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James Somerset, an African slave, had been brought to England by his master Charles Stewart, in November 1769. Somerset, in process of time, left him. Stewart took an opportunity of seizing him, and had him conveyed on board the Ann and Mary, captain Knowles, to be carried out of the kingdom and sold as a slave in Jamaica. The question was-" Whether a slave, by coming into England, became free?"

In order that time might be given for ascertaining the law fully on this head, the case was argued at three different sittings. First, in January 1772; secondly, in February 1772; and thirdly in May 1772. And that no decision otherwise than what the law warranted might be given, the opinion of the Judges was taken upon the pleadings. The great and glorious result of the trial was, That as soon as ever any slave set his foot upon English territory, he became free.

REASON and SPEECH considered as inseparably connected with the Improvement of the HUMAN SPECIES.

THE

THERE is no circumstance in the character or condition of man, which distinguishes him more remarkably from the other inhabitants of the globe, than his being possessed of reason, and being capable of communicating his thoughts to others through the medium of language. These two important faculties stand so intimately connected with the improvement and perfection of his character, that, had he been destitute of them, he must have for ever remained in the same condition as nature at first placed him in the world. His history, instead of exhibiting a progress from barbarism to refinement, must have presented a continued and uniform scene, without leaving room for looking forward to any future period of his history, when his character might have attained a higher degree

of perfection. But constituted as he is; capable of directing his own conduct, and of regulating, in some measure, his own destiny; and furnished with the means of communicating his thoughts, not only to those around him, but likewise to those who are separated from him by distance of place, and even to succeeding generations ; we may look forward with confidence to some future period of his history, when his advancement in knowledge, and the triumph of true philosophy over prejudice and error, shall have elevated his character to that degree of perfection which nature evidently intends it to attain.

The progress of human society, during past ages, surely furnishes solid ground of confidence, that these suggestions, with respect to the future improvement of the species, shall, at one period or other, be realized. That there was a time when man was an inhabitant of the woods, the history of nations fully demonstrates; and many of the institutions which have existed among them can be traced to no other origin. But though at this early period of his existence he seemed but little superior to the other animals ; though every faculty of his soul, as yet, lay buried in obscurity, and the divine spark of reason seemed scarcely unfolded; yet, no sooner had he emerged from this state of barbarism to enjoy the blessings and sweets of society, than every faculty of his mind began to expand, and the dawn of his reason seemed to presage the lustre of meridian day. The sphere of his observation being thus enlarged, and a wide field opened for the exercise of reason, that noble faculty, which, at first, seemed designed only to direct the savage in using the proper means of procuring subsistence, and of defending himself against the wild beasts of the forest, was found adequate to effects no less astonishing for their magnitude, than important for their utility. The picture which human so

ciety.

ciety, accordingly, at present exhibits
to our view, is calculated to excite in
the mind the most pleasing hopes,
with respect to the future improve-
ment of mankind. Science, civiliza-
tion, and liberty, though not univer-
sally, are, however, widely diffused;
and are daily extending, more and
more, their benign influences. Tho'
the aims of ambition may indeed for
a while interrupt their progress, yet
the present state of society seems such
as is calculated to secure it against
the baneful effects of ignorance and
despotism, which have so frequently
proved fatal to the other improvements
of many ages. But have mankind pro-
ceeded thus far, and shall they proceed
no farther? Is every branch of sci-
ence now complete; and is no disco-
very left to reward the persevering in-
dustry of future enquirers? On the
contrary, though much has already
been done, much more still remains to
be accomplished. In almost every de-
partment of science, phenomena occur,
for which we are unable satisfactorily
to account; and were we even able to
connect, under general laws, all the
facts with which we are already ac-
quainted, we should have no reason
to suppose, that the progress of hu-
man improvement would terminate
here. If we may judge from the past
history of the sciences, our advance-
ment in knowledge would unquestio-
nably serve only to discover to us
other relations, perhaps more compli-
cated and surprizing than those we
have already been able to explain.
Thus it appears, that while the lower
animals, under the guidance of a blind
impulse of nature, are destined for ever
to run the same round of action, the
faculty of reason in man lays the foun-
dation of a progressive and continued
improvement.

The human character is indeed as yet far from being perfect; and appears, at the present time, disgraced by many crimes, from which it was altogether free in the earlier period of

society. But is this to be considered
as the natural and necessary conse-
quence of civilization and refinement?
Certainly not: on the contrary, the
sublime discoveries in the natural and
moral sciences, which the faculty of
reason has enabled us to make, have
opened to us innumerable springs of
the purest delight and instruction;
calculated to elevate the mind, and to
inspire it with the noblest sentiments
of virtue. Though man, by his na-
ture and constitution, be destined to
look upwards, yet he is sometimes apt
to become grovelling, and to forget
the real dignity of his character. But
the sublime objects, which science
presents to his view, have a direct ten-
dency to purify the soul, and furnish,
to the active principle within him,
such employment as tends to render
him less apt to attach himself to ob-
jects unworthy of his attention. So
powerful and extensive is the influence
which reason possesses over the whole
human character, that we may with
confidence assert, that the more this
noble faculty is cultivated, the higher
will man rise in the scale of existence.
Though his character be as yet im-
perfect; though, when we contem-
plate human affairs, we have cause to
lament that the feuds and jealousies of
nations should still force men to em-
brue their hands in the blood of each
other; may we not look forward to
some future period, which shall unite
in peace those who now divide the
world with their contests; when phi-
losophy shall have produced its full
effects in civilizing mankind; in res-
training, within proper bounds, their
passions and inclinations; and when
each individual shall seek his own
happiness, not in the misery, but in the
happiness of his fellow.

But reason without language would strive in vain; and without the assistance of the latter faculty, unavailing indeed would be the efforts of the former. The improvement of society, and the advancement of knowledge,

are

are not to be considered as resulting from the separate efforts of individuals; but from the reason of the whole species. Hence it follows, that these important effects could never have been produced, unless mankind had enjoyed the means of carrying on an intellectual commerce with each other. The discoveries which were made in science, even by the mighty soul of Newton, were prepared by those of Galileo and Kepler; and Bacon had previously pointed out the way in which discoveries were to be made. It is by means of language, that the improvements and discoveries of each generation are transmitted to the succeeding; and serve as an eminence, from which posterity may begin their flight. The light of reason thus becomes concentrated, and illuminates, by its splendour, every thing around it.

Though language had nothing to recommend it, but the circumstance of its being the vehicle of the most extensive information, it could not fail to appear of inestimable value. But its value is enhanced in no inconsiderable degree, as it is likewise capable of being rendered the source of the most refined enjoyment. Tho', in its ruder state, its scanty vocabulary can scarcely supply the savage who employs it, with a sufficient number of terms, to converse about the simplest occurrences that come within the sphere of his observation; yet, when polished by society, it enables him, not only to express the most complicated ideas with perspicuity and precision, but likewise to exhibit them in such a dress, as to excite in the mind the most pleasing sensations. This circumstance adds to the influence of the poet to please, and of the orator to persuade. It is true, indeed, that splendid expression will not, in the least degree, make up for deficiency in thought or in sentiment; but when supported by the requisite knowledge

of human nature, and a sufficient store of ideas on the subjects we have occasion to discuss, correctness and propriety of language, cannot fail to give a command over the opinions and sentiments of those whom we address, which no other means could possibly communicate.

The faculties of reason and speech are progressive in the individual, no less than in the species. In the earlier period of life, as well as of society, the faculties of the mind lie dormant, till, by external circumstances, they are called forth into action. And it is only by frequent exercise that they are at length fully developed, and brought to maturity. Nature has placed the object in our view; she has furnished us with the means of obtaining it, but has, at the same time, left much to be accomplished, by persevering industry and application.This remark is applicable to no faculty of the human mind, with more propriety, than to the faculties of reason and taste. Nature has indeed rendered us capable of directing our conduct in performing the common duties of life. But would we rise to higher accomplishments, by the force of reason, to comprehend by what means the interests of a state are to be promoted; and by the powers of eloquence, to persuade men to put these means in execution; the seeds which nature has sown must be cultivated with care: it is only by devoting many days and nights to laborious study, that the statesman and the orator can expect to rise to eminence and respectability in their professions. Thought the hill of knowledge, when once ascended, be indeed full of goodly prospects; yet the experience of every student teaches him, that it is, at first, of difficult access, and that he must not expect to partake of the pure pleasures of a refined taste, without pnrchasing them by laborious exertion.

Lawlace.

Me

Memoirs of the Progress of MANU FACTURES, CHEMISTRY, SCIENCE, and the FINE ARTS.

MR.

R J. WRIGHT has invented a portable artificial horizon for taking altitudes either by sea or land. With this instrument and a quadrant, varying from those of the usual construction in having a larger horizon glass, the silver surface larger, and a different sight vane, the meridian altitude of all bright stars, as they come to the meridian, may be taken; by which means the latitude might frequently be found by observations at night, and with as much ease as by the sun at noon day; the altitudes of the moon and stars to correct the lunar problem for the longitude will also be more accurately and easily taken with it. For altitudes of the sun or moon, and for all terrestrial objects, an octant of the ordinary construction will answer every purpose.

Mr R. Buchanan, of Glasgow, states the following instances in which heat supplied by steam has been used to advantage. Mr Richard Gillespie finds in its effect very excellent copperplate calico-printing, and for heating callenders at his works. For this last purpose, and to warm his warehouse and counting house, the steam is conveyed to a distance of above ninety-three yards. Mr Lounds, at Paisley, has for a considerable time used the heat of steam with great success in drying fine muslins, and Messrs. Ley, Mason, and Co. use it now also at their bleaching works, at Aberdeen. Messrs. Muir, Brown and Co. of Glasgow, have found the heat of team to answer much better at their dying and bleaching works, than the usual mode by stoves. They formerly gave out their pullicates, a kind of chequered cotton handkerchiefs, to profes ed bleachers to be bleached, but they never had the colours of those articles in such perfection as

they now have, since they used steam for them. Mr Buchanan concludes with recommending steam for warming the bed-rooms of large inns and hotels, large warehouses and shops, churches, hospitals, and other public buildings.

The production of fire, by the mere compression of atmospheric air, was a fact first observed about three years ago in France. This curious discovery has lately been applied to practical utility in this country, by) means of an instrument which answers all the purposes of that wellknown article in domestic economy, a a tinder-box. It consist of a common syringe, about ten inches long, and not more than five-eights of internal bore. At the lower extremity it is furnished with a cap, which serves as a chamber, to receive the substance to be fired, and is attached to the instrument by a screw. Instead of this cap, a common stop-cock may be employed.

To use the instrument the cap is unscrewed, or the stop-cock turned, a small piece of amadou or common tinder, is placed in the chamber and the cap is screwed on again. If the piston of the instrument be now depressed with as quick a motion as possible, the condensation of the air is so active, as to set the amadou on fire.

Mr George Singer is constructing an electrical apparatus with a cylinder, 18 inches in diameter, which, from experiments made with cylinders of nine and fifteen inches diameter, promises to afford at least equal intensity and regularity of action with plate machines. A series of experiments will be shortly instituted on this apparatus, and their results communicated to the public.

An immense heap of fossile bones, supposed to be those of the rhinoceros, elephant, and hyena species, has recently been discovered at the foot of the Harz mountains, between Dorst and Osterode.

In the report which the class of mathematical and physical sciences, of the institute of France, published of its proceedings in 1807, mention is made of a new improvement in the Newtonian reflecting telescope. This improvement consists in placing the small plane mirror, in the middle of the telescope, perpendicularly on its axis, and not obliquely, which diminishes by one half, the length of the reflector. The astronomer Schubert was directed to examine it, and the following report by him is inscribed in the registers of the academy :That this very ingenious invention afforded a more simple method of constructing telescopes of larger dimensions than any hitherto made, and yet convenient for use: that it was astonishing that no person should have before hit upon the same idea, which resulted from the principles of the Newtonian telescope; and finally, that a reflector constructed according to this method would not only have the advantage of diminished length, over those of Newton and Herschel, but would likewise permit the observer to place himself in front of the object he is desirous of examining, and to take a convenient position which he has afterwards no occasion to change.

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river without a bridge at the head of Loch-Streven, an arin of the sea which enters the country from the kyles of Bute. It was now growing late, while we had yet another ridge of hills to go over. We were all entire

strangers to the country; and the day, which had always been fair at intervals, terminated in a torrent of rain accompanied by a tempestuous wind blowing straight in our faces. Thus we were soon in our usual state, drenched to the skin and mud to the knees; and had nearly precipitated ourselves over a broken bridge in the dark, which would have terminated our journey at once.

At a late hour we

reached Glendaruel, in a miserable pickle; and as we had not yet in the least suffered for want of accommodation, we thought our lodging intolerable. It is a large house, and appears to have been a good house, but is badly kept, and quite out of repair: the partitions were full of chinks, by which the wind had free ingress; and the door having no fastening, we were obliged to barricade it with chairs, which was one continual source of uneasiness; and it was not till after two high disputes betwixt Mr G. and the house that they could be prevailed upon to bring us any fire; alledging as an excuse their extreme scarcity of fuel. When it was brought, our hearts indeed were cheered with agreeable hopes of sometime having a fire and our eyes by a thick piping smoke, but the outward man continued shivering as if in a fit of the ague. We got as good a supper as the inn could afford; and the fall of rain being nothing abated next morning, we tarried until mid-day. Mr L. who is fond of experiments, persuading himself that he had discovered a much

more invigorating aliment, and one a great deal more eligible for travellers than those generally used for breakfast, instead of joining us at tea, ordered a dish of paritch, or oatmeal croudy, and porter, to be brought

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