Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

lizing policy, a policy which, if persevered Rights. If we have any rights at all as a in, will as certainly compass the ruin of people, they are certainly distinctive. AlGreat Britain as it did the fall of ancient though England and Scotland constitute one Rome. It is only by the impartial adminis- kingdom, it does not follow that the south tration of justice that stability can be given may be aggrandized at the expense of the to the union, and the people of both coun- north; that it has been so enriched is proven tries be bound together by the ties of interest by the public accounts. To maintain a corand affection. dial sympathy with England much has been borne; this sympathy, however, can only be continued by a strict adherence to the terms of the Union, and by no longer withholding from us the "common rights, privileges, and advantages," guaranteed by that treaty.

After this exposition of some of the grievances, in which we have endeavoured to combat the sophistry of T. U., and to lay before our readers afresh the position assumed by the Scottish Rights movement, we would invite him to a reconsideration of the subject, and ask him, if there is no injustice, no unfairness here? Is this, Sir, a "ground-the less agitation?" Is there here no just cause for complaint? Is all fair and honest? Can T. U. answer affirmatively?

[ocr errors]

Had it not been for " Benjamin," we might have gone to our account without perceiving immense advantage" of having harbours of refuge at Dover, Harwich, Alderney, Jersey, and Portland, instead of having them on our eastern shores. He is pleased to reprobate our movement, as being calculated to affect the continuance of the union, forgetting that the weight of his censure falls rather upon those who have rendered it an imperious necessity.

66

(an

We will not detain our readers by any lengthened reply to the other writers on the negative, as they have diverged but little from the line of debate adopted by their honoured leader. We would, however, solicit a moment's attention to the fancy sketch Thus far "Benjamin" has advanced, giving given by "Benjamin" of himself, while inter- his friendly admonitions in a comparatively posing his pen to prevent possible conse- familiar style; but now he is about to quences. He is not quite so clear-headed review formally" the arguments on this side as the illustrious "Benjamin” of America: of the question; now Scotchmen may shrink, he opens his paper by promising to expose and the advocates of the movement quail the "mistake" into which the leaders of this under his critical eye, for certainly he movement have fallen, of supposing that they will annihilate all opposition were inadequately represented that about interval of ten minutes supposed to elapse six millions of free revenue, and other sums, here). When "Benjamin" set out with the the price of the crown lands for instance, intention of criticising in a formal manner, after being thrown into the treasury, were he ought to have made sure that Government subsequently employed for the purchase of had not been memorialized in proper form pleasure-grounds in England, the endowment" previous to agitation." We beg to inform of colleges, the erection of harbours, and the partial payment of the police throughout that country and the sister isle. To the great loss of the movement, however, he closes his paper without doing so: like other abettors of wrong doing, he wishes the bad business hushed up. "The whole matter (says he) occurs to us as so contemptibly inadequate as the ground of a popular movement, that we should be inclined to pass it by in silence." We would suggest, as the most proper way, that they "send back the money," then we will erect harbours for ourselves, and agree to pass the whole matter by in "silence."

It seems there is a grand mistake in supposing that there are distinctive Scottish

him that memorial after memorial has been sent, and the prayers of the memorialists disregarded. Deputations and representatives have also been sent to advocate those rights, but without effect; for no eloquence of speech or cogency of argument can gain the ear of those determined not to hear. Our opponent "Gray" thinks that a roofless post office is so "picturesque," and so suggestive of "pleasant memories," that the commercial hindrances ought scarcely to be mentioned. He proceeds to answer grievance after grievance in the same shallow and sophistical manner. He informs us that it is much less costly to graduate here than in England; disingenuously leaving it to be inferred that the additional expense is the result of taxa

ality of Scotland;" and insultingly says, "its existence is purely imaginative!!" The nationality of a people is to them what individuality is to a person; and it would be as reasonable to destroy the one as to obliterate the other.

We do not love a friend the less who is grave and a philosopher; nor forbid the wit our presence, because we are not gifted in a like manner. We can interchange literature, we can trade together, and stand as one against a common foe, without the people of either country being denuded of their national characteristics.

tion-an inference not warranted by facts; the outlay is incurred by the employment of tutors, the hiring of college apartments, &c., a system which does not obtain in Scotland. Although the naval and military charities of England and Ireland are open, as he says, to our countrymen, it does not alter the fact that here we have no such governmental provisions. The Scotch, with a liberality which does them credit, permit a five years' residence to give either an Englishman or an Irishman a claim to parochial relief. But how stands the matter in England? Why, a forty years' residence there would not give a Scotchman the shadow of a claim to relief. This exclusive charity, in conjunction with the other instances of sectional legislation already stated, go to show that our people are treated more like aliens than like natives of a country forming an integral portion of the empire. At this moment an instance in point occurs to our recollection, in the prac-room for partiality or fraud in the Legislature tice of billeting soldiers in private families. Session after session, for years past, the Legislature in spite of remonstrance persist in passing the Mutiny Act, containing a clause which declares it shall be lawful to billet soldiers in private houses in Scotland, and that it shall not be lawful to do so in England or Ireland. In Glasgow alone, between one and two hundred men are quartered nightly upon the inhabitants, although they pay equally for their maintenance with the citizens of the other two countries.

One other item in this writer's paper calls for a reply. The question is not, as "Gray" supposes, whether the English people are fairly represented, but whether Scotland is represented with equal fairness? We found our claim on revenue and population, data hitherto held sound, and contend that twentytwo additional members are necessary to give us our proportional share in the Legislature. One thrust more, and we have done with him. We are compelled to pause in wonderment at the depth of our erudite opponent's philological attainments. He informs us, with becoming gravity, that "nationality comes from nation;" "that it is absurd and treasonable to prate of the separate nation

We conclude the present debate by assuring our English readers that we have no dislike to England, no unworthy jealousy of Englishmen, not a single desire hostile to the continuance of the Union; on the contrary, our heart's wish is that it be adhered to, both in the letter and the spirit, with an honesty and an integrity that shall leave no

or its patronage. Still we demand our national, distinctive, and peculiar rights, so far as they are compatible with united legislation. Union and amity are not inconsistent with the diversity of national characteristics. It is neither desirable nor practicable that the Scots should become English, or the English Scots. We cannot forget those early associations that bind us to our kindred and our country-forget the renown of Scotia, as inscribed on the page of history-forget the glorious ballad-poetry of our fatherland

forget the purity of our own church, and its early covenanting struggles-forget the equity of our judicial institutions, and cleave to English manners and customs. Nor is it needful that it should be so. The nationality of Scotland will not crumble away like the palaces and princely halls of our ancestors. No! our treasures and national independence will never be bartered away for the purpose of maintaining the semblance of a union, while, in defiance of the terms of that union, we are used but as tributaries of England. We deprecate agitation as much as our opponents; but we must have justice, substantial justice.

BAILLIE DUNCAN MACWHEEBLE.

It is better to be inconsistent with yourself, and change your opinion, than by pertinaciously adhering to it to be inconsistent with truth.

The Inquirer.

QUESTIONS REQUIRING ANSWERS.

210. Can any one give me full particulars respecting the "Prismatic Trinoptric Lantern," stating the principal features of its construction, its superiority over the common phantasmagoria, the method of using it, and the price of a first-rate instrument?-D. H.

211. Who furnishes the best diagrams and models for illustrating lectures on mechanics and other branches of natural philosophy?-D. H.

212. Will some correspondent kindly give me some definite instructions as to the best method of classifying knowledge and information obtained, so that the memory may best retain all that passes through the mind that is worth remembering? Suppose a person hear of some discoveries in electricity, astronomy, or geology; or is told of a fact in botany that he was not aware of before; what is the best way to classify and arrange those different facts, so that the mind may be enabled to retain and recall them at any future period?-AMICUS.

213. Will any of your readers kindly inform me what is the meaning of the word "nugget," which is in such common use in these days of gold. finding?-W. R.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

203. Milton on his Blindness.-The lines quoted at page 335 of Vol. IV. are from a beautiful little poem found a short time since among Milton's papers, and which have been printed in the last Oxford edition of that poet's works. Some critics have, however, objected that there is a modern flow and smoothness which would appear to them indicative of a later muse. On the contrary, and in opposition to B. S.'s opinion, I believe these verses to be Milton's, from the fact of their being found amongst his while they are, to my mind, quite worthy of the great poet. I think, further, many passages in his acknowledged works are quite equal to this in their smoothness and flow. As many of your readers may not be possessed of the last Oxford edition, I subjoin a copy of the poem, in the hope that it may elicit the opinion of some of your other correspondents on this interesting topic.-X. L.

papers;

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

204. The Authorship of 1 Cor. xv. 33.-Alford, in a note on the passage referred to (Greek Test., Vol. II.), says, "These words (according to the reading, xeno', which is not, however, well supported) form an Iambic trimeter, and occur in this form in a fragment of the "Thais" of Menander; but Clem. Alex., Strom. I., 14, 59, says, Пpos you v Κορινθίους . . . ἰαμβείῳ συγκέχρηται τραγικῷ; but this may be a mere inaccuracy. Socrates, Hist. Eccl. III., 16, quotes it as a sufficient proof that Paul was conversant with the tragedies of Euripides. "Perhaps," says Dr. Burton, "Menander took it from Euripides." The apostle may have cited it merely as a commonplace current, without any idea whence it came.-F. J. L., B.A.

206. Works on Mechanics and Practical Engineering.-Whewell's "Elementary Mechanics" and" Mechanics of Engineering" are good practical treatises; but the former is rendered obscure and difficult by the introduction of the old methods. Goodwin's "School Mechanics" is an admirable elementary work, unsurpassed, I believe, for the clearness with which it states and illustrates mechanical principles. It contains, also, numerous examples worked out. "Hann on the Steam Engine," and his "Mechanics for Practical Men," also some of the valuable elemen tary treatises (Is. each) published by Weale, would, perhaps, meet J. T.'s wants.-F. J. L., B.A.

207. The Best Light for Reading.-In reply to J. W. B.'s question respecting the best light to study by, I should advise his using gas, subject to the following conditions:-first, that the burner be above the head when in a sitting posture; secondly, that the light be used only with the newly-invented porcelain shade, which produces

N

a softer and more agreeable illumination than any I have yet seen.-Y. A. R.

For the benefit of J. W. B., with whom I can sympathize, allow me to state the following:During the first year of my studies I used to sit up late at night, to the great danger of my eyesight. Shortly after the gas was lighted I had to put on glasses, and, after sitting some time, I had often to rise and walk up and down the room in order to give my eyes a little ease. The letters before me appeared always to be in confusion, and it was no winking which would put them to rights. I had to press my hand tightly on my eyes for some time, ere I could venture to look on the book again; and I had sometimes actually to lower the gas, so that I could just see, and then raise it gradually to its full height. I was recommended to try studying in the morning instead. I did try it, and-being in bed every night at ten and up every morning at five-found that the remedy had the desired effect; for I could then study not only with ease, but with delight, and with greater benefit to myself. At present I use a common tin shade over the gas, which keeps the light from my eyes and throws it all on the book. Todd says the light should come from behind the student. J. W. B. might immerse his face in a basin of cold water when his eyes turn sore. I believe, however, early rising is the best and only medicine, and determination is all that is required. -Q. E. D.

For evening studies I prefer a gas light, softened by being surrounded with a glass shade of a neutral tint; and for the soreness of the eyes and head, when proceeding from drowsiness, I recommend a strong infusion of tea, to be sipped only when cold.-W. H.

208. The Cause of the Apparent Size of the Moon when Rising and Setting.-In reply to "Textor's" question as to the apparently increased size of the moon when rising and setting, I would

remark, that this is not, as might be supposed, an optical, but a mental delusion, and arises from an erroneous calculation of her distance from us when in the horizon and when in the meridian. If we are shown two objects which we believe are at different distances, but which are apparently the same size, we unhesitatingly pronounce that which is the most distant to be the largest. Now, when the moon is in the horizon, some portion of the space between it and the eye is occupied by objects, of the relative size and distance of which we have some idea, and are thus enabled to form some slight estimate of the distance between ourselves and the moon. When, however, it is in the meridian, and no one object intervenes, we clearly can have no such assistance, and hence naturally conclude it to be nearer then than when in the horizon. Being impressed, then, with the idea that the moon in the horizon is at a far greater distance from us than when in the meridian, and remembering, too, that their apparent magnitude is the same, we immediately suppose the real magnitude to increase in the same ratio as the distance.-C. C. F.

The apparent largeness of the moon at rising and setting is one of the popular fallacies of vision to which we are subject. When seen in the horizon, the moon is viewed in connexion with so many different objects situated between it and the eye, that we are led to suppose it is a considerably greater distance from us than when seen in the meridian; and as we find that the magnitude is really the same when seen in both places, we allow ourselves to come to a wrong conclusion. and imagine that it is in reality larger at rising and setting than it is at other times. "Textor" will find a full explanation of this and other curious phenomena in No. 4 of Dr. Lardner's "Museum of Science and Art," published by Walton and Maberly, price 1d.-WM. C.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Question 7.

Explanation of the principle involved in the working of Example 4:-The fractions, being of different denominations, are first reduced to the same denomination; because only such things as are like can be added together. Now, the reducing of fractions to a common denominator depends on the principle that the value of a fraction is not altered by multiplying both its terms by the same number. If, therefore, we multiply the numerator of each fraction by all the denominators except its own, and likewise its denominator by the denominators of all the rest, it is plain that the resulting fractions are equivalent ones, and have the same denominators (for each is the product of the same factors).

Explanation of the principle involved in the working of Example 5.-Here we multiply 3×5, which produces 15, just 6 times as much as we want; for we do not want 5 times, but times; we therefore multiply the denominator by 6, and obtain as the result; but if each of these numbers be divided by the same number, the value of the fraction is not altered. Hence we divide both by 3, and obtain as an answer. But we want g of £1, or 20s., or 240d. Call it 240, and by the same process we obtain x20=150, and this last being pence=12s. 6d.

Explanation of the principle involved in the working of Example 6:-Multiplying or dividing both terms of a fraction by the same number does not alter its value. Hence both terms of the fraction (2), being first multiplied by 10 and

1000'

21

afterwards divided by 2, gives a fraction 10 which is of the same value as the original (0), and which, by the nature of decimal fractions, is, therefore, equal to 105.-J. J.

Question 8. Let a=the first term, d=the common difference, n=the number of terms, and S= the sum of the series; then S=[2a+(n−1)d] 100

=~~~[2×1+(100—1)3]=14950.

2

n

Question 9. In any arithmetical series, let a= the first term, d=the common difference, n=the number of terms, Sthe sum of the series; then the series may be written thus:

a, a+d, a+2d

a+(n-3)d, a+ (n-2) d, a+ (n-1) d.

Hence, as the number of ds in any term is one less than the place of that term, the nth, or last term, is evidently a + (n-1) d.

Put z=the last term, and we haveS=a+(a+d)+(a + 2 d) +· +(z-2d)+(z-d)+z. Writing this series in a reverse orderS=z+(z-d)+(z−2d) ++(a+2d)+(a+d)+a.

Adding the corresponding terms of the two series together

2 S=(a+z)+(a + z) + (a + z) +

+(a + z)+(a + z)+(a + z)=n (a+z).

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinuar »