Mr Aiton, for a few copies of the work; and resolved to recommend it to the attention of Members of this Society and the Public, as containing much useful and practical information.

(To be continued.)

Memoirs of the Progress of Manufactures, Chemistry, Science, and the Fine Arts.

T

THE Comet which has been visible this year, is (says the Moniteur) one of the most remarkable which has ever been observed. None has ever been so long visible, and, consequently, none has ever afforded such certain means of information with respect to its orbit. Accordingly, since the end of March last, when it was first perceived by M. Flauguergues, in the South of France, its course has been reguJarly traced; nor shall we lose sight of it till the month of January 1812. Its train, which occupies a space of 12 degrees, exhibits several curious phenomena. It is not immediately connected with the comet, as if it were an emanation from it, but forms, at a distance from the nucleus, a wide belt, the lower part of which girds, without coming in contract with it, much in the same manner as the ring of Saturn; and this belt extends itself in two long luminous faces, one of which is usually rectilineal, while the other, at about the third of its length, shoots forth its rays with a slight curve like the branch of a palmtree; nevertheless, this configuration is subject to change. It has been observed that the space between the body of the comet and its train is occasionally filled, and of the two faces, that which is generally rectilineal sometimes arches its rays, while those of the other assume the form of right lines. Fin

ally, rays, or, as it were, plumes, of ignited matter, have been seen to issue from the lower extremities of the faces or flakes, and again unite. Professor Harding has also observ ed and delineated, with care, the present comet under its various aspects, and his design will appear in one of the succeeding numbers of the "Geographical and Astronomical Correspondence," edited at the Observatory of Gotha. They will shew that, when the comet first appeared, and was yet at a distance from the sun, the two flakes of its train were separated so as to form a right angle; but, as that distance decreased, they approached each other till they became parallel. As to the nucleus, or the comet itself, it has been found impossible, as yet, even with the aid of the best telescopes, to make observations on its disk, as on that of a solid body and of determinate circumference. There could be discerned only a vague circular mass, more luminous than the train, particularly towards the centre; but the verge of which was doubtful, furnishing, to the eye, no determined circumference. The mass is, without doubt, composed of a very subtile substance, as is, probably, that of all comets. This hypothesis receives support from the fact, that one of these stars, of very considerable magnitude, in 1770, passed and re-passed through the very middle of the satellites of Jupiter, without occasioning among them the slightest disorder. There is every reason to believe, that the nucleus of the present comet is nothing more than a union of vapours of very little density, so little perhaps as to be transparent. Such a body might, very possibly, be an incipident world, just passed its gaseous state, and which is to derive solidity from the precipitation and condensation of the matter surrounding it. The successive observation

of

pine 1649. The title of the chap ter is Woman is more wicked than man.' He then enters upon a systematical proof of this proposition. The following translation will be found to contain the essence of this polite and interesting discussion.

In proof of the foresaid proposition, I could produce many important reasons, did I not think that the female sex would be offended with me, whose friendship and benevolence I wish to gain, rather than their resentment. I prefer, therefore, a profound silence upon this subject. The philosopher, how ever, proves the truth of this theo rem by experience; and the following demonstration may perhaps be satisfactory. Reason does not rule the appetite of women equally with that of men, wherefore they are more easily overcome, and impelled to the passions of the mind than males. They are therefore more active in contriving crimes; yet through the deficiency of strength, they can less accomplish those mischiefs which they meditate. Conscious therefore, of weakness, they dissemble the venom, which they hold in their mind; lamenting they lay their snares, and often shed tears of grief, because they cannot cruelly execute what they have wickedly planned.”

The author then observes, that he could say much more, but, that he cannot think of entirely forfeit ing the favour of the female sex. *

* Quantum ad probationem hujus præfata propositionis attinet, multa rationum momenta in medium afferre potuissem,

nisi sexum fæmineum mihi offensum fore arbitrarer, cujus potius amicitiam & benevolentiam exopto, quam offensam, altum ergo malo hac de re silentium. Philosophus tamen hoc theorema probat experientia, ex his quæ educantur domi ani

Singular mode of Painting

A Danish artist, named Cornelius Ketel, invented the singular practice of painting with the hand alone. After having used the pencil for twenty years, like the rest of his profession, he quitted that instrument, and used his fingers. That he might have no witness of his first: essays in this style, he began with his own portrait, and succeeded. Not satisfied with this display of address, he proceeded to paint with the fingers of his left hand, and at last with his two thumbs. Upon this subject, Descamps well remarks: We can paint better with the pencil, than with the feet or the hands; why then abandou a practice more secure and easy. The aim of an artist is to do the best possible; he ought therefore to preto fer the method of doing well with ease, to that of doing ill with difficulty."

malibus, and ex relatione Pastorum, tum etiam Venatorum. Sed hæc non satis sunt, in universum. ad probandum id quod scripsit de fæminis Neque in particulari. Eorum forsan poterit hæc esse demonstratio. Ratio non aquæ dominatur mulierum appetitui arque hominum, quare facilius vincuntur & feruntur ad passiones animi quam masculi, sunt ergo facinorum magis excogitatrices & peculantiores, quod minus rationis fræno cohibeantur, defectu ta-. men roboris & virium minus exequuntur ea, quæ meditantur mala: Consciæ itaque debilitátis dissimulant venenum, quod anirno continent, & insidias instruunt dum

plorant, lachrymasque aliquando fundunt præ mærore, quem concipiunt, ex eo quod, exequi non possint crudelitur, quæ flagi

tiose decreuerunt.

Plura non dicam, ni crabrones in me irritari velim, mulierumque omni favore destitui, quarum naturam at crasin Aristotel sequentibus rationibus nobis aperuit.

7

Observations

dure to look at her. In short, he cannot tell what he wants, who he is, nor what he is to do. There is not a great er misery in the world, than to have to do with such a man; in dealing with whom you cannot form any plan whatever, but must depend wholly upon his caprice. Wife, children, friends, relations, servants, all are bewildered. I imagine I see one of those little women, who, in order that her admirers may be constantly thinking of her, finds herself, at one time indisposed, at another frolicsome, now scolds, now laughs, next asks you for a thing, and when you reach it, throws it away, abusing you, moreover, for your attention, so that you have always two hearts in your breast, of which one bids you do, and the other refrain; you are in constant dread of doing amiss; you have a vulture continually gnawing you. The same practice, I believe, is followed by the more artful of these men, whom I call the inconstants. These partly are, and partly appear to be, lunatics, in order that their domestics, and their friends, studying how to divine them amid such a diversity, may be always intent on their motions, and may have a continual dependence on the actions which they do, the looks which they cast, the first word which issues in the morning from their mouth. In short the person, who has lived for a year or two with such men, may set up for a professor in the science of divination.

The Talkative Man.

A few evenings ago, a man argued in a company with so much fury and with such a torrent of words, that the tongues of all who were there present, became wholly useless; and if there was any one, who contrived to articulate a syllable, it only gave a new impulse to our talker, to pour forth with greater vio

lence. It was a laughable thing for me to see constraint and vexation painted in the eyes of all, while he went on as if his words had been eagerly imbibed by the whole company. From time to time, he called out to the bystanders: what do you think of it; do I say well?' and as no answer was ever given, he took the silence for an assent, and addressing his talk to the person he had interrogated, pursued his argument as briskly, and as eagerly, as if he had just begun. I do not believe, that there was any one, except myself, that had lent him an ear. But I, at the time of his speech, had seated myself in a corner, and pretending to think something else, was investigating as much as I could, the nature of this brain. The man had really an imagination of fire, and so rapid, that he passed, by springs, or bounds, from one subject to another, without perceiving it. He was also well provided with memory, which enabled him to enforce whatever he said, with erudition of various kinds, whence he threw down by bundles or fragments, bits of stories, philosophical opinions, sayings of writers, little regarding whether they were to the purpose, or not. At length it pleased God, that this Universal Dictionary should terminate his reading, and should take his departure; upon which every one drew his breath; and the countenances which before were turbid and-melancholy, resumed their gaiety. The company then returning to sports and jests, such as are usual where men meet to spend the time;

What do you think, said some to me, of that noble stream of eloquence. I can only say, replied I, that I should be unwilling, after so long a dissertation, to begin a new one, and drive so agreeable a company to despair.-Make a paper of it said another. Is it not an admir-. able