Mr. Gray on Subftitutes for Bark. in their ftead to the fame purpofe; but they are, for the most part, either inferior in quality, or liable to the fame objections. A vegetable which is both common and plentiful has claimed my attention, as poffeffing the aftringent quality in a very high degree; and from fome experiments which I made with it, though at a moft improper feafon of the year (winter), I was frongly induced to the conclufion of its utility for tanning leather, and for a black dye, or other purposes to which aftringents are applied. It is the root of the Pfeudacorus or Yellow Water Flag: and, if found convenient for fuch ufes, its demand can be fupplied to any extent,' as the culture of it in marthy grounds cannot be difficult. For prefent ufe it may be only crufhed as apple for cyder; it may alfo be dried and kept to be used as occafion may require. But thofe who may think this communication worthy of their attention, will fuggeft the beft modes of applying it. As far as I know, it has not heretofore been either ufed or recommended for such purposes. Newcastle upon Tyne, April 10, 1798. G. GRAY. P. S. Since writing the above, a friend has fhewn me the following article in Rees's edition of Chambers: which I gladly annex as a corroborating evidence of its aftringent properties.. "Iris lutea paluftris, or yellow water flag, grows naturally in ditches and moift places in moft parts of this country: The common people in Scotland have found out an ufe for this plant, which has escaped the most accurate writers on botany. In that country the common ink is made of it. They cut fome of the roots into thin flices, and either boil or infufe them in water till the liquor is highly tinged with them; they then pour if clear off, and then putting into it the blade of a knife, or any other piece of iron, they rub it hard with a rough white pebble, and by degrees the liquor becomes black: they continge rubbing till it is as deep a black as they require, and it is a tolerable good ink." 273 Mr. Bourne of Newcastle, and his com mentator, Mr. Brand, in this, are our chief fources of information on fubjects of this nature. Indeed the valuable additions of the latter to the antiquitates vulgares of his predeceffor, contain a fund of curious obfervations, worthy of the station which their author holds as fecretary to the Society of Antiquaries. They are however, chiefly confined to the author's perfonal knowledge of the opinions, cuftoms and traditions of the common people in the northern counties, which, while it establishes their authenticity fo far as they go, muft neceffarily detract from their claim to be confidered as a general work upon the fubject. We may thortly expect much curious information from Mr.Boucher of Epfom, whofe Provincial Gloffary will probably foon make its appearance. In the mean time give me leave to occupy a corner in your Magazine, with a few queries on a cuftom, with which I remember to have been much truck during my refidence, twenty years ago, in Lancashire; which used to be the terror of the infirm and the timorous; but which has of late been wifely checked by the civil magiftrate, as a rude, indecent, and dangerous practice. I refer to the liftings which prevailed in Manchefter, Bolton, Warrington, and the adjacent country, to what extent I know not, on Eafter Monday and Tuefday. On the former of thefe days the women, on the latter the men, forming parties of fix or eight each, furrounded every one of the oppofite fex whom they met, and lifted them thrice, not very gently, above their heads into the air, with loud fhouts on each elevation. I have often enquired into the original of this strange ceremony; but it feemed to bear the fame teftimony to its antiquity which Mr. Brand alleges refpecting most of the customs of the common people, that it has "outlived the general knowledge of the very causes which gave rife to it." * Mankind, indeed, are naturally prone to invent caufes for any appearance, rather than fubmit to confefs their ignorance: I have, accordingly, heard many reafons affigned, none of which appeared to me at all likely to be the true one. Some have faid, that, like the paste or pafcheegg, it was an emblem of the refurrection of Jefus Chrift; but it can hardly be thought that a fact, which christians Obfervations on Popular Antiquities, preface, p. i. ́ celebrate Nn 2 274 Custom of Lifting in Lancashire. : celebrate as the foundation of their most glorious hopes, fhould be commemorated in fo ludicrous and indecent a way others have therefore fuppofed, that it was originally a pagan ceremony, defigned to ridicule the chriftian doctrine of a refurrection; but this is ftill more unlikely, as it cannot be imagined that chriftians would adopt a custom exprefsly intended to expose themselves, and the most effential doctrine of their religion. A third opinion is, that it was introduced by the Proteftants to ridicule the elevation of the hoft in catholic churches. But it might have been expected that a custom of fo late a date would have had the time and the occafion of its introduction noticed by fome hiftorical or topographical writer; befides, why should this be done at Eafter, rather than at any other time of the year? Not to fay, that in any one of these three cafes, it is likely that the ceremony would have been accompanied by the repetition of fome memorial verfe verfes. And what, in any of them, fhould lead the men and women alternately to take liberties with each other? or On removing into Northumberland, I found a custom in the city of Durham ftrikingly correfpondent, in this last particular, with the Lancashire liftings. Mr. Brand (p. 254.) defcribes it thus. "There is a custom ftill retained in the city of Durham on these holidays; on one day pre the men take off the women's fhoes * From this it appears that the effence of all these three customs confifts in the two fexes expreffing, in different ways, their fenfe of fome mutual grudge againft each other. But what can this be; or why at Eafter? Is it poffible that it can have any reference to the tradition of the fall being occafioned by the fault of the firft woman, bearance, for the two fexes to quarrel, and endeavour to throw the blame on each other. Befides, the circumftance of the women beginning first, does not seem to favour this fuppofition*. Will you allow me to request the attention of your Lancashire correfpondents to this fubject? Perhaps fome of them may have heard explanations of this strange cuftom, which may not have fallen in the way of your's, &c. V. F. Eafter Tuesday, April 10, 1798. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, AMONG the different useful inftitu tions which have been noticed in your Magazine, I am furprised to find that no mention has been made of Ander fon's Inftitution, or The New School of Philofophy, Arts, and Manufactures, esta blifhed in this city. This inftitution was founded about two years fince, by the late John Anderfon, who was Profeffor of Natural Philofophy in our univerfity for more than 40 years, and whofe name is well known in moft parts of Europe, particularly as the inventor of the flying artillery +. This gentleman, confidering that the ftatutes and difcipline of the univerfity cut off from opportunities of acquiring useful knowledge one half of the fpecies, viz. the fair fex; and reflecting, likewise, that the knowledge taught in fimilar feminaries, is more fitted for the education of thofe intended for the learned profeffions, than for perfons defigned for manufac tures and commerce; he had, for many years before his death, been digefting the plan of an inftitution which might be attended by gentlemen intended for, or * Can it partake in any respect of the nature of the Saturnalia? As in thefe the their matters: fo on thefe occafions is it flaves had a privilege of taking freedoms with poffible that the women may have availed themfelves of the opportunity of afferting their equality with the other fex. The method of preventing the recoil, and confequently diminishing the weight of great guns, was-communicated to the Mafter General of the Ordnance by Profeffor Anderfon; but the difcovery was treated, by the noble Duke, with a degree of contempt, communicate the invention to the French, which irritated Mr. A. and induced him to with whom we were not then at war. It was immediately approved of, and adopted by FAYETTE, and put in practice by Duмou* Mr. Brand is not strictly correct, buckles RIER, and has fince been generally used in and to the remedy for the confequences of this catastrophe in the refurrection? This, however, would not, furely, be an evidence of any great proficiency in the chriftian spirit of for only are the object of attack. the French army. actually Philofophical Lectures, c. in Glasgow. actually engaged in business, who are too often fent from the grammar-fchool to the counting houfe, without having opportunity to acquire that information which would enable them to fill up, in a rational and agreeable manner, thofe hours which every one must find unem、 ployed in bufinefs, and who are likewife ignorant of the principles on which their manufactures depend, and therefore incapable of improving them. He lamented also the frivolous education of the female part of the community, who are undoubtedly equally capable as the men of acquiring knowledge, if they had the fame opportunities, and who would thereby become rational companions, instead of pretty playthings for the other fex. By a deed of fettlement, Mr. Anderfon difpofed and conveyed his property of every kind to the public, for the improvement of science, and the establishment of an inftitution denominated « Anderson's University," to be fuperintended by eighty-one trustees; confifting of the nine following claffes: rft, tradesmen—2d, agriculturists-3d, artists4th, manu-, facturers-5th, phyficians and furgeons -6th, lawyers-7th, divines-8th, natural philofophers9th, kinsmen of the founder. Thefe trustees hold their meetings quarterly, on the equinoxes and the folftices; but the ordinary bufinefs of the institution is conducted by nine managers, chofen annually from among the trustees, and who meet once a month, or oftener, if neceffary. On the death or refignation of any trustee, his place is filled up by the clafs to which he belonged. A charter was last year granted, in fa vour of the trustees of this institution, invefting them with corporate powers. Towards the establishment of it, the learned profeffor left the whole of his valuable apparatus, confeffedly the largest in Britain, together with his library and mufeum, among which is an excellent collection of minerals, the value of all which must exceed 3000l. fterling! The original plan of the inftitution is very extentive, but it being as yet in its infancy, it has been found impolitic to eftablish the foundation upon the ample bafis laid out by the learned profeffor; and, therefore, only fuch parts of it have been carried into execution as appeared to the trustees the most ufeful. Dr. GARNETT, the profeffor of phyfics and philofophy, gives three different courfes of lectures.The firft, on expe 275 rimental philosophy, and, the fecond, on chemistry. These lectures are delivered in the evening, and made as popular as poffible; all abstract mathematical reafoning being excluded, and the propofitions demonstrated experimentally. Every morning a third courfe is delivered, in which the principles of natural philofophy are fully demonftrated, both mathematically and experimentally; and afterwards their application to the various arts and manufactures particu. larly pointed out; the different proceffes performed before the students, and the different kinds of machinery illustrated by working models. Thefe lectures, during the last year, which was the first feflion, were attended by 975 ladies and gentlemen, and the prefent feffion by nearly the fame number, one half at leaft being ladies. This inftitution is as yet accommodated only in a temporary mamer, in fome public building of this city, but the truftees have it in contemplation to erect a college in a central fituation. If fimilar inftitutions were to be esta For the Monthly Magazine. (Concluded from our taft.) T. T. THE fecura Military Politica," sa fecond volume contains the work (fays Don Juan de Sedano) truly This poem begins with the existence of God, an explanation of the trinity, the hiftory of the devil, an account of chaos, of the creation and fall; the progrefs of fociety is then defcribed, and Rebolledo afferts, that distinctions were first made by nature, who gave active and enterprifing minds to the rulers, and fitted the others for fubjection, by making them ftupid, indolent, and contented. If indolent and contented ftupidity fhould characterise the governed,and active and enterprifing minds were defigned by nature to rule, this fyftem has been strangely inverted. The author next examines the various forms of government, and points out the inconveniences of all. He allows the dangers of monarchy, but obferves that, in a chriftian ftate, these dangers are not to be feared. The right divine is afferted, and as the confummation of this policy, we have immediately the art of war. To this poem fixteen little pieces are added, each containing fome example from history. One of thefe is upon the death of Uriah, and it concludes thus: "if good kings can act thus wickedly, what ought we not to fear from tyrants?" Perhaps Rebolledo had feen Algernon Sidney at Copenhagen; for this and the following poem feem more like the fentiments of an Englishman at that period, than of a Spaniard. Not long this fearful conflict fhall endure, That arms the earth with light'ning, that o'erfpreads Earth with its horrors, making the firm globe Tremble. Not long thefe terrors fhall endure, That feem as they appall'd the fires of heav'n, On Gibeon; and thou, moon, o'er the vale rited. The third volume is compofed of religious poems, chiefly paraphrafed from the bible; among thefe are verfions of the pfalms, of the book of Job, and of the Lamentations of Jeremiah. These he dedicated to Chriftina, queen of Sweden; and the Spanish editor fays, they may greatly have contributed to the converfion of that princess to the Catholic faith. His verfion of the Lamentations concludes with the doxology, and with a declaration that he lays it at the feet of the church with all catholic obedience. In this volume the history of the “ New Teftament" is thrown into a facred Idylium. He commences it by saying, that the mysteries of our redemption are properly concealed in the facred books, left they should get into the profane hands of the vulgar: and the introduction concludes thus ; 66 ye who heard the profane thoughts of my firft follies, hear now my laft accents, though not fo poetical, much more pious." He then explains how the word was united to the fleth hypoftatically; and this is a fine inftance of the fefquipedalia verba, as it has a whole line to itself, "hipoftaticamente." The Francifcan dogma is elucidated by the ufual comparison of the fun-beams paffing through glass; and by another, which I do not recollect elsewhere; "as the dew falls upon the earth, without disturbing the air." The "Selvas Danicas" fill the last vo lume, a genealogical poem upon the fucceffion of the kings of Denmark. This work I have never seen. Such are the works of Rebolledo, who "to the manners of a Chriftian and of a cavalier, united the virtues and endow ments that conftitute a hero; fuch as no bility of blood, and good fortune in his under takings: and here (fays Sedano) I will no longer delay a reflection, that has often occurred to me in collecting the memoirs of our illuftrious Spanish poets; and that is, that the epithet illuftrious is perfectly applicable with regard to their blood; not that this is any recommendation of the intrinfic merit of the fciences; but because it confirms the opinion of thofe, who think that good blood and an illuftrious education contribute to a love of, and progrefs in letters. He then fhows, that it is not abfolutely neceffary that a good T. Y. poet fhould be poor. TOUR OF ENGLAND, (CONTINUED). Journal of a Tour through almost every county in England, and part of Wales, by Mr. JOHN HOUSMAN, of Corby, near Carlifle; who was engaged to make the Tour by a gentleman of distinction, for the purpose of collecting authentic information relative to the ftaté of the poor. The Journal comprifes an account of the general appearance of the country, of the foil, furface, buildings, &c. with obfervations agricultural, commercial, &c. EPTEMBER 3d, rode to Yardly miles. ben, in Northamptonshire, four The foil rather light; furface Mr. Houfeman's Tour through Northamptonshire. rifes here and there in gentle fwells. A September 4.-I went from YardlyGoben to Buckingham, 10 miles. The foil, a strong clay; the produce is wheat, beans, barley, and oats. Large tracts of common or open fields often present themfelves in this journey: the roads pretty good, partly made with flinty gravel, and partly with whitish freeftone. The furface is uneven in fome parts, but in others quite 277 level: it is rather a woody country than otherwife, and very beautiful towards Stony Stratford. I croffed the bridge, and dined at Stony Stratford, on my way to Buckingham. The town confifts of one long street, and is not remarkable for any thing, except its being a great thoroughfare from London to Chelter, Ireland, &c. and the manufactory of lace in common with the neighbouring country. Here the fheep and horfes again entertain me with fuch mufic as their numerous bells afford. Buckingham being the county town, I expected to have found it a place of fome confequence, but was much deceived: it is a very small meanly built place, and ftands in a hole; feveral of the houfes are thatched, and fome of the streets unpaved: the number of inhabitants about 2000. Just before I entered the town, fuppofing I was going into fome large village, I afked a labourer the road to Buckingham; he only aufwered with a finile. I repeated the interroga tion, and the man feeing me in carneft, pointed to the town, and faid, "it is there." The appearance of a fine large church partly confirmed his affertion, otherwife I fhould have fufpected the fellow had impofed on me. Buckingham is furrounded with high grounds, and different open fields come up almost close to the town: a fmall river winds about fome parts of it, and forms a fine termination to fome beautiful and pleasant gardens. I have lately noticed, that vines planted against the walls of houses answer well in thefe parts; but upon the walls of cottages, about the skirts of this town, it is furprifing to fee fuch a number of large bunches of grapes difplayed there by nature, with very little affiftance from art. Hop plants are alfo growing on feveral hedges in this neighbourhood, without the affiftance of the planter. Beans are much cultivated in this part of the country, particularly in common fields, and the crops this year are uncommonly great. The inclofed land is moftly in pafturage, and cattle and fheep fattened thereon. An elegant church has lately been erected on a rifing ground in the fouth fide of this town, at a little diftance from the fite of the old church; but the people bury at the old burial ground. Buckingham is not a place of much trade or manufacture, nor does any great road lead through it. Farms in this neighbourhood let for about 20s. per acre, and are of almost all fizes, (To be continued.) WAL |