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MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT.

FROST, longer and more severe than has been experienced in this country for many

every species of out-door or field business, even that of the dung cart. The only em ployment has been attendance upon the live stock in the straw-yard, which, from the great plenty of fodder, has been most successful. The covering of snow will however be very beneficial to the wheat crops, which generally stood in need of a check to their luxuriance; and the fallows will receive an ample share of benefit from the same cause, producing fine and friable moulds for the approaching seed season.

Cattle crops, turnips, cabbage, &c. are in an uncertain state, dependent upon the nature of the thaw, for the degree of damage they may sustain; and as usual, very few growers have had the precaution to draw and stack any part of their roots.

Reports from the north, confirm the universal favourable accounts of the last crop of every kind of produce, particularly wheat and barley, more excellent still in quality than bulk. No appearance of disease in the wheats, except sprinklings of smut in many parts, but to no great extent. The wheat seed time also was most favourable, equal to that of the best years; and notwithstanding the very considerable reduction of prices, improvements and the culture of new lands advance with great spirit. Nor have rents fallen, the full prices being current for all the late leases granted, the term of some having been extended in consequence. Our worst report is the extreme distress of the labouring classes, during the severe weather.

The wool markets in general looking upwards, but coarse long wool much in request, and dearer than at any former period. Cattle and pig markets, both fat and store, scantily supplied, and extremely dear. Cows dearer, horses somewhat cheaper, particularly of the cart kind, in some degree to be attributed to the rational return of many farmers to ox labour, and the consequent expectation that it is about to become general, one of the greatest objects of national and individual economy.

Smithfield: Beef 5s. to 7s.-Mutton 6s. to 8s.-Veal 8s. to 10s.--Lamb 20s. to 25s. per quarter.-Pork 6s. 8d. to 8s. 8d.-Bacon 8s. 4d. to os. 8d.--Irish ditto 7. 4d. to 7s. 8d.-Skins 25s. to 60s.-Fat 6s. 8d.-Oil cake 16.-Potatoes 31. 10s. to 6l. 10s.

Corn Exchange: Wheat 548. to 84s.-Barley 34s. to 46s-Oats 18s. to 36s.The quartern loaf 134d.-Hay 31. to 51. 5s.-Clover ditto 51. to 71. 7s.--Straw 11. 10s. to 21. 28.

REPORT OF THE PROGRESS OF CHEMISTRY.

DR. BOSTOCK, of Liverpool, has published in the Transactions of the Medico

Chirurgical Society of London, some able observations on the Nature and Apalysis of Animal Fluids, to which we shall devote our present Report.

He says that, a considerable part of his essay was written before he was favoured with a perusal of Professor BERZELIUS's paper, which was printed in the last volume of these Transactions; and the perusal afforded a presumption of the correctness of many of his own opinions, to find that they had been adopted, without concert or communication, by one so distinguished for his learning and acuteness.

Mucus is viscid or tenacious fluids, capable of being drawn into threads, but not of being poured in the form of drops, containing a great quantity of water, but not readily miscible with any additional quantity. Saliva may be adduced as a specimen of them: and to the same class belongs the nasal mucus, the mucus found in the stomach, that Occasionally discharged from the bladder, and that from the intestinal canal. These fluids differ from the albuminous, in being principally composed of a substance which is not exactly similar to any thing in the blood; and on this account, they are to be consi dered as the products of secretion, rather than of transudation. They also differ in another circumstance, which is of considerable importance in a pathological point of view; that whereas the albuminous fluids seem to be all confined in close cavities, the mucus fluids, in their natural state, are poured out into passages that communicate with the external surface of the body. It is not possible to collect and examine these fluids in the same manner with the albuminous: they are secreted gradually, and are discharged as they are secreted they are united to variable quantities of water; and, in most cases, they are mixed with extraneous bodies before they are discharged.

The saliva consists of a variable proportion of water, of two animal substances, one which, in its chemical nature, resembles coagulated albumen, of another which is uncoagulable, and of salts. From the circumstance of its being united to a large quantity of water, while at the same time it is very difficult to unite an additional quantity to it, we must suppose that it possesses a certain degree of organization; and as its chemical properties are the same with those of membrane, it is perhaps the first step towards the formation of this body. From its half organized state, it is less affected by different reagents than albumen; but after a sufficient length of time, it exhibits the same attraction for the oxy-muriate of mercury and for tan, and in the same manner it has its union

with the former of these substances promoted by heat. The other animal substance in saliva, he considers, as being very nearly, if not entirely, similar to the uncoagulable matter in albumen ovi and in serum.

There is still a third class of animal fluids, the particled, which should next come under our consideration, the peculiar characteristic of which consists in their containing particles visible to the naked eye. He examined a few of these fluids which had been discharged from tumours situate both in muscular and in glandular parts. One of them was procured from a confined tumour on the thigh; its basis consisted of an albuminous fluid, and the particles were composed of a substance very similar to spermaceti, both in its physical and chemical properties. Like this substance, it exhibited a considerable Justre, which it communicated to the fluid, so that when it was gently agitated, it gave to it a waved or glossy appearance, not unlike satin. As the fluid part was miscible with water, while the particles were insoluble, they were readily separated, and retained their lustre for some time after being dried.

SYNOPSIS OF SOME ALBUMINOUS FLUIDS.

1. Physical Properties.

a. Specific gravity.

b. Colour.

c. Consistence.

d. Odor.

e. Alkalescency. f. Miscellaneous circumstances.

2. Spontaneous changes.

3. Coagulability.

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Readily miscible

Transparent; per

with water.

nauseous.

Transparent, but

contains membranoushaps always in health.
filaments.

White sediment de- Becomes foetid, Becomes fœtid; at
posited, alkalescence but less so than ma-first odor like pus;
increased, odor very uy other albuminous deposits a creamy se-
fluids.
diment, then flakes.
Complete coagu- By boiling firm By boiling so firm
um by heat, rather coagulum; oxym. rer. as to be cut with a
soft, serosity oozedders it more dense, knife; oxym. pro
froin it; rendered and separates the se- iuces the usual ef
more dense by oxym.jrosity.
fect.
About left.

left in one About left.
specimen, in the

4. Evaporation.

other

5. Reagents.
a. Oxym. mercury

b. Tan.
c. Superac. of
lead.

d. Nitrate of sil

ver.

e. Muriatic acid.

6. Uncoagulable

Copious precipi The whole con- The whole con
verted into a deuse verted into a thick

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Proved to exist by

matter.

7. Analysis.

a. Water.

b. Albumen, c. Unccag.

matter.

d. Salts.

evaporation, and by nitrate of silver and nitrate of silver and

nitrate of silver, and muriate of tin.
acetate and super-

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1814.] Monthly Botanical and Meteorological Reports.

MONTHLY BOTANICAL REPORT.

99

INCE our last Report a second number of Mr.Bauer's work, which we there so high ly appreciated, has appeared, and fully merits the same applause. It contains repre sentations of the following plants:

6. ANEILEMA crispata. This is a new genus, framed by Mr. Brown, belonging to the natural order of Commelineæ, and indeed is intended to include several species that have been heretofore referred to Commelina, viz. gigantea, vaginata, nudiflora, spirata, and medica, of Vahl's Enumeratio.

The genus is distinguished from Commelina chiefly by the want of an involucrum, dise tinct from the rest of the foliage. Mr. Brown has not given the etymology of the name; we suppose it is from aλa, an envelope; though it must be confessed to be rather out of the usual course to name a plant from a part which is wanting. But it is of little consequence. Nor should we have stopped to enquire into the origin of the name, but for the sake of determining the pronunciation; if the derivation be right the accent must lie upon the last syllable but one. Nothing can exceed the distinctness with which the dissections of every part are displayed in this beautiful figure.

7. CARTONEMA spicata. Another genus from the same natural order, which, having six equal and perfect stamens, belongs to the sixth class in the Linnean system, and has therefore more affinity with Tradescantia than with Commelina, and differs materially from both, and very far indeed in habit. Having naked filaments, which in Tradescantia are hairy, this circumstance has given occasion to the name, zagrov vpn, shaved filument. The stigma is said to be pubescent, but in the figure this is only visible in the highly magnified dissection.

8. CHILOGLOTTIs diphylla, belongs to the natural order of Orchidea, and takes its name, we presume, from the tongue-like lip (labellum). There is only one species recorded either of this or the preceding genus. Other plants of the same order, which have some affinity with the Chiloglottis, occur in New Holland, but we have nothing like it m Europe.

9. GREVILLEA Banksii. This beautiful genus was named by Mr. Brown after the late Right Hon. Charles Francis Greville, esq. best known for his celebrated collection of minerals, purchased since his death by parliament, and deposited in the British Museum. He was likewise possessed of a very large collection of rare plants from all parts of the world, which he was ever ready to communicate to the scientific botanist.

Of this genus, eight and thirty species, divided into several sections, are described by Mr. Brown in his Prodromus. It belongs to the natural order of Proteaces. There is a very great singularity in the pubescence of this genus, and of the nearly related one Hukea, or Conchium, of Dr. Smith; that such species as are hairy have their hairs attached by the middle, a structure not observed by Mr. Brown in any other genus of this extensive order.

10. BRUNONIA sericea. This singular genus was named in honour of Robert Brown, esq. the learned author of the Prodromus Nova Hollandiæ, by Dr. Smith, in the 10th volume of the Transactions of the Linnean Society. In habits it approaches to Globularius and by Dr. Smith was hesitatingly added to the natural order of aggregata of Linnæus, the Dipsaca of Jussieu. Mr. Brown considers it as intermediate between the Goodenovia and Corymbiferæ. There are two species of this genus, both of which are figured in the Linnean Society's Transactions.

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There has been no rain this month, excepting a very small quantity on Christmas day; the quantity of snow fallen in this neighbourhood exceeds et ery thing of the kind for a great

A

great mumber of years; but this is not measurable by any kind of weather-gage with which we are acquainted.

The average height of the barometer for the month is 29.50: that of the thermometer is 262 nearly, several degrees short of what it has been the last twelve years.

Christmas-day, which is the first day of our month, was wet, foggy, and extremely un. comfortable; but at Highgate, the three following days, viz. the 26th, 27th, and 28th, were among the most brilliant that ever shone, not a cloud or a particle of fog intervened to obscure for a moment the splendor of the sun.

In London, however, and in many other parts south, east, and west of the metropolis, and even to the foot of Highgate Hill, those tremendous fogs occurred, which continued almost without any cessation eight days: they began on the 27th, and the last was on January 3d: of these we experienced, on the hill, very little, excepting on part of two or three days. On most of the roads, excepting the high north, travelling was performed with the utmost danger, and the progress of the mails was greatly impeded. On Wednesday the 29th, the Birmingham mail was, we were informed, nearly seven hours in going from the post-office to a mile or two below Uxbridge: on this, and the other evenings, the short stages in the neighbourhood of London bad two persons with links, running by the horses heads; nevertheless, with this and other precautions, some serious and many whimsical accidents occurred. It would be desirable to ascertain as accurately as possible, how far these fogs extended, in order that some foundation might be laid to enquire into the canse which produced them, or whether they have been at all connected with the vast quantity of snow fallen: it being certain that the snow began to fall in Large quantities the very day after the fogs were dispersed.

We have said that 15 is the lowest that we have seen the thermometer, which is exposed as usual to a N. E. aspect: we have heard it has been as low as 129 in Kentish Town; and it is said, that at Wandsworth, Battersea, and that neighbourhood, it has been as low as 78; we own we have some doubts as to the accuracy of the observers. In general, the coldest time has been abont eight o'clock in the morning; and at Highgate, (on the south side of the hill, it has never been lower than 15o :) in all the cold weather, the instrument was examined at five o'clock, and also at eight, and uniformly it was colder at the latter hour than at the former, unless there was an evident change from cold to heat, as there has been during the last twenty hours, it being yesterday, (the 25th) at three o'clock, 329; at night at vine, 219; at five this morning, (the 26th) at 299; and now at eleven o'clock it is 358. We very much suspect the accuracy of those instruments that have registered, in the neighbourhood of London, the degrees of cold at 79. We have no well authenticated accounts from any part of England or Scotland, of the thermometer having been as low as this. In the West of England, the frost has been very severe, where the snow has been more abundant than it has here; but at Plymouth, it was not below 179; it is said, however, that on a N. E. wall, at Sir Thomas Acland's, at nine in the morning of the 13th, the mercury was as low as 39.

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In our next we will resume the subject, and give a summary of the weather, not only for the last year, but for the last twelve years.

TO CORRESPONDENTS, &c.

A crowd of communications beyond all former example, as our pages fully testify, has com pelled us to defer the much-esteemed favours of many old and valued Correspondents. Continuations from the same cause are delayed, of the Population Tables, of the Code Napolean, of the State of Manners, &c. in India, of the Young and Richardson correspondence, &c. &c.

Our Kentish Town correspondent has our warmest thanks, and we court an interview with him.

Our Parnassian friend is informed, that we always insert without delay, specimens of Poetical Works in the press, with which their Authors may favour us.

As a compliment justly due to those Correspondents, who confer authority on their papers by their signatures, we purpose in future to exempt them from the condition of paying postage; but to prevent mistakes, it is necessary they should indorse their Letters with their names at the corner of the Address.

Amicus, and some other Friends, are more anxious than we are in regard to certain unprincipled and malignant Advertisements in the Newspapers. We have lived too long to be moved by such audacious quackery; and our pages and our publisher's accounts of increased and increasing sales, afford triumphant and tangible answers to calumnies which defeat themselves by their grossness. We are strong and invincible, while our cause is that of Truth and Humanity; and while our Friends continue to enrich our pages to the extent which is so conspicuous in our current Number.

Our usual Supplementary Number is published, and will be delivered with the present Magazine.

ERRATUM,In the second paragragh of the Public Affairs, for "Menta" read "Metz."

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THE

MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

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No. 252.]

[2 of Vol. 37.

As long as those who write are ambitious of making Converts, and of giving their Opinions a Maximum. of Influence and Celebrity, the most extensively circulated Miscellany will repay with the greatest Effect the Curiosity of those who read, whether it be for Amusement or for Instruction.JOHNSON.

Sir Joshua Reynolds, on being questioned in regard to the cause of the inferiority of counterfeits and imitators, answered, that their being copyists was of itself a proof of the inferiority of their powers, and that while they continued to be so, it was impossible for them to attain superiority. "It was like a man's resolving to go behind another, and whilst that resolution lasted, it would be impossible he should ever be on a par with him."NORTHCOTE.

CONTINUATION of the ACCOUNT of the recent ERECTION of PUBLIC BUILDINGS in various PARTS of the BRITISH EMPIRE.

THE ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY, WOOLWICH.
Twich wasablished
THE Royal Military Academy at Wool-

year 1741, by warrants from King George II. The situation of the old academy in the Royal Arsenal being found unfavourable in many respects, and the gradual increase of the establishment calling for a larger building, a new one has been erected in an elevated situation near the foot of Shooter's Hill, and at the distance of about a mile from the Thames. The first stone was laid in May 1803, and the academy was removed to the new buildings (of which the above sketch exhibits the north front) on the 12th of August,

1806.

as

The youths who are educated in this institution form a separate company, under the denomination of "The Company of Gentlemen Cadets." They receive pay from the moment they enter the company (which is so managed as to defray the expences of board, education, books, uniform, &c.), and are under military discipline, the Master-General of the Ordnance being their captain, as well governor of the academy. Under him there are two captains, and four lieutenants, upon whom devolve the military care and instruction of the cadets when they are out of the academy. The present number of cadets at the institution is about 200; though we believe there are others in the company who cannot yet be received for want of room. the department of instruction there are, under the general direction of a lieutenant-governor, inspector, and assistant MONTHLY MAG. No. 252.

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and six mathematical masters; a profes inspector, a professor of mathematics,

sor of fortification, and two masters; a chemical professor; two French masters; two masters of surveying and plan-drawing; two other drawing masters; with fencing and dancing masters. The cadets are admitted to the institution on an examination, the qualifications for which were stated among our Literary Varieties, in a late Monthly Magazine. After their admission the strictest impartiality is observed. There neither is, nor can be, a system of favouritism in this institution. The cadets are examined for promotion from one class to another, and the inspectors always attend these examinations; talents and attainments alone ensure the preference. The examinations for commissions, which are the most important, are half yearly; and they are always held before a board of general officers, who recommend the cadets for commissions in the Artillery or Royal Engineer service, according to their fit-: ness and proficiency.

Among the gentlemen of established reputation now connected with this im portant institution, are the following. Colonel Mudge, the able and scientific. conductor of the "Trigonometrical Sur-. vey of England and Wales," is the lieutenant-governor, under whose superinten-: dence the academy is rapidly returning to the state of celebrity it had twenty or thirty years ago. Dr. Hutton, who for nearly forty years filled the mathematical chair with so much honour' to himself P

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