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The curious effect thus produced by putting the flask into cold water is dependent on the elasticity of the vapour of boiling water, in conjunction with its speedy condensation.-When the water is first made to boil, the vapour arising from it is sufficiently elastic to force out the air from the flask, and to occcupy its place. On surrounding the flask with cold water, the vapour in it is suddenly condensed (that is, it returns to its liquid state) leaving above the surface of the water, a vacant space (vacuum) similar to that produced by an air-pump. By placing the flask in hot water, vapour is again formed, which pressing on the surface of the liquid, prevents ebullition. Again it may be condensed-a vacuum is produced-and the water will boil as before.

ON THE MISUSE OF TERMS.

R. R.

MANUFACTURE OF SAGO. SINGAPORE is the principal, if not the only place in the East where the manufacturing of the Pearl Sago is carried on, and the process is said to be a recent one, and the invention of the Chinese.

The Sago is imported in large quantities into Singapore from Sumatra in native boats, which bring it at all times of the year. The tree from which the raw material is produced is named Rumbiga by the

natives.

The raw Sago is imported in cone-shaped packages, each probably weighing about twenty pounds; the mass is of rather a soft consistence, and dirty-white colour, and the whole enveloped in the leaves of the Pandanus-tree. It first undergoes several different washings in large wooden tubs, being also strained, after washing, through cloth strainers; the masses that remain at the bottom of the vessels are collected, broken into pieces, and placed upon platforms in the sun to dry, being broken into still smaller pieces as the drying proceeds. As soon as the pieces are sufficiently dry, they are pounded, and sifted upon long benches, through sieves made of the mid-rib of the leaves of the cocoa-nut palm, and placed at certain distances in a longitudinal direction, so as to cause the pulverized, or rather broken, masses of Sago, to pass through it only of the required size. Having ON men of ingenuous but inexperienced minds, each time is taken, placed in a large cloth, tied to been passed through the sieve, a certain quantity at there is nothing so imposing as a specious name. In private life, some are brought into great distress, from the roof of the building; a Chinese is then cross-sticks in the form of a bag, hanging by a cord from having acted under an idea that inattention to employed in shaking the bag backwards and forpecuniary concerns was a mark of generosity. Others wards, by the aid of one of the longest crooked fall into vicious practices, because easy compliance sticks to which it is attached, occasionally shaking with every proposal of a companion appears to them a proof of good temper. Others commit irregu- for the space of ten minutes, when it is turned out up the Sago Powder; this is continued constantly larities, through a persuasion that to despise the granulated; it is then placed in small wooden handuniformity of rules is an indication of high spirit. tubs, (looking beautifully and delicately white, but Others violate the decencies of politeness, conceiving still so soft as to break instantly on the slightest disregard to forms a sign of superior ability. Then, again, in public life; many do in reality serve the pressure,) and carried to several Chinese, whose occucause of licentiousness, whilst with the purest in-pation is to make it undergo the drying process in tentions they mean only to extend liberty: and many stirring it about while in the pan with a wooden inlarge iron pans over a fire. They are constantly give encouragement to indifference for all religion, strument; it is then resifted at another bench, and whilst they imagine themselves to be promoting only rebaked, after which it is considered prepared. It is liberality of sentiment. thinly over a long and large bin, in the course of then of a fine pure white colour, and, being spread time becomes both harder and of a darker colour.

Now, in the one case, admirable are generosity, good temper, high spirit, and superior ability; but surely, no man in his right senses can say it is admirable, either to bring on himself indigence through imprudent neglect of his property, or to become depraved through weakness, in yielding to solicitations; or to injure society by bad example; or to insult established usages of behaviour by an affected impertinence. So, in the other case, liberty is precious in itself; and liberality in thinking and judging is part of Christian charity, than which nothing is more lovely: but, surely, no man of mature judgment can wish genuine liberty to be converted into a cloak for every species of enormity; nor liberality of sentiment be made the occasion of propagating direct atheism. Yet in these points of view are to be seen many measures which upright but misguided men frequently pursue, merely because they do not fully apprehend the tendencies of their actions.-BISHOP HUNTINGFORD.

EXEMPTION from mistake is not the privilege of mortals. but when our mistakes are involuntary, we owe each other every candid consideration; and the man who, on discover ing his errors, acknowledges and corrects them, is scarcely less entitled to our esteem than if he had not erred.PYE SMITH.

The Pearl, or refined Sago, is exported in large
quantities to Europe, our Indian empire, the Cape,
than a pecul; ten boxes, or fifteen peculs, can be
&c., in wooden boxes, each containing rather more
manufactured in two days.

the inhabitants of which must fare very well on the
A piggery is attached to the Sago establishments,
refuse of the Sago-washings.

SIMPLE WATER-FILTER.

Pur into an earthen vessel, such as those which are used by sugar-bakers to form the loaves in, with a small hole at the pointed end, some pieces of Turkey sponge, and on them a sufficient quantity of SMALL, CLEAN pebbles, to a quarter in a barrel with the head out, leaving about two or three fill the vessel. Suspend this filter, the end downwards, inches space between the end of the filter and the bottom of the barrel. The upper part of the filter must be kept a little above the top of the barrel, which should be always full of water. It is obvious that the sediment of the water will remain at the bottom of the barrel, and the pure water will ASCEND through the sponge and pebbles, to the unoccupied portion of the filter. It might be suspended in a cistern or water-butt, if more convenient. The pebbles and sponge should be cleansed occasionally.

1

COAL AND COAL MINES.

THE vein or bed of coal is generally seven or eight feet thick; and through this the workmen form a variety of passages, leaving masses at intervals untouched, to support the roof, so that the whole resembles a vast subterranean palace, supported by ebony pillars. Some of them are wide enough to admit carts and wagons; and as you walk above, you hear the busy world below you, the buzz of voices, and the rumbling of wheels ascending as from some neighbouring city. The streets or ramifications of this mine, are said to extend in various directions for nearly twenty miles, both under the sea and under the town of Whitehaven, so as to become dangerous to the latter.

But how can they see to work in the darkness?

This is a circumstance which has greatly embarrassed the miners. The nature of coal is such, that it produces different airs or gases that are highly dangerous to human life; one is called the choke-damp, and the other the firedamp. Where a man incautiously breathes the first, he is speedily suffocated. When he brings any light to the second, it immediately explodes like gunpowder; sometimes it dashes the body against the roof or pillars with great violence; sometimes it tears it, as it were, to pieces. The approach of these ministers of death is frequently as insidious as it is destructive. At one time an odour of the most fragrant kind is diffused through the mine, resembling the scent of the sweetest flowers; and while the miner is inhaling the balmy gale, he is suddenly struck down, and expires in the midst of his fancied enjoyment. At another it comes in the form of a globe of air, enclosed in a filmy case; and while he is gazing on the light and beautiful object floating along, and is tempted to take it in his hand, it suddenly explodes, and destroys him.

I have heard there is some coal which itself emits, when burning, a gas that is very unsafe.

There is a kind of coal in Ireland, little known in England, which has this property. It is found in the county of Kilkenny, and called stone-coal, because it resembles blocks of jasper or jet, being very hard, shining, and clean. It has the peculiar advantage, also, of yielding no dense or sulphurous vapour; so that the people of the towns where it is raised and consumed, justly boast that they have "fire without smoke." This good quality, however, is counteracted by one of a different kind in the act of burning, it emits an invisible gas, which it is highly dangerous to breathe, and which in a close room destroys life, as you have heard the vapour of charcoal does. On entering the town of Kilkenny, in certain states of the atmosphere, on a winter's day, when a great quantity of this coal is burning at the same time, and the atmosphere entirely filled with its vapour, a nervous and very uneasy sensation is felt, and a debility nearly amounting to fainting. I remember, on one occasion, travelling through on a stage-coach on a very severe day; we all hastened to a large fire, which was burning very bright and red in the parlour, and immediately complained that we felt this sensation very strongly; but a lady of the company, who said she was very cold, incautiously remained with her head and hands over the fire; when she was seized with a sudden faintness, and fell as if she were dead: on being brought out to the air she recovered. The people of the inn told us it was not an uncommon accident, and that they seldom lighted a fire at night in a chamber, lest an incautious traveller should be found suffo-cated in his bed in the morning. If, however, precautions be taken, by opening part of the door or window, and a current of pure air be suffered to carry off the foul vapour, there is no danger.

But why do people ever burn this dangerous substance? It has many good properties, and is very valuable in a country where fuel is scarce. It is pure and clean, and has not the dirty qualities of some English coal. It is difficult to light; but when once it is ignited, it burns with a very beautiful ruddy glow, which is communicated to the whole mass, and has nothing of that obscure and dingy light which other coal gives out; the house within is never soiled with soot and ashes, and without, the air is clear, and never loaded with those torrents of smoke which you see issuing from the chimneys, and darkening the air of other towns. Above all, the heat it gives out is intense; and so powerful, that it performs all the purposes for which fire is used in houses in less time, and with a smaller quantity, than any other fuel,-insomuch so, that the good people complain that it consumes even their grates and utensils by its violence.-DR. WALSH.

THE BEAR AND THE HONEY-GUIDE *.
A FABLE.

THERE is a bird of wondrous skill,
Half-reas'ning instinct, if you will,
Whose home is in a distant spot,
The country we call Hottentot:
Her taste is nice; for she can tell
Where the sweet honey-makers dwell,
And, greedy pilferer! feasts and thrives
Upon the produce of the hives;
In what a bold and cunning way,
Shall form the opening of my lay.

Strange it may seem, and yet 'tis true,
That Bears are fond of honey too,
But stranger that a Bird should lead
The way, and show them where to feed.
She, watchful thing, the treasure found,
Hov'ring above, below, around,
Invites the Bear with plaintive cries,
To follow her and seize the prize.
Lured by the magic of her song,
The shaggy monster strides along,
Paws out the honey, licks the nest,
And leaves his guide to eat the rest.
E'en such an ill-match'd pair I choose
To point the moral of my Muse.

"Come!" said a HONEY-GUIDE, “and see
The banquet I design for thee:
The nest is large, its sweets untold,
Flowing in streams of liquid gold:
The bees are gone where wild flowers shine,
And wish their luscious product thine:
Then, gentle BRUIN, do not stay,
Come, dear companion, come away!"

When she deceived and fooled him so,
What wonder that the Bear should go?
They went; he keeping her in sight,
She with a cautious, clamorous flight,
Till in broad sunshine they arrive
Like felons at the quiet hive.

Young BRUIN, in his headlong haste,
Impatient to attack and taste,
Fells the slight fabric at a blow ;-
But while he sipp'd the sweets that flow,-
From cells within, an armed throng
Pour'd in a countless crowd along,
And fixing on the culprit, stung
His broad, dark nose, his eyes, his tongue.
Sharp anguish mounting to his brain,
He roar'd, and even danced for pain,
Then prowl'd in blindness o'er the plain!

And thou, unkind one on the spray,
False bird, hast nothing now to say?
Bringing another into woc,

What? not one word of comfort? No!
Eyeing her victim with a sneer,
And waiting till the course was clear,
She pounced upon the relics there,
And filled her crop with ill-got fare.

Poor BRUIN lives;-but should he hear
A HONEY-GUIDE's shrill music near,
By memory wounded, it is said,
He licks his paws, and hangs his head.

How often lurks a treach'rous sting
Under a specious covering.
False Gain, false Pleasure, weave a charm
For their base triumph, and thy harm.
Be Truth and Virtue, then, thy choice,
And list not to the Siren's voice,
Who, in the guise of seeming joy,
Would lure thee, chain thee, and destroy!

M.

For an account of the habits of this remarkable bird, see Sparrman's Travels in the Hottentot country; and Vol. V., page 112, of the Saturday Magazine.

LOOK about you, and see if three great idols, Honour, Pleasure, Gain, have not shared the earth amongst them, and left him least, whose all it is.-BISHOP HALL. GRATITUDE is a species of justice. He that requites a benefit may be said, in some sense, to pay a debt; and, of course, he that forgets favours received may be accused of neglecting to pay what he cannot be denied to owe.— -DR. JOHNSON.

ON CROMLECHS.

THE accompanying engraving exhibits a view of an insulated rock, popularly termed a Cromlech, standing on a moor in the parish of Constantine, in Cornwall, and called by the people of the country "The Tolmen." The surrounding scene is wild in the extreme, the whole moor being thickly covered with enormous blocks, of granite, forming altogether a subject worthy of the pencil of a Salvator Rosa.

The origin of these rude monuments of ancient times is buried in the darkest obscurity, and must consequently be left entirely to conjecture, though all antiquaries appear to agree in attributing them to the Druids, but are much divided in their opinions as to the purposes for which they were erected, some supposing them to have been sacrificial altars, others, again, considering them as monuments erected over the ashes of illustrious persons. The circumstance of Kistvaens, or stone chests, having been discovered under some of them, favours this latter opinion. Mr. Rowland, in his Mona Antiqua, is inclined to consider them as intended for purposes of sacrifice, and supposes the word Cromlech to be derived from the Hebrew compound curamluach, a devoted stone, or altar; that he should have had recourse to the Hebrew for a derivation is extraordinary, the British word itself being so significant; for Krwm, in that language, is crooked or inclining, and Llech is a stone, and the superincumbent stone, or roof of these monuments, is always in a slanting position, in a greater or lesser degree; that of the Tolmen inclines very little. It is not improbable but that they might have been used for both the abovementioned purposes, and also as the presidial chair, or seat of the chief Druid at their grand national assemblies.

judges, and arbiters of all differences both public and private, and that they held an assembly every year, at a certain place, in the middle of the country, and consecrated for the purpose, where they took cognizance of murders, inheritances and boundaries, and decreed rewards and punishments.

It is probable that this annual meeting took place at Stonehenge, and that inferior tribunals were held periodically in remote districts, where these stones are found, and as has been before observed, they probably served as the presidial chair; and as sacrifices were offered up at their religious assemblies, the victim was also slain upon them. There is a hollow of the diameter of about a foot and a half scooped out on the summit of the Tolmen, which might have been intended as a receptacle for the blood as it flowed from the victim.

It is curious that the word "Tolmen" may be traced to the British words Toll, (the double ll being pronounced as lth,) tribute, and Maen, a stone, from whence a question would arise worthy the consideration of antiquaries; Did the Druids receive tribute from the people? And if so, was it received as dues belonging to them as a priesthood, or ministers of religion?

What most fully establishes the hypothesis that these monuments are the works of the Druids, is the fact, that they are found only in those countries where Druidism prevailed, namely, in Gaul, Germany, and Britain, its chief seat in the latter country being the Isle of Anglesey, the ancient Mona.

The "Tolmen" points due north and south, is 33 feet in length, 18 feet in width in the widest part, and 14 feet 6 inches in depth, 97 feet in circumference, and is calculated by admeasurement, to contain 750

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LONDON: Published by JOHN WILLIAM PARKER, WEST STRAND; and sold by all Booksellers.

THE

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UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION, APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

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THE TOWN OF BASLE,

IN SWITZERLAND.

shrubs and flowers, sloped down to the river-side, while, on one bank the picturesque buildings of Little Basil, and on the other the superb edifices of the rich merchants, extended as far as the eye could follow the curve of the river. Switzerland seemed still to lie beyond; for as the sun continued to sink, it suddenly disappeared behind a lofty range of mountains which bounded the horizon, and which form an appendage to the Jura."

BASLE, BALE, or BASIL, as it is sometimes called, is the capital of the Swiss Canton of the same name, and the largest, though not the most populous town in the whole of Switzerland. Its situation is one of great beauty; it stands upon the Rhine, just at the bend which that river makes when, after flowing for some time from west to east, it changes its course suddenly to the north. The place is of considerable antiquity, its origin being referred to the middle of the fourth century of the Christian æra, about which period the Emperor Valentinian erected a fortress on the spot now occupied by the cathedral. The destruction of a neighbouring town having caused its inha-high. It seems very inadequate to contain, and still bitants to seek a new place of residence, Basle began to increase with great rapidity, and becoming soon afterwards the seat of a bishopric, it rose to considerable importance.

Though exposed to its full share of the miseries which accompanied the struggles of the Swiss patriots, in defence of their liberties, it continued gradually on the increase until the commencement of the sixteenth century; at that period it reached the zenith of its prosperity, and thenceforward it in sensibly declined. Towards the close of the last century it counted scarcely half the number of inhabitants which belonged to it in its earlier and brighter days, and even since then, its population seems to have still further decreased.

Basle is a clean well-built town, not unworthy of its charming situation; nevertheless, according to a modern writer, it is not one of the most interesting of the Swiss towns, being too near France, (for the canton of Basle is on the frontier of Switzerland, and the city itself is nearly on the edge of the canton,) to exhibit a true picture of a Swiss town, either in its external aspect, or in the manners of its inhabitants. The houses are generally neat in their appearance, and the streets are nearly all decorated with fountains, "which jet the clearest water in three or four streams into a large oval stone basin, full to the brim." The town is partly on the right, and partly on the left of the river; the latter portion is the more extensive, and is called Great Basle, in contradistinction to Little Basle, on the north bank. On the land-side the whole town is surrounded with a wall and a ditch, together with a proper proportion of towers, which are used as gates of entrance; one of these, St. Paul's Gate, forms the subject of our Engraving in the preceding page. The public buildings of Basle are not remarkable as specimens of architecture; their chief attraction is derived from the associations connected with them. At the head of them is the Cathedral, which was founded in the year 1019; it is built in the Gothic style, of a kind of red stone, which has the appearance of brick. Within are some interesting monuments, and among them is the tomb of the celebrated Erasmus. Before this building there is a finely shaded terrace, overhanging the Rhine, which flows rapidly about two hundred feet beneath. "There," says Mr. Inglis, "I enjoyed a charming prospect, not altogether of a Swiss landscape, but in which were mingled some of the features of Swiss scenery. A delightful little plain, covered with thickets and small country-houses, extended from the opposite bank of the river to the foot of the hills, which stretch through the territory of Baden, (to the north.) These formed a fine back-ground, chequered as they were by sunshine and shade. Up and down the Rhine the gardens of the citizens, full of choice

Near the Cathedral is the Hall, in which were held the sittings of the famous Council of Basle, the successor of the still more famous Council of Constance. It is "very shabby," says M. Simond, "and in length and breadth scarcely equal to the (late) British House of Commons, with the ceiling not half so

less to accommodate, the Fathers of the Council, with the crowd of princes, ambassadors, and great men of all degrees who attended it." Among the other buildings, the arsenal is the only one worthy of notice; it contains the armour of the celebrated Charles the Bold of Burgundy. That unfortunate prince furnished half the towns in Switzerland with similar trophies.

The town of Basle was formerly distinguished by a singularity of rather a curious kind, and one which used to form a sort of standing joke with travellers of the last century. "I arrived," says Coxe, "at Basle, as I supposed, about twelve o'clock at noon, but was much surprised to find that all the clocks in the town struck one; and, on inquiry, I was informed that they constantly go an hour faster than the real time." It was difficult to discover either the origin or the reason of this whimsical practice, to which the good people of the town adhered with the most scrupulous pertinacity. Some referred it to the period of the famous council, and said that it was first resorted to with the view of bringing together, at a reasonable hour, the cardinals and other catholic dignitaries who attended that assembly, they having become rather too well disposed towards indolence and ease, and requiring to be thus cheated into an early attendance.

The most popular story, according to Dr. Moore, the well-known author of Zeluco, and the father of the celebrated Sir John Moore,-is, that about four hundred years ago, the city was threatened with an assault by surprise. The enemy was to begin the attack when the large clock of the tower, at one end of the bridge, should strike one after midnight. The artist who had the care of the clock, being informed that this was the expected signal, caused the clock to be altered, and it struck two instead of one; so the enemy, thinking they were an hour too late, gave up the attempt, and in commemoration of this deliverance, all the clocks in Basil have ever since struck two at one o'clock, and so on. In confirmation of this story, "they show," says the Doctor," a head which is placed near to this patriotic clock, with the face turned towards the road, by which the enemy was to have entered. This same head lolls out its tongue every minute, in the most insulting manner possible. This was originally a piece of mechanical wit of the famous clockmaker's, who saved the town. He framed it in derision of the enemy whom he had so dexterously deceived. It has been repaired, renewed, and enabled to thrust out its tongue every minute for these four hundred years, by the care of the magistrates, who think so excellent a joke cannot be too often repeated."

This provoking head still adorns the tower on the southern side of the bridge; but its tongue would seem to be now fixed in the ludicrous position which

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