direction under it. While these clouds are agitated with the most rapid motions, the rain generally falls in the greatest plenty, and if the || agitation is exceedingly great, it commonly hails. To the discovery of the American philosopher we are indebted for an invention which it suggested, for securing buildings from this formidable enemy, by means of elevated metal conductors, by which the electricity is discharged from a cloud passing over them. Earl Stanhope, whose indefatigable mind is incessantly engaged in researches tending to the general benefit of mankind, has com While the thunder-cloud is swelling, and extending its branches over a large tract of country, the lightning is seen to dart from oue part of it to another, and often to illuminate its whole mass. When the cloud has acquired|municated to the public, in a treatise on this a sufficient extent, the lightning strikes between the clond and the earth, in two opposite places, the path of the lightning lying through the whole body of the cloud and branches. The longer this lightning continues the more rare the cloud grows, and the less dark is its ap-weather, will rust, and rust is not a conductor pearance, till at length it breaks in different places and displays a clear sky. subject, some essentials to be observed in the. erection of conductors for buildings. He advises that the upper end of the rod, for fifteen or twenty inches, should be of copper, and not of iron; as the latter, when exposed to' the of electricity; and that the iron part of the rod should be painted, but not the upper extremity, because paint is 1 kewise no conductor. He farther advises that the upper extremity of a conducting rod should not only be accurately A wind always blows from the place whence a thunder cloud proceeds, and the wind is more or less violent in proportion to the sudden appearance of the thunder cloud, the rapi-pointed and finely tapered, but that is should dity of its expansion and the velocity with which the adscititious clouds join it. By the sudden condensation of such a prodigious quantity of vapor, the air must be displaced and agitated on all sides. be extremely prominent, about ten or fifteen feet above all the parts of the building which are the nearest to it. We may add, that a conductor should always be carried into the earth some feet beyond the foundation of the building, and, if possible, termi aten water. The safest situation during a thunder-storm is the cellar, for when a person is below the surface of the earth, the lightning must strike it, and its force in all probability he expended before it can reach him. Dr Franklin advises persons apprehensive of lightning to sit in the || middle of a room, but not under a metal lustre, or any other conductor, and to place their fet up on another chair. He adds, that it will be still safer to lay two or three beds or matrasses in the middle of the room, and folding them double, to place the chairs upon them. A hammock suspended by silk cords, would be an improvement upon this apparatus. Persons in the fields should keep in the open parts and by all means avoid the too common practice of taking shelter under trees, by which many fatal accidents are from time to time occasioned. || The most astonishing discovery ever made in that branch of science to which the consideration of this subject befongs, was that by which the celebrated Franklin demonstrated the perfect similarity, or rather identity of lightning and electricity. To this discovery he was led by comparing the effects of lightning with those of electricity, and by reflecting, that if two gun-barrels electrified will strike at two inches, and make a loud report, what must be the effect of ten thousand acres of electrified cloud. Not satisfied, however, with speculation, he constructed a kite with a pointed wire fixed upon it, which, during a thunder-storm, he contrived to send up into an electrical cloud. The wire attracted the lightning from the cloud; it descended through the kite along the hempen string, and was received by a key tied at the end; that part of the string which he held in his hand being of silk, that the electric virtue might stop when it came to the key At this key he charged phials, and from the fire thus obtained, he kindled spirits and per-leagues in a second, its effects may be regarded formed all the common electrical experiments. as instantaneous within any moderate distance. After the discovery Dr. Franklin constructed Sound, on the contrary, is transmitted only at an insulated rod to draw the lightning from the rate of 1,142 feet in the same time. By the atmosphere into his house, in order to en- observing therefore the time which intervenes able him to make experiments upon it. He between the flash and the thunder which follows also connected with it two bells, which gave it, a very accurate calculation may be made of bim notice, by ringing, when his rod was elec- its distance, and no better means can be retrified. This was the origin of the metallic commended for removing unnecessary appreconductors now in general use. heusions. The distance of a thunder-storm, and consequently the danger, is not difficult to be estimated. As light travels at the rate of 72,420 POETRY, ORIGINAL AND SELECT. THE BLIND BARD OF MELES; Addressed to the Rev. W. Hamilton Drummond, of Mount Collyer, near Belfast. OH for a noble strain like thine, Amid Bohemia's hills to sound; On wings of thnuder borne along, And paralyze the bloody throng. And Fate's relentless doom they taught * Then Pleasure's rosy bands they brought, In fatal chains to Circe's vale. From Persia's climes dismissed the foe, A sightless bard his purpose foil'd. Attun'd her Lydian minstrelsy. “Would make your manly worth a prey. "And, when beneath your viewless for, "But other shores the lay will hear; "Athens will hail the glorious boon, "And grasp the Marathonian spear. "Thermopyla's immortal name "Wafted along the tide of time, "Shall wake again the godlike flame "In many a distant age and clime. "On Erin's shores the battle's roar "Is heard beyond the rolling wave; “The minstrel band intrepid stand, “And point to glory or the grave! "Thermopyle's immortal name "The northern echoes shall renew, "When with his mountain sons of fame, "Freedom assails the hostile crew. "Hark on the Caledonian targe "The sound of combat rings afar, "The Grampian spears begin the charge, "And stem the thundering tide of war. "For other times and other climes “Shall see the glorious day return; "The thundering God shall ride the flood "On fiery wheels in triumph borne." Thus Poesy can touch the chord, That wakes the soul's responsive glow; And Courage hears the magic word, That nerves his hand to strike the blow. Perhaps even Bronte's awful shade, And call to glorious deeds again. On wings of thunder borne along, S. F. ALINE's COMPLAINT. TRANSLATED BY R. C. DALLAS, ESQ. (From Madame Genlis's Siege of Rochelle.) By river-bank, or hillock-rise, Fair Aline wanders long; And ever and anon she sighs, And sings her plaintive song : "And what's the name of wife to me? Or what a mother's joy? "Ere well that I could call him mine, Our nuptial knot scarce tied, Yet give his heart to gold; O happy day that made thee mine, O mournful day that made me thine, My husband ploughs the main. And born unseen thy son. "This lovely boy renews my pangs, And seems to share them too: O! then return! chace gloom away, TO A YOUNG LADY, ON HER VISIT TO AN EMINENT PORTRAIT PORTER, by skill, thy form may give, When thou canst charm no more, Ledyard, who had travelled on foot over almost the whole habitable globe, observed:-"To a woman I never addressed myself in the language of decency and friendship, without receiving a decent and friendly answer. If 1 was hungry or thirsty, wet or sick, they did not hesitate, like men, to perform a generous action in so free and kind a manner did they contribute to my relief, that if I was dry, I drank the sweetest draught; and if hungry, I ate the coarsest morsel with a double relish." PLACE the White Man on Afric's coast, Whose swarthy sons in blood delight, Who of their scorn to Europe boast, And paint their very demons white; There while the sterner sex disdains To soothe the woes they cannot feel, Woman will strive to heal his pains, And weep for those she cannot heal. Her's is warm pity's sacred glow; From all her stores she bears a part, And bids the spring of Hope reflow, That languish'd in the fainting heart. "What though so pale his haggard face, So sunk and sad his looks,"-she cries; Pronounce him Man, and ask our aid. "Perhaps on some far distant shore, There are who in these forms delight; Our kindness may preserve them all." By feeling those that we bestow!" Thus in extremes of cold and heat, Dear source of many a mingled feeling, He proudly press'd his darling boy! Is still thy doating mother's prayer. While on thy downy couch reposing, To watch thee is my tender toil; I mark thy sweet blue eyes unclosing, I fondly hail thy cherub smile. Smile on, sweet babe, unknown to sorrow, Still brightly beam thy heavenly eye, And may the dawn of every morrow Shed blessings on my darling boy. ELINOR, THE CONVICT. THE anchor weigh'd, the swelling sails were spread, And England's parting shores fled fast from view, Where wandering men may trace their kind; Then, Elinor, the Convict, rais'd her head, Wherever grief and want retreat, And Woman holds affliction dear: And bid life's fairer views appear: And care they soothe, and age they cheer. THE MOTHER TO HER CHILD. WELCOME, thou little dimpled stranger, O! welcome to ny fond embrace; Thou sweet reward of pain and danger, Still let me press thy cherub face. And breath'd her soul into a last adieu: Ye white cliffs of Albion, that fade on the Shall feel with your children connected! And boast of her birth, as in days of fair fame, Ere yet, for her guilt, wretched Elinor's name From the lists of the good was rejected. The land sinks apace, and the day-light decays, POOR BARLEY CORN. WHEN the chill north-east blows, And winter tells a heavy tale, : Ah! how blest will be they whom yon setting Ale, that the absent battle fights, sun's rays And forms the march o'the Swedish drum, What's gone and past tells mortal wights, Ale, that the plowman's heart upleaps, Ale, that securely climbs the tops By Boreas's biting gale, And filling each man's heart with laughter, PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS FOR JULY. HAYMARKET. On Thursday, June 30, was produced at this theatre a farce, entitled " Plot and Counterplot; or, The Portrait of Cervantes." It is a translation from the French; or, in other words, an adaptation to the English stage, by Mr. Charles Kemble. • whom the painter had offered a premium to obtain. It is from the collision of the two pretended carcases, that the humour is derived, and the plot and counterplot put in motion. The denouement may easily be surmised. The deserving lover gains his mistress, and the immoral intriguer is put to flight. The humour of the piece consists in the This is in truth a most excellent farce. counteracting intrigues of two rival lovers, Curiosity is perpetually on the stretch, and who are scheming, by the assistance of their attention is fixed to the very last scene. The servants, to procure the daughter of a rich incidents are numerous, and succeed each painter. other with great rapidity; and the whole is For this purpose, each of the young gentle-sustained with a very lively and pertinent men introduces his respective servant into dialogue. the house of the painter, in the character of the corpse of Cervantes, a portrait of This farce has been received with great ap plause, and not with more than it deserves. |