The communication of Mr. Palmer, of Maxstock, Warwickshire, which follows, on A Method of Harvesting Corn in Wet Weather, only informs us that he cut his corn wet, threshed it out immediately, and dried it on a kiln. With a threshing machine, this may be done with effect.

Mr. Fogg, of Bolton in the Moors, Lancashire, gives an account of his Improvement of Land lying waste.

Of the two subsequent papers, the former describes the Duke of Bridgewater's Drain-Plough; and the latter, a DrillMachine, invented by the ingenious Andrew Knight, Esq. of Elton, near Ludlow. Representations of both are given in annexed plates.

6

Mr. Knight's Letter, on the Destructive Effects of the Aphis, and on Blights on Fruit Trees, will tend to recommend the suggestions which we offered, on the subject of Blights, at the beginning of this article: for he observes that the insect called the Aphis appears to require a previous disposition in the tree to receive it;' and that the most extensive causes of blights exist in the variations of our unsteady climate.'

Papers follow with descriptions of Mr. Lester's Cultivator, of Mr. Munnings's Drill Machine for Sowing Turnip Seed, and of Mr. Eccleston's Peat Borer; and views of these machines are exhibited in a plate.

To these are added, a Letter from N. Ashton, Esq. of Woolton Hall, near Liverpool; giving an account of Planting 133 Acres of Waste Moor-land, with 487,040 Forest Trees of different Sorts; a Letter from Edward Jones, Esq. of Wepre-Hall, in Flintshire, on the Destruction of the Grub of the Cock-Chafer; for which purpose this gentleman protects the race of moles ;and the last paper in this class is a communication from Mr. Horridge, of Raikes, in the Moors, Lancashire, on the Preparation of a Compost for Manure, made of powdered Lime mixed with Peat-earth. In Mr. H.'s neighbourhood, this must prove a va luable discovery.

The PAPERS in CHEMISTRY

are only two: but both refer to objects of some importance. The first must be deemed peculiarly interesting to a naval and commercial people; being connected with the health and comfort of those of our fellow-subjects who "go down to the sea in ships and do business on the great waters," since it is a discovery of a simple method, by which Fresh Water can be preserved sweet during long Voyages. General Bentham, having found that the wooden casks in which spring water was stowed occasioned it to become putrid, contrived cases or tanks lined with tinned metallic plates, so that the water should no-where have

access

access to the wood; and this scheme seems to have completely succeeded. The other paper relates to A Preparation of Opium from the inspissated Juice of Lettuces; by the Rev. Mr. Cartwright. We hinted at this discovery in our account of the preceding volume of these Transactions.

A solitary paper, under the class of

POLITE ARTS,

details the prosecution of Mr. Sheldrake's inquiries into The Nature and Preparation of Drying Oils for Painting Pictures. To the present race of artists, this paper must be interesting; because the author is convinced that the vehicle, which he has offered to the public notice, is in substance the same with that which was used by the best colourists of the Italian schools.

MANUFACTURES.

An account of Paper made (at the request of Mr. Sewell, bookseller, of Cornhill,) from the Gunny-bags in which the India Company import Rice, Saltpetre, &c.; and particularly from the raw material itself, the Paut Plant; (a specimen of this paper is given;) by Mr. Thomas Wilmott, of Shoreham in Kent. Mr. Sewell, having bestowed a very laudable attention on this new manufacture of paper, farther informs the Society that there are two varieties of the Paut Plant cultivated at Calcutta, viz. Bhungee Paat, the Corchorus Olitorius of Linné, and the Ghee Naltha Paat, or Corchorus Capsularis.

Particulars of the Mode of Cultivating the English Chicoreeplant, Cichorium Intybus of Linné, Cichorien Wurzel or Hindlœufte of the Germans; and of the Method of manufactu ring Coffee from the Dried Roots, as practised to a considerable extent and profit to the manufacturers at Berlin, Brunswick, Dresden, and other parts of the Continent. Mr. John Taylor, who made this communication, accompanied with seeds and samples of the root in different stages of its preparation, adds that the article is become in general demand and use throughout Germany, as a pleasant and wholesome nourishment, in place of West India Coffee, which formed a considerable part of the diet of the inhabitants.'

MECHANICS.

Description of a simple, unexpensive Machine for Raising or Forcing up Water; by Mr. H. Sargeant, of Whitehaven of Taking Whales by the Gun Harpoon; by Mr. R. Hays, harpooner: of A new Undershot Water-wheel; by the late Mr. Besant:of A Method of Driving Copper Bolts into Ships, without Splitting their Heads or Bending them; by Mr. R.Phillips of Bristol :-of A

Machine

Machine for Raising Ore from Mines; by Mr. T. Arkwright of Kendal of Burr-stones proper for Mill-stones, discovered by Mr. Field Evans, of Pool- Quay-of An Improved Mill for Grinding Hard Substances; by Mr. Garnet Perry, of the City Road :-of A Drawback Lock for House Doors: by Mr. Wm. Bullock, of Portland street:-of A new Crane for Raising and Delivering Heavy Bodies; by Mr.T. Gent, of Homerton:-of The Method invented (and used under his direction) for the Ventila tion of Hospitals, &c.; by Sir George Onesiphorus Paul, Bart.; and of A new Escapement for Watches; by Mr. John Delafons. All these descriptions are accompanied by plates; without the aid of which it would be difficult to convey ac curate ideas.

COLONIES and TRADE.

An Account of the Production and application of Myrabolans, the Phyllanthus Emblica of Linné, as a Substitute for Aleppo Galls; by the late Dr. Alexander Johnson. It is here stated that some hundred pounds weight of this fruit have been already used at Manchester, instead of Galls, in the Turkey red-dye, and in other branches of business.

A Communication from Andrew Stephens, Esq. of Keerpoy, in Bengal, on Lake made by him from fresh Stick Lack; to which is annexed the experiments of Dr. Bancroft, to shew that the Lake is an useful substitute for Cochineal in various cases. This is a valuable addition to the catalogue of dying-drugs.

If the articles contained in this volume be not all of the first importance, they furnish additions to the general mass of practical knowlege, and evince the spirit of investigation and improvement which distinguishes the present age.

Annexed to the Preface is an explanation by Mr. Barry, of the additional improvements made in the pictures painted by him for the Great Room of the apartments belonging to the Society. When these pictures are characterized as matchless fruits of his talents, and as creating new objects for the contemplation of the philosopher and the admiration of the artist, we are concerned to hear Mr. Barry complaining of the dark designs of interested individuals against his honour, interest, and peace. He refutes a calumnious report of him which he says has been made to his Majesty; and we hope that his decla Fation will produce a good effect, and that the mysterious opposition of which he complains will entirely subside.

We cannot dismiss this volume without congratulating the Society on the addition of two hundred new members, and assuring it of our cordial wishes for its growing prosperity.

Mo

ART. VIII. The History and Antiquities of the Parish of St. David, South Wales; the most ancient Documents collected from the Bodleian Library. To which is annexed, a Correct List of the Archbishops, Bishops, &c. who have filled that See. Embellished with Plates in Aquatinta, from Drawings made on the Spot, by the Author, George W. Manby, Esq. 8vo. pp. 206. 105. 6d. Boards. Harding. 1801.

T"

"HIS handsome work claims the attention of the inhabitants of the principality, and of those who have visited this famed spot in particular, or who contemplate such an excursion; and none should make the tour of South Wales without undergoing this pilgrimage, in spite of the obstructions with which they will meet, from bad roads and homely accommodations. The author's descriptions are correct, and the book forms an useful manual for the curious traveller. We must ask, however, why certain miserable verses, evidently modern,'" are mentioned in the title-page as antient documents; and why that title is so ostentatious? It leads us to seek for traces of research, which the subsequent pages do not exhibit.

The accounts of the Prelates and Dignitaries of this Cathedral will be interesting, to those who have not access to the learned works whence they have been extracted: but why are not these accounts carried down to the present time? We were surprized to find so little said of Rhees Prichard, author of the work called Cunwyll y Cymru, the Lamp of the Welsh; a composition in the true spirit of Welsh poetry, consisting of short poems which touch on all the great heads of moral and religious duty; which was formerly seen lying by the side of the Bible and the Prayer-book in every family in South Wales; and a great portion of which, almost every person could repeat from memory. It abounds with aphorisms, admirably adapted for the conduct of life; and there is great reason for believing that it had contributed considerably towards the civilization of that part of the island. Laud, when bishop of St. David's, made Prichard chancellor of the diocese. We lament to add that this work, which breathes piety without fanaticism, and, which instils the purest morality, is now in no request among the common people; having raade way for methodistical hymns which abound in mystic unintelligible jargon.

Respect for the present Bishop of St. David's, to whom the volume is dedicated, ought to have inspired the author with a tittle more caution than he sometimes manifests. The learned Prelate will hear with some surprize that the dignity and power of the druidical tribunals were not in the least abridged until a regular code of laws was formed by Howel Dha.' We

apprehend

apprehend that these tribunals were going out of date as early as the time when Papinian read lectures at York, and when the British youth became captivated with the Roman eloquence. We also suspect that the Bishop will feel slow of belief, when told that Dyvett preserved itself as a kingdom till it was wrested from the regal possessors by Earl Strongbow, who subdued that country: for, until the arrival of Strongbow, the county of Dyvett never yielded to the arms of Romans, Saxons, Danes, or Normans; nor were the antient inhabitants disturbed in any of their possessions, although interrupted by skirmishes on land, or by spoilers from the sea.' We suppose that this account is meant to be complimentary: but would it not have been as honorable to have been conquered by the Romans as by Strongbow?

Mr. Manby is completely in an error respecting the orthography of the Welsh word which signifies woman; Menyw is the original term; and Fenyw is the word in construction; which is nearly the reverse of what he has laid down.

Every man of taste laments the ravages committed by the fanatics in the age of the reformation, and by those in the civil wars. The present author, alluding to scenes of this sort, in which the rebels under Cromwell were concerned at St. David's, observes that a remarkable story concerning them is told, and fully authenticated: when the rebels mutilated this tomb, and beat off the heads of these images, they impiously carried one of them to the font, near the west door, attempting there to baptize it, according to the form prescribed in our Liturgy but, whilst they stood at the font, the head fell upon the toe of him who personated the priest: he complained instantly of the bruise, which gangrened; and, though they took what care of him they could, he died in a day or two after.'

We extract a specimen of Mr. Manby's descriptive talents:

St. David's has a small quay for shipping, about a mile from the town, called Port Clais, where a small vessel may lie in great safety: from this little harbour you may go to Ramsey island, by crossing its sound running between it and the main land; it is about a mile over, though it was formerly only a small fretum: it requires moderate weather, there being many rocks, and, from the tides, it is both difficult and dangerous to strangers.

Not far from the south end of the Sound, runs a reef of rocks nearly half way over, called the Bitches: towards the middle is that rock so much dreaded, and on which innumerable vessels have been wrecked, called the Horse; at high water it cannot be seen, and the tide setting directly on it, makes it very dangerous, particularly in a calm the rapidity of the current through the Sound is said to be, on a spring tide, seven or eight knots an hour; the velocity of dis

charging