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49

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SIR,

I

at the Battle off TRAFALGAR.

"till the firing ceased, then with a "feeble voice exclaimed, Could I but live to read the Gazette of this glo

"his breath gave three feeble cheers, "joined by another dying man, and "both immediately expired."

Genuine constitutional courage is a rare quality, the inborn attribute of freedom, and the companion of true piety. It is easy to conceive that the heat of passion, and the hur

T has often been your happy lot to record the heroic deeds of the sons of the British navy. Such instances can never be too multiplied.rious day! and with the remains of Their contemplation delights, they animate our hopes in this arduous conflict, and hold up glorious models of imitation to ages yet to come. It was but to-day that I heard of another, and I hasten to communicate it. The hero was William Chalmers, Master of his Majesty's Ship the Royal Sovereign, who fell in the ever memorable battle off Trafalgar. A gentleman who had every opportunity of being familiar with the circumstanees, when writing to his friend in London, thus expresses himself: "How "heroically our poor friend Chalmers "died! His last words, and extraor"dinary marks of real courage, surpass every thing I have yet heard. "Part of his side was carried away "while steering the ship towards the "close of the action; he just lived

ry
of battle, may excite to the per-
formance of actions, which in cooler
moments could not be thought of
without horror; and it is natural to
suppose, that when these causes have
ceased to operate, and the body lan-
guishes under pain, and the conscious-
ness of inevitable death, that the
mental energies should decay as the
frame they inhabit approaches dis-
solution. All this is consistent with
received notions of animal life. But
when protracted torture cannot ex-

tort

tort a murmur; when the positive assurance of death is heard with a smile, and when the last efforts of expiring nature are expressive of joy, contentment and hope, we are lost in admiration of such intellectual superiority, which the sophistry of materialists will in vain attempt to explain.

Mr Chalmers was a native of Shetland, and fell at the age of thirty-five. Thirteen years of his short life were spent in the service of his country, in the respectable situation of master in the British navy.

Edin. 16th June 1806.

AMICUS.

Memoirs of the late DR CHAPMAN.

THIS eminent teacher, and respec

table writer, was born at the farm of Little Blacktoun, in the parish of Alvah, in Banffshire, in August 1723. The farm belonged to his father, and had descended to him from his ancestors from time immemorial. Young George, their only son, received his education at the parish school, then taught by Mr George Robertson, an excellent teacher, by whose instructions he profited so well, that being sent to the competition for bursars in King's college, Aberdeen, in October 1739, he gain ed the second prize over a considerable number of candidates. By means of the bursary which this afforded, he was enabled to study the languages and philosophy for four successive winters. Here he met with the entire approbation of his instructors, and formed, with Professor Rait in particular, an intimacy which lasted till his death. He then went into the family of a Mr Stewart, by whose recommendation, on the resignation of Mr Robertson, he was appointed to his own parish school of Alvah. Being allowed to employ a substitute in winter, he completed his education at Aberdeen, and in April 1741 took

the degree of Master of Arts. The eminence with which he discharged the duties of the humble office which he now occupied, soon paved the way for his promction. In 1747, he obtained the office of Assistant-teacher to the Grammar school of Dalkeith, which had acquired great reputation, and then was taught by Mr John Love. Four years after, through the recommendation of the late Professor George Stewart, he was appointed Joint Master of the Grammar school of Dumfries. His colleague was Mr Robert Trotter, who being now old and infirm, left him most of the active duty. Here Dr Chapman taught 27 years, and, under him, this seminary acquired a reputation which is not surpassed by any other of the kind in this country. Besides public scholars, he kept also boarders; but both these at last increased to such a degree, that he found it necessary to make a choice between them. He preferred a board. ing house, which he established on the other side of the town; but at the desire of the Magistrates he sometimes inspected the grammar school, which was now taught by Mr James Wait. Dr Chapman however was so highly satisfied with the merits of this teacher, that he thought it unfair to discourage him by keeping a separate boarding house, and generously withdrew from the competition. He then returned to the neighbourhood of Banff, and took possession of the farm which had been held by his father, keeping at the same time a small academy. Some time after, however, he let the farm advantageously, and was invited by the Magistrates of Banff to superintend the grammar school of that city. With their approbation he converted it into an academy, and appointed such as he knew to be skil ful teachers. About the same time, the Magistrates of Banff having formed the benevolent design of establishing an institution for the instruction

and

and employment of poor children, Dr Chapman zealously assisted in making the necessary arrangements and regulations. He then removed to Edinburgh, and took some share in the management of a printing house; but finding living in town expensive, and being fond of the country, he purchased a small piece of ground near Libberton, and built a house there. The fine and healthy situation encouraged him to resume what seems always to have been his favourite employment, the keeping a small private academy.

In the year 1782 Dr Chapman published his treatise of education, a subject on which his talents and experience rendered him an excellent judge. His work was accordingly well received by the public, and has passed thro' several editions. When Dr Buchannan in 1804, proposed, as the subject of a prize essay and poem, the civilization of India, and the

diffusion of the light of Christianity through the Eastern world; Dr Chapman was animated by the greatness of the subject to take up the pen, and produced a treatise which, notwithstanding his advanced age, breathes all the warmth and sanguine benevolence of youth. Perhaps his hopes may be too flattering, and his schemes of improvement rather premature; but it is impossible not to recognize, in every page, an amiable mind, warmly interested in the dif fusion of religion, virtue, and happiness. Dr Chapman died on the 22d of Feb. 1806. in the 82d year of his age. (See Scots Magazine for March last.)

are told of its acting as a laxative on strangers visiting Inverness, as well as their horses;-of its never freezing, &c.; but in no work which I have yet been able to meet with are the causes of these effects satisfactorily explained, neither can I discover any account of an analysis of the water of this Loch. It will be very obliging if any of your learned correspondents will answer to the above points; or if any man of Science, who may soon be going Northward, will take the trouble of ascertaining the same by experiment, and convey the result thro' the medium of your excellent miscellany, it will confer a

favour on,

Edinburgh,

Yours,

17th June, 1806. S

NATIONAL DEBT.

D. B.

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the western side of his disc in the same order as they lie in the system; the first being nearest, and the fourth farthest from the planet.

Saturday, July 5th.

the same phenomenon will happen on the 16th at the same time.

Sunday, July 13th.

The Moon will be in conjunction with the planet MARS at 31 minutes after 11 o'clock in the morning, in longitude, 2..150..4 1.55" and latitude 6 minutes North. o'clock

The third satellite of Jupiter will immerge into his shadow, at 40 mi.

9

nutes and 16 seconds after in the evening, mean time; and after continuing eclipsed for the space of 3.4. 34" it will emerge from Jupiter's shadow at 44 minutes and 50 seconds after 12 o'clock in the evening.

Sunday, July 6th.

The second and third satellites of Jupiter will be in conjunction on the eastern side of his disc, at 47 minutes after 9 o'clock in the evening: the first and fourth satellites of Jupiter are situated on the other side, the first being nearest the planet. The same phenomenon will be seen on the 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 26th, and 27th, at the same hour of night.

Tuesday, July 8th.

The first and fourth satellites of Jupiter will be in conjunction on the eastern side of his disc, about a quar. ter before ten o'clock in the evening. The third satellite is situated on the same side at a greater distance, and the second on the other side of Jupiter.

Wednesday, July 9th.

The planet VENUS will be in conjunction with Tauri, a star of the 3.4 magnitude, situated in the northern eye of the Bull, in longitude 23.. 5.45..3", and latitude 20.35'..37" South. The latitude of Venus being 2°.. 14.29" South, the distance of their centers at the time of conjunction 21..8", and Venus will pass to the north of the star.

On the same day about a quarter before ten o'clock in the evening, the first and third satellites of Jupiter will be in conjunction on the western side of his disc. The second and fourth are situated on the other side, the second being nearest the planet;

His declination is 22°..48' North, and he souths at 9h 25' in the morning.

Monday, July 14th.

The GEORGIUM SIDUS will be in quadrature with the sun at 7 minutes after 9 o'clock in the evening, in longitude 6.. 21°..38'..46", and latitude 34.41" North. Its declination is 7°.. 55'..19" South, and he comes to the meridian about 12 minutes after 6 o'clock in the evening.

Tuesday, July 15th.

The planet SATURN will be in qua, drature with the Sun at 47 minutes after 7 o'clock in the morning in longitude 6.22°..4..46", and latitude 20..29'.."40" North. His declination is 6°15' South, and he souths about 5h..57..

On the same day the first satellite of Jupiter will emerge from his shadow at 28 minutes and 8 seconds af ter 10 o'clock in the evening. About 40 minutes before this emersion, the third and fourth satellites of Jupiter will be in conjunction on the eastern side of his disc; the second is situa ted on the other side of Jupiter.

Wednesday. July 16th,

The planet VENUS will be in conjunction with Tauri, a star of the 4th magnitude, situated in the southern horn of the Bull, in lon. 2o.. 14o.. 6'..10" the latitude of Venus being 10.58'..35" South, and that of Tauri 10.13.41" South, the nearest approach of their centers will be 44′.. 54", and Venus will pass to the South of the star.

Friday, July 18th.

The first and second satellites of Jupiter will be in conjunction on the western side of Jupiter. The third

and

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