Literature and Science. Recipe against Infection.-Forty-six grains of black oxide of manganese, in Lithography.-An experiment has course powder, are to be put into a small strong glass phial, with an acculately been made to take off impres-rately ground-glass stopper, to which sions from plants by lithographic print-two drachm measures of nitric acid of ing, which, although it did not suc1400 specific gravity, and an equal ceed so well as was desirable, leaves little doubt but this method may prove must be added; replace the stopper, measure of muriatic acid of 1184, of considerable use to botanists.-A and secure the whole by inclosing it in specimen of Sibthorpia Europœa, which was gathered several years ago screw top, which, when fast, shall rest a strong wooden case, with a good in Cornwall, was, we understand, coon the stopper, so as to keep it in its vered with lithographic ink, and implace. To use it, merely open the pressed on the stone, from which several impressions were taken. There is phial, with the nose averted, and rea well-known method made use of for place the stopper as soon as the smell taking impressions of the leaves of veis perceived; repeat it, of course, ocgetables by covering them with print-migation. A phial so prepared, will casionally, as you would any other fuers'-ink, and then impressing them on last, instead of six months, several paper. The benefit likely to arise painter, never to work on Mondays; It was the custom with Aertgen, the but to devote that day with his disciabout the streets in the night, playing ples to the bottle. He used to stroll on the German flute, and in one of those frolics he was drowned in 1564. been said, figuratively, that marriage Marriage Lottery.-It has often is a lottery; but we do not recollect to have met with a practical illustration of the truth of the simile before the following, which is a free translation of an advertisement in the Louisiana from impressing plants on stone, is years; the mixture ought not to oc- desirous, to procure a wife, without the owing to the facility of multiplying copies much more accurate in some respects than a drawing can be expected to be. Fish Flour. The Indians (says M. Humboldt), in all the Upper Oroonoko, fry fish, dry them in the sun, and reduce them to powder, without sepa rating the bones. I have seen masses of fifty or sixty pounds of this flour, which resembles that of cassava. When Any chemist can furnish the ingredi- of infection. Gazette: A young man, of good fi- cellent annual publication, Time's TeThe forthcoming volume of that exlescope, will contain an explanation of saints' days and holidays; with illustrations of British history and anticustoms, and sketches of comparative quities, notices of obsolete rites and it is wanted for eating, it is mixed with phy; including astronomical occurprised by the appearance of female chronology and cotemporary biograAt Dieppe, an Englishman is surwater and reduced to a paste. Jo every climate the abundance of fish nature, explaining the various appear who look to unloading of ships, keep every climate the abundance of fish rences in every month, and a diary of clerks, inspectors, and supervisors, has led to the invention of the same ances in the animal and vegetable king an account of what is done, and give means of preserving them. Pliny and Diodorus Siculus have described the with amusing anecdotes, and illus-dicating the participation of the sex in doms; the whole being interspersed out the checks and certificates-all infish-bread of the Ichthyophagous na-trative and decorative extracts from that country, in the higher functions our first living poets. An introduction of life, and contributing to their imto the study of conchology will be pre-portance and independence. fixed, with an accurately coloured plate of some of the most rare and beautiful shells. tions, that dwelt on the Persian Gulf and the shores of the Red Sea. TO READERS & CORRESPONDENTS. Miss Macauley has a new work in We perfectly agree with 'Gulielmus as to the press, intitled Tales of the Lady Morgan and her reviewers; but having Drama.' dismissed her in the way of our vocation, we have no wish to return to the subject. We question much that Question and Answer' will suit us. the effect on us which he seems to have anticiTragic Darby's first dramatic scene has not pated. The sentiment in Clio's song is faulty. Few The Plague. At a time when a fatal epidemy is making such ravages in Spain, it may be some satisfaction to know, that some time ago, Doctors Aubun and Lafont, physicians at Constantinople and Salonica, have discovered that vaccination is a preservative Mr. Brewer's Beauties of Ireland,' from the plague. Of six thousand adults vaccinated, none caught the been engaged for a considerable time, a work on which that gentleman has contagion: even infants who were vac-is, at length, ready for publication; cinated, continued to suckle mothers and we hope that the author of the who were labouring under the attacks of the plague, without being infected: land and Wales will satisfactorily anIntroduction' to the Beauties of Eng-lovers make a merit of their inconstancy. and an Italian physician, who is study-swer a growing wish in the public, for ing in Turkey the symptoms of this information concerning an island long dreadful complaint, inoculated himself with matter drawn from a person who and topographer. The work is to be with matter drawn from a person who injuriously neglected by the antiquary had died of the plague, and afterwards published in parts, and is embellished underwent vaccination without the with engravings by J. and H. Storer, contagion developing itself, though he after original drawings by G, Petrie, put himself in all possible points of contact with infected persons in the hospitals. of Dublin. We shall be happy to hear from E G. B. in the way he proposes. We have not forgotten him. M. Wildernesse will find a letter at our of fice." two doors East of Exeter Change; where advertise ments are received, and communication Sold also by Souter, 73, St. Paul's Church Yard; Simpkin London:-Published by J. Limbird, 355, Strand, Editor' (post paid) are to be addressed. and Marshall, Stationer's Court; Chapple, Pall Mall; Grapel, Liverpool; and by all Booksellers and Newsvenders.-Printed by Davidson, Old Bos well Court, Carey Street. And Weekly Review; Forming an Analysis and General Repository of Literature, Philosophy, Science, Arts, History, the Drama, Morals, Manners, and Amusements. This Paper is published early every Saturday Morning; and is forwarded Weekly, or in Monthly or Quarterly Parts, throughout the British Dominions. No. 128. LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1821. Review of New Books. The History of Christ's Hospital, from of are authorities which must contain much information, and we are sorry that any circumstance should have prevented their being brought in aid of a publication, the object of which is to represent the establishment and every person connected with it, in a point of view that could have no other tendency than to do them honour. Price 6d. this great work, which has handed me, shall be made one separate stock, I direct that all my bequests given to Christ's Hospital shall immediately ecase. In the description of the different And I hereby give and devise the same, from that time, to the University of Oxapartments of the Hospital, there is an ford, to the intent that the University may extract from the will of James Amand, buy freehold lands of inheritance, and the Esq. dated Aug. 9, which is curious on rent arising therefrom to be applied as folaccount of the anxiety it expresses re-lows: In the first place, the chief Bodlative to a portrait, which is preserved leian Librarian shall receive of it as much in the counting-house : I give the original picture of my grandfather to Christ's Hospital, upon condition that the treasurer thereof give a receipt to my executors, and a promise never to alienate the said picture; and, as often as a change of treasurers takes place, every new treasurer shall send a written receipt and promise of the same In the forty-fifth number of the effect to the Vice Chancellor of Oxford. Literary Chronicle, we gave a brief Item, I give all the rest of my money and but connected history of Christ's Hos- property of every description, (after the pital; and, therefore, in reviewing the payment of my debts, legacies, and funeral, and whatever expense attends the present work, we shall avoid, as much execution of this will,) to Christ's Hospias possible, the ground on which we tal. And my will is, that whatever of have already trodden. Mr. Wilson my effects the governors of the hospital sets out with a well-written and inter- shall consider as being of no benefit to the esting memoir of the illustrious foun-hospital, they, the governors, shall sell der of the hospital, the boy King, Ed-all such, (except the picture aforesaid,) ward the Sixth. Then follows the to the best advantage, and the money arising from the sale shall go, together history of the foundation, copied ver- with all the money, I may leave in specie, batim from Stowe. It is remarkable, or in my banker's hands undisposed of, that the King lived but two days after to purchase 3 per cent. bank annuities, he had signed the charter of this cor- which annuities, together with the secuporation, and that, on thus concluding rities for money which I leave behind VOL. III. as will augment his salary to 1201. annually, provided he be a bachelor. Secondly, the sub-librarian, if a bachelor, shall have his salary augmented to 701. per annum, which augmentation of salary shall continue only as long as they remain bachelors, and shall not be paid again if they marry, until other librarians who may be bachelors are substituted in their room. What remains after paying them, I desire may be applied to the purchase of manuscripts and good printed editions of classic authors, such as may be worthy a place in the library. In this manner [ desire such money may be disposed of, as (if either librarian is married) would contribute to the augmentation of his salary were he not married."-One of the eminent antiquary. executors was the Rev. Dr. Stukeley, the An erroneous opinion has been entertained, that this picture is the portrait of the Pretender, and which probably may have arisen from the circumstance of one of the ancestors of Mr. St. Amand having married Asceline, the daughter of UV-43 Robert D'Aubignay, of the Ilouse of Stuart, an English baron in the reign of In this Hospital there are twelve wards or large rooms, for the children, besides the infirmary, or sick-ward, and each of these wards accommodates from fifty to seventy boys : The whole establishment will accommodate 1156 children, including 80 girls, who are provided for without any expense to their parents or friends, and furnished with every thing necessary to forward their education. In 1809 there were 1065 children upon the foundation, of whom 65 were girls. . Of the 1000 boys, and Joshua Barnes. It is impossible early Blues,' are Campian, Camden, to conceive that a school, which admits nearly one hundred and fifty boys annually, every one having the opportunity of a liberal education, should have produced so few men of genius, (admitting all to be such which we have enumerated.) We doubt not, however, that it has produced five 161 were presented by companies, times the number, although there may parishes, &c. 498 were sons of freemen. 239 sons of non-freemen. 102 sons of clergymen, who had, exclusive of the boys in the hospital, 578 other children. 1000 The parents of 871 boys had, exclusive of those in the hospital, 3606 other children; and twenty-seven boys had neither brother or sister. 'Out of the 973 boys, there wereOrphans..... Sons of widows.. Motherless boys... 57 210 93 360' It appears that the gross income of the hospital, in 1814, was 44,7251., and in 1815, 43,3861. The expenditure for the same years was, 1814, 41,0611. and in 1815, 40,4201. The ceremony of performing the funeral rites of those who die in the hospital, is very interesting: : A procession is formed in the square of the Infirmary, consisting of the beadles, the steward, the whole of the boys belonging to the same ward as the deceased, the choir-boys, the minister, (one of the classical masters,) and clerk; then the corpse, followed by his own relations and friends as mourners. As soon as the boys enter the cloisters, they begin singing the Burial Anthem, which they continue all round, and until they reach the curial-ground, when the minister, as in cther cases, begins the funeral service. The cloisters upon these occasions are cleared of all but those who assist in the mournful ceremony, which add, greatly to the solemnity; indeed, it is hardly possible to describe the effect when the procession is proceeding round those reverberating remains of the old priory, dismal at all times when cleared of those who give life to the scene, but doubly so upon these occasions. The echo of the Burial Anthem at this time has an effect which those only who have witnessed the ceremony can form a just idea of.' The biographical part of Mr. Wilson's work, (though avowedly very imperfect,) is the most original, as it be some difficulty in tracing them. Our last extract shall be Mr. George Dyer's Lines meditated in the Cloisters of Christ's Hospital :'— 'Now cease, my song, the plaintive strain; And young Delight sits laughing by: In smiles, and pranks, and garlands gay, Ev'ry month then seeming May; While, as Invention wak'd the mimic powers, Genius, still wand'ring wild, sighed for enchanted bowers. "Then, too, in antic vestment drest, Satire and sting, or simple song; Soft were his hands, nor keen his darts; glow, Gave her full half of bliss, and took her share of woe. 'And, what though round a youthful spring A lowering storm may sometimes rise; Quickly can brighten up the skies. The critic school-boy prais'd my song: That promis'd fair to gild Ambition's distant Nordid mine eye not catch the orient ray, day. Ah! pleasing gloomy cloister-shade, Still, still this wavering breast inspire! Till the young heart would freeze with wild "How like the spirit of the place, Good Edward's form here seem'd to move! As lingering still its growth to trace, With all a Founder's, Guardian's love! How of his name each syllable Repeated oft, on youthful ears Like no unholy charm would dwell, And mingle fondness with the prayers! While still the day, made sacred by his birth, Brought with the rolling year memorials of his worth. 'But, ah! what means the silent tear? Why e'en 'mid joy my bosom heave! And bear away the bloom of years! Of doubts and sorrows, pains and fears! Although we think Mr. Wilson valuable, yet we must allow that it might have made his work much more is interesting, and we thank him for the first detailed history of one of the most beneficent institutions this truly beneficent country boastsChrist's Hospital. E should as soon expect to discover the philosopher's stone, the longitude, or the elexir of life, as to find a panacea for the distresses with which this afflicted. There is not, perhaps, a class happy country is so unhappily always in society, of any trade or profession, is remarkable too, the distresses have below actual independence, that does not complain of distresses; and, what scarcely changed their character in the course of two or three centuries. There is an old proverb, that ‘a grumbletonian in the stirrup is a tyrant in the saddle;' in politics we have often found it so, and we much doubt if it is otherwise in any thing else. tressed beings, the agriculturists are But of all grumblers, and of all disthe most uneasy; the bounties of Providence seem to be heaped on them in vain. Speak to an English farmer about his harvest, and he is sure to complain are the crops abundant, he grumbles that the price will be such as to render abundance of no value; if then; the cup of abundance run over, In this opinion we are supported by Mr. Playfair, who has devoted more than twenty years' attention to the subject. After refuting the idea, that agricultural distress arises from heavy rent and taxation, he says, During the artificially high prices in the time of the war, when the navy and army and some of the colonies were to be supplied, and immense sums were paid to contractors for all kinds of stores; when small economy was neglected, the farmers got into an expensive mode of cultivation, and the habits and practices that then prevailed are not yet got rid of. They were too indolent and too great men to carry their produce to market; and a set of middle men, or intermediate dealers started up, who took from them all their trouble of selling, and with it a considerable part of their profit. I say, my lords and gentlemen, a considerable part, but it was not felt much The agriculturists have brought the misfortune on themselves, by not acting wisely when prices were high; they be direction which it was clear prices must haved then as if, instead of the retrogade some day take, and have taken, they were to continue constantly to increase, and they out-bid each other in renting of land, and paid no attention to economy in any When the wheat that grew on one acre was manufactured into bread, and still keeping back their stock from the cost the consumers 451., the farmers were market, with a hope to get higher prices, and the dealers in flour assisted them in their unfeeling enterprise; but when the tide turned, and the current set in in another direction, the farmers were in haste to sell, and the dealers, in order to make haste to buy, so that the prices have come them reduce their prices, were in no down more than, from the natural course of things, they ought to have done. The produce of an acre of wheat, which it is fair to reckon at three quarters and-a-half, at 53s. (the present price) is still above 91., but the price of the loaves amounts to 161. 13s. 3d. only 31. 8s. 3d. of which goes to the baker, so that the matter is thus: For the wheat on an acre... 400 loaves at 10d.. 803 8. d. 3 8 12 13 9 16' 13 3 and taken by the bakers and dealers is the great cause of the farmers receiving a low price while the consumers pay a high one. this is, the wealthy consumers taking cre2nd. That the primary cause of all dit for the necessaries of life, which they do to the great detriment of themselves, and the still greater detriment of those who pay in ready money, not having the means to obtain credit. 3rd. From those two statements, I am led to propose a means of preventing the credit from being given to consumers, by making debts above a certain sum not recoverable by law, as in the case of minors, and certain accounts at public-houses for liquors; for as the laws in a country like England cannot forbid such transactions, all that can be done is to discourage them. 4th. That the assize should again be fixed, and persons appointed to see it put take the trouble from the Lord Mayor, properly in execution*; those persons to but to be under his authority. "That the laws against making contracts for forestalling the markets be revised, and monopoly prevented, as in a wealthy country like this, speculations in provisions are the most gainful and certain to rich men, and highly injurious to the public.' veral other ingenious tables, the author In the Appendix, in addition to segives one of the comparative prices of wheat, bread, and flour, from which he draws the following conclusion: When the quarter of wheat is at 53s, which has been the case these several 8d. but it has been with the regular bamonths, the quartern loaf should be at kers at 10d., and some have charged 10 d., while the ready-money bakers have sold it for 8d. It also appears, that a sack of flour should be above one-seventh part cheaper than the quarter of wheat, whereas in reality it is seldom above one-tenth cheaper; and it will be seen in the register at the Secretary of State's Office, (for the home department,) page 505, (numbered with a pen,) that, on the 4th of August, 1804, when wheat was 63s. 4d., the sack of flour was 67s. 11d. !! In short, it will be seen that the price of flour is always higher in proportion to the price of wheat, than it ought to be by this table; and, unfortuThe question is, who gets this? 3 19 nately, the price of bread is fixed by the Thus, nearly 41. an acre go to the inter-flour, and not the wheat. mediate dealers, which is equal to four times the advanced rent and taxes. It will be a large allowance to suppose 11. 1s. goes for carriage and other expenses, between the sale of the corn and the purchase of the flour, so that 21. 18s. will still remain to the dealers, which is 16s. a quarter, or more than one-third of the price of the grain l' ་ : 6 That this conclusion is positive no one will dispute; but the real truth is, that this table itself was formed from wrong premises, for flour ought to be nearly one-third cheaper than wheat; that' *The assize should be fixed from wheat, become impossible. A commission should be and not from flour; then the extortion would named to ascertain the quantity of bread produced from a given quantity of wheat, and The whole of his argument Mr. P. from that the assize should be fixed. The comsums up thus sweepingly :nission would be like that for regulating '1st. I maintain that the credit given weights and measures.' is, when wheat is at 63s. 4d. flour ought not to be above 44s. Id., for a quarter of wheat produces a sack of fine flour, and half a sack of seconds, and our loaf bread is made from those two mixed together Lord Somerville, who wrote very distinctly on the subject, explains the matter, and shows that the bran and pollard pay for grinding. The flour was then, on the 4th of August, 1804, 23s. 10d. dearer than it ought to have been, that is, rather more than fifty per cent. above the fair price.' The author of this work has brought together several important facts, well worthy of the consideration of the agricultural committee, the legislature, and the public in general. Ryan's Worthies of Ireland. (Concluded from p. 661.) THE second volume of Mr. Ryan's work is not less interesting than the first, but it appears to us not to be edited with so much care. Better memoirs exist than he has given of some individuals, particularly of the self-taught Cunningham; and some stale anecdotes have been admitted in the lives of others, which we would gladly have dispensed with in a work of so much importance. With these exceptions, we give the work our hearty commendation, and adopt a few of its articles in our present number:— He was now employed in relating legen- but the odious task of enumerating the za. Philip Fitzgibbon was a native of Ire land, and ranked high in the mathematical world. He is likewise celebrated for "a bit of a blunder" that he once committed, arising from the following circumstance: He was supposed to possess a more accurate and extensive knowledge of the Irish language than any person living; and his latter years were industriously employed in compiling an English and with the exception of the letter S, and Irish dictionary, which he left completed, that he appeared to have totally forgotten. In rehearsing any of Ossian's poems, or any composition in verse, it was much in the manner of the cathedral service; but, in singing some of his native airs, he displayed the power of his voice-and on those occasions, his auditors were always enraptured. It is asserted that no singer ever did Carolan's airs or Ossian's celebrated hunting song, more justice than delighted to exercise his genius. Cormac. But it was in poetry Cormac composed several songs and elegies, He which obtained general applause. His muse, tender and affectionate, was awakened by the call of gratitude, and his four hundred quarto pages, and it is a reThe dictionary is contained in about poetical productions are mostly panegyri-markable instance of patient and indefatisatire, but not often, though endued with ten in Roman or Italic characters, to imitate cal or elegiac. He sometimes indulged in gable perseverance, as every word is writmac lived much respected and beloved manuscripts, all in the Irish fanguage, he a rich vein of that dangerous gift. Cor- printing. This, with many other curious had children by each wife; he died about O'Donnell. by all classes; he was twice married, and bequeathed to his friend, the Rev. Mr. the age of eighty-five.' for his genius, and whose errors have Common Cormac, or blind Cormac, is supposed to be the last of the order of the minstrels, called Tale-Tellers, of whom Sir William Temple speaks so fully in his Essay on Poetry. He was born in May, 1703, at Woodstock, near Ballindungan, in the County of Mayo, of parents poor and honest, remarkable only for the innocence and simplicity of their lives. Before he had completed his first year, He was one of those unhappy young the small-pox deprived him of sight; this men, who preferred a life of daring proficircumstance, combined with the indi- gacy to the dull and unvariable sameness gence of his parents, precluded him from of virtue; and the time that should have receiving any of the advantages of educa- been occupied in the cultivation of his tation. But though he could not read him-lents, was uselessly spent in their display. self, he had the happiness of conversing with those who had read; and although he remained without learning, he yet obtained knowledge. Discovering an early fondness for music, a neighbouring gentleman procured a professor of the harp to instruct him on that instrument, and Cormac received a few lessons, which he practised con amore; but his patron dying suddenly, the harp dropped from his hand -it was unstrung, and stern poverty prevented its repair. But cheered by poetry, the muse of whom he was most enamoured, he listened eagerly to the Irish songs and metrical tales he heard sung and recited round the "crackling faggots that illumined the hearths" of his father and his neighbours. His mind being thus stored, and having no other avocation, he commenced a Man of Talk or Tale-Teller. During what year he was born is not Chapel Lane, Kilkenny, in April, 1792.' known, but he died at his lodgings, in splendid talents, united with the most intense application, are not confined either to sex or sphere of life, is fully evinced by the subject of the present memoir. "Constantia Grierson.-That the most acquirements (whose maiden name is noThis prodigy of early learning and ty of Kilkenny, of parents poor and illitewhere mentioned), was born in the counrate. Nothing is recorded of her until her eighteenth year, when we are told by He united a depth of poetic intellect, and Mrs. Pilkington, that she was brought to a great harmony of versification rarely to her father to be instructed in midwifery, be met with in the same individual; and and that then she was a perfect mistress could turn with equal facility" from grave of the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and French to gay, from sullen to serene; but if we languages, and was far advanced in the thus praise his excellence in poetry, how study of the mathematics. Mr. Pilkingshall we extol his classical attainments? ton having inquired of her where she Horace and Homer he was alike acquaint- gained this prodigious knowledge, she ed with, and could, unabashed, before a large company, read a passage in either; spare time from her needle-work, to modestly replied, that when she could then put the book in his pocket, and give which she was closely kept by her moa fine poetic translation of the passage he ther, she had received some little instruchad just delivered; and likewise, to his tion from the minister of the parish. She credit be it recorded, that before he had wrote elegantly (says Mrs. P.) both in attained his fifteenth year, he had acquir-verse and prose; but the turn of her ed a competent knowledge of the Greek, the Latin, the French, and Italian languages, and knew a little of the Spanish. the picture, and there remains nothing mind was chiefly to philosophical or di- Mrs. Grierson to the Hon. Mrs. Percival, with |