years' experience and observation, I offer some conclusions for their contemplation, which their own may perhaps justify and among the instances and incidents which have led to these, there may also happen to be comprehended facts which are not altogether unknown to them, but which they may have passed by as matters of common event, and of no important issue. They, however, as well as myself, must have been aware that results are not always commensurate with causes, and the latter, though of small concern in themselves, have most unexpectedly produced effects of very serious extent. These it is my intention to mark, whether they can be traced in the mere detail of anecdote, or in the apparently insignificant incongruities of individual character, or whether they demand the more solemn meditation of the mind as originating in the settled enmities of men whose plea is reform, but whose object is subversion. The motive which actuates me in putting these recollections into a public medium will be better understood by their nature itself than it can possibly be by any declaration proceeding from One assertion, however, I myself. would be permitted to make-no im. pulse of dissatisfaction-no irritation of disappointment-no hope of advantage personal or professional induce me to make this attempt. I hope I have long learned to bear with equal mind the prosperous or the adverse events of life-to mistrust the illusory anticipations of this world's promise-and to confess indeed, sometimes not without the anguish of bitter conviction, that whatever may be the reasonableness of men's expectations of happiness and peace from the prospects that at various times may open to his earthly hope "He builds too low, who builds beneath the stars." out in the centre of the ice, and over the top of the hole a quantity of powdered charcoal should be place, secured by a common watchcoat blanket. When the winter arrives, the containing vessel may be opened, and the fruit laken out in its frozen state: then place it in cold water to thaw, and it will be found as delicious as when first gathered. When salt and ice in the manner employed by confectioners in general, shall be found inadequate to freeze some fruits hard enough, the mixture for producing an intense cold, as spoken of by Cheptal, the celebrated French chemist, of salt, saltpetre, and Glauber salts, will effectually freeze it very hard. SPIRIT FROM POTATOE APPLES. Ripe potatoe apples when they are plucked, mashed, and fermented with one-twentieth of a ferment, yield from distillation as much spirit as is obtained from the best grapes. Numerous experiments made in France with them upon a large scale leave no doubt respecting this valuable application of the plant. ARABIAN HORSES. M. Rosetti, Austrian Consul General in Egypt, has communicated, in the "Mines of the East," some interesting accounts of the races of Arabian horses, of which there are five; the noblest is the Saklavi, which are distinguished by their long necks and fine eyes. The tribe of Rowalla has the most beautiful, and the greatest number of horses. Among the colours, an Arabian writer mentions green; it appears, however, from the context, that it is the colour which we call sallow. The author affirms, what he has himself witnessed, that the animals perceive when they are to be sold, and will not permit the buyer to come near them, till the seller has formally delivered them up, with a little bread and salt. AMUSING EXPERIMENT. Place a piece of camphor or a few fragments in any convenient situation, such as at the bottom of a glass, ard lay a piece of coiled or pressed up Platinum wire, heated, upon it: the Platina will glow brilliantly as long as any camphor remains, and frequently light up into flame. BIOGRAPHICAL REGISTER OF EMINENT PERSONS RECENTLY DECEASED. A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE HILE the superior effect of Historical Engraving in aug. menting intellectual pleasure and refining the taste, justly secures to its professors honourable distinction, a due share of praise may reasonably be claimed for the skilful Engraver of Writing. A reference to the utility of writing, as connected with the varied operations of commerce, would alone justify this claim; but when, as in late instances, the higher efforts of penmanship are seen in conjunction with the press and pencil, decorating splendid works of public benefit, surely no little praise is due to him by whose graphic skill such excellence is multiplied and perpetuated, if he does not occupy the first rank in the temple of Fame, a niche may, under the great Roman poets' sanction, be there assigned to him as one of those qui vitam excoluêre per artes, Quique sui memores alios fecêre merendo. It is under the impression of this sentiment, that the following record of Mr. Ashby's labours is offered. The late Mr. Ashby was born April 17, 1744, at Wotton Underedge, in Gloucestershire, where is father, who lived to the age of 83, resided many years. Having received the rudiments of a plain education, he was bound apprentice to a clock-maker in that town, and who, as is usual in the country, also engraved spoons, tankards, dial-plates, &c. Here Mr. A. first imbibed a taste for engraving. He derived, however, little benefit from his master's instructions; the excellence to which he attained, was the result of natural genius, seconded by unremitting industry. The “* nulla dies sine linea" of the ancient painter appeared to inspire his exertions. The writer of this memoir has seen an engraving of only three lines, dated 1760, and done by young Ashby when but 16 years old, on the lid of an old iron tobacco-box, the merit of which gave early presage of great ability. Having completed his apprenticeship, Mr. A. repaired to the metropolis, where, following the bent of his inclination for writing engraving, he devoted himself wholly to its pursuit, and formed an engagement with Mr. Jeffries, of Charing cross, predecessor of Mr. Faden, the geographer. His principal employment here was to engrave titles and names of places on maps and charts. With this gentleman, Mr. A. continued till he entered into another connection with Mr. Spilsbury, writing engraver, of Russell-court, Covent-garden, and with whom he remained until the death of that gentleman, when he succeeded to his business, and afterwards married his widow. Mr. Ashby's talents had now a more extensive sphere of action, and in proportion as they became known, gained the public favour. The times were propitious to their exercise; the number of country banks was rapidly increasing with the reviving trade of the nation: by these he was employed to engrave notes and bills, in the execution of which great skill and ingenuity were evinced. Some eminent penmen also gave scope to his higher qualifications as an engraver of penmanship. To this it may be added, that writing had partaken of the general improvement of the age. The formal and fantastic decorations, the pencilled knots, and sprigged letters, which do not legitimately belong either to useful or ornamental penmanship, were exchanged for the free, natural, and elegant drapery of the pen. Snell, Bland, and Champion disengaged writing from this unseemly attire, and if the comparison of small things with great may be allowed, effected for it what Kent and Brown accomplished for gardening. The primary excellence of Mr. Ashby's engraving was its freedom; it harmonised, therefore, with the improved taste of modern penmen. Superior talent in a writing engraver is no where more apparent than in the rare faculty of copying penmanship correctly, with out impairing its spirit. * That it is *Writing, however, owes much to ening copyists in religious houses lost their graving. When by the invention of printemployment, that dexterity and accuracy of penmanship which distinguished the Scribe and Librarians were greatly neglected; so much so, that during the reigns of Henry VII, and VIII. Edward VI..and Queen Mary, fine writing was in a languishing condition. The invention of engraving excited emulation among the professors of writing, and thus raised it from its depressed state. Before the engraving on copper, writing masters had their performances cut upon, and printed from, wooden blocks. Billingsley's Pen's Excellency, or Secretary's Delight, engraved very difficult for the graver to come up to the nature and freedom of the pen, was the opinion of that able writer Mr. Ayres, whose works were engraved by Sturt and Thorowgood, *who lived about the middle of last century, and engraved Mr. Champion's pieces, acknow. ledged that he could not fully reach the neatness, spirit, and grace of that admired penman's productions. It is not saying too much to assert, that Mr. Ashby's performances displayed the free qualities of their originals: they had a clear, rich, and correct expression, combined with a taste and ease altogether unequalled. The possession of these talents, placed Mr. A. at the head of his profession, and secured a patronage hitherto unenjoyed by an other individual. He engraved for most of the principal banking and commercial firms in the united kingdom; for many houses on the Continent; while his engagements also extended to Philadelphia, Boston, and Canada in the western, and to Madras and Calcutta in the eastern hemisphere. But his merit shone brightest in the engraving of penmanship. His performances in this line included the chief productions of the best penmen of the day. He engraved the copies and various elementary works published by Milns,* Butler, + Okey,‡ Hodgkin, by W. Holle, 1618; Gething's Copy-book of Various Hands, 1616; Peter Bales' Theatrum Artis Scribendi, Hondio Cælatore, 1614, published at Amsterdam; and Davies' Writing Master's Assistant, or Anatomy of Fair Writing, engraved by J. Inghelnram about 1610, were some of the earliest specimens of writing engraving. * Thorowgood and Howard were the immediate predecessors of Mr. Ashby as fine engravers. The former excelled in correctnes; the latter in freedom of execu tion. Most of Mr. Champion's penmanship was engraved by them. They were proceeded by Mr. G. Bickham, engraver of the Universal Penman, a very large work, the united contribution of several able writers. Mr. Bickham was the pupil of Mr. Sturt, the best engraver of his time, (1683). Mr. Milns wrote "the Penman's Repository." He kept a large boardingschool at Tooting in Surrey, but afterwards retired to America, where he died. + Author of Arithmetical Questions, Exercises on the Globes, &c. Mr. Okey published but little. He was, however, one of the very best penmen of his time. & Author of Calligraphia Græca and Pæcilographia, a work of great merit, ex Tomkins, and others. It is but jus tice more particularly to record, that the fine and exquisitely varied penmanship of the last-mentioned gentlemen, happily found in Mr. Ashby, an engra ver capable of fully illustrating its unrivalled beauty. As the writing of Mr. Tomkins often related to subjects of public interest, a few of his produc tions, engraved by Mr. Ashby, shall be mentioned. Many of the plates in his elegant work, "The Beauties of Penmanship"-his fine Transcript of Lord Nelon's Letter after the Battle of the Nile the Dedication to Macklin's Bible, and that prefixed to Thomson's Seasons-a Title to a set of Prints after the Houghton Pictures-and a Dedication to Catherine Empress of Russia, the munificent purchaser of that celebrated collection. Some of Mr. Ashby's chief performances have been selected; many more of great value and interest might be enumerated: sufficient, however, has been said to place the laurel on the brow meriting its honours. Mr. A.'s life having been uniformly devoted to professional labour, there is but little anecdote to relate concerning it. Among his private virtues were to be found great independence of mind, a calm and philosophic temper, and a kind sympathy towards his fellow-creatures. Temperance, and judicious attention to diet, enabled him, notwithstanding the effects of a sedentary occupation, to lengthen out a constitution originally infirm. During his later years he retired to Exning, a village in Suffolk, two miles distant from Newmarket; not, however, to waste his declining days in idleness, but to protract their lengthening shadows by alternate ease and la bour. Here he closed a useful life with tranquillity and resignation on the 31st of August, 1813, in the 75th year of his age, and was buried in the church-yard of that place, at his own request, without ostentation. He has left two sons: one of them succeeded to the business on his father's retirement: the other is an artist, whose pictures have been successfully exhibited at Somerset House and the British Institution. plaining and exemplifying the mode of forming the Greek characters, their con nections and contractions, with ease and elegance. was the Mr. Tomkins died September 5, 1516, in the 74th year of his age, and is interred at Chiswick. His penmanship emanation of unrivalled taste, elegance, and freedom. SCOTTISH DESCRIPTIONS, BROM JEDBURGH TO THE HEBRIDES, AND RETURN TO CARLISLE: WITH SCOTTISH CUSTOMS, CHARACTER, AND MANNERS. BY THOMAS STRINGER, M.D. (Continued from page 126.) KINROSS Is a small town, and capital of the S a small town, and capital of the It is pleasantly situated at the western extremity of Lochleven, and is the only town of any consequence within the county; carries on manufactures of coarse linens and cutlery, and contains about fifteen hundred inhabitants. From Kinross fifteen miles to PERTH. The situation of this city is beautiful. It is one of the handsomest towns in Scotland, and built upon a much more regular plan than any of them, if we except the New Town of Edinburgh. It is said to contain twenty thousand inhabitants; which account is, perhaps, somewhat overrated, but the common computation, from births and burials, gives between sixteen and seventeen thousand. It is situated on a fiue plain on the west side of the Tay, which is here a noble river; this plain has undoubtedly been the bed of the river formerly, which, like many others, has enbanked itself by means of the stones, mud, and other substances, brought by its waters. The extensive and rich plain called the Carse of Gowrie, stretching on both sides of the Tay, from Perth down to its junction with the sea near Dundee, and which reminds one of many of the richest parts of the south of England, has undoubtedly at some remote period been covered with water. Perth is surrounded by, or rather divides, a spacious plain, into what are called the North and South Inches; each of which measures about a mile and a half in circumference. They have been probably what their name signifles, inches, or islands, when the bed of the Tay was more extensive. These inches are used as public walks by the inhabitants, and likewise as public places for the washing and drying of linen, as is common in many parts of Scotland. The Tay flows here iù a direction nearly north and south, but a little below Perth it turns eastward, and is lost behind the hill of Kinnoul. The tide from the German Ocean flows up the river, and Europ. Mag. Fol. LXXIV. Sept. 1818. reaches about two miles above Perth; the river is navigable to Perth for sloops and small craft, and in spring tides for ships of considerable burthen, which come close to the town. The manufactures of Perth are very flourishing they chiefly consist of Jinen and cotton goods, the exports of which from the city and neighbourhood were, some time since, of the annual value of 220,000l. The trade in leather, and in manufactured boots and shoes, is also very considerable. The value of the exports of the latter is said to be 80007. annually. Four or five thousand hides, and five hundred dozen of calf-skins, are supposed to be annually prepared in this city and its environs. The Morrisous are said to priut from 30 to 40,000 volumes annually. : The bridge across the Tay, chief of all the Scottish waters, is justly admired for its extent and elegance, being 907 feet in length, and 22 feet in breadth within the parapets. It consists of ten noble arches, and was completed in 1771, at the expense of 26,000l. sterling. On this river are extensive salmou fisheries, and a trade of exporta tion and importation greatly enriching the much-to-be-admired town of Perth. There are three churches, one of which hath formerly been a monastery, and many private chapels. Perth is undoubtedly a very ancient city: Agricola here encamped, and afterwards built a colonial town: it was a royal burgh in the time of David the Ist, and its privileges were confirmed by William the Lion in ancient days, it was a royal residence, the seat of parliament aud courts of justice, and esteemed the capital of the kingdom. The house of the renowned Earl of Gowrie, memorable for the conspiracy against James the VIth, stands near the bridge of Perth, and the New Town, built in a style of elegance suitable to the opulence and improvements of modern times, is erected on the site of the monastery of Black Friars, where that accomplished prince James the 1st was murdered by the Earl of Athol and his accomplices. The Carse of Gowrie is the pride of the Scotch, and the admiration of every tourist, where beauty and plenty smile on every side. Here agriculture has been most successfully cultivated, and many of the farmers have acquired riches. The beautiful hill of Kinnoul, remarkable for its fine pebbles, is in the E e vicinity of Perth. On the south side of the Tay is the venerable bill of Moncrieff, commanding a charming view of the whole Frith, and the verdant vale of Strathearn, so grand, so extensive and various, that Mr. Pennant has given it the name of the glory of Scotlaud." Scone, a mile and a half from Perth, once famous for the royal palace: this venerable ruin stands on the east of the Tay, and is now a seat of Viscount Stormont. Here the Scottish kings were crowned in a stone chair, which is now removed to Westminster abbey. From Perth we passed through the fertile and beautiful Carse of Gowrie to DUNDEE, county of Angus, twenty-three miles from Perth. Dundee is situate almost on the northern edge of the Frith of Tay. It is a handsome built town, consisting of several populous streets, diverging in every direction from the high street, which is a spacious square three hundred and sixty feet long by one hundred broad. The public buildings are, the New Church, the Cowgate Church, the Town House, and the Trades Hall. The lofty Gothic tower, in the centre of the town, one hundred and fifty-six feet in height, is part of an elegant structure dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the twelfth century, in which were originally four churches. It is in the form of a cross, and still obtains the name of the Cross Church. The harbour is opposite to the centre of the town, and is both spacious and commodious. Staple manufacture, linen, canvas, or sail-cloth; sacking and cotton bagging is made here, also ropes; and dying of linen yarn in great perfection. Salmon fisheries. The population is upwards of twenty-six thousand.. On the east of Dundee are the ruins of Broughly Castle. On the north stands the Law, an elevated hill, which commands an extensive prospect, where remains of fortifications are to be seen. From Dundee to ST. ANDREW's, twelve miles. At an hour somewhat late we came to St. Andrew's, a city once archiepiscopal, where that university still subsists in which philosophy was formerly taught by Buchanan, whose name has as fair claim to immortality as can be conferred by modern latinity, and perhaps a fairer than the instability of vernacular languages admits. We found, that by the interposition of some invisible friend, lodgings had been provided for us at the house of one of the professors, whose easy civility soon made us forget that we were strangers; and in the whole time of our stay we were gratified by every mode of kindness, and entertained with all the elegance of lettered hospitality. In the morning we rose to perambulate a city, which only history shews to have once flourished, and surveyed the ruins of ancient magnificence, of which even the ruins caunot long be visible, unless some care be taken to preserve them; and where is the pleasure of preserving such mournful memorials? They have been till very lately so much neglected, that every man carried away the stones who fancied that he wanted them. The cathedral, of which the founda. tions may still be traced, and a small part of the wall is standing, appears to have been a spacious and majestic building, not unsuitable to the pri macy of the kingdom. Of the architecture, the poor remains can hardly exhibit, even to an artist, a sufficient specimen. It was demolished, as is well known, in the tumult and violence of Knox's reformation. Not far from the cathedral, on the margin of the water, stands a fragment of the castle, in which the archbishop anciently resided. It was never very large, and was built with more attention to security than pleasure. Car. dinal Beatoun is said to have had work. men employed in improving its for tifications at the time when he was murdered by the ruffians of reformation, in the manner of which Knox has given what he calls a merry nar rative. The city of St. Andrew's, when it had lost its archiepiscopal pre-eminence, gradually decayed: one of its streets is now lost; and in those that remain there is the silence and solitude of inactive indigence and gloomy depopu lation. The university, some time since, consisted of three colleges, but is now re duced to two; the college of St. Leonard having been dissolved by the sale of its buildings, and the appropriation of its revenues to the professors of the two others. The chapel of the alienated college is yet standing, a fabric not inelegant of external structure; but I was always, by some civil excuse, hindered from entering it. A decent attempt, as I was since told, |