Extract from the Tyne Mercury of the 29th November 1803. Extraordinary Escape from Shipwreck. South Shields, Nov. 22. Having yesterday witnessed the most extraordinary escape of the crew of the brig Bee from shipwreck, that was perhaps ever known, by means of the Northumberland Life-Boat, I take the most early opportunity of giving you a correct statement of the whole circum stances. 6 The Bee of Shields, John Houston, master, having put to sea in an easterly wind, had not proceeded far when it began to blow strong from the south-east, which obliged him a few hours after to put back. In taking Tynemouth Bar at the last quarter ebb, in a very heavy sea, she struck the ground and unshipped her rudder. Being now completely unmanageable, she drifted towards the north side of the bar, and at length drove on the Black Middens. They who have witnessed the tremendous sea which breaks on the northeast part of this harbour, in a south-easterly wind, may form a conception of the dreadful situation in which the crew of the vessel were situated. In the midst of rocks, where the sea runs mountains-high, so as frequently to obscure the ship, and where any vessel might be expected immediately to go to pieces, their only refuge from being swept into the gulph, was to climb up into the shrouds, which the captain, with six men and boys, being the whole crew, instantly effected. The dangerous situation in which they were placed, immediately attracted an immense number of spectators from both North and South Shields. The shores in every direction were lined with people, who expressed, by their anxious looks, the most sympathetic apprehensions for their safety. The making use of the Life-Boat was by most people thought impossible, and at all events the attempt was attended with extreme danger, owing to the tremendous sea, and the immense rocks which lay where the vessel was stranded. So confident, however, was Mr. Greathead, the inventor, of the Life Boat being able to live in any sea, if properly navigated, that he, without hesita tion, and with the greatest alertness, volunteered his services to bring off the men from the brig. This intrepid offer operated like electri city among the sailors; and immediately the Northumberland LifeBoat was launched and manned with Mr. Greathead and South Shields pilots. In the course of a few minutes they reached the vessel, without much difficulty, and picked off the men from the shrouds, shivering with cold, and almost perished by fatigue. One man, in making too much haste to enter the Boat, fell into the breakers, but was immediately recovered. When the whole crew was in the Boat they rowed towards the shore: and, in less than an hour from the time the Boat was launched, did they return in safety to South Shields, without a single accident! This is certainly the most astonishing and hazardous expedition that any Life-Boat has ever yet attempted; and from the ease and safety with which she went to and from the brig, having shipped very little water, it can scarcely be conceived what she may be capable of effecting. The joy that appeared to pervade the people op shore, when the Boat returned in safety, may more easily be conceived than described. This successful enterprize has added another laurel laurel to the Inventor of the Life-Boat, and additional lustre to the Duke of Northumberland, and the other benevolent patrons of an invention which has rendered such important services to the cause of humanity.' Some contest has arisen respecting the claim to the priority of this valuable invention, but Mr. Great head seems to have a full right to that honor and satisfaction. We rejoice to learn that many of these boats have been built, and sent to different parts of the coast; and we trust that they will be most extensively multiplied. In the construction and use of them, Mr. G.'s directions contained in this pamphlet will be consulted with much advantage. Capt· B...y. Art. 29. An Enquiry into the Causes of the Errors and Irregularities which take place in ascertaining the Strengths of Spirituous Liquors, by the Hydrometer, with a Demonstration of the Practicability of Simplifying and rendering this Instrument accurate. By William Speer, Supervisor and Assayer of Spirits in the Port of Dublin. Svo. Is. 6d. Payne and Mackinlay. This tract and others on the same subject, together with several newly invented hydrometers, have originated in an inquiry set on foot by the Board of Excise, concerning the best means of ascertain. ing the strength of spiritous liquors. The Board were ordered to make a report to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, of such hydrometers, or instruments for ascertaining the strengths of spirituous liquors as now are in use, or should be produced to them, in order to the making experiments of their accuracy and convenience.' Mr. Speer has much to communicate: but, not being, according to his own confession, in the habits of composition, he has not imparted his notions neatly and concisely. However, he clearly shews the absurdity of many of the old excise regulations, with the defects of Clarke's hydrometer; and, moreover, that such defects cannot be remedied by additional weights. In the construction of an hydrometer, many difficulties are to be overcome. If the stem be large, it cannot shew distinctly small variations of specific gravity; if small, it cannot be used for spirits differing materially in strength; and if it be furnished with weights and scales, it becomes complicated. These circumstances appear all to have been considered by the author of the present tract; and the following is the short description of his hydrometer: This new Hydrometer is made of hard brass: The ball is shaped in the form of a pear, being nearly two inches in diameter at its greatest dimension, and two inches and a quarter in length; the lower stem measures one inch and a half, and is in shape a prism, each side measuring one-eighth of an inch; to the lower end of this a round weight is fixed, the diameter of which is seven-eighths of an inch. The upper stem is in length five inches and an half, and is an octagon, each side being somewhat less than an eighth of an inch wide: Each of these sides is graduated for a temperature engraved on the top, the lowest being 35, the 2d 40, and so increasing by five until it reaches 70. The zero, or proof point, is marked, and the gradations 1 gradations of strength (numbered at every 4th) amount to sixty-six, and those so clearly distinct, that at the over proofs they will admit of a sub-division, and by that means indicate an half per cent. These divisions are not at equal distances, an error which takes place in the present Irish, and several of the old Hydrometers, but widen in proportion as the specific gravity of the spirit diminishes; and being graduated with spirits of known strengths at every 4 per cent. the intermediate per centages are adjusted by interpolation." Mr. Speer does not satisfactorily remove the objection against his hydrometer, that, although different sides of the stem are to be used for different temperatures, yet the results cannot be exact, because the law of expansion varies in weak and strong spirits. Art. 30. An Essay on the Relation between the Specific Gravities and the Strengths and Falues of Spirituous Liquors: with Rules for the Adaptation of Mr. Gilpin's Tables to the present Standard, for the Percentage and Concentration when the Specific Gravity and Temperature are given. By Atkins and Co. Mathematical Instrument Makers. 4to. pp. 8o. Cadell and Davies. No one who is acquainted with the old acts of parliament for regulating the duty on spirit, or accustomed to the old methods of estimating its strength, can doubt the necessity of introducing new rules and instruments, by which the quantity of alcohol in any mixture might be ascertained. This point the present authors have very clearly made out; and they have shewn that the act, passed in the beginning of the reign, employs words of very loose and ambiguous meaning. Philosophers probably did not frame the act: but who are so proper to suggest the best modes of ascertaining the strengths of liquors, by means of commodious instruments and methods of computation? Government now acts more wisely than it did formerly; it procures the best advice, without intending probably to employ philosophers, according to a sarcastic saying of Frederic the Great, "in working the state by the method of fluxions." A very great step was undoubtedly gained in practical science, when the strength of liquors was made to depend on their specific gravities. The surest method of determining the specific gravity is by actually weighing the fluid: but this mode is tedious; and therefore, for practical purposes, where expedition is required, the specific gravity is determined by an hydrometer, or pese liqueur. If, however, the specific gravity of pure spirit or alcohol be a, what is the propor tion of pure spirit in a liquor of which the specific gravity is b? We must refer to experiment for an accurate answer to this question: for if we mix pure spirit and water, the bulk of the compound is not equal to the sum of the bulks of the ingredients: a concentration takes place, on which the specific gravity of the compound depends. Again, the specific gravity of pure spirit is determined for a temperature of 60: therefore the liquor, of which the strength is to be examined, must be reduced to that temperature practically, or by finding from the registers of experiments what correction must be applied for the difference of its temperature and that of 60°. The latter mode, supposing the existence of tables, is the most convenient. The authors of this work properly observe that, in order to ascer tain the concentration, the effect of temperature, &c., the only sure guide is experiment: since the law of expansion is not only different for spirit and water, but (which it is reasonable to conjecture) for spirits of different strength. The point of dilatation, too, is different for water and spirit: the former being at its minimum of bulk at 40° (Fahrenheit), the latter, at 30°. Messrs. Atkins and Co. do not pass unnoticed the effect which mucilaginous and saccharine matters have in altering the specific gravity of spirit: it is a desideratum, however, to provide a simpler test of the presence of these substances, than that which is here given. As Mr. Gilpin has constructed such excellent tables, little more seems necessary for accurately determining the strength of spirituous liquors than a manageable and accurate hydrometer. We wish that the authors had given a description of their instrument :-it would have rendered their essay, which is sensibly and scientifically drawn up, much more valuable. The tract deserves notice, but is too diffuse; or, to use a language appropriate to the occasion, according to our critical pese liqueur, the alcohol of their reasoning is considerably diR.W. luted with the water of words. CORRESPONDENCE. In reference to a remark of Mr. Flower, in his edition of Mr. Aspland's Sermon, as stated in our last Number, p. 109, we have received a letter from Mr. Hall; in which he solemnly declares' that, so far from being justly accused of a plagiarism in that instance, henever heard of the pamphlet from which he is charged with having stolen, till he read the extract from it in Mr. Flower's notes, and that he has never seen the pamphlet itself to this day.' We do not undertake to give any opinion on this point: we took the assertion of Mr. Flower as we found it; and we report Mr. Hall's con. tradiction of it as we have received it. The controversy mentioned by Cantianus accidentally escaped our notice when it prevailed, and we had since determined to overlook it on account of the time which has elapsed. It would also be difficult for us now to collect all the tracts which relate to it. If, however, our Correspondent can furnish us with a list of them, and point out where they may be procured, we will try whether we can enable ourselves to rescind that resolution. We shall comply with a Sportsman's' request when opportunity permits. To his query, we answer in the negative. H. has our thanks. He will see that we avail ourselves of his hint. Mr. Walker's tract on Wine was mentioned in our 41st Vol. p.106. In the last Review, p. 5. 1. 10. the comma after 'Lloyd' should be placed after raised;' p. 61. l. 8. for verdict,' r. result; P. 91. 131. put a semicolon after sought." In the last Appendix p. 528. L. 11. from bottom, for taking leave of, r. returning to. gross, pp. 134, 148. THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For JULY, 1804. ART. I. Observations on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gar dening. Including some Remarks on Grecian and Gothic Architecture, collected from various Manuscripts in the Possession of the different Noblemen and Gentlemen for whose Use they were originally written the Whole tending to establish fixed Principles in the respective Arts. By H. Repton, Esq. Large 4to. With many Plates. 51. 5s. Boards. Taylor. AMONG the many controversial publications which have ap peared on the subject of Landscape Gardening, both inclination and reason unite in directing us to those productions which contain the practical ideas of an experienced Professor. Few subjects have met with more discussion, within a short period, than the one which is at present the object of our attention; and few, we are concerned to say, have been less satisfactorily elucidated. One author admires nature in all her wild luxuriance; while another, appalled by thorns and briars, prefers vegetation divested of its tangible terrors, and asserts that dressed grounds are more ornamental :-neither considering that these objects are alike delightful in their proper places, but, by neglecting to advert to the necessary disposition of each in order to answer the various demands of our wants and pleasures, exciting a controversy in which they have equally shewn an inattention to first principles. Had any of the inquiries been founded on these premises, they might have led to clearer conclusions. The subject of landscape gardening is professedly the arrangement of grounds attached to a building that is destined for residence. Between the house and grounds, a relative connection must necessarily be maintained, corresponding with the three primary characters of isolated country dwellings. The first of these distinctions is the gentleman's residence, indicated, without respect to magnitude, by the disposition of the grounds for comfort and pleasure. The second is the farmer's residence; in whose vicinity, without a palpable violation of the rules of propriety, nothing can appear but what tends to promote a profitable account, as respecting both mechaVOL. XLIV. nics |