$814.] Latent Heat in Agriculture. any one would have stopt any behaviour in him unpleasant to another. He was a staunch friend of political and religious freedom, and a sanguine admirer of Mr. Fox. I know but one anecdote of him abroad:-An Englishman was in his company at Alexandria (ere yet the French and ourselves had made the scene more familiar) twice before he discovered a brother Briton; his surprise was equal to his joy, for, though he was easily to be known, Mr. Browne was in the costume and with the manners of the place, and did not appear to experience any peculiar pleasure in the recollection of home. His temper I think was his great forte for his undertakings; but all the traits of a private education and reserved nature were against him; while in eal for his favourite pursuits not Bruce nor Parke himself could surpass him. CHARLES LUCAS. Avebury, near Marlbro', Wilts. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, N original portrait of Somerville the 497 The world is much indebted to Dr. Black for his discovery of latent heat, and it certainly will open a path to yet more useful discoveries: in fact, it is almost surprising, that the science of it does not gain more universal attention. I often urged the advantages of summer fallows, principally to arise from the destruction of weeds, &c. while my friend constantly insisted upon it, that the heat of the sun had the chief operation in contributing to realize the good effects of a summer fallow, by restoring to the land its latent heat. My friend added, that his confidence was strength. ened in the theory, by observations made in the paring and burning of grass lands; and especially, in the wonderful and continued fertility of a field, the stubble of which happened to take fire; and which, by the aid of a strong wind, burnt over the whole surface. But this was, as yet, only theory. Last spring but one, my friend was determined to make a fair experiment. He built a reverberatory furnace in a field, and with coals burnt therein, in A poetis at Wrosall, the seat of Chris succession, all the soil, say a fout deep, N your number for February last, page 13, Mr. Wigfull gives an interesting account of paring and burning the stubble, in the vicinity of Sheffield; and which is found so beneficial, that the practice becomes more and more general. In confirmation of such custom, I take the liberty of handing to you another very important experiment. a My much respected friend, Mr. John Bower, of Hunslet, near Leeds, chemist and oil of vitriol manufacturer, bad Bong entertained the idea, that the non-fertility of old lands and gardens, was principally owing to their loss of latent heat. We had often canvassed the subject over, and my friend ever held to the same opinion. Wet land, he would urge, is deprived of its latent heat by too profuse an evaporation, and hence it is called cold and all other land suffers by the same process of nature. for several yards square: that is, he just brought the earth to a red heat, taking care not to vitrify it. He then divided the same into a number of plots, or, as the gardener would say, beds, and planted or sowed upon each different seeds,- -as potatoes, wheat, oats, barley, beans, onions, turnips, &c. without any manure. The result was that the whole shewed astonishing fertility: the wheat, but especially the barley, could not support itself; it was too rich for them. The other articles produced most excellent crops-the potatoes were of a most exquisite flavour. In fine, the experiment was a most convincing proof of the great use of applying fire or heat to land; and possibly may be useful to some of your readers, even if they will not subscribe to the restoration of latent heat, though I do not see how they can ward off conviction. It was curious, and is worthy of remark, that while the other part of the field was dry and parched by the heat of the summer, this burnt earth seemed moist; and that tenacity of water might possibly contribute to the extreme fertility. My friend is half ready to suppose, that where coals are cheap, it would pay for the expence of having a moveable furnace, and adopting the practice upon a large scale, At least, however, it proves, A SIR, GREEABLY to the invitation which appeared in your Magazine for February last, I send you the following vocabulary of the Essex dialect. As most of the words which compose it have no fixed orthography, I have endeavoured, as far as was practicable, to write them so as express their pronunciation. Arguefy, to prove, or make appear. Brack, a flaw or fault in any thing. (This word is derived from the Saxon, Вrecan, to break.) Bobbery, noise, uproar. Bumby, a receptacle for filth and rubbish. Blay, a blaze. Bonx, to beat up batter for puddings. Busk, to lie idly in the sun. Cop, to throw. Chice, a small portion. Commence, an awkward event. Cuther, a word denoting surprise, frequently used in familiar conversation. Crock, to blacken with soot. Crake, to boast. Used by Spenser. Dilvered, drowsy. Doke, a bruise. Dolouring, a mournful noise. Dole, a part or pittance. Also, to distribute. (Of dæl, Sax.) Doles, or Dools, slips of pasture. Sax. Or, og, Dan.) Flabbergasted, astonished. Gasted,, Sax.) affrighted, is used by Shakespeare. (From A and Lerz, Sax. a spectre.) Furnitade, furniture. Fleck, the soft hair of a rabbit. Golls, the hands. (Of paldr, from pea dan, Sax. to wield.) They have a Sort of namby-pamby verse, which is addressed to children, as follows: Slump, to slip or fall into the dirt. Slud, mire. Stull, a luncheon; a great piece of 1614.] Plan for Seamen.-Welsh Tour. Vol. ii. page 187. "He proposed that their certificates should be registered, and that every man who had served five years in war, should receive a bounty of two guineas annually, after that time; and of four guineas after eight years." "This (he said) might at first sight appear an enormous sum for the State to pay, but the average life of a seaman is, from HARD SERVICE, finished at forty-five; he cannot therefore enjoy the annuity many years, and the interest of the money saved by their NOT DESERTING, would go far to pay the whole expence." For the Monthly Magazine. SONCLUSION of a TOUR round NORTH WALES. The Fifth Day 499 rock scenery often particularly grand. At ten o'clock after breakfast prepare to ascend Snowdon-the morning looking very bright and promising-ride three miles to its base, toward the steepest of the three ascents of the mountain-the ascent is at least five miles, which we from leaving the carriage-prospect hazy accomplished in four hours and a half and less beautiful than that of Cader Idris the steep ascent we chose (inthe face of the precipitous sides of the mountain) rewarded us with the grandest view of its sublime character, in which particular it far excels Cader Idris. Nine hours and a half (from ten o'clock in the forenoon to half past eight at night) elapsed before we returned to the inn where we dined, (after the most severe day of fatigue that any of the party had ever taken)-three large pools of water high on Snowdon-large quantities of alabaster, and other sulphates of lime-copper pyrites-a mine lately worked there-much porous stone-like lava-rock crystal-fine springs of water encounter many bogs. Seventh Duy. Cernioge Corwen In all 15 13 28 post miles. For the first ten miles remarkably grand scenes perpetually occurring→ three fine cataracts-two bridges, con necting huge masses of rock, The morn WAS passed at Bangor-went to the ing being very hot I bathed twice, once cathedral in the morning, and heard (not without admiration of the variety and power of the Welsh language) a sermon preached in that tongue to a very attentive congregation of Welsh peasantryafter this service the English began, and was conducted, in the presence of the bishop, with the usual formality of the choir service, after which the bishop preached. Walked after dinner along the Menai-the ferry beautifully situated Beaumaris two miles distant from the place of landing the neighbourhood of Bangor beautiful; and the coast northward, with Priestholme, (St. Orme's head, which is a peninsula, but looks like an island,) highly picturesque. Sixth Day in a most romantic spot, surrounded by stupendous rocks, and buried in woodson the whole, the most astonishing scene of the kind. I have ever viewed-the foot of these rocks of very difficult and somewhat hazardous access. Five miles be fore arriving at Cernioge the Alpine sce nery disappears, and the rest of the ride is quite uninteresting this remark ap. plies to the next stage, which passes through a country sufficiently beautiful, but no longer striking, with the exception of Pont-y-Glynn, another, and, I conjecture, the last of our cataracts-decided inferiority of this, the great Holyhead road through North Wales, to that by which we entered-the one for fifty-six miles presenting a succession of Alpine scenery, the other ceasing to be striking in less than 30. Capel Cerrig. 15 post miles. A very beautiful ride; the road passing by the extensive slate quarries of Lord At Corwen an harper of singular skill Peurhyhn enters the mountain defiles in entertained us for two hours--Arhyd-every few nules from the coast-the_nos-Nostalau-Hensebit Shenkin, &c We thank Mr. C. and hope other correspondents in other counties will favour as in like manner. -At Cerregi Druidyon nothing Druidical to be seen or heard of-bridge over the Dee before entering Corwen-this river, totally opposite in character to the moun tain streams, of which we have seen so Oswestry 10 10 16 The country from Corwen to Llangol len exactly resembles South Wales-the abrupt mountain character has given way to the gentle swell of considerable hills, and the angular character is changed into the curve. The vale of Llangollen is certainly beautiful,but far more than equalled by many others that I have seen, and quite surpassed by that of Maëntrog and Tan-y-Bwlch-the town mean and ugly. We walked two miles to visit ValleCrucis Abbey, of which the remains are inconsiderable, except a fine window in front-inferior in beauty to Llantony, in Monmouthshire, to Netley, Beaulieu, Glastonbury, and, equally so in situation, Dinas-Bran Hill and Castle fine and commanding. To Oswestry the country is merely pleasant; two bridges however occur, of 90 great magnitude and beauty as to give character to the landscape; the first consists of eighteen arches, and is quite straight, for the purpose of an aqueduct for the Ellesmere canal, from one side of the vale to the other, the Dee flowing below. The other is six miles farther on at Chirk, similarly situated, and for the same purpose. Twelve arches-the first bas a striking resemblance to the north bridge of Edinburgh, and may be seen a great many miles off. Pass Offas Dike, an huge mound, thrown up as a barrier between the Welsh and the Saxons; some remains are visible, in the form of a high green bank running for miles across the country, and serving as a division of the lands. Oswestry is an ugly large town. We are now again in Salop; indeed, North Wales disappeared on a sudden, when we turned our backs on Dinas Hill, five miles north of Keniogé. The inn at Llangollen vile and the harper odious. In proceeding to Shrewsbury, along a dead level, pass on the opposite side of the Bregthin hills, to that which we had seen on the road to Montgomery; they are picturesque in all directions, even after Wales. At eight arrived at Shrewsbury: Total of miles going Coaches. Aberystwith coach from Shrewsbury, M. W. and F. at four in the morning, 1l. 178. inside-17. 2s. outside. Mail to Bangor Ferry and Holyhead, at eight every evening, 37. 13s. 6d. inside 17. 17s. outside. Ancient Briton daily at two. Chester coach every morning at sixg through Ellesmere and Wrexham. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazines IN SIR, N the obituary of your Magazine for January last, page 55%, you made mention (in the ever to be lamented act count of Mr. Russell) of the organ at St. Sepulchre's church, it being a very fine instrument. Upon the testimony of so great and scientific a person as Mr. Russell, I was induced to pay a visit to the church one evening, on purpose to hear this organ; and I must say I was not disappointed. It was a charity ser mon for the benefit of the girls' school. After the sermon they sung an hymn, it consisted of four verses; the first three were sung by the girls alone, the music being composed by the organist-Mr. Cooper. The music of the last verse was adapted from Haydn's Oratorio of Creation-The Marv'lous Works behold amazed. And I must say, I never heard, by children unacquainted with music, an hymn sung better. Mr. C. in adapting the words to the music of Haydn, had not occasion to alter a note, and the children kept time with the greatest exactness. It was sung as verse and cho. rus, and played upon the full and choir organ alternately, when I had an oppor tunity of hearing the trumpet; and truly I was delighted. Among all the organs I ever heard, I never found one to equal this; the generality of the trumpets, in other organs, having a harsh, coarse sound. But this exceeds all I had an ticipated, being regular throughout, and producing a fine, full, sonorous, trombone sound, with a peculiar richness I never heard before. The testimony of Mr. Russell is not exaggerated a whit, for I do not believe either church or cathedral in the kingdom bas an organ with such a trumpet in it. The rest of the reed stops are equally fine. The cremona I was exceedingly delighted with, it producing 126 all the tone of a fine clarionet. 83 brilliancy of tone in the great organ, is rather too much for the diapasons. If 209 there was another open diapason, and a double diapason for pedal pipes, it would The be 1 0 S е 1814.] Museum of French Monuments. THE MONUMENTS. HE Museum of French monuments merits more than common attention. It was founded in 1790, under the auspices of the Constituent Assem bly, at the time of the confiscation of the property of the clergy: from this period, down to the present moment, the most valuable of the monuments found in the churches and suppressed convents, and the fruits of the French conquests in various parts of Europe, have been collected at the Petits-Augustins. M. Lenoir, who was conservator of the infant museum, collected during the era of the revolution a considerable number of mausoleums, statues, bas-reliefs, and busts of all ages and of every description: when the political storms subsided, this artist proposed to the government to arrange chronologically the monuments which he had saved from destruction, by dividing them by centuries into separate balls, also decorated with the ruins of every age. This plan, which embraced at one view the history of the arts and of France, was highly approved, and adopted by the members of the consular government. Let us now run over this museum, and endeavour to describe such curiosities as are worthy the attention of the artist, as well as of the historian, An introductory saloon first presents itself to our attention, and, like the preface of a great work, it exhibits a variety of precious articles, arranged with method so as to prepare the eye for following the various ages which we have to examine. We shall remark in the first place, those altars, defaced by time, on which the Gauls, the merchants of the ancient Lutetia, sacrified to their gods in the reign of Tiberius Jupiter, Esus (or Mars), Vulcan, Mercury, Venus, Pan, Castor and Pollux; and the religious ceremonies also engraved upon these altars sufficiently testify, that the Parisians were then idolators, and followed the religion of the Romans, to whom they were tributary. The inscriptions with which MONTHLY MAG. No. 256, 501. these monuments are loaded, leave no room for doubt as to the era of their erection and their authenticity. see Adjoining the monuments, dug out in 1711 from the foundation of the ancient church of Paris, (now that of Notre Dame,) which Childebert had constructed upon the scite of a temple dedicated to Isis, which he demolished, we the chief goddess of the Germans, named Rehalennix, in honour of whom these people erected a prodigious number of monuments, some of which were discovered in 1646, when the sea retired from the island of Walcheren. Capitals, decorated with bas-reliefs, and obtained from a subterranean tem. ple, built by King Pepin, have also been collected and placed next in order to the above. Afterwards you see the tomb of Clovis, in which this prince is represented in a recumbent posture; he is humbling himself before the Almighty, and seems to supplicate pardon for his crimes: the tombs of Childebert and of Chilperic the cruel are next in order. The hollow engraving on the tomb of Queen Fredegonde, which is made conspicuous by projecting pieces of stone, like Mosaic work, has escaped the revolutions of twelve centuries. How many earthly powers have disappeared since this epoch, and what a train of reflections does not the image of this impious woman, as it still exists, excite in the mind of the philosopher! Here also Charlemagne, in an undaunted attitude, and with his sword in his hand, seems still to give the law to the world. The sepulchre of the French Sappho, the learned and gentle Heloise, also holds a distinguished place in this museum; her earthly remains, mixed in one coffin with those of her lover, have not yet lost their attractions for the heart which glows with sensibility: sighs, full of tenderness and love, seem still issuing from the tomb and ascending to heaven. Near her interesting effigy, lies the unfortunate Abelard, still coldly commenting on the sacred text. If we pass on to the architecture of the 13th century, we may remark clusters of ridged arches, supported by thick pillars, according to the taste of the times. Ornaments in the form of the bottoms of lamps terminated the centre of the archies, which are painted blue and studded with stars. The statue of the pious Louis IX. (called Saint Louis) is placed near those of Philip his son, and King Charles his brother. The aisles, in ST ogce |