his memory are under a much greater mistake, when instead of turning their knowledge on that point to its great and proper account (which has never yet been hinted even in this great nation of reasoning freemen!) they fancy they can put down all thoughts upon such subjects, and all the unfortunate consequences of such facts, by raising a hypocritical cry against a few hasty expressions, uttered in that very spirit of sympathy with the community at large, which they count as nothing.

We cannot close this advertisement without adding our cordial voice (truly humble on the present occasion) to the universal harmony prevailing in England on the subject of the glorious rights and equally glorious behaviour of Spain. We must also say, how much surprise and relief have been afforded to us by the political plain-speaking (granting even it ends in little more) of the accomplished person who has succeeded that vizor of a statesman, Lord Castlereagh.

A fine story, illustrative of the great Eastern dogma of fatality, has been told somewhere by Voltaire. He says, that Solomon was one day walking out of doors with somebody, when the latter, with much consternation, said, "Who is this terrible figure approaching? He fills me with horror. Send me, I pray thee, to the remotest mountain of India." Solomon, in his quality of magician, sent him thither accordingly. The figure by this time had come up, and addressing the monarch, said, "Solomon, how came that person to be walking here? I was to have fetched him from the remotest mountain of India." "Angel of Death," replied Solomon, "thou wilt find him there."

RHYMES TO THE EYE,

BY A DEAF GENTLEMAN.

I long'd for Dublin, thinking there to laugh
With jolly tipplers o'er their usquebaugh;
For I've a merry heart, and love that juice,
Which London hath not good at any price.
Thither I went; but once ('twas at the Plough)
Some time uncounted after I'd enough,

I sallied forth, and in the street, alas!

I plunged into a horrible fracas,

So horrible, that all my bones did ach,

And I was forced to ride home in a coach,

Entreating Dora to achieve a pot

Of salve from the Chirurgical Depot.*

I am aware this rhyme may be carped at. However, Pope rhymed "way" and "away" together, and that is good authority. For my part, I think "pot" and "pot" rhyme very well together.--Note by the Deaf Gentleman.

Truly I cannot boast of such eclat

As could my friend, whose sword, this way and that,
Brandish'd through Islington and Highgate thorps,---
For he belongs unto the Light Horse Corps!
Next morn I had a great mind to indict
The bludgeoneers, but could not well convict;
And fain was I to take their promises
Of good behaviour touching many bruises.
But if again they catch me in that region,
(Well-named Ire-land) since I am not a lion,
The world may call me fool, and I'll say "yes,"
For I don't like bones batter'd and black eyes.
No! rather would I to Constantinople,
Although the Turk's-men are a strange people,
And I've no predilection for the plague,
Than drink in a continued fearful ague.

FROM THE TECHNICAL REPOSITORY.

On strengthening or weakening the Springs of Gun-Locks, &c. at pleasure. By Mr. EZEKIEL BAKER.*

24, Whitechapel Road, Feb. 27th, 1822. SIR, In taking leave to request you will lay before the Society the accompanying model of an improvement in gun-locks, I trust the merit of the invention will induce the Society duly to appreciate its advantages; and I shall consider the labour and expense as amply compensated by their approbation. The following explanation is necessary, for clearly comprehending the advantages to be derived from its adoption.

It is well known, that the main-springs of all locks lose their strength, either from wear, or from the effects of climate; as, also, that the flints become thick from use;-either of which are, of themselves, sufficient to cause the locks to miss fire. This was, perhaps, more particularly exemplified by the volunteer regiments, on field-days, when embodied during the late war; and the fact has been corroborated by many veteran soldiers, as having occurred too frequently, on the field of battle.

Now, Sir, my invention will remove all this. It consists in a regulating screw-pin, which is placed behind the hammer, through the solid piece of the lock-plate. This pin, when screwed down by the soldier with the common turnscrew (which, it is well known, he invariably carries, to put in his flint, &c.), acts upon the short end of the main-spring; by forcing which, its strength is increased, and more fire is consequently drawn from the hammer; so that, in either of the instances alluded to, fire is produced, when it would otherwise fail. On the other hand, when a new flint is introduced, the power of the main-spring may be lessened,

* From Vol. XL. of the Transactions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce.--The Society voted its Silver Vulcan Medal to Mr. Baker, for this discovery.

by turning the screw-pin backwards: by which means the flint is prevented from breaking; as frequently happens, when put into a lock upon the present construction.

Having alluded to the more important consideration of rendering musket-locks perfect in the field of battle, I have now to state, that the same improvement will apply to the guns of gentlemensportsmen, and will prevent the locks from missing fire, when an experienced shot would, otherwise, have made sure of bagging his game. I have, for many months, experienced its advantages; and have the satisfaction of testimonials from some of the most experienced game-keepers, whose whole lives have been devoted to the sports of the field. Those of his Grace the Duke of Bedford, Lord Petre, and Sir Thomas Lennard, are, of themselves, sufficient; but I have many others, equally favourable to my improvement.

I should remark, that, to all new locks, the invention can be applied without any additional expense; but to old locks, in most instances, it will be necessary to have a new main-spring, as the stud which holds it steady on the plate is usually placed on the middle of the short end of the spring; and consequently, the regulating screw, if applied to these, might chance either to break itself, or break the main-spring: whereas, in a new lock, I place the stud on the bend of the spring, which enables it to play freely, without fear of injuring either the one or the other. I also make the hole in the eye of the spring, oblong; so as to enable it to play more easily up or down, as occasion may require, than the round hold permits.

This invention may be applied, with equal benefit, to the locks of doors, and spring-bolts, of every description; when, from weakness, or any other cause, the springs lose their power: and the great advantage is, that my improvement may be adopted at a very trifling expense.

Having explained the ease with which my invention may be applied, I will not take up more of your valuable time; but shall be happy to wait on the Society, at their convenience, and furnish every information which may be required, for a clearer elucidation than I may be able to convey on paper. I am, Sir, &c. &c. &c. EZEKIEL BAKER. A. AIKIN, Esq. Sec. &c. &c.

P. S. I am well aware, that the hammer-springs of saddlepistol and gun-locks have been, long since, made with a similar provision to the above; but I believe its application to the mainsprings, where it is of so much more importance, had never been made by any one, previous to my doing it.

BURNET AND SWIFT.

In the Lansdowne Library, is a copy of Burnet's History of his own Times, with marginal notes in Swift's hand writing. Those given below are sufficiently characteristic.

"Burnet. "The Earl of Argyle was a more solemn sort of man, grave and sober, and free of all scandalous vices.'-Swift. As a man is free of a corporation, he means.'

"Burnet. "I will not enter farther into the military part; for I remember an advice of Marshal Schomberg, never to meddle in military matters. His observation was, 'Some affected to relate those affairs in all the terms of war, in which they committed great errors, that exposed them to the scorn of all commanders, who must despise relations that pretend to exactness, when there were blunders in every part of them.'-Swift. Very foolish advice, for soldiers cannot write.'

"Burnet. Upon the king's death, the Scots proclaimed his son king, and sent over Sir George Wincan, that married my great aunt, to treat with him while he was in the Isle of Jersey.'-Swift. Was that the reason why he was sent?'

"Burnet. (Speaking of the Scotch preachers in the time of the civil wars.) 'The crowds were far beyond the capacity of their churches or the reach of their voices.' -Swift. And the preaching beyond the capacity of the crowd. I believe the church had as much capacity as the minister.'

“Burnet. (Speaking of Paradise Lost.) "It was esteemed the beautifullest and perfectest poem that ever was writ, at least in our language.'—Swift. 'Ă mistake! for it is in English.'

"Burnet. "Patrick was esteemed a great preacher, ** but a little too severe against those who differed from him-He became afterwards more moderate.'Swift. Yes, for he turned a rank whig.'

"Burnet. And yet, after all, he (King Charles II.) never treated her (Nell Gwyn) with the decencies of a mistress.'-Swift. 'Pray what decencies are those?" "Burnet. It seems, the French made no great account of their prisoners, for they released 25,000 Dutch for 50,000 crowns.'-Swift. 'What! ten shillings a piece! By much too dear for a Dutchman.'

"Burnet. I laid open the cruelties of. the church of Rome in Queen Mary's time, which were not then known; and I aggravated, though very truly, the danger of falling under the power of that religion.-Swift. A BULL!"

“Burnet. ‘Home was convicted on the credit of one evidence.—Applications, 'tis true, were made to the Duke of York for saving his life: but he was not born under a pardoning planet.'-Swift. Silly fop!'

"Burnet. "Baille suffered several hardships and fines, for being supposed to be in the Rye-house plot; yet during this he seemed so composed, and ever so cheerful, that his behaviour looked like the revival of the spirit of the noblest Greeks and Romans.'-Swift. Take notice, he was our cousin.”

"Burnet. "I come now to the year 1688, which proved memorable, and produced an extraordinary and unheard of revolution:'-Swift. The devil's in that! Sure all Europe heard of it.'

"Burnet. When I had the first account of King James's flight, I was affected with this dismal reverse of fortune in a great prince, more than I think fit to express.'-Swift. Or than I will believe.'" [British Critic.

FROM THE EUROPEAN MAGAZINE.

A QUAKER'S ADVICE TO HIS NEPHEW ON THE SUBJECT OF

MARRIAGE.

ESTEEMED NEPHEW,-I have received thy letter containing an application for my advice in thy choice of a wife, and now send thee such counsels as mine own experience of the married state,

together with many years' reading of books, and long study of mankind, can furnish in the matter. It appeareth thou intendest to establish thyself in the world, and in order thereto art now looking out for a wife, with whom thou mayst wisely unite the destiny of thy life: in which, John, I think thou doest perfectly right, as I would advise all persons, both male and female, to marry; and do consider the life of a single person as valueless, and lost to the world.

Choose then thy wife out of a family, respectable, however low their station; not disgraced by any servile occupation or ignominious office, but known in their situation of life for consistency and honesty of practice. Let it be a liberal and virtuous family; one remarkable for kindness and liberality of sentiment and for rectitude of principle, and one in which the most entire reverence is paid to religion, for that, John, is the foundation of all virtues, and all happiness. And this advice I give, in consequence of its being found too surely to be the fact, that the offspring partakes of the principles of the family wherein it is reared; that the child imbibes, like the air that surrounds it, the feelings and dispositions which float about its tender age, and that frail and faulty children generally proceed from parents who, in their day, have lapsed from the path of virtue. For the act generally argueth the principle in the parents, and the principle lives after the act is passed, and continues to spread its influence, and proclaim its character in the social circle, and in the family. On the other hand, from a religious education well principled children generally come. From sound instructions and religious examples corresponding effects ensue. Exceptions may be found on each side of the case, but the body of the rule is not to be impugned. I would also put thee on the watch to observe that thy wife's relations be agreeable, and such as it will please thee to consort with, as this is naturally to be expected; and that they be not numerous, lest they become at any time burdensome to thee; and that they do not all live too near to. the place in which thou meanest to reside, lest thou see too much of them, and disgust, the natural consequence of familiarity, result from thy too great intimacy with them. For it is not to be denied, that, in marrying, one marries not only to the wife but to the family; and that it is necessary to consider and examine them, only second to the lady herself. I do not say that if the woman of thy choice be a virtuous woman thou shouldst, on account of the objections to be made to the relations, reject her: for a virtuous woman is beyond all price; she has every thing within herself, and can effectually reconcile to her husband the want or absence of all other friends in the world. But if other circumstances were the same, as if it were possible for thy affections to be equally directed to two women at once, the same in acquirements and fortune, one with many or unpleasant relations, the other with few and those desirable, I would not have thee hesitate a moment in choosing the latter.

VOL. III. No. 13.-Museum.

G