Stu. It is a combination of matter, fitted, framed, and joined by the hands of a workman in the form of a box, and adapted to the purpofe of receiving, containing, and retaining falt.

Frof. Very good:-What are the mechanical powers concerned in the conftruction of a falt-box?

Stu. The axe, the faw, the plane, and the hammer.

Prof. How are these powers applied to the purpose intended?

Stu. The axe to fell the tree, the faw to fplit the timber,

Prof. Confider; it is the property of the mawl and wedge to Split.

Stu. The faw to fit the timber, the plane to fmoothe and thin the boards,

Prof. How? take time, take

time.

Stu. To thin and fmoothe the boards,

Prof. To be fure ;-the boards are first thinn'd, and then smooth'd. Go on.

Stu. The plane to thin and fmoothe, and the hammer to drive the nails.

Prof. Or rather tacks. Have not fome philofophers confidered glue as one of the mechanical powers?

Stu. Yes; and it is ftill fo confidered; but it is called an inverfe mechanical power; because, whereas it is not the property of the direct mechanical powers to generate motion: glue, on the contrary, prevents motion, by keeping the parts to which it is applied fixed to each other.

Prof. Very true-What is the mechanical law of the faw?

Stu. The power is to the refift ance as the number of teeth and force impreffed, multiplied by the number of strokes in a given time. Prof. Is the faw only used in flit ting timber into boards?

Stu. Yes; it is alfo employed in cutting boards into lengths.

gures

Prof. What are the external fi of a falt-box? Stu. Four parallelograms, and twe fquares.

Prof. How are thefe difpofed? St. The four parallelograms are thus difpofed: the inferior, or bottom; the fuperior, or top; the anterior, or front; and the pofterior, or back; and the two fquares form the two ends.

Prof. Very good. Let us now confider one of the fquares at the end of the falt-box. Suppofe. then a diagonal line to be drawn from one of the angles of this fquare to the oppofite angle of the famewhat will be the confequence?

Stu. It will divide the fquare into two equal and fimilar triangles.

Prof. Very true :-But can you demonftrate that thefe two equal and fimilar triangles are equal to each other?

A

B

Stu. I draw the fquare A, B, C, D; whofe fides are all equal, and the con tained angles all right angles. I then draw the dia gonal B C, dividing the fquare in to two equal parts then I fay, that one of thofe equal parts, viz. the triangle ABC, is equal to the other equal part, or triangle BCD. For by the 105th propofition of the 49th book of Euclid, if, in two triangles, all the lines and angles of the one

be

be equal to all the correfponding lines and angles of the other, thofe two triangles will be equal and fimilar. But the leg AB, of the triangle ABC, is equal to the leg CD, of the angle BCD: because they are two of the fides of the fquare ABCD, equal by conftruction: and the leg AC is equal to the leg BD, for the fame reason: and because the hypothenufe BC is common to both triangles, therefore the hypothenufe of the triangle ABC is equal to the hypothenufe of the triangle BDC. Now, because by the 115th propofition equal legs fubtend equal angles of the fame radius, it follows that all the angles of the triangle ABC are equal to the correfponding angles of the triangle BDC: ergo, thofe two triangles are equal and fimilar: and, ergo, if a fquare be cut by a diagonal line, into two equal parts, thofe parts will be equal-Q. E. D.

Prof. Very well, very well indeed. Suppofe now a right line to be let fall from a given point above a falt-box, till it fhall touch the fuperior parallelogram, and another right line be let fall from the fame point till it fhall touch the inferior parallelogram of the fame falt-box, Can you demonftrate that these two lines must be unequal? or, in other words, Can you demonftrate that a line of twelve inches is fhorter than a line of eighteen inches in length? Stu. If two lines

Gov. We have just received intelligence that dinner is nearly ready; and as the medical clafs is yet to be examined, we cannot afford time for this demonftration. Let the medical gentlemen therefore come forward.

107

internal; very proper :-And what are the external parts of a falt-box? Stu. One fundamental, four laterals, and one fuper-lateral.

Prof. And how do you find the internal parts of a falt-box?

Stu. Divided by a vertical membrane or partition into two large cavities or finuffes.

Prof. Are thefe cavities always equal?

Stu. They used to be fo formerly; but modern joiners have found it beft to have them unequal, for the more convenient accommodation of the vifcera, or contents; the larger cavity for the reception of the coarfer vifcera, and the fmaller for the fine.

Prof. Very true, Sir. Thus have modern joiners, by their improvements, excelled the first maker of falt-boxes. Tell me now,-What peculiarity do you obferve in the fuper-lateral member of the falt-box?

Stu. Whereas all the other members are fixed and stationary, with refpect to each other, the fuper-lateral is moveable on a pair of hinges.

Pref. To what purpose is it fo conftructed?

Stu. For the admiffion, retenfion, and emiffion of the faline particles. Gov. This is fufficient. Let us proceed to

SURGERY, and the PRACTICE f PHYSIC.

Prof. Mention a few of the dif orders to which a falt-box is liable.

Stud. A cracked and leaky fundamental, a gaping of the joints in the laterals, luxation of the hinges, and an acceffion and concretion of filth and foulnefs, external and internal.

Prof. Very well. How would you treat thefe diforders?-Begin with the firft. * ་

Stu. I would caulk the leaky fundamental with pledgets of tow, which I would fecure in the fiffure

by

by a strip of linen or paper pafted over. For the starting of the lateral joints, I would adminifter powerful aftringents, fuch as the gluten cornuofa, and would bind the parts together by triple bandages, until the joints fhould knit.

Prof. Would you not affift with chalybeates?

Stu. Yes. I would at-tack the dif ease with prepared iron, in dofes proportioned to the frength of the parts.

Prof. How would you manage the luxation of the hinge?

Stu. I would firft examine whether it was occafioned by the starting of the points which annex the proceffes to the fuperlateral or its antagonist; or by a lofs of the ful crum; or by an abfolute fracture of the futures. In the firft cafe, I would fecure the process by a fcrew: in the second, I would bring the futures together, and introduce the fulcrum: and, in the laft, I would entirely remove the fractured hinge, and fupply its place, pro tem. with one of leather.

Prof. Very well, Sir-very well. Now for your treatment in cafe of accumulated foulneffes, external and internal. But first tell me how this foulnefs is contracted.

Stu. Externally by the greafy hands of the cook, and internally by the folution and adhesion of the faline particles.

Prof. Very true; and now for

the cure.

Stu. I would firft evacuate the abominable velfel, through the prima pia. I would then exhibit detergents and diluents; fuch as the faponaceous preparation, with plenty of aqua fontana.

Prof. Would not aqua cæleftis anfwer better?

Stu. Yes; plenty of aqua cæleftis, with the marine fand. I would alfo apply the friction-brush with a brifk and ftrong hand, until the ex

crementitious concrete fhould be totally diffolved and removed.

Prof. Very proper, What next?, Stu. I would ufe the cold bath by means of a common pump. I would then apply lintal abforbents; and, finally, exficcate the body by expofition, either in the fun, or before the kitchen fire.

Prof. In what fituation would you leave the fuperlateral valve during the exficcating operation?

Stu. I would leave it open to the extent, in order that the rarefied humidities might efcape from the abominable cavities or finuffes.

CHYMISTRY.

Prof. You have mentioned the faponaceous preparation :-How is that procured?

Stu. By the action of a vegetable, alkaline falt upon a pinguidinous or unctuous fubftance.

Prof. What is salt ?

Stu. It is a fubftance fui generis, pungent to the tafte, of an antifeptic quality; and is produced by chryftallization, or the evaporation of the fluid in which it is fufpended. krof. How many kinds of falt occur in a falt-box?

Stu. Two; coarse and fine. Prof. You have faid that the faponaceous preparation is procured by the action of an alkaline falt up on a pinguidinous or unctuous fub ftance. Defcribe the procefs.

Stu. If a great quantity of strong Lye be procured by paffing water through wood-afhes, and if a very large body, of a pinguidinous habit, fhould be immerfed in this lye, and expofed to a confiderable heat, the action of the lye, or rather of the falts with which it abounds, upon the pinguidinous body, would cause the mixture to coagulate into soap.

109

1

LETTER I..

GOOD SIR,

Am an old Soldier; and, though I fay it, have feen and felt as much hard service as any man, and have actually fought as long as I had limbs to fupport me. My legs, Sir, which at this prefent writing are no lefs than fourteen hundred English miles afunder, are buried (for ought I know) in two different quarters of the globe, and will, alas! never crofs each other again. I have a hand, Sir, in two great kingdoms, whofe names, for politic reafons, I think proper at prefent to conceal; and only add, that it is no impoffible thing for a man to be in one country, and at the fame time to have a hand in another. Such is my fituation, Sir, that I am cropt clofe like a Buckinghamshire Pollard, and have hardly a twig left upon my trunk. Now, Sir, there is a knot of merry gentlemen in our neighbourhood, who, forfooth, having legs and arms of their own natural growth, are pleased to be confiderably witty on what is left of me, and not unfrequently extend their pleafantry to the afcititious branches which are engrafted upon, me. I request, through the medium of your paper, Sir, that you will inform thefe wags, that my arms and legs are formed from the fame piece, and not different kinds of timber, as they have maliciously reported: and that although I wear my common crabtrees, on common occafions, I have a pair of beft mahogany fupporters

for red-letter days, and Sundays. I am the more defirous of their being informed, of these particulars, as i pay my addreffes to a well-favoured middle-aged lady of fome fortune in the village; and I would have you, her, them, and all the world to know, that I never was fo ill-bred as to pay her any compliment on my common legs, nor did I ever venture upon a falute but upon mahogany. I am informed by my man who takes me to pieces, and puts me together again every night and morning, that thefe merrymen ftick at nothing to ridicule me. If you would take my part against these fad dogs, you would very much oblige an old General, who hatli, you find, long fince laid down his arms, and is no longer able to lift up a hand against any coward who prefumes upon his incapability to affront him.

July 20. 1787.

IT

JOHN CROP.

LETTER II.

SIR, T has pleafed Providence to build this veffel of mine of fuch crazy materials, that a blaft or two of wind from the east north-east quite overfets me. No fooner does the weather-cock which is erected on the cupola of my pigeon-house point at eaft, but the rheumatic pains, pins and needles, cramps, jointachs, pinches, contractions, twinges, and the fciatica, attack me in all my quarters, Whether our bodies,

which

which I cannot help fometimes thinking are made for many ends, defigns, and purposes, whereof we are at prefent ignorant, may not serve as inns and baiting-places for fwarms of

infects which are at fuch times on their journey to unknown regions; or whether these piercing blaits bring down upon us wretched mortals numberless invifible fpears, arrows, knives, and fwords, which, acted upon by the force of the wind, fheath themselves deep in our mufcles, bones, and joints, I must leave, Sir, to you and the learned world to determine. These ills very frequently put my thoughts, as well as limbs, to the rack to discover their real fprings and causes; and I often meditate upon this matter, until conceits, of no very common fhape and form, are moft equivocally generated in my prericranium. Sometimes I fancy that these guests bring with them on their wings a very peculiar fpecies of animalcula, which, lighting on this our flefhly habitation, creep in like bats and jack-daws into old caftlewalls through unnumbered and imperceptible chinks, fiffures, and crannies of our rimose and rimpeled carcafes, where, when they get in, they keep a great stir-about in quarrelling, fighting, and making love; in building nefts, and depofiting eggs; the productions of which, after we have been fome time buried in the earth, leave us without an ounce of flesh to cover us. These are strange chimæras, Sir, and make me tremble from head to foot in my great chair. But, Sir, I know my house is to be fwallowed down by an earthquake; the certainty of my being out of it with all my treasures and valuables fafe and found when this accident happens, gives me an unspeakable pleasure, and a comfort at my very

heart.

I am, SIR, July 21. Your humble servant, 1787. JEREMY CRAZYBONES.

LETTER III.-O NEWS-PAPERS. Eft natura hominum novitatis avida. SIR,

THAT was of liquors, man is a with refpect of news, as

thirfty foul, we are taught, in the words of my motto, at the very first entrance on our elementary ftudies. Curiofity is the appetite of the mind. It must be fatisfied, or we perish.

Among the improvements, therefore, of modern times, there is none on which I find more reason to congratulate my countrymen, than the increase of knowledge by the multiplication of news-papers.

With what a mixture of horror and commiferation do we now look back to that period in our hiftory, when, as it is faid, a written letter came down once a-week to the coffee-houfe, where a proper perfon, with a clear and ftrong voice was pitched upon to read it aloud to the company affembled upon the occafion! How earnestly did they liften! How greedily did they fuck down every drop of intelligence that fell within their reach! Happy the man who carried off but half a fentence! It was his employment, for the reft of the evening, to imagine what the other half might have been. In days like these, there was indeed (if we may use the expreffion) "a famine in the land:" and one wonders how people contrived to keep body and foul together.

The provision at prefent made for us is ample. There are morning papers for breakfast; there are evening papers for fupper-I beg pardon, I mean dinner;-and left, during the interval, wind should get into. the ftomach, there is, I believe, I know there was,-a paper published, by way of luncheon, about noon. That fanaticism may not overwhelm us, and that profane learning may be duly mingled with facred, there is alfo a Sunday Ga

zette!