diametrically. T-, being a stripling of fifteen or sixteen years of age, had accompanied his master, a Scotch nobleman, who had taken a part in the rebellion of 1745; and had continued inseparably attached to his lordship, after the battle of Culloden, during a considerable time, in which they skulked among the most remote parts of the Highlands. B-, was born and educated among the Whigs of the west of Scotland, the descendants of the ancient Covenanters, who suffered so much oppression and religious persecution, by the absurd policy of the ministers of Charles the Second, and his brother James, which is still remembered with horror in that part of Scotland. As B-'s political sentiments were so different from those of T-, it would have been fortunate, (as the following anecdote will prove,) if the two friends had kept clear of any discourse on such subjects: - Mary Queen of Scots," said T-, 66 was the most beautiful and accomplished princess that ever sat on a throne." “I have nothing to say, either against her beauty or her accomplishments," replied B-; "but surely, Mr. T—, you must acknowledge that she was a .?" 66 "Have a care what you say, Sir!" interrupted T—, I'll permit no man that ever wore breeches, to speak disrespectfully of that unfortunate queen." No man that ever wore either breeches or filibeg," replied B-, world yet settled as to the degree of admiration or detestation in which her character should be held. The violence of her enemies has only been exceeded by the zeal of her friends; and she has at once been the idol of worship, and the fiend of abhorrence. Thus has her history been reduced to a chaos of contradiction, where consummate censure, and unqualified praise, so mingle in the discordant mass, that the utmost exertions of cultivated intellect are scarcely able to distinguish the suggestions of unadulterated truth from the ebullitions of malicious falsehood. It has been said, and not unaptly, that of three histories of her life, written in the time nearest to the age in which she lived, Camden's, whose annals were revised and corrected by James the First, is almost wholly devoid of truth; that Buchanan's told the whole truth, and more than the truth; and that Melvil's related the truth, but not the whole truth. The Rev. Mr. Whitaker's history of that Princess is superior to them all. Mary was beheaded in Fotheringay Castle, Northamptonshire, on the eighth of February, 1587. A part of the Highland dress, which serves instead of breeches. The Highland broad-sword. "shall prevent me from speaking the truth, when I see occasion." 66 66 Speak as much truth as you please, Sir," rejoined T—; but I declare, that no man shall calumniate the memory of that beautiful and unfortunate princess, in my presence, while I can wield a claymore."+ "If you should wield fifty claymores, you cannot deny that she was a papist,” said B—. 66 Well, Sir," cried T-," what then? She was like other people, of the religion in which she was bred." "I do not know where you may have been bred, Mr. T-," said B—; "for aught I know, you may be an adherent to the worship of the scarlet whore yourself. I should be glad to have that point cleared up before we proceed farther." "I cannot say, that I understand your drift, Sir," replied T— ; “ but I am an adherent neither of a scarlet whore, nor of whores of any other colour." 66 "If that is the case," said B-, you ought not to interest yourself in the reputation of Mary Queen of Scots; for I will tell you in plain English, that your bonny Queen Mary, was the strumpet of Bothwell, and the murderer of her husband." No sooner had he uttered the last sentence, than T- flew at him like a tiger; and they were separated with difficulty. "I insist on your giving me satisfaction, or retracting what you have said against the beautiful Queen of Scotland," cried T-. "As for retracting what I have said," replied B-—, 66 that is no habit of mine; but with regard to giving you satisfaction, I am ready for that. So name your hour, and I will meet you to-morrow morning." 66 Why, now, directly!" cried T—; "there is nobody in the garden to interrrupt us." "I should have chosen to have settled some things first; but, since you are in such a hurry, I will not balk you. I will step home for my sword, and be with you directly," said B—. B soon arrived with his sword, and they retired to a private spot in the garden. "Are you ready, Sir?" cried T--. "That I am.-Come on, Sir," said B-," and the Lord be with the right 66 "I am of the same opinion I was,” cried B-; so keep your guard." So saying, he advanced more briskly than ever upon T-; who after warding off several strokes, wounded his antagonist a second time. B-, however, shewed no disposition to relinquish the combat; but this second wound being in the forehead, and the blood flowing in profusion into his eye, he could no longer see distinctly; T closing with him, became soon master of his sword, and with the same effort threw him to the ground: standing over him he said, "This may convince you, Mr. B—, that your's is not the righteous cause; you are in my power; but I will act as the Queen, whose character I defend, would order, were she alive. I hope you will live to repent of the injustice you have done to that amiable and unfortunate Princess." He then assisted B to rise; and carried him to his chamber. 'I must acknowledge, then," said B-," that you behave like a gentleman. Though I am a Whig, and you a Tory, I hope we are both honest men. As you have behaved generously when my life was in your power, I have no scruple in saying, that I am sorry for having spoken disrespectfully of any person, dead or alive, for whom you have an esteem." Mary Queen of Scots acquired the esteem of her very enemies," said T-; the elegance and engaging sweetness of her manners were irresistible to every heart that was not steeled by prejudice or jealousy.' 66 66 She is now in the hands of a Judge," said B-, " who can never be seduced by fair appearances, nor imposed on by forgeries and fraud." "She is so, Mr. B-," replied T-, " and her rivals and accusers are in the hands of the same Judge." "We had best leave them all to his justice and mercy then, and say no more on the subject," said B-; "for if Queen Mary's conduct upon earth was what you believe it was, she will receive her reward in heaven, where her actions and sufferings are recorded." "One thing more I will say,” rejoined T-;" and that is only to ask of you, whether it is probable that a woman, whose conscience was loaded with the crimes imputed to her, could have closed the varied scene of her life, and have met death with such serene and dignified courage, as Mary did?" "I always admired that last awful scene," said B-, who was melted by the recollection of Mary's behaviour on the scaffold; and I will freely acknowledge, that the most innocent person that ever lived, or the greatest hero recorded in history, could not face death with greater composure than the Queen of Scotland; she supported the dignity of a Queen, while she displayed the meekness of a Christian." "I am exceedingly sorry, my dear friend, for the misunderstanding that happened between us," said T— affectionately, and holding forth his hand in token of reconciliation. Here the two friends shook hands with the utmost cordiality.-Moore. The Rule of Three Simplified. MR. EDITOR, SIR,-In your number for May last, col. 333, Mr. Exley of Bristol, brings forward, as a subject of praise, some alterations in the methods of stating questions in the Rule of Three, introduced by Messrs. Bonnycastle and Hutton, into the later editions of their valuable treatises on Arithmetic. This led me to recollect that a method, similar to that so highly recommended by your correspondent, had been published in 1804, in a little work, entitled "Useful Arithmetic," by Adam Taylor. And, on a comparison, I am ready to think, that those celebrated mathematicians have condescended to borrow a hint from that author. Mr. T.'s work has been unhappily buried in the warehouses of an opulent book-selling firm, whose attention is fully occupied in pushing into notice publications of more magnitude and fame, than an elementary tract on numbers: and the author has, ever since its appearance, been so completely absorbed in pursuits of a very different nature, that he has not had leisure to inquire after its fate. It is not, however, perfectly just, that the merit due to him, if any, for the improvement, should be ascribed to others. I send you therefore a few extracts from his work, which, if you can spare room, I should be glad if you would insert, in your interesting Miscellany. Your readers will thus be enabled to judge, not merely of the first author of these alterations, but also of the merit of the improvements made by Messrs. B. & H. on Mr. T.'s original principles. The question is not wholly unimportant; and the insertion may lead to further investigation. Mr. T. defines what is meant by proportion, thus:-" The first of four numbers is said to have the same proportion to the second, as the third has to the fourth, when the first contains the second, or is contained in it, as often as the third contains the fourth, or is contained in it."* From this simple definition, the author demonstrates the truth of the proposition, that the product of the extremes is equal to the product of the means, on which the operations in the Rule of Three depend. He then proceeds to "Rules for Stating." "Observe which number is connected with the answer sought, and place that in the second place. Write the number which is of the same kind with the second in the first place, and the remaining one, which will be always of the same kind as the answer, and connected in the question with the first number, in the third place." Rules for Reduction and Operation. -Reduce the first and second into the nearest common name, and the third into the lowest name mentioned. Then multiply the second and third together, and divide the product by the first. The quotient will be the answer in that denomination to which the third number had been reduced." Thus, in Mr. E.'s first example, col. 334, the answer must be the price of 41 yds. 1 qr., which is therefore put in the second place; 8 yds. 3 qrs. being of the same kind as the second, in the first place; and £2. 16s. the *Useful Arithmetic, by A. Taylor, p. 79. remaining one, which is the price of 8 yds. 3 qrs. the first, and of the same kind, that is, money, as the answer in the third. The operation then exactly coincides with Mr. Exley's. Having stated, illustrated, and exemplified the operations in direct proportion, Mr. T. thus proceeds-" In some questions, however, the nature of the proportion is very different. For if the inquiry was, How many days would 27 men be employed in digging a trench, which 9 men would dig in 30 days; the proportion between the men and the time would easily be perceived not to be direct. For three times the number of men would not require three times the number of days, but one-third of them, to do the same work. The proportion therefore stands thus, Rule.-When three numbers are given to find a fourth in inverse proportion, state and reduce as in the last Rule, then multiply the first and third together, and divide by the second." The author gives easy directions to determine whether questions require direct or inverse proportion, and two useful modes of contracting the operation, which, it is rather singular, are precisely the modes mentioned by Mr. Exley, col. 333. 66 Though this was probably the first publication of this mode of stating, Mr. T. assumes little merit from the discovery; but simply observes, in an apologetic note, It is believed, that the intelligent reader will clearly perceive, that the nature of proportion requires this mode of stating. Proportion cannot subsist between things of a different kind. Four ounces have no proportion to six shillings: the one neither contains the other, nor is contained in it. But four ounces may have the same proportion to twelve ounces, as 63. has to 18s. The second is three times as great a weight as the first; and the fourth is three times as great a sum of money as the third." It is easy to observe, that Mr. Ex OPERATION. ley's authors direct the learner to as- | hours a day, dig another canal 2800 certain whether the proportion be feet long, 30 feet wide, and 18 feet direct or inverse, before he states the deep, in a soil three times more diffiquestion, and to arrange the numbers cult to work? accordingly: while Mr. T. gives an easy and general rule for stating, which applies to all questions; and instructs the learner to determine, from the stating thus made, the nature of the proportion, and the mode of operation. The reader will give the preference in conformity to his own judgment. To me it appears, that the latter method, by preserving a constant and proper order in the numbers, is more clear, natural, and scientific. Your correspondent next proceeds to shew how easily this mode of stating, answers questions involving compound proportion. In this also he has been anticipated by Mr. T., both in the" Useful Arithmetic," and in "A Sequel" which was published soon after it. In the latter treatise, are the following easy rules, which will solve any question in compound proportion.* "Rule 1.—In all questions of this nature, there is always one number of the same kind as the answer is reLet this be considered quired to be. as a common third term in each proportion. 2.-Having discovered this number, arrange each, stating by the same rules as in single proportion; placing the two first terms after each other, and the third in a situation proper for comparing it easily with each stating. 3. When the statings are properly made, examine each proportion, and ascertain, by the directions given in Useful Arithmetic, whether it is direct or inverse; if direct, mark the first term with a star; if inverse, the second. 4.-Multiply all the numbers which you have marked with a star continually together for a divisor, and all the other numbers for a dividend; then dividing the one product by the other, the quotient will be the answer in that denomination to which the third number had been reduced." 66 Example.-If 120 men, working 12 hours a day, have, in 75 days, dug a canal 2000 feet long, 24 feet wide, and 8 feet deep; in how many days will 180 men, by working 10 As 120 Men: 180* Men. 18 Feet Deep. :: 75 Days, "Here, as more men would evidently require less time, and as fewer hours a day would require more days, the first two statings are evidently inverse. But as greater length or breadth, or depth or solidity, when other circumstances remain unaltered, plainly requires more time to dig it; the last four statings are direct. Proceeding then according to the Rule, we obtain 75 x 120 x 12 x 2800 x 30 x 18 x 3 180 × 10 × 2000 × 24 × 8 × 1 489888000000 691200000 708 days. OMEGA ON THE CATHOLIC CLAIMS. [Concluded from col. 915.] Your correspondent asserts, "it is impossible they (i. e. the Protestants and Papists of Switzerland,) could thus unite in government, and harmonize in private life, if the Catholics were actuated by those principles with which they have been charged." If by this he means to deny, that such principles as are destructive of all civil and religious liberty, exist in the Romish Church, and are at all times liable to be acted upon when suitable occasions occur; I am afraid the whole weight of evidence contained in the entire history of that church is are so anxious to nourish it with power, remember they are answerable to God and their country for the awful consequences that may result from their rash temerity; and at a period when it will be too late to apply a directly against him. And it is a But, if your correspondent only means to say, that there may be particular cases, connected with such circumstances as may prevent the operation of such principles, either by rendering them inexpedient, or impossible to be brought into action, and that Switzerland at present exhibits such a case, I shall not contend with him about the truth of that position, for I believe it is the fact: Nay, I will go further, and add, that even in Great Britain and Ireland, (thanks to a Divine Providence, and the wisdom and vigilance of the British Legislature!) those pernicious and destructive principles are in a great measure dormant. But God forbid I should either say or believe they are extinguished. O no! on the contrary, they are at this moment struggling for action and for liberty. They are now indeed a smothered flame, only preying upon the vitals of its unhappy possessors; but give it space and power to expand; feed it with its proper fuel; give it sway and influence over the Protestant interests and Protestant persons of these realms,-and you will soon see what kind of a fire it is. Indeed, if it once breaks out, few Protestants, at least in Ireland, would be long permitted to witness its destructive ravages: they would themselves be its earliest victims; and extermination would be the order of the day.* Let those Protestants who fan this flame with the gales of ambition, and *This we know, not only from the declarations of the Papists themselves, but from the sure testimony of experience. In 1798, the last opportunity these principles" had of developing themselves; even the embracing of Popery could not save the victims of its fury from destruction. The reply in such cases was, "You are now a good Catholic, and can never die in a better time. If spared, you may apostatize; but now your soul is safe! Pikemen do your duty." No. 22.-VOL. II. 66 Indeed, notwithstanding your correspondent's anxiety to exculpate his clients from the charges which truth has brought against them, he is forced into a tacit confession of them. His very defence is an acknowledgment of guilt. As an apology for the extensive and horrible persecutions of Popery, he accuses, in vague and general terms, all other denominations of Christians of similar crimes. There is scarcely any denomination of Christians," says he, "who have possessed political power, that may not, at some period of their history, be charged with persecutions. Almost all sects might write their book of Martyrs." So then, the extension of crime diminishes its turpitude; and if we can but prove a crime to be universal, it is plain there can be no guilt in its perpetration! This, indeed, is rather a novel system of morality; and a singular mode of justification. Unfortunately, it condemns the cause it would defend: but it is peculiarly unhappy in its application to Popery; for it is a notorious fact, that if all the persecutions of all other Christian denominations since the foundation of Christianity was laid, were all collected into one mass, they would bear the proportion of about a drop to the ocean of Popish persecution. According to your correspondent's theory, "those persecutions originated in feelings, when the mind was neither free in its operations, nor master of its sentiments." The actions of the multitude were the result" of individual opinion, so authoritative, that its justice or propriety dared not to be questioned." This, Sir, is precisely the case with the Irish Papist in the present day. The God of nature has given him a measure of reason; but he dares not use it, but in the most abject subservience to the contemptible dogmas of his priest. The God of all grace has given him a conscience, but this his priest has not suffered him to keep; he has both robbed him of it, and given him, as a substitute for it, a system of falsehood and absurdity, which sprung from, and leads 3 R |
