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monwealth for regulating the fize of bricks, &c. Thefe bricks, being fo much below the standard, are made with lefs clay in proportion than the

and good sense, who was fecreted in fome obfcure corner, to be called from the cave of feclufion, and inducted to this one of eminence; fome, object worthy ambition would be prefent-larger fort; for the mould is filled and ed; the fire would communicate; and the order would be filled with men of, merit; and the press would not fo frequently groin with abortions engen dred by ignorance and prejudice

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ftruck off, without any preffing of the clay into the mould, which cannot be done with a larger fort; and, when they break into bats, they appear to be honey-combed and porous, receive the weather much fooner than larger ones, and lead the rains into the fecond joint; fo that fome walls, much expofed, receive the forms through them in a very short time, and often MA-joint, and what mortar remains in peturn part of the mortar out of the

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rishes, and turns to a kind of fand,to the great damage of the building.

HE time being now at hand for Tthe making of Brick, it may not Clay for making of Brick PROPERbe thought wholly ufelefs to make a LY, fhould be dug up in the fall of few oblervations on that fubje& In the year, and thould lay in a body the old countries there is a great vari all the winter, for the frofts and rains ety of bricks, as grey ftocks, red to break the lumps and unincorporaflocks, place bricks, red bricks, cut- ted particles, and to meliorate and ting bricks, &c. In this country, we prepare it for the work ng and temperhave but Two forts, the one called the ing into mortar. If the clay is temfand bricks for arches, facia's, &c.pered in the fpring by oxen treading The other, the common red brick. As thefe latter fort are made at one time, and in fuch a quantity as to make up what is commonly called a kiln, and are then burnt and fent to market, it may be of advantage to be fomewhat particular about them. Bricks have been commonly made in the following method. Sometime in the spring a quantity of clay is dug up, and thrown into a heap for the receiving the rain and dew; and, when the weather permits, it is made up into what is called by the brickmakers a mortar, and put into moulds prepared for the purpofe; then turned out upon the floor, and when fufficiently dried, piled up in a kiln; and then burnt and, made ready for fale. Some of them come out of the kiln, called by the brick-makers cherryred; fome hard burnt with glazed, ends are called clinkers; others, but Ittle burned are foft, and called chimney bricks. When a kiln of bricks, confifting of, fay, one hundred thou-, fand, is purchafed, the purchafer muft expect the abovementioned three forts of bricks. These bricks are made agreeably to the will of the maker, notwithstanding a law of the Com

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it, the particles are better broken,and the mortar made much tougher, by being better prepared than is commonly done by labourers turning it over and over, and fofrening with toa great a quantity of water. The mortar, being well tempered. for the moulds, is put into them. The moulds fhould be fo made, as to turn out a brick that will measure, after being burned to a cherry red, eight inches, four and two. This fize is the best and moft profitable for the builder, and will take more of the clay mortar in proportion to make them, than the fmall fort that is commonly made ; because the mould cannot be filled without preffing or kneading the mortar into the mould. The bricklayers will very foon, by frequent using this fize, lay them at the fame rate as they now do the smaller fort; and a laving will be made on one fifth of the LIME MORTAR. Some perfons may object to this fize for laying, what is called by bricklayers, femifh band, or headers and ftretchers, but from a little experience, they will soon find a fufficient number for the outfide, that will prevent the over running the joint. A brick and half wall of thefe fized bricks,

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bricks, is better than a two brick wall of the fmall fize; and a faving alfo will be made of a perpendicular joint, in addition to the one aforementioned. When the bricks are (mall, the proportion of the lime mortar neceflary for laying them, is too great for the advantage of the building. If brick walls built in the fall months were covered the following winter, the mortar would adhere much better to the bricks, and would be more firm and durable, and not turn out of the joints, as is too often the case by being expofed to frequent forms, while in a green flate, and before they are prepared to make the refiftance neceffary for their prefervation:

Bofton, April, 1784.

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IT is indeed a misfortune for a fine

writer to be born in a period fo en. lightened as ours. The harveft of wit

To the Printers of the BOSTON MA- is gathered in, and little is left for him

GAZINE.

The following inftance is one from many ofthe like nature, which might,without doubt be afcertained. It may be relied upon, and tends to illujirate Jome featiments in philofophy, held forth by the author of Obfervation, on Matter and Spirit. P. P. FRIEND informs me of a fact which he had from the perfon who was the fubject, that he engaged in fome labour upon a fandy hill, by the fide of "a river or pond; his foot unfortunately flip'd, and he fell into the water, where it was much deeper than his heigth; he rofe, as is common, once or twice, and then went to bottom, where he lay upon his back in this fituation, he was fenfible for fometime, and fays his mind was perfectly calm and undisturbed by the thoughts of approaching diffolution; his feelings, he lays, were fimilar to thofe of a perfon when upon the point of falling into a fine, found fleep; he can by no means afcertain the continuance in this fate; but he was taken up in about half an mour; and fuppofts, it did not ap

except to glean what others havethought unworthy their bringing a

way. Yet, there are ftill fome among the French, who do honour to the age, and whole writings will be tranfmitted to pofterity with an ample, though a fubordinate share of fame: fome of the moft celebrated, are as.

follow;

Voltaire, whofe voluminous, yet

fpirited productions, are too well known to require an eulogium; does he not refemble the champion mentioned byZenophon, of great reputation in all the gymnaftic exercifes united, but inferior to each champion fingly, who excels only in one?

Montefquieu, a name equally deferving time with the former. The Spirit of Laws is an inftance, how much genius is able to lead learning. Is fyftem has been adopted by the iterati; and yet is it not poffible for opinions equally plausible to be formed upon opponite principles, if a ge nius like his,could be found to attempt fuch an undertaking? He feems more a poet than a philofopher.

Rouleau of Geneva. A profeffed man-hater, or more properly speaking, a philofopher enraged with one half of mankind, because they unavoidably make the other half unhappy. Such fentiments are generally the refult of much good nature, and little experience.

Ругод

Pyron, an author poffeffed of as much wit as any man alive, yet with as little prudence, to turn it to his own advantage. A comedy of his, called La Metromanie, is incomparably the beft theatrical production, that has appeared of late in Europe. But 1 know not, whether I fhould moft commend his genius, or cenfure his obícenity; his ode a Priape, has juftly excluded him from a place in the academy of Belles Lettres. However, the good-natured Montefquieu, by his intereft, procured the flarving bard a trifling penfion. His own epi

taph was all the revenge he took upon the academy for being repulfed.

Cy Git Pyron qui ne fut jamais rien
Pas meme Accademicien.

Crebillon, junior. A writer of real merit, but guilty of the fame indelicate faults with the former. Wit employed in dreffing up obscenity, is like the art ufed in painting a corpfe; it may be thus rendered tolerable to one fenfe, but fails not quickly to offend ome other.

His

Greffet, agreeable and easy. comedy called the Merchant, and an humourous poem, entitled Ver vert, have original merit. He was bred a jefuit, but his wit procured his dit miffion from the fociety. This laft work particularly, could expect no pardon from the Convent, being a fatyr,against nurneries!

Dalembert, has united an extenfive fkill in fcientifical learning, with the moft refined tafte for the polite arts. His excellence in both, have procured him a feat in each academy.

Diderot, an elegant writer and fubtle reafoner. He is the fuppofed author of the famous Thefis, which the abbe Prade fuftained before the doctors of the Sorbonne. It was levelled against Chriftianity, and the Sorbonne too haftily gave it their fan&tion. They perceived its purport, however, when it was too late. The college was brought into fome contempt, and the abbe obliged to take refuge at the court of Berlin,

The marquis D'Argens attempts to add the character of a philofopher to the vices of a debauchee.

The catalogue might be encreased with feveral other authors of merit, fuch as Marivaux, Le Franc, Saint Foix, Deftouches, and Modonville, but let it fuffice to fay, that by thefe, the character of the prefent age is tolarably fupported. Though their poets feldon rife to fine enthusiasm, they never fink int abfurdity; though they fail to aftonifh, they are generally poffeffed of talents to pleate.

The fair fex in France have not a little contributed to prevent the decline of taste and literature, by expecting fuch qualifications in their admirers. A man of fashion at Paris, however contemptible we may think him here, muft be acquainted with the reigning modes of philosophy as well as drefs, to be able to entertain his miftrefs agreeably. The charming pedants are not to be caught like fome damfels to be feen in Holland, by dumbfhrew, by a fqueeze of the hand, or the oghug of a broad eye; but must be purfued thro' all the labyrinths of the Newtonian philofophy, the mazy metaphyfics of Locke, and fill more, the variations of female inclination. I have feen as bright a circle of beauties at the chymical lectures of Ruelle, as gracing the court at Versailles. Wisdom never appears fo charming, as when graced and protected by beauty.

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American empire, have a peculiar claim to our attention and respect. We think it must be agreeable to the public, therefore, to have a short ketch of the life of Major General Warren, in cur Magazine, a man who made an early figure in the conteft, and will ever be numbered with them who adorn the hiftoric page of this country.

He was born in the town of Roxbury, near Befton, in the year 1740, where he received the firft rudiments, of his education. Having fushed his Audies at the University of Cambridge in 1759, he applied himself to the itudy and practice of phyfic, and foon became very refpectable in the profection. His fine addrefs, as well as tafte for piniofophy and belles lettres, made him highly effeemed by the polite and learned, while his frank, open difpofition, and obliging attentions to perfons under the various circumftances of their diftrefs and ficknefs, caufed him to be much beloved by them who tread the humbler walks of life.

His political reputation began fome years before the flames of war burft forth. Many fpeculations upon Ame. rican taxation, and fuch as drew the attention of government, at times, were fuppofed to flow from his pen. Twice he appeared as the public ora. tor of the town, and his orations are fill reckoned among the best compofitions delivered upon thefe occafions. He had the confidence of his fellowcitizens fo fully, that they chote num to act for them in the Provincial Congrefs, which fat at Cambridge, of which body he was afterwards chofen Prefident. But, although he had fufficient merit as a facefman; and though his abilities and extenfive eru. dition made him fo highly noticed in the republic of letters, yet was he alJured by the more dazzling glory of arms, and chofe the character of the foldier. The firft beat to arms roused his martial fpirit, and he was among them who fought the battle of Lexington, 19th April, 1775, where he

difplayed equal bravery and humani ty.

Three days before the battle of Bun. ker Hill, he was appointed a Major General in the American army. On that memorable day, he fell gloriously in the trenches Had fuccefs attended the Americans,his death would have been fufficient to damp the joys of victory, and the cyprefs must have been blended with the laurel The lofs of fuch a man, in addition to our defeat, and at a time when the distracted flate of affairs greatly needed his advice in the council, as well as his active fervices in the field, threw a general gloom upon the countenances of people, and excited the most fincere lamentation and mourn ng. "The elegant, the generous, and the humane, all mingled the fympathetic tear,"and paid their respects to his memory. After the departure of the British troops, his body was brought from Charlestown to Bofton, the several lodges of free mafons walking in proceffion, having appointed one of their number to fpeak his funeral eulogium. For feveral years he had been Grand Mafter through North America, of that part of this free and refpectable body which paffes under the denomination of the Ancient Fraternity.

In private life, General Warren was amiable. In perfon, mind and manners, being equally well accomplifhed, be gained the love of those who lived with him in habits of intimacy, as much as he was admired by the public voice. With fenfibilities uncommonly strong and lively, and a zeal which blazed in the cause of liberty, he was candid, generous, aud ready to do kind offices to those who had different fentiments about the cafe in which he was engaged. Indeed, wherever, this worthy man is mentioned, his liberal mind, and humane bofom ought to be reckoned among the excellencies of his charac

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Norman J

Major General Warren

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