June &, big with important events. Rays of light break through on every fide, and direct us in the way of improveThe lovers of science are invited into the field of investigation. The friend of truth is encouraged to inquire and perfevere. I am, Sir, with fentiments of respect, your very humble fervant,

ment.

J. WILSON.

Remarks on useful Vegetable Juices inspissated, that are the Native Productions of Europe.

As a fupplement to the account that was given of the elaftic refin or coutchouc in a late number of this work, (vol. ii. p. 100.) it will be proper to mention fome of the vegetable productions of Europe, that have been found to afford juices that poffefs fome of the qualities of that substance.

In Sweden, they obtain a juice from the Vifcum Album Linn. the white mifletoe, which is faid to poffefs many of the properties of the Coutchouc.

Mr. Faujas de St. Fond tried the glue of the Holly, which we call birdflime, for that purpose. This is prepared at Abbeville in France, from the inner bark of the Holly, as an article for fale. In the ftate it is offered for fale, he obferves it contains a fuperabundance of water, and does not burn like elaftic gum, when thrown upon a red hot coal, but by boiling it for about an hour, it becomes then inflammable, and burns with a clear flame, emitting a fmell fimilar to that of elastic gum when burning. This fubftance is infoluble in water, or in ardent fpirits. It can be diffolved both in expreffed and effential oils. With the first, when prepared with litharge (ufually called drying oils) it forms a varnish, in fome refpects analagous to the claftic gum, long indeed in drying like the coutchouc varnish; but filks covered with it have the fame brilliance, tranfparency, flexibility; the fame inpermeability, and the fame facility of developing the electric fluid, as if they had been covered with coutchouc, which makes it very proper for covering the

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filk of those large electrical machines which now are found to produce fuch great effects.

There is found in Provence (a fouthern province of France) at the roots of the Chondrilla Funeca Lin. very common in steril land, a kind of glue produced by an exudation of a kind of milky juice from that plant, which greatly refembles the elaftic gum. The milky juice of the fig-tree, of feveral kinds of Tithymalis and Apocynium, produce alfo, we are told, particularly in the meridional parts of France, a substance which has a great analogy with the elastic gum.

Mr. Faujas de St. Fond gives the following receipt for making a varnish that may be employed for covering baloons, electrical filken cylinders, or other filks, impenetrable by water, which will prove nearly as good as that of elastic gum (diffolved in oil), and is much lefs expenfive.'

1

Take, fays he, a pound of glue *; put it in a new earthen pot; make it boil flowly for about an hour, till it ceases to bubble, or, what comes to the same thing, till, upon trial of a drop of it takes fire, when thrown upon a live coal. Pour then upon the glue a pound of spirit of turpentine, ftirring it well with a wooden fpatula, and removing the pot from the flame, left the whole should take fire;-let it boil for five or fix minutes; pour then upon it three pounds of boiling oil, that has been prepared with litharge. Walnut oil, linfeed oil, or poppy oil, may be employed at pleafure. Stir it well, and allow it to boil for a quarter of an hour; and the varnish is made.

"When it has flood 24 hours, and the fediment has fallen to the bottom, pour off the clear into another veffel. When you are to use it, let it be warm, and lay it on with a flat pencil, upon filk, well stretched. One good coat is enough. Allow it to remain thus ftretched out in the open air to dry,"

*

This, though not expreffed in the receipt, I prefume means the glue of Holly, or birdslime above described,

VOL. III.

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Ꮓ

To the Editor of the Bee.

SIR,

You lately favoured us with a review of Mrs. Gunning's Pamphlet. If a future edition fhall be required, I beg leave, through the channel of your paper, to suggest to the lady the following quotation from Shakefpeare, as a motto for her title page:

"Orla. O but she is wise.”

“Ros. Or else she could not have the wit to do this; the wifer the waywarder."

"Rof. You shall never take her without her an"fwer, unless you take her without her tongue. O! 66 that woman that cannot make her fault her husband's "occafion, let her never nurse her child herself; for fhe will breed it like a fool!"

TUMBLEDOWN.

To the Editor of the Bee.

If you think the following worthy of a place in miscellany, please insert it.

your

A Receipt for killing Rats.

In 1783, a premium of five guineas was given by the Dublin Society for the following receipt to kill rats.

Take 1 quart of oat meal, 4 drops of oil of Rhodium, 1 grain of mufk, 2 nuts of nux vomica powdered. Mix the whole together, and place it where the rats frequent; corinue to do fo while they eat it, and it will foon destroy them, be they ever fo numerous.

G. R.

1.

For the Bee.

Ode to Maria.

WHAT is beauty? tis a flower
Born to perish in an hour ;
'Tis a fhadow flying fleet
On the nimble courfer's feet;
'Tis a creature of the spring,
Spoiling on its wanton wing,
Scarcely feen beneath the fun,
When its rapid race is run.

No! Maria, though our fight
Gaze a moment with delight;
Think not that the foul is caught
By a thing fo void and naught:
'Tis the graces of the mind,
Not to time or place confin'd,
That we ever fond admire,
That we ardently defire.

No! Maria, though thy eye
With the diamond's luftre vie;
Tho' thy cheeks the bloom disclose
Of the lily and the rose;
Tho' sweet smiles thy lips adorn,
Sweet as blushes of the morn;
It is not thefe:It is thy truth
That lures the love of every youth;
It is thy foft and tender heart;
It is thy ease, devoid of art.

CN F——K.

Extempore on a young lady being displeased at the colour of her hat.

No wonder you're mad,
Your hat looks fo bad,

When your cheeks the colour outvies;

Those roses that grace

That sweet pretty face,
Must all imitatation despise.

For the Bee,

Ode to Contentment.

HAIL! ever-fweetly smiling maid,
Whose power can lull our cares to reft,
Though keen afflictions darts invade,

Thy friendly ray can calm the breast.
Though ghaftly poverty fhould fting!

Though dire misfortunes pangs await, Thy placid looks relief can bring,

Beguile the wretch's pain, and cure the ills of fate!

Oh! come, fweet foother of the mind,
And bless me with thy heavenly aid;
Direct my wandering fteps to find

Thy balmy comforts, gentle maid! Teach me my humble lot to prize,

A franger to ambition's fire, The pomp of fplendor to despise,

And ne'er to gaudy fhow, or glittering wealth afpire.

Oh! come with all thy heaven-born train,

Soft meek eyed peace, in fmiles array'd, And harmony with focial strain,

And rofeat health! gay blooming maid. Let white-rob'd innocence attend,

And friendship light her facred fires Let gentle hope her influence fend

And foaring contemplation, who from giddy crouds retires.

SCOTIANNA.

For the Bee.

Sixth Elegy of Politian, tranflated.

Ir, when they quit the present scene,

Our fouls are confcious to the past, And, through the fhades that intervene, A look of fond remembrance cast,

My dearest boy! fupport me now;

Wipe off this vain rebellious tear; Replace compofure on my brow;

Teach me this piercing stroke to bear.