the different parts of the animal frame receive the materials for their nourishment, their growth, and their renovation; and this fluid, after being distributed by the arteries, and after having served for the elaboration of the bile, the tears, the saliva and the other secretions, flows into another set of vessels called veins. An innumerable series of small vessels are distributed through the body, which collect the blood as it passes from the arteries; these small vessels unite and form larger ones, till they ultimately constitute two great trunks, which pour their contents into the heart, and return the the blood back again to the fountain from whence it towed. In the system serving for the distribution of water, we see also a variety of channels, some at the Eurface, others more deeply seated; we have also lesser and greater streams; streamlets collecting and conveying this fluid from all parts, then uniting together and forming rivers, evincing in their progress a similar system of activity, and preserving like the blood an incessant circulation. The constant evaporation of water from the The human heart contains therefore four chambers, surface of the earth, saturates and surcharges the super-two of which are called auricles, and the other two are incumbent atmosphere, clouds become consequently denominated ventricles. The heart, as we have already formed. These clouds, carried by the winds from the mentioned, is a double organ; it is divided by means places where they originated, are attracted and arrested of a strong muscular partition into two parts, and each by the tops of the lofty mountains, where descending in part is the engine of a distinct circulation. To enable the form of rain, they constitute streamlets and springs,it to perform this twofold duty, each side of the heart like the branches of the veins, those streamlets unite into larger streams, which also uniting together form rivers, these, after serving a variety of purposes in the economy of nature, administering to the wants of animals, and diffusing in their course fertility and verdure, ultimately pour their contents into the parent ocean, from whence,

has an auricle and a ventricle: there is a right auricle
and a right ventricle, and a left auricle and a left ven-
tricle. The auricles communicate with the veins, the
ventricles communicate both with the auricles and with
the arteries. The auricles and ventricles are so closely
connected together as externally to appear as a single

The auricles and ventricles as they have different duties to perform, have also different structures suited for the functions of each. The auricles being merely the receptacles of the blood returned by the veins, and having only a short passage through which to propel it into the ventricles, a slight forcing power only is required. Hence these cavities are merely membranous bags, and are only furnished with a small proportion of muscular fibre. The ventricles propel the blood through the whole arterial system; they consequently must exert a very considerable force to effect this measure; and, in conformity to the general system of contrivance, manifested in the construction of this organ, we find that the ventricles are furnished with a very large proportion of muscular fibres, which are also so arranged as to be enabled to exert the greatest action and force in the smallest space, and with the least loss of power; and the fleshy walls of these chambers contain a greater proportion of fibre, under a given bulk, than any other muscle in the body.

The right ventricle, which transmits the blood through the lungs, does not require the same propelling force as the left ventricle, which transmits this fluid to the remotest parts of the body, and on examining it we find that it is considerably weaker than the left ventricle.

In exploring the communication which the ventricles maintain on the one side with the auricles, and on the other with the arteries, we witness the same beautiful construction and arrangement as are evinced in every other part of this wonderful organ. When the ventrieles receive the blood from the auricles, they contract and propel this fluid through the arteries. Without some contrivance to prevent it, the ventricles at each

which these cavities communicate, we find it furnished

with valves opening into the ventricle, and which like flood-gates open a free way to the stream in one direction, and then close and prevent its return. We discover also valves placed at the mouth of each artery, which leave a free passage for the motion of the blood from the auricle, through the artery, but which are so arranged as to prevent the regurgitation of the blood into the ventricle on its relaxation. The two arteries and

contraction would also transmit part of the blood back | Cook himself? and that the numerous ves- | resulting from the impolicy of making preagain to the auricles: but on examining the passage by sels (whalers and others) that have navi- mature disclosures, the following few par gated the sea contiguous to such land for ticulars may not only gratify curiosity, but nearly two centuries, should have remained will, in a great measure, we trust, counterin ignorance of its existence? Yet such is act the ill effects of garbled and incorrect the fact; and it is equally surprising, that statements, which are beginning to find their the honour of its discovery should have way into the periodical press. been reserved for the master of a small trading vessel, nearly fifty years after the question seemed to be set at rest by the unsuccessful result of Captain Cook's navigation.*

the two ventricles contract and expand simultaneously. The number of contractions may be estimated on a ge

neral average as 75 in a minute; the left ventricle may be considered to discharge about 24 ounces of blood at each contraction; and the total mass of blood in the systen may be calculated at 30 lbs. so that this fluid passes 552 times through the heart in the course of the twenty-four hours.

ance to overcome.

In the absence of a more detailed narrative of this important discovery, which we presume is retarded for obvious reasons,

in the origin of an important discovery, is, One of the evils attending mis-statements, that of involving the question in a labyrinth of contradictions, from which in after times, it is difficult to unravel the truth. In the present instance, too, as in former cases, a meritorious and enterprising, though obscure individual, is in danger of being

A Mr. Smith, Master of the William, of Blythe, in Northumberland, and trading between the Rio Plata and Chili, in endea vouring to facilitate his passage round Cape Horn, last year,' ran to a higher latitude than is usual in such voyages, and in lat. 62 deg. 30 min. and 60 deg. west longitude, discovered land. As circumstances would not admit of a close examination, he defer

When we consider the mechanism of the heart, one would be led to imagine that from the complexity of Captain Cook first explored the Southern Ocean be deprived of the credit he so justly deserves, its structure, its action would be liable to continual ob- tween the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope and New by probably adding to his native country a Zealand; consequently far to the east of the land now structions, and that from the extreme delicacy and discovered, In November, 1773, he left New Zealand, new source of wealth; the full worth of minuteness of several of its parts, that it would serve and employed several weeks between 180 and 90 deg. which would only be truly known by its only for a very limited period of action. And yet this West longitude, and 45 to about 72 deg. South latitude; wonderful little engine requires no external moving Antarctic circle) of the new continent. The only passo that he never approached within 90 degrees (on the possession by a rival in commercial enter. power to excite it to motion, it will go on for the dura-sages we think it necessary to quote from him, as illus prize, tion of the longest life without superintendance or trative of our present subject, are the following:repairs; making 108,000 strokes in twenty-four hours, "In lat. 67 deg. 20 min. long. 137 deg. 12 min." he 2,365,200,000 in the course of a life not extended says, "while we were taking up ice, we got two of the antarctic peterels so often mentioned, by which our conbeyond the period of sixty years, having at each stroke jectures were confirmed of their being of the peterel a powerful impulse to effect, and a considerable resist tribe. They are about the size of a large pigeon; the feathers of the head, back, and part of the upper side of the wings, are of a light brown the belly and under side of the wings, white; the tail feathers are also white, but tipped with brown: at the same time, we got another new peterel, smaller than the former, and all of a dark grey plumage. We remarked that these birds were fuller of feathers than any we had hitherto seen; such care has nature taken to clothe them suitably to the climate in which they live. At the same time we saw a few chocolate-coloured albatrosses; these, as well as the red it until his return to Buenos Ayres, An-peterels above mentioned, we no where saw but among when he made such further observations as ice; hence, one may with reason conjecture that there is land to the South. If not, I must ask where convinced him of the importance of his dis these birds breed? A question which perhaps never will be determined; for hitherto we have found these covery. lands, if any, quite inaccessible. Besides these birds, we saw a very large seal, which kept playing about us some time. One of our people who had been at Greenland, called it a sea-horse; but every one else took it for what I have said."

IMPORTANT AND RECENT DISCOVERY OF A NEW CONTINENT OR ISLAND.

now well satisfied no continent was to be found in this

with

An opinion of the existence of an tarctic Continent has prevailed ever since the discovery of America rendered us more On making it known at Buenos intimately acquainted with the figure of the Ayres, speculation was set on the alert, earth; nor, when all the circumstances and the Americans at that place became that led to it are considered, can it be called very anxious to obtain every information an unreasonable opinion. The vast quan- now came to the resolution to proceed to the North, Again, in lat. 65 deg. 42 min. long. 99 deg. 44 min. necessary to availing themselves of a distity of floating ice in the higher southern and to spend the ensuing winter within the tropic; if i covery, which they saw was pregnant latitudes, justly indicated its origin to be in met with no employment before I came there. I was vast benefit to a commercial people. Cap fresh water rivers and lakes, at no great ocean, but what must lie so far to the South as to be tain Smith was however too much of an distance. And again, the immense space should be found in the Southern Atlantic ocean, Englishman to assist their speculations, by of ocean, in the southern hemisphere, in would be necessary to have the whole summer before us to explore it. On the other hand, upon a supposition affording them that knowledge of his secret the absence of such a continent, led to an that there is no land there, we undoubtedly might have which it was so necessary for them to pos reached the Cape Good Hope so inference that that beautiful arrangement eat an end to the of edition, pe by April, and have sess; and was determined that his native and disposition of land and water, so con- finding a continent; which indeed was the first object country only should enjoy the advantages of the voyage. But for me at this time to have quitted spicuous in the northern, was overlooked, the Southern Pacific Ocean, with a good ship expressly of his discovery; and on his return voyage and the equilibrium neglected in the south-sent out on discoveries, a healthy crew, and not in want to Valparaiso, in February last, he devoted ern hemisphere.

These considerations led many voyagers to search after this Terra Incognita, and particularly influenced the last voyage of Captain Cook. But is it not surprising that it should have escaped the observation of the circumnavigators of all nations, and have baffled the laborious perseverance of

wholly inaccessible on account of ice; and that if one

either of stores or of provisions, would have been be

traying not only a want of perseverance, but of judg. as much time to the developement of it as
ment, in supposing the South Pacific Ocean to have been
so well explored, that nothing remained to be done in was consistent with his primary object, a
had proved that there was no continent but what must
it. This, however, was not my opinion; for though I safe and successful voyage.
lie far to the South, there remained nevertheless room
He ran in a westward direction along the
for very large islands in places wholly unexamined: and
many of those which were formerly discovered, are but coasts, either of a continent or numerous
imperfectly explored, and their situations as imperfectly islands, for two or three hundred miles,
known. I was, besides, of opinion, that my remaining
in this sca some time longer, would be productive of forming large bays, and abounding with
in other sciences.”
improvements in navigation and geography, as well as
the spermaceti whale, s eals, &c. He took

de

numerous soundings and bearings, draughts, and charts of the coast; and in short, did every thing the most experienced navigator, despatched purposely for the object of making a survey, could do. He even landed, and in the usual manner took possession of the country for his sovereign, and named his acquisition, "New South Shetland."

The climate was temperate, the coast mountainous, apparently uninhabited, but not destitute of vegetation, as firs and pines were observable in many places; in short, the country had upon the whole the appearance of the coast of Norway. After having satisfied himself with every particular that time and circumstances permitted him to examine, he bore away to the North and pursued his voyage.

On his arrival at Valparaiso he communicated his discovery to Captain Sheriff of H. M. S. Andromache, who happened to be there. Captain S. immediately felt the importance of the communication, and lost not a moment in making every arrangement for following it up; he immediately despatched the William, with officers from the Andromache: and in this stage the last a letter from Chili left the expedition, with the most sanguine expectation of success, *and ultimate advantages resulting from it: and, if we are correctly informed, a fully detailed narrative has been forwarded to Government.

The Gleaner.

"Their manner of knowing whether a dog be mad or not, somewhat resembles the ancient Gothic custom of trying witches. The old woman suspect

"I am but a gatherer and disposer of other men's ed, was tied hand and foot, and thrown into the

stuff"

MAD DOGS.

WOTTON.

There is no species of panic which spreads
through the community with such rapidity, and
bears with it such terrors, as the dread of Mad
Dogs. The approach of an invading army could
scarcely inspire more terror than that excited by
a poor half starved animal, driven frantic by
famine, and goaded to desperation by every
Goldsmith has treated this subject with so much
species of provocation and cruelty.
humour, that we shall make no apology for the
following extract, which could not appear at a
more seasonable time.

ESSAY.

"Indulgent nature seems to have exempted this island from many of those epidemic evils which are rain for a few days beyond the expected season, in so fatal in other parts of the world. A want of some parts of the globe, spreads famine, desolation, and terror, over the whole country; but, in this fortunate land of Britain, the inhabitant courts health in every breeze, and the husbandman ever sows in joyful expectation.

water. If she swam then she was instantly carried
off to be burnt for a witch; if she sunk, then in-
deed she was acquitted of the charge, but drowned
in the experiment. In the same manner a crowd
gather round a dog suspected of madness, and they
begin by teasing the devoted animal on every side.
If he attempts to stand upon the defensive, and
bite, then he is unanimously found guilty, for A
mad dog always snaps at every thing. If, on the
contrary, he strives to escape by running away, then
run straight forward before them.'
he can expect no compassion, for mad dogs always

"It is pleasant enough for a neutral being like
me, who has no share in those ideal calamities, to
little dog that had gone through a neighbouring vil-
mark the stages of this national disease. The terror
at first freely enters with a disregarded story of a
lage, which was thought to be mad by several who
had seen him. The next account comes, that a
mastiff ran through a certain town, and had bit five
geese, which immediately ran mad, foamed at the
bill, and died in great agonies soon after. Then
comes an affecting history of a little boy bit in the
leg, and gone down to be dipped in the salt water.
When the people have sufficiently shuddered at
account of a man who was said lately to have died
that, they are next congealed with a frightful
from a bite he had received some years before. This
relation only prepares the way for another still more
hideous; as, how the master of a family, with seven
small children, were all bit by a mad lap dog; and
how the poor father first perceived the infection, by
lapdog swimming in the cup.
calling for a draught of water, where he saw the

evils, it is not more happy on this account than
"But though the nation be exempt from real
others. The people are afflicted, it is true, with
"When epidemic terror is thus once excited, every
neither famine nor pestilence; but then there is in stories of ghosts each loves to hear the account,
morning comes loaded with some new disaster.
disorder peculiar to the country, which, every sea-
son, makes strange ravages among them; it spreads though it only serves to make him uneasy; so, here,
with pestilential rapidity, and infects almost every with new circumstances of peculiar horror. A lady,
each listens with eagerness, and adds to the tidings
natives have no name for this peculiar malady, has been frighted by the barking of a dog; and this,
rank of people; and what is still more strange, the for instance, in the country, of very weak nerves,
though well known to foreign physicians by the ap-alas! too frequently happens. The story soon is
pellation of Epidemic Terror.
a lady of distinction. These circumstances begin
improved, and spreads, that a mad dog had frighted
to grow terrible before they have reached the neigh-
of quality was bit by a mad mastiff. This account
bouring village, and there the report is, that a lady
every moment gathers new strength, and grows more
dismal as it approaches the capital; and, by the
time it has arrived in town, the lady is described
with wild eyes, foaming mouth, running mad upon
at last smothered between two beds, by the advice
all four, barking like a dog, biting her servants, and
of her doctors; while the mad mastiff is, in the
ing at the mouth, and seeking whom he may devour.
mean time, ranging the whole country over, slaver-

“A season is never known to pass, in which the people are not visited by this cruel calamity, in one the same; one year it issues from a baker's shop in shape or another, seemingly different, though ever the shape of a sixpenny loaf, the next it has the Appearance of a comet with a fiery tail, the third it threatens like a flat bottomed boat, and the fourth it carries consternation in the bite of a mad dog: happiness, saunter about with looks of despondence, The people, when once infected, lose their relish for ask after the calamities of the day, and receive no It is insignificant how remote or near, how weak or comfort but in heightening each other's distress. powerful, the object of terror may be, when once they resolve to fright and be frighted; the merest trifles sow consternation and dismay; each proportions his fears, not to the object, but to the dread he discovers in the countenance of others; for, when once the fermentation is begun, it goes on of itself; though the original cause be discontinued which first set it in motion.

On taking a cursory view of the charts of the Southern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, it will be seen, that though Captain Cook penetrated to a much higher latitude, and consequently drew his conclusion from observing nothing but vast mountains of ice, it will be seen also that his meridian was 45 deg. further to the west of New South Shetland, leaving a vast space unexplored on the parallel of 62 deg. between that and Sandwich Land, in longitude about 28 deg. west, He again made 67 deg. or thereabouts, but in longitude 137 to 147 deg. west. Perouse ascended no higher than 60 deg. 30 min.; Vancouver about 55 deg. which now prevails, and the whole nation is at pre"A dread of mad dogs is the epidemic terror other navigators passing the Straights of sent actually groaning under the maliguity of its Magellan and Le Maire; and most of them influence. The people sally from their houses with that circumspection which is prudent in such as passing as close to Cape Horn as possible, in expect a mad dog at every turning. The physician order, as they thought, to shorten the pas-publishes his prescription, the beadle prepares his halter, and a few of unusual bravery, arm themsage to the Pacific, are circumstances that selves with boots and buff gloves, in order to face reasonably account for the protracted pe-short, the whole people stand bravely upon their the enemy if he should offer to attack them. In riod to which so important a discovery has defence, and seem, by their present spirit, to show a resolution of not being tamely bit by mad dogs been delayed.-Lit. Gazette. any longer.

"My landlady, a good-natured woman, but a little credulous, waked me some mornings ago, before the usual hour, with horror and astonishment in her looks. She desired me, if I had any regard for my safety, to keep within; for a few days ago, so dismal an accident had happened, as to put all the world upon their guard. A mad dog, down in the country, she assured me, had bit a farmer, who soon brindled cow: the cow quickly became as mad as becoming mad, ran into his own yard, and bit a fine the man, began to foam at the mouth, and raising herself up, walked about on her hind legs, sometimes barking like a dog, and sometimes attempting to talk like the farmer. Upon examining the grounds of this story, I found my landlady had it from one neighbour, who had it from another neighbour, who heard it from very good authority.

it

would be found that numbers of such as have been said to suffer, were no way injured; and that of those who have been actually bitten, not one in a hundred was bit by a mad dog. Such accounts in

"Were most stories of this nature well examined,