This bottle, supplied with perforated cork and tobacco-pipe, the reader should prepare, even in addition to the other apparatus, than which it will be more convenient for the performance of certain experiments hereafter to be indicated.

"And so," continued the lecturer, "water, is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen, in the proportion of one of the former to two of the latter. If, therefore, we mix these gases, in such proportions, water, you say, in your own mind, should be the result. Well, so it is; but not as the result of mixture alone. We may mix oxygen gas with hydrogen gas, in any proportions, and they will remain in contact for an indefinite time without combination ensuing; but immediately we apply flame, or the electric spark, then ombination takes place; combustion ensues, perhaps an explosion, and water is the sole result."

Arrived at this point in the execution of our sketch, we, not having the Royal Institution, with its magnificent apparatus at our disposal, must think of some means, by which our readers, without any considerable expenditure in apparatus, may contrive to produce the necessary results. In the first place, then, let some hydrogen gas be collected in a thinly blown turkey crop, or a bag of goldbeater's skin, sold under the name of an airballoon. In laboratories properly appointed, this collection is effected by means of a glass receiving jar, to the neck of which a stopcock is attached, in the manner represented by our diagram. Sup

Fig. 32.

posing the jar to be filled with gas, and the bag or bladder attached, to be now thrust down in a vessel of water, it follows that, supposing the stopcock open, water will ascend into the jar, and force the gas held by it into the bag or bladder. This is the usual plan adopted, but as it

requires the possession of a stopcock, and a gas-jar with brass collar and fittings, we will employ a less expensive substitute, which shall be the bottle fitted with perforated cork and tobacco-pipe shank. To the latter, by a little dexterous management, an air-tight bag, or a moistened flaccid bladder, may be connected by means of a length of string, and retained until quite full. If a thin bag of goldbeater's skin, have been filled as described, its orifice may be twisted by the finger and thumb, and then the bag set loose. It will ascend like a balloon,-a very fair representative of which it is,-and it will remain suspended until a certain portion of gas has exuded from its invisible pores; then it will fall. It must be here remembered, that neither hydrogen nor any other gas can be long retained pure in bladders or bags. Gradually the gas comes through certain invisible pores, and atmospheric air entering the same, takes its place, in such a manner, that the bag or bladder seems as full as it was originally; the fulness, however, being now due to a mixture of the original gas with atmospheric air. The ascent of a balloon is dependent on a cause precisely similar to the one which determines the ascent of a piece of cork, or other light substance through water; in either case the heavier substance sinks underneath, and presses up the lighter one.

In the early part of the first, or great French revolution, balloons were employed in the French army, for the purpose of taking observations of what was going on in the enemy's camp. For this purpose, the balloons were not allowed to ascend, and travel at random, but were retained at a certain elevation, by means of ropes. In this way, balloons rendered considerable military service, but the difficulty of keeping them in order during actual warfare led to their discontinuance. The subject of military balloons naturally leads us to a consideration of the method employed for obtaining hydrogen gas, in quantities sufficient for warlike use, and with sufficient rapidity. We beg, therefore, to introduce at this time, an experiment which Professor Faraday introduced, somewhat later in his discourse; the process of generating hydrogen by contact of water with red hot iron. This is a very pretty,

Let the reader take a clay flower-pot, represented in the preceding diagram by f. Let him bind this flower-pot tightly, by encircling it in several bands of copper wire, not represented in the diagram; this being done, let him make several holes in the flower-pot, by means of a mason's pick-hammer, or any other convenient instrument that his own ingenuity may suggest. It matters little as to the number or the size of the holes, or, indeed, as to the position of all, save two, one of which must be exactly opposite the other, and rather below it, in order that the piece of iron gas-pipe (d) may be enabled to pass through the flower-pot, used as a furnace at a proper angle. The next stage of the manufacture consists in making a sort of iron firegrate for the little furnace. This a child can easily manage, by means of some stout iron wire, in the binding and cutting of which he will find a pair of bellhanger's cutting pliers useful, though a pair of old scissors, or even an old knife blade will suffice upon an emergency. The firegrate being dropped in, it now remains to thrust across the furnace thus constructed, a length of iron tubing; either such as is employed by gas-fitters, or a gun-barrel open at either end. A perforated cork, supplied with a bent glass tube, either of pewter, or of glass, terminating under a receiver, standing in the pneumatic trough, is now to be added, as represented in the diagram. Small pieces of iron (small nails will answer perfectly well), are now to be put into the iron tube, until three parts filled;

when, finally, the upper perforated cork, with its tube, is to be adapted. The other end of this tube is attached to a Florence flask, containing a little water, and underneath the Florence flask is represented a spirit-lamp, for the purpose of converting the water into steam.

Now, from a consideration of the various parts of this apparatus, it is evident that as the steam evolved from water in the Florence flask, must necessarily traverse the iron tube containing small pieces of the same metal. Hence, on making the tube red-hot, every portion of it which comes into contact with the passing vapour, also every portion of the contained iron, robs the steal of its oxygen, and permits hydrogen to pass through alone.

By means of this process, Professor Faraday developed some hydrogen gas, and proved it to be hydrogen, by collecting it, and demonstrating that its properties were exactly similar to those possessed by hydrogen developed by any other means.

(To be continued.)

THE POWER OF WIT.-Wit, like every other power, has its boundaries. Its success depends on the aptitude of others to receive impressions; and that as some bodies, indissoluble by heat, can set the furnace and crucible at defiance, there are minds upon which the rays of fancy may be pointed without effect, and which no fire of sentiment can agitate, or exalt. -Johnson.

HYDER:

OR, THE VOW OF THE MYSORE PRINCE.

THE kings and princes of India had long been celebrated for their wealth and magnificence. The glittering gems, the countless rubies, the brilliant diamonds, the piles of gold and silver, which were said to be owned by these princes, had become an object of strong desire to their British visitors, and the hope of one day obtaining the mastery of a large part, if not the whole of India, led the British Government to take a course which should accomplish this object.

The province of Mysore is in the southern part of India, and is between the Carnatic on the east, and the Malabar coast on the west of the peninsula, and comprises a vast region of table-land, as it is called, which is about three thousand feet above the level of the sea. Its climate is healthy and delightful, its soil fertile, its people numerous, and its riches very great.

Two boys, Lhabaz and Hyder, were left with their mother, when Lhabaz was nine and Hyder only seven years of age, their father having been killed in battle. They were taken care of by their uncle, Ibrahim, who took the boys and their mother to live with him at his house.

Hyder was a wild and careless boy. He spent his time in games, amusements, and hunting, and would not even learn to read or write, or spend his time in any useful work, or even join the army, which in many countries has always been considered the great object of ambition-the trade of killing men-of making war, of burning cities, of slaughtering the old and the young, and of laying waste the fertile fields and the fruitful groves.

When Hyder was twenty-seven years old, his brother at last induced him to join in one of his battles; and once in the ranks, he displayed the greatest bravery, skill, and presence of mind, which soon made him a noted and favourite general.

The people of India are soon attracted by the glory of a great military leader, and before long Hyder had quite a large army of his own, whom he taught to plunder, and who were obliged to bring him all the booty they obtained. I suppose we should call him a great robber in this

country, for I do not see how he could have been a more wicked thief and plunderer. He made his troops lie in wait to rob convoys of grain, to steal horses, heads of cattle, and vehicles-everything they could take-and even the clothes from the people, the turbans from their heads, the earrings from the women; and so far did they go in their plundering and robbing, that they even took away the ornaments and trinkets from little children - everywhere, and from everybody, they lost no chance of carrying away whatever they could lay their hands upon. In this way Hyder in a short time had an army of 1,500 horse, and 5,000 foot-soldiers, with elephants, camels, and all the trappings and riches of a chief of very high rank. All this was done by a great system of robbery and wrong. But Hyder did only what the great marauder, Napoleon, did some years after him, on a larger scale; for Napoleon said to the rulers of France, "Give me men, and I will get you money; or give me money, and I will get you men." This is war,— and war is only the action of a band of men who plunder and rob by law; one robber has a title or a crown, with a large army, and robs nations, while another commits his crimes alone. Do you think God does not look upon the actions of Hyder, and all others like him, with as much displeasure as upon any of those who commit such crimes at night in our streets?

Hyder saw that he was rich and powerful, and he thought that he might make himself the ruler of Mysore. One of the young princes, who discovered this intention of Hyder, endeavoured to prevent it; but Hyder found it out, and took the officers and many of the men of the prince, and after cutting off their ears and roses, drove them into the street.

Hyder was thus getting his prince into a great deal of trouble, and by stirring up the soldiers and creditors of the prince to ask him for their pay, Nunjeraj, the prince, was obliged to give up the government to Hyder, who had been all the while his chief minister. This was just what he wanted. But a man, named Kunde Row, who was Hyder's chief adviser, turned traitor to him, and the robber was defeated in battle, and was almost on

the point of being entirely disappointed in his hopes. Kunde Row was now made ruler, while Hyder sought refuge with Nunjeraj, the prince he had so wickedly treated. He told him how sorry he was for his baseness, and begged the prince to be his friend. Nunjeraj, with great kindness, forgave him, and took him back into his protection. But Hyder had some letters written, which were to be sent to some of the officers of Kunde Row, as though they were engaged in a plan to kill him and go over again to Hyder. These letters he had sealed with the seal of Nunjeraj, and he contrived his trick so that these letters should fall into the hands of Kunde Row, who thought they were real letters. Thinking that his officers and men were waiting a chance to kill him, he ran away, when Hyder easily defeated his army, and plundered them of all their baggage, stores, ammunition, tents, and elephants. He got hold of Kunde Row, and when the ladies and the rajah begged he should be kindly treated, Hyder said he should be treated like a paroquet; by which they thought he would treat him like a friend and favourite. But he showed them what he meant, for as soon as he got Kunde Row into his hands, he put him into an iron cage, where he lived many years, and where he died, Hyder allowing him only rice and milk for his food.

Hyder had a son, named Tippoo. This son was very different from his father. He was a great student, was very industrious, and spent all his spare time in writing and study. Hyder had commenced and finished a war with the English; and after one of his battles, he had let his army rest, while he spent the time in luxurious and riotous living. Hyder, who could command a hundred thousand men on the field, and who took city after city, and won battle after battle, was so foolish and weak that he could not command himself. He spent his time in eating and drinking, and was often intoxicated from the use of strong drink.

The great prince of Mysore, for he had made himself prince, was the slave of his passions, and the slave of strong drink.

Hyder had overcome many enemies, but was now invaded by one of the neighbouring princes. Finding himself in a difficult

position, surprised by his enemy, and being intoxicated, he saw his son, Tippoo, then eighteen years of age. He broke out into loud complaints and reproaches, and seizing upon a thick heavy cane, beat him so violently that the marks were on his back for a week. Tippoo, feeling how great an injustice had been done to him, and how great an indignity had been heaped upon him, in the face of the army, went to the head of his own division of the troops, and taking off his sword, his turban, and his splendid robe, he threw them to the ground; saying to his soldiers, "My father may fight his own battle, for I swear by Alla and his Prophet, that I draw no sword to-day." The army, we are told, were thus left to themselves; when they scattered in every direction, and the hostile forces gained immense booty. Tippoo put on the clothes of a poor man, and made his way to the chief city, where his father had arrived a short time before him.

Such is a short sketch of the life of Hyder, who lived to the age of eighty years, without learning to read or write, yet became one of the greatest sovereigns of India. Had he devoted the same genius and labour to the good of his people, his name would have been one of the brightest in history.

In the conduct of Hyder to his son we see what a terrible master over kings as well as people strong drink may become. It maddens the brain, takes away the senses, makes one believe his dearest friends, his wife and his children, are enemies, makes a man a monster, and leads to the most cruel and frightful of crimes. Kings who cannot be conquered by the greatest armies of the world, are made poor and helpless captives by a draught of strong drink. They who govern hundreds of thousands, even millions, of people, cannot govern their own passion for the poisonous bowl.

Hyder lost a splendid occasion for conquering his enemies, by his having taken the fatal draught. He dethroned himsel before his army, for he acted more like a madman than a king-and Tippoo, who might have led the army safely along on their course, left it, and in a desperate race for his life, Hyder had to regret his folly and his wrong.

66

ORIGINS AND INVENTIONS.

SENDING TO COVENTRY.-Hutton, in his History of Birmingham," says: "The day after Charles I. left Birmingham, on his march from Shrewsbury, in 1642, the parliamentary party seized his carriages containing the royal plate and furniture, which they conveyed for security to War. wick Castle. They apprehended all messengers and suspected persons, and frequently attacked and reduced small parties of the royalists, whom they sent prisoners to Coventry. Hence the expression respecting a refractory person, 'Send him to Coventry.""

REPUTED ORIGIN OF "BLACKGUARDISM." In all great houses, but particularly in royal residences, there were a number of mean and dirty dependants, whose office it was to attend the wood-yard, sculleries, &c. Of these (for in the lowest depth there was a lower still), the most forlorn wretches seem to have been selected to carry coals to the kitchens, halls, &c. To this smutty regiment, who attended the progresses, and rode in the carts with the pots and kettles, which, with every other article of furniture, were then moved from palace to palace, the people in derision gave the name of blackguards, a term since become sufficiently familiar, and never before properly explained.-Gifford's Notes

to Ben Jonson.

THE BUDGET. In a recent work on political economy, M. Ch. Coquelin says, that the word budget, in its present signification, has passed into France from England; the latter country having first borrowed it from the old French language -bougette, signifying (and particularly in old Norman) a leather purse. It was the custom in England to put into a leather bag the estimates of receipts and expenditure presented to parliament; and hence, as Coquelin observes, the term passed from the containant to the contained, and, with this new signification, returned from this country into France; where it was first used in an official manner in the arrêtés of the Consul's 4th

Thermidor, year X., and 17th Germinal,

year XI.

CALICO PRINTING.-It is understood

46

that calico printing was introduced into Europe from the east; but it is not generally known that the art was practised by the ancient Egyptians; that such was the case, however, is clear, from the following passage in Pliny's "Natural History:" In Egypt they produce coloured figures on garments in a remarkable manner. They first rubbed into the white cloths a liquid application, not of colours, but of drugs, which absorb or fix colours. applied their mordants by means of a (Probably they did not use blocks, but brush or pencil). When they have done but these being plunged into a cauldron this, it does not show upon the cloths; of dye, in a boiling state, are immediately after taken out coloured, (that is, with coloured figures or patterns upon them, as the word pictus always denotes, when applied to any article of dress). It is remarkable, that though there is only one colour in the vat or cauldron, it produces several different colours in the garment, being changed according to the properties of the drug which receives it; nor can it be afterwards removed by washing."

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. - People who are ignorant of weights and measures fall upon odd shifts to supply the defect. Martyn's "Geography of China" says: "The reign of their third emperor is mentioned as the era of the invention of measures. A grain of millet was used to determine the dimensions of a line, or tenth of an inch, and ten inches made a foot; but as these grains are of an oval form, the various methods of arranging them have introduced a diversity of meaKaimes says: sures in different provinces."

Lord

"Howel Dha, prince of Wales, who died in the year 948, was their capital law-giver. One of his laws is, 'If any one kill or steal the cat that guards the prince's granary, he forfeits

a milch ewe with her lamb; or as much wheat as will cover the cat when suspended by the tail, the head touching the ground."" Some of the laws of this prince are by no means remarkable for delicacy, particularly those that relate to injuries done to the sex. In 1101, the measure of an ell or yard was fixed by Henry the First's arm: but the standard of weights and measures was not finally adopted till the year 1257.