their instinctive animosities. But, in all cases, this theory seems to want confirmation. It is well known, that Cowper domesticated two hares, and taught them to associate in his house with animals which were their reputed enemies. Rabbits and dogs have been trained to live in amity; and cats and pigeons frequently dwell together in the most undissembled friendship; and in some of our public exhibitions, mice are seen associating with cats, with as much familiarity as if they had been kittens. The most hostile animals have learnt, under the fostering care of humanity, to approximate towards each other, and to lose that ferocity which has been supposed to be instinc- | tive. This harmony conspicuously appears in the following singular family, which, though already seen in public, we introduce, to oblige LEGATOR. A gentleman, travelling through Mecklenburgh some years ago, was witness to the following curious circumstance at the post-house in New Stutgard. After dinner, the landlord placed on the floor a dish of soup, and gave a loud whistle: immediately a mastiff, a fine Angora cat, an old raven, and a large rat with a bell round its neck, came into the room, and, without disturbing each other, fed together. Afterwards, the dog, cat, and rat, lay before the fire, and the raven hopped round the room. The landlord, after accounting for their familiarity, informed his guests, that the rat was the most useful of the four; for the noise he made had completely freed the house from rats and mice, with which it was before infested. BRIEF MEMOIR OF MR. THOMAS EXLEY, rial Encyclopedia, and the author of several works of minor importance. These circumstances induced us to solicit his portrait for the Imperial Magazine, which we intended to accompany with some memoir of his life. With our request in the former case, he has obligingly complied; but from the latter, his feelings have so revolted, that nothing could induce him to become the historian of his departed days. Defeated in this attempt, we repeatedly solicited some particulars, from which we might be able to supply that deficiency, which his own delicacy would otherwise occasion; and we have at length succeeded in obtaining a few facts from himself and others, from which we have been enabled to draw up the following account. Mr. Exley was born at Gowd, a small village in the parish of Snaith, in Yorkshire, on the 9th of December, 1774. His father occupied a small farm, which he afterwards purchased; and was well known as an unrivalled manufacturer of such tools as are used for digging in marl, in clayey soils, in the making of dikes, and in the draining of morasses. In this department he had an extensive trade; and the articles of his workmanship were sent to various parts of the kingdom. It was his intention to prepare his son for the same occupation, and his education was at first conducted with an eye to this employment, though it was somewhat more liberal than the business itself absolutely required. Mr. Exley received the first rudiments of his learning in his native village; where, at an early period, he evinced a considerable thirst for knowledge, and manifested a more than common ability in his acquirements. His learning, however, was confined to writing, and the first rules of arithmetic; after which, having been initiated in these branches, he was placed under the care of an eminent teacher in the same parish. This gentleman, Mr. Thomas Young, was so pleased with his pupil, that he advised his father to give him a liberal education ; observing, that as he learned as much (With a Portrait.) THERE is scarcely any literary task which we can conceive more irksome to a feeling mind, than for an individual to write a memoir of his own life; although it must be admitted by all, that no man can be supposed to be so perfectly in the possession of such facts as are necessary to a biographical sketch, as that person who is the sub-in a fortnight as boys commonly learn ject of it. Mr. Thomas Exley is well known in the scientific world, as an able mathematician; and in the departments of literature, as a compiler of the ImpeNo. 6.-VOL. I. in three months, this might be done without any considerable expense. With this advice, his father reluctantly complied; and here Mr. Exley soon obtained a competent knowledge 2 P of arithmetic 'and book-keeping, and was initiated in the first principles of geometry, trigonometry, and surveying. The death of Mr. Young, which unfortunately soon took place, deprived Mr. Exley of his friendly aid; but the ardour of his desires after improvement remained undiminished; and to him no other stimulus had at any time been found necessary, as he does not recollect ever having received any chastisement during the whole course of his pupilage. For some time after this event, he continued his studies under the son of Mr. Young, after which he returned to his home, where he embraced every opportunity of increasing his mathematical knowledge, until he had attained the age of seventeen. About this time an advertisement appearing from a mathematical and classical school, in the north of Yorkshire, near Barnard Castle, which furnished some flattering prospects, Mr. Exley solicited his father's permission to become a pupil there. This was at length obtained; but so eager was he to realize the object of his wishes and his hopes, and at the same time so solicitous to avoid becoming burdensome to his parents, that he commenced his journey on foot, notwithstanding it was in the depth of winter, and the ground was covered with snow. In this manner he reached the place of his destination, although the distance was not less than eighty miles. Nor was he deceived on his arrival. In this school he became well grounded in the various branches of the mathematics, and performed by instruments the numerous operations which practical experiment required. The principal objects which now engrossed his attention, in addition to the Latin language, were, common arithmetic, mensuration, logarithms, practical surveying, spherical geometry, and the various branches connected with each. In this seminary, such were the advancements which he made in his mathematical acquirements, that the classical tutor one day observed to him, "I would gladly give up all my classical learning, to obtain that knowledge of the mathematics which you possess." On leaving this place, and returning home, Mr. Exley began seriously to think of some situation, in which he might be suitably and advantageously employed. With this view, he first proceeded to Manchester, having letters of recommendation from his uncle, Mr. Ward, of Snaith, who had some considerable connections in that town. But, being compelled to wait on those to whom he was recommended, with more servility than was congenial to his feelings, and having no other hopes than those of obtaining employment as a clerk in some mercantile house, his patience became exhausted, and he began to inquire for a situation as teacher in a school. It happened about this time, that Mr. J. Clarke, A. M. the father of Dr. Adam Clarke, opened a classical school in Manchester; and, as in this department of learning, Mr. Exley's knowledge was incomplete, he once more became a pupil for a short season. The abilities of Mr. Clarke soon gained him a respectable number of pupils, which rendered a mathematical teacher necessary. In this department Mr. Exley engaged; which circumstance established an intimacy between him and that family, which was at once delightful and honourable; and finally led to a marriage union, between himself, and the amiable Miss Hannah Clarke. This event took place in the year 1796, with the mutual consent of all parties. Mr. Exley, after his marriage, continued with his father-in-law about one year, when he removed to Huddersfield, where he opened a school on his own account. In this place, his success far exceeded his most sanguine expectations. The first week he had two scholars only; the second five; and the third an increase of thirtyone; in a short time his pupils exceeded eighty; and he retained from that number, to one hundred, during the two years that he continued in this town. In addition to these, he was also employed as private teacher to several respectable families, who much regretted his departure, when circumstances directed him to remove to Bristol. During Mr. Exley's residence in Huddersfield, he wrote an English grammar, which he intended publishing, chiefly for the use of his own school. This was submitted to the inspection of Dr. Clarke; who, though he spoke of the work in terms of high respect, advised the suspension of its publication, as several works of a similar tendency had been recently thrown into circulation. This advice | Mr Exley had the advantage in the was adopted; but suspension has been succeeded by delay; and the grammar has not yet been printed. It was nearly about this time, that Mr. Exley tried his skill in attempting a solution of the celebrated problem of squaring the circle. And, although, like many mathematicians much older than himself, he failed of success, his exertions proved highly beneficial in other respects, leading him to a more extensive acquaintance with the application of algebra to geometry. In his attempt to square the circle, he employed the cycloid; and, during his investigations, discovered several properties of that curve, which, though known to mathematicians, as he afterwards learnt, were till then unknown to him. He also effected the gradation of several portions of the cycloidal surface. But, amidst the successes which had attended him in Huddersfield, Mr. Exley found, that the close confinement, which an attention to the duties of his engagements required, proved prejudicial to his health. This circumstance, in conjunction with his earnest desire of obtaining more favourable opportunities to acquire and impart knowledge, together with the advice of his friends, determined him to remove to Bristol; at which city he arrived in the last week of 1799. In this place he began his career, by assisting Mr. Johnson in his school; but this did not continue long. He soon commenced private teacher of mathematics and natural philosophy, and speedily obtained the patronage and support of the more respectable and scientific inhabitants of Bristol, and its vicinity. This fortunate event may, in some degree, be attributed to the following incident : In the year 1802, a mathematical question of some difficulty, appearing in one of the Bristol papers, Mr. Exley received a letter from some unknown person, professing much friendship, | urging him to give it a solution. This he undertook and accomplished, as did also a Mr. H. Clarke, a gentleman well known as a profound mathematician, who almost immediately proposed another question, which was answered by Mr. Exley, and the person who had proposed the first, but who had assumed a fictitious signature. Here, a kind of contest arose; and although debate, yet as he had to contend with Mr. Clarke and his unknown rivals, he demanded of this person his real name, and also called on Mr. Clarke to declare it; but this, instead of producing what was sought, put an end to the controversy. This little incident, which was probably intended to injure, proved highly advantageous to Mr. Exley, who now becoming more generally known, had an additional degree of celebrity attached to his name. It also procured for him the esteem of Mr. Clarke, who ever afterwards professed the most undissembled friendship. His business, from this time, began to increase ; and from thence to the present hour, he has had full employment as a private teacher of mathematics and natural philosophy. Early in 1805, a philosophical and literary society was formed in Bristol, of which Mr. Exley was solicited to become the superintendant and lecturer. This office he accepted; and the station was filled by him in a manner highly satisfactory to the members. But being requested to reside in the house belonging to the institution, he was obliged to decline it, and to relinquish his office, from the inconveniency of the situation. In 1809, and the following year, he was busily engaged as one of the editors of the Imperial Encyclopedia; but nearly the whole labour of this work devolved on him. This publication has had an extensive sale. While engaged in this work, he wrote a Theory of Electricity, the substance of which appeared under the article bearing this name. To this subject, in connection with that of Galvanism, he has since paid much attention; and it is his intention, if his life be spared, to publish on some future day, the result of his researches in these departments of science. In the spring of 1810 it pleased God to visit him with an afflictive dispensation, in the death of his beloved wife. His grief on this occasion was exceedingly great, although it was somewhat alleviated by the consideration, that she departed this life in the full triumph of faith, and with a joyful hope of a glorious immortality. The following year he again married to an amiable lady, who still lives, and acts as an affectionate mother to his former children and the solace of his progressive year |