Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

splendid as to render it one of the most delightful branches of experimental inquiry; and so fertile in the views which it lays open of the constitution of natural bodies, and the minuter mechanism of the universe, as to place it in the very first rank of physical sciences."

It may admit of question how far such facts as these are properly characterized as "happy accidents." In every instance, the attention of the observer had been previously awakened and his mind prepared by study and meditation for receiving the fact observed; and, had not this been the case, it would in all probability have passed without attracting his notice. The know

the year 1791, in the laboratory of Galvani, professor | ference in the intensity of the two images; the most of anatomy at Bologna. His wife being in a delicate refracted alternately surpassing and falling short of the state of health, employed as a restorative a soup made least refracted in brilliancy, at each quadrant of the of frogs. Several of these animals were lying on a revolution. This phenomenon connecting itself in his table near to an electrical machine. While the machine mind with similar optical phenomena, which from the was in operation, a pupil of Galvani, happening to nature of his studies were fresh in his memory, led him touch the crural nerve of a frog with one end of a to investigate the subject with all possible attention. The knife, whilst the other end was in contact with the result has been (as remarked above) the creation of a prime conductor of the machine, noticed that the mus- new department of physical optics. Respecting this cles of the limb were thrown into strong convulsions. department, Herschel has justly remarked, that “the This curious fact attracted the notice of the professor's phenomena which belong to it, are so singular and lady, who communicated it to her husband on his various, that to a person familiar with the other departreturn. Galvani was at the time engaged in an exami-ments of optics only, this is like a new world; so nation into the nature of muscular motions. These he conceived to be owing to electricity; the nerve and the muscle with which it was connected, being oppositely charged (like the two coatings of a Leyden jar) and muscular motion ensuing whenever a discharge was made from one to the other. This newly observed fact seemed to confirm his hypothesis, and led him to prosecute his investigations with renewed ardor. During a course of experiments which he was in this way led to commence, he discovered that the same effect could be produced by establishing a metallic communication between a nerve and a muscle. This fact he communicated to the world in his treatise concerning animal electricity, and thus laid the foundation of that depart-ledge of such occurrences as these, when properly conment of general physics which has since borne his name. Had not the attention of Galvani been directed at the time, to the subject of muscular motion, it is probable that this fact would have passed unnoticed; as it had in the case of Du Verney who had made the same observation about a century earlier, without its having received that attention from philosophers which it deserved. Another of these "happy accidents" gave rise to the modern science of crystalography. The Abbe Hauy, was engaged on a certain occasion in examining the collection of minerals belonging to M. France de Croisset, when accidentally he dropped a beautiful specimen of calcareous spar, crystallized in prisms. The specimen was broken by the fall, and Hauy observed with astonishment, that the fragments had the smooth regular form of rhomboid crystals of Iceland spar. "I have found it all," he exclaimed, for at that moment he conceived the fundamental idea of his new system. Having collected the fragments, he carried them home, and soon discovered the manner in which the derivative forms of crystals could be reduced to their primatives, as well as the geometric law for calculating the angles of the one, from a knowledge of the angles of the other. His discoveries were afterwards made public at the solicitation of La Place and Daubenton. The investigations to which this accident gave rise, have resulted in dispelling much of the mys-be placed under that of another. No substance can, in tery which before enveloped this subject, and in bringing to light many curious facts respecting these "flowers of the mineral world" as they have been called. Another of these "happy accidents" has resulted in the creation of a new department of physical optics; that which treats of polarized light. A remarkable fact was noticed by Malus, in 1808, whilst accidentally viewing through a doubly refracting prism the light of the setting sun, as reflected from the windows of the Luxembourg palace in Paris. On turning the prism around, he was surprised to observe a remarkable dif

sidered, will not lead us, when brought to a temporary stand, in a course of investigation, to sit down and idly wait for some "happy accident," which shall at once relieve us of our difficulty; but rather, to press forward, so that if haply one should occur, we may be ready to turn it to some good account. "The seeds of great discoveries are everywhere present and floating around us, but they fall in vain upon the unprepared mind, and germinate only where previous inquiry has elaborated the soil for their reception, and awakened the attention to a perception of their value."

No. II.

EXCEPTIONS TO GENERAL LAWS.

In the study of the natural sciences, we frequently meet with "exceptions to general laws." Doubtless the question has often suggested itself to the student: In what sense am I to consider these as exceptions? Have they arisen from an oversight in the Creator? Are they points in the structure of the universe, which have escaped the notice of the great architect, when he planned this mighty fabric? To all such questions, I would answer, no. Those cases which we are in the habit of considering exceptions, are instances, in which bodies are taken out from under the dominion of one law, to

any circumstances, be looked upon as an outlaw in creation. I will illustrate this statement, in the case of one of these exceptions. It is a general law of nature that the dimensions of bodies should increase with an increase of temperature, and vice versa. A familiar instance of this change in dimensions, consequent upon a change in temperature, is afforded by the mercury in our common thermometers. This law may, with the strictest propriety, be called a general law of nature. So general is it in its application, that we can pardon the mistake of a certain Irish scholar, who wished to

bring even time itself under its dominion, and to ac- | to dissolve before the first soft breath of spring, we count for the varying length of the days, by supposing should have had them converted into solid masses of that they were expanded by the heat of summer and contracted by the cold of winter.

ice;-and further north, it may be doubted whether even the midsummer sun, would have been able to loose their waters from the "bands of winter." Instead of considering these exceptions as blemishes in the work,

tions. Like the abutments to the walls of a gothic tower, they break in upon the uniformity of the structure, it is true, but, like them, they do so in order to confer a varied beauty, and substantial strength.

THE SISTER'S GIFT OF FLOWERS.

By the author of "Love at the Shrines,” etc.

Young and loved sister, I have now, within that tumbler clear,
Your gentle gift, so like thyself-the angels of the year,
With kisses that were pressed on them by spirits in the night.
Culled by thy hands at early morn, while every leaf was bright
How beautiful--how delicate--the messengers from earth
Come up, and bloom, and blush away, as things of little worth!

Looks down with joy upon the buds, and gladdens in the flowers.
The deep dark sea, in vain lifts up its flashing waves on high,

Yet we meet with a few exceptions to this general law. If we take a portion of water at the boiling point, and gradually cool it, we will find that it contracts regu- | we ought rather to look upon them as its very perfeclarly, until it reaches the temperature of about 400 Far. It then commences expanding, and continues to do so, until converted into ice. If we continue the cooling process, it will again commence contracting, and continue so to do, until we are no longer able to trace it. If we reverse the process, just the opposite changes will take place, but in the same order. The ice first expanding with an increase of temperature, until it reaches the melting point, then contracting until its temperature is about 40° Far., then again expanding so far as we are able to trace it. In thus expanding, as its temperature is reduced from 40° to 32°, and also in contracting, as its temperature rises through the same part of the scale, water forms an exception to the general law which governs other matter, and which governs water itself, un-But he who rules and reigns above, from his majestic bowers der other circumstances. But we must not on this account look upon it as an outlaw in creation. Its apparent want of obedience to the law of expansion and contraction arises from its real obedience to a different law, and one which can be looked upon as little less gene-One little knoll, bedecked with flowers, is dearer to his sight, Than millions of those stormy waves, that seem to spurn his ral than the former, viz., the law of crystallization. might. Whenever the particles of a body so arrange them- Washington, May 16. selves as to give to that body the form of a regular geometric solid, they are said to crystallize. In thus regularly arranging themselves, the particles are generally compelled to occupy a larger space than they did when existing together, without any regular arrangement. When a company of soldiers, previous to mustering, are standing together in a crowd, they occupy a less space than the same number do when drawn up in the form of a hollow square, or in rank and file. The same is the case with the particles of water. Whilst existing in a perfectly liquid state, they stand irregularly crowded together; but so soon as the trumpet-call of the chill north wind is heard, they commence their marching and countermarching, until at length they present a solid and impenetrable front.

Ice is not, as is generally supposed, a simple sheet of particles, bound together by their mutual attractions, but consists of an infinite number of needle-shaped crystals, crossing and recrossing each other, at definite angles, until they present to the eye the appearance of a homogeneous mass. To be convinced of this, nothing more is necessary, than to watch the water of a pool as it freezes. At first, we will notice a number of long slender crystals, shooting out from the sides of the pool; then the enlargement of these by the addition of other particles in lines parallel to their sides, as well as a second set of crystals shooting from the sides of the first; then a repetition of this process, and so on until the whole surface of the pool is covered.

So far are such exceptions as these from being oversights in the Creator, that they furnish us with the most convincing evidence of his designing supervision. Had not water, between the temperatures of 32° and 40° Far., been made an exception to the general law of expansion and contraction, instead of having our rivers covered in winter with a thin coat of ice, ready

And howls around the caverned earth-it cannot reach the sky.
No blessed dew falls down on it ; but gloomily and dread
It covers with its mighty pall the bodies of the dead.

THE EARLY DEAD.

He did not linger out his span,
Of a proud line the end,
A lonely and time-stricken man,
His staff his only friend;
Repining at the long delay
That barr'd him from his kindred clay:
But ere a sorrow stain'd,

Or thorn beset the path he trod,
Shook off its dust, to walk with God.
So the fair flower of morn displays

A rest as early won,
Ere scorch'd by Sol's meridian rays,
Or shut when day is done.
He left us as the early dew
Goes up from earth, to glass anew
The glories of the sun:
Saw just enough of life to know
Its joy, but not to feel its woe.

The crown that holy men have sought
In danger's stormy track;
For which the martyr's faith has fought
Through flood and flame and rack;
Came down to him, a placid boon,
As the calm sunlight falls at noon:
Oh! who could call him back,
To lay his robe of glory down,
That heav'n of love, that starry crown!
What could we offer in exchange,

To tempt his spirit's flight
Away from her unbounded range,

Through boundless fields of light?
The day of care; the night of pain;
Death's valley and dark shade again;
Hope's blossoms-and their blight!
Their bloom he saw; their blight he fled :
Thrice happy are the early dead!
Camden, S. C.

B. W. H.

WASHINGTON COLLEGE,

LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA.

soon gave eclat to the institution. The neighborhood viewed this novelty, a Latin school, as it was called, as an important acquisition to the country. I happened at Mount Pleasant during Mr. GraAbout threescore years ago, the Hanover Pres-ham's superintendence. It was noon, the hour of bytery, (at that time the only Presbytery in Vir- recreation. Here was seen a large assemblage of ginia,) taking into consideration the low state of fine, cheerful, vigorous looking youth, apparently literature in this commonwealth, conceived a pro- from ten to twenty years of age. They were ject of establishing a seminary of learning in the mostly engaged in feats of strength, speed or upper country. They wisely concluded that such agility; each emulous to surpass his fellows in an establishment in the limestone valley would those exercises, for which youth of their age geneafford to all classes an opportunity of acquiring a rally possess a strong predilection. Presently the liberal education, thereby rendering unnecessary sound of a horn summoned all to the business of the inconvenience and extra expense of resorting the afternoon. The sports were dropped as by to northern colleges. In accordance with these magic. Now you may see them seated singly or views, the Presbytery appointed agents to solicit in pairs, or in small groups, with book in hand, and receive donations; and trustees to carry their conning over their afternoon's lesson. One porplans into execution. It was readily foreseen, that tion resorted immediately to the hall, and, ranging the times were unfavorable for making collections themselves before the preceptor in semicircular of money for any public purpose. The whole order, handed him an open book containing their valley was, comparatively, a new settlement; hith- recitation. He seemed not to look into the book, erto a frontier; often subjected to Indian depreda- and presently closed it; thinking, as I supposed, tions and to draughts on the militia for protection. that he knew as well as the book. Of the recitaThis checked population; retarded enterprise and tion I understood not a syllable; yet it was highly improvements, and whatever might contribute to agreeable to the ear, sonorous and musical: and the wealth of the country. although more than sixty winters have rolled The Presbytery, however, considering the ne-away since that time, the impressions then made cessity of the case, thought that something might have not been entirely effaced from my memory. be done; and on making the experiment, some-I have since discovered that the recitation was a thing was done. The trustees soon determined to erect a building; and the site chosen was in a grove, on the summit of Timber-ridge, about one mile northwest of the present village of Fairfield. Here, on either side, was a delightful prospect of a picturesque country. The situation afforded kind. He seemed to sit merely as a silent witness plenty of firewood; timber sufficient for building, of the performance. The class itself resembled and good water convenient; and was very appro- one of those self-regulating machines of which I priately denominated Mount Pleasant. It was have heard. Each member stood ready, by trapencircled by a numerous population. By contri- ping and turning down, to correct the mishaps and butions from the vicinity, of labor, &c. a building mistakes of his fellows: and as much emulation was soon reared. I will not here stop to describe was discovered here, as had been, an hour before, the materials of which it was composed; its di- on the theatre of their sports, in their athletic exmensions or proportions; its ornaments or orders ercise. Since that day, I have often thought that of architecture-suffice it to say, that it blended emulation would be a noble engine in the hands of comfort and convenience with cheapness, and was a skilful teacher. It excites attention; creates sufficiently large for present purposes. A teacher accuracy and promptitude; and gives zest and was now employed. The first whose name I variety to subjects, otherwise dry and jejune. remember was William Graham. He was a During this recitation, an incipient smile of apprograduate of Nassau-Hall, during the administra-bation was more than once observed on the countion of the celebrated Doctor Witherspoon. Mr. tenance of the preceptor, maugre his native gravity Graham came to this country with the character and reserve. This happened when small boys, by of a gentleman of genius, scholarship and piety, their superior scholarship, raised themselves above which character he supported through life. those who were full grown. This class having

portion of that beautiful Greek verb, Tupto; in which the sound of the consonants pi, tau, mu, theta, predominate. It was observable that, during the recitation, the preceptor gave no instruction, corrected no errors, made no remarks of any

A number of students from this and the neigh-gone through, several others, in regular order, boring counties now resorted to Mount Pleasant. presented themselves before the teacher and passed In a short time a very respectable grammar- the ordeal. The business of the afternoon was school was formed. This was the first germ of closed by a devotional exercise. And now, Washington College.

The ability of the preceptor; the industry, proficiency, and decorous demeanor of the students,

the

whole number, without delay, issuing from the hall, spread themselves over the area before the door; each conversing with much glee with those VOL. IV.-46

nearest to him; then, hasting homewards, each more than half a century. They, too, have gone took off his several way to some of the farm- the way of all flesh. While remaining here, I houses, which furnished them refectories and called to mind the numerous population which dormitories; and the shadows of the evening once encircled Mount Pleasant, and which, in valengthening fast, I, too, hied me home, much grati-rious ways, contributed to the advancement of the fied and not a little disappointed. The systematic seminary; and I asked myself where are they all order of the place struck my attention. A signal called the whole school together; a signal announced the hour of recitation: each class was summoned to its recitation by a signal. These signals were obeyed without delay-and without noise. The students might pursue their studies in the hall or the open air as pleased them best. Talking or reading aloud was not permitted in the hall, except to the class reciting. The dignity of the preceptor, and his well known fitness for the station, gave him respectability, and he was respected. Before this day I had thought the course pursued in this Latin school resembled the common English schools with which I had been acquainted.

"Sic canibus catulos semiles, sic matribus hædos

Noram, sic parvis componere magna solebam."

now? Where are the Willsons, Blackburns, Browns, Scotts, the Greenlees, McDowels, McClungs, Pattons and Pattersons? Where are they now? Gone to the land of forgetfulness! As whilst a tempest, sweeping through an ancient forest, uproots and rends from its base the growth of ages, if we look abroad, we behold but one universal ruin and desolation. Yet, when the wind has subsided, the clouds have dispersed, the war of elements has ceased, and the heavens have become serene, we may, here and there, descry a sturdy oak, scathed, indeed, stripped of its foliage and despoiled of its beauty, the trunk yet standing and retaining the principle of vitality—so of that numerous population, of various ages, character and pursuits, which once encircled the spot where I now am. A few, very few, indeed, children of But I now saw that the order and discipline of the another century, may, by careful inquiry, be disformer were essentially different from the noise, covered, far dispersed from each other, with hoary confusion and turmoil of the latter.-Fifty or sixty heads and furrowed cheeks, their steps marked years after this, and but a few years ago, in passwith imbecility and decrepitude, having advanced ing near to Mount Pleasant, I turned out of my far adown the vale of life, and still progressing with way to see this quondam seat of the muses. It accelerated speed, destined soon to join, in the land was soon found, and readily recognized. The of silence, their former associates. The students, building and grove have entirely disappeared. too, that lovely band of youth, whom, long since, No hedge or railing encloses the area. Neither I saw animating the scenes around Mount Pleathe strength of man nor the labor of the ox-- sant with youthful sports and jocundity; whose neither the harrow nor the crooked plough have countenances beamed with health and intelligence, subdued the soil. It appears an entire desolation. the joy and hope of their parents and their counThe elevated position, however, affords the same try; and in whom those hopes were not disgrand and delightful prospect, and might give appointed; they, too, have felt the tempest. employment to the pen or pencil of an artist. I They, too, have bowed to the King of Terrors. felt myself on classic ground. Here Washing- Yet a single exception to this may even now be ton College drew its first breath. On this spot, found.* I wish I could recollect the names of all Mount Pleasant, commenced the establishment of the students of that primary school. Priestly, a seminary of learning. A few obscure clergy- Mitchel, Hoge, Stuart, Blackburn, McClung, the men, without political power, and, in those days of Willsons, Browns and Breckenridges, were of the skepticism, possessing very little personal influ- number. These entered on a classical course ence; without pecuniary resources, other than about the same time, and were cotemporaries on what might be expected from the voluntary conthe stage of public life. Several of them became tributions of a newly settled mountainous district practising attorneys. Two of them held seats on of country; in perilous times, too, when the In- the bench of justice in the superior courts of law: dians behind and the British before, threatened to four have been members of State Legislatures: devour with open mouth; under all these appal- four, of the Congress of the United States. One ling circumstances, these few men, Tod, Brown, was called to preside over the important interests Waddell, and their associates, relying on the favor of a college, and one, in diplomatic capacity, to of heaven, began the work, persevered and sucsuperintend our national interests at the court of ceeded. They have long since slept with their Versailles. Besides, several of these have at diffathers: and, were this benevolent work alone ferent times received appointments by authority known of them, they would merit the grateful of the state, to manage special important trusts in remembrance of the present and future generabehalf of the commonwealth. I think, it may be tions. The trustees, too, were important auxilia- safely said, that no one of these was ever charged, ries in the same work. Most of them continued or chargeable with delinquency in their important in office during life. Some of them, I think, for

The Rev. James Mitchel, of Bedford, Virginia.

trusts, either through want of talents, or want of fidelity. A parallel to this can hardly be found; that twelve young men commencing a course of learning about the same time, should all appear in after life with so much respectability in the public estimation and these, too, not selected; but taken, as it might he said, at random.

opened not my mouth. "For your consolation let me inform you," subjoined he," that the life of man, though short, is long enough for all the purposes of life, provided the time thereof be judiciously economized in accordance with the laws which a wise and beneficent Creator has given him for the regulation of his conduct; and this will lead to perpetuity of bliss." Here my monitor very unceremoniously withdrew. I had now arrived, almost unconsciously, at the dwelling of an old acquaintance. On entering, I was kindly saluted; many friendly inquiries and professions

By this time my travelling companion became impatient, and manifested by gestures easily understood, his willingness to be unmoored and to leave this desolate place. I mounted, gave him the rein, and pursued my journey, ruminating much on former days, on scenes of childhood and of regard succeeded, which were followed by an youth; on my cotemporaries, the companions of interesting conversation, in which every member my youth-how few of them now survive; and of the cheerful family seemed willing to bear part. how many of those, by far my juniors, have gone The conversation was not the less interesting on the way of all flesh. I thought, too, of the brevity account of its being free from ceremony and conof human life, composed of a few short periods; straint. Now the sombre train of my thoughts, youth, maturity and decay; and these followed by which, erewhile, had held me in durance, was death and dissolution; and these few periods re- broken, and I soon became light-hearted and plete with toil and pain, losses and disappointments. buoyant as a prisoner bird just escaped from its What caducity in human affairs! What a per- cage. But we have wandered far from our subplexing maze is the life of man! To what a sha-ject-let us return. dowy, precarious, evanescent state of being is he The seminary remained but for a few years at consigned! Might he not have been created ex- its first location. Land was procured by the trusempt from evil? or, if evil must be, might he not tees, and buildings prepared on a larger scale, have been gifted with those faculties, which would about six miles south of Mount Pleasant, at Timhave enabled him to foresee and avoid it, suc- ber-ridge meeting-house. The seminary had now cessfully to resist and overcome? Or, could he obtained the name of Liberty Hall; and a law was not have been elevated to a station more congenial enacted by the legislature entitled, "An act to into the dignity of his intellectual character, where corporate the Rector and Trustees of Liberty pursuits of a nobler kind might have led to per- Hall Academy." Mr. Graham had been emmanent and substantial felicity? Here some supe-ployed to travel northward to solicit donations. rior being twitched my ear and checked my arrogance. "Man," said he, "forms a part of an immense system of being. The great Creator endowed him with those faculties, placed him in that station, and subjected him to those laws which he saw right and proper. Wouldst thou, O, mortal, alter the established order of things? Canst thou, who arose into being but yesterday, and tomorrow must return to your mother earth; frail, weak and erring creature, possessing but five scanty inlets of knowledge; resident in a remote corner of the universe, with but a speck of creaLexington was established as the county town tion subject to your vision-can you, I say, scan of Rockbridge in 1779. The academy was rethe operations of the Almighty? Can you fathom moved from Timber-ridge, I think, soon afterthe depths of the wisdom of his counsel? Would wards to a situation nearly a mile west of this you sit in judgment on his doings; rejudge his town. Here a frame building was erected, in justice, or reverse his decisions? Shall the thing which the business of instruction was continued formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou for a number of years. During the Revolutionary made me thus?

Presumptuous man, wouldst thou the reason find,
Why formed so weak, so little and so blind?
First, if thou canst, the harder reason guess,
Why formed no weaker, blinder and no less.
He, who through vast immensity can pierce,
Can tell why Heaven has made man as he is.

He went, I believe, as far as Boston. I have never heard precisely the amount of his collections; but it is probable that the lands purchased, the buildings prepared, and some expensive instruments procured about this time, were paid for, at least partly, from this source. Among the instruments were, an air-pump, an electric-machine, a sextant, microscope and telescope, a set of large maps, a pair of ten or twelve-inch globes, together with a number of valuable books, the beginning of a library.

war, the confusion and embarrassment, public and individual, had so deranged all business that every resource of the academy was cut off, and many of its friends began to despair of its longer existence. This war had been waged for national independence; and all the resources of the country, all its energies, physical and intellectual, were required, Silence, submission and acquiescence become the and also the services of every man-no one was creature." I stood reproved. I was dumb; I exempt. The clergy, indeed, were exempted by

« AnteriorContinuar »