494 Letter on Afcending Thunder. the two men had taken shelter, and their clothes, which had been torn into fmall pieces, lay fcattered around. A filk handkerchief, which one of them them wore around his neck, was however found whole and untouched. The lower part of the tree appeared to have sustained no damage; but at the distance of ten feet from the root the bark was torn off, as well as confiderable portions of the body of the tree itself. A great number of narrow pieces of bark, peeled off from the bottom upwards, appeared hanging to the tree by their upper extremities. The leaves were entirely dry and withered upon one fide, but on the other they appeared with their ufual verdure. The progrefs of the lightning may be eafily traced. It had proceeded from the hole in the earth at the bottom of the first tree, of which I have fpoken; it had thence rifen, and peeled off the bark; when it reached the height of two or three feet it changed its direction, and darting upon the two men who fat under the neighbouring tree, killed the one and ftruck the other fenfelefs, rent their clothes to rags, carried their hair and the iron ring to the top of the tree, ftript off its bark, tore away feveral fplinters from the trunk in its afcenfion, and detached from the wood thofe pieces of bark which could not have been raised according to the nature of things, but from the bottom upwards. Laftly, it blafted thofe leaves which were entirely withered, as happens to plants that receive any violent commotion, and then it returned to the cloud from which it had first proceeded. I forgot to mention, that a few moments after the first clap of thunder, which was hollow, and of fhort duration, a fecond followed, a exceedingly fharp and loud. May we not confider this as characteristick fign of afcending lightning? And is it not probable that the first clap deprived the cloud of all its electrick matter, and that the second restored what the first had taken away. The habitude in which we are of feeing lightning proceed from the clouds,the profound ignorance that long prevailed of the principles and theory of electricity, as well as of its affinity to thunder,, and the fyftems refpecting the formation of this terrible meteor, naturally excluded every idea refpecting its afcenfion; but fince the motion of the electrick Auid has been known, this phenomenon does not appear at all furprising. Obfervations have been often made which might have led to this discovery. In the eruptions of Vefuvius and Mount Etna, ftreams of electrick fire may be feen iffuing from the mouths of these volcanoes, which rife with an undulating motion through the smoke, and darting upon the neighbouring objects, produce the fame effects as lightning. Of this Sir William Hamilton gives unqueftionable proof in his beautiful defcription of the eruptions of these volcanoes in the years 1767, 1779, and 1783. Another obfervation which I have made is highly interesting to your Lordship, as well as to all thofe who are fond of electrical researches; it may ferve as a caution not to make experiments in the time of a ftorm, especially when it thunders.. The 11th of October, 1787, was extremely ftormy. I had juft charged my electrical apparatus by a few turns of the wheel, and had drawn forth a spark by which great Mode of Manufacturing Glue. great part of the electrick matter must have been discharged. We were several in company, and fome moments after, we perceived upon the large conductors, the furface of which is equal to twenty five fquare feet, an electrick light, accompanied with a ftrong explosion, and at the fame inftant heard a loud clap of thunder. You know that my apparatus ftands very much infulated; no body is fo near it as to have power to draw forth a spark from it; the only one which could do fo was the ball of the electrometer, which was about an inch diftant from the principal conductor, and placed five or fix feet below the large conductors. The explofion proceeded from the latter. The fpark had not directed its course to the earth, the common resorvoir, fince the only body which could tranfmit it thither did not attract it. It rofe, therefore, into the atmosphere, and it must have been powerfully attract ed by fome body charged with lefs electrick matter than my conductor. 495 The clap of thunder, which was heard at the fame inftant, has too near a relation to the phenomenon of which I fpeak, not to give us reafon to believe that the cloud which was above my apparatus, was that negative body which occafioned the explosion that astonished us, as well as the clap of thunder heard at the fame inftant. Had the apparatus been completely charged, or had any one been within reach, the like accident might have taken place as that which happened to the unfortunate Richman. The spark drawn from the conductor might have determined the electrick matter proceeding from the earth, to direct its courfe through the body of the perfon, which would have formed a communication. There muft undoubtedly be a combination of certain circumstances before fuch a misfortune can hap pen, but it is poffible, and on this account you will do well to fufpend every electrical experiment during a ftorm. This is the advice of one who has the honour to be with the greateft fincerity, &c. MODE of MANUFACTURING GL LUE is made in Europe of the ears, feet, trimmings, finews, and fcrapings of the skins of oxen, calves, fheep, &c. old leather, and fresh or raw hides mixed, or manufactured together: And this mixture is faid to yield one third of its weight, in good ftrong glue. The beft glue is from the hides of old animals. Whole skins are very feldom used, unless they be much injured by the worm, rotted, or otherwife rendered unfit to make leather: But the fmalleft pieces are faved for the purpose. GLUE. Then put In making glue of pieces of fresh skins, let them be fteeped in water, two or three days. Dried hides may require longer time, and bits of leather much longer. While foaking they fhould be ftirred occafionally. them to drain in hand-barrows, with grated bottoms, or in boxes with floping fides and grated bottoms. When drained, let them be well washed in feveral waters. The ears and other dirty parts fhould be fteeped and washed by themfelves. After they are washthem into a weak ed clean, put lime 496 A Dialogue between Mercury and a Fine Lady. lime water in iron hooped tubs. Leather will require to be kept in weak lime water a confiderable time: And a little fresh lime water fhould be added occafionally. Alumed fkins, tallowed, greafy, bloody, or hairy fkins, fhould be put into a ftronger lime water, and kept longer in it. They fometimes require to be taken out, fo as to permit the lime to dry on them, and to remain for a confiderable time: After which they must be again foaked, and well ftirred: Then prefs them out as dry as poffible, and put them into a copper kettle for boiling, at the bottom of which fhould be a wooden grate. The copper fhould then be filled with the materials, preffed close, and as much water poured on as will run in among the pieces. Make a moderate fire, which encrease by degrees, till it boils. As the materials melt into glue, fome decrease the fire without stirring them; others ftir them as they diffolve. When the glue, on cooling, forms a pretty thick jelly, it is done. The time of boiling is from twelve to fifteen hours, according to the fire. Violent heat is to be avoided. After this a box is made with wooden gratings for the bottom : The infide of the bottom is lined with horse-hair cloth, and placed over a large tub, through which the glue is to be paffed quickly, while it is very hot. The dregs are left to drain fome time; and are called by the workmen glue dung, which makes an excellent fuel, mixed with wood. The room fhould be kept warm while the glue is fettling. In the tub, there fhould be cocks at different heights, to draw off the hot liquid glue. The first glue will be brightest: But the last will be equally good. Through the cocks it must run into flat moulds, previously wet. When cool, cut it out with a wet knife, into squares, and hang in on a line to dry and harden, in a draught of air. Some place it to dry on a net, hung up on four pofts, turning it occafionally. Ten days of dry weather, or fifteen of wet (under cover) are required in Europe: But lefs time will dry it in America. To polifh the cakes, wet them, and rub them with new linen. The best glue has few dark spots, and no bad fmell, and fhines when brok en. To try glue, they put it in cool water for three or four days, when it must not diffolve ; but when dried, must preserve its weight. To make Parchment Glue. Put two or three pounds of fcrapings or cuttings of parchment into a bucket of water : Boil the whole till it be reduced to half. Pafs it through an open linen, and then let the liquor cool, when it will be parchment glue. A DIALOGUE between MERCURY and a MODERN FINE LADY. Mrs. Modib. INDEED, Mr. Mer- told, that neither conjugal attach cury, I cannot have the pleasure of waiting upon you now; I am engaged, abfolutely engaged. Mercury. I know you have an amiable affectionate husband and several fine children; but you need not be ments, maternal affections, nor even the care of a kingdom's welfare or a nation's glory, can excufe a perfon who has received a fummons to the realms of death. If the grim meffenger were not as peremptory as unwelcome, Charon A Dialogue between Mercury and a Fine Lady. 497 Charon would not get a paffenger (except now and then an hypochondriacal Englishman) once in a century. You must be content to leave your husband and family and pass the Styx. Mrs. Modifb. I did not mean to infift on any engagement with my hufband and children; I never thought. myfelf engaged to them. I had no engagements but fuch as were common to women of my rank. Look on my chimneypiece; and you will fee I was engaged to the play on Mondays, balls on Tueldays, the opera on Saturdays, and to card affemblies the rest of the week, for two months to come; and it would be the rudest thing in the world not to keep my appointments. If you will stay for me till the fummer feafon, I will wait on you with all my heart. Perhaps the Elyfian fields may be less detestable than the country in our world. Pray have you a fine Vauxhall and Ranelagh? I think I Thould not diflike drinking the Lethe waters when you have a full feason. Mercury. Surely you could not like to drink the waters of oblivion, who have made pleasure the bufinefs; end, and aim of your life! It is good to drown cares: But who would wash away the remembrance of a life of gaity and pleasure. Mrs. Modib. Diverfion was indeed the bufinefs of my life; but as to pleafure, I have enjoyed none fince the novelty of my amufements was gone off. Can one be pleased with feeing the fame thing over and over again? "Late hours and fatigues gave me the vapors, fpoiled the natural cheerfulness of my temper, and even in youth wore away my youthful vivacity. Mercury. If this way of life did not give you pleasure, why did you continue in it? I fuppofe you did not think it was very meritorious. Mrs. Modifh. I was too much engaged to think at all: So far indeed my manner of life was agreeable enough. My friends always told_me diverfions were neceffary, and my doctor affured me diffipation was good for my fpirits; my husband infifted that it was not; and you know that one loves to oblige one's friends, comply with one's doctor, and contradict one's hufband; and befides, I was ambitious to be thought du bon ton. * Mercury. Bon ton! What is that, madam Pray define it. Mrs. Modifh. Oh fir, excufe me; it is one of the privileges of the bon ton, never to define, nor to be defined. It is the child and parent of jargon. It is I can never tell you what it is: But I will try to tell you what it is not. In converfation, it is not wit; in manners, it is not politenels; in behaviour, it is not addrefs: But it is a little like them all. It can only belong to people of a certain rank, who live in a certain manner, with certain perfons, who have not certain virtues, and who have certain vices, and who inhabit a certain part of the town. Like a place by courtesy, it gets an higher rank than the person can claim ; but which those who have a legal title to precedency dare not difpute, for fear of being thought not to underftand the rules of politenels. Now, fir, I have told you as much as I know of it, though I have admired and aimed at it all my life. 1 Mercury. Then, madam, you have wafted your time, faded your beauty, and deftroyed your health, for the laudable purposes of contradicting your husband, and being this fomething and this nothing called the bon ton. Mrs. Modifh. What would you have had me to have done? Mercury. I will follow your mode of inftructing. I will tell you what I would not have had you to have done. I would not have had you to have sacrificed your time, your reafon, and your duties, to fashion and folly. I would not have had to have negyou lected your husband's happiness, and your children's education. Mrs. Modifb. As to the education of my daughters, I fpared no expense: they had a dancing mafter, mufick mafter, and drawing mafter; and a French governefs, to teach them behaviour and the French language. Mercury. So their religion, fentiments, and manners, were to be learnt from Du bon ton is a cant phrafe in the modern French language for the fashionable air of converfation and manners. Vol. III. Auguft, 1791. F 498. A Miftake Corrected. from a dancing mafter, mufick master, and a chambermaid,! Perhaps they might prepare them to catch the bon ton. Your daughters must have been fo educated, as to fit them to be wives without conjugal affection, and mothers without maternal care. I am forry for the fort of life they are commencing, and for that which you have juft concluded. Minos is a four old gentleman, without the least smattering of the bon ton; and I am in a A Billet Doux. fright for you. The best thing I can advife you is, to do in this world as you did in the other; keep happiness in your view, but never take the road that leads to it. Remain on this fide Styx; wander about without end or aim; look into the Elysian fields; but never attempt to enter into them, left Minos fhould pufh you into Tartarus : For duties neglected may bring on a fentence not much less severe than crimes committed. A MISTA K E CORRECTED. TO THE EDITORS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE. I Mr. Wilberforce is a profeffed member of the established church, having received his education at St. John's college, in the univerfity of Cambridge. This truly philanthropick fenator has been reprefentative in the British Parliament for the county of York, fince the year 1784; and though poffeffed of a delicate and fickly conftitution, has devoted the most ardent and perfevering attention for feveral years to this common caufe of juftice and benevolence, the advocates for which, we hope, notwithstanding their late defeat, will finally be crowned with fuc cefs. AN ENGLISHMAN. Boston, August 20, 1791.. FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE. A BILLET DOUX from ANNA to JULIA. they will there have a feaft of ANNA prefents her love to the friend of her bofom and reafon, meet the refreshing breezrequests her company (when es of benevolence, and inhale the Cynthia's filver light enlivens the pure airs of friendship and conplain) at the arbour of happiness; tent.. ABSTRACT |