forgotten, or not immediately at hand. It is in the possession of the family. SALT AND ASHES, INSTEAD OF SUGAR, WITH tions concerning his family. This had the desired effect, and loosed the miller's tongue. He related to his Excellency, "that the mill had belonged to his father, that he inherited it as the eldest son. Two brothers were tradesmen, a sister was married to one of the same business; and God had blessed him We, enlightened Europeans, are not the with a family of four children." "So you only people who injure our constitutions by were three brothers," said the General.warm beverages; for this strange custom There were four of us," answered the mil-reigns among many other nations. The Monler (who did not wish to rank perhaps a fa- gols and Buraetes, as well as the inhabitants mous soldier with tradesmen and millers); of the Russian provinces bordering on China, the fourth enlisted as a soldier, but we have rich make use of brick-tea, which is preare extravagantly fond of warm liquors. The never heard of him, he must have been killed." pared from the leaves of a wild shrub in the northern provinces of China; and being formed, with the help of the blood of animals, into cakes, receives that name. The poorer classes drink infusions of indigenous plants, particularly of the bilberry, liquorice, and a very aromatic species of fern. But It is easy to conceive the effect this conversation produced on the other guests. Bauer would not notice their astonishment till he could raise it still higher, "Gentlemen!" he exclaimed, you were always anxious to know my origin. I was born here, and you have heard the history of my family." He then embraced the miller and his wife as their long-lost brother. The next day he regaled them all in the mill where he was born, made valuable presents to his relations, and sent the miller's only son to Berlin, who afterwards had the honour of propagating the name of Bauer. Sonntag's Russian Extracts. ANECDOTES FROM THE SAME WORK. At the coronation of the Tzars formerly, which very much resembled those of the Imperial Greek Court, a holy ointment was poured on the head, on both ears, the breast, the shoulders, the arms, and on the hands both inside and out. As the ointment was considered as sacred, the Tzar and the Patriarch were not allowed to wash themselves for the next seven days! The use of sealing-wax was not introduced before the 16th century into Russia, and was only used then in very friendly correspondence. About a century ago a Russian, in an official capacity at Krasnojarsk, in Siberia, was fined fifty roubles because he had sealed a letter to his niece with sealing-wax. To render these beverages more palatable and nutritious, they sometimes add fat, ineal, butter, or milk, but mostly Kudschir. This is a kind of white sulphate of magnesia, which the Buraetes like the better, the nearer it approaches to urine in taste. It is immediately boiled with the tea, or has been previously dissolved in tea-water; and renders the beverage thick and soapy. This salt is collected in the greatest abundance around the lake of Baikal. The Russians take commnon salt with their tea, and in lent add hemp-oil and ineal. The Buraetes, on the contrary, are so accustomed to the piquant taste of Kudschir, that, when it is not to be procured, they burn in a pan rotten brick-wood, or the brown bark of that tree, and put the ashes which contain carbonate of pot-ash into the tea. This addition is called Schutta, and often causes incurable disorders. PATRIOTISM OF A RUSSIAN DRUMMER. About fifty years ago, the Baschkirs revolted. Near Krasno-Uilimske (in the government of Perm) they had cut in pieces some companies of dragoons, and devised to take by treachery the fortress of Atschitskaja. They dressed themselves in the uniforms of the dragoons, mounted their horses, and In a letter from the Tzar Alexis Michaelo- marched towards the fortress. To keep up vitsch to Prince Tscherkasky, he says, "The the ruse of being really Russians, they had Prince need not acknowledge any obligation, spared a drummer, whom they ordered to as the letter was written in black ink." Won-play the dragoon march. On approaching the derful, to a person ignorant of ancient court fortress, the gates were thrown open; when etiquette! In the earliest times, the Greek the drummer, instead of the march, beat the Court always preferred red ink; and it became alarm. The garrison then perceived the so much in use among the Emperors, that treachery, and prepared for resistance. no Imperial rescript was valid without such a the Baschkirs could not make a regular attack, signature. The Tzars had introduced this and were obliged to retreat, they cut the poor custom, with many others, from Constanti ummer to pieces! His fate he might have nople. The letter is dated from the camp be-foreseen, and therefore his voluntary sacrifice. fore Smolensk, and probably the red ink was was the more praise-worthy. As ACCOUNT OF A THEATRICAL REPRESENTATION AT RIGA IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY. History only mentions one of the methods adopted by the priests of instructing the people. It is singular enough, but certainly not the worst of those times. It would be difficult to find any German company of comedians contemporary with that at Riga. In 1204, a piece was performed there entitled "An Epitome of the Old and New Testament dramatized." This was given with a view of converting the heathen, partly to confirm proselytes in their new religion through the pleasure of the senses, and partly to instruct them in the history of it. Baptized and heathen Liflanders flocked in great numbers to the theatre, and an interpreter explained the piece to them. It was probably in Latin; and nearly in the taste of those biblical representations performed in France and Germany during the 16th and 17th centuries. The number of actors must have been considerable (perhaps the chapter and the whole order were the Dramatis Person), as battles were introduced from the history of Gideon, David, and Herod. But the first outset was near being attended with serious consequences. When the Israelites, nader Gideon, were attacking the Midianites, the heathen part of the audience thought that the combatants meant to fall upon them; they there fore sought their safety in flight: but when they were convinced of their error, and had returned, the piece was concluded. Pieces of a like nature were afterwards prevalent in all parts of Europe; some of them will hereafter furnish entertainment to our readers. ACCOUNT OF THE ORDER OF THE HOLY ALEXANDER NEWSKOI. It was instituted by Peter the Great in 1722, but he died before any knights were invested with it. The first installation was by Catherine I. in June, 1725, at the nuptials of the Duke of Holstein with the Princess Anne. The ribband is dark red, and the cross of red enamel with golden eagles; in the centre oval is the figure of Alexander on horseback, in chased work. The star is of silver, with the initials S. A. (Sanctus Alerander); the motto, Principibus patriæ. The order is given to no one below the rank of a Lieutenant General. In the court almanack of 1789, there were 132 knights, among whom are the Kings of Prussia and Sweden. The anniversary is on the 30th of August, Old Style, and is celebrated with great rejoicings in the most considerable towns in Russia. The Empress generally proceeds en foot that day to the convent. ACCOUNT OF A FEMALE ORDER IN SIBERIA. [FROM GEORGI'S TRAVELS.] This institution is in the Government of Irkutzk, in the neighbourhood of the lake of Baikal. It is called Billyrhyn, and appointed for women who have buried three husbands. They cannot marry again, but become Sisters. Also widows, who survive their first or second husbands, can be admitted, if they vow never to marry again. This may be very easy to such as cannot find a lover. Young women are not received; as their parents sell them to their husbands, and consider them as a capital that is to produce a certain interest, before it is put into the funds. The order is, a band made of silk, velvet, or of a silver-stuff, mostly ornamented with coral; it hangs across the shoulder. Three round pieces of the same are attached to the lower part of the order, on which are sometimes fastened coins. The Sisters have the credit of sanctity. All the hair they comb off their heads is braided into tresses, and put into the bag which contains the Lares, or idols. These are images understood to represent their deceased husbands. ON HORSES AND OXEN USED IN FARMING. In our last Number we inserted a calculation of the number of horses maintained in Great Britain. The superiority of horses over oxen for the purposes of agriculture has been considered as undeniable by some practical men; but, as it is no more than fair to consider what may be said on the other side of the question, we insert the following article, taken from a provincial publication. The subject is of some importance to the Publie : but is not likely to unite all opinions in the present stage of the discussions which it has occasioned. "A South Down farmer in the neighbourhood of Lewes, who uses land to the amount of about £500 per annum, is so sensible of the advantages which are to be derived in agricultural pursuits from the employment of oxen instead of horses, that he has not one of the latter in keeping upon his whole farm. We know that many experimental and wellinformed farmers have expressed their doubts strongly upon this subject; but if any confidence is to be placed in the following comparative and important statement, think they must become converts to a practice from the general adoption of which the greatest national benefits might be derived. we Oxen will draw the plough on tough clayey soils, and hilly lands, while horses stand still; and though it must, in some instances, be admitted, that the preference is due to the horse, which, on light ground, will work faster, and for carriage possesses more suitable activity, yet when the great difference of maintenance is taken into the account, these are but ininor considerations. Oxen are supported at a small expence, the price of two horses being computed equivalent to that of nine oxen; whose food during the summer consists merely of grass, and in the winter of straw; upon which provender they will perform moderate labour, and when hard worked require in addition a little hay. On the contrary, the food of horses generally is hay, oats, beans, &c. The number of cart-horses constantly employed in Great Britain is calculated at 500,000, of which 300,000 are allowed by the most competent judges to be superfluous. These consume daily, upon an average, during nine months in the year, a peck of corn each, which amounts to sixty-three bushels per horse per annum; that is, allowing it to be wheat, and giving a quartern loaf per week to each person, computing only twelve loaves to the bushel, as much corn as would support seven persons; so that 300,000 superfluous horses, moderately fed, require for their support a quantity of corn sufficient to maintain 2,100,000 persons; which number, if the inhabitants of Great Britain amount to ten millions, is nearly one-fourth of the whole population. Warwick, Dec. 27, 1806. CURIOUS MACHINERY. Having in some of our former numbers alluded to the extensive employment of machinery, and its effects, we presume that it may be interesting to know to what extent the principles and performances of machines may be carried. The subject is important under several views. 1. As it respects the immediate members of any craft engaged in producing by hand that article which is to find a market in the world at large. If this article was of limited use, and restricted to the nation wherein it is made, very specious objections might be raised against the employment of machinery. This becomes still niore evident, if we suppose that only a single town, or a family, were to be supplied; for, in this case, why produce more than is wanted? 2. As it respects the welfare of a community wherein such machines abound; and the general effect which they are likely to produce, when distributed everywhere and in full operation. 3. The construction of machines affords a subject of interest to whoever delights in beholding the effects of intelligence. Bodily labour, task it never so severely, can only accomplish so much; but let the rational powers be called in, let mind be consulted, and the powers of bodily labour are lost in the comparison.Mind itself does not perform accumulated : labours; but it enables other powers so to do it controls their action, augments or diminishes it, varies it, changes it, and sometimes even reverses it. It derives from their obedience every result which bodily labour can produce, and multiplies these results almost infinitely. It realizes the ancient fable of Briareus with his hundred hands, all of them directed by the volition of a single head. It diffuses actions of which it is itself the principle, and gives all but life to inanimate masses of wood or metal. Nothing short of absolute impossibility can resist its endeavours. The following may serve as an instance :- (From Macpherson's Annals of Commerce.) In 1797, the manufacturing interests of Great Britain sustained a very heavy, and (as it has since turned out) perhaps, an irreparable loss, in the death of Mr. Stephen Dolignou, the ingenious inventor of a highly improved kind of weaving machinery, adapted to the manufacture of all kinds of stuffs, from the coarsest to the finest, and from the narrowest to the broadest The looms may be wrought by the power of wind, water, steam, weights, or animal strength and they differ from all other weaving machinery, in possessing (if I may be allowed the phrase) an instinctive capacity of knowing when any thread of the warp or weft is broken; in which case the loom, wherein such an accident has hap pened, ceases its motion, while the others, actuated by the same moving power, proceed in their work; thereby calling upon the person attending it to repair the damage, which being done, it immediately goes on as before. Six of these looms may with ease be attended by a girl of fifteen years of age, or by an infirm or aged person of either sex. This invention possesses the important advantage over most other species of machinery, for the abridgment of labour, that the general use of it can give no alarm to the people engaged in the manual fabrication of the goods which may be made by it if the art is laid open to the public; for a weaver who has been accustomed to work upon one loom may, as the expence of the machinery is moderate, easily set up six looms, to be wrought by weights or other moving power, and immedi ately furnish six times as much cloth, at half the former price of weaving, and earn three times as much as before. His increased profits may enable him very soon to set up six more, to be attended by his wife, or his children; and so he may proceed till he is master of a great factory. Thus the use of this machinery, instead of threatening them with the loss of employment, may in the very first instance be a blessing, and a fund of wealth to the British operative weavers, who need only such assistance to counteract the enormous expence of living, to enable them to become the manufacturers for the whole world. This most useful invention, which crowns and completes what Arkwright's machinery began, would, 'ere now, have enabled the British manufacturer to bring cotton from its raw state, as it dropped from the weighing engine, to a finished web fit for immediate use, all by the agency of a quiet and cheap working machinery, had the inventor been spared to establish his works on a scale sufficiently extensive. But this friend of mankind died February 7, 1797, soon after he had brought his machinery to a state of perfection satisfactory to himself; who, had he flourished in ancient times, would have been honoured with statues and altars, now lies in a village church-yard (Bedjes, near Hertford) without an inscription to record his merits, or even his name. A note in the same page contains the following additional information : A relation whom Mr. Dolignou instructed, with a view to make him his partner and successor in the business, understands the constraction and use of the machinery; and there are many young women, now dispersed in service and other employments, whom he taught to work on the looms; it is, therefore, not yet too late for any who feel themselves called upon by motives of patriotism, philanthropy, or interest, to act as the guardians of British manufactures, to produce beneficial and reputable employment to young women, or to improve their own fortunes by a most profitable branch of industry, to rescue this orphan manufacture from annihilation, and to nurse it up to maturity and strength, with great benefit to themselves, and incalculable advantages to the commerce, the wealth, and the power of Great Britain. MACHINERY FOR MAKING PAPER. In proof of the extensive power of machinery, we add the following instance in the manufactory of paper, as recently improved, and conducted by patent, by Messrs. Foudrinier, who thus express themselves :— "It is not a little remarkable, that an art of so much consequence to society as that of the paper-maker should have remained without any mechanical improvement till within a few years past. "From the first discovery of the fundamental principle of our mechanical process, till its arrival at its present high degree of perfection, we have been incessantly engaged on its improvement. We have pursued this interesting national object, during five years of experimental investigation, at an expense so great as would have discouraged most men, and even ruined any fortune of moderate extent. Our confidence in the principle has supported us, under long continued exertions and much anxiety of mind: it has encouraged us to spare no charge in obtaining the first mechanical skill to organize and dispose its component parts; and our success has at last exceeded our most sanguine expectations. "Our first machine was constructed at our mill at Frogmoor; we erected a second upon our mill at Two Waters adjoining, on a larger scale; and have lately built a third mill at St. Neots, where two machines of still greater magnitude will shortly be completed. The excellent performance of the two machines, which have been in a state of activity for the supply of the market for a considerable time past, has completely estab lished the proofs which a method, so different from the former mode, would naturally demand. By this new art, we manufacture paper of a width before unknown, and of unlimited length, in a state of very high per fection, and of any thickness, from bankpost to that of paste-board. The simplicity, speed, and power of our machines, render them of the highest value to the manufactu rer, and have excited the admiration of every professional and scientific man who has seen them at work. The machine performs the work of six vats in fourteen or fifteen hours. The proprietor whose business requires the labour of only one, two, or three vats, will be able to complete his quantity of work in a proportionate number of hours each day: therefore, the same men who have already attended the machine will easily do the duty of sizers, dryworkers, finishers, &c. The proprietor will thus conduct his business upon a very reduced establishment, as well as economical arrangement; the savings, as appears in the esti mate, being at least £509 upon each vat annually. 66 The proprietors must materially benefit from being able to suspend their mills as often, and for as long a period as they please, without being subject to the difficulty which masters frequently encounter, in procuring suitable journeymen when they desire to resuine business. The machine requires only the attendance of four men, who need not be acquainted with the manufacturing process, but who can be taught their duty in a few days. Heretofore, when a mill was stopped by an accident to the wheel or geers, or from any other cause, a very great expence was incurred, by a multiplicity of hands receiv ing wages although unemployed. Frogmoor and Two Waters are contiguous to Hemel-Hempstead, in Hertfordshire. "The machine possesses another peculiar advantage, by making good papers from pulp which has been beat for a shorter time than that which is used at the vat; and this is one reason that much more work is done in less time. "From the great pressure which the paper receives, it dries very quickly, therefore the proprietor will get his goods round and disp-ed of much sooner than hitherto; consequently, employ his capital to greater ad vantage. "We engage to deliver in nine months, or sooner if possible, from the day on which the order is received, a machine complete, such as will produce in twelve hours the same quantity of work as five vats. The paper will be without any mark of water drops or water bubbles, and equal in manufacture to that which is made daily in our mills at Two Waters and Frogmoor. We do not engage to deliver the stuff-chest, water-wheel, or to bear the expences attending the fall. We further engage to furnish correct plans for the construction of the stuff-chest, water-wheel, and fail, and to point out such workmen as are fully competent to carry those plans into execution. 66 Specimens may be seen, of every substance, quality, ́and dimensions." * In a mill containing five vats ten men may do the work of thirty, as done at the mills of the former construction. We understand the inventor of this ingenious machinery is a French artist, who not finding sufficient encouragement in his own country came to England, and offered it to the present proprietors. It may, perhaps, be proper to inform our readers, that the French Government, though aware of its utility, would not, or could not, give that pecuniary assistance necessary for the final completion of such an extensive undertaking; as, according to their present system, every thing is sacrificed in that free country to the splendor of the military, the maintenance of the senate, and the public functionaries, and the protection of that immense system of espionnage which pervades every spot of the Great Nation, and which, notwithstanding representations to the contrary, Bonaparte has found absolutely necessary for his safety to support, and which swallows up all the resources of the soi-disant republic. In short, commerce and trade there find no encouragement: here they sit enthroned, giving audience to the world." PRINTING-MACHINERY. An ingenious foreigner, a German we believe, has lately submitted to an eminent printer in London a plan by which that part of the printing business which is confined to the press, may be performed without requiring the assistance of more than a boy to each machine, which at present employs two workmen.- The machine is so constructed, that the impression of each sheet is invariably the same, the ink being always distributed in equal quantity, and with the greatest nicety, over the face of the type, and thereby is free from those blemishes which, from the carelessness of the workinen, we have hitherto too often met with, even in the best executed works. The plan, we understand, has been submitted to the Imperial printing-office at Vienna, and is about to be adopted there. PRINTING TYPES STRUCK BY MACHINERY. We also learn that an invention for forming the types used in printing, with an accuracy of form superior to any now cast, and at an inconsiderable proportion of the expence, is in progress, under the management of an eminent type-founder in this city. The proexpected speedily to appear. The nature of perty is secured by patent, and specimens are the machine, with its powers, will soon be communicated to the public. HISTORY OF THE ABBE PRIMI, AN ITALIAN ADVENTURER IN THE COURT OF LOUIS XIV. The Abbé Primi was born at Bologna; and was the son of a capmaker. Beside a good figure, he possessed a lively wit, and a determined resolution to make his fortune. With this intention he came into France, and at Lyons took his place in the diligence for Paris. One of his fellow-travellers happened to be a man of talent, named Duval, who took a liking to Primi. Among the travellers was one whose person was so offensive, that the others heartily wished to get rid of him. Duval attempted this service, and making use of Primi, after having concerted the scheme together, he inquired of Primi whether any credit might be given to the ru mour current in France, that there were persons in Italy who could foretell what would happen to an individual by only seeing his hand-writing? Primi answered, that although he could not take upon him to affirm the absolute infallibility of this art, yet it was often practised successfully; and that he himself having made this kind of study an amusement, had seldom failed of informing persons, from the inspection of their handwriting, what actually had happened, or what would happen to them. Duval appearing somewhat emboldened by the modesty of Primi, shewed him his handwriting. After having carefully examined it, the Italian enumerated, at great length, a variety of extraordinary events, diseases, successions, and gallantries: these Duval acknowledged to be true as to the past, and therefore he trusted in the truth of what was foretold him. The other travellers also sub.. mitted their writing to the inspection of Primi, who related to them what had already befallen them, which they acknowledged, and |