and the mastery and oratory; raifed by a voluble tongue, and an unbluthing face to a rank of eminence, without abilities to be groom-porter to an orange-barrow t.-This head will be a memento that honour, integrity, and abilities muft fometimes languifh in obfcurity, while arrogance and chicanery are fupported in affluence. This gentleman never had any will of his own, but is perfectly obedient to the directions of his employers, except where his intereft dictates otherwife; for in this refpect, his fagacity may be compared to that of a dray-horse; place two fieves of corn before him, and he will certainly follow that which contains the largeft bribe of provender. (Takes up No. 17.) Extolled and calumniated by the fame men; raised to the pinnacle of power, and as fuddenly kicked down-this head deferves a place in any collection of oddities. A blundering ftatefman, and a complete orator, who feemed as if he did wrong, merely for the opportunity of justifying weakness, and apologizing for error; an adept in the fcience of finance and figure-but who never made? a calculation without a confequent expence. to the public.-America will teftify to his talents-tho' the blunder that loft us thirteen provinces, originated from an higher fouree. This head, Ladies and Gentlemen, was modelled fome few years ago, but has been retouched, and is now farward to the prefent (Takes up No 12.) This, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the head ftandard of the original, with all its ambiguity and duplicity. of the modern Phaeton, whofe ambition let us hope, will not be fo feverely punished as that of the ancient hero. There is a coldness and frigidity in this head, perfectly correfponding with the heart to which it was united, which never knew the enthufiafm of tender attachment, or was the leaft alive to the fenfibility of female attraction, and made half the world inclined to believe he was a natural Abelard :-Convivial feftivity had no greater charms for him; all his relaxations from the folemnity of ftate and intrigues of politics, being confined and private in their nature. It was thought, indeed, he took a diflike to drinking, from having once, when in his cups, been miftaken for a highwayman: and in fact the fimilarity between a minifter of state and a highwayman, might readily enough occafion fuch blunder.the one robbing individuals the other the public at large. The body to which this head belonged, was as unadorned as the head itself, being aukward and ungraceful, and little famed to captivate by the a terations of figure or drefs. To do him juftice, however, he was a complete mafter of figures and taxation, and no minifter, ever lived who could sooner have paid off the national 'debt upon paper. This is a head in high prefervation the dinginess of the face is no blemish or dirt -but only a true colouring after nature, fo as to give an idea of the natural fwarthiness, which bears a refemblance to the countenance of an inhabitant of Madagascar-Yet fombre as it is, there is a certain fomething pervades the darkness of complexion, and theds a fort of luftre over the features, which whether it can be termed a fmile, I will not venture to affert-Obferve the mouth, gentlemen-the representation of that mouth from whence have iffued the feverest philipics, and most masterly pieces of eloquence that ever charmed the ears of a liftening auditory.. The tongue, you fee, like the original, appears to be in conftant motion. The pedeftal on which this head is intended to be fixed, is a pharo-table, with a representation of the Secretary of States office, and a distant view of the Treasury ; (Takes up No. 22.) Tho' it feems afleep, yet you here fee, Ladies and Gentlemen, I the head of a cele brated ftatefman, well executed, and acknowledged a striking likeness, which is enhanced by the celebrity of the man. -A character that has been canvaffed, delineated, and diffected, without being known :famed to charm his friends, and to difarm even his enemies, unequalled in the power of humour and ridicule yet he was deficient in all the fterner qualities of a minifter. N 6 T E S. Mr. Henry Dundas. Mr. William Pit. I Lord North. : the group of Jews and money-lenders, fhews the multiplicity and variety of his eon. nections; and the empty bladder is an emblem of the boafted peace which vanifhed in smoke. Let me recommend this head to the notice of the ladies to whom the living image is inviolably attached- -to whofe blandifhments he is perfectly fenfible; and with whom (unlike to the originals of fome portraits in my collection) he does not blufh publickly to affociate in his fofter hours, Either in a phaeton in Hyde-park, or in I should exhauft your fpirits, ladies and world has heard fo much of the dark co- N and 787. Dr. Rees's Edition of Chambers's Encyclopædia. hink it neceffary to throw a fair light upon r. Rees's Edition of Chambers's Encyclopa Twork has not been able to advance HOUGH the Editor of this extenfive much on the theory of mechanics, that hav. ng been fufficiently established before, he has fpared neither attention nor labour, to communicate every new invention that later years have produced; among these we may tank the fteam engine, invented by Boulton chand Watt. In treating on mechanics, the Editor recommends to engineers the confideration of the proportion of the power and weight to each other, in order to produce, in a given machine, the greateft poffible effect, in a fo given time. It is apparent, that this is an inquiry of the greatest importance, though few have noticed it. When the power is only a little greater than what is fufficient to fuftain the weight, the motion is too flow; and though a great weight is raifed in this cafe, it is not fufficient to compen fate for the lofs of time. When the weight is much less than that which the power is able to fuftain, it is raifed in lefs time, and this may happen not to be fufficient to compenfate for the lofs arifing from the fmallnefs of the load. It ought therefore to be determined when the product of the weight and its velocity is the greateft poffible; for this product justly meatures the effect of the engine in a given time, which is always in the compound ratio of the weight and its velocity. The ingenious Editor inveftigates this problem with great attention, and wishes that farther improvements might be made in this molt ufeful part of mechanics. Accurate defcriptions, and draughts of various machines, and engines, would be a very curious as well as ufeful work. In this refpect Dr. Rees has not followed the plan of the foreign Encyclopadie. The Editors of that Dictionary have crowded their work with a number of flight defcriptions of the most uninteresting machines that have been invented. To make a collection of this kind as advantageous as poffible, it fhould contain, befide the defcriptions of machines, an analytis of them, pointing out their advantages and difadvantages, with the refpective realons for their conftruction; and the general problems, implied in each conftruction, with their folutions, fhould be extracted. None of these things have as yet been done in a complete and fatisfactory manner, in any treatife on mechanice, or in any of the many Dictionaries of Arts, &c. that have been published. The Royal Aca 3 demy of Sciences at Paris have indeed given ús a collection of machines and inventions approved by them; this work, published by lumes, containing engraved draughts of the M. Gallon, confifts of fix large quarto vomachines, with their defcriptions annexed: but a complete inftitution of practical del for fuch a work is Emmerfon's firit mechanics is ftill wanting. The eft me edition of his Mechanics; let no one however undertake this arduous talk whofe mathematical knowledge is in any refpect incomplete. Chemistry, or as we have it in this work Chymillry, (critics are divided as to the etymology of the word, fome deriving it from the Greek xs, to melt, whence chemistry; others from xv, juice, whence chymistry; others from the Egyptian chema, from the Hebrew, heat, or the proor kema, black, whence chemifiry; others per name, making Ham or Cham, the inventor of the art) has received great and material improvements in later years. To thefe the Editor has been very attentive.different Airs, is, we believe, not to be met His hiftory of the discoveries relative to the with, in fuch circumftantial detail, in any other work. An elementary treatife on this fubject is at prefent much wanted; the definitions of the new terms, the defcription of every apparatus, and the method of prothe accounts that the inventors have given curing the feveral airs, are difperfed through of their labours, not only in their own valuable works, but even in various parts of the Acts, Tranfactions, and Journals of moft of the learned focieties in Europe.Thefe, if collected in a small compaís, would Rees has, in the great work before us, gicertainly prove very acceptable; and Dr. ven an excellent model for others to copy. Of the Barometer, Dr. Rees treats very largely, and has given a particular account of the improvements that have been made in that inftrument, efpecially when it is used to determine the heights of mountains, &c. The various conftructions of these inftrudirections are given for the mode of filling, ments are minutely defcribed, and proper fixing them, &c. lo as beft to fuit the feve ral purposes for which they are intended. velty of the difcovery, the Editor has colOn Aeroftation, notwithstanding the nolected every thing of note that has beca written on the fubject. We received much real information as well as pleafure from the perufal of the hiftory of thefe atmospherical voyages and travels. The ufes of an art fo lately introduced to our acquaintance, have find many fuggeftions of the advantages that not yet been fufficiently afcertained, but we may be derived from it, and the core, A 2 cal and philofophical purposes to which it may be applied. The mechanical Arts are no lefs attended to by Dr. Rees than those which are styled liberal; he has in this edition confiderably increafed the articles Agriculture, Architecture, nking, Brewing, Carpentry, Dying, Tanning, Gardening, &c. In the execution of this part of the work, we admire the Editor's method of expreffing common things in a manner that even the learned may profit by them, and the ignorant be inftructed. When a lexicographer accomplifies this intention, but even every thing we think he has that can be expected of him. When he has given an hiftory of the Art, the improvements that have been gradually made in it, the ufual method of practising it, and the reafons upon which it is founded, little elfe remains to be done. As in the dictionary of a language, the letters, which are the elementary principles of words, are fuppofed to be known; fo in a dictionary of arts, the elementary principles of fcience are presupposed. The confideration of this circumftance points out to us the boundaries where a fcientific dictionary ought to begin; but perhaps it is not fo eafy to determine where it muft end. The Editor has much increased and improved the work he fet out with, and when we find that he has faithfully recorded the material advanees that has been made in feience, we may fafely conclude that he has arrived at the end of his journey. The Supplement to Chambers's Dictionary, which was published about 30 years ago, by Mr. Lewis Scott and Dr. Hill, has been duly attended to by the present learned Editor, and though he has incorporated the soft valuable part of the labours of thofe gentlemen into the original alphabet, yet his judgment has in every inftance felected only what was necessary and useful, and rejected the fuperfluous and redundant.From what has been faid of the Supplement in the beginning of this article, it is evident that the ftate in which it was published, rendered a revifal of it abfolutely neceffary; and that the incorporating it into the original would require a number of articles to be abridged or altered, in order to make them fuit the places where they ought to be inferted. This tafk, however laborious and difficult, feems to have been executed with care and attention; which is not one of the leaft recommendations to which this work is entitled. From the account we have given of this new edition of Chambers's Cyclopædia, our Readers may be in fome meature enabled to n an idea of the merits of the work. To a particular sizcumftantial detail of every article, or every clafs, eannot be ex- The Generous Fair :-A Perfian Tale. Idris, among the dancers of the palace, Scarcely had Idris appeared on the theatre of the capital, but the found herself befet by the grandees, who ftrove to please her by the fame means that had won others in that ftation. But Idris was not to be caught with fuch baits. At the palace, at aflemblies, in the public walks, and in all places, the discourse turned upon the new dancer: every one talked of her beauty, her wit, and her engaging behaviour; and, which was more than they had ever faid of any other of her profeffion, they agreed in acknowledging her to be very virtuous. Mahmut bore among the young lords of the court the fame character which Idris maintained among the dancers of her sex ; proof against the defects of his equals, and the vices of his ftation. As foon as he be gan to appear in the world, he became fenfible of the ridiculoufne fs of that noily, obftreperous giddinefs, which moft young peo ple of quality affect; and being happily prejudiced against the idle life he faw them lead, he took care not to follow their example, yet without feeming to condemn them. While their days were divided between the toilet, the table-vifits, ladies bed chambers, and gaming, he spent the morning in his clofet among his books, or with thofe whose converfation could inftruct him better. In the afternoon he frequented the manufactories and working-places about the palace, talked with the ableft hands in the feveral arts, and obferved with the utmost attention how they proceeded in their works. In the evening he was at the play, or other public entertainments, which he enjoyed with the moderation that is ever infeparable from tafte and and difcernment; after which he repaired to fome of the moft brilliant affemblies of Ifpahan, as well to avoid a fingularity that would have rendered him odious, as to acquire a greater fhare of the complaifance and politenels which reigned in them. Idris could not behold this amiable Persian without emotion; the immediately fhunned all her importunate fuitors, and complacently fancying him free from all their faults, the fecretly wifhed that the beauty which they had fo highly extol led, might make an impreffion on him. Her wishes were met more than half way; Mahmut foon let her know that he loved her moft paffionately, and difcerning her virtues, la houred to rife to fuch a pitch, as might oblige her to be conftant to him; and Idris abundantly rewarded him for all the pains he took to please her. Praise grounded on truth, and coming from the mouth of fo charming a perfon, filled the tender Mahmut's heart with joy and fatisfaction. He read in the eyes of his beauteous mistress how dear he was to her: he talked of his paffion, and defcribed its violence. Idris liftened to him with pleasure, vowed the would make him a juft return, and thus animated him to give her no occasion to repent her engage ment. Between two neighbours fo powerful as the Grand Signor and the king of Perfia, there can be no long peace: a war foon broke out, and Mahmut was obliged to fet out for the army. He waited upon Idris, to deplore with her the dire neceffity that forced them afunder; but while he lay at her feet he durft not disclose to her all his grief: the fortitude of the fair one daunted him; he was afraid of leffening himself in her efteem, by difcovering any weakness. Idris difcovered the fore conflict in his breast, and loved him for it the more intenfely. Mahmut had not been gone a month, when he gave way to his defire of an inter view with Idris. He flipped away privately from the army, and with the help of relays, which he had got ready on the road, he was the gates of Ifpahan before they miffed him in the camp. Alighting at the houfe of the of his old fervants, he disguised himself the apparel of a peafant, that he might Bo be known in the city, and, impatient of interview with his Idris, he flew to her Loafe. The charming maid was fitting at her baltay, as Mahmut was advancing, and knew im notwithstanding his difguife. Grieved te him thus neglect his glory and his du17, the ran directly to her clolet, charging ler flave to admit no vifitor whatever. She meted into tears at the weaknefs of her lobut foon recovered herself, and wrote b the following billet: Idris to the Pealant. with at the army. Call upon. Mahmut, and tell him from me, that I defire him to remember the conditions on which the heart of Idris is to be fecured." Mahmut was too much confounded with the few words, to afk any questions of the slave that delivered him the billet. He went back to his domeftic's houfe, to put off his difguife, and fluctuating between admiration, grief, and fear, he repaired again to the army, with as much hafte as he had travelled up to Ifpahan. His chief ftudy being to make amends for the fault he had committed, he behaved the reft of the campaign with fo much ardour, bravery, and conduct, that he was defervedly prompted to a higher poft, which the king conferred on him with the most honourable eulogies at the head of the army. Idris wrote him a congratulatory letter on his promotion, in which, without mentioning his weakness, fhe gave him to understand that she had forgiven him. Mahmut, tranfported with joy, haftened back to Ifpahan, as foon as the army was ordered into winter quarters; and liftening to no other confiderations but his esteem for the virtuous girl, he intreated her to complete his happinefs in becoming his wife. Your wife!" anfwered Idris: "no, my lord. I, that am ready to facrifice my life, were it neceffary, to preferve your glory, fhall not be inftrumental myself in fullying it." Sentiments like thefe made the passionate Mahmut only more preffing. "What are those things (faid he) which create fo great a disparity between us? An instant may des prive me of them; but the dowry which you will bring me, charming Idris, is a bleffing that depends not on men, nor For tune." In uttering these words, his counte nance began to be clouded with grief: fresh denials drove him to defpair; he drew his poniard, and was going to plunge it into his breaft. The tender Idris could no'd out no longer: "Ah! Mahmut, (cried fhe) ftop your hand, and live; to-morrow I fhall be your's: grant me but this fhort refpite." She could not utter more; tears put an end to her furprize, and stopped her breath. Afhamed of her weakness, the broke loote from her lover's arms, and withdrew to her clofet, where the foon repented the promife he had made. In the mean while Mahmut was defperate enough to refolve upon death, if the denied his requeft: and the maid wavering between tender paflion and her concern for the glory of her lover, foon hit upon a device which would falve both. While the was free, not withstanding the meanness of her condition. fhe could not in honour give her to him upon any other terms than marriage; a confidering the distance which fortune hat put between them, fhe was fenfible she could not recover the title of wife without difgracing her admirer. She refolved then to remove thofe obftacles to her Mahmut's happinefs, at the expence of what was most dear to her. Wrapping herself up therefore in a long mantle, the left her house in the dusk of the evening, and went to fell herfelf to a dealer in flaves; after this fhe wrote the following letter to Mahmut : "My Lord, "You have not judged me unworthy to be your wife, and I have the deepeft fenfe of gratitude for this fignal teftimony of your efteem. I think my heart and my fentiments would not have difgraced that honourable quality; but what would your relations say? what would all Perfia fay, whofe eyes are upon you, and who fee nothing in me but the mean profeffion I was bred to? I allow that in one moment you may be deprived of every thing that makes the great difparity, between us but if ever you fhould be borne down by adverfe fortune, the whole world would be forced to acknowledge the injuftice, and to pity and admire you. You love Idris; you are refolved to die, if fhe does not make herself your's: come then, and take her out of the house of thofe to whom fhe has fold herself, in order that yourself may become her mafter. Since Fortune has not qualified her for your wife, take her then as your flave.-But let her ftill conjure you to truft to virtue; for there is nothing which virtue cannot accomplish." The writer of this anecdote adds, that Mahmut having followed the plan his miftrefs had laid down, and entertaining a ftill greater affection for her, at once prefented her to his relations, who, ftruck with her generofity, with one voice acknowledged, that the who could condefcend to become a flave to fave her lover's honour, deferved to be made his wife, to raise her own. They were accordingly united, and lived a happy and a fplendid life in the court of Abbas the Great, who profefied himself an admirer of their virtues. The moral of this flory may ferve to inculcate, that virtue is confined to no atuation; and as to the extravagant facrifice which Idris made to Mahmut, if the cuftoms of the Perfians are confidered, and the low efteem which perfons of her rank were held in, it may not feem fo extraordinary. It is to be obferved, that the all along preferved her virtue, and at length practifed a felf denial, which met with a deferved reward. ▲ Chronological Series, of Remarkable Oc currences, in 1786. T this period, the alarm, in con- tures, was increafed confiderably, by the 3. De Chameron, who committed the 6. This day is remarkable for the melan- 8. A most extraordinary phenomenon appeared; namely, a moft violent ftorm of thunder and lightning, at the fame time that we had froft, and a very heavy fall of fnow. 9. Lord Macartney arrived in town from the Eaft-Indies, having failed from Calcutta in the Swallow packet, the 16th of August, and left the government under the direction of Mr. Macpherson. 14. A fraud was committed on the bank of England by a perfon paying the cafhier 10. and receiving, as ufual, a fquare bit of paper with the fum written on it, which he altered to 1ool. An uncommon circumstance happened at New Malton in Yorkshire, during the fitting of the quarter feffion in the court-houfe, where a floor giving way, fell with upwards of 300 perfons on it, twelve feet down, without a fingle life being loft, or any person being greatly hurt. 18. The king of France publifhed an arret revoking the droit d'Aubaine, and empower ing foreigners of every religion to settle and purchase lands in France. 24. 1 he feffion of parliament commenced at Westminster. The famous. Charles Price, alias Patch, hanged himself in Tothil-fields bridewell, ten days after his commitment for a forgery upon the bank of England. 26. The lord lieutenant opened the feffion of parliament in Dublin, and Mr Orde gave the House of Commons an affurance that there was no intention to revive the pro pofitions. 27. The ambassador from Tripoli was pre fented to his majefty at St. James's. He brought a prefent to his majefty from the Bey of a very curious faddle, with rich and elegant accoutrements. Feb |