819 On Temperance Societies. acid came in the positive, and the alkali in the negative end. In a solution of metals the acid is positive, the metal negative. Paper stained yellow with turmeric, grows brown with alkali. Litmus blue paper turns pink with acid. On the electrometer lay a piece of litmus paper on the positive end, and a piece of turmeric paper on the negative, connected by tow with a glass, having in it a solution of Glauber's salts, which is composed of sulphuric acid and soda, an alkaline salt. The connexion being made with the Volta plates, the electricity conveys the acid to the litmus paper by the positive wire, and the alkali to the turmeric paper by the negative wire, changing their colours, as before mentioned, in chemical tests, thus proving the identity of electric and chemic union. Again, sulphate of soda, connected with two small cones of platina by asbestos, gives acid to the one, and alkali to the other. The two cones were connected with the positive and negative electricity. When sulphate of lime was diluted in the same manner, acid was found on one side and alkali on the other, by the test papers. And so great is the electric affinity of lime (alkaline) to the negative side, that its alkali will pass through sulphur, and not be changed in the passage. This was performed. The turmeric and litmus papers were placed contrariwise, so that the acid electricity had to pass through the alkaline in its way to the litmus paper; and the turmeric paper was visited by the alkaline stain, after it had passed through the acid. The general cause is, that the electric power is of the same nature, and rules it by having been made in this case stronger for the positive wire. Electrifying the acid made it too powerfully attached to the electric influence of its own state, to be neutralized by the opposite, and the negative wire made the alkali too powerful to unite with the acid while it was so attached. Metals which are positive to other bodies, are negative to electricity, because the positive electricity finds in metals a comparative predominancy of negative. There is a perfect correspondence between electric and chemical attractions. The great changes that take place on the surface of the globe are illustrated by their united agency. Basaltes is an oxide of lime and iron. The atmosphere, which is predominantly negative, acts on its surface to decompose the alkaline ingredients; so 820 of granite rocks. The porcelain clay made of granite, contains no acid; hence its durability. The wear of surface in stones or minerals, attributed to time, is performed by the alkaline nature of the air. OBSERVATIONS ON THE CONSUMPTION OF ARDENT SPIRITS, AND ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES. THERE are few vices to which mankind are addicted, attended with more pernicious consequences than drunkenness. It is the bane of health, of morals, and of domestic comfort, and is perhaps the most prolific source of individual and family misery, that is in full operation among the human race. In America, drunkenness prevailed to such a degree, that some genuine patriots, and friends to their fellow-creatures, formed an association to adopt measures for arresting its progress. With this view, they solicited the friends of temperance to rally round them, and establish societies, which all were invited to join, who wished to discountenance by their example the use of ardent spirits. The attempt has been crowned with unexampled success. America the fame of these societies has been wafted across the Atlantic, and in Scotland has found many warm advocates and able friends. From The address by the chairman at the first public meeting of the Glasgow Temperance Society, places the vice of drunkenness in an awful light. It nobly aims to stem the torrent of intemperance, which, amidst other evils of fearful magnitude, is at this moment desolating the country, by demoralizing its inhabitants, and shortening the period of human life. It informs us, that "In Great Britain there are 25,000,000 gallons of ardent spirits consumed annually, and in Scotland alone there are 5,000,000 gallons of whiskey consumed yearly, which, taking our adult population, amounts to upwards of five gallons a year to each individual." This habitual and prevalent practice of intemperance is ably pointed out as the source of crime, and as the polluted fountain whence a considerable portion of those miseries flow, of which mankind complain. The speaker recommends a total abstinence from ardent spirits, even to those who know how to use the intoxicating poison with moderation, that indulgence may not beget habit, and that example may operate where precepts fail. We are glad to find that Temperance Societies are engrossing a due share of pub 821 On Temperance Societies. lic attention, and gaining ground in various parts. 822 “Whisky, brandy, rum, hollands, gin, spirits of wine, are comprehended under the name 'ardent spirits." To these, ex. cept when used medicinally, every wellwisher to his fellow-creatures must have a decided dislike. They have been the nourisher of every vice-the destroyer of every virtue; they merely excite, without strengthening; they inflame, without preserving the warmth of excitement; they elevate, but not for a continuance; they produce a war of passion, without the peace of benevolence as a consequence. To the preceding remarks we beg to subjoin the following observations on the On this interesting and important sub-pernicious effects of ardent spirits from ject, the speech of Mr. William Collins, "A Lecture on Drink," by Dr. Epps:of Glasgow, at the first public meeting of the Edinburgh Association for the suppression of intemperance, deserves particular notice. It is a spirited appeal to the judgments and sympathies of all who have the welfare of their country and of its inhabitants at heart, rather than to habitual drunkards, who have already become the victims of intemperance. The reason why the appeal is thus made may be found in the following passage: "Of the many who drink, many will become drunkards; and while temperate men continue their present practices, the evil can never be brought to a termination. For while these societies were reforming a solitary drunkard, there would be furnished from among temperate men fifty to supply his place. Temperate men, by continuing to drink, are filling up the ranks of intemperance, from which the host of drunkards will be drawn; and while one and another become the victims in succession, intemperance will still be perpetuated in our country." "In America there are 1015 Temperance Societies, containing upwards of 100,000 members. These societies last year reclaimed 700 drunkards; but in the same year 30,000 perished by drinking. If these societies had done nothing but reclaimed drunkards, death would have done more to terminate drunkenness than Temperance Societies, for while they only reclaimed 700, death carried off 30,000. What then was the mighty good which Temperance Societies achieved in America? It was not the reformation of 700 drunkards, it was the arresting of 100,000 temperate men in their progress to intemperance." Most of the objections which may be urged against Temperance Societies, Mr. Collins has anticipated, and met by fair and manly replies. We are not aware that any vow is required, or any fine exacted from the members. Ardent spirit is the only article prohibited, and an engagement to abstain from it is the only condition required. America has had the honour of setting the example to her drunken mother. Scotland and Ireland are now acting on the principles so nobly brought into operation, and efforts are making to confer on besotted England the blessings which habitual temperance cannot fail to ensure. Temperance Societies have been recently formed in Manchester and Liverpool, where they are now in effective operation. "Brandy is a good medicine. Many dyspeptics, whose food does not digest, very often experience considerable relief from the use of brandy and water in small quantities. Brandy, too, is a good stimulant in cases of typhus fever, when the powers of the system are almost exhausted— acting here even better than wine. Rum is also useful medicinally. Gin is still more useful. The juniper berry, to which gin owes its peculiar flavour, is a diuretic, acting upon the kidneys, and promoting the discharge of urine. Hence the practice, among persons afflicted with gravel, of taking gin; a practice which, though attended with benefit when followed up with moderation, becomes a vice when the affection of the kidneys becomes on excuse for an affection for the gin. "In favour of whisky, the drunkard mentions that the Highlanders, who, it is imagined, live on whisky, are hardy, brave, and chivalric. This is not the fact; it is only within the last few years that whisky has been at all a common drink in the Highlands. As one fact, to show how little whisky was used in the Highlands, even so late as the year 1793, General Stewart states as a fact, that a man lived on the Garth estate, who had the appellation of Donald Whisky,' as characteristic of the circumstance, that he was a distiller, and sometimes a smuggler, of that spirit. General Stewart further states, that, until the legal distillation of whisky was prohibited in the Highlands, it was never drunk at gentlemen's tables; and that it was not till towards the middle of the last century, that spirits of any kind were drunk so much as ale, which was then the general beverage. In further proof of this, General Stewart brings forward the testimony of Mr. Stewart, of Crossmount, who died in 1791, in the 104th year of his age, and who preserved his sound judgment and accurate 823 An Extraordinary Dream. mind to the last hour, and who used to say, that in his youth strong frothing ale from the cask was the common beverage at convivial meetings. In addition, it may be remarked, that a 'whisky-house' is a term unknown in Gaelic. Public-houses, or taverns, are called Tai leanne, or alehouses. "Another very striking proof that General Stewart brings forward, is the following interesting fact, in relation to the sobriety of the early Highland corps: During the American war, the usual allowance of spirits was served out to the soldiers of the other regiments daily, as they could not be trusted with more, lest the whole should be drunk at once. It was otherwise with the soldiers of the 42d Regiment, who were served with a proportionate allowance every fourth day, in the same manner as the officers, with liberty to use the liquor at their own discretion-an indulgence never abused; and it was continued during the whole six campaigns.' "There are men in the world who glory in their power of taking an immense quantity of spirits; who, in the language of Divine inspiration, are said to be 'strong to drink strong drink.' These men advocate a very injurious proposition, which they urge as their defence, namely, that 'drink' (referring to spirituous liquors, &c.) 'if poison, is a very slow one;' and the enunciation of this sentence of deluded intellect, is accompanied with the disgusting chorus of a horse-laugh. But after having attained the meridian of life, the collection of water in the cavity of the chest from a diseased heart, or in the cavity of the abdomen from diseased liver, tells them, when for their recovery it is too late, that spirits drank, except for medicinal purposes, form one of the highways to death." MR. RD'S EXTRAORDINARY DREAM. (From a Note to the new Edition of "the Antiquary.") THE legend of Mrs. Grizel Oldbuck was partly taken from an extraordinary story which happened about seventy years since, in the south of Scotland, so peculiar in its circumstances that it merits being mentioned in this place. Mr. R- -d, of Bowland, a gentleman of landed property in the vale of Gala, was prosecuted for a very considerable sum, the accumulated arrears of tiend, (or tithe,) for which he was said to be indebted to a noble family, the titulars (lay impropriators of the tithes.) Mr. Rd was strongly impressed with the belief that his father had, by a form of process peculiar to the 824 law of Scotland, purchased these lands from the titular; and, therefore, that the present prosecution was groundless. But, after an industrious search among his father's papers, an investigation of the public records, and a careful inquiry among all persons who had transacted law business for his father, no evidence could be recovered to support his defence. The period was now near at hand when he conceived the loss of his lawsuit to be inevitable, and he had formed his determination to ride to Edinburgh next day, and make the best bargain he could in the way of compromise. He even went to bed with this resolution, and, with all the circumstances of the case floating upon his mind, had a dream to the following purpose. His father, who had been many years dead, appeared to him, he thought, and asked him why he was disturbed in his mind? In dreams men are not surprised at such apparitions. Mr. R-d thought he informed his father of the cause of his distress, adding, that the payment of a considerable sum of money was the more unpleasant to him, because he had a strong consciousness that it was not due, though he was unable to acquire any evidence in support of his belief. "You are right, my son," replied the paternal shade; “I did acquire right to these tiends, for payment of which you are now prosecuted. The papers relating to the transaction are in the hands of Mr. a writer, (or attorney,) who is now retired from professional business, and resides at Inveresk, near Edinburgh. He was a person whom I employed on that occasion for a particular reason; but who never on any other occasion transacted business on my account. It is very possible," pursued the vision, "that Mr. may have forgotten a matter which is now of a very old date; but you may call it to his recollection by this token, that when I came to pay his account, there was difficulty in getting change for a Portugal piece of gold, and that we were forced to drink out the balance at a tavern." Mr. R -d awoke in the morning with all the words of the vision imprinted on his mind, and thought it worth while to ride across the country to Inveresk, instead of going straight to Edinburgh. When he came there, he waited on the gentleman mentioned in the dream, a very old man; without saying any thing of the vision, he inquired whether he remembered having conducted such a matter for his deceased father? The old gentleman could not at first bring the circumstance to his recollec 825 Observations on Prefaces. 826 tion, but on mention of the Portugal piece | practice of improving their time by read of gold, the whole returned upon his memory; he made an immediate search for the papers, and recovered them; so that Mr. Rd carried to Edinburgh the documents necessary to gain the cause which he was on the verge of losing. The author has often heard this story told by persons who had the best access to know the facts, were not likely themselves to be deceived, and were certainly incapable of deception. He cannot therefore refuse to give it credit, however extraordinary the circumstances may appear. The circumstantial character of the information given in the dream, takes it out of the general class of impressions of the kind which are occasioned by the fortuitous coincidence of actual events with our sleeping thoughts. On the other hand, few will suppose that the laws of nature were suspended, and a special communication from the dead to the living permitted, for the purpose of saving Mr. R- -d a certain number of hundred pounds. The author's theory is, that the dream was only the recapitulation of information which Mr. R -d had really received from his father while in life, but which at first he merely recalled as a general impression that the claim was settled. It is not uncommon for persons to recover, during sleep, the thread of ideas which they have lost during their waking hours. It may be added, that this remarkable circumstance was attended with bad consequences to Mr. Rd, whose health and spirits were afterwards impaired by the attention which he thought himself obliged to pay to the visions of the night. OBSERVATIONS ON PREFACES. "A turnpike gate does not more certainly precede a town, than a preface precedes a modern book; and though both traveller and reader would often be willing to dispense with them, they generally obtrude a tax both on his patience and his pocket."-Preface to a Satire on Bristol, 1794. THERE are but few of my readers who will be disposed to object to the general pertinancy of the passage just presented to their notice, and with which I have thought fit to usher in my observations on this subject. It contains a manifest truism; and coincides, I have little doubt, with the ideas entertained by most individuals. That there is no part of books so much neglected, so seldom perused, by the bulk of readers, as prefaces, requires no argument to prove and were I to inquire of those individuals who are in the constant ing, whether they make themselves familiar with the prefaces to the books they read, I believe two-thirds of the number, to say no more, would reply negatively. "I hate prefaces (says Mr. Brooke, the author of that admirable and instructive work, the Fool of Quality,) I never read them. They stand like pales about a park: I generally overleap them, if I am told there is anything within worth seeing." Now, this is precisely the general feature of the case. The reader first overlooks these literary pales, and his curiosity and attention being raised by what is enclosed, he has no patience to come in at the proper entrance, but, bounding over, begins, without delay, to feast his mind on all that is presented before him. To compel a person to read a preface, is like making a hungry traveller wait while his meal is being dressed; both are dissatisfied at being unable to gratify their wishes. Even those who read these heralds of an author, are mostly in so great a hurry, as to forget what they contain as soon as they arrive at the conclusion. Authors themselves, I believe, are far from being delighted with the task of writing prefaces, since it involves not a little difficulty to render them at all delectable; hence arises the primary cause of their being neglected. They are for the most part trite, dull, and unsavoury; and therefore to expect any one to partake of a meagre dish, when he has a banquet before him, is as unkind as it is unreasonable. I am by no means of opinion, that prefaces should be entirely discarded; for did they reach to the standard they ought, they might, and, notwithstanding the aversion which exists to them, it is probable they would be read both with profit and delight. I am also apt to think, that an author is at a greater loss, and finds himself in more real difficulty, when he comes to write his preface, (if he desires to write a good one,) than he has been in composing the whole of the work to which it is prefixed. Be this as it may, it is certain that most authors, however excellent their productions in other respects, want the ability to produce popular and suitable prefaces. But custom compels almost every writer to say something, and it is too frequently the case, that he gets up whatever first occurs, let it be good or bad. "Custom (says the Rev. Mr. Jay) seems to have rendered it almost necessary for an author never to appear before the public without a preface, in which something, if not concerning himself, at least concerning 827 Observations on Prefaces. 828 his work, is looked for as a respect due to | sion of the work itself; and not a few inhis readers." But (without depreciating dividuals have been tempted from this Mr. J.'s opinion) if I mistake not, readers circumstance to peruse books which they in general would esteem it a mark of would not otherwise have read. But only greater respect, and fraught with more let dulness characterize your preface, and compliment, were the author to omit it the volume will be charged with the sins of altogether, without imposing on them a the introduction. There is no class of task with which few are enamoured. writings that require more novelty and spirit, and that can do with less of solidity, than prefaces; their object being to attract and captivate, rather than to improve. 3. Prefaces should also be, in general, specimens of the work they precede. They should illustrate and be in accordance with the nature and tenor of the latter, and should give the reader correct ideas of what he may expect from the following parts of the volume. A lively or satirical production should have a preface calculated to prepare the reader for the entertainment which will follow, but it would be absurd to place a similar preface before a volume of a serious or religious nature; and yet a preface which would be in accordance with the latter, may be rendered equally interesting, and descriptive of its character and tendency. A preface is of utility, as it enables an author to communicate any particular and important information to his readers, which, though bearing upon the work it precedes, would be incongruous if annexed to, or conjoined with it. Directions or suggestions for the better understanding or relishing it, are suitable to be contained in a preface; and the nature and design of the work may likewise be well introduced. But some prefaces are so saturated with apologies, compliments, appeals for mitigated criticism, public approbation, and with directions for judging the work according to the author's ideas, that the reader can pretty well anticipate the sage observations with which his author will treat him. Now, for this extraneous matter there can be little or no occasion. True criticism does not require to be informed how to judge; and spurious criticism is too opiniated and partial to receive admonition. Merit does not want to bribe the public mind; and though it sometimes happens that it is crushed and deplumed, yet in the majority of instances it is influential in propitiating the discerning part of men. 1. Prefaces should be as brief as possible. Nothing more frequently militates against their being read, than their immoderate length. An author should remember, that he is putting into requisition one of the quickest and most sensitive powers of the mind;-that his guest is desirous of entering in, and partaking of the repast which he has provided for him, and therefore should not be detained at the door with unnecessary salutations and ceremonies. To produce a short preface is the least a writer can do, to atone for writing one at all, and to prevent his labour being rendered inefficient by being passed over unread. 2. Prefaces should be novel and entertaining. Horace furnishes us with a rule, which, though applied by him to a different subject, is of universal application : 4. Prefaces should be the vehicles of truth. Some authors are too apt to admit into their prefaces extravagant hyperboles, and expressions which infringe on truth. This is a breach of moral rectitude; and by their representations being too highly coloured, or strained beyond what truth will permit, they disappoint and offend the reader. A preface should always be within rather than beyond the line; and if the reader finds that your performance rather exceeds than falls short of your statements, his approbation will be much more effectually secured. One of the ancient fathers, who, for the elegance of his latinity has obtained the appellation of the Christian Cicero, says, "Seipsa veritas illustraret suo lumine," (Lanctantius de Vita beata, c. 7.) "Truth will always illustrate itself by its own light,"-an aphorism as correct as it is beautiful. A tale is never so alluring as when told in truth. Real merit will mostly be particular in this respect, and it is generally to the inferior and less-talented part of the fraternity of authors we are to look for this defailance. Let a preface, then, be characterized by these four simple rules, and an author need not be under any apprehension that it will be passed over unnoticed, or noticed only with contempt and disapprobation. There is certainly among authors of genius an improvement with regard to the subject in question; but it is still a serious fault in the |