not follow that this should give rise to an increase of summer heats?. This we have seen is however not the case; the temperature of the atmosphere in summer having become of late years much colder. We therefore presume, that our agricultural improvements have had no influence, in causing these peculiar changes of the climate of Britain." Vol. I. p. 169. Chap. III. contains seven sections and treats of meteorology. Of evaporation, rain, winds, luminous meteors, electrical meteors, phosphoric meteors, of stones falling from the atmosphere, and prognos On the cause of rain, Dr. R. observes, that " Dr. Hutton's theory is generally followed." This is certainly an objectionable assertion: nor could the senti. ment have entered a person's imagination, who has read the opinions of Kirwan, and de Sausure. The electric vesicular system, satisfactorily explains every phenomenon; particularly why more rain falls annually on the western, than on the eastern side of this island. The causes of dew and hail are by no means fully explained; water spouts are better accounted for: and a curious description is here given of a descending one, called by the ancients dipsides of winds in general the statement in Thompson's chemistry is more scientific; and of those peculiar to this country, Williams, in his treatise on the climate of this country, is more spe cific. On the aurora borealis, or norther lights, Dr. R's. observations are judicious and he properly gives a history of a phenomenon, which long was the terror d ignorant minds, and is still considered as a modern appearance by many, who should be better informed. They doubtless were coeval with the mundane system, thoug to have formed a decided opinion. Under the topic acoustics he has not noticed the application of dilated tubes to the conveyance of signals, both by land and sea. Nor is the cause of echoes satisfactorily defined. Respecting a late prevalent opinion, that our climate has undergone a considerable change, as to its temperature, Dr. R. introduces the subject by a large body of verbal and tabular statements from Kirwan's admirable treatise, on the temperature of different latitudes, which occupies the whole of the third section. Such changes have taken place in other countries, as well as in this: clastics of the weather.. sic authors describe the Roman winter as being much colder than it is at this time; and in the days of Charles XII, of Sweden, that season appears to have been in the north of Europe much more severe than it is as present. Respecting the climate of Britain, it must excite a smile in the reader acquainted with history to find Casar's description of the inhabitants, as going unclothed, alledged in proof of the extraordinary mildness of the climate, "at the period of his invasion. Numerous instances of the decrease of temperature in this island, are adduced from the state of agriculture at different periods, both in the north and south. Dr. R. observes, that the change has been very visible ** since about the middle of the last cen`tury;" and Williams on the Climate of Great Britain, is referred to, as corroborative of the fact. But here Dr. R. has evidently confounded two distinct theories, formed to account for two similar changes that of Dr. Williamson, and that of Mr. Williams. The former, in noticing the milder state of the American clime, and the fluctuations of heat and cold in the spring, so prejudicial to fruits, endeavours to account for it, by the clear-long unaccounted for, and superstitiously ing away of immense forests, the drain ing of savannahs, and other improvements arising from cultivation. The latin the chronicles of Norfolk, A. D. 1173 ter attributes the coldness of our springs Though Caniden speaks of them as and summers, to the high state of culti- unusual and terrifying prodigy, and subvation, the increase of pasture over arable sequent historians describe their first aplands, and the rage for plantations, par-pearance in England, as much later. Mr.. ticularly evergreens. Had Dr. R. care fully perused the works of either, he certainly would have thought their respective positions entitled to greater notice than is contained in the following vague assertions. Granting this to be the cause of the superior mildness of our winters, does it dreaded. Blomefield, in his history of Norfolk mentions one as being recorded Dalton has attempted to account for this ling from the moon, by their progress beyond the gravitating medium surrounding that planet. A table is given from Mr. Izarn of places where they have fallen, and an analysis of their component substances might have been added from Professor Thomson, who concludes that " upon the whole, we may consider those stony and metallic masses, as fragments of fire balls, which have burst in the atmosphere." Part the second, volume second, contains one chapter which includes eight sections and treats of the chemical properties of the atmosphere: with the gases, their proportions and effects. As long as science is revered, the name of Priestley will be remembered, for his discovery of that extraordinary sub stance oxygenous gas. In the experiments made upon it by Dr. Beddoes, we might have expected some allusions to the bold attempts of that ingenious chemist to ascertain its effects on the living animal system, in proof that it is a principal cause of pthisis pulmonalis. Part the third contains three chapters, including considerations on the influence of the atmosphere, as a chemical fluid, on animals and plants, on respiration, on the temperature of living bodies: the influence of the atmosphere on growing plants, &c. also on animal and vegetable remains. an important question, respecting the influence of climate on man, which has divided modern philosophers into two grana sects; yet he introduces facts to shew that the variation in colour and figure both depend in a great degree on the difference of clime. Dr. R. is decidedly against the new theory of cure, for inflammatory complaints, by the application of cold: and expresses himself rather harshly to wards those who have espoused it. This is almost the only instance through the work, where Dr. R. distinctly and catego rically avers his own opinion. Respecting the humidity of the atmosphere, Dr. R. expresses himself in an obscure, because a confused manner. He seems to aim at opposing the received opinion, that moist seasons, and damp situations, are extremely prejudicial to health. For this purpose, he compares the washing the floors of hospitals, with the swabbing of the decks of ships; not adverting to the septic quality of vapour arising from the one, and the anti-septic, from the other. In his third chapter, speaking of the plague, Dr. R. observes, it appears evident, that neither the physical, nor chemical properties of the atmosphere are altered, in countries, during the prevalence of the plague; nor is it probable, that in the rise of any epidemical distemper, this ever appears as an immediate exciting cause." p. 325. In this long section, Foureroy's opinion is stated, that contagious matter is composed of sulphuretted and phosphoretted hydrogen; but, the controversy, whether it be an acid, or an alkaline substance, is not even agitated. "Nitric and oxymuriatic acids bave been found to possess the highest degree of antiloimic powers," p. 352. The phenomenon of animal transmutation was noticed so early as the reign of Charles II. Browne, in his Hydrotaphia, observes," In an hydropical body, ten years buried in a church-yard, we met with a fat concretion, where the nitre of the earth and the salt and lixivious liquor of the body had coagulated large lumps of fat into the hardest Castile snap." p. 48. The discovery of a similar nature made in The work contains much valuable inforthe church-yard of the Innocents at Paris, mation; but, persons conversant with is noticed by Dr. B.; but, he might have the subjects comprised in this treatise, selected a fuller account of this transmu- will find few topics with which they have tation of animal substances, into sperma- not, by reading or observation, been preceti, by means of moisture, from the Me- viously acquainted. To those unaccustommoirs of the French Academy. The pro-ed to such researches, it may afford both cess was repeated under the idea of a new discovery, and described in the Philosophical Transactions, by a physician at Bath. An extensive manufactory for procuring spermaceti from dead horses, was established at Hanham near Bristol; but it has been abandoned. Dr. R. shrinks from the discussion of amusement and instruction. What has been more widely diffused, and more amply detailed in other works, is, in this, collected into a narrow compass, and presented in a more condensed and convenient form. So far, the writer deserves the thanks of the public. But as it ap pears to come in the shape of an origi nal work, rather than a compilation, explicit acknowledgements should have been made, to writers whose labours have furnished the principal facts. Our motto is suum cuique tribue. The names of Scheele, Bergman, Priestley, Kirwan, Crawford, Lavoisier, Cavendish, Beddoes, Dalton, Davy, Hales, Beccaria, Le Cotte, Richard, De Lac, De Saussure, Paterson, Williams, Wintringham, Arbuthnot, Adam, Hunter, Mosely, &c. &c, occur in the course of these volumes; but their opinions are slightly alluded to, without quotation, or direct reference to their works. It is but justice to the author of a valuable work on chemistry, in which many of the opinions have been quoted, and where the reader is by references, directed to appreciate their relative merits; to observe, that candor would have dictated some acknowledgement, for what had been already published in that work; though placed in a new arrangement in this, with some additional observations. The language in general is good, and the style is tolerably perspicuous; and as a repertorium of the present state of our information, respecting the science of the atmosphere, it may be consulted with pleasure and profit by the generality of readers, Scloppelaria; or Considerations on the Nature and Use of Rifled Barrel Guns, with Reference to their forming the Basis of a Permanent System of National › Defence, agreeable to the Genius of the Country. By a Corporal of Riflemen. Svo, pp. 251. Price 9s. Egerton, London : 1808. We understand that this book is written by Henry Beaufoy, Esq. son of Mark Beaufoy, Esq. of Hackney Wick, F. R. S. and colonel of the 1st Royal Regiment of Tower Hamlets Militia. The Earl of Moira has been properly selected as the patron of this work, both as an eminent military character, and as being Constable of the Tower of London, and Lord Lieutenant of that portion of the county of Middlesex which comprehends the Tower Hamlets. The perusal of this volume has given us great pleasure. Its contents are truly interesting. They are the result of science combined with practice; and bear honourable testimony to the ingenuity and perseverance of Mr. Beaufoy; to the judicious selection of Experiments, and to the acuteness with which conclusions have been drawn, and corollaries deduced. The author by no means runs riot with his subject. He does not ascribe to the rifle-barrelled gun, properties, which it does not possess; nor does he wish to substitute it for all other offensive weapons, He certainly wishes to make expert rifle men of all our volunteers; but then he would not rely upon rifle-men only in a pitched battle. He would mix them, in due proportion, with regular troops armed, with our English muskets, and, above, all, our ENGLISH BAYONET; a weapon irresistible, when urged home by the muscular arm of our gallant countrymen ; › witness Maida, witness Vimeira, witness Corunna!-Mr. Beaufoy says, it' is not intended to urge the indiscriminate use of rifle-barrelled guns, but to render troops armed with them, as a distinct and co-operative force, more general and important; where the musquet ends or begins, the rifle commencing or leaving off. For the fact is, that in any other view they become a nullity. The moment a rifleman suffers himself to be closed, his weapon becomes of less use than the common musquet; since the delay in loading would now be injurious, and the ther place, he observes, exactness unnecessary." Again in ano He it is not necessary with the ordinary spirit of To conceive their excellence, nevertheless, enthusiastic theorists, to attribute to them more than their own certain qualities; to render the extensive use of rifle corps, here recommended, effectual, it must be unfailingly kept in view that they are to be regarded as a species of troops entirely distinct from every other, though acting with, and perhaps mutually dependant on all of them. who shall expect from them the ordinary duties of the battalion, or artillery, or even of light infantry, will be disappointed, though in proper situations, they will effect more than either. In close combat, or where the bayonet is alone to be employed, they are useless, for the meanest musquet in numbers will be sufficient. In storming parties, they will be also inefficient; since, as observed by the intelligent author already mentioned, in the agitation necessarily occasioned by the violence of such moments, they will be un equal to that cool and steady fire, on which would be immaterial. Allowing to the their whole purpose depends! a circumstance rifle, with less indulgence, a certainty of perhaps, proved by their similar employment effect in but one shot of twenty, which none at Buenos Ayres and Monte Video. For si at all conversant with rifle shooting will admilar reasons the confounding them with mere mit to be sufficient, firing 20 shots in an light infantry, or attributing to then a cha- hour, gives even then a balance in its favour racter of still greater celerity, as when they of more than two to one in the number of have been made to run by the side of the ca- killed, wounded, or disabled, against the obvalry the real advantages of a rifle corps jection of time lost in loading. Thus then, take? will not be obtained. But nourished and ing five to one against a rifle in the first in animated by an esprit du corps only to be in- stance, because we give to the musquet five spired by preserving them in their proper si- times the number of shots, and adding the tuation, they will never fail to furnish all two to one in its favour from the number of that shall be required of them. Let them killed and wounded, on striking the balance, then no longer receive the censure of the it will be found to leave to the rifle a decided battalions. Each man thus employed will advantage of seven to one! In this compu feel, as the historian says of Fabius-Non tation, the average distance at which the ignorabat se timidum, pro cauto; imbellem, rifle is to be fired, is from 250 to 400 yards. Nah pro perità belli, haberi at maluit ut se The most superficial observer will naturally hostis metuerit, quam stulti, cives laudarent. see, at the same time, the comparative saving Let them no longer be supposed as giving to in ammunition, and be enabled to form an war new horrors, but rather as tending to idea of its importance, by calculating the shorten its calamities, and to determine the value of a load used for a rifle and a musquet, conflicts of nations, by an efficiency in arms as charged by government; by conceiving worthy of the highly civilized state of Europe, the value of a cartridge on its arrival in the and of the world. Above all, let us remem- East or West Indies, the different proportion ber that whatever shall promise to enable us to of ammunition waggons, and the inconve maintain the independance of our own coun-nience to an army of a numerous train of 5. try to preserve sacred those accumulated rights which have been created by the wisdom, or purchased by the blood of our ancestors, ought to be well considered, and if proved worthy of adoption, to be adopted with vigour. Let us never forget, that we live not alone for ourselves, but that we hold also the rights of posterity, which are not to be committed by our act. This is the language of a genuine patriot. Here the principles which have ever distinguished the Literary Panorama identify with those of our spirited young author. We shall give another quotation from the introduction, on the comparison between the musquet and the rifle-barrelled gun, t ་་་་ A musquet will fire three shots to one from a rifle, as generally used. In an action of an hour, the musquet then will have fired perhaps 100 shots, (the numbers are indifferent, as they will always be relative), and the rifle 20. Supposing 1 in 200 shots of the musquet to tell, (which many will not allow by half) it must fire incessantly for more than two hours before it can be certain of taking effect, and this too reckoning the frequent opportunity of firing at a whole line, where deviation to the right or left carriages; and be thus enabled to perceive how far the advantages arising out of these circumstances, will set off against the difference of expence between the weapons. An officer of undoubted veracity assured the wri ter, that a party of light infantry under his command in Egypt, fired away 60,000 rounds in driving in that of an enemy, of which he really believed, that not above four or five were killed or wounded on the part of the enemy. barrel guns, or of riflemen, as they are ge Of the utility of corps armed with riflednerally, though not very definitively called, the proofs are innumerable. As a light erratie force concealing itself with facility, and forming an ambuscade at will, its effects are incalculable. By combining the solid column, or the extended line, as now practised by the best tacticians, with considerable bodies of light troops, a mutual confidence is inspired; the foriner aware that all the harrassing duties of the petite guerre will be performed by the latter, and these in turn knowing that they have troops ready formed en masse, behind which they may retire when closely pressed. The origin of this idea is of no trifling date, being to be found in the relations of the Socit, the elites, Sugittarii, and Funditores of the Romans, to the main body of their army, formed on a principle similar to i that which will ultimately be mentioned in this intro duction; while its modern practice will be recognized in the Hussars and Pandouts of the Prussians and Austrians, the Croats of the 1 P Russians, the Albanians of the Turks, and the Arnauts serving with the Russians and British in Italy. Ever skulking and roaming about the country, they compel the enemy to be constantly on the watch, and alert in apprehension of an attack, With such troops, the enemy cannot dispatch a detach ment or reinforcement, or effect any movement of consequence, scarcely transmit a return, or even send a messenger, without information being conveyed by various means to the army employing them. They are dispersed in every direction; their effects are felt at distant points at the same moment, and they tend to affect the mind of an enemy by constantly presenting to him unexpected obstacles, a circumstance which will never be omitted in the consideration of a general. The passages already quoted may suffice to take off all objection to Scloppetaria, on the score of substituting the rifle for the musquet.It is much to be wished, however, that our volunteers, at least, were to a man masters of the rifle. In the event of an invasion with an overwhelming French army, we suppose that our generals would decline rather than seek an opportunity of fighting a pitched battle. All authors of talent who have written on this subject, have recommended the harrassing system of warfare, the petite guerre. To this the rifle is peculiarly adapted; and if in Spain, instead of engaging the columns of the enemy, as the brave patriots have done, they had carried on war upon the other principle, does it not seem probable that the armies of Cuesta, Castanos, Blake, and Romana, might yet have remained nearly entire ; and that the invading hordes, daily and hourly attacked in a hostile country, by invisible and destructive opponents, must have been reduced to insignificance? We are bold to say that if the Spaniards even yet adopt this mode of fighting, suited in a peculiar manner to the Fabian system, (for Buonaparte is to Spain what Han nibal was to Italy ;) they will finally triumph over their enemies. Burgoyne's army had never capitulated at Saratoga, if the Americans had been without rifle men... In the introduction to Seloppetaria, we have a very curious historical account of missile weapons in England. The glories of this island; while its "might stood upon archers," are duly characterized, and the acts of parliament passed from time to time, to encourage archery, are pointed out. We observe one small oversight in this detail, p. 12, where Fortescue's learned work De Laudibus Legum Anglia," is represented as having been written after the 33d of Hen. VIII, (1541). Fortescue was made chief justice of the King's Bench in 1442: though he certainly was appointed chancellor to Hen. VI, during that prince's exile in Scotland, it is not known that he ever exercised the functions of that high office in England. What led our author into this anachronism in all probability, was this circumstance, that Fortescue's work was not published till the reign of Hen. VIII. He died in 1465. The theory of the rifle-barrelled gun is very happily explained by analogical rea soning; for the application of which, Quintilian is cited in a note- analogia hoc vis est, ut id quod dubium est, ad aliquid simile de quo non quæritur, referat; ut incerta certis probet."-The angle of abberration in the case of bullets discharged from an ordinary masquet is ever considerable; but the deflection from the original line of flight, is an incon venience to which arrows shot from a bow were not found so liable. The rea. son has been proved to be, that the feathor on the arrow gives a spianing motion to the shaft as it flies through the air, and causes it to revolve round its longitudinal axis. Turning quickly round; as much as the arrow deviates to one side in its flight, the abberration is corrected by the almost instantaneous pressure of the air on the other; and thus its vertiginous motion leads it directly from the bow to the mark. This theory is most ingeniously pursued, and, in our judgment, demonstrated, by various experiments made on bodies passing through resisting media; and it most satisfactorily appears, that the precision with which a leaden ball shot from a rifle-barrelled gun hits the object at which it is discharged, arises from the indentations which it receives in passing along the grooves spirally worked within the barrel. This theory is discussed in the three first chapters; to which, and to the plates accompanying them, we refer our readers. This book is illustrated by nine plates, exclusive of the frontispiece, and several engravings, of perforated targets, shewing the comparative effects of different pieces fired at various distances. These are executed in a style of pe |