by inverting the inftrument, that the tube DCs may be entirely filled, and then heating both it and the fountain, by means of a spirit lamp. By this means, the air will be evaporated, or at leaft fo much of it, as to caufe no fenfible errors in the experiments.

T

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A pocket hygrometer to fpecify the degree of moisture in the air is no lefs ufeful, on many occafions, than that of its preffure. For the conftruction of which, let a brass or ivory, A B, fig. 3, be procured 8 inches long, and broad. At A, let there be an ivory or filver graduated dial plate, divided into 50 equal parts, and numbered 10 at every 5, fo that each divifion fhall contain two degrees; over this plate let there move a vernier index, fo as to indicate every half degree, or 200th part of the fcale. Behind the dial plate which is, or an inch in diameter, moves a rolling axis, carrying the index. The circumference of this axis must be equal to a d, the contraction of the hygrometrical substance from extreme moisture to extreme dry ness, so that the index may make one entire revolution between these two points. Let the fubftance of the hygrometer be fixed to the plate at b, and paffing freely over the axis, be fufpended at the other end by a small counter weight d, fliding through a fmall ftay a. The whole flides into a glass tube or cafe L M N R, 10 inches long and one in diameter, and kept fteady therein, by a fmall fpring g. The tube is perforated at o, fo that the hygrometer may be used on several occafions without taking out of the cafe, which is clofed by a brafs fcrew top

ED.

The beft fubftance for an hygrometer is whale-bone cut tranfverfe to the fibres, about 8 or 12 inches in length, and a line in breadth, and fo thin as to weigh only half a grain. At 12 inches in length, the entire variation, from extreme drynefs and extreme moisture, is about of its length, and at 8 inches about To find the point of extreme moifture, the flips must be foaked in water; and for that of dryness, must be inclosed in a body of quicklime, for about three weeks, during which time they will have

acquired a degree of drynefs little inferior to that of extreme. The difference of the length of the flips, at these points, must be made the circumference of the moving axis carrying the index, and in constructing and filling up the in ftrument, they must be at either of these points, and the index placed at o or its' equal 100, for the numbers must run both ways.

may

be

If it is required to have the divifions larger and more numerous than before mentioned, the flip of whalebone 12 inches long, which will give about 1 inch variation between the extreme points, which may also be the diameter of the dial plate; this accurately divided into 100 parts, with a vernier index meafaring, or 5 minutes of a degree, will fufficiently diftinguifh every neceffary variation in the humidity of the atmosphere. This fpecies of hygrometer acts conftant and uniform, which thofe made from hair or animal fibres do not, nor even whalebone if cut in the direction of fibres. For they undergo contrary changes from different changes of humidity; that is, when immerfed in water, they lengthen at first, and afterwards fhorten, and when near the extreme point of moisture, they contract; and even when the humidity is diminished they expand before they contract. Thefe irregularities render them improper to be ufed as true meafures of moisture.

An Efay on Women.

W. B.

THOSE who confider women, only

as pretty figures placed here for ornament, have but a very imperfect idea of the fex. They perpetually fay, that women are lovely flowers, defigned to heighten the complexion of nature. This is very true, but at the fame time women fhould not let themfelves be perverted by fuch trifling discourse, but take care not to be content with thefe fuperficial advantages.

There are too many, who, fatisfied with that partition, feem to have renounced any other accomplishment but that of charming the eye. Women have quite another destination, and

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were created for more noble ends than that of being a vain fpectacle; their beauties are only heralds of more touching qualities; to reduce all to beauty is to degrade them, and put them almoft on a level with their pictures. Those who are only handfome may make a pretty figure in an arm chair, or may decorate a drawing room; they are literally fit to be feen; but to find in their acquaintance all the advantages we have a right to expect, women must have more than beauty.

Among intelligent beings, fociety should not be bounded by a cold exhibition of their perfons, or a dull converfation of lies and vanity. Whatever doth not tend to make us better, corrupts us but if women, who are the ornaments of fociety, would ftrive to join juftnefs of thought, and uprightnefs of heart to the graces of the body, the tafte we have for them would unfold excellent qualities in us: let them then raise their fouls to noble objects, and they will ripen the feeds of every virtue in

men.

The empire which women owe to beauty, was only given them for the general good of all the human fpecies. Men, deftined to great actions, have a certain fiercenefs, which only women can correct; there is in their manners, more than their features, a sweetness, capable of bending that natural ferocity, which unattempted would foon degenerate into brutality.

We may well fay, that if we were deftitute of women, we should all be different from what we are. Our endeavours to be agreeable to them, polish and foften that rough fevere ftrain fo natural to us; their chearfulnefs is a counter balance to our rough auftere humours in a word, if men did not converfe with women, they would be lefs perfect and lefs happy than they

are.

That man who is infenfible to the fweetness of female converfation, is rarely the friend to mankind; fuch cherish an infenfibility which renders even their virtues dangerous. The great qualities of Charles the Twelfth, had not troubled

all Europe, if that Prince had lived more in the fociety of women, alone capable of foftening his untractable courage; for he refufed to fee the Countess of Koninfmarc, who brought him, from King Auguftus, propofals for peace, which her wit and beauty might have rendered fuccefsful.

If men require the tender application of women to render them more tractable, thofe, on the other hand, equally want the converfation of men to awaken their vivacity, and draw them from a negli gence into which, if they were not ftimulated by a defire of pleafing, they would certainly fall. That defire produces the allurements of the face, the grace of air, and the sweetness of voice: for whether they fpeak, move, or smile, they think of rendering themselves agreeable. Whence we may conclude, that it is the men who, in fome degree, give charms to the women; who without them would fall into a four or indolent temper. Befides, female minds, overwhelmed with trifles, would languish in ignorance, if men, recalling them to more elevated objects, did not communicate dignity and vigour.

'Tis thus that the two fexes ought to be perfected by one another. The manly courage of the one, is tempered by the foftness of the other, which in its turn borrows from the fame courage. The one acquires, in woman's company, a milder tincture, while the other lofe their female levity. Their different qualities balance each other, and it is from that mixture, that that happy accord arifes, which renders them both more accomplished.

The variety of minds may be compared to that of voices, which would rather form an agreeable concert, than a grating difcord. If men are of a stronger frame, it is, the more effectually to contribute to the happiness of those who are more delicate; one fex was not defigned to be the oppressor of the other: the intimate connection between them is for general advantage; and those ridiculous debates of fuperiority, are an infult to nature, and ingratitude for her benefits.

We

We are born womens friends, not their rivals; much less their tyrants: and that strength which was given us for their defence, is abused when thereby we enflave them; and to banish from fociety, its sweetest charm, that part of the human fpecies which is most proper to animate it, would render it quite infipid.

The truth of this hath been proved by the people of the east, who joining together a fenfe of their own weakness and a brutal paffion, have regarded women as dangerous companions, against whom they must be on their guard: therefore they have enflaved that fex to avoid being enflaved by them, and have thought too much love gave them a title to misuse them. But thefe tyrannic masters have been the first victims of their tyrannic jealoufy. Devoted to a lonely melancholy life, they have fought for tender fenfations in vain, amidst their fair flaves. Senfibility, with the delicacy ever its companion, are only to be found in the reign of freedom, fince they both neceffarily fhun a fociety void of thofe fprings whence they might grow. These and fuch like people feek to recompence themfelves for a loft fenfibility and delicacy, by a brutish voluptuoufnefs which only ferves to numb their fenfes, and brutalize their fouls.

On Hiftory and Novels.

most affecting part of the best written novels, even while the tears may flow, like those we fhed at a pathetic tragedy, they wet our cheeks, it is true, but are quickly dried, while grief has not penetrated to our hearts.

The truth is, that unless we are convinced of the reality of what we read, or hear, the impreffion it makes is not fufficiently profound to be lafting. We may be ftruck with admiration at the beauties of invention; we may be charmed with fome characters; we may feel an intereft in the plot, that will not let us reft until we have feen how it ends: but when we are come to the conclufion, we treat the whole as an agreeable story well told, wherein the ingenuity of the writer has availed itself of those incidents, a lively reprefentation of which must neceffarily awaken the paffions.

But allowing the utmost that can be faid, ftill as belief is not moved, the heart is but flightly touched, and feels but tranfiently.We lay down the book after perufal, as we rife from a play: in fhort, we are amufed, but not affected enough to fubmit to any weight of concern on account of what we have been reading: we confider it in no other light, than as the birth of imagination and judgment blended together for our enter

tainment.

Such, on the contrary, is the force of truth, that, however plainly told, it finks into our mind, as it were by its own weight, and without any collateral helps; we view it with a kind of refpect; it commands our attention, and dwells upon our feelings.

It is entirely from facts that we re gulate our notions of things. No perfon has yet thought proper to quote any paffages from novels, as proofs of the rules and maxims to be obferved in life. We draw them from purer fources; from well-known realities, and not from fictions, which, however ingenious, have not that folidity, in our apprehenfions, on which alone we can fafely erect a prac tical fyftem of conduct.

When a writer fits down to frame the plan of a novel, the firft idea that occurs, is that of pleafing the reader. To do

this

this effectually, he must confider what readers he has to please the tafte of thefe varies according to times and circumftances these must be viewed with great nicety a work that might prove acceptable at one period, may be rejected at another, merely from the changes that take place in the turns and difpofitions of mankind. In order, therefore, to fucceed, an author must confult all these peculiarities, and will of courfe rather tudy to make his work palatable than inftructive.

But history proceeds on quite another plan. Truth, not mere probability, is the first law enjoined; without the obfervance of which, all other merit is loft. To inftruct, is the principal view of the hiftorian; to entertain, is only a fecondary profpect. Unless they go hand in hand, he only performs part of his work, it is true; but we much fooner forgive him for being faulty in the fecond point, than in the first.

How many agreeable writers are neglected, merely for being fufpected of embellifhing their fubjects at the expence of truth! how many are fought purely on account of their veracity; This confderation alone feems a fufficient anfwer to thofe who alledge the graces of ftile, and the vivacity of genius, that animate novels, as contributing beyond all other causes to render them ufeful as well as pleafing.

Several individuals, it is true, cannot relifh the most effential verities, unlefs they are delivered with fome eclat; like vitiated flomachs that fpurn at all food which is not highly feafoned. But thefe are not the proper judges of what is fit to be written or read. The majority of fenfible people prefer plain truth expreffed in clear and comprehenfive language.

But to thofe who feek for fubftantial improvement, facts divested of embellishment will prove the most welcome fubject of fpeculation.

One may difmifs this article, by ob. ferving, that the capital rules in a novel are, not only to make every part coincide with the other, fuftain identity of character, and ftrike out variety without confufion, but, what is the main point and fine qua non of fuch writing, to arrive, through a fucceffion of interefting adventure, to a conclufion fortunate to the principal perfonages, but long retarded by difficulties; the whole, in fhort, must excite furprife, and yet be accompanied with probability.

To perfons of the first clafs above defcribed, novels will of courfe be more acceptable than hiftory. As they require accompaniments to the main object that fhould be propofed in reading, which is inftruction, they will be gratified in a manner conformable to their inclination.

Who that confiders this last and most effential rule, can avoid confeffing, it is next to impoffible to obferve it without violating the ftrictnefs of truth? Strange adventures do fometimes happen; but never furely with that undifcontinued chain of marvellous circumstances, which even the moft fimply conftructed novels feem to require.

But hillory demands no more than bare unadulterated truth, exposed with fullnefs and propriety, and fupported by energy of thought, and elegance of expreffion. He that is able to compafs thefe requifites, will always be read with fatisfaction. To tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is alike the law of history and that of a court of judicature. The obfervance of this law is more than half of the duties incumbent upon an hiftorian: it is that which does him molt honour, and helps to extenuate many blemishes: the integrity of his heart, and foundness of his head, are more valued than the brilliancy of his imagination, and the fertility of his invention. Thefe proverbially belong to the compofers of novels, and works of mere wit and fancy; which we may admire for their ingenuity and contrivance, but cannot, for the reafons alledged, clafs, in point of folid unditputed utility, with leffons that are drawn from the abfolute facts and tranfactions of real life.

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