Original Communications. merly disgusted us, recur in this poem. "I seek no sympathies, nor need! If his lordship has such a disdain for sympathy, we wish he would seek some other solace, or, at least, cease to repine. By his own showing, he has, indeed, little claim to commisseration, and since he is not even disposed to allow any one to medicate his wounds, it is a ridiculous and offensive ostentation to display them. His lordship confesses that his afflictions are JULY, the fruits of his own folly ;-the natural "To be weak, is to be miserable, lordship's numerous violations both of ART. 9. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Burying Places in Cities. hale the noxious effluvia that escape from disturbed to make room for the recently the gloomy charnel-houses. In other instances, dead men's bones are sacrilegiousdeceased, which are deposited within a few feet from the surface of the ground. Here they undergo decomposition, and the putrid exhalations are continually contaminating the atmosphere to the great annoyance and injury of the living. I live in an enlightened the pro ly T is universally acknowledged that we gress of scientific improvement, and of whatever may meliorate the condition of mankind, is certainly great. Yet, in some respects, we are inferior to those generations who lived in what are called the dark ages. In the present age of civilization and progressive improvement, when religion and science exert their benign influence over a vast portion of the habitable globe, we still tolerate prejudices and customs of which we must be divested, before we can presume to say that we are truly enlightened. In most eastern countries it was customary to bury the dead at some distance from any town. This practice obtained among the Jews, the Greeks, the Romans, &c. Among the primitive Christians, burying in cities was not allowed for the first three hundred years, nor in churches for many ages after. Many of the American tribes and nations whom we generally characterize as savage and ignorant, never permit a corpse to moulder away in or very near their villages and towns. But in regard to this wise regulation, the civilized inhabitants of our cities stand in the back ground. In this very populous and crowded city-this enlightened city of New-York, you meet with burying places and cemeteries in the most central and populous parts!—Daily, in this warm season, you are annoyed by the opening of vaults on the very verge of the footways, where thousands of passengers are forced to witness dead bodies in every stage of putrescence, and to in should not be tolerated. It must how- city's din, we can indulge in those pious There, free from the reflections which the melancholy place suggests. There, in solemn silence, we can meditate on "the way of all the earth." And, whilst with tears of affection unseen, we bedew the drooping flowrets on the sepulchral hillock, we look with the eye of Christian faith to that "building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." "Hark! how the sacred calm, that breathes In still small accents whisp'ring from the ground, For the American Monthly Magazine. Almanacs for 1815, '16, '17, '18 and 19, are offered for insertion in your Magazine. I wish them to be made public, not from a disposition to injure any individual concerned in that work, but from a sense of duty: for I regard the Nautical Almanac as a public standard, to whose correctness every one is bound to contribute, whenever it is in his power. The errors were found in Blunt's edition, and whether the same are in the London copies, I know not; that is for the four first named years; the Almanac for 1819, having been recalculated by Mr. Blunt. It is thought of consequence to mention the errors in the copies for the years previous to 1818, since observations may have been made during those years, that are not yet calculated. In the copy for 1815. Page 31, Moon's Lat. 13th day, midnight, For 1816, Page 4, Venus' Heliocentric Lat. 1st day, Page 19, Moon's Parallax, 7th day, noon, Page 52, Jupiter's Declinat. 25th day, There is some cause for suspecting that this error may not be found in all copies. Page 113, Moon's Long. 4th day, noon, for 11s 30° 34′ 35′′, read 11a 20° 34′ 35′′. For 1817. Page 6, Moon's Declinat. 1st day, noon, Mars' Geocentric Long. 25th day, for 10s 8° 26', read 11s 8° 26'. Page 41, Moon's Lat. midn. May 1st, at bottom of page, for 0° 38′ 28′′, read 0° 33′ 28′′. Page 43, Prop. Log. 15th day, midn. for For 1818. Page 5, Moon's Lat. 1st day, noon, for Page 18, Moon's Declinat. 1st day, noon, Page 66, Moon's Declinat. 1st day, midn. Moon's Semid. 22d day, midn. for 15′ 8′′, read 15′ 28′′. Page 113, Moon's Long. 21st day, midu. for 2 24° 32′ 51′′, read 3s 24° 32′ 51′′. Page 115, Moon's Semid. 9th day, noon, for 16' 57", read 15′ 57′′. Moon's Semid. 10th day, noon, for 16' 51", read 15′ 51′′. Page 121, Conjunction of Planets, 12th day, for, read 3. Page 126, Moon's Declinat. 1st day, noon, for 26° 35′, read 26° 35′ S. Page 137, Moon's Long. 22d day, midn. for 8$ 27° 19′ 46′′, read 65 27° 19′ 46′′. Page 25, Conj. of Planets, 16th day, for 34' N. read y 34' S. Page 37, Conj. of Planets, for 7th day , read 9th day ☀. It is gratifying to find that Blunt's edition of the Almanac for 1819, has been published so much neater and more distinct than those of former years, and containing a modest preface, without any "pledges of reputation" for infallibility, or offers of reward for the discovery of errors. In particular, he deserves much credit for having procured a recalculation of the London edition, in which a great number of important errors have been detected. Conducted on such principles, it is believed, his edition cannot fail of patronage from men of science. The following errors in this corrected copy for 1819, are not pointed out with a view to detract from its merits, nor in compliance with Mr. Blunt's "challenge!" but because they are thought important to be known. And here I would take occasion to observe, that in the communications I have heretofore made to your Magazine on this subject, I was not influenced by a wish to depreciate the general correctness of Mr. Blunt as a publisher. What was said concerning him in the first communication, was forced from me by a failure of every other method to obtain any satisfactory explanation, and did not proceed from a spirit of resentment. To the matter of his communication in your Magazine for January last, so far as I can understand it, it would be easy to reply; and to show that the facts of the case are but partially stated. But this is conceived to be unnecessary; for any one who examines it, will perceive that it is but an unwilling acknowledgment of most of the errors I had pointed out. As to the "Chronological Cycles," &c. a London copy has been examined since my first statement, and these were found to be correct in it, or as I had put them down. The manner of Mr. Blunt's communication is such as not to deserve a reply. By writing with so much warmth, he defeats his own object. As to my statements, I shall only say, that what is written, is written; and though I would make no pretensions to accuracy, and wish not to engage in any public dispute, yet, whenever I may chance to notice any errors of magnitude in a work of such vital importance as the Nautical Almanac, I shall consider myself bound to offer them for publication, whether they be made by A, B, or C. For 1819. Page 4, Mercury's Helio. Lat. 16th day, for 6° 22′, read 6° 42'. Page 16, Mercury's Helio. Lat. 10th day, for 3° 40′, read 1° 40'. Venus' Geo. Lat. 25th day, for 4° 35', read 3° 35'. Saturn's Geo. Long. 1st day, for 11s 6° 18', read 11s 16° 18'. Page 19, Moon's Parallax, 6th day, noon, for 54' 2", read 54' 0". Prop. Log. 6th day, noon, for 5226, read 5229. Page 23, Distance Moon and Regulus, 14th day, III hour, for 45° 0′ 56′′, read 48° 0'56". Distance Moon and Spica, m, 17th day, midn. for 59° 0′ 13", read 39° 0' 13". Page 25, Conj. Moon and Mercu. for 25d. 7h. 29m. read 26d. 3h. 56m. Page 28, Mercury's Declinat. 28th day, for 4° 8', read 7° 8'. Page 29, Moon's Lat. 10th day, midn. for 3° 9' 7", read 3° 29′ 7′′. Page 31, Moon's Semid. 9th day, midn. for 14' 0", read 15′ 0′′. Moon's Parallax, 11th day, noon, for 55' 4", read 55′ 41′′. Moon's Parallax, 25th day, noon, for 59' 43", read 58′ 43′′. Page 37, Conj. Moon and Mercury, for 23d. 23h. 3m. read 24d. 22h. 33m. Page 40, Mercury's Declinat. 7th day, for 13° 15', read 15° 15'. Mercury's Declinat. 25th day, for 19° 43′ read 18° 43'. Page 49, Conj. Mars and Venus, for 45' S. of 9, read 9 17′ S. of . against the 19th day, for Dō, read. Page 52, for Inf. * 8 2d. 16h. read Inf. d, 2d. 16h. Page 53, Moon's Lat. 1st day, midn. for 5° 3′ 28", read 5° 3′ 28′′ N. Page 58, Dist. Moon and Sun, 1st day, 9th hour, for 82° 32′ 46′′, read 83° 32′ 46′′. This error is also contained on the 6th page of the Almanac, previous to the calculations, as an erratum to the London copy. The minutes in that copy appear to have been corrected; but the degrees are put down one less than the true number. Page 65, Moon's Lat. 1st day, midn. for 2° 29′ 36", read 2° 29′ 36′′ N. Page 76, for 6 1d. 34h. read Sup. o id. 34h. Mercury's Geo. Lat. 25th day, for 1° 51', read 0° 51'. Mercury's Geo. Lat. 28th day, for 1° 27', read 0° 27'. Mercury's Geo. Lat. 31st day, for 1° 1', read 0° 1'. Page 77, Moon's Lat. 1st day, midn. for 0° 38′ 41′′, read 0° 38′ 41′′ S. Page 89, Moon's Lat. Ist day, midn. for 4° 24' 11", read 4° 24′ 11′′ S. Moon's Lat. 30th day, midn. for 4° 10′ 41′′, read 5° 10′ 41′′. Page 100, for Inf. * 8 6d. 16h. read Inf. 6d. 16h. Page 133, for enters 2, read enters, or capricorn. Page 134, Sun's Declinat. for North, read South. Page 135, Sun's Semid. 1st day, for 16' 52",4, read 16' 15",4. This error, also, may be found on the 8th page of the above mentioned errata. Page 136, for Inf. 22d. 18h. read Inf. ♂ 22d. 18h. The two corrected times of the conjunctions of the moon and planets given above, against pages 25 and 37, were obtained by the longitudes of the objects in the Almanac, and, therefore, may not be correct to the nearest minute; since the planet's longitudes in that work are put down only to minutes. Respectfully, yours, For the American Monthly Magazine. If J. G. the learned correspondent of the Magazine for May, will take the trouble to look into Lowth's Syntax, he will find the phraseology which he so justly censures, distinctly authorized. To the authority of Lowth is undoubtedly to be ascribed the prevalence of the error in question. This opinion of Lowth's has been often controverted:-by Campbell, in his "Philosophy of Rhetoric," book ii. ch. 4-by Crombie, in his "Treatise on the Etymology and Syntax of the English Language," Syntax, rule xv.-by Priestly, in his " English Grammar, Notes and Observations, sect. ii.-by Murray, in bis "English Grammar," Syntax, rule x.-by Webster, in his "Philosophical and Practical Grammar," Syntax, rule xxv.-&c. &c. How, then, J. G. could be understood in saying that this uncouth form of speech has lately" crept into the language, and that it has hitherto escaped "all public animadversion," is not so clear. P. Q. * Although the inaccurate phraseology animadverted upon by J. G. was long ago employed, it was not sanctioned by the practice of eminent writers; and it has not been, until lately, frequently to be met with. The very frequent and growing use of it now-a-days, called forth the strictures of J. G.; and although it has been noticed by the best grammatical treatises, yet it has not, we believe, been made the subject of stricture in the popular periodicals of the day. For the American Monthly Magazine. MESSRS. EDITORS, There is a circumstance, of which I have taken notice, during the continuance of very hard frosts, which appears novel to most people in this country to whom I have mentioned it; and it has sometimes subjected me to the alternative of stating facts in a very positive manner, or of running the risk of being disbelieved. As I do not recollect to have seen it mentioned in any work I have read, I should be gratified to have you take notice of it in your very valuable Magazine. The circumstance alluded to is-that the best gun locks will not fire gun-powder during intensely cold weather, or when the Mercury stands 20° or more below 0, if exposed fairly to that temperature. On the day, known all over this country as the cold Friday, in the year 1809 or 10, a gentleman, one of the N. W. company, observed to me, as he was going to the cupola of the Cathedral with his thermometer, that my gun (which was one of Fletcher's patent breeches, with a fine agate flint) would not fire gunpowder; and on my expressing some doubt on that point, he followed by saying, that he had hunted many days in the north when he could not get his gun off from the effects of cold, to his great mortification, when game was plenty. We immediately prepared for the experiment, and left the gun for twenty minutes or more in the most exposed place we could readily come at, when to my very great surprise, on repeated trials, the flint slid as ineffectually over the steel as if it had been wood, and it did not fire until it had been in a warm room for more than 20 seconds. This experiment was tried at Quebec, in Lower Canada, where I resided at that time.-On the cold Friday of last year, and on the cold Wednesday of the present past winter, I tried it with the same effect, only in these cases the gun was not as good an article as in the former experiment, yet it almost immediately flashed on being brought into a room with a stove. It Every one who saw the experiment tried, immediately formed some theory to account for it-which were so contradictory and unsatisfactory as to leave me in the dark as to the real cause. is well known that all metals when exposed to colds grow shorter, and of course the springs were stronger than when in a more warm and expanded state; and it was a fair conclusion that a lock ought to give more fire cold, than when warm, or in the ordinary temperature of the atmosphere, were the facts not in direct opposition to the theory. It was argued that the oil used to lubricate the lock became so congealed, as to create so great friction that the springs could not drive the hammer open with sufficient force to elicit sparks-again, that the spark was extinguished by the intense cold air before it reached the powder-or, that the steel was so full of frost as to deaden the spark on the principle of snow or water's extinguishing fire. The two last, I hold as preposterous and false reasoning.-I think I cannot have been deceived by any fortuitous circumstances in my own experiments, or in the very respectable authority from which I first learned the existence of the fact. If you should think the subject of sufficient importance to give it publicity, or any of your correspondents to speculate on it, I should feel myself highly gratified. A. L. Your most obed'nt serv't, The following article has been called forth by the appearance of Mr. Busby's Essay on the Propulsion of Navigable Bodies," and the account of his discoveries and inventions, published in our last number. Mr. Busby and Mr. Staples are, we believe, total strangers to each other; it has, however, been supposed, by the friends of the latter, that the modes of propulsion suggested by these gentlemen interfere. We, nevertheless, submit that the two plans differ, in essential points; but, recommending an attentive consideration of their respective merits, we leave our readers to determine which should obtain the preference. AIR BOAT. MESSRS. EDITORS, As one of the objects of your useful Magazine is to disseminate the knowledge of new inventions and improvements,-I avail myself of that medium to lay before the public the result of a course of experiments in mechanical science, and particularly as applied to navigation. A variety of untoward circumstances have combined to prevent an earlier developement of all the facts now deduced; but the time seems to have arrived when I should no longer remain silent.-In giving this to the public I do not arrogate to myself the discovery of any new principle in mechanical or chemical philosophy, but I lay claim, with perfect confidence, to all the advantages that may arise from a new and practically useful application of long known principles. The science of mechanics, very early engaged my attention; and I happened to be in England at the time that Bolton and Watt had perfected the steam-engine, and was then indulged with an opportunity of witnessing its useful effects in their extensive manufactories. I saw the same engine afterwards tried by Mr. Fitch for propelling vessels on the Delaware, and by many others in different places, and lastly by Mr. Fulton, who, being satisfied with the engine, considered only the best method of applying its powers to navigation, although it is very apparent he did not select the most elegible appendages to give that engine all its adtages of propulsion. When the first boat was started from New-York, I took passage with a view to witness the experiment; and then noticed the great loss of power in the use of wheels-I saw that the paddles entered and left the water at an angle of about 45° and when entering, could only exert on its surface about half of the power with which they were moving, the other half being spent in efforts tending to elevate the boat, occasioned a reaction, which oppressed the machinery, and caused a constant vibration of the vessel-hence a loss of power by the increased friction, in addition to that sustained by the perpendicular action of the paddles, both in entering and leaving the water. But the leaving paddles has even a worse effect, by breaking the volume of water on which the pursuing paddle is required to act in its nearest approach to a horizontal line; and this is an objection that will apply to wheels of every description. Stimulated by a desire to correct these evils, I have, from that time, been occasionally engaged in a succession of experiments-one inducing another, one idea unfolding another in regular progression, until I have attained the climax of my wishes-an economical application of known principles to useful purposes. Prior to the period alluded to, I was engaged in experiments on the tide wheel, with a view to relieve them from the resistance of back water, and succeeded in the attempt, by using upright paddles ; and when the objections to the common wheel, as applied to boats, were so evident, it appeared to me that the application of what I term the improved wheel would be very useful. But the trouble and expense of its construction; the diffieulty of repairing any injury, except by a skilful artist; and the extreme accuracy necessary in its structure to take off some of the immense friction inseparable from such a combination of parts, determined me to relinquish that, and substitute a solid wheel, somewhat similar to the one in common use, but with a less number of floats, to prevent as far as possible the breaking of the volume of water unnecessarily; and placed in an inclined instead of a verticle position, enclosed in a horizontal trunk open at each end. There were too objects expected from the use of the trunk-one to gain buoyancy by extending the surface and preventing, as far as possible, the unequal operation of the wheels, in rough water; the other, to confine the water about the wheel, and make it approximate as nearly as possible to a solid substance. I had no sooner effected this, than my attention was called to examine a circular engine on a new construction, just then made known to me,-being anxious to witness the result of experiments then going on in NewYork, because I had already been engaged for some time in similar trials; but when I found that steam was the only |