to his Holiness; a distinction, perhaps, never before conferred on an artist who was a Protestant. was, for so mucli (four-pence, if we rightly the hour, and when his share of the plate senna, Modern Architects have generally engraved and published their designs for the principal buildings they have erected; this practice is not only honourable to themselves, but advantageous to the public, dissemin ting at once both a know-Thisbe; but, he held to his usual mode, by ledge of the Art, and of the talents of the Artist. It is to be regretted that Stuart di not adopt this practice; on the contrary, he negated his own designs; and it is not therefore possible at this distance of time t give an accurate list of his works: but among various others, the following may be named; Lord Auson's House in St. James's-square, which is believed to be the first building erected in England of real Grecian architecture; Belvidere, Lord Eardley's seat, uear Erith, Kent; Mrs. Montagu's house, Portman-square; the Chapel and the Infirmary at Greenwich Hospital; a Triumphal Arch, the Octagon Temple of the Winds, and other buildings at Shuckburgh, the seat of Lord Anson in Staffordshire; and some parts of the interior of Lord Spencer's house in St. James's Place. Every man who distinguishes himself by the introduction of improvements of any kind, whether of science, art, or domestic convenience, deserves the grateful remembrance of his country; and especially, if in accomplishing this, he incur personal danger and trouble, expense, and hazard of his property. Mr. Hobhouse, in his late Travels, describes travelling in Greece as safe and pleasant enough. It was not so, always; for Stuart on more occasions than one, was in peril of his life; and it is not so every where now, for Dr. Clarke was repeatedly in jeopardy from fanatical violence and rebellious banditti. We shall add a few notes to the foregoing Memoir. Mr. It should be remarked, that the first volume of the Antiquities of Atheirs, contributed to the improvement of the then rising art of engraving, among us. Anthony Walker deemed the view of the Choragin monument of Lysicrates-vul. garly called the Lauthorn of Demosthenes, one of his best works; and Rooker was not, till after that period, the Rooker we find him, in his plates to Sir William Chambers's Works, and his Views in London. Mr. Stuart's advice preponderated in the conduct of the plates, &c. to those national works, Captain Cooke's Voyages; and others, executed under public patronage. The necessary re-constructions after the fire which destroyed the chapel and other parts of Greenwich Hospital, afforded Mr. Stuart an opportunity of introducing many particulars derived from his studies in Greece; here, for instance, may be seen executed in marble, those beautiful models of the Ionic Order, which mark the temple of Erectheus, as one of the most distinguished of its kind. Being worked under his own inspection, they are, no doubt, particularly accurate; and if some of the parts of the chapel be thought over ornamented, he had authorities, not despicable, plead in his favour. Mr. Goupy practised much in Crayon painting; and was supposed to touch sub-to jects of small size, portraits, and figures, We must not estimate men in their several with more spirit and accuracy, than any of professious, according to the state of those his brethren. He had the honour of in- professions when they leave them; but acstructing his Majesty, George III., then cording to the state of those professions Prince of Wales, in drawing; also, several when they entered them: the share they had younger branches of various noble families. in bringing those professions into their Goupy did not etch (neither did he finish) more improved and honourable state is the print of Pyramus and Thisbe; it was their merit. Such is the merit of the subetched by Chatelain, who was famous for ject of this memoir. He first introduced that department of the engraver's profes- the Greek Architecture amongst us, in its` sion; and who, on occasion of that plate purity; and considering him as an artist, committed no small oversight in his calcu-he well deserves the distinction of " Athelations. His usual mode of bargaining, nian Stuart." VENTILATION OF COAL MINES. every second more and more impregnated with hydrogen gas, and consequently increasing the danger throughout its whole The services already rendered to Huma-passage through the workings of the mine. Ou Mr. Ryan's system, the inflammable gas, as fast as it flows from the workings, takes the nearest course to the upper gaicry or reservoir for gas, whence it finds its way by the shortest course to the upcast shaft, through which it passes into the open air. nity by Philosophy, are fresh in the minds of our readers, to whom we communicated Sir Humphrey Davy's Safety Lump for coal mines, with the greatest promptitude. It was natural to suppose, that the subject, taken up with spirit, would furnish more Mr. Ryan has introduced his valuable than one mode of accomplishing the pur- discovery with the happiest results into pose intended; several of these may be some of the most destructive and fiery combined, and thereby the full powers of coal-mines in Staffordshire and Worcestershire, and has obtained certificates of the all be exerted. We now submit another most flattering description from numerous plan, for carrying off the foul vapour, be- respectable and humane mine owners. In fore it accumulates. Mr. Ryan's plan has some mines in Worcestershire, for instance, been rewarded by the Society for the En-where none but the most desperate characwhere daily explosions take place, and couragement of Arts, &c. with the highest premium ever voted by the Society-one hundred guineas and the gold medal. Our readers know that the most dreadful accidents which happen in coal-mines, and those of most frequent occurrence, arise from explosions occasioned by the accumulation of hydrogen gas, and the defective means hitherto adopted of carrying off that deleterious and highly inflam. mable substance. ters could be obtained as workmen, all alarm has subsided. Since the introduction of his system, the price of labour has fallen, and hundreds of valuable lives have been saved to the community. We cannot, in short, pronounce a better enlogium on the author of this valuable discovery, than by presenting our readers with the short but eloquent address of the royal and illustrious President of the Society of Arts, when delivering the premiums awarded by the Society to this meMr. Ryan's method of ventilation ob- ritorious individual: "Mr. Ryan," said the viates all these dangers, and carries off Duke of Sussex," in rising to present you every particle of the hydrogen gas the instant with the rewards so justly voted you by it is liberated from the coal. His first the Society, they wish it to be understood, operation is to insulate the whole mine, or that they do not intend these rewards as field, as it is technically called, by cutting any remuneration for your valuable discoround it a course or passage. This is what very: for such remuneration you are to he calls his gas course; and it is always look to yourself-I mean, to the feelings of made of a size sufficient to carry off all the your own mind. But to mark their sense of gas which would otherwise accumulate in your merits, the Society have voted you the the mine. Within the body of the mine highest premium ever given by them; and itself, holes are cut of different diameters, when I reflect on the personal risks and entering into this gas course from the dangers you have run in bringing this inIngher parts or roof of the mine. Between vention to its present state-an invention this gas course and the lower part of the which has already saved more than are up-cast shaft of the mine, a communica now here present, and which promises to tion is made, and the gas by its levity na-render the most lasting services not only to turally ascends. Heat, however, is occa- this, but to every country that may adopt sionally applied at the lower part of this it, I feel an increased source of satisfaction shaft to accelerate the exit of the gas.-in being the organ of the Society on the Our philosophical readers must be aware occasion." that no mine whatever can produce the quantity of hydrogen which a gas course on this principle is capable of discharging. In fact, on the old system of ventilating by the labyrinth process, the atmospheric air remains at least twenty hours in a mine of common dimensions, during which it traverses a space of forty miles, and becomes VOL IV. No. 23. Lit. Pan. N. S. Aug. 1. It may, perhaps, redound still further to Mr. Ryan's credit, to state, that no fewer than ten meetings of the Committee of the Society thoroughly investigated his plans and models previously to the final vote of the Society, so that every opportunity was afforded for that ample and free discussion of his merits which they received. 2 G SWEEPING OF CHIMNIES. It is well known, that during some years past, a very laudable desire has been manifested among the public of ameliorating the condition of the climbing boys in the service of chimney-sweepers, and of superseding the necessity for employing children. in this hazardous and disagreeable occupation. Several Acts of Parliament have been passed with intent to effect the first of these purposes: and repeated attempts have been made by means of Public Societies, to accomplish the latter. Prizes have also been awarded by the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, &c. to masters in the business, who had invented machines for the purpose of sweeping chimnies. It was, however, found on trial, that although these machines effected the purpose in straight chimnies, yet, in crooked, winding, and irregular chimnies they could not be made to do the business effectually. It was found, also, that a great proportion of old chimnies were of this inaccessible or awkward kind; and the necessity for employing boys was therefore considered as established. A subsequent attempt has lately called the attention of the public to the case, and considerable hopes are entertained that effectual means may, at length, be devised and completed. In the mean while, the following article has received the thanks of the Society in the Adelphi. We can answer for the correctness of a considerable part of it, having had several chimnies in a state analogous to that described by the writer. They were old chimnies contracted, and leaving a vacancy behind, into which the soot fell. It is, however, our duty to caution our readers against placing entire dependence ou the safety of old chimnies, not constructed for the purpose, as they have usually more wood in them than is now allowed to modern buildings, and these beams are so uncertainly placed, that if the soot be unwarily allowed to accumulate, and be reached by a spark, the con sequences may be fatal. We have known the accident happen; supposed to have occurred from no greater cause than a spark from the ashes of a tobacco pipe, not completely smoked out. DESCRIPTION OF A METHOD OF PREVENT ING THE NECESSITY OF SWEEPING CHIMNIES; BY THE REV. THOMAS RIDGE, of KIMCOTE, NEAR LETTERWORTH. From the Transactions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Without going into philosophical reasons of the plans I propose, I beg leave to state the following facts : 1st, That every recess in a chimney, whether parallel to the shafts of the chimney (as is often the case in large chimnies made smaller) if totally closed up at the bottom, or even at right angles to the chimney, is in a great measure filled with soot long before the chimney becomes foul. 2dly, In a house I formerly occupied, there was a flue from a study, which was connected with an elbow of perhaps eight feet into an old chimney, stopped up at the bottom; and whenever it was swept, the chimney-sweepers universally said, "they there was no soot in it," or words to that need not get up the other chimney, for effect. The reason had not occurred to me at that time, nor for a long time afterwards. the chimney was accidentally opened, when Just before I left the house, the bottom of many bushels of soot were found deposited in the bottom of the upright chimney, below the part where the elbow entered it. Sdly, In visiting different manufactories, and other places where there are long flues, I have always learnt that they were continually bursting from the accumulation of soot. Considering the causes of which, together with other circumstances relative riment, by hanging my two coppers to was induced to make an expethereto, I produce this effect; one of which was used perhaps four times every week; the other about twenty times in the year. The result in four or five months was, that in the first, the whole body of soot was found in the receiver, and not half a pint of soot and dust together in the chimney. It then remained for seven or eight mouths, when, again the soot was found deposited in the receiver, and an equally small quantity of dust and soot in the chimney above. On opening the other, at the end of nearly two years (when I left the house) the soot was found in the receiver, and none in the chimney. 4thly, Iu my present residence, the same experiment has been made for two years, and the same result as before. I therefore now submit it to the public, and no doubt the idea once thrown out will be improved upon, and made applicable to many excellent purposes. It has been my case to have lived in houses belonging to other persons; and where there has been no other opportunity of making the experiment on an extended scale, and so bring it in a more mature state before the public. As it is, they are presented with it, in the hope that it will be found applicable to their convenience, comfort, and security, in a very material degree; and also, in some measure, tend to relieve a degraded part of society from a most irksome and injurious employment. I have exemplified the principle by a variety of sketches sent. I have to apologize for the indifference of the drawings, which 1 have been little accustomed to. The intention is only to shew that plan which 1 conceive most convenient and suitable to the above excellent purpose; and which, from a conviction of its practicability and efficacy, I shall adopt upon a larger scale, whenever I have a house of my own, or a convenient opportunity. This principle is not confined merely to common fire-places or flues; but, agreeably to the sketches I have sent to the Society, may be extended to stoves, hot-walls, drying rooms, &c. by forming proper soot receptacles, as circumstances may require. I beg leave also to add a circumstance which has lately come to my knowledge, which confirms, in some measure, the efficacy of my plan. Being lately at Mr. Lush's, of Banbury, I shewed him a sketch of my plan, which, having considered, he said he could confirm it from experience, though it had not occurred to him before. That, wishing to convert a part of his house, where there was no chimney, into a temporary backkitchen, he could not build a chimney on the outside, it being a narrow passage leading to premises not belonging to him, and the chimney could not be carried through the rooms above. He therefore built a small chimney from the ground, in his own yard, and turned an arched flue into it. There was a small hole left near the ground (in consequence of the mason observing, that perhaps some soot would fall down there,) and stopped with two or three loose bricks. The soot did fall wholly, and was repeatedly taken out there. That, on the chimney being taken down about seven years after it had been built, the part of the chimney above the flue had no soot adhering to it, and the greater part was scarcely coloured with soot. I have stated the account in nearly his own words. This account is illustrated by a plate; but the matter is too simple to stand in need of further explanation. We may be allowed to add, that in London, it will be difficult to find room sufficient for the receptacle proposed; it will require a careful construction, on purpose, and great attention must be paid to a frequent removal of the soot, to cleanliness in the operation, and to the disposal of the soot in a secure and satisfactory place. ON THE ART OF TEACHING THE DEAF AND DUMB. To the Editor of the Literary Panorama. SIR, The art of teaching the Deaf and Dumb to speak, is much more ancient than is generally imagined. This admirable art was incontestibly invented about the middle of the sixteenth century, by a Spanish monk, who carried it to a degree of perfection far beyond all modern efforts. I am far from being of a credulous turn, but we must renounce the belief of all events, of which we have not ocular proof if we can doubt that PETER PONCE, a Benedictine monk of the monastery of Saint Sahugan, was the first to teach the Deaf and Dumb to speak, and not the plagiarist BONET, whose work appeared only in 1620. The curious who wish to be convinced of the fact, have only to consult that great Author and fine genius Father Feyjoo, Benedictine of Oviedo, who has so greatly contributed to the progress of learning in his country, by his literary labours of more than half the last century. I will confine myself to two or three curious passages on the subject of Peter Pouce. The first is an extract from the Funeral Register of the Convent of Ona, where he died. Obdormivit in Domino Frater Petrus de Ponce huius omniensis domus benefactor, qui inter cæteras virtutes, quæ in illo maximè fuerunt in hac precipuè floruit ac celeberrimus toto orbe fuit habitus scilicet MUTOS LOQUI DOCENDI. gusto. Obiit anno 1584, in Mense Au The second is an abstract of the wonderful success attending his efforts, and the pious purposes to which he applied the produce of his great talents. Noticia de una escritura, otorgada en el Monasterio de Ona, a 24 de Agosta, 1578, en testimonia de Juan de Palacios, Escri 66 66 bano real de la villa de Ona, en que se The third is an extract from MORALES, enuncia que el P. Fr. PEDRO PONCE hace, a celebrated Spanish Author, who thus excon las licensias necesarias, fundacion de presses himself:-"Otro insigne Espanol de una Capellania, con ciertas misas, debaxo ingenio peregrino y di industria incredible de tales condiciones; y relacionando los "(si no la hubieramos visto) es el qua ha motivos, dice lo siguiente; los quales di- "ensenado hablar los mudos, con arte perchas maravedis yo el dicho F. Pedro Ponce, "fecta que el ha inventada, y es el Padre monge de esta casa de Ona, he adquirido, Fray PEDRO PONCE, monge del orden cortando y cercinando de mis gostos, è por "de San Benito, que ha mostrado hablar mercedes de senores, y limosnas e buenas" à dos hermanos y una hermana del Convoluntades de senores de quienes he sido destable, mudos y ahora muestra a un testamentario e bienes de discipulos, que "hijo del Justicia de Aragon, y para que he tenido; à los quales, con la industria "la maravilla sea mayor, quedanse con la que Dios fue servido de me dar en esta" sordedad profundisima, que les causa el santa casa, por meritos del senor San "no hablar, asi se les habla por senos o Juan Baptista, y de nuestro Padre Sau se les escribe y ellos responden luego de Inigo tuve discipulos que eran sordos y palabra y tambien escriben muy concermudos à nativitate, hijos de grandes se- "tadamente una carta y qualquiera cosa.' nores è de personas principales, à quienes Vide the Works of Feyjoo.-Vol. IV. and mostré hablar y leer, y escribir, y contar, XII. á rezar, y ayudar à misa, y saber la doctrina Christiana, y saberse por palabra confesor e algunos latin è algunos latin y Griego, y entender la lengua Italiana; y este vino a ser ordinado e tener oficio y beneficio por la Iglesia, y rezan las horas canonicas: y ansi este, y algunos otros vinieron a saber y entender la philosofia natural, y astro- The perfection of the Art is, to teach a logia, &c. &c. Sin todo esto fueron gran-Deaf and Dumb person to articulate and des Historiadores de historias Espanolas y pronounce distinctly; and it is this art which Estrangeras.* was invented by Peter Ponce; and not to y I am doubtful whether the pupils of the Abbé Sicard are sufficiently instructed to be able, like those of Peter Ponce, to perform the Sacerdotal functions, or write History even in French; and they are, I apprehend, very far from possessing even the first elements of Greek or Latin. Extract from an authentic deed de-speak by signs, an art of very limited utility. livered in the monastery of Ona, the 24th August, 1578, in the presence of JOHN DE PALACIOS, royal scrivener of the Town of Ona; in which it is stated, that Father PETER PONCE, legally licensed for the purpose, had founded a perpetual chapel for particular masses, on certain conditions therein mentioned; and reciting the motives of the foundation, declares the following: viz. "That the said monies (employ·) ed in the foundation) had been the fruits of his Economy in curtailing his expenses, and acquired from the bounty of noblemen, and from the alms, and good will of men of consequence, who had made him their legatecs; and from out of the bounties of pupils he had taught, and to whom by the industry with which God has blessed him in this holy convent, by the merits of St. John the Baptist, and of our Father St. Inigo; sons of noblemen of the first rank, born deaf and dumb, he had taught to speak, to read, to write, to count, to pray, and to serve mass; to some the latin, and to others the Greek and latin tongues; to some to understand the Italian language, and to recite the canonical prayers, and to some likewise to understand natural philosophy, and astrology, &c. &c. and some had even become great Historians of Spanish and foreign History. He who articulates, can make himself understood by every person; while he who is only acquainted with signs, is understood only by those who have learned that lanwhom he addresses, should see him disguage: it is also necessary that the person tinctly. The art invented by Peter Ponce was practised some few years ago, by Mr. Braidwood, of Edinburgh, and is still, by several persons of modest pretensions. whom can we attribute the invention? Is As to the art of speaking by signs, to it not evident that the language of Action. was taught us by nature herself, previous to any other? "Another celebrated Spaniard," says Morales, who was surnamed the divine writer, "was he who taught with a marvellous and perfect art the Deaf to speak. An art invented by the Father Ponce, monk of the order of St. Benedict; who has taught to speak two brothers and a sister of the Constable (of Castile), and at the present moment teaches a son of the chief justice of Arragon. What renders this the more marvellous is, that continuing to be entirely deaf, which is the cause of their being dumb; if they are spoken to by signs, or written to, they answer verbally, and are likewise able to write with great propriety, a letter on any subject." |