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correct; but he was perhaps too studious to avoid the blandishments of style, and the inspirations of fancy, which he doubtless considered as meretricious embellishment, unbecoming either the subject or the author.

In his youth, the person of Porteus had been handsome, and until of late he preserved a florid hue, and features that bespoke a manly beauty. He had been long afflicted with one of those complaints incident to sedentary persons, which at length produced a general debility, and he yielded to the pressure of accumulated disease, nearly at the period when he was about to become an octogenarian.

During the winter, the bishop usually spent most of his time in St James's-square the spring and autumn were chiefly passed at Fulham: a portion of the summer was constantly dedicated to a rural retreat at Sundridge, in Kent, where he lived like a private gentleman, without ostentation, and without parade. His lordship left town but two days before his death, for the palace on the banks of the Thames, where he died. On this, as on all similar occasions, the great bell of St Paul's, reserved to announce the demise of the sovereign and the diocesan, was tolled.

His remains are to be interred in a vault, at the chapel at Sundridge, in Kent, built and endowed by him, more majorum, expressly for this purpose.

Memoirs of the Progress of MANUFACTURES, CHEMISTRY, SCIENCE,

and the FINE ARTS.

THE perusal of the Report by Messrs. Fourcroy, Deyeux, and Vauquelin, on a Memoir of M. Berthollet, jun. entitled, " Inquiries Concerning the Reciprocal Action of Sulphur and Charcoal," has induced Dr John New to publish an opinion, which he has for some years entertained: that charcoal and hydrogen are mo

difications of one and the same substance, or that hydrogen is the base of charcoal. Should this opinion, the result of various experiments and observations, be confirmed, an important and extensive field will be opened to the scientific world. The pabulum of plants, and the origin of that immense quantity of carbonaceous matter, annually produced in the vegitable kingdom, would thus easily and satisfactorily be accounted for, as oriating from water alone.

In the late inundations near Loenen, in the district of the Upper Betuwe, was discovered the right hip bone of an elephant, measuring from the os pulis, to the end of the hip, 34 feet (Rhynland measure) of which a drawing was taken on the spot, by the scientific Mr H. Hoogens. A double tooth, together with some other bones, belonging to that species of animal, have been found on the same spot.

Mr John Russell of Falkirk, Watchmaker to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who was mentioned in our last as the inventor of a new Barometer, has also invented a curious Watch on a new construction, which beats dead seconds.

A curious and genuine specimen of the labours of Laurens Jansz, commonly called Laurens Coster, the orginal inventor of the art of printing, was advertised to be sold by auction on the 20th of April last, by Haak, bookseller of Leyden. This valuable piece of antiquity consists of a wooden printing form, in excellent preservation. It is about three inches long, two inches broad, and three quarters of an inch thick; upon which an entire page of a Latin Horarium has been cut in inverted characters. At the same time was to be disposed of, a genealogical table, written upon very old parchment, but perfectly legible, of the progeny of Laurens, by whom it seems this document has been preserved since the 15th century, and handed down to each succeeding ge

neration.

neration. This genealogy commences with the daughter of Laurens Coster, who published the first printed impression in 1441, and closes with her descendants about the the year 1585.

for their meeting, and prepared for their reception. At the upper end of this apartment, a chair of state under a canopy was placed for the sovereign, and rows of covered benches near it for the respective members. Opposite the king's chair a small bench

Ancient Constitution of the SPANISH richly covered was placed, sufficient

Cortes.

(As it is understood that this celebrated assembly is to be immediately called, we extract the following account of it, (the best we have been able to meet with) from Dillon's History of Peter the Cruel, (London 1788,) a work not generally known.)

THE

HE Cortes, or national parliament of Spain, consisted of the prelates, dukes, marquisses, counts, and ricoshomes, with the masters of the three military orders, who represented the nobility, and seventeen cities on the part of the commons who were summoned by the king's writ to attend. The representatives sent by the commons were from Burgos, Leon, Seville, Cordova, Murcia, and Toledo. These had a settled rank and precedency, as coming from distinct kingdoms; but the members for the following towns had no other precedency but such as was settled by ballot at the time of assembling, viz. Cuenca, Zamora, Gallicia, Guadalaxara, Valladolid, Salamanca, Avila, Soria, Segovia, Toro, and Estremadura. Each of these sent two principal ma. gistrates (regidores) as their representatives to the Cortes, Seville and Toro excepted, who only sent one magistrate, and a jurat.

The place of meeting for the Cortes not being sedentary, but moveable at the king's pleasure, seemed a measure absolutely necessary in a country so divided and intersected by the Mahometan states.

All the parties being arrived at the place appointed, and the day fixed for holding the Cortes, the representatives proceeded on horseback with a splendid attendance to the saloon destined

for two seats, for the representatives of Toledo who came in with the king.

ken his seat, the officers who attend After the king has entered, and tąhim stand on the right hand, uncovered, with the president, who also reremains uncovered, unless he is a prelate or a grandee, when he is covered of course. Then the representative of Toledo making three obeisances to the king, comes forward, and craves his accustomed privileges. These are granted, by the king ordering the antient customs to be followed respect ing Burgos and Toledo; which being gone through, and certificates given thereof, Toledo returns to his place.

The king opens the session by a speech from the throne, acquainting the Cortes, that they will be informed of the motives for which they are convened, and commands the president of the Cortes to direct the secretary to read the same; and that the representatives may hear their purport with more deliberation, the king orders them to take their seats and be covered.

Burgos and Toledo rising, present themselves before the sovereign, who says, Let Burgos speak: I know Toledo will follow my orders. Certificates of the king's answer being delivered to them, they return to their seats, and the representatives for Burgos rising together, the senior member makes a speech on the behalf of the commons; to which the king answers, "That he is well informed of the "matter under consideration, and con"vinced of the attachment and loyalty "of his subjects; that the president "will inform them when they may "sit for the dispatch of business, and

" of

* of those weighty concerns relating " to his service." Then the king rising, departs in the same form in which he came.

When the Cortes meet again, the saloon is arranged in a different manner. At the upper end of the apartment, a space is left between the seats of Burgos and Leon, where a chair is occasionally placed for the president, with a table before him covered with crimson damask, having a crucifix on it, and the book of the New Testament. Burgos sits on the right, and Leon on the left; the other members alternately, according to their rank, or places settled by ballot.

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The president now addresses a florid and complimentary speech to the Cortes; after which the names of the commons being read aloud by the secretary, they walk up two and two to the table; and taking off their hats, lay their hands on the crucifix and New Testament, when the secretary reads them the following oath: "Your lordships swear to God on this book, "and on this cross on which you "lay your hands, that you will keep "secret all that you hear or say in "this assembly relating to the service “ of God and the king, and that "will not divulge the same to the ci"ties or towns having votes in the "Cortes, till the business of the ses❝sion is finished, unless by express or“ders from the king or the president; “and you also swear to defend the im"maculate conception of the blessed virgin, the patroness and guardian "of these kingdoms."

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This ceremony being over, the president desires the Cortes to fix their days for the dispatch of business. Five members are balloted for, to attend at the different boards where the public monies are received, of which four only do the business, and the fifth is supernumerary in case of illness. This ballot is renewed every four months, but the fifth is stationary, till the Cortre dissolved.

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When a day is set apart for any public business, it must be gone thro' either in the affirmative or negative, unless it is deemed absolutely necessary for the king's service to postpone it. No member can leave the Cortes while sitting, without special licence from the president; or, in his absence, the chairman appointed by the king; stating the urgency of the case, without which the member must remain till the question is decided.

The votes for any resolution are collected by the secretaries, after which it is signed by four members chosen by ballot, and delivered to the president; he presents it to the king, who, having accepted of the grant, thanks his faithful commons. It is then ordered to be engrossed; and on a future day the president repeats the king's thanks: to which Burgos answers, in the name of the commons; after which the president rings a small bell, that stands on the table, the doors are opened, and the door-keepers enter. The secretary reads the grant in an audible voice; after which it is carried by the door-keepers to the members for Burgos and Leon, who sign the same, and after them all the members of the commons. It is then brought up to the president, who makes a short speech in the king's name, which closes the proceedings of that day.

If the grant is of a considerable nature, all the members have the honour to kiss the king's hand. They are conducted in form to the king's audience-chamber, where they remain standing and uncovered till the king comes, and takes his seat. The president addresses a speech to the king, declaratory of the motives of their appearance. Burgos enters into further details, in the name of the commons, and asserts their readiness to assist his grace on all occasions: after which they all have the honour to kiss the king's hand.

When the grant a matter of grace, the votes are collected privately;

ly; if there be only three dissentient voices, it cannot pass, nor be brought on for four months to come. But when it is a matter of right, they are public, and a majority carries the question. These resolutions then become the law of the land, and are binding on all parties; clergy and gentry, freeholders and others, of what condition

soever.

The Cortes have also the appointment of divers offices of the state, pass grants for the erection of monasteries, and other religious foundations, which are never enacted by the king without the consent of the Cortes. They also nominate their own officers, who are paid by them, and sometimes granted in survivorship to certain families.-There are two treasurers, an attorneygeneral, an accountant-general, an historiographer, four advocates, two physicians, and two surgeons.

On public festivals the Cortes had a balcony next to that of the king, on the left hand, and in the same form; and when they are dissolved, they appoint a deputation to represent them. When this happens, it is done with their consent, and the act drawn up by themselves. The president then closes the books of the Cortes, and eight deputies are chosen by ballot to represent them, four of which only transact the business of their office, and the other four to serve in case of illness; and they generally sit twice a week at the public offices where the business of the national revenue is transacted.

SCOTTISH REVIEW.

I. An Address to the Landed Interest of Scotland, on the subject of Distillation: By a Scotch Farmer, Hill. Edinburgh. 1808.

DI ISTILLATION is a subject of unquestionable importance to this country, and we are therefore dis June 1809.

posed to pay attention to any work which undertakes to illustrate it,The present author displays considerable information, though he is often deficient in philosophical views. The facts, however, which he has collected, are deserving of some attention.

Our author draws an animated picture of the miseries produced by the use of strong and particularly spirituous liquors; and he pronounces high panegyrics on those nations among whom they are unknown. He even betrays Mahometan propensities, so ardently does he admire the prohibition of strong liquors imposed on the votaries of that religion. Yet it is going too far to decide against the use of any thing from its abuse. All nations have sought more or less the exhilaration produced by this species of stimulus, and there seems no reason for excluding them from the innocent use of it, because some, or even many carry it to excess. All that seems to be required from government is, that, by heavy duties, it should prevent the too great cheapness of these liquors from becoming a temptation to their immoderate use; and this moral regulation affords her at the same time the means of raising a large revenue without exciting discontent, but with the general approbation of the coun try.

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In considering the materials of fermented and spirituous liquors, grain seems to be entitled to an evident preference over the vine, since it is capa ble, in times of scarcity, of being converted into food, and thus made, by a legislative prohibition, to relieve the pressure arising from other causes. A permanent prohibition might encrease the population of the country, but it would greatly augment the danger of famine, by withdrawing this important resource.

Our author gives some important particulars respecting the origin and progress of Scotch distillation. It appears that down to the reign of

James V. no spirituous liquor was known in this country, The statutes make mention only of wine, and beer or ale. In 1672, French brandy is mentioned, and its importation permitted on payment of a trifling duty. Prior to this time, however, in 1661, a duty was imposed on aquavitæ both foreign and home-made, which last is distinguished by the description, not from mall, and the same qualification occurs in all subsequent statutes down to the union. Thus we find that a spirit made from malt was known, yet no duty imposed upon it; a singular circumstance, which must have arisen either from a desire to encourage the manufacture, or from its being prohibited by other statutes. In either case, it seems probable, that it was not carried on to any considerable extent. In 1681, malt is alluded to as the material only of beer or ale, not of spi

rit.

The author being now deserted by positive information, is obliged to have recourse to conjecture; and we must own that his conjectures are both ingenious and probable. He supposes that to Inverness, as the principal sea port of the North, foreign spirits would be first imported; and these being found singularly agreeable to Highland palates, the abundance and cheapness of malt would natural ly tempt the neighbouring inhabitants to employ it in the production of a similar liquor. The village of Ferintosh near Inverness, as it is still the best, may be supposed to have been the first, which addicted itself to this manufacture. The practice, once begun, would soon spread, and it is supposed by our author to have descended from the Highlands into the Lowlands, where it was later of being introduced.

Our author has collected some curious facts as to the amount of this manufacture. He says,

Lothian Farmer, on the subject of the
Scotch distilleries, published at Edin-
burgh in the year 1797, the author es-
timates the duties paid to the revenue
by the Scotch distillers, in their late
augmented state, at 1,650,000l. annually;
and he supposes the cost of the grain to
be equal to the duties, and the expence
of manufacture to be equal to a third of
the value of the grain, forming an aggre
gate of 3,850,000l., exclusive of the distil-
lers' profit, and of course, exclusive also
of the merchants and retailers' profits,
which may be reckoned at 25 per cent.
more, or a fourth of the average amount,
Nay, the retailer alone, with the help of
a little salutary adulteration, frequent
ly draws more than 25 per cent. profit
on the prime cost; so that the general
average of the profits, may be, perhaps,
estimated at from 5 to 10 per cent.
higher, before the article comes to the
consumer. If, therefore, the calcula.
tions of the Mid-Lothian farmer are
nearly accurate, it will be found that
the value of the produce of the licen
sed distillation, as paid by the consum.
ers, exceeds 5,000,000l. annnally. The
distillation, which is carried on to an in-
produce of the private or unlicensed

credible extent in every corner, may
be safely estimated at one third of the
licensed distillation; and the value of
ale and porter, foreign spirits, and wines,
consumed annually, may be reckoned
equal to that of all the home made spi-
This will give an aggregate of about 14
rits, nay probably it is much higher.-
millions, as the amount of the national
expenditure for drink alone; to which
may he added, perhaps, above three
millons expended in tea and sugar, on
the moderate calculation, that the ave-
rage consumpt of these articles is about
21. yearly per head, inclusive of the
ticles of diet and drink.
great expenditure of sugar, in other ar-

Thus we shall find, that Scotland ex-
pends yearly, in articles of drink alone,
17 millions, or above 11. a-head, on
its average population; a most incre-
dible sum, considering that the greatest
part of it is consumed in articles of un-
necessary luxury; and that above one
half of it is expended on foreign and
imported commodities.
P. 68.

From another quarter he draws the

In a letter to Mr Pitt from a Mid. following information:

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