the prefent mode of exporting the provifions out of the country, the towns fituated in the vicinity of the canal will be injured, not improved. For the provifional produce of any country ought, as much as poffible, to be confumed on the fpot where they are produced, and none other than the manufactures and materials relative thereto exported. The road from Monaftereven to Kil. dare lies through a bog, in former times an extensive foreft. This bog refts upon a bed of calcareous gravel and limestone rock, and feems to be a branch of that extenfive morafs the Bog of Allen, and is every where furrounded with ftrong calcareous foils. In the pits and lakes of this bog are found fresh water feallops, mufcles, buccinæ, and other fhell fifh, fome of which are eaten by the Country people. And on the lands of Ballyneagh is a ftrong calcareous fpring which throws up great quantities of fta lactitical matter, and even incruftates bodies immerfed in it. Alfo the fhells of the fish produced in the bogs being expofed to the atmospheric air on thofe lands are in a short time incruftated with calcareous matter, and converted into ftone, in which their true and original form is preferved. This circumftance merits the notice of naturalifts, and cautions them against attributing all petrifactions found in ftones and quarries to early periods. Calcareous bodies which contain a quantity of carbonic acid, on being expofed to pure or even atmospheric air and water, are foon converted into ftone; and water only filtrating through a bed of calcar, will in a few centuries, or even years, Convert it into a quarry of lime-ftone, and petrify fimilar fubftances contained therein, as fhells, bones, and several species of wood. Here are alfo found large pieces of bog ore, which contain from one-fourth to one-half of pure iron, and in fome fine native iron, whilst other parts appear vitrified into glafs of various colours. These ores feem to be produced by the action of the carbonic acid on calcar, with the aid of fmall quantities of fulphur. All bogs contain from decayed vegetables great quantities of carbo, which uniting with calcar and fulphur, and acted upon by water and pure elementary air, will not only produce iron and moft ferruginous ftones, but also have most of the effects of heat and fire, in the formation of ferruginous cryftallizations and vitrifications. Whence proceed whinftones, bafaltes, zeolites, chryfolites, &c. which are attributed by a number of naturalifts of this age to volcanic operations, not confidering that water and air on proper fubftances, can, in the laboratory of nature, produce fimilar effects to fire. Kildare is a small decayed town, situated on a rifing ground of calcareous rock, and though in former times celebrated for ecclesiastical establishments, is too inconveniently fituated in respect to water, to be ever great in the annals of commerce. The only fubject of natural history which appeared here worthy of notice, is in the poffeffion of Mr. Daniel Bagot, Surgeon, of the county infirmary. It was taken from the head of a woman fome years fince, and in every refpect refembles a ram's horn, containing feveral volutes forming a fcroll about 2 inches diameter. There was two growing on the fame head, but the above was the largest and most perfect. I am not certain whether the perfon lived any time after the amputation, or what was her state of health at the time. Purfuing the road to Kilmead, pafs by the red Hills and Hill of Allen, which bear ftrong indications of containing rich copper ore, the ftones being impregnated with vitriol, and in fome parts calcined and vitrified by it. I was informed indeed that mines of this metal are actually opened on Dun Murry, one of the hills, but time did not permit me to take a furvey of them. On paffing Kilmead the hills on the right are calcareous, but I obferved near the Bog of Allen and about Profperous, ftones which appeared ferruginous; this indication encreased on approaching Caftletown, the feat of the Right Hon. Thomas Conolly, where I procured fome ore, obtained from that neighbourhood, ftrongly impregnated with iron, and I make no doubt but that rich and and productive mines of that metal may be found in the vicinity. Thus, Mr. Editor, having by this time tired both you and your readers with thefe trifling notices, I fhall conclude with being, Your humble fervant, AMBULARIUS. To the Editor of the Authologia. SIR, H Theory of Archery. AVING in your ufeful and entertaining mifcellany for Octob r laft, given fome account of the origin of archery in Ireland, the following theory and ufe of the bow may not be unentertaining to several of your readers, efpecially as archery has of late become fashionable among the higher ranks in both kingdoms. Prior to the invention of fire-arms the bow was the principal miffive weapon in all the armies of the world; and had its origin in the most remote ages, so as almost to be coeval with fociety. In Europe, during the latter ages, three fpecies of bows were in ufe, that is, the Roman or Scythic bow, the crofs bow and the long bow. The Scythic bow was about three feet long, ufed generally on horfeback, and drawn to the breast; being fo denominated from being the general weapon of the Scythians, among whom were the ancient Germans, Britons and Irish. The cross-bow, or Arbelette, was more in particular a favourite weapon of the French; it was fixed on an axis or fhaft, and from one foot and a half to three feet long. The long bow was the favourite weapon of the English from the 13th to the 16th centuries: though we must not fuppofe that nation were the original inventors. This truly formidable military weapon owes its origin to the Hindoos, it being well known in the east from the remote ages, and from thence introduced into western Europe by the crufaders. But of the feveral European nations which became acquainted with it, the English feem to have cultivated the practice of the long bow fuperior to any other, and on that account became formidable to their Enemies, especially on the invention of the broad arrow, of true English origin. By the long bow and broad arrow the battles of Agincourt and Creffy were principally obtained; and even for fome time after the introduction of fire arms, the English had bowmen on the flanks of their armies ; for it appears by a treaty between Charles 9th of France, and queen Elizabeth, in 1572, the latter was obliged to furnish the former with 1000 English archers: and in 1627 the English fhot arrows into the fort on the Ifle of Rhe. In fubfequent periods, however, archery became in a manner obfolete, and except the Royal Company of Archers in Edin burgh, the Finfbury Archers in London, and the Archers Club in Dublin, we heard no more of the practice of the bow, until lately revived under the patronage of his royal highness the prince of Wales. From the prefent fyftem of the art of war, the bow cannot be used as a military weapon, but as a healthy and elegant exercife may demand fome attention; as no attitude perhaps fhews the human figure to more advantage than that of the archer in the act of thooting; and no exercife contributes more to open the cheft, and ftrengthen the mufcles of the breaft and arms. Under this confideration, queen Elizabeth was extremely fond of shooting, and for feveral years commanded a company of female archers, compofed of the ladies of her court. To be an expert archer requires much practice, and to be trained from an early age. In the ancient English armies, the bowmen were accustomed to the use of their arms from feven years old, and were not reckoned complete until their arrival at the age of twenty one. During this period the length and power of the bow was proportionate to the height and age of the archer. The The power of a bow depends on its length and weight. The length of the bow ought always to be equal to the height of the archer; that is, from one end of the string to the other; and the arrow must be equal to half the length of the bow; thus a bow of 4 feet will require an arrow of 2 feet; and a bow of 6 feet an arrow of 3 feet long; and fo of all others in proportion. If the length of the bow is lefs than the height of the archer, he may draw the arrow paft the head, and thereby not only miss the fhot, but be in danger of breaking the bow; and if the length of the bow exceeds the height of the archer, he will not be able to draw the arrow to the head. For if the bow is proportionable to the archer, and the arrow to the bow, and the whole properly charged and poifed, the hand which draws the arrow being brought to the ear, the arrow will be drawn to the head, and at that time proper to be fhot. Thefe proportions are not founded on opinion and cuftom, but on the true nature of the fubject. The human figure, when the arms are extended, forms a fquare; that is, from the tip of the middle finger, of the right hand to that of the left, is equal to the height of the whole body, from the fole of the foot to the crown of the head; and confequently when the left arm is extended during the poife of the bow, from its centre to the right ear is equal to half the length of the bow. The weight of a bow expreffes its ftrength, and is determined by the weight which is neceffary to draw the arrow to the head; that is, if 25 pounds draw the arrow to the head, by being fufpended to the ftring of the bow, it is faid to be a twenty-five pounds bow; and if fifty, a fifty pounds bow; whence bows are of different weights or strengths from 15 to 100 pounds, and upwards. The power of a bow depends upon three circumftances, that is, its length, weight, and the time in which the arrow is drawn to the head; for the quicker a bow is bent, the greater is the force with which it regains its natural pofition. No arrow ought to be longer in drawing to the head, than one fecond of time; nor ought the bow to remain bent; but the arrow must be shot immediately on the right hand touching the ear. The greatest range which any bow will fhoot an arrow, is at the elevation of 45 degrees; and provided the arrow is drawn to the head in a fecond of time, this range may be found by multiplying the weight of the bow by the length of the arrow, four times this product gives the length of the range in feet; thus in a fix feet bow of 80 pounds weight, whofe arrow is three feet long, will be 80 multiplied by 3 equal to 240, which multiplied by 4 gives 960 feet, or 320 yards, for the great flight of the arrow at the elevation of 45 degrees; but if the arrow is drawn in lefs time than a fecond, the flight will be confiderably encreafed. Among the old English bowmen, the flight of an arrow was generally from 333 to 500 yards; and with an hundred pounds bow, an arrow has been fhot an English mile in three flights, which is 586 yards and two thirds of each flight. The exercifing range of the Finfbury Archers, whofe bows were from 60 to 80 pounds, was 24 yards, and the diftance of their target 220, being lefs by one-twelfth of the range. But in ancient times they fufpended a kind of faggot in the air, and frequently ftruck it with the arrow at the distance of 500 yards. Arrows are feldom shot point blank at any object, as their velocity is too small to overcome the power of gravity and diftance, on which account elevations must be always given; for great distances at 45 degrees, and others according to their distance and elevation. The point blank diftance of any bow is found by dividing the product of the weight of the bow and length of the arrow, by the time in which a body will fall by the power of gravity, through the height equal to the length of the bow, one-half of which gives the length of the point blank range. bow of 6 feet will have 24 yards point blank range, and a 25 pound bow under the fame circumftances will have eight yards. Therefore, to strike a mark at Thus an 80 pound a greater From this table it is evident, that the relation of Dr. Hanmer, and others, of an arrow being shot from a long bow an English mile and upwards, (fee Anthologia, vol. 2, p. 276) is not well founded; for a bow of fuch power would require to be 7 feet long, and 400 pounds weight. Nor is the affertion of Mr. Barrington more accurate, that a long bow will not fhoot an arrow more than 227 yards. But it is, not to be expected that perfons unacquainted with the theory and practice of archery, can speak with precifion. In order to poife the bow properly, it must be held perpendicular to the horizon by the centre, in the left hand, the arm stretched out to the utmost, the convex part of the bow lying even in the ball of the hand, between the forefinger and thumb, fo that the ftring may flide against the wrist, which must be protected by a guard. When the bow is charged, the arrow must be elevated to the eye, and drawn in a line from the eye to the ear, and as foon as the right hand touches the ear, and not before, the arrow must be shot; the ear being the centre of motion, let the elevation and direction be what it will. To fhoot at a mark, the bow must be held steady and perpendicular to the line of the object, fo that the centre of the bow may cover the mark from the right eye of the archer, and the arrow elevated according to the distance. In this pofition the ar row row must be drawn fteady without fhaking the bow, for the leaft variation thereof will throw the arrow wide of the mark. But this requires long practice. A battalion of archers require much more training than a battalion of mufqueteers. The following are the words of command for the manual exercife: 1 Archers, take care. Uncafe your bows. Reft your bows. 2 3 4 Order your bows. 5 Plant your bows. 6 String your bows. 7 Poife your bows. 8 Draw. 9 Order your bows. and poifed, they pafs the general, at whofe feet the best archer lays his bow, and receives the premium. The battalion forms a circle around them, and coming to the right-about, fhoot a volley; then cafing their bows, with arms advanced, in double files march off the field. Thus Mr. Editor, I have given the whole theory and practice of archery, as performed by the long bow, which, if any of your readers choose to follow, they may become expert bowmen, and in time equal their ancestors in that military weapon. At least, the above is perhaps in this age the only authentic inftruction for archery, by which that art can be restored. It is the more difficult to be regained 10 Join your right hand to your quiver as most of those who were acquainted 11 Draw your theaf. 12 Belt your Sheaf. The general manoeuvres for a battalion of bowmen, after the manual exercife is performed in a fingle file, is to form three deep, and in that pofition to fhoot vollies of arrows, both in advancing and retreating; alfo in the form of a crefcent, convex and concave. Then the target exercise commences in a single file, the younger archers marching firft to the target diftance, where, having fhot, retreat with bows poifed into the rere; and thus in order the whole battalion. Then the file being new formed, with the best archers in the front, the artillery charged VOL. III. January 1794: with it are now laid in the duft; which alfo mult shortly be the cafe with Your humble fervant, An old FINSBURY ARCHER. For the Anthologia Hibernica. Obfervations on Matthew, c. 19, v. 24. Again I fay unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. have been the torte tations which commentators have given of this text. Some, laying the import of the paffage on the word camel, fuppofe that the Greek word χαμηλος ought to be yaλws a cable, whereby the fimile would be more perfect, and the analogy complete. Thus a cable to go through the eye of a needle is certainly more congruous than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. All the Greek copies however, read xapinños chamelos a camel, and the contexts in feveral places, efpecially Mark, chap. 10, ver. 24. feem to authenticate the reading. It is not, however, in the aptitude of the fimile that the ftrefs and fignification of that part of the text lies, but in the impoffibility of the circumstance, B and |