THE weather has been variable throughout the greatest part of the month. In the evening preceding the 1st, there was one of the heaviest falls of rain that we have had this year; and the succeeding day was very squally, with much rain. From the second to the filth we had fine weather; but the sixth was cloudy, with strong gales from the south west and west. The 9th was squally, with thunder and rain. The most seasonable weather for the harvest was from the 9th to the 24th, but particularly during the four latter days. On the 21st the thermometer, in the shade, was as high as 68°. The last days of the month were variable; and on the 30th and 31st we had some heavy gales of wind. August 1. In the evening of this day I was surprized by the ticking of the Death-watch, Termes (Termes pulsatorium of Linnæus) in a small box containing some chrysalids of insects, which stood very near my writing-desk. I was at first deceived by it, and fancied that the noise proceeded from my watch. A redbreast, of this year's brood, that now flies about wild, and has never been in a cage, has become so familiar, that, when called, it will approach the person who attends to it, alight upon, and eat out of her hand. August 8th. The following wild plants are in flower :-Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), Marsh Mallow (Altkæa officinalis), White Horehound (Marrubium vulgare), Hooded Willow herb (Scutellaria galericulata), Lesser Skullcap (Scutellaria minor), Marsh Samphire (SaLicornia berbacea), Bastard Stone Parsley (Sison Amomum), Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale), and Upright Goosefoot (Chenopodium urbicum). During the warm evenings, after rain, the different species of grasshoppers and locusts are every where very noisy, but particularly about the hedges, and in meadows.In the evenings, just at the close of day, I have lately remarked that large batf-coloured moth, the Drinker Moth (Phalana bombyx potatoria), flying about the hedge-bottoms in considerable numbers. A female of this kind, which I caught on the 24, laid several eggs, each with a green ring round it, and a spot of the same colour in the middle of the upper part. These I kept by me till the 19th of August, when the young caterpillars began to break forth from their shells, some of which it is my intention to rear. They feed, without difficulty, on - several of the large kinds of grass which grow in the hedge bottoms. August 20. I saw a Goat-sucker this evening, but have not seen one since.-The young broods of the Gold-finch begin to fly about. The seeds of the Spindle-tree (Evonymus europæus) begin to take their beautifully red colour. August 26. The employment of the Leech-catchers is at an end for this season, as the leeches no longer swim about as they do during the spring and summer months. They are now concealed in the weeds and mud. August 29. The following autumnal garden plants are in flower:-China Aster (Aster Chinensis), Italian Aster (Aster amellus), Althea frutex (Hibiscus syriacus), rough-leaved Phlomis (Phlomis berba venti), shewy Astor (Aster spectabilis), jagged-leaved Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia laciniata), and purple Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia purpurea). August 31. In this part of England, the oat, wheat, and rye, crops, are nearly all housed, and for the most part, in the best possible state. Much of the barley is yet uncut. Hampshire. MONTHLY BOTANICAL REPORT. PARADISUS LONDINENSIS. Any petty variety that has the good luck to be touched by Mr. Salisbury, is sure to be graciously elevated to the rank of a species at least; and we know of no instance, during the whole of his botanical career, of his ever having degraded a species, how much soever it might have merited it. In this month's number we have the Dianthus fragrans, alias plumarius with white flowers, from which, however, it is said to differ in its entire leaves, smooth petals, and shorter stigmas. Perchance next year Mr. S. may have the mortification to see all these important characters vanished. He was probably not aware that Molinieri contrived, by varied treatment of the Dianthus plumarius, to produce more than thirty varieties of it in the course of one year. ← Salvia bicolor, a native of Algiers and Morocco, first correctly described by Desfontaines, whose name (we observed it with agreeable surprize) Mr. S. has left unchanged. The generic character and description are drawn up with great care and precision. But why is Jacquin's excellent figure of this sage in the Hortus Schönbrunnensis left unnoticed in the synonymy? The third plant, Podalyria olæfèlia; a native of the Cape of Good Hope, is, in Mr. Salis bury's opinion, easily distinguished from all the other species by the form of the leaves and the absence of pubescence on their upper surface. But a look cast into the Species Plantarum in the neighbourhood of Podalyria birsuta, to which his plant bears great affinity, would have peintes out the very next species, Podalyria (Sophora) buxifolia of Retzius, as the plant here described for a new one. BOTANICAL MAGAZINE. Mr. Gawler's monthly contingent for the last number consists in Cyrtanthus obliquus, considered by Linnæus as a Crinum and by L'Heritier as an Amaryllis. As Cyrtanthus differs from both only from having the tube of the corolla longer, and consequently its lacinia shorter, these genera can scarcely depend on as much as the habit to be kept distinct from each other. Ornithogalum is a perplexing genus of the same kind: 0. lacteum, the milk-white Star of Bethlehem, figured in the next plate, costing its describer no less than half a hundred long words of differentia specifica, to distinguish it from others of its congeners. Both the figure and letter-press of Tulipa gesneriana merit great praise. The latter contains several corrigenda and addenda respecting Tulipa Breyniana, &c. It is really a matter of regret that there no longer exists a publication exclusively devoted to learned botanical disquisitions of this kind, which, as they cannot possibly be acceptable to all "Ladies, Gentlemen, and Gardeners," however desirous these may be to become scientifically acquainted with the plants they cultivate, appear to be rather misplaced in the work under consideration. Bowalla.demissa, cultivated in our gardens before elata, appears to have been long lost in this country before it was reintroduced by Mr. Vere. It is well characterized by Dr. Sims: the chies distinction seems to be in the peduncles being all solitary in the axils of the leaves; while those of elata are in part collected in a kind of terminal corymb. Goodenia tenella of Andrews, the Velleia trinervis of Labillardiêre, from New Holland, keeps as it were the midway between the above nearly related genera. In habit it is a Velleia, of which however it has not exactly the calyx ; but on the other hand this part is not adnate as it should be in Goodenia; a circumstance, indeed, of no great moment in the natural order of Campanulaceæ. But there appears to be other peculiarities which may possibly hereafter elevate this plant to the rank of a distinct intermediate genus. Cercis Sliquastium. Dr. Sims might have added to his interesting account of this tree, that it is with the Turks, what to the ancient Romans was the Cypress; what to some other eastern nations is the Weeping Willow, and to the inhabitants of the South Sea Islands the Casuarina-the emblem of sorrow and the tree of cemeteries. The value of the very good figure here given might also have been enhanced by the addition of one of the beautiful crimson pods that succeed the blush coloured flowers. The varnished Heath, Erica resinssa, the E. Vernix of the Gardeners, comes nearest to ardens of Andrews, considering the difficulty with which the brilliant varnish of the corolla can be imitated by the artist, the figure of this handsome heath is very well executed. An intelligent correspondent observes, that, after the excessive rains that have of late fallen, if the weather should be warm, an unusual number of Fungi may be expected this autumn; and as Dr. Smith's fourth volume of his Flora Britannica, which will contain the Fungi, is not yet, as we suppose, in the press, nor the second volume of the new edition of Dr. Hull's Synopsis, many valuable additions may be made to these works, if the general attention of botanists should be directed to this tribe. Even those who have no scientific knowledge of mushrooms, but amuse themselves with drawing, may, by securing representations of these very fugacious vegetables, afford no little assistance. The lawn in the front of the house, or the walk through the adjoining wood, may perhaps afford no inconsiderable crop. MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. THE harvest has now been fully secured in almost every part of the kingdom, and nothing scarcely remains out, except a few beans in the more northern districts, which will soon be housed. In threshing out, the oats and barleys turn out very favourably, in most of the northern Counties; but the wheats in some places are found rather light, and not to yield so well, having been affected with the mildew, which did not fully show itself before they were cut. >A great breadth of land has this year been prepared for wheat, in different parts of the Island, and even in the northern counties much of this grain is already put into the ground in the most favourable circumstances. The advantage of early sowing in these districts, begin now to be better understood, The The potatoe crops are now beginning to be taken up in most places, and from their appearances would seem to turn out well in all those parts in the north, where they are much grown, In the south they will probably not be so favourable in their produce. From the great abundance of grass in the meadows and pasture lands, both store and fað tening stock must be carried on well, and the prices of the latter be kept somewhat down. The fine refreshing showers have likewise brought forward the turnips of all kinds, more favourably than was expected. The prices of grain are somewhat on the advance. Throughout England and Wales, Wheat averages 84s. 1d. per quarter;-Barley 42s. 2d. ;-Oats 34s. 5d. In Smithfield market, Beef fetches from 4s. 6d. to 5s. 6d. per stone.-Mutton, from 4s. to 5s. 6d.-Pork, from 5s. 6d. to 6s. 8d.-Lamb, from 5s. to 7s. Hay fetches from 31. to 61. 6s.;-Clover, from 61. 68. to 71. 7s ;-Straw, from 11. s. to 21. 2s. The weather has continued so fine, that all sorts of farm labour has gone on with much dispatch, during the whole of the month. METEOROLOGICAL REPORT. Observations on the State of the Weather, from the 24th of August to the 24th of September, 1808, inclusive, Two Miles N.W. of St. Paul's. Barometer. Thermometer. The quantity of rain fallen since the last report is equal to 5.2 inches in depth. During the early part of the present month we had almost constant rains, which will acCount for the proportion that has fallen; this is very much larger than the average quantity for September. In this country July is usually the rainy month; but that is characteristic this year of September, notwithstanding which the average height of the barometer for the whole month is 29.9 nearly: and the average height of the thermometer is 60°. We have been favoured with a communication from the Isle of Wight on this subject, by which we learn that the average height of the thermometer taken at eight in the morning, from August 20th to September 17, both inclusive, was 62.7. From various observations made for several years, it should seem to the writer of this article that the temperature of eight o'clock, or between eight and nine in the morning, may be taken for the average temperature of the twentyfour hours: this being admitted, and the climate of the Isle of Wight is between two and three degrees, warmer than the neighbourhood of the metropolis. We hope, by the kindness of our friend, to be able hereafter to give a comparative view of the temperature and quantity of rain of the two places. The wind during the month has been variable: from the 25th to the 29th ult. and also from the 14th insts to the 21st, we have had in general very brilliant days. Astronomical Anticipations. About two o'clock in the afternooon on the 4th, the moon will be full; and on the 19th about five o'clock in the evening will be change or New Moon. On the 1st of the month the sun rises at fourteen minutes past six, and on the last at twelve minutes after 7. The clock on the 1st is more than ten minutes behind the sun, and the difference continues increasing the whole month, so that on the 31st, the clock to be right must be 16' 13" behind a well constructed sun-dial: that is, when the dial marks 12 o'clock, the clock, if accurate, will want 16 13" of that hour. On the 19th the sun will be eclipsed, but as this phenomenon will be invisible to these islands and indeed to Europe at large, we need only to notice the fact. Venus is now an evening star: and Jupiter, which is much higher in the heavens, is an interesting object. On the 1st instant that planet will be on the meridian at seven, teen minutes past ten, and on the 25th at 42 minutes past eight. Saturn is still an evening star, but too low to admit of observations. Mars and Herschell are morning-stars, and tế wards the end of the month Mercury may be seen in the evening. THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE. No. 177.] NOVEMBER 1, 1808. 4 of VOL. 26. "As long as those who write are ambitious of making Converts, and of giving to their Opinions z Maximum of “Inhuence and Celebrity, the most extensively circulated Mifcellany will repay with the greatest fed us Curiosity of those who read either for Amusement or InftruЯion." JOHNSON, ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, THAT HAT similar causes produce similar effects is an axiom as old as philosophy; and that there is nothing new under the sun, is another axiom confirmed by long experience. I am led to obtrude these observations upon you at the present time, in consequence of the distinction lately assumed in literature by a class of Scribblers, who have recently emerged from the shades of Grub-street, whose own private infamies render their ill word no slander among those who know them, and whose sole object is to subsist, for a short season, on the inconsiderate patronage bestowed on private anecdote and scurrility. To the secret pleasure which is felt by most persons in the degradation of others, may, doubtless, be referred the avidity with which scandal is devoured by the public. The knowledge of this depraved appetite cousequently gives Tise, at successive periods, to literary speculations of desperate adventurers, who, setting at defiance every principle of moral feeling, and all regard for truth and decency, surprise the world for a time by the audacity of their assertions, and by the turpitude of their inventions. They meet, however, with encouragement from rogues or fools, until, by falsehoods too gross to be tolerated, they have sarfeited and disgusted even such patrons. The interdict which follows is generally as certain as it is just. Their infamous works are by the common voice speedily proscribed society-the good sense of mankind predominates again, and the vicious authors, and their abettors, generally end their days either by their own hands, or in soune prison, parish workhouse, or public hospital. This is no ideal portrait. Repetitions of the same causes and consequences take place every twelve or fifteen years. The history of literature indicates one or two epochas of scurrilicy in every generation, and the termination is always, and is necessarily, the same. MONTHLY MAG., No. 177. 1 It is not to be expected, that those who are themselves the dupes of the worst passions should profit by unerring experience; but a salutary lesson, inculcating patience, may be derived from an observation of the past by those who are the victims of those passions, and who as such are generally singled out for their eminence in wisdom or virtue. While the lawyers do not choose to make the distinction which plainly exists between discussions on public objects, and libels on private character; and while a man who seeks redress in a court of law for a private libel, is liable to be still further calumniated by council paid by his libellers, for the express purpose of insulting him, and is liable afterwards to see those venal calumnies printed with impunity and industry in all the newspapers, he will act prudently to submit to the original outrage, rather than run the risk of sustaining a greater by an appeal to such justice. If, for example, a caricature, calculated to bring a respectable man into contempt, and made the sole object of a complalat, may be treated by the president of a court of law as a piece of fair criticism, and may be gravely confounded in terms with the ablest contro versies on subjects of legislation and philosophy; if the true ground of action, as declared upon, may be overlooked, and a silly and puerile, though malicious, travestie, may in like manner be confounded as well with the real ground of action as with sober discussion; if judges will not distinguish between the avowed discussions of legislators and philosophers, and the anonymous impertinencies and inisrepresentations of venal and malicious Scribblers, and juries will permit themselves to be dictated to by judges, then indeed social order is at an end;-the domination of the strongest super sedes that of justice-audacious falsehood triumphs over modest truth and the liberty of the press becomes a curse instead of a blessing! Those who uphold the publication of private libels, and who studiously confound libels on private life with the free Rr dom of anonymous reviewing is, however, on Your old Correspondent, dom with which public topics and the Such have always been the doctrines of the conscientious and consistent friends of public liberty; and I might excuse the mistake of those who have lately maintained very opposite doctrines, if I did not know something of their general characters, if I did not know that they have for this occasion become the apparent friends of liberty and toleration; in short, if I did not believe them to be wolves in sheeps' clothing! In regard to other subjects of an analogous nature, which have lately been forced in various shapes before the public, such as the question, Whether anonymous Reviews are entitled to respect or credit --I confess I think this a question which chiefly agitates booksellers' apprentices, small wits, and petitsmaitres in literature! No man of ordi. nary sense, or observation, can for a moment lend his judgment to the dictums of anonymous critics, when he duly considers the Protean shapes which are assumed by the needy, profligate, and malevolent, when personal responsibility is not a necessary qualification. The trade ACCOUNT of the tremendous THUNDER- Fall the phenomena of nature which we distinguish as occasional or extraordinary, that of the storm of lightning with thunder seems to be at once the most splendid and the most sublime. Nothing appears to be so for cibly and so directly calculated to awe the mind of man, by exhibiting, in the same instant, the Creator's power of action and of controul-his omnipotence to destroy, with his benignity to preserve. On this island, these occurrences of nature are much less formidable than in some other countries; yet here some have been noticed as worthy of recording, for the information of posterity, particularly two in the year 1697. The first, as Dr. Halley and others relate, fell in Cheshire and Lancashire, on the 29th of April; it was estimated to be two miles in breadth, and to have passed over the country sixty miles in length, by which small animals were killed, trees were split, horses and men struck down, and other calamitous consequences ensucd. Some of the hail-stones of that storm are said to have been five or six inches in circumference, and to have weighed üve or more ounces. Some were round, others half round; some smooth, others embossed and crenated; the icy substance very transparent and hard, with a snowy kernel in the middle. The other storm fell in Hertfordshire, five days after; of which it is stated that the thunder and lightning was succceded by a shower of hail, by which sone persons were killed, and their bodies beaten black and blue; vast oaks were split, and fields of rye cut down as with a scythe. The |