may be presumed if that body, afsisted by the advice
of other able mechanics, were to superintend the
working such machines as may be produced, till
their merits were fully ascertained, and the compa-
rative excellence of one over the others, decidedly
proved; it is, I say, to be presumed, under such
circumstances, this most desirable end, might, in
the compass of a few years, be obtained, to the uni-
versal benefit of this country. The parliament have
already bestowed rewards on ingenious persons for
their discoveries; but no object hitherto brought be-
fore them, whether considered with respect to mag-
nitude or utility, has been in any degree comparable
with this now mentioned; the reward therefore
should be proportioned accordingly: and if it succeeds,
there is not a doubt but the staple trade of these
kingdoms, will receive from it such benefit, as will
eternize the memory of those who proposed it, or in
any degree contributed to the bringing it to perfecti-
n*.
D. G.
on
* The great object pointed at in the above disquisition is now accomplished. A machine for spinning wool is now going in Edinburgh, and performs its work much better, than it ever could be done by hand.
Add to this that the society instituted of late for the improvement of British wool, by turning the attention of the nation to this impor tant branch of economics, promises to effect the happiest improvements. When this society first hinted that as fine wool might be reared in Scotland as in Spain, some manufacturers in the south of England sneered at the proposal. The fact is now ascertained experimentally beyond a doubt; and I have just now in my possession as fine wool of the fhort Spanish sort reared inScotland, as perhaps any that ever came out of Spain. The only perceptible difference in the quality of this woul VOL: XVii.
SS
READING MEMORANDUMS.
In the course of human life, weakness will always
happen.
"From Malborough's eyes the streams of dotage flow,
"And Swift expires a driveller and a show."
There is certainly more virtue in discharging ve ry burdensome and painful duties with the strictest fidelity, tha in merely acting from the impulse of an ardent affection.
Jealousy, of all the passions baneful to the peace of mortals, is the hardest to conquer, and its affects the most difficult to be eradicated. With jealousy no peace can dwell, or joy inhabit. In every part of the globe, it is, to its unfortunate victims, the grand enemy of happiness.
from the Spanish is, that it seems to be softer to the touch: whether this be only accidental, a little time will show. Other advantages that will result from the institution of this society will be developed from time to time in this work.
2
The only thing now wanted to render this improvement of general utility, is to adopt some plan by which work-men may be instructed in the manner of working and taking care of this machinery, so as to enable those who may encline to begin in various parts of the country, to find persons qualified to direct them, and instruct others in the different branches of the businefs. A plan of this sort we understand has lately been laid before the honourable trustees for mproving arts, manufactures, and fisheries in Scotland. And, as few objects can be more deserving the attention of the board than this is, it can scarcely be doubted, but they will consider it with attention, and bestow upon it that encouragement which it shall be found to deserve.
Edit.
To the Editor of the Bee.
SIR, The following lines were written by the late worthy Gilbert White, brother to Mr White the eminent bookseller, and author of the natural history and antiquities of Selborne, in the county of Southamp
ton.
ON THE DARK, STILL, DRY, WARM WEATHER OCCASIONALLY HAP-
PENING IN THE WINTER AND SPRING MONTHS.
For the Bee.
Th' imprison'd winds slumber within their caves
Fast bound: the fickle vane, emblem of change,
Wavers no more; long settling to a point.
All nature nodding seems compos'd: thick steams
From land, from flood updrawn, dimming the day,
"Like a dark ceiling stand:" slow through the air
Gofsamer floats, or stretch'd from blade to blade
The wavy network whitens all the field.
Push'd by the weightier atmosphere, upsprings
The pond'rous Mercury, from scale to scale
Mounting, along the Torricellian tube :
While high in air, and pois'd upon his wings
Unseen, the soft enamour'd wood-lark runs
Through all his maze of melody; the brake
Loud with the blackbird's bolder note resounds.
-Sooth'd by the genial warmth, the cawing rook
Anticipates the spring, selects her mate,
Haunts her tall nest-trees, and with sedulous care
Repairs her wicker eyrie, tempest-torn.
The ploughman inly smiles to see upturn
His mellow glebe, best pledge of future crop :
With glee the gardner eyes his smoaking beds:
Ev'n pining sickness feels a fhort relief.
The happy school-boy brings transported forth
His long forgotten scourge and giddy gigg:
O'er the white paths he whirls the rolling hoop,
Or triumphs in the dusty fields of Taw.
Not so the thoughtful sage. Abroad he walks
Contemplative; if haply he may find
What cause controuls the tempest's rage, or whence
Amidst the savage season winter smiles.-
For days, for weeks, prevails the placid calm.
At length some drops prelude a change: the sun,
With ray refracted bursts the parting gloom;
When all the chequer'd sky is one bright glare.
With angry aspect scowls; down rufh the showers
And float the delug'd path's and miry fields.
SIR,
To the Editor of the Bee.
The following stanzas written by Thomson on the blank leaf of a copy of his seasons were sent by him to the good lord Lyttelton soon after the death of his Lucy.
Go little book, and find our friend,
Who nature and the muses loves;
Whose cares the public virtues blend
With all the softness of the groves.
A fitter time thou canst not chuse
His fostering friendship to repay;
Go then, and try, my rural muse,
To steal his widow'd hours away.
SIR,
To the Editor of the Bee...
The following lines found in a blank leaf of that copy of the Man of Feeling which belonged to Mr Granger, author of the Biographical History of England, it is believed were never in print. If you think them deserving a place in the Bee, they are much at your service W.
TO THE AUTHOR OF THE MAN OF FEELING.
W
HILST other writers with pernicious art,
Corrupt the morals, and seduce the heart;
Raise lawless passions, loose desires infuse,
And boast their knowledge gathered from the stews.
Be thine the task, such wishes to countroul,
To touch the gentler movements of the soul;
To bid the breast with generous ardours glow,
To teach the tear of sympathy to flow;
We hope, we fear, we swell with virtuous rage
As various pafsions animate the page.
What sentiments the soul of Harley move?
The softest piety the purest love;
Congenial virtues dwell in Walton's mind,
Form'd her mild graces, and her taste refin'd.
Their flame was such as heaven itself inspires,
As high, as secret as the vestal fires;
But ah! too late revealed;-with parting breath
He owns its mighty force, and smiles in death.
His soul spontaneous seeks her kindred sky,
Where charity and love can never die.
A SINGULAR ADVENTURE WRITTEN BY M
TO ONE OF
DEMANDS. from the frencnty
Franslated
I am going, dear friend, to intrust you with a dreadful
secret, which I can tell no body but you. The marriage
of Mademoiselle de Vildac with the young Sainville took
place yesterday; as a neighbour I was obliged to be there.
You know M. de Vildac; he has an inauspicious physi-
ognomy which I always feared. I observed him yester-
day in the midst of all these festivals: far from taking
a share in the happiness of his son-in-law and daughter,
the joy of the rest seemed to be a load to him. When
it was time to retire, I was conducted to an apartment at
the foot of the great tower. I had scarcely fallen asleep
when I was awaked by an indistinct noise behind my
head. I listened, and heard some body dragging chains,
and who was descending softly some steps. At the same
time a door of my chamber opened: the noise of chains,
redoubled. He who carried them advanced towards the
chimney; he approached some coals half extinguished,
and said in a deadly voice, "Ah! how long it is since
I have warmed myself!" I confefs to you my friend I
was affrighted. I seized my sword to be able
to defend myself: I opened gently my curtains.
By the light which the coals gave, I perceived an old
man chained, and half naked, with a bald head and a
white beard. He held his trembling hands to the cin-
ders. That sight moved me. Whilst I was considering
it, the wood produced a flame: he had his eyes turned
towards the door by which he had entered, and was aban-
doning himself to the most bitter lamentations.
moment he kneeled down upon his knees, struck his
head against the floor; and I heard him in the midst of
In a
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