tains a delicacy of sentiment, and a sweetness of expression, which is scarcely to be met with, but in the most refined periods of society. The sentiment which prevails throughout, is that tranquility of mind which a good man enjoys, from a consciousness of the divine protection. This sentiment is finely illustrated by images which excite a correspondent disposition of mind. And it is almost impossible to read this Psalm without feeling a portion of the tranquility which it breathes. The Psalmist writes in the true spirit of the sentiment he describes. The images he introduces tend to soothe and tranquilize the mind. The fancy is transported to the calm scenes of the country, and is presented with the imagery of gentle streams, of a watchful shepherd, and a flock reposing in green pastures. The age of a shepherd and his flock, with which the Psalm opens, is not preserved throughout. But there is nothing introduced inconsistent with it. So that the imagery is quite free from confusion or per plexity. For the Belfast Monthly Magazine. Yet even then, my courage shall not fail, Since even then, my shepherd shall be nigh, And with his rod and staff shall aid supply. Sure whilst on earth I'll still God's goodness prove, And taste hereafter purer joys above. ON THE USE OF STRAMONIUM IN THE ASTHMA. IN the last London Monthly Maga zine, Dr. Sims gives an account of the first introduction of into England, in addition to the preStramonium as a remedy for asthma, ceding accounts: Some time in the year 1802, he received a specific for relieving the paroxysms of the asthma, from General Gent, who had procured it from Dr. Anderson, physician-general at Madras. Dr. Anderson had both recommended it, and used it himself. The specific is at Madras prepared from the roots of the wild purple-flowered thorn-apple, (Datura ferox). The roots had been cut into slips as soon as gathered, dried in the shade, and then beat into fibres resembling coarse hemp. The mode of using it was by smoking it in a pipe at the time of the paroxysm, either by itself, or mixed with tobacco, according as the patients were proviously addicted to smoking or not. Dr. Sims happened at this time to be attending a patient, labouring under phthisis pulmonalis, combined with asthma, as appeared to him from the frequent paroxysms of dif ficulty of breathing, not usual in pure phthisis, at an early period of the disorder. With a view of alleviating these distressing paroxysms, he recommended a trial of this remedy; the relief obtained was far beyond expectation, and, though gradually sinking under an incurable disease, this lady continued to experience great satisfaction in its use, almost to the fatal termination. He afterwards recommended this remedy to Mr. Toulmin, surgeon of Hackney, at a time when he was much harrassed by frequent W. F. paroxysms of the asthma. He re ceived so much benefit from its use, that after using all the Datura ferox he could procure, he was obliged to have recourse to our common thorn apple, (Datura stramonium), of which he had been advised to try the stalks, as the roots of this species are small and fibrous, Mr. Toulmin experienced nearly the same relief from this, as from the East Indian plant. He likewise tried the leaves, but could hardly distinguish these from tobacco, either in taste or effects. It is indeed highly probable that the Datura ferox and Datura stramoBium may have nearly similar virtues, but the one may perhaps be more efficacious than the other. Mr. Toul min has since mentioned that from his extreme dislike to tobacco, which the leaves appeared to resemble in taste, he bad not made sufficient trial to ascertain their virtues, but he thinks they certainly afforded him no relief. More care ought to be taken, (says Dr. Sims,) in the prepartion of the Stramonium than is usually done, The stalks ought to be cut into slender slips while recent, and dried quickly. In our climate, the general direction of drying in the shade, is injurious to most herbs; the quicker they are dried the more they retain of the taste and colour, and consequently of the virtues of the fresh plant. The whole plant is frequent ly sold as a remedy for the asthma, but it should be generally known that the leaves and more especially the unripe capsules and seeds of the thorn-apple, are a very powerful, nay even a deleterious narcotic, if taken internally, and probably cannot, in all cases, be even smoked with impunity. The leaves appear, from Mr. Toulmin's account, not to possess the same power of allaying the asthmatic paroxysm, as the comparatively mild and innocent stalks and roots. BELFAST MAG. NO. XXXIV. To the Editor of the Belfast Magazines AT Ta time when an inveterate and ever active foe threatens to destroy our admirable little islands, I was peculiarly delighted to receive a book a few days ago from a friend, wherein the great Napier of Mar chiston mentions a plan of national defence, which if carried into execution to the full extent of which it appears capable, bids fair to rid us of the trouble of both Bonaparte and France. He says, "The invention, proof, and perfect demonstration geo metrical, and algebraical, of a burn ing Mirror, which receiving of dispersed beams of the sun, doth reflect the same beams altogether united, and concurring precisely in one mathematical point, in the which point most necessarily it engendereth fire; with an evident demonstration of their error, who affirm this to be made a parabolic section. The use of this invention serveth for the burning of the enemies ships at whatever appointed distance.". Now sir, either peace must have been made at the time this invention was made public, or the British government must have been swayed by French influence, that's clear, or a plan fraught with such benefit would have been at once adopted. Tiernhauson, and Buffon, have shown what powerful effects a combination of mirrors to the size of 10 feet only produce, what would be the effect then if all the mirrors of Britain were united; a very trifling expense would construct a frame, capable of directing the of all the mirrays, tors of Britain against France, and the only inconvenience which could arise from ordering all the looking-glasses of Great Britain to be brought to Sussex, the most convenient position, would be, that the men would be obliged to go unshave ed, until the mirrors were returned, and surely no female would be so unpatriotic as to look with an unpleasant eye on any man, who were his beard for so great a purpose. Oh dear sir, by this powerful machine, what a delighted man must Mr. Malthus be! what future happiness to mankind, will not himself and his disciples see in the occasional use of this great machine. Now sir, before it had been made too pow erful, I would direct its rays on Paris, that hotbed of vice; what a glorious sight it would be, to those old gentlemen who in their youth made the tour of Europe, to find that their sons, would no longer be in any danger, from the seductions of the alluring females of that great metropolis: and what a delightfal day it will be to the good ladies of England, now that their sons will no longer be in danger of losing their virtue. I would begin in this partial manner, in order that the French might have some time to be frightened, and see the folly of all ther grand schemes of conquest, before I would exert the full powers of our heavenly machine. Let the bishops be all assembled, and let a stage be erected for the Duke of York; he especially will delight to see Dunkirk in flames. Now sir, my improvement upon Napier's plan, is for a great event. England being situated to the north of France, has nothing to fear if Paris is first destroyed, as it is now supposed no danger can arise from the knowing members of the national institute reflecting a portion of the rays falling from our machine back again; poor souls! their bones, by this time, are in a state of vitrification. of directing the machine,) will in presence of all the friends to the present established order of government, for care should be taken to prevent the Prince Regent, Sir F. Burdett, or indeed any such people being present, least their foolish notions of philanthropy might prevent this grand effort of British patriotism. With these precautions, there is little doubt but a few hours of bright sun-shine will for ever prevent any trouble from France; her forests destined for future navies, and her most splendid palaces will soon be transformed into gas, and the whole foundations of the empire with her 25 millions of inhabitants be reduced to perfect scoria. BRUTUS. When all is completely ready, the prime minister of England, dressed in his robes, (having been fust made acquainted with the mode For the Belfast Monthly Magazine. CHARTER OF CARRICKFERGUS. (Concluded from page 295.) AND furthermore, of our more ample special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion for us our heirs and successors, do give and grant licence, liberty, and authority unto the said inayor, sheriffs, burgesses, and commonalty of Knocktergus aforesaid, and their successors, that they and their successors may make, evest, have, and enjoy, and be able and of power to make, evest, have, and enjoy one passage, called in English a ferry, over the river, port, or arm of the sea of the river of Knockfergus aforesaid, that is to say, from the foresaid town of Knockfergus, and from any part of the town aforesaid, or of the county of the atoresaid town, adjacent upon the same flood, river, port, or arm of the sea, unto the lands of the upper Clandeboys, in the county of Down, together with ferry-boats, and all other things whatsoever requisite, happening or appertaining to such a passage to pass over and transport, and to repass and re-export all men, horses, and other things transportable, over the said water, river, port, or arm of the sea of Knockfergus aforesaid, from the land of the upper Clandeboys, or from any other part of the same, to the aforesaid town of Knockfergus aforesaid, and from the said town of Knockfergus, and from any part of the same town, and from the county of the town aforesaid, to the aforesaid land of the upper Clandeboys, and that the said mayor, sheriffs, burgesses, and commonalty of the town aforesaid, and their successors and assigns, from time to time for ever, may take, receive, have, and enjoy so many the like such, and the same freights, rewards, sums of money, and all other profits, commodities, and emoluments whatsoever, for the transporting all men, horses, and other things transportable over the aforesaid passage, (as many the like,) and that with any one having the like passage, doth take receive, hath, or may hath, or any other having the like passage, receive, have, or enjoy, or what they or any of them, ought to take, receive, have, or enjoy, for transporting of men, horses, cattle, or any other things in the like case, in any other passage within the kingdom of Ireland. To have, hold, and enjoy the aforesaid passage, freight, rewards, sums of money, and other the premises with their appurtenances, unto the said mayor, sheriffs, burgesses, and commonalty of the town of Knockfergus aforesaid, and to their successors and assigns, 10 the sale and proper use and behoof of them the mayor, sheriffs, and from our castle of Dubin, in free and common succoge, and not in capite, neither by successors, as succoge in capite, nor by knight's service, and we further will, and firmly command to be enjoined, that no other person or persons may ap point, erect, or make, or shall cause to be appointed, erected, or made any other passage over the said water, or river, port, or arm of the sca of Knockfergus aforesaid, which shall be to the annoyance or hindiance to the aforesaid passage, above by these presents formerly granted. And furthermore, of our more ample grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, for us, our heirs, and successors, we give, grant, and confirm unto the said mayor, sheriffs, burgesses, and commonalty of. the town of Knockfergus aforesaid, and to their successors for ever, the third part of all and singular our customs, as well great as small, to be divided into three parts, and all and several sums of money due and payable unto us, our heirs and successors, for such customs hereafter to be paid for and concerning any wares, merchandize whatsoever, from time to time, brought or carried, or to be brought or carried into our port of the town of Knockfergus aforesaid, or into any other port, bay, or creek, belonging or adjacent to the said town of Knockfergus, and being betwixt the sound of Fair Furlong, in the county of Antrim, and the Beerlooms in the county of Down, as also for and concerning all wares and merchandizes whatsoever, from time to time, shipped, loaded, or exported of, from, or out of the said port or haven of Knockfergus, or of, from, or out of any other haven, creek, or bay, or any other place within the sound of Fair Furlongs and Beerlooms aforesaid, or from any of them, always excepting out of this our grant and reserving unto us, our heirs and successors, the other two parts of the customs aforesaid, and of the sums of money due and payable, or from thence forth due, to be unto us, our heirs and successors, by reason of the said customs, And we further will, and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, do grant and confirm unto the said mayor, sherifls, burgesses, and commonalty of the town aforesaid, and to their successors, that it may not be lawful for any person or persons to enter or go aboard any ship, barque, or boat, coming to the town aforesaid, or the haven of the same, to buy or forestall any merchandize, without the special licence of the mayor of the said town for the time being, upon pain of forfeiture of €10, lawful money of England, to the mayor, sheriffs, burgesses and commonalty of the town aforesaid, and their successors for ever, as often as they shall offend in manner aforesaid, and we further will, that no man shall be attached or arrested, or cause to attach or arrest any man being in any houses of the mayor, sheriffs, burgesses, or of a freeman's of the same town, unless it be for some treason or felony, so long as he be or shail remain in the same house, and that no inhabitant of the aforesaid town, nor any other person or persons, shall salt, or cause to be salted, neither or any of them, hides or other merchandize, within the town or County of the town aforesaid, unless be be free in the town aforesaid. Neither yel shall any person or persons salt or compound auy herrings, or any other kind of fish, to be sold to any other person or persons without the licence of the mayor of the town aforesaid for the time being, first obtained upon pain of forfeiture of the said hides, merchan. dize, herrings, or other fish, to the said mayor, sheriffs, burgesses, and commonalty of the town aforesaid, and their successors, without ren dering any account, or any thing else to us, our heirs and successors, for the same, and that none shall buy any thing privily in the said town, out of the market or market. place, upon pain of forfeiture of the thing so bought, to the mayor, sheriffs, burgesses, and commonalty of the town aforesaid, in manner and form aforesaid. Aud of our more plentiful, spe. cial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, we have given and granted, aud by these presents for us, our heirs, and successors, do give and grant to the said mayer, sherifts, burgesses, and commoualty of the town aforesaid, and to their successors, that they and their successors for ever, may have, receive, and retain to their proper use and behoof, the customs of murage, cra nage, quay age, anchorage, and lastage of and for all ships and bar ges going in or coming out of the said haven of Knockfergus aforesaid, and of and for all merchan dize brought in or carried out of the said port of Knockfergus aforesaid, and the bays and creeks of the same, in as ample mauner and form, as our city of Dublin, or any other city or town within our realm of Ireland, now hath heretofore hath had, or hathu accustomed to have. And furthermore, of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, we have granted and have given licence to the said mayor, sheriffs, burgesses, and commonalty of the town of Knockfergus aforesaid, and to their successors, that they and their successors, from time to time, may be able to purchase and receive, lands, tenements, rents, and all other hereditaments, to the full value of forty pounds, current money of England, by the year, ultra reprizal, or under, but not above, so as the said lands, tenements, rents, and hereditaments, are not held from |