be in conjunction on the eastern side of his disc. The first is situated on the same side, but nearer Jupiter, and the second on the other side of his disc.

Thursday, September 4th.

The planet MERCURY will arrive at his inferior conjunction with the Sun at half an hour past 5 o'clock in the morning.

Saturday, September 6th.

All the satellites of Jupiter will be situated on the Western side of his disc, in the same order as they lye in the system, the first being nearest, and the fourth farthest from the planet. This phenomenon will happen about a quarter of an hour before 8 o'clock in the evening. Sunday, September 7th. The Moon will eclipse Geminorum, a star of the 3.4 magnitude, situated in the knee of Pollux, in longitude 3.12°..17..10", and latitude 2°..4'..4" south. The star will immerge behind the dark limb of the Moon at 59 minutes and 50 seconds after 12 o'clock in the evening, and after continuing eclipsed for the space of 51'..10", it will emerge from behind the enlightened limb of the Moon at 51 minutes after one o'clock in the morning. At the commencement of the occultation the star is situated about 5 minutes north of the moon's center, and about 41⁄2 minutes north of it at the time of its emersion.

Monday, September 8th. The first satellite of Jupiter will emerge from behind his shadow at 22 minutes and 57 seconds after seven o'clock in the evening.

Saturday, September 13th. The planet MERCURY will be stationary in longitude 5..5..20'.. 10", and latitude 39 minutes south.

On the the same day the longitude of VENUS, which is now the morning star, is 4..23.38"..54", and latitude 51 minutes north. Her declination is 14°..27 north, and she

comes to the meridian at 20 minutes after 10 o'clock in the morning.

On the same day the planet VENUS will be in conjunction with v Leonis, a star of the 4.5 magnitude, situated in longitude 4..24°..38'..38′′, and latitude 2'..22" north. The latitude of Venus being 53'..32" north, the nearest approach of their centers will be 50'..10", and the planet will pass to the north of the star.

Monday, September 15th. CONJUNCTION of VENUS and RE

GULUS,

The planet VENUS will be in conjunction with Regulus, a star of the first magnitude, situated in the Lion's heart, in longitude 4..27°..8'.. 51′′. The latitude of Regulus being 27'.. 27" north, and that of Venus 56'... 20" north, the distance of their centers at the time of conjunction will be 28'..53 seconds, and Venus will pass to the north of Regulus.

Friday, September 19th. CONJUNCTION of the MOON and JUPITER.

The Moon will be in conjunction with Jupiter at 44 minutes after 10 o'clock in the evening. The longitude of Jupiter is then 85..29°..21'.. 56", his latitude 3 minutes south. His declination 23°31' south, and the time of his southing 6"..4′ in the evening.

Saturday, September 20th.

The planet MERCURY will arrive at his greatest elongation, and may be seen in the morning before sunrise.

Sunday, September 21st.

The planet VENUS will be in conjunction with e Leonis, a star of the 4. magnitude situated in the fore leg of the Lion, in longitude 5..3°..41'.. 28", and latitude 7'..48" north. The latitude of Venus 1..5..54", the nearest approach of their centers will be 58'..6", and the planet will pass to the north of the star.

On the same day the GEORGIUM SIDUS is situated in longitude 6...

24.17", and latitude 32 minutes north. His declination is 8°55' south, and he comes to the meridian at 35 minutes after one o'clock in the afternoon.

Tuesday, September 23d.

The Sun will enter the sign Libra

at minute after 6 o'clock in the evening. He then enters the autum. nal equinox, and the days and nights are equal over the whole world.

Thursday, September 25th. The planet SATURN will be situated in longitude 65..27°..45'49", and latitude 2°.. 16' north. His declination is 8°35' south, and he will south at 1..36' in the afternoon.

Saturday, September 27th.

The planet VENUS will be in con. junction with x Leonis, a star of the 4.5 magnitude, situated in the belly, of the Lion, in longitude 5.11°.. 50..6", and latitude 1°..20'.. 21" north. The latitude of Venus being 10..17.. 12" north. The nearest ap. proach of their centers will be 3. 9", and the planet will pass to the south of the star.

Monday, September 29th. About 10 minutes before eight o'clock in the evening, the first and fourth satellites of Jupiter will be in conjunction on the western side of his disc. The second is on the other side, and the third behind his shadow.

It appears from the experiments of G. S. GIBBES, M. D. that iron is deposited in three different states by the Bath waters. 1st, It tinges the glasses which are used for drinking the water at the pumps, of a yellow golden colour, which can be scraped

off.

This portion seems to have been united with carbonic acid, and the sides and bottom of the baths in is deposited in the glasses, and on the state of ochre. 2d, It forms Pyritical incrustations about the reservoir and channels of the baths, in which the iron is in its metallic state united with sulphur, as these incrus. tations may be vitriolised by expos ing them to the air and moisture. 3d, It is deposited in the sand of the bath in black particles, which are attracted by the magnet. Some of these particles are of a christalline form, but their figure cannot be easily determined.

An improved geometrical plotting quadrant, level and calculator, for the purpose of navigation and land-surveying, has been invented by Mr ROBERT SALMON of Woburn, who received from the society of arts their silver medal and ten guineas. See their transactions for 1806.

A stratum of coal was lately discovered at Salisbury in Virginia, of the uncommon thickness of 42 feet, and so near the surface, that the earth is merely taken off, and the coal dug out without undermining.

On the 11th of July last, about 10 o'clock in the evening, the third and fourth satellites of Jupiter, were seen by the naked eye by Mr John Smart, optician, London. These satellites were said to have been formerly seen by professor Beauchamp.

A paper on the figure of the planet Saturn, by Dr Herchel, was read in. the Royal Society on June 26th. He now considers the diameter of that planet to be much greater at the equa tor than formerly, but still allows that it is much flattened at the poless

D. B.

A Short Sketch of the Improved State of PAISLEY, including the ABBEY PARISH, for the year 1805.

THE

(Concluded from p. 499.)

HE Muslin manufacture is now the principal branch carried on at Paisley. The cotton trade is the most valuable hitherto introduced into Scotland, and has been a source of wealth to the western parts of that portion of Great Britain. At Glasgow it is prosecuted with ardour, and to a great extent. It is how ever worthy of notice, that notwithstanding Glasgow is only distant from Paisley about seven miles, the manufacturers in the former place have never been able to rival those of the latter in the article of fancy muslins, in which Paisley still main tains a decided superiority. This may be accounted for from the long period fancy-work has been established in the place.

From the establishment of the silk gauze branch about the year 1761, a fabric which required constant exertions of skill to vary the figures and grounds, the operators received a stimulus which brought into view a degree of taste and invention seldom equalled, and perhaps never surpassed in any other branch of manufacture. The muslin having succeeded the silk, the Paisley weavers turned their attention to similar improvements in this new manufacture, which they rightly judged could not fail to attract the notice of our fair countrywomen. In this they have succeeded surprisingly.Convinced that a constant succession of new patterns and new grounds was absolutely necessary to supply the constant demands of fashion, every exertion has been made to please the public taste, and these exertions have been most productive sources of emolument to the manufacturers; while their constant improvements, August 1806.

joined with previous skill, has given them an unequivocal superiority over the Glasgow manufacturers in fancy work.

It must be further observed, that in all kinds of new work the operators share in the advantage resulting from it. A high rate of price is cheerfully given by the employer to such as are equal to the work. This stimulates the weaver to contrive new things for his own emolu. ment, and it is not a little remarkable, that most of the improvements and varieties of grounds and patterns have taken their rise from this class of men.

It hath been frequently remarked that the young men among the wea vers, and the tambouring girls, dis. play some degree of taste in their dress, as well as in their work. Their is no set of people whatever, employed in the operative part of manufactures within the kingdom, that are more distinguished in this particular than they are; and if it be necessary that all their income should be expended within the year, it is certainly more commendable to lay it out in clothing than in the public house; yet there are a few among them who reserve a part of their income for a time of trouble or bad trade, and there are others who by savings have built comfortable houses for their families, and shops for themselves to work in. During a time of good trade, a superior tradesman can earn three guineas per week, and some of the tambouring girls fifteen shillings in the same period. There is another very prominent trait in the characters of our Paisley weavers; and that is a pretty general knowledge acquired from books. If you enter into conversation with many of those who are of middle age, you will find them well informed on many subjects, particularly general history, natural history, and politics,

The

They, in general, maintain a high sense of independance; they scorn the servile adulation of those who cringe to the great. Many of them indeed run into the opposite extreme, and become insolent, proud, and turbu lent. Some of them profess themselves to be deists, others appear to be enthusiasts; but not a few among them are to be found, whose conduct and conversation are becoming that pure system of Christian doctrine and morals, which they profess to believe.

The Cotton spinning trade now established in this part of the country is highly valuable, on account of such numbers of poor children and women as are employed in its various operations, but it appears to have no tendency to improve the morals of the country. The numbers collected in large Cotton-mills, from families immersed in ignorance and vice, spread the contagion among such as have been more regularly educated, and profligate conduct is the natural result. Boys and girls receive for their labour from two to five shillings per week. They are received into this employ about eight years of age, their attendance is from six in the morning to eight at night; but no time is allowed for learning to read, and after parents begin to receive wages for their labour, few of them think of sending them to school. It is likewise to be regretted that so little attention is paid to cleanliness in many of these public works. The air they breathe is unfriendly to health. The rancid smell from the oil, and the effluvia of the cotton wool, combined with the numbers collected under one roof, render these mills injurious both to the health and morals of those employed in them.

In order to counteract the baneful effects arising from want of education, a Society was formed at Paisley for maintaining and supporting Sunday

schools, of which there are at present thirty under the inspection of this institution; which has subsisted for eight years past, and much good has resulted from it, both in checking the progress of vice, and in conveying much important religious and moral instruction to neglected chil dren. There are likewise three schools opened on the week evenings for teaching those to read who are employed through the day, and cannot obtain education otherwise. From the last account taken of the numbers attending these benevolent seminaries, they amounted to about twelve hundred. All the Sabbath schools are taught gratis, and each of them is superintended by a subcommittee. The fund for providing books, fire, candles, and house-rents, are collected at the church, where a sermon is preached about once in six weeks, by the ministers of the estab lishment, and presbyterian dissenters, in rotation. A dispensary for the purpose of furnishing medical aid to the poor gratis has been established many years, to the great relief of numbers; and of late a very convenient building has been erected in a healthy situation for the benefit of such as are seized with contagious fevers, &c. This institution promises to be of great utility to the poor, and has been the means under pro vidence to check the progress of infectious disorders in some recent çases.

The next branch of manufacture we have to notice is the silk gauze. It will be observed, that in 1784 it amounted in value to L.350,000, but in 1805 only to L.9600; se changeable are fashions in this country; but if silk gauze should once come into fashion, the Paisley manufacture would possess advantages in point of skill and workmen above all others in the island. And who can positively say it will not? It is

not

not the voice of reason that presides over this coquettish dame. Changes are frequently effected, not only to please the young and volatile, but to give employment to the multitude of milliners and mantuamakers dependent on them. There is no fabric yet invented, more beautiful than silk gauze.

The Thread manufacture has subsisted in this place since its first introduction into the country from Holland, in the year 1722. Paisley is now justly famed, both at hoine and abroad, for the quality of its threads. The kind or species of thread chiefly made here is ounce or nuns. This article is regulated by an act of Parliament passed in 1788, which determines the number of threads in each hank or skein, and the length of the reel employed in reeling the same; by this means frauds are prevented, and the consumers have a statute length and number to trust to. Besides ounce threads there is a considerable quantity of heddle twine made, not only to serve the weavers in Paisley and Glasgow, but for those in Spitalfields and Coventry. Soft thread forms another article, for ornamenting muslins, and this is likewise become a considerable branch. Lisle threads also constitute a small part of this manufacture; this species is an imitation of threads made at Lisle in French Flanders. Some of this thread of Scotch yarn made in Paisley is worth above ten guineas per pound, which when spread out would measure from Glasgow to Edinburgh.

Cotton thread has been fashionable of late; it is wound up by a machine into little balls of a nice appearance, and well calculated to attract the attention of the ladies. It works very pleasantly, and has only one fault, which is want of strength. It may answer for sewing light fancy muslins, but will not do for ar

ticles that are expected to wear for any length of time; this is now beginning to be found out by attentive housewives, and consequently cotton. thread is getting out of demand.

Paisley whisky is very generally known. At one time it was much and justly esteemed. Even ΠΟΥ it will bear a comparison with spirits distilled upon the same principles in other places. It has been for many years well known, that raw unmalted grain produces more spirits than when malted, and there is, besides, a considerable duty upon malted grain. This, of course, determines the distiller to use unmalted in place of malted grain, and the result is, that he obtains a greater quantity but of a worse quality.It is highly to be regretted that numbers injure their health, and even nearly starve their families, in accustoming themselves to this noxious beveridge. It is very unaccountable that a law has not been enacted to prevent distillers from mashing unmalted grain; such a measure would increase the revenue and preserve the consumers from the effects of a very unwholesome liquor. It is necessary to mention, in justice to our distillers, that they make a considerable quantity of their spirits from malted grain, which sells at a higher price than the common kind. This double or rectified spirit is a very good article indeed; but the most fashion. able kind is that made in the highland districts in small unentered stills. This is preferred to all others, and is distinguished by the smell communicated to it from the fuel in distillation, and commonly called peat reek; its being smuggled, and scarce, makes it the more relished. Whether the whisky produced by large entered stills is equal in quality to that made in small stills is not very material; but one thing is certain, that malted grain makes wholesomer and more palatable spirits than raw.

There