same instant, to every ship in the fleet. The means he used have never been made public, and from the small number and high naval rank of the individuals to whom it is necessary to intrust the secret, they may long remain hidden. The instrument invented by Mr. Colles consists of five points, with a moveable arm, like the finger of a watch, and three shutters, the combined movements of which are capable of seventy different signals; a number more than is requisite for any purposes of letters or figures. From the decimal arrangement produced by the points of the star, and its intermediate spaces, it can be moved with much more quickness than either the English or French, where no regular scale of numbers is adopted, but all the signs are purely arbitrary. By changing the unit point of the star, or the mode of expressing the tens by the shutters, the arrangement of the signals may be altered at pleasure, so as to prevent their being read by any but persons employed in their management. The chief disadvantage to which this kind of telegraph is liable, is, that it will be necessary, in a chain of them, to have two instruments at each intermediate station; as each will only give signals in one direction: this would cause some trifling increase in the expense, above the French or English constructions, which communicate both ways; but it would be amply compensated by the greater ease of making the signals, and the small acquirements necessary in the signal officers. We recollect seeing an account of a telegraph invented in Sweden, on the principle of the binary arithmetic of Leibnitz: this would be simpler in its construction than the decimal arrangement of Mr. Colles; but the use of the signals would require a proficiency in mathematical knowledge, which might not always be procured; and which would prevent its use for common purposes: and though the number of changes in the signals would certainly be less, yet many more repetitions would be necessary, to convey the same intelligence. Upon the whole, we feel authorized to say, that we can recommend the telegraph of Mr. Colles as the most simple we have ever met with, and combining all the advantages which can be looked for in that instrument. It is with pleasure that we seize this opportunity of calling public attention to this bumble, but meritorious individual. We have long noticed his persevering and cheerful devotion to the arts, in spite of all the disadvantages of poverty and old age: while others, of far less pretensions, have been claiming and receiving honours and rewards, he has been quietly enriching his country, but not himself, by ingenious and useful inventions, of which others have sometimes got the credit, and almost always the profit. We hope that his present invention may meet with the approbation of government, and that patronage be extended to the inventor which has been fully earned, by a long life of valuable labour. R. JUNIUS. [The following letter we have received from a gentleman, whose name, were we permitted to use it, would give weight and value to the information communicated. As a late publication of a complete edition of Junius has revived public curiosity concerning the real author, every thing that may tend to throw a gleam into the darkness and mystery by which his name is still surrounded, must be interesting to the literary world.] DEAR SIR, In the last number of the Analectic Magazine, I observed a review of Woodfall's Junius. The perusal of it recalled to mind a conversation I had some years ago with a gentleman concerning the author of those celebrated letters. The late Mr. John Bannister, of Rhode Island, (to whom I allude,) was, in the beginning of the American war, in England. Being a young man of family, property, convivial habits, and a royalist, he was, as I have understood, well received there. He informed me that he had been very intimate with Mr. (now Count) Rumford, at that time private secretary to Lord George Germain, (formerly Lord G. Sackville,) and that Mr. R. had assured him, that Lord George was really the author of the "Letters of Junius;" that he, Mr. R., had even seen the manuscripts. I, at that time, did not credit the information, as I had made up my mind to the belief that the author was Lord Chatham, and I was unwilling to tear from the brow of this illustrious statesman, the least of the laurels with which a youthful fancy had decked him. I do not wish to give more importance to this information than it deserves. After the lapse of more than thirty years, Mr. B. who when I knew him was not a literary man, might have connected very early the reports of the day with his acquaintance with Mr. Rumford. But, on the other hand, these gentlemen were young, fugitives from their country, and from the same neighbourhood. A confidence more unlimited would naturally be formed in these circumstances, than in others accompanied with greater similarity of taste. Count Rumford is probably, therefore, the man from whom we may expect to receive the secret. can have no reason, if called on, to refuse to gratify the public, nor should he hesitate to rescue the memory of his patron from the dishonour of his actual reputation. The author of “Junius's Letters" could not have been guilty of cowardice at the battle of Minden. I am, dear Sir, &c. He CAPTAIN LAWRENCE. SINCE the publication of our biographical sketch of this lamented officer, a letter has been put in our hands, from Commodore Bainbridge, contradicting the statement of his having dissuaded Capt. Lawrence from encountering the Shannon; and mentioning that he did not see Capt. L. for several days previous to his sailing. The hasty manner in which the biography was written, though it is a poor apology for incorrectness, may account for any errors that may occur. In fact, we did but consider ourselves as pioneers, breaking the way for more able and wary biographers who should come after us: who might diligently pursue the path we had opened, profit by the tracks we had left, and cautiously avoid the false steps we had made. The facts respecting the battle were almost all taken from notes of a conversation with one of the officers of the Chesapeake, which were afterwards revised and acknowledged by him. Some, it is true, were cautiously selected from the current reports of the day, according as they bore the stamp of probability, and were supported by the concurrence of various testimony. These may occasionally be somewhat misstated, but we believe that in general they are materially correct. That any blame could ever attach for a moment to the conduct of Capt. Lawrence, in encountering the Shannon, though superior in equipment, we never insinuated, or supposed. On the contrary, we admired that zeal for the honour of his flag, and that jealousy of his own reputation, that led him, in the face of obvious disadvantages, to a battle, which men of less heroism would have declined without disgrace. The calculating, catitious-spirited commander, who warily measures the weapons, and estimates the force of his opponent, and shuns all engagements, where the chances are not in his favour, may gain the reputation of prudence, but never of valour. There were sufficient chances on the side of Lawrence to exculpate him from all imputation of rashness, and sufficient perils to entitle him to the highest character for courage. He who would greatly deserve, must greatly dare, for brilliant victory is only achieved at the risk of disastrous defeat, and those laurels are ever brightest, that are gathered on the very brink of danger. THE LAY OF THE SCOTTISH FIDDLE: A TALE OF HAVRE DE GRACE. A LITTLE work, "supposed to be written by Walter Scott, Esq." with the above title, has just issued from the press, under the fashionable modern form of a poem with notes: the late period at which it was put in our hands prevents us from entering into a particular account of it. The writer appears to have more than one object in view. At first, his intention seems to be merely to satirize and parody the writings of Walter Scott, which have lately had such an all pervading circulation in the fashionable world; but in the course of his work, he seems disposed to extend his lash to the follies and errors of his countrymen; to advocate the present war; and to retaliate, in a good-humoured way, on the British invaders in the Chesapeake, for their excesses at Havre de Grace. But though ridicule and merriment appear to be the leading features, the work is occasionally diversified by little passages of pathos and feeling; the descriptions of American scenery, and American manners, are touched off with much truth of pencil and felicity of manner, and there are several veins of thought, that would do credit to a work of a more elevated and sober character. There are, however, some traces of political satire discernible in this volume, which, though managed with great good nature, we regret that the revising hand of the author had not expunged; as they are calculated to awaken angry feelings in some bosoms, and to injure the interests of a work, which would otherwise be read with pleasure and approbation throughout the union. We subjoin a few extracts, hastily made, as specimens of the nature and merits of the work. The introduction is somewhat of a parody on the introduction to Mr. Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel; instead of a harper, we are presented with a fiddler. "THE way was long, though 'twas not cold, Through which the well carv'd head was seen Of gaping lion, yawning wide, In regal pomp of beastly pride. The last of all the race was he, Who charm'd the ear with tweedle dee. For lack-a-day! full well I ween The happy times he once had seen, “Had call'd his harmless art a crime;" |