errs, in supposing this irreverence to be almost unnoticed from the pulpit. It has frequently been mentioned, and more than once has the Conference taken up the matter; not only by admonitions, but by reprobating such irreverence, though to very little pur

pose.

Having the greatest distaste to either of the above practices, I can make no apology for them; though I am inclined to think, that the leading men among our chapel-builders, have introduced, or increased the evil, by having the pews made so narrow, that, in some places I could mention, instead of allowing 3 feet or upwards, 2 feet 3 or 4 inches have only been allotted; which narrow space, not only cramps our knees, but prevents our fixing any conveniency for kneeling. And even where this has been done, as the females from common courtesy have a claim to the uppermost part of the pews, it is unpleasant to observe, with what difficulty, pain, and even danger, many force a passage to their

seats.

To prevent this evil from increasing, if no remedy can be now applied respecting the seats already erected, it would be desirable, if a permanent rule were established in all the Methodist Chapels, that no pews should be erected less than three feet

in width, and that in all cases kneeling boards should be fixed, that the people, or at least the members of the society, might be left without excuse, if they could not be induced to abandon their present irreverent practice. W. H.

REMARKS ON A QUERY.

[Inserted in No. 8, col. 763.] MR. EDITOR, THE proposer of the Query, col. 763, from Belfast, appears to labour under a great mistake, when he says, the "increase of the Methodists in England is from 4 to 6000 annually!" According to the Reports in the Minutes for the two last Conferences, there was an increase of little more than 3000 only during two years; viz. 1800 for the former year, and 1500 for the latter! If your correspondent, therefore, or any other, will answer the following Query, Why the addition of Members to the Methodist Society, has been, for the

last two years, so much beneath that of former years," it will perhaps open a clue to both. W. H.

QUERIES RESPECTING BALLOONS.

WHAT time, in a given degree of the thermometer and barometer, will the hydrogen gas of a balloon lose its comparative levity to atmospheric air, in a scale of weight, from one to four parts of the whole weight suspended?

What weight of the materials for making gas, will be required as ballast in the balloon, to suspend a certain weight twenty-four hours, within half a mile of the earth, by renewal of the rarefaction; making gas during the ascent, and throwing out the iron after expending the vitriol ?

What is the probable angle to be formed by a buoy-rope and the surface of the sea, when the wind would move the balloon fifty miles an hour, but for the buoy of certain size drawn through the water, suspending a certain portion of the whole ballast let down with the buoy to the sea by a cable of 100 fathoms ?

THE FATE OF GENIUS.

THE distresses arising from pecuniary lents have been exposed, occur so freembarassments, to which men of taquently, that the connection subsisting between poverty and genius haş long since become proverbial. There can be no doubt, that, in too many instances, their want of prudence and foresight, united with their occasional prodigality, has contributed in no small degree to that destiny which appears to have been their lot. But, independently of this consideration, the calamities which many have endured, to whom no such reprehensible conduct can be attributed, present to the reflecting mind a painful association of ideas. The soil in which literary honours grow, is only occasionally congenial to the accumulation of wealth. The trumpet of fame in general dissipates the smile of fortune, and leaves the dupe of admiration to dine upon empty praise. Every condition of life has its evils; roses without thorns are flowers of Paradise ;

and

"The paths of glory lead but to the grave." Homer was a beggar: Plautus turned a mill: Terence was a slave: Boethius died a in gaol: Paolo Borghese had

fourteen trades, and yet starved with them all: Tasso was often distressed for five shillings: Bentivoglio was refused admission into an hospital which he had himself erected: Cervantes, the immortal author of Don Quixotte, died of hunger: Comoens, the celebrated writer of the Luciad, ended his days in an alms-house: Vaugelas left his body to the surgeons, to pay his debts as far as it would go: Bacon lived a life of meanness and distress: Raleigh ended his days upon a scaffold: the learning and virtue of Moore could not secure a better doom: Spencer, the charming Spenser, whose Fairy Queen is never read but with increase of admiration, died neglected, forsaken, and in want: the fate of Collins (one of our Lyric Poets) may be ascribed, in a great degree, to the world's neglect, which brought on his mental derangement and death: Milton sold his copyright of Paradise Lost, for £15, to be paid in three instalments, and finished his life in obscurity: Dryden lived in poverty, and died in distress. Though the end of Otway has been variously related, yet all his biographers agree in this, that he died prematurely, and in want: Lee is said to have perished in the streets: Steel lived a life of perpetual warfare with bailiffs: Johnson is said to have sold the Vicar of Wakefield for a trifle, to release its great author, Goldsmith, from the gripe of the law: Fielding lies in the burying ground of the English factory at Lisbon, without a stone to mark the spot: Savage died in Newgate, at Bristol, where he was confined for a debt of £8. The great Biographer of the English poets has recorded of Butler, the inimitable author of Hudibras; all that can be said of him with certainty is, that he lived neglected, and died poor:" and that youthful phenomenon, the immortal Chatterton, was so harassed by want, that he destroyed himself in his 18th year. Such, alas, is the fate of envied Genius!

66

It is melancholy to indulge, even in a momentary retrospect, of the destinies which are associated with these mighty names, in the pages of their biography. But an important lesson may be learned from the calamities which awaited them. Where shall we find the man, who, blessed with common sense, an even temper, and a cheerful disposition, has any just reason to envy the elevation of genius, No. 10.-Vol. I.

Philanthropus of Leeds wishes to be informed, whether dealing in spirituous Liquors and Tobacco is reconcileable with the genuine spirit of Christianity; and whether a sincere believer in the fundamental doctrines of the Bible, which explicitly says,

Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God," can conscientiously devote his time and talents to such pursuits?

2. On the Introduction of Theatrical Amusements.

A correspondent, who signs himself A. would be glad to be informed, when Theatrical Performances were first invented, to amuse mankind? and more particularly, when, and under what circumstances, they were inuoduced into England?

3. On the Burning of Theatres and Chapels.

The same correspondent, A. observes, that when places of public amusement are consumed by fire or otherwise laid waste, it is particularly noticed as a sign of God's displeasure; but that when a place of worship is destroyed in a similar manner, it escapes without animadversion. For a few observations on these points, he would feel himself obliged.

4. Does the Earth increase in magnitude? Tyro, of Tetbury, wishes.to know, 3 S

whether we have any reason to believe that the earth has increased in magnitude since it was created? Also, if it has not increased, whether any annihilation has taken place? Assuming it as an indisputable fact, that either augmentation or annihilation must be admitted, Tyro continues his questions, on the consequences which must result from either. But these questions we deem it unnecessary to insert, as he has evidently mistaken the decomposition and dissolution of compound bodies, for annihilation, and on this mistake has founded his queries.

5. On John x. 16.

Alpha Beta, of Camberwell, Surry,

solicits a few observations on the fol

lowing passage: "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

As Alpha Beta is totally unknown to us, we cannot be supposed to have any knowledge of his motives in sending the above passage for insertion in our pages. He must be well aware, that its import and bearing have occasioned much dispute in our theological schools; and perhaps, nearly every thing that can be advanced to illustrate its meaning, has been already laid before the public. In reply to Queries of this nature, we can only admit such observations, as seem calculated to elicit truth, without provoking religious controversy.

6. On Faith.

H. B. of Liverpool, having heard many disputes on the subject of Faith, some contending that it is wholly from God, and others that it is entirely from man, wishes to call the attention of some able correspondent to this subject, in order to give it elucidation.

7. On useful Ministry, &c.

A correspondent of Lytham would be obliged for an answer to the following questions.

1. How may a person be certain that the ministry on which he attends, is useful to him?

2. What is it that gives to any particular sin, the denomination of presumptuous?

3. How are we to understand our Lord's words, Mark iv. 24. Take Feed what ye hear? Also Luke viii. 18. Take heed how ye hear?"

Scientific Query.

MR. EDITOR,

SIR,-If you should consider the following Query eligible to occupy a place in your Imperial Magazine, its insertion will be a favour conferred upon Your's, respectfully, G. B. WHAT reason can be given for the very great difference between Dr. Herschell and Schroeter, respecting the diameters of the planets Ceres and Pallas?

Dr. Herschell says, Ceres is 163 miles in diameter; and Schroeter says it is 1624 miles.

Dr. Herschell informs us, that the diameter of Pallas is 30 miles; while

Schroeter affirms it to be 2029 miles. Nov. 13, 1819.

SENTENCE PASSED ON MR. RICHARD
CARLILE.

IN our 8th number, col. 771, we adverted to the conduct of this man, and made a few remarks on that principle of pernicious zeal, which he had evinced,in disseminating the poison of infidelity among every assailable class of society, and on that degradation of religious character which he discovered when taking his trial for his offences. He stood charged with having violated the laws of his country, in two specific instances, for selling blasphemous and seditious publications, namely, Paine's Age of Reason, and Palmer's Political Register. In both cases he was found guilty by a jury of his countrymen; but his sentence had not then been pronounced.

into court on the 16th of Nov. 1819, To receive this, he was conducted when the report of his trial was read by the Lord Chief Justice. It was then pleaded by Mr. Denham, who acted as counsel for the prisoner, in arrest of judgment, that the case of the defendant did not fall under the penalty of the statute on which his indictment was founded. But his Lordship saw no reason to accede to this motion in arrest of judgment; and in this, Mr. Justice Bayley, Mr. Justice Holroyd, and Mr. Justice Best, acquiescing, the motion was dismissed.

Mr. Carlile then addressed the court; observing, that he had little to offer by way of mitigation, but much to say why he ought not to be punished

On the Language of Paradise. MR. EDITOR, SIR, The power which the imagination possesses, to discern and combine the most distant resemblances, is not more conspicuous in the "Metaphors" by Keach, or the "Solomon's Temple Spiritualized," by Bunyan, than in the etymological deductions of many of the learned.

The author quoted, col. 733, has not proved to my satisfaction, that the He brew is the language which was spoken in Paradise. I agree with him, however, in his opinion, that learned men sometimes indulge their fancies too much in these etymologies; as, I believe, they frequently affix meanings to words, which were not intended, and perhaps never thought of, by those who first used them; and if I am not greatly mistaken, the author in question has given us a fair specimen of this "fancy work" in his remarks on the word dog, to say nothing of his other instances.

We have the authority of Revelation for believing that (Genesis chap. ii. verses 19, 20.)" Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowls of the air, and to every beast of the field." And that "whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof." But we have no evidence that his vocabulary contained words expressive of the form and properties of artificial things, which had not then an existence. Few will contend, I presume, that Adam had "tongs or pincers" in Paradise. And as he had not these instruments, it is not at all likely that he had words which stood as their signs. And if he had neither

the things nor their names, he must have been wholly ignorant of them; and if he knew nothing of them, how could he give the dog its name, on account of any similarity between its teeth, and an unknown object?

The language of Paradise may yet be in existence, and the Hebrew, for aught I know, may be this language. But as Adam gave names to the brute creation, it appears to me, to be a strange way of proving its divine original, by deriving its names of animals, from words which signify things invented by art, in future ages.

Adam, in Paradise, I have no doubt, was as ignorant of the name and nature of " tongs and pincers," as he was of the name and qualities of gas; and therefore, if the name of the dog in Hebrew, be actually derived from a word which signifies tongs or pincers," it is a convincing proof to me, that Adam did not give it that name. And this circumstance, instead of proving, forms a presumptive evidence against the Hebrew being the language which he spoke.

Perhaps, Sir, if you insert these remarks in your Magazine, it may induce some of your learned correspondents, to employ a portion of their good sense on a subject, which, hitherto, officious fancy has contrived to wrap in clouds and darkness." I am, Sir, Respectfully,

TYRO.

P. S. It is the British bull-dog, that is so remarkable for the firmness of its hold, and not the mastiff, which is a different species. This animal, from its peculiar appearance and stubborn courage, was one of the natural objects that attracted the particular notice of the Romans, after their invasion of Britain. Nor is this to be wondered at, as it is literally true, that some real-bred dogs will suffer their limbs to be cut off, or bones broken, without discovering a disposition to let go their hold.

A monster in the shape of a man, was once shown to me, who gained a wager by proving the truth of this fact. The bet was, that his dog would pin a bull, and suffer the amputation of its leg without quitting its hold. poor animal succeeded in pinning the bull; in that situation its limb was severed from its body: it retained its hold, and its infernal owner pocketed the wager of iniquity!!!

The