1816.]. Mr. Scott on the Ventilation of Mines. may be made evident by presenting the flame of a candle first near the roof, and then near the pavement, when it will be seen to burn brighter at the roof than at the pavement. The carburated hydrogen gas, known to miners by the name of fire-damp, or inflammable air, being the lightest of the three, floats upon the atmospheric air, occupying a space of more or less extent, according to its quantity, next to the roof of the workings, is ignitible by flame, but not by sparks from flint and steel. The tube that Dr. Murray proposes to attach to the bottom of his lamp case, will undoubtedly supply his lamp with carbonic acid gas, whenever that gas floats along the pavement by which the flame of his lamp, in such circumstances, will be extinguished. To remedy this in part, the tube may be made to screw on and off from the case at pleasure; and within the circumference of the screw, at the bottom of the case, holes may be made, sufficient to admit just air enough for the combustion of the lamp, as proposed by Sir H. Davy. In cutting a mine across the strata, more or less water is always met with; and when the face or head of the mine is cut to a great distance from an air pit, the air then becomes, as the miners term it, scarce: it becomes contaminated with the breath of the miners, and the heat of their lamps; their lamps then give less and less light, until they will no longer burn. It is, however, found in such cases, that the lamps burn with more brightness near the surface of the water, in the mine, than near its roof. It is therefore probable, that Dr. Murray's lamp, with a flexible tube, might, in such circumstances, be found of much use. In some collieries, where small quantities of the carburated hydrogen colleet, men are found hardy enough to enter the works covered with wet skins, and to crawl along the under-ground pas sages until they reach certain points, when they lay themselves flat upon the pavement, and then fire the works, as they term it. This mode of exploding the inflammable air, led me to think of the following safer method, viz. to make a self-acting apparatus (which it is unnecessary here to describe), to be carried by the light given by a steel mill (a small machine that gives light by turning a plain thin cylinder of steel against a piece of flint), to whatever 301 place the conductor of the work may think best for firing the gas, or for ascer taining if there be any. The apparatus, although very simple, may be made to fire the inflammable gas at any given time after being left, so as to allow the men sufficient time to quit the works before the explosion. I next turned my attention to a me thod to prevent the accumulation of this gas. The first thing proposed in adopting this plan, was to attend strictly to the ventilation, not only of the going works, but also of the wastes immediately adjoining to them; cutting off such parts of the wastes as are not necessary for ventilating the going works, by building up all the communications, when found practicable, as air-tight as possible. It is likewise proposed, that the stoppings, or buildings in the walls, stentings, or throughers, be substantially built, and be made as air-tight as possible, and that the trap-doors be made to shut air-tight, on purpose that the current of atmospheric air may circulate through the workings in proper channels, for the better ventilation of the works. A plan should be made, and kept, of the whole works, including the adjoining wastes, where all the channels or passages that the air circulates along, are to be conspicuously marked with red and black darts, that point out the direction of the current; the red darts pointing one direction of the current, and the black darts the contrary direction. As the currents below ground frequently change their direction from various causes, such as a change in the direc tion of the winds upon the surface, opening new communications between different parts of the works below ground, &c.; from such causes, sometimes one pit will take the draught (as it is termed by the Scotch colliers), and at other times another. By these changes, an experienced coal-oversman will at all times be enabled to point out the direc tion of the currents on his under-ground plan. These changes frequently affect the quality of the air, especially when the current comes in a direction from old wastes. But one of the principal causes of a change in the purity of the air in coal works, is occasioned by the changes that take place in the atmosphere; for when the mercury in the barometer is high, the air in the wastes becomes dense; and when the mercury b comes low, the air in the wastes expands until it becomes of an equal rarity with the 302 Recommendation of Polyanus to the Greek Student. surrounding air; and it will therefore mix with the air in the going works, and if of a noxious quality, will more or less contaminate the whole air in the works. For which reason, it is here recommended to cut off the communication of as large a proportion of the old wastes as is found practicable with a view to prevent, in some measure, the great and sudden changes in the air that take place in under-ground works. The roof of the air-courses ought also to be cut at certain places into a Gothic form. In executing this, much depends on a skilful choice of those places, as it is in them that it is proposed to intercept the inflaminable gas as it moves along, by placing a lamp of a particular construction (difficult to describe without a figure) near the roof, at each of these Gothic-formed places, with a view to infame the carburated hydrogen, as it generates and becomes inflammable, by a mixture of atmospheric air. These lamps are to be so constructed that the current of air, however strong, will not blow them out, and are to be so formed as to push up their own wicks, by which means they may be made to burn 24 hours, or more, after being left to themselves. These lamps are not only to be distributed in the air passages of the going works, but also in the air passages of the wastes immediately connected with the works. A slender wick will be quite sufficient, and therefore each lamp will consume but a small quantity of oil, the expence of which, I trust, will not be put in competition with the lives of the workers. It is further proposed, that one man shall take the charge of the whole lamps, which should be kept burning day and night. He will have to renew their wicks once in twenty-four hours, and supply them with oil; and also to attend and see that the air passages be kept at all times clear and open. This man may ascertain if any of his lamps have fired inflammable gas during his absence, by suspending a small tuft of flax or tow to the roof on each side of each lamp, at the distance of a few inches, in a line with the current of the air and flame of the lamps. In the execution of this scheme, much will depend on the ventilation of the work, and the arrangement of the lamps. I am, &c. ALEX. SCOTT. Ormiston, near Tranent, N.B. March, 1816. MR. EDITOR, [May 1, IT is a matter of great surprise to me, that in most of our public schools, some interesting and useful classical authors have not been introduced to promote with greater facility the improvement of the student. In the study of the Greek language, which is the most difficult perhaps of all, surely much advantage might be gained, and very much labour spared, by putting into the hands of a young student a Greek author whose style was clear and intelligible, whose matter was useful and interesting, and language pure and elegant. Through the medium of your valuable and highly respectable magazine, allow me to recommend to the young classical scholar, the historical writings of Poly nus. The subjects of which he treats are highly interesting; his language is perspicuous and elegant, and exceedingly well adapted to the knowledge and capacity of the unexperienced student. Possessing these peculiar advantages, its very limited use in our celebrated clas sical schools, is somewhat extraordinary and unaccountable. As far as my own experience goes, I am authorized in stating that no Greek historian can be read by the young student with more lively interest and advantage. In the preface to the grammar of Messieurs de Port Royal, this author is strongly recommended as being the most suitable historian to be put into the hands of youth. The subjects treated of by Polyænus, say they, are "written with extraordinary ease, clearness, and purity." To this recommendation, allow me, Sir, to add that of Harwood: "I cannot forbear," says this learned writer, “ xxpressing a wish that this entertaining author, whose language is very easy and elegant, were introduced into our schools, or that those who begin to learn the Greek language would read Polyænus; they would meet with few difficulties, and be highly entertained and inproved." Н. В. 1816. ] Account of Cheetham's Library, Manchester. ment, published three or four years ago, in a catalogue of Mr. Dulau's. The ac count deserves a more permanent preservation than it is likely to find in the fugitive record of a mere shop catalogue, and on these accounts I trust you will think it worthy of a place in the pages of your literary recorder. SCRUTATOR. Berkshire, March 6, 1816. A short account of the Manchester Library. Every lover of venerable antiquity, and of literature in general, will learn with pleasure that there is at Manches ter, a most valuable library, cousisting of the choicest books in every department of science. It was founded and richly endowed by MR. HUMPHREY CHEETHAM, who died in 1653, and who directed his trustees to purchase for the use of the library, and the residence of 40 poor boys, for whose education and maintenance he also provided, the old college which was originally built in the reign of Henry V. for the wardens and fellows of the adjoining collegiate church, at the expense of Thomas Lord Delawar. The college was accordingly purchased and the trustees of this noble charity were incorporated by a charter, granted by Charles II. in 1665: and no labor or expence seems to have been spared to answer the beneficent purposes of the founder. The property which was left by him for the use and augmentation of the library, and for the board &c. of the librarian amounts at present to nearly 700l. per annum. Some idea of this library may be formed from the following enumeration of the different heads, under which the books are arranged in the catalogue which was drawn up and published by the Rev. JOHN RATCLIFF, the late librarian in 1791. Biblia Polyglotta. (in variis linguis). Concordantia. Interpretes Christiani et Rabbinici. S. S. Patres (Græci et Latini). Jus canonicum. Scriptores scholastici. dogmatici. Theologia miscellanea. Tractatus de controv, catholica. Historia ecclesiastica. Acta Martyrum, &c. Other libraries in England, especially at Oxford and Cambridge, may possess the same and even greater treasure: but they are not equally the property of the 303 public. For Mr. Cheetham founded his expressly for the public; and it is accordingly opened to the public every morning, except saints' days; and every evening except Thursday and Saturday, A month's vacation, however, is allowed at Christmas, and another at Midsummer, when of course the library is shut. While open, a person deputed by the librarian is constantly in attendance, for the purpose of handing down and cleaning any books that may be wanted. These may be consulted and studied, either in the library or in the adjoining readingroom, where the public are accommodated with every convenience necessary for the purpose, such as pens and ink, and in winter and cold weather also with fire. The number of volumes is said to amount to 18,000. It is not a little remarkable that the college seems perfect in all its parts, as it was at the dissolution of the religious houses; and that it and the adjoining collegiate church are built on the site of a Roman camp, and in an angle formed by the two rivers Irk and Irwell, whose streams unite under the lofty and craggy rock, on which the old college is erected.* P. S: I cannot help expressing a wish that any of your correspondents who have it in their power to communicate intelligence of institutions in England, similar to the foregoing, would contribute the particulars of them through the pages of your widely circulated journal. [In this wish of our esteemed correspondent we most cordially coincide.-EDITOR.] MR. EDITOR, ON examining the passage in the Mosaic history of Cain, to which C. E. B. refers in your Magazine for February, it is obvious that our present authorized version is not correct. "We read, that the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him." But the Hebrew (oth) translated a mark. should have been rendered a sign or token; thus the rainbow was appointed (leoth) for a sign that the earth should no more be destroyed by the waters of the Flood; and, without doing any violence to the original, the words of Moses may be thus translated: And the Lord appointed unto Cain a token, that any finding him should not kill him.→ "The Vulgate," observes the learned and laborious Mr. BOOTHROYD, "has misled most modern translators, rendering, Posuitque Dominus in Cain signum:' never signifies a mark for See his Hebrew Bible, in loco. 304 Answer to a Query suggested by the Mosaic History of Cain. [May 1, brand: it denotes a sign, token, or won derful event. Although signifies to place or set, it is often used in the sense of ; and such is its signification wherever connected with N." This interpretation is at once rational and consistent. To have set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him, could never be the act of Infinite Wisdom; such a mark, instead of contributing to his safety, would only have rendered his crime the more notorious; and by exposing him to the indignation of his species, would have been likely to bring upon him the very evil he had reason to fear. It is, therefore, the opinion of some, that, in order to prevent despair, and alleviate the distress of a penitent, something miraculous was effected, whereby he obtained assurance that his life should be preserved. But there is more reason to suppose that some object in nature was fixed upon as a sign, to remind him of that protection which God had graciously ordained in his behalf. With respect to the question, "What need had Cain to fear?" I observe, that about this period the inhabitants of the world were probably very numerous. According to the computation of Archbishop Usher, the death of Abel took place in the year of the world 128. "Now if we suppose that Adam and Eve had no other sons than Cain and Abel in the year of the world 128, their descendants would make a considerable figure on the earth. Supposing them to have been married in the nineteenth year of the world, they might easily have had each eight children, some males and some females, in the twenty-fifth year. In the fiftieth year there might proceed from them in a direct line 64 persons; in the seventy-fourth year there would be 572; in the ninety-eighth year 4096; in the one hundred and twenty-second they would amount to 32,768: if to these we add the other children descended from Cam and Abel, their children, and their children's children, we shall have in the aforesaid one hundred and twentyeight years, four hundred and twenty one thousand one hundred and sixty-four men, without reckoning the women either old or young." Such an amazing increase of mankind is finely illustrated by one of our sweetest poets, when alluding to this period in the Mosaic history of the world: Ages meanwhile, as ages now are told, *See Commentary and Notes on the Bible by Dr. Adam Clarke. For such the vigour of primevaí man, Considering well the design of Scripture, as a divine revelation, it is easy to conceive why, at the expatriation of Cain, "we find no mention of any female besides Eve." But that there were others "then existing," appears from a plain statement of the fact, in the very same chapter. When Cain therefore resided in the Land of Nod," he had a wife"; but if C. E. B. imagines that we have any intimation of his entering into the married state at that time, he has evidently made a mistake, of which he will be immediately convinced, by re-examining that part of the sacred history.-To the question, “how came he by hrs wife?" we can only answer, that by complying with the peculiar necessity of those early times, he was united to a daughter of Eve, whose birth it was not necessary for Moses to mention. Such a union in the family of Adam, involved no impropriety; but as one great design of marriage is the promotion of friendship, and a combination of interests, for the ge neral advantage of society, the union of Montgomery's World before the Flood, canto 1. 1816.] On Premiums with Articled Clerks-On Literary Criticism. 305 near relations was afterwards forbidden; MR. EDITOR, permitting them to transact his business, thereby saving him the expense of paying salaries to others, which he night be forced to do if unprovided with articled clerks. SPECTATOR. London, March 29, 1816. ON LITERARY CRITICISM. IN considering this subject, I shall not designedly introduce any remarks on the fine arts, nor yet on what is termed "philosophical criticis:n," but confine myself solely to that which respects li terature, and shall first mention the ne cessary mental qualifications of a literary critic, then very briefly show how the works of an author ought to be reviewed, and, lastly, point out some of the princi- * pal uses of literary criticism. To be a proper critic on new publica tions in modern times, requires, 1. An extensive knowledge of books. Besides being well acquainted with the standard old books, a critical censor ought to be well read in those which have been published within the last thirty years, and especially such of them as are on the subject which he is reviewing. For tus purpose his memory must be good, and either his own library should be large, or he should have access to some library which is so.-2. Skill in languages. Such as are appointed to review books written either wholly or in part, in the living or dead languages, must have a graminatical knowledge of them. Much skill in mathematics is also necessary in those who take that department in a literary journal, as well as an acquaintance with medicine, in such as have that part assigned them; and in every department a critical knowledge of the English language is indispensable.-3. A habit of close and correct thinking. Without this, even recondite learning and extensive reading will not be sufficient; but when the subject, passing under review, is surveyed in all points of view, and the thinking upon it close, correct, and discriminative, it is not always necessary that the reviewer should be a profound scholar. As to new theological publications, a critical censor of that department should not only be welt acquainted with the Bible and ecclesias I TAKE the liberty of addressing you on behalf of all such as shall hereafter apply to be articled to a solicitor, in order to their admission into the profession of the law. These, I conceive, labour under a heavy species of taxation, which seems to have only for its object the enriching the solicitor at the expence of those I have mentioned, without his being entitled to any such species of profit. I do not allude to the stamp duties imposed on clerks, both on their being articled and their subse quent admission (which are perhaps necessary to render the profession respectable), but to the usage of the solicitor requiring a very high premium (generally 300 guineas) on taking an articled clerk. It would seem that the time and services of the clerk were a sufficient compensation for the duty undertaken by the master of instructing him in the mysteries of the profession; and surely as the requiring a premium is entirely optional, and the profession itself is accordingly not rendered more respectable by the payment of it, nor is the clerk entitled to any additional advantages by so doing, it might be supposed that a conscientious solicitor would be unwilling to add to the already great expense of admission, and accordingly relinquish a measure which is entirely partial, and on that account more obnoxious to the sufferers by it. But it is well known that a solicitor will, on the contrary (where there is no connexion between the parties), make the above demand, and thereby, perhaps, compel one desirous to be brought up to the profession, and whose talents might render him peculiarly adapted to it (if unable or unwilling to comply with the demand), either to article himself to one of interior practical history, but know all the peculiari tice, or abandon the profession altoge ther. I shall be glad if any of your readers will furnish an argument why a solicitor (who may have two clerks at a time) should receive for every five years of his practice, the enormous sum of 600 guineas, as a premium, in fact, for NEW MONTHLY MAG.-No. 28. ties of doctrinal and experimental divi- |