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Lordship with great humanity ordered a number of hands from the dock-yard, who went with the ut most alacrity, and tried every effort to regain the fhip, but unhappily without effect.

Thus ended this unfortunate affair. Mr. Blake had not experience enough to judge of all poffible contingencies, and has only now to lament the credulity with which he liftened to a projector, fond of his own scheme, but certainly not poffeffed of skill enough to guard against the variety of accidents to which he was liable. The poor man has unfortunately fhortened his days; he was not, however, tempted or influenced by any body; he confided in his own judgment, and put his life to the hazard upon his own mistaken notions.

Many and various have been the opinions on this ftrange, ufelefs, and fatal experiment, though the more reasonable and intelligent part of mankind feem to give it up as wholly impracticable. It is well known, that pent-up air, when over-charged with the vapours emitted out of animal bodies, becomes unfit for refpiration; for which reafon, thofe confined in the diving-bell, after continuing fome time under water, are obliged to come up, and take in fresh air, or by fome fuch means recruit it. That any man should be able, after having funk a veffel to fo great a depth, to make that veffel at plea fure fo much more specifically lighter than water, as thereby to enable it to force its way to the furface, through the depreffure of fo great a weight, is a matter not hattily to be credited. Even cork, when funk to a certain depth, will,

by the great weight of the fluid upon it, be prevented from rifing.

With respect to an animal being able to breathe for any confiderable time in pent-up air, we are indeed told, by an author of the first rank, that the famous Cornelius Drebelle contrived, not only a veffel to be rowed under water, but also a liquor to be carried in that vessel, which would fupply the want of fresh air. The veffel was made by the order of James the Firft, and carried twelve rowers, befides paffengers. It was tried in the river Thames, and one of the perfons, who was in that fubmarine naviga. tion, told the particulars of that experiment to a perfon, who afterwards related them to the great Mr. Boyle.

As to the liquor, Mr. Boyle fays, he difcovered by a phyfician, who married Drebelle's daughter, that it was used from time to time, to purify and renew the air, and thereby preferve it in a ftate neceffary for respiration.

Defcription of a curious Time-piece

in Mr. Cox's Museum.

AMONG other great works now introduced at Mr. Cox's Museum is an immense Barometer, of fo extraordinary a construction, that by it the long fought for, and in all likelihood the only perpetual motion that ever will be difcovered, is obtained. The conftant revolution of wheels moving in vertical, horizontal, and other directions, is not only phyfically produced, but the indication of time from an union of the philofophic with the mechanic principles is effected.

Upon

Upon the dial, befides a minute and an hour hand, is another hand dividing the minute into 60 equal parts. Thefe hands are motionlefs, till affixed to the primary motion, fo that the motion of the time-piece (as Mr. Cox in his defcriptive inventory judiciously expreffes it) is originated, continued, and perfected, by the philofophic principle through which it is (folely) actuated.

The encouragement Mr. Cox has, for many years, given to men of genius, and the perfeverance with which he has purfued the great line of utility, have not only given birth to productions that have aftonished all Europe, as well as the eaftern world, but have at laft produced the wonderful machine above defcribed. Several of the most eminent philofophers and mathematicians in this kingdom, who have examined it attentively, are of opinion, that it will lead to farther improvements both in philofophy and mechanics; and we hear that Mr. Cox intends to devote a part of every week to the gratification of fuch gentlemen in the fcientific world, as wifh to be acquainted either with the conftruction or the mode of operation, the principles of action, or the masterly

execution of fo capital a perform

ance.

This article is, we are informed, one of the prizes, and the work of many years, during which time numberlefs ineffectual and expenfive trials were made, which perhaps would have damped any ardour but Mr. Cox's, and probably prevented the world from being benefited by fo valuable a difcovery.

ever

" I have seen and examined (fays Mr. James Ferguson, in a letter dated Bolt-court, Fleet-ftreet, Jan. 28) the above-defcribed clock, which is kept conftantly going, by the rifing and falling of the quickfilver in a most extraordinary barometer; and there is no danger of its ever failing to go; for there is always fuch a quantity of moving power accumulated, as would keep the clock going for a year, even if the barometer fhould be taken quite away from it. And indeed, on examining the whole contrivance and conftruction, I muft with truth fay, that it is the most ingenious piece of mechanifm I ever faw in my life."

For a further account of this extraordinary machine, fee Mr. Cox's defcriptive inventory of his mufeum.

SUPPLIES

SUPPLIES granted by by Parliament, for

1.THAT

the Year 1774.

JANUARY 24, 1774.

HAT 20,000 men be employed, for the fea fervice, for the year 1774, including 4354 marines.

2. And that a fum, not exceeding 41. per man per month, be allowed for maintaining the faid 20,000 men for 13 months, including ordnance for fea fervice

JANUARY 27.

1. That a number of land forces, including 1522 invalids, amounting to 18,024'effective men, commiffion and non-commiffion officers included, be employed for the year 1774..

2. For defraying the charge of 18,024 effective men, for guards, garrifons, and other his Majefty's Jand forces, in Great-Britain, Jersey, and Guernsey, for the year 1774.

3. For maintaining his majefty's forces and garrifons in the plantations and Africa, including those in garrifon at Minorca and Gibraltar; and for provifions for the forces in North-America, NovaScotia, Newfoundland, Gibraltar, the ceded Iflands, and Africa, for the year 1774

4. For defraying the charge of the difference of pay between the British and Irish establishment of five battalions and three companies of foot, ferving in the Ifle of Man, at Gibraltar, Minorca, and the ceded Islands, for the year 1774

5. For the pay of the general and general staffofficers in Great-Britain, for the year 1774

6. Upon account, towards defraying the charge of out-penfioners of Chelsea-hofpital, for the year 1774

7. Upon account of the reduced officers of his Majefty's land forces and marines, for the year 1774

8. For defraying the charge for allowances to the feveral officers and private gentlemen of the two troops of horie-guards reduced, and to the fuper

1040000 0

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annuated

annuated gentlemen of the four troops of horseguards, for the year 1774

9. For the paying of penfions to the widows of fuch reduced officers of his Majesty's land forces and marines as died upon the establishment of halfpay in Great-Britain, and were married to them before the 25th day of December, 1716, for the year 1774

10. For the charge of the office of ordnance, for land fervice, for the year 1774

11. For defraying the expence of fervices performed by the office of ordnance for land fervice, and not provided for by parliament in 1773

FEBRUARY 22.

1. For the ordinary of the navy, including halfpay to fea and marine officers, for the

year 1774

2. Towards the buildings, re-buildings, and repairs of ships of war in his majefty's yards, and other extra works, over and above what are propofed to be done upon the heads of wear and tear and ordinary, for the year 1774

3. That provifion be made for the pay and cloathing of the militia, and for their fubfiftence during the time they shall be abfent from home, on account of the annual exercife, for the year 1774

MARCH 21.

1. Upon account of the expences of the new roads of communication, and building bridges, in the highlands of North-Britain, in the year 1774

2. Towards enabling the trustees of the British Museum to carry on the execution of the trust repofed in them by parliament

I.

MARCH 24.

Upon account, for defraying the expences attending general furveys of his Majefty's dominions in North America, for the year 1774

2. Upon account, for defraying the expence of fupporting and maintaining the civil eftablishment of the government of Senegambia, on that part of the coaft of Africa, fituate between the port of Salle,

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in South-Barbary, and Cape-Rouge, for the year 1774

3. Upon account, for maintaining and fupporting the civil establishment of his Majesty's colony of Nova Scotia, for the year 1774

4. Upon account, for defraying the charges of the civil establishment of his Majefty's colony of Georgia, and other incidental expences attending the fame, from the 24th of June, 1773, to the 24th of June, 1774

5. Upon account, for defraying the expences of the civil eftablishment of his Majesty's colony of East Florida, and other incidental expences attending the fame, from the 24th of June, 1773, to the 24th of June, 1774

6. Upon account, for defraying the expences of the civil eftablishment of his Majefty's colony of Weft-Florida, and other incidental expences attending the fame, from the 24th of June, 1773, to the, 24th of June, 1774

MARCH 31.

For paying off and discharging the Exchequerbills, made out by virtue of an act, paffed in the laft feffion of parliament, intitled, An act for raifing a certain fum of money, by loans or Exchequer-bills, for the fervice of the year 1773, and charged upon the first aids to be granted in this feffion of parliament

1.

MAY 9.

That his Majefty be enabled to allow to the ad. miniftrator with the will annexed, or other the perfonal reprefentative, of Sir Jofeph Jekyll, Knight, deceased, the fum of 10,000l. South-Sea ftock, part of the legacy given by the will of the faid Sir Jofeph Jekyll to his late Majefty King George the Second, his heirs and fucceffors, Kings and Queens of England, to be applied to the ufe of the finking fund, in fuch manner as fhould be directed by parliament, together with all dividends due and to grow due on the faid fum of 10,000l. and with all dividends due and unreceived upon the fum of 10,000l. Eaft-India ftock, other part of the faid legacy, to be applied, by him or them, for the benefit of the refiduary legatees of the faid Sir Jofeph Jekyll, and of his

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