1815.] Mr. Taylor on certain Passages of Aristotle and Plato. tic, a fractional representative may be imagined and multiplied by a similar fraction, but such is merely a play with numbers. The multiplier must be merely a number; it is not more absurd to propose the multiplication of 3s. by 4d. than 2s. 6d. by 2s. 6d. I am 2 425 philosophers, as Aristotle teaches, and as history shews. The same philosopher also informs us, that there is mud in the external sea, beyond the mouth (i. e. beyond the straits), and that the place there is marshy; so that if ou xagra Beaxsos signifies the marshy, it is not wonderful. For rocks concealed under the ? sea, and which have water on their surface, are even at present called Bean, THE following very interesting parti- i. e. SHOALS." But the passage of Arisculars in the writings of Plato and Aristotle, in the Meteors to which Proclus alludes, is the following: ra nλwy, βραχέα μεν δια τον πηλον, απνοα δεςιν, ως εν A PLAIN CYPHERER. MR. EDITOR, .. 1 totle, and their Greek commentators, appear to have escaped the notice of all the modern literati, owing principally, IT Sadarius quons, (lib. 2. cap. 1.) i. e. "The seas however, which are beyond suppose, to those writers having been only consulted through the medium of the pillars of Hercules, are shallow, or indexes, a species of learning which, as marshy, on account of the mud which they contain; and they are unruffled by Pope justly observes— the wind, in consequence of the sea being in a hollow." -“turas no student pale." 1 In the first place, it appears from the Timæus of Plato, and the Meteors of Aristotle, that the Atlantic sea beyond the pillars of Hercules (i. e. the Straits of Gibraltar) was in their time innaviga ble through the mud occasioned by the subsidence of the Atlantic island. The passage in the Timæus, in which this is asserted, is as follows:- de son και κατακλυσμών γενομένων, μιας ημέρας και νυκτος 123 Τόπου EXITGANG EXQUCAS TO V. i. e. "That the same place should become both passable and impassable, continent and sea, is among the things granted by natural In the next place, the third Newtonian law, that action and re-action are equal, was known to Aristotle, but it was also known by that mighty genius more accurately than by Newton. For Newton asserts, that action and re-action are always equal; but Aristotle shews, in his treatise on the Generation of Animals (lib. 4. cap. S.) that this equality, in somne instances, does not take place. The former, however, only ranks among the greatest of modern mathematicians; but the latter among the greatest of ancient philosophers. AndThe race of these, superior far to those, As he that thunders, to the stream that flows. POPE'S ILIAD, b. 21. v. 207. και The passage alluded to is as follows: αιτιον δε του μεν λυεςθαι τας κινήσεις, ότι το ποιουν και πάσχει υπο του πάσχοντος οιον το τέμνον αμβλύνεται υπο του τεμνομένου, και το θερμαινον ψυχεται υπο του θερμαινομένου, όλως το κινουν εξω του πρώτου, αντικινειται τινα το ώθουν αντωθείται πως, και nivnov v αντιθλίζεται το θλίβον ενιοτε δε και όλως έπαθε μαλλον ἢ εποίησε, και εψυχθη μεν το θερμαινον, ψυχον οτε μεν ουθεν ποιησαν, guarin de To οτε δε ήτίον ή παθον. i. e. "The cause that the motions are dissolved is this, that the agent also suffers from the patient. Thus that which cuts is blunted by that which is cut, and that which heats is refrigerated by that which is heated. And, in short, that which moves, except the first mover, is reciprocally moved with a certain motion. Thus, for instance, that which impels is after a certain manner impelled, and that which presses is reciprocally pressed. And, in short, that It is remarkable that even now suck rocksure called by sailors breakers. which acts sometimes reciprocally suffers more than it acts:* and that which heats indeed is refrigerated, and that which refrigerates is heated, at one time not at all acting itself, and at another time acting less than it suffers." In the third place, the following very ingenious reason is assigned by Aristotle for the apparent twinkling of the fixed stars. In the second book of his treatise on the Heavens, chap. 8, having observed that the planets do not twinkle, but that the fixed stars do, he says, o μer yag whares ɛylus so εγκρατης ούσα προς αυτούς αφικνείται η όψις" προς δε τους μένοντας κραδαίνεται δια TO μήκος αποτεινομενη πορρω λιαν' ο δε τρόμος αυτής ποιεί του αέρου SOMEIN SIVAI THY RIVOJw. i. e. "For the plats are near, so that the sight has powe. sufficient to reach them; but extending itself to a very great distance when it beholds the fixed stars, it trembles through the length of the way. But its trembling causes the apparent motion of the stars." In the fourth place, Aristotle in the 4th book of his Meteors, ch. 9, says, that" flame is burning smoke." His words are, φλογιςα δε εςι των θυμάτων όσα μη τηντα εςι, δια το μαλλον είναι γης το ξηρον γαρ Έχει κοινον τα περι τουτο ουν θερμον αν γενηται το ξερον, πως γίγνεται, δια τουτο η φλόξ, πνευμα η καπνός εςι καίμενος. i. e. "Those exhalable substances are phlogistic, which are not liquefiable, because they are of a more carthly nature; for they have dryness in common with fire. This heat, therefore, if it should become dry will be fire. On this account flame is burning spirit or smoke." Manor-place, Walworth, May 5, 1815. (To be continued.) MR. EDITOR, T. TAYLOR. I OBSERVED with particular pleasure in the literary notices of some of your members, the accounts you have given of the progress making in the clearing of the ruins of Pompeii. Since the revival of this stupendous enterprise in the present century, I have felt a * Thus, that which is hot is sometimes refrigerated in a greater degree than it heats. And, indeed, the agent may be so infirm, that it may not only act in a less degree than it suffers, but may likewise be almost wholly prevented from action.-See the Objections of the Authors of the Encyclopædia Britannica, and of Mr. Young to this Newtonian law of motion." + New Monthly Mag. No. 8, p. 151and No. 11, p. 442. [June 1, lively interest in its execution and success. And as the subject is one of peculiar concern to science, I am induced to hope you will continue to indulge your antiquarian friends, from time to time, with successive accounts of the result of this magnificent undertaking. At the same time there is another enterprize of great antiquarian interest, that was conducting at Rome, under the auspices of the late government, of which it would be highly satisfactory to obtain some intelligence-I mean the excava tions at the Forum, which, a short time previous to the recent papal restoration, were in a very advanced state. Perhaps it may have to be lamented, from some late proofs that have occurred, that ob jects of a very different tendency from the peaceful pursuits of literature, have discarded from the pontifical throne that spirit of taste and love of science which conferred such immortal honour on some of the Pontiffs who adorned the Roman See in the last century. Jan. 18, 1815. MR. EDITOR, SCRUTATOR. IT was with mingled emotions of pleasure and concern, that I read in the newspapers the account of the late meeting of the subscribers to the Literary Fund. I felt, as became me, for the experienced from personages of high dis patronage which that establishment has tinction; but when I perceived that the pecuniary stock in hand fell short of six hundred pounds, somewhat very like contempt and indignation arose in my mind, particularly as the same papers have communicated the information that thousands have been lavished in one season upon a comedian and a singer. The Literary Fund has now been estabstate of comparative insignificance, with lished many years, and yet it is in a out the means of affording to the family of a distressed man of talents any thing like a permanent relief. Much, therefore, as I admire the spirit of the design, and the conduct of those who have the direction of its scanty finances, still I cannot help thinking that there in the organization of a charitable sysmust be something radically defective tem, which, after subsisting for so long a period, is inefficient to the purposes for which it was framed. The very ap pellation of a Literary Fund conveys to the mind an idea of extensive liberality and an ample support for carrying the benevolent intentions of its friends into effect. But though the title is so pro mising, and the motives of the contributors are unquestionably of the purest nature, there is evidently a want of dignity in the construction of the plan, and of energy in the application. The doling out of eleemosynary grants in driblets to men of an enlarged education and of refined sentiments, is very far from being the most eligible mode of giving them comfort under affliction, even though it should for the moment be adequate to the relief of their pressing necessities. I very much question, whether a person who has once stooped to seek the aid of a public charity will ever reflect upon the circumstance with perfect satisfaction; and therefore, as the mind must in such a case naturally feel that it is in a degraded condition, it will in some measure be incapacitated for those exertions of genius, which to be powerful require the full vigour of an ardent and inde pendent spirit. There is something so very depressing in the consciousness of having been indebted to the bounty of others for subsistence, that few who have moved in a superior sphere of life will submit to a disclosure of their wants in such a way as must necessarily render them ever after ashamed when in the company of those from whom they have received assistance. This, perhaps, may be called pride, but there is a sensibility in it which is entitled to respect; and men of letters in particular have a strong claim to indulgence, for being extremely jealous in every thing that concerns their intellectual character, which rarely fails to suffer in its reputation, when it is known that he who once commanded reverence by his wisdom, or delighted the world by his wit, is involved in difficulties from which he seeks to be extricated by the hand of charity. We read in our day of one or two poets who have obtained some thousands of pounds for pieces which, whatever may be their intrinsic merit, would not have procured the writers as many shillings, had they unfortunately been suitors to the Literary Fund. Now, though the poverty of the learned has been proverbial for many ages, and seems destined to be equally characteristic for ages to come, it by no means appears just or proper that the badge should be made public for the purpose of exciting pity, since in so doing it has an equal chance of exposing those who wear it to the abuse of the ignorant, and the artifices of the designing. At all events, if the tribe of authors are fated to remain distinguished as men who have little skill in acquiring tortones 427 by their craft, let them be delivered from the contempt which never fails to be the lot of those who live by alms. Let not the men who enrich the minds of others, and who contribute to improve the morals of successive generations, be exposed to the contumelious insults of the proud and the ignorant, by its being made generally known that they have been compelled to seek for a morsel of bread by the hudhating courses of mendicity. It is far from being my inclina- tion to throw out any reflection on the society for the relief of authors, nor do I find the least fault with any part of the proceedings of its directors. But I contend that the feelings of a man of letters, who has been bred to the highest pro spects which have been unhappily blasted, must be very severely lacerated by the consideration, that his abject circumstances are laid open to the examination of persons, for whose talents and principles he has a just contempt, but who from their good luck and skilful management in the affairs of the world, are enabled to gain credit for their great philanthropy. Without wishing to depreciate any individual, I can only say that there will unavoidably be some persons concerned at times in the appropriation of the Literary Fund, to whom a man of high sentiments would be very unwilling to make any application for assistance. Let us for a moment suppose that one of the committee has published a book of a questionable character in religion, morals, or politics; and that a needy author of sound principles should be disposed to enter the lists on the behalf of insulted truth, virtue, and his country; would such a one, on falling into misfortune, by sickness or losses, he easy at the thought of making his distress known to the very man of whose disposition he has had sufficient experience, to be persuaded that he would at least inwardly triumph over his unfortunate antagonist? Necessity may indeed drive the most delicate mind to measures which, in other days, it would regard with disdain and abhorrence; but in a case like this, there are not many, it is to be hoped, who would descend so low as to deprive themselves of the power of castigating licentious doctrines, by submitting to receive obligations from their advocates. This is far from being a vi sionary representation, or a romantic statement; for instances mit be mentioned, where men of nonary intellect have been unwillingly sient, for fear of giving offence to persons of wealth and distinction, whose lavour it was 0 428 Literary Club-Circulation of the Blood, &c. [June 1, he contends, that the " pitcher at the fountain, and the wheel at the cistern, describe the chief organs or vessels for production, distribution, and circulation of the vital fluid;" and also says, that "Plato (in Timæo, quoted by Longinus de Sublim. sect. xxii.) calls the heart the fountain of the briskly circulating blood;" and that "the circulation of the blood was known to other ancients besides Plato, particularly Hippocrates."-He adds that "the discovery, or rather recovery, qf this doctrine by Dr. Harvey, in 1628, was known to some Italian philosophers a little before, and farther illustrated by later physiologists." much their interest to obtain, that they have been on that account obliged, as it were, to give a tacit countenance to their errors, by avoiding to pass upon them that censure which, in the course of their literary pursuits, it became them to bestow. It is therefore much to be desired that some scheme could be adopted, having the same objects in view as the Literary Fund, but conducted upon a more enlarged plan, and founded on a more permanent basis. The Benefit Societies, established with such general utility throughout the kingdom, afford the general outline on which such an institution might be formed; for we see in these clubs all the advantage of I would ask the favour of some of your pecuniary relief to distressed objects, without subjecting them to the mortification of being treated as paupers. Let then something of a similar nature be tried for the support of decayed authors and their surviving families; by raising a fund from the contributions of regular members, and the voluntary donations of honorary subscribers. There can be no doubt but that in the event of such an establishment taking place, many noble and affluent writers, such as Lord BYRON, Mr. SCOTT, and others, would cheerfully assist the fund by the present of some valuable copyrights, which certainly would be much better bestowed in this way than by being given to wealthy booksellers and idle gentlemen. The subject is unquestionably one of great importance, and much more might be said upon the means of carrying it into effect; but what has here been said must suffice till another opportunity. CRITO. learned correspondents to inform me, through the medium of your valuable miscellany, whether Dr. Harvey was or was not the first discoverer of the regular circulation of the blood? and whether the ancients were or were not acquainted with the subject? If they were, how. happened it that they so much dreaded the separation of an artery, not knowing how to take it up, nor yet to stanch the blood, except by the painful method of searing the part with a hot iron? Murch 30, 1815. MR. EDITOR, ENQUIRER. IN answer to your correspondent T.S. p. 331. of your last valuable publication, I beg leave to make the following obser vations: 1st. Sulphate of lime is very common in our spring waters, and what is called hard water is owing to its presence, which renders it unfit for washing; for when soap is used with these waters, a double decomposition takes place. The sulphuric acid of the selenite unites with the alkali of the soap, and forms sulphate of potass (or soda), which remains in solution; while the lime, uniting with the tallow, forms an insoluble compound, which swims on the surface like curds. Such water is likewise unfit for boiling any es culent vegetable; but it may be rea dered soft, and fit for any domestic pur pose, if a little carbonate of soda be added 24 hours previous to its use. (The impure carbonate, or soda of commerce, will answer for common par poses.) 2nd. "To remove the spets of grease from printed books." The spot should be moistened with a camel hair pencil dipped in rectified spirits of turpentine; when it is dry, moisten it with a little spirits of wine, which will effectually remove any stain the turpentine may have left.-Yours, C. 1815.] [ 429 ] MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. MEMOIRS OF PROFESSOR HEYNE, OF GOTTINGEN. (Continued from page 337.) "THE dangers of war again approached nearer to Dresden in this same year 1760. Every body fied. In the winter Theresa returned with her friends to the capital She bore the loss of her property with fortitude, but to me it was the more painful, that I had not been able to save what was committed to my charge. "At length quite overpowered by the long and man fold afflictions which preyed upon her mind, she fell dangerously ill in 1761 She was given up by the physician; she received the last sacraments according to the custom of her church, and was thought for some hours to be actually dead, when suddenly news was brought that she had come to live again. The strength of her constitution triumphed over the disease. Her recovery was accompanied with the firm deterinination to renounce the religion of her forefathers. Every possible remonstrance, and even the strongest of all, that by so doing she would lessen the probability of being some time or other united to me, was of no avail. Her hopes were fixed only beyond the grave. As she could not expect, according to the tenets of her faith, to meet me in another life, she hoped at least, by abjuring it, to be united with me there. A fit of illness which I had in May, and from which I recovered solely through her attentions, contributed to confirm her in her determination. After the preparatory instruction she made her profession of faith on the 30th of May in the Protestant church in the palace. I was filled with respectful admiration by the composure and firmness with which she executed her resolution, and still more by the courage with which she bore the consequences. She found herself completely cut off from her family, deserted by her friends and acquaintance, and deprived by the conflagration of all she possessed. Her courage exalted my own soul. A higher example urged me to the performance of my duty. I had incautiously awakened her religious scruples by my early conversations with her; her passion for me had contributed much to her enthusiasm as well as to her melancholy; nay even the idea, that by a parity of religion she should bind NEW MONTHLY MAG.-No. 17. herself more closely to me, bad, though she was not conscious of it, produced its effects. In short I formed a resolution that could not but expose me to universal censure-destitute as I was, I united my lot with her's. This took place at Aensdorf on the 4th of June, 1761. "The kind' assistance of some generous friends, especially of Jahn, the physician, and Madame von Schonberg, alleviated our situation for some time. At the end o. August we returned to Dresden. How many sorrowful days did we here pass with such dreary prospects before us! We were soon involved in new cares. A premature delivery gave to us our first son Charles, who could not have been reared without incredible pains and attention on the part of his mother. "An acquaintance with a very worthy family, of the name of Löben, afforded us in the following summer a degree of comfort, and even some very happy days. Mr. von Löben invited us to his seat at Mangelsdorf, in Upper Lusatia. We went thither in May and enjoyed the pleasures of spring with the greater zest, as we were relieved from the pressure of present want. The troubles of war, however, soon extended to Lusatia, and family occurrences also reminded us, that long-continued happiness is not to be expected here below. As the dangers of war kept approaching, the Loben family left their residence. The plate and mest valuable effects were concealed; the care of the hom i estatef was committed to us, in consequence of which I acquired some tions of rural Of this fiend, to Vom he dedicated the first edition of his Virgil, he thus expresses himself: Cui omnia debui, cum nemini quidquam deberem. + Among the rest there was a manufactory of candles on this estate, which Heyne had to superintend. When about the same time an epidemic typhus fever prevailed in the neighbourhood, he was obliged to under take the office of physician among the tenants upon the estate. According to the practice of those days, he did not fail to direct copious bleeding, and was not a little shocked when a medical man, who just arrived in time, made him acquainted with the effects of the method recommended by him. VOL. III. 3 L |