9. .75 cub. in. 12. sheep, as well as those of the flocks of Negrete and Escurial, were formerly 45. withheld from exportation, and retained for the royal manufactory of Gua dalaxara. The flock or cavana of Paular, consisted of 36,000 sheep.It originally belonged to the rich Carthusian monastery, of that name, near Segovia. Soon after the Prince of the Peace rose into power, he purchased the flock of the monks, with the land belonging to it, both in Estremadura and Leon. Accordingly, all the sheep are marked with a large M. the mark of Don Manuel. The sheep sent to England, were selected from eight subdivisions, in order to choose young, well-shaped, and fine-woolled animals. The total number embarked, was 2,214. Of these, 214 were presented by the Spaniards to some of his majesty's ministers, and 427 died on the journey, either at sea, or on the way from Portsmouth to Kew. His Majesty was pleased to take upon himself the whole of the loss, which reduced the royal flock to 1573, and several more have since died. The ewes were full of lamb when they embarked; several of them cast their lambs when the weather was bad at sea, and are in consequence so weak, that it is feared more will die, notwithstanding the great care that is taken of them. A few have died of the rot. This disease must have been contracted, by halting on some swampy district in their journey from the mountains, to the sea at Gijon, where, they were embarked, as one died of it at Portsmouth. There is every reason, however, to hope, that this distemper will not spread, as the land, on which they are now kept, has never been subject to its ravages, being of a light and sandy nature. Mr W. Cook, of Birmingham, has published some ingenious observations on the benefits that would result from the employment of an indigenous material, as a substitute for mahogany and other costly woods, used for furniture and the finishing of houses. The substitute which he proposes is iron. In bedsteads, for instance, the posts, as well as the frame, might be cast hollow; the former might be beautifully wreathed with flowers, festoons, or clusters of fruit, or embossed with numberless fanciful ornaments, which the workman might touch up with his graver and chisel, to clear them from the sand, and to make them sharp and neat before they go to the finisher. The painter might colour them, so as to give them a more handsome and elegant appearance, than it is possible to give to carved wood. This would furnish employment to numberless hands, and afford ample scope for ingenuity. Chests of drawers, bookcases and bureaus, might all be made of sheet iron. Such furniture would be made at a considerably less price, than articles of mahogany, it would not be heavier than wood; it would be more beautiful, and exclusive of the convenience for removal, as it might easily be taken to pieces, and all the parts screwed up again without injury, it would afford a great security against fire. The sheep lately sent over from Spain, as a present to his Majesty, are of the flock of Paular, one of the finest in point of pile, and esteemed also above all others, for the beauty of the carcase. The fleeces of these M. Delhy, a chemist of Amsterdam, has discovered a composition which he conceived, from its superior strength, would supersede the use of gun-powder. While lately employed, how 4. Sulphuret of antimony Calcined phosphate of lime 3. Nitrate of pot-ash 8. These being powdered, mixed, and triturated together, are put into a crucible, which is to be covered, and ex posed to a strong heat. During this operation, the oxigen of the nitric acid, attacking the sulphur of the antimonial sulphuret, converts it into sulphuric acid, which unites with a portion of the pot-ash, and forms sulphate of pot-ash. The remainder of the free pot-ash retains some antimony oxided to a minimum. The white powder is the same that is sold by the name of Dr James's. M. Pully asseris, that he has analized his powder to compare it with the other, and has found it to contain the same principles, and in the same proportions. Mr Sheldrake has invented an article of female dress, which he calls the Invisible Grecian Zone, for preserving the shapes of children or young persons who are approaching to maturity. General Prognosticks of the WEATHER. "The sov'reign of the heavens hath set on high "The moon, to mark the changes in the sky." I SIR, To the Editor. Take the liberty of handing to you some observations which I found in an anonymous work published in 1701, relative to the general prognosticks of the weather, and stated to have been "formed on twenty years experience." Some of your correspondents, curious on this subject, may feel pleasure in investigating it; and perhaps may take the trouble of submitting to your readers the result of their observatory. Much has been written on this branch, but as I am impressed with the belief that more is known to people resident in the country, and particularly to those who follow a sea-faring life, I shall feel gratified by your Magazine for information from those who may have it in their power to supply it, and I am, &c. Thursday prime, fair and clear. 2. Great store of snow and water in winter, foretell the spring and summer following will be generally fair MR [R Dalyell is already known to the public for his intimate acquaintance with Scottish history and antiquities, and as the editor of several works which tend to throw light upon these subjects. The present tract contains a good deal of curious information: it is not, however, merely for the sake of this information itself, that Mr Dalyell has drawn it up, but chiefly with the view of directing the attention of enquirers to a new source of authentic intelligence. This source, which Mr Dalyell considers as by far the most copious and valuable of any, is drawn from ancient manuscripts. He complains, however, that it has hitherto been very much neglected; and that writers have preferred the easier task of copying their predecessors, to the labour of searching for new materials, however valuable. Many causes indeed concur to render this last undertaking difficult and repulsive. These manuscripts are scattered in diverse places, and often of difficult access; they are written in an unusual character, with innumerable contractions, and ambiguous expressions.These obstacles prove too much for the patience of a majority of antiqua ries. Mr Dalyell, however, with the view of exciting their activity by a display of the treasures contained in this neglected mine, has given an analysis of one, in the Advocates Library, in which collection there are many others of equal value, and easily acces sible. This MS. is the Chartulary of the Abbey of Dunfermline, the most celebrated religious house in Scotland, and anciently the residence of the Scottish Kings. Its foundation is usually ascribed to Malcolm III. who died in 1093, and was interred within its precincts; certain it is, that it existed in the eleventh century. It flourished in great splendour for several centuries, till the period of the English wars, when it suffered considerably, and at the time of the reformation, shared the fate of similar edifices, and was reduced to a state of ruin. The account of the chartulary is preceded by a detail of some circumstances, which have at least a local relation to it. This abbey was long the place of sepulture for the Scottish kings, and hence it became an object of curiosity to examine whether it yet contained any remains of them.The result of this examination we shall give in Mr Dalyell's own words: Under In what is now denominated the Psalter Churchyard, a space which for merly constituted the floor of the eastern part of the abbey, are six flat stones, of large dimensions, all adjoining, and disposed in two parallel rows. these, according to history, and also tradition, the bodies of as many kings were deposited: here, likewise, the great altar is supposed to have stood, being close to the place of interment.But notwithstanding positive assurances of such facts, which to a certain extent are confirmed by the chartulary, as will afterwards be observed, they have which account it was lately considered sometimes been called in question; on peculiarly interesting, to ascertain whether any relics of the tombs or repositories of the royal remains, might still be 1 1 be extant. Therefore, having previous ly obtained the acquiescence of those who could have opposed the research, the middle stone of the west row, being the largest, was removed early on the morning of the 28th of July 1807. An early hour was preferred, on purpose to prevent interruption; for the walls surrounding the Psalter churchyard were insufficient to guard against the intru. sive curiosity naturally expected on the occasion. The earth immediately below the surface, and even to the depth of two or three feet, had the appearance of having been dug before, though perhaps at a remote period, and nothing whatever was found among it, excepting a few human bones, brittle and rotten. Under this, however, about four or five feet from the surface, a coffin, rudely built of small irregular pieces of sand-stone, along with a scanty portion of lime, and covered in the same manner with similar materials, was found, containing the skeleton of a full-grown person, pretty entire. Its position was not directly below the large stone, but one half of the length further west. It lay among soft humid clay, completely filling the coffin, from which the bones had imbibed so much moisture, that, on lifting a broken one, the water poured from the lower end as on squeezing a sponge. The head, or upper part of the coffin, towards the west, was contracted into narrow compass, just admitting the skull, which was quite fresh, and the teeth sound. washed among the rubbish where the earth was thrown out, a leaden plate was found, with a lion engraved on it, surrounded by Robertus Dei Gratia Rex Stotorum. It is now in the possession of the Earl of Elgin. P. 2. Mr D. is of opinion that this search ought to be carried to a considerable farther extent. Inscriptions and other remains of antiquity might then be found, tending to throw light on the history of Scotland. He is not of opinion, however, that the tombs, which were the original objects of the search, are now to be found; he conceives them to have been destroyed in the general wreck of the abbey. Mr D. now proceeds to the Chartulary, of which he gives the following description: The chartulary of Dunfermline is a folio volume, consisting of 169 leaves of vellum, wrote in an infinite variety of hands, from the middle of the thirteenth down to the middle of the sixteenth century. It contains above 600 deeds, of different descriptions, all arranged in the most irregular manner, of which towards 160 have been engrossed about the year 1250, or soon afterwards.-These constitute the oldest part of the chartulary. They are written in a strong distinct character, abounding with contractions, as may be observed in the specimen prefixed: the ink is black, and still retains its shining quali ty. The rubrics, or titles of the charters, are in red, and there are some letters illuminated. This coffin had certainly never been opened, and I am inclined to ascribe its structure to a more ancient date than the decease of the kings whose bodies are said to be deposited in the abbey; The first transcriber's design seems to for I do not conceive that any of them have been dividing this record into three are contained in it.-All the bones were principal parts. by classing together the returned to their original situation, and royal grants, those of dignitaries of the the pieces composing the top of the cof-church, and those of subjects. But other fin put over them. The morning, by this time, being far advanced, the whole excavation was filled up, and the covering replaced; which operation, as well as removing it, was a matter of considerable difficulty, as it is above nine feet long, more than one half as broad, and several inches thick. I have since been informed, that some time afterwards, when the rain had transcribers have altogether disregarded the intended order, and included later charters among the more ancient ones, merely from finding a vacant space; whence the chartulary exhibits a rude and uncouth appearance, though it is in general in an entire condition. It begins with the form of an appointment of a justiciar, to hold courts, and administer the laws within the territories of the abbey, which is written in a band of the 1 sixteenth century; and terminates with an obligation by the abbot, to prevent the inhabitants of Kirkaldy from buildind wind, water, or “hors milnis” within a certain district, dated 17 April 1557P. 8. The chartulary appears to have been begun in 1427; the first charter copied into it is by David I. who died 1153. There are frequent repetitions, as the monks were particularly careful to obtain the ratification of their donations from every successive king, as well as confirmation from the Popes. To every grant they were careful to procure the attestation of respectable witnesses, who, in earlier times, were sometimes women. Two countesses of Athol, and one Queen of Scotland, are found appearing in this capacity at different times. The privileges and gifts bestowed on the abbey, form of course an important article in such a document. Every thing employed for their use was freed from duty; the men belong ing to it were exempted from labouring at all public works, which were then performed by compulsory service. Besides the lands which it possessed in property, it held the superiority of many others, for which homage was paid to it. Any man on the territotories of the abbey, who committed a crime, could be repledged from the supreme criminal courts, and brought before that of the abbot. Even these trials, however, seem to have been conducted by jury. One donation, for which they at least apply, seems of a very singular nature. We shall give it in Mr D's words. About the year 1231, the abbot and monks signified to the Pope that there had formerly been thirty, but, in future, there were to be fifty; but the revenues of the monastery being insufficient for the expence of receiving strangers, visi tors, and the poor, they had been obliged to contract debts; therefore they besought the patronage of vacant churches, that the abbey might not suffer from inMay 1809. ability to support divine worship, and discharge the duties of hospitality, fol. 75. P. 13. How could the patronage of vacant churches improve their revenues, or enable them to discharge the duties of hospitality? Is it possible that church livings were thus publicly and avowedly the subject of sale?We think this deserves to be enquired into. One of the chief circumstances which raised this abbey to distinction, was its having for its tutelary saint Margaret, Queen of Scotland, who died 1203. That lady, in consequence of the miracles atchieved by her bones and relics, being considered as fully entitled to the character of Saint, a petition to that effect was transmitted to the Pope, with a statement of her claims. The Pontiff, however, shews a singular and amusing scrupulosity as to the evidence of these wonders. In 1245, he issued a bull to the bishops of St Andrews, Dunkeld, and Dunblane, "commanding them to make strict enquiry into her life, merits, and miracles, to reduce what was proved to writing, attested by their seals, and to transmit it by a trusty messenger." An attestation of the most ample kind was immediately sent; but the Pope, still unsatisfied, sent over a demand for new evidence. Evidence, however, was at last poured in so copiously, accompanied perhaps by arguguments still more weighty, as quieted the scruples of his Holiness, and induced him to grant the canonization required. Mr Dalyell has collected some in teresting particulars relating to the ancient condition of the labouring poor, who were generally bondmen. Among the most interesting facts preserved by the chartulary are those which. illustrate the state of the ancient inhabitants of Scotland. From various passa, ges, it is evident, that if the lower orders of peasantry were not actual slaves, they were but one degree removed from bond |