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Method of detecting Vitriolic acid in vinegar and sugar of lead in wine. London Monthly Mag. No. 207.

A small quantity of acetite or sugar of lead dissolved in water, dropped into a glass of the vinegar sus pected of containing vitriolic acid.

will make the whole white and

milky, if this be the case; but if the vinegar be pure it will remain transparent.

Vitriolic acid is on the other hand a no less ready test for discovering acetite of lead in wine; for upon adding a few drops of it, to a glass of wine, if the wide contain acetite of lead it will become turbid, but if not it will remain transparent.

The latter practise, which is used to restore pricked wines, is most injurious to the health, and deserves a most severe punishment. The adulteration of vinegar with vitriolic acid, though not injurious to health, is most destructive to the teeth and it is probable that the present great frequency of the toothache is oecasioned by the frequent use now made of mineral acids and salts in food and medicine.

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From several papers which hare appeared in the London Magazine, it seems now fully ascertained, that stramonium, soaked in a tobacco Pipe, gives most certain relief in fits of the asthma.

Stramonium, called commonly THORN-APPLE, grows spontaniously; and in many gardens is reckoned a weed and thrown out: It may be raised by sowing the seed in March and April, on light rich earth, exposed to the sun. The stalk as well as the root, may be used for smoking; and the latter requires no other preparation, but to be dried gradually, have the mould bushed off, and be cut into small pieces. The smoak is to be forced into the stomach by swallowing, without holding the nostrils, or any other efforts. Several cases have been published proving the astonishing effects of this simple remedy; and it is now so much valued, that 24 shillings bas been given this year for a pound of it in London, where formerly a large bundle of it could be obtained for three pence.

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS,

GREEK.

Corruption. Three former parts likewise

ARISTOPHANIS Comadia ex optimis by the same author.

examplaribus emendate; cum versione Latina, variis lectionibus, &c. 2. Rich. F. P. Brunch, £2. 12s. 6d.

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A Prractical Treatise on the Rights and Duties of Juries, and on the Criminal Laws of England; by Sir Richard Phillips,

7s.

MEDICINE, SURGERY.

Osteologia, or an Anatomical Description of the Human Bones, with 14 plates, 10s. 6d.

Anatomical Descriptions of the Arteries of the Human Body, illustrated by several coloured engravings, selected and reduced from the Icones of Haller, 158.

Pharmacopeia Officinalis Britannica; being a new and correct translation of the

London Pharmacopeia, 10s. 6d.

Description of the Treatment of an Affection of the Tibia arising from Fever; by Thos. Whateley, Surgeon, 2s. 6d.

The Modern Surgeon, or Plain and Rational Rules for the Direction of Practice, 99. 6d.

NOVELS, ROMANCES.

A Winter at St. James', or Modern manners; by Mrs. Hamilton, £1.

The Irish Valet, containing Anecdotes of several eminent Characters; by the Late C. H. Wilson, esq. 5s.

The Loves of Celestine and St. Auberts: a Romantic tale, founded on facts; by Charles Phillips, 10s. 6d.

5s.

St. Irvine, or the Rosicrucian, a Romance,

Fatal Ambition, or the Mysteries of the Caverns; by A. N. Forster esq. 15s. Isadora of Milan, 5 vols. 258.

The Black Banner, or the Siege of Clagenfurth, a Romantic Tale, 21s.

POETRY.

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The New Annnal Register, or General Repository of History, Politics and Literature, for 1810.

A Letter to Dr. Willis, designed to rouse the feelings of a humane nation to the miseries of private mad-houses, by Ann Mary Crowe, 2s.

An exact reprint of Watson's complete Angler, 12s.

A New Biographical Dictionary of the Lives and Writings of the most eminent persons in every age, by Stephen Jones, 6s. 6d.

An Account of some recent Transactions in the colony of Sierra Leone, by John Grant, late member of council in that colony.

The Passions humourously delineated by the late Timothy Bobbin, esq. author of the Lancashire Dialect, with 25 plates, £1 6s. The Female Speaker-Miscellaneous Pie

The old Bard's Farewell, a Poem; by ces, by Anne Barbauld, 5s. Mr. Jerningham 2s. 6d.

The Lay of the last Minstrel, Travestied, 9s.

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Thoughts on the Emancipation of the Roman Catholics, by Mr. James Crowby, formerly a student in the college of Maynooth, 18.

Hints for a reform in the Criminal Law, in a letter to Sir Samuel Romilly, 1s. 6d. A Collection of entertaining Valentines, entirely original, by a Lady, Is. 6d.

The art of preserving for many years all kinds of Substances, Animal and Vegetable, from corruption-from the French of M. Appert.

Smith's observations on the utility, form, and management of Water Meadows; on draining and irrigating Peat Bogs, and o ther rural improvements, 8s.

The Florist's Directory: a complete treatise on the culture and management of Flowers, by J. Madocks, £1 1$.

An account of the conquest of the island of Bourbon, with a view of its Agriculture, population, &c. £4 6s.

The General Gazetteer, originally compiled by R. Brookes. M.D. fourteenth edi

Number 1st of the General Chronicle, and tion, 12s. Literary Magazine, 2s. 6d.

By-gane Times and Late-come Changes, or a Bridge-street Dialogue, 3s. 6d.

The Universal Cambist and Commercial Instructor; being a full and accurate treatise on Exchange; including the monies, coins, weights and measures, and paper currency of all trading nations, by P. Kel ly, LL.D. £4 4s.

BELFAST MAG. NO. Xxx,

Practical Electricity, and Galvanisın ; by John Cuthbertson, 10s. 6d.

Exploratory Travels through the Western Territories of North America; by Zebulon Montgomery Pike, major of the 6th regt. of U. S. Infantry, l. 16s.

Remarks on the Calamut, or Sacred Pipe, called by the Indians of the Missouri, the Gift of the Sun.

A Regent not a King; or Necessity of the basis and limit of Proceedings, in the appointment of a Regent, 1s. 6d.

The Consequence of the French Revolution to England considered, by Wm. Burt,

68.

Observations on the Natural History, Climate, and Diseases of Madeira; by Wm. Gourlay, M.D.

Notice. A volume of Poems, by James Stuart, is shortly to be put to press, in Belfast, to be comprised in 170 or 180 pages, price, to subscribers, 7s. 6d. in boards, to be paid for on delivery of the book. Subscriptions are taken in by the respective booksellers, and by others, in se veral of the towns of Ireland.-Specimens of the poetry have frequently appeared in the Belfast Commercial Chronicle.

AS

MONTHLY RETROSPECT OF POLITICS.

S a subject of prime importance, we shall notice in the first place, the sentence passed in this month by the court of King's Bench in London, on Peter Finnerty, for a libel on Lord Castlereagh, by which he has been added to the list of those, who are now suffering a long imprisonment in several gaols in England. It may be recollected that in 1809, he accompanied the unfortunate expedition to Walcheren, for the purpose of publishing an account of the transactions there, but was sent home in consequence of orders transmitted from government. Suspecting that Lord Castlereagh had been the cause of this order being issued, on his return he published some severe observations on him, and to account for the minister's enmity towards the author, he adduced some instances of former conduct towards himself in heland, and reprobated Lord Castlereagh's general conduct while he was in office in this country, as secretary to the Earl of Camden, and the Marquis of Cornwallis. A prosecution for a libel was instituted against him, and finding he would not be permitted to bring forward the truth of the libel as a

justification, he suffered judgment to go against him by default. The

law of libel is founded on a curious fiction, that libels have a ten

dency to provoke to breaches of the peace. Hence arises the strange maxim, that the greater the truth, the greater the libel, and the consequent greater danger of the peace being broken, or as a woman once sarcastically and wittily observed, that a person with a red nose would feel greater anger on being reminded of that circumstance, than it she were conscious that the reproach did not apply to her.

On being brought up to receive sentence; Peter Finnerty adduced an affidavit comprising a number of o-. thers, which he had lately collected in Ireland, as to the conduct of Lord Castlereagh in 1797 and 1798, that as he was not allowed to justify, he might have those affidavits received in mitigation. But he was overruled by the court, and sentenced to be imprisoned for 18 months in the gaul of Lincoln, and find sccurity for his good behaviour for five years, himself in £500, and two sureties in £250 each, and be further imprisoned, till that security be procured.

The attorney general in his specch in aggravation of punishment is stated to have asked, who is this Peter Finnerty, who sets himself up. against Lord Castlereagh? Leaving this question to be answered by our readers; we will say that there are those who would prefer Peter

Finnerty's feelings on the evening of the trial, and in his prison, to those of the prosecutor, smarting under the exposure, which the reading of those affidavits produced.'

"And more true joy exil'd Marcellus feels,

Than Cæsar with a senate at his heels."

But do the people of Ireland, find that nothing more is due to their intrepid supporter, and the unfolder of former scenes than bare thanks? Governments do not so reward their advocates, and the people should be no less generous. A man dependent on his literary exertions, must forcibly feel that his means are lessened by imprisonment, and a generous country should solace the prison hours," of those who risque much in vindication of liberty. On the Irish people, Peter Finnerty has strong claims, and we earnestly recommend to them liberally to subscribe to his support.It is a debt of honour and of jus

tice.

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The town of Belfast, and the province of Ulster would act with becoming spirit by early stepping for ward to second the exertions making in London, to indemnify him, in promoting an honourable recompense, honourable alike to the receiver and to the donors, *

We are informed that bank of England stock lately rose 10 per cent on the expectation of the preAs subscriptions frequently require only to be once set a going, that they may succeed, and that arranging a plan is sometimes the greatest difficulty, we venture to propose that all who chuse to contribute may send their subscriptions to Robert Tennent, Belfast, John Hancock, Lisburn, and James Nicholson, Bessbrook, near Newry. The sums received, will be acknow ed in this magazine. He who subscribes in proportion to his ability, need not be ashamed of his name appearing with the smallest sum.

For subscriptions already received, see the gotice at the end of the Documents.

sent ministry continuing in office, and that the proposal of the Bullion committee to remove the restrictions on paying in specie in two years would not be acted upon. a contiThis is a calculation on nuance of the present wretched system of paper currency. If left to itself, its duration cannot be expected to be long. A circulating medium not bottomed on the precious metals, contains within itself the seeds of speedy dissolution. In the present advanced state of commerce; any substitutes of iron, land, and articles liable to continual fluctuations in value, will not answer instead of gold and silver, which from their more stationary value, arising from their scarcity, and a conventional agreement in commercial countries, only possess the stability, which is fitted for the basis of a circulating medium..

Although the apathy of the public may, in great part, be ascribed to its frequent experience of misplaced confidence in political parties, when once they get possession of power, yet we are inclined to think, that this national insensibility to the most interesting subjects, is, in no trifling degree, connected with the now universal substitution of a new commercial medium, new we mean, in the extent of its circulation, through all ranks of the community. Every holder of bank notes is a creditor, and becomes, in the ratio of this sort of property he possesses, implicated with the whole system, and interested, from selfish motives, in its stability throughout all its relations and dependencies. When indeed it was in the power of the holders of bank-notes, instantly to receive payment in specie at the bank, a full satisfaction ensued in the mind. of the creditor; the power, repressed) the will or wish of demanding payment, and gave a self-confidence, air

assurance, a fearlessness, an erect hess of mind closely connected with freedom of political opinion: but from the moment the restriction of cash payments took place, the mo. nent that paper was repaid by paper, the public seem to have bent downward into the alarm, and pusillanimity of a debtor rather than of a creditor. "Our all is bound up now in the paper system. Let us shut our eyes and ears against every thing that may shock a system in which we are now involved as part ners," and thus the energies of the great Gulliver, or the great GULL, have been tied down to the earth by millions of these Lilliputian cords. The people, at large, now form the lowest grade of the paper circuJation, and are placed, as it were, under a new modification of society. It is not merely the multitude of private banking-houses in every town, we may say village in England, with all their directors, clerks, runners, &c. which have, of late, become attached to things as they are, and being incorporated, as it were With the paper firm, if so it may be called, have, in consequence, been transformed into alarmists, with respect to the danger of change, and the hazard in making things as they orght to be. It is not even those ousands in the middling ranks of hfe, who wrote, or spoke, or acted for a reform in parliament, and who are now tied by the purse strings to the paper-system, that have shrunk into political quietism, and ale mere orators-mum in the shifting scene of the day. The primary connection between the minister and the directors of the national-bank, is indeed propagated downward through all the ramifications of the papersystem, and all the multiplied private banks, those miniature boards, at which their directors sit in the plumage of office, and often in the pal

pitation of insecurity. In both states, they become more and more attached to the present political systen, and more panic-struck at any movement to a change.

But not only these subaltern orders of men, newly organized throughout the nation, not only these numerous centres of influence, but the national character itself is changed by the same means; and the whole mass of the people, since paper has filled up the whole circulation, partakes of the same tremulous disposition. The British oak, with its massy and wide-stretched branches, has changed into an aspen tree of numerous leaves, shaking fearfully with every passing breeze.

Whatever may be said on the subject, Gold obtains the full faith of the possessor, and a certain pride of mind connected with that confidence, which is favourable to the freedom of political conduct. Guineas are noun substantives. They give a feeling of security, a perfect independence of chance or change, " in seipsos toti teretes atque rotundi."Bank-notes are a sort of relatives, that depend on this and that external circumstance-a sort of distrust hangs about them, which even influences character, by inspiring a timidity, or at least a susceptibility of alarin. It is often surprising to what apparently trivial and minute causes, great effects are ascribable, both in the conduct of individuals, and even of large communities. In some situations they will not face the darkest brow of danger. In others," the sound of a shaken leaf shall chace them."

In another point of view, generally in another condition of life, but sometimes (such is wonderful human nature) in the very same individual, this paper system generates a carelessness, a prodigality, a moral depreciation, which precedes,

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