MONTHLY MAGAZINE. No. 188.] AUGUST 1, 1809. [1 of VOL. 28. As long as thefe who write are ambitious of making Converts, and of giving to their Opinions a Maximum of "Influence and Celebrity, the most extenfively circulated Mifcellany will repay with the greateft Effect the "Curiofity of those who read either for Amusement or Intruction.”—JOHNSON. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. For the Monthly Magazine. On the METHODS of taking off IMPRESSIONS OF PLANIS. Omnes artes quæ ad humanitatem pertinent, habent quoadam commune vinculum, et quasi cognatione quadam inter se continentur. I Cicero. N the Monthly Magazine of July last appeared an Essay on "An elegant Method of obtaining very neat and pleasing Representations of Plants," under the signature of William Pybus, of Hull. (page536.) It is indeed pleasing, to see any new means of facilitating science, and of rendering familiar to its votaries the products of nature; and hence, the liberal intentions of this writer claim general approbation; but I doubt whether the utility of the method he has recommended equally corresponds with his hopes. The process of applying the solution of Indian-ink would be tedious, and, from its tendency to dry, would prove inconvenient. I should not have raised objections, had I not been in possession of a method, which I presume to think superior, by which the collector of plants might trans fer on paper an impression in the space of little more than a single minute. About fifty years ago, I was in the habit of amusing leisure, by thus taking off icons of plants, being early fond of botany; although at that time I had access only to Gerard's Herbal, and I think I still retain a volume of impressions I then made. In 1774, I published this method in my Naturalist's Companion, which was copied into several periodical works, and particularly into the Annual Register, about that period. My valued friend, the late Barbeu Dubourg, who published Oeuvres de Franklin, Paris, 1773, 4to. translated the Naturalist's Companion into French; and it afterwards acquired a German dress. The third section is entitled, “Directions, for bringing over MONTHLY MA". No. 188, Seeds and Plants from distant Countries." The work being out of print, I shall quote verbatim that part of the Section, which applies to the present subject. The impressions of plants, well taken off upon paper, look very little inferior to the best drawings, and may be done with very little trouble. For this purpose, some printer's ink, and a pair of printer's balls, such as are used for laying the ink on types, are necessary. After rubbing these balls with a little of the ink, lay the plant between them, and press it so as to give it sufficient colour: then take the plant, and lay it carefully on a sheet of paper, and press it with the hand, to give the impression of the plant to the paper, which may be afterwards coloured according to nature; a piece of blotting-paper may be placed betwixt the plant and the hand, to prevent the latter from being dirtied by the ink." But if white paper be employed, instead of blotting-paper, we acquire at the same moment two impressions, or both surfaces of the same plant. About twenty years ago, a young Frenchman visited London, to teach pupils, at the premium of one guinea each, how to convey upon paper, inpressions of plants. He wanted upon me for the same subscription. After he had a little explained himself, I shewed him my volume, impressed after the manner he proposed to divulge as a new discovery, which was known even before he had existence. I imagine that this ingenious art has been long practised in Germany, as well as here; for I have in my library, a folio volume, done in this manner, by Christopher Gottlieb Ludwig, entitled, "Ectypa vegetabilium usibus medicis præ. cipue destinatorum, et in Pharmacopolis obviorum variisque modis præparatorum, ad naturæ similitudinem expressa. Hale Magdeburgiæ, 1760;" but whether this be a rare book, or not, is unknown to JOHN COAKLEY LETTSOM. Sambrook-court, July 13, 1809. To To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, EING about to publish an addi nicator. I have only to add, that all original documents shall be duly taken care of, according to the desire of the Btional volume to the Antiquities person who may favour me with them, 66 of Athens," from documents left by Messrs. Stuart and Revett, I am desirous of prefixing some account of the life of those gentlemen, who, by their great industry and perseverance, accomplished a work highly creditable to themselves as artists, and honourable to the nation to which they belonged. I therefore take this public means, through the channel of your widely circulating Miscellany, to solicit authentic particulars and anecdotes relative to either of them. Of Stuart, I wish to know any particulars of his early life, as the time and place of his birth, with the circumstances of his parents and family; how he came to be an artist, to travel abroad, to be a scholar, &c. Also the names of the gentlemen who were his friends and patrons, and by what means they encouraged the publication of the Antiquities of Athens; a list of the buildings to which he acted as architect, will be very acceptable; if any gentleman has any letters written by Stuart, while at Athens, containing curious information, the loan of them will be very acceptable. I am aware of two papers in the Gentleman's Magazine, 1728, respecting Stuart; the latter one has the greatest claim to attention; and I shall be very glad to know the author, if living; this paper is signed, A. II. I am in possession of authentic documents, respecting the early life of Revett: but am desirous to know who he studied under as a painter, previous to his going to Rome, which was in the year 1742; also the names of those gentlemen, who were his friends and patrons, after his return from Athens; and a list of the buildings erected under his care, as an architect. Revett was a frequent contributor to the Gentleman's Magazine; a complete reference to the papers written by him, will be very acceptable. In short, Sir, as time has triumphed over so many of the contemporaries of these celebrated travellers and artists, my desire is to be enabled to give to the public such a permanent sketch of their lives and scientific laboars, as may do justice to their merits, and be an excitement to others to follow such noble examples. It is hoped that none but well authenticated information will be sent, and accompanied by the name and residence of the commu SIR, Song ago as in September and December, 1807, I troubled you with two of an intended series of papers, on the subject of the Treatment of Impediments of Speech; and on the Impropriety of mingling Cases of that Description, with those of Deafness, and other calamitous Defects; which require, in many particulars, a treatment so opposite and inimical, that the most absolute separation of them appears to be of the highest inportance to that class of pupils who have Impediments only. By some accident or other, the latter of those communications did not find its way into your valuable Miscellany, till the month of April, 1808; and, in the mean time, the notes I had hastily made, for the further prosecution of my design, had not only been thrown aside, but professional engagements had so thronged upon ine, that I had no opportunity of resuming my pen. In the hurry of practical exertion, the chain of ideas became broken; and although I have frequently felt the wish of reuniting the severed links, the leisure and disposition for such an effort have never happened to meet together, till the present moment; when looking over some papers, that had been thrown at different times into a drawer, I chanced to meet with the fragment, with which, however abrupt it may appear, I shall here resume the subject. It is for this reason, Sir, that I condemn the indiscriminate mixture of cases of impediment, and of deafness or imbecility. It is for this reason, although I am perfectly convinced, that I could teach the deaf to speak, with much less labour than is sometimes necessary to correct the vicious habits of vocal utterance, the absolutely deaf are never admitted into my seminary. For the same reason, although I have devoted a considerable portion of my attention to cases of amentia, that is to say, to those cases, in which, from the neglects or accidents of early education, the senses have not properly been developed, or the connective faculty of the mind has not to avert, the calamity: not indeed in my Institution, for that would be inconsistent with my other arrangements. Cases of Amentia, where the appearances of imbecility are marked, and conspicuous, are most conveniently superintended in the private residence of the family: especially where there is, in such family, any judicious individual who can be depended on, to enforce the regulations of the professor; report to him the results of every experiment, and act implicitly by his direction: and, under such circumstances, I have seen enough of the progress of developement, in faculties apparently the most inert, or most unpromising, to be confident, that many a human being has been consigned to speechless inanity, that might have been trained, at least, to a respectable mediocrity of mind and faculty; and that, in many instances, what in early childhood was only habitual ineptitude, or cherished eccen tricity, has been suffered to mature itself into drivelling idiotisin, and mental dis not been called into action. I have With the indications of this distinction, I have some reason to believe, that I am not entirely unacquainted; and it has been a part of my study, during several recent years, to devise and apply such modes of regulation, of stimulus, and restriction, as may be likely, in cases of the former description, to remedy, or rather Upon this subject, it is my intention, if ever I can find time, to give my sentiments to the world, at much greater extent, and in a more scientific form. In the mean time, I shall probably trouble you, (perhaps for your next Number,) with a few hints upon another subject, of more popular interest. Till when, I remain, Your's, &c. J. THELWALL. Bedford Place, To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. C SIR, NONSIDERING the nature and tendency of the late Dr. Anderson's enlightened pursuits, it is very desirable that none of his ideas should be lost. At the conclusion of his last published performance, he announced his intention of employing his leisure, while health permitted, in collecting facts on the subject of legislation; and so arranging them, that, in case of death, some use might be made of them by others. His object was to discover, that system of legislation, or civil polity, that should be best calculated to promote domestic felicity, among the great body of the people; to guard against internal discontents, civil disturbances, and revolutions, and to avoid wars with foreign states, and the obtrusive interference with external politics-not by means of revolutions, and destructive convul sions, but by the gentle influence of regulations, that have a silent tenden y to operate operate upon the heart and affections, on a pale horse, brought death along and thus to influence the actions, and with him, wherever he went. habitudes of men. From the active, and energetic mind of Dr. Anderson, a disquisition on this subject must have been interesting in an extraordinary degree. Feeling as he did, the desolation of war, and trembling at the frightful consequences of anarchy and confusion, I should be glad to know whether that, or any other papers left by Dr. A. are intended to be published. The extensive literary intercourse, established by means of the Monthly Magazine, induces me further to enquire, whether the Dictionary of an Universal Character, (noticed in a former volume) is in a state of forwardness. Coventry, July 10, 1809. Your's, &c. WILLIAM FLAVEL. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. IT SIR, T is customary to place the altar at the east end of the church; and, in many places, for the whole congregation, when they repeat the Creed, to turn their face to the east; no doubt because the great lamp of nature, that lights all to the business of the day, and the light that has enlightened the nations, has gradually proceeded from the east. But why do clergymen, when they officiate at the altar, stand on the north side, with their face to the south, during part of the Communion service? Is it because, in the temple of Jerusalem, the priests under the law, did the same? Or, is it because the sun, the light of the eye, and great emblem of the light of life, is south of us that live in Europe? And, if so, do the clergy, in the southern hemisphere, for the same reason, turn their face to the north, when officiating at the altar? It was customary for the ancients, to paint some parts, and some times all, of their horses red, and other parts of them green, purple, &c. And this custom is referred to by St. John, in the book of Revelations. But, as the books of Jewish, Grecian, and Roman Antiquities, to which I have at present conveniently access, do not satisfy me on the subject, I should be much obliged to any of your readers to tell me, with the above queries solved, in allusion to what custom, or peculiar circumstance, in the same book, Death is said to ride on his pale horse? Does it refer to any known warrior, or other person, who, using to ride Your's, &c. 137, St. Martin's-lane, JAMES HALL. June 27, 1809. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, page 188, of the Edinburgh Review, for April, 1809, is the following very flagrant observation-Knowing well that translation is less necessary in this kingdom, than beyond the Border Country, I cannot help wishing more of notoriety, than that work has obtained.-Hear him, the Reviewer! "The state of classical learning, at present, in this country, is such as by no means to please us; and much good might, we think, be derived from the plan of our Greek and Roman studies. In this northern part of the island, our system of education is imagined, by our neighbours, as defective in regard to classical instruction; and in regard to the Greek language, though not the Latin, the charge is extremely just. By our institutions, provision is not made for teaching even the elements of the Greek, to any but a very small proportion, of the best disposed of the youths. In the other part of the island, however, and that the principal part, classical learning occupies an immense proportion of the field of education. In fact, it almost covers it, leaving a very scanty corner, and that cultivated by a very antiquated sort of husbandry, for any other crop. Yet it is remarkable, that England has communicated very little useful service toward the promotion of classical learning. None of the lettered nations of Europe, the French, the Germans, the Italians, are so badly supplied with translations, in their own language, of the prose classics. None of them have done even so little, towards the purifying of the text of the ancient authors; to none of them is the lover of ancient learning so little indebted for those helps, which render his acquisitions easy, and his readings delightful.' Query-Has this erudite reviewer been deprived of his birth in the High School at Edinburgh; or does he take it for granted, because he cannot read the exotic literature of a sister kingdom, that that literature, that that erudition, by his septentrional feat is to be repressed. What would Harvey, Clarke, Bentley, the author of Religio Medici, Sir Thomas Browng |