The telescope. (Columbia, S.C.) 1815-1818, October 29, 1816, Image 2
LlTfElt.VKY.__
on viir, .caktm'. or hi . ai.dohiianh
A ropy of this celebrated Drama bus reached
uv?It is written by the pen of p,emus?the
Events are striking?tlto passion* are the most
::jhigl?!,V-uroMj;ht-?;ho language is hold, torso and
? eloquent?but, it lins not equal power to " mend
Ithe iwuiiW," tut to " touch the heart." It in
|(lo'{cicM)t 1 Si morality. The ruling sentiment of
|th<j heroino ih tooto romantic, tlmii just?to bel
li;!! thsorbing love is sacrificed her duty to
|othc:?i und to herself, The passion which most
:: iaspire* the hivo, U r??v?og?, springing from
? ?li' appointed ambition und love?hut a revenue,
'no consuming a a n?n at last to sacrifice to its
fires the purity of the very woman he adored.
This extraordinary play is from the pen of
the Itev. li. (... M at mi n. a Clergy man in Dublin
?the author of M'K-iitl novels, an "Fatal lie
?.?Aenge/* " V. tM !ri?!i Boy,'* *? .Milesian Chief,"
; which came out under the assumed name of
g'.Meutiiii .'a?>'| (t- Mm1 pl?Thcv are written with
fttvquisile uenius dej irtiug. like the play, the
^ ''-ii!;, the terrible. and th?? ?.?rand. Bertram has
Wen pluyed at Duuy Lane, more titan forty
right*, to o\ erflow ing limine*?its eclat is almost
Mpiully threat on the American Mage. Hut, it
'h;?iii?. that il h.?s redounded more to the profit
-?tan the promotion of its writer-?as the Bishop
? >l* Dublin i* said to have taken the play under
!::?? spiritual jurisdiction.
i*i?e. Kveoe i* laid in Sicily?Count Bertram,
??'i.e. darling of his liege and of hi* land, the
.raiy'n idol, and the cuinc'd'* head,*' was am
bitious. and *? strove, with tho crown it*elf for
?ivereiiiitv"?unt'd count Aldobraml interfered,
Mjscued li<?'monarch from his sway, and sent
v-.bn into e\ile. Hut Bertram was wounded
1:1 a tenderer point?lie had lixcd his aftectioiis
upon Imoginc ; of humble birth hut of ardent
I liudingM?She burned to partake of his banish
* mcnt, but '? 'twas forbidden." lie retired to
|? Mandiofi.-.i'u's wild and wooded shore" where
?* with desperate men in desperate ways he
dwelt,*' ravaging ami awing the regions round.
His nature became utterly changed?until he
grew ns wild and dark, as the scenes which he
frequented, or the followers who were leagued
in hi* depredation?.? In the mean time the
miserable I murine torn from her love, and wore
| with his divtompcratote, was persecuted by
???bitter shameful is a tit*"?her father perishing
pwith famine n?ked for relief, and she in an evil
rfhour yielded her reluctant hand to the perse
strutor of Bertrum. the count Aldohrand.
&. Vet Hei tiam, ignorant of her mnrriaae, brenth
rcvenge?To seek it, '.e cmhnrked on the
[ulph <>{ Taranto. but a tempest rose, ship.
Irccked hi* b.irk. and thr^w him with his dep
ilate ba;:d. id must sunk with toil and famine,
m the c-ii<t near the Convent of St. Anselm,
the castle of Aldohrand. ' l is amidst the
to of this ?-(?>. m, that the scene opens. The
Dnk.s receive tl>e .shipwrecked stiangers into
JpSb Convent, and send a messenger to the Ladv
t^gmoainc to beseech the " wonted ho^pitulity^*
; other hou-e for the " ua\e-to?*cd mariners."
. Aldubraud and hu knights ate gone to the
,'lwom; but she consents to receite them?into
??he castle.?She has then an inteivicw with
^iraiti, ami informs him of her marriage with
V Count, and the birth of her ton. It is in
in that she palliates the act?he is wrought
the highest pitch of desperation and revenge.
Aldobraml returnst while his wife has gone to
'confer her sins to the Prior ?.! the Convent,
who had in vain attempted to divert Bertram
from hii) revenge?At the convent, she meets
liei train, is about to bid him nn eternal adieu,
but yields to his importune prayer to itive him
one *?* parting hour at the dim moonlight."?At
ihis interview, souuht for the purpose of abusing
her virtue, he is too successful?and she, the
rr.ost abject and wrctchcd of human beings.
Tito 4th Act opens and di-closes Bertram,
under the walls of the castle, disgusted with
hi* own " const iou* xillaiitv"?
My k<- f.loiy ls:.t!i iVr^.'tr'ei! f.-.im me?
Mc.**..vu; i ;.tii :iIh?vi" the nir iiu-'t !??.,??!?
1 hIiouM 1i..vp ljc.T-ih-1 li'mi in lulU ?il p?'.?le?
I tflinutil b:?\e iiia'cd btin ??? flcM* rtf<l?Mt)i?
Wot slol'n up tii I ? ? ? rrt Imwor ofp'nce,
An* t f.ri'.tUi'il ii mt|>< : 1 * * > \ciMin on lnt? flower.
JTlut all hi* revenue is rousted by information
front hid baud (hat Aldotuaud li**l?l a cointniKaiiiu
from I'U sovereign to *? lititit his outlnw'd life
[tilrough Sicily ?"
jflrr. ('bitntinxtrtnf. "tci'yj Vilhin, abhorrcJ villain,
kjAllilt?* i|i?< pHil.c.l Hir to?-x!lcioi') '
fa tllCM? w ? I lli?<e irr?*.l .?wl *r.Hho:l limb*,
w.uiftl fivit.e, :i n.nrk lor Imiiiiin nvilitc'
vc h:ivc i>*pn tlio?c who fioin ilic 'ugh ImkS siilc
tfr?ve wbclmvil tl-.c?r enemy m the fl.i<h.np ?!ocp i
r!iil who hath v.^tcbM lo ir'o l?i*< Mrujcfjl.iitf h ml,*,
I'o I.ear the *ob of <lc.ub' ri?ol--'t!'.o:?mHoi?
[Tw.ts hot e'n now, 1 would h:>v?. kiw!t toh.M,
Vith the pvoxtrV.oo o'? fnmr;0'ii v ll-.m 1
I Would luivr crmirtM'i! Iieneitb liu siiiirn tier f.v ;
t Would b:<vr r. It lheir trior.pl.rj: ticjm, and hle.<%td 1'?
X'l't 1 bnil njuro;! lilin?nnd mn'ii 1! injorr,
(\cc I riv withered t?V.lln n, I th:mk the*
He y:eld*< himself to revenue.
Imo^ine learns Bertram** resolution j nnd it
fempt* to hiro her husband?In vain?the
fire at t'i? Convent, in nomo net of <levn
I Km nt the ?hiine of their mint?The desperate
hand enter the ca*tle, and Aldohiand falls?the
)a?t words upon hi* lip1*., '? Oh wive my hoy."
Itnugine imdieg out, nud ?'irrccd? in reaching
'the (H?iivent with child?"hot her wn??4 de.
[v.eit her?Mean time. t!ie Prior nod the Kni/hts
iicok the murderer at ihe cutlc?he throws down
the hilt of hi4 da?yer, nod mii-rtnder* hiimelf-?
,'ihe pour child dies hi the rave, to u hkh Itno
'jjine hod flou n.?The in-eiic shifts to the ino'sth
of it, and represent* the I*ri??r vainly strutting
"to move flertrAiir* heart to contrition?The
drnina thus cIokck?
Prior Crhlfig w/M ihtfiltii.J OlMbirat? xoul?tl.cn
pc-ri*li if* thy pr
Hckt M my voire thy parting anj^l ?|)c:ik,
lM!Ciit*-riiwt l?e f irjf.vf <1? I
f tfrr:'i',n turn* t'A9n"<h him, in ttrvf rtnitinn, wAvi a
ilWf/l* /? bran! fioni tfi* rdi 'V.i / Hanil*Jfjttl in
h ;frtr. )
I'ri'ii' onl M? twnvttt the en verity
1'Jeni t'.iu f<rt* ftMllMli who?' wild voice of liorror,
n ? p r?Tcd ilifch?i*rtmy pr.ijern Iimta f<1l<?<1 to touch.
\ Jtef. fw'td'j/ J'"WliA? vo'ec w? tlrtt-.yet do not I
<bre lo '?U me# I
?l|l III I % I III lllliv.ll IIV*Vt %?!?'?.?? 111^
"Jmogine nuXrt front the mwr/i ill diffraction, bunting
'mm the uriit *f (.'lotihhi, the ,\tonki unJ Kiiigkh filtow
it id it.Hain ill the btuk ground J
Vamc not her name I thjr.,v thec.
1'rior. Imurine?
A nianrc thro these n'.iudderin}? wood* nl.e w.iulm,
Hut hi I or in uliici* never enred thy name
mill iT.Huin in the buck ground J
/?no. Aw.iv, awuv, no wifs?oo mother?
C?V rn?he* forward till the men It Iterhuta, wA? ttutuh in
ifhtrtMett A?wj
tint. (Jive 1110 my husband pivo mc bark my child?
N?y, ff.vc rue hack rnyu'll?
Th'cv ?ay I'm mail, hut yet I know tK*.- we'd?
l.-ntk on mc?They would hind the.te limlrt?
I asW lull iliMlh-Hlratli finm thy h-.ml?thut hand en 11
dentil' uh utIIt? and yet thou will not ^.\e it.
Hrr. (/fitting in her fur 11 mzntent, tlx n rtithing 10 tt.e
/trior, unit tinging athi* /let J
Who h ;th -limi: iln? f \Vlicie r.re tliorncki I Imped fti '
| Am 1 not weak ' am not litimhie now '
I (grovelling nt the 1'rioi 'i feet mid then turning to the
A nfghtt J
I la'.I thou no cum- to lilu**t?no riu^r for me
lt there no hand to pierce a soldier's hrart,
Ii there no liwit to eru?h a felon** ncck I
? I no. (roiting herteff lit the countl uf lit voire J
HrMruin. ?
("//.- .' tithe* luieitril* her, miil.fr.t re/H-ah /morfiliefe
tt'u, 1:1 A- iififfronrhr*, he uttrr? her inline it fain /nation
ilte.'il, hut 11 tie ilruici nearer nut see* tier took of iilinlilc 11
mill dei/K'ration, he re/ieat* it oner more in iteifn.ir, mill
1 It-1 not il'ire to ii/'f rourh hrr, tilt he perceive* her fulling |
into Clotih.' i'i arm*, unit ratchet hrr 111 hi*. J
Aiu. IIjvo I deserved this of tl ** '?( She die* ilo-x.
ly, ir .'A hrr eget fired on Iter!ruin, v/.o continue* to gne
1 nt hrr tinronieioui of her hi.vii.g expired )
| 1'rite. T.* |Mst, remove li.m troni the ror?e?(The
I knighte ttnd minkt advance, he wnn them off vritlt Hie
h.i 11 '.'ill iiihporting the hotty. )
. J'rior. ( to the monk*J lllethren remove the cor?c?
I lh She 1* not dead?(tinning ufij
1 She must not, *li;dl not die, t.ll she i-s mi??
t S|H';?k??{ieak lime?(kneeling to the cot te J
| (turning to the monkij?Yo?-?di<* Will spv.Tk unon?
(ft tout? fiiiuie he itrojii the rorrej
, SI10 wpr.iks no tnore?Why iloyc >r?/o 0:1 me '?
II lo\ od her, yea, I love, :n death I hived her?
I killed her?hut?I loved Iter?
What arm shall loo?>e the Kru,|P "I" lovr nnd deaih
? / 'I'he kniifht* ami monks mrrounil, unit attempt to fmtr |
1 him from the hoil//, he iniite/nn <1 ?teoril from onr tf the
| knightt, irhu r.-tii'iito 111 terror, at it is fiointnl tovnnb him.
i llt rtram fi tumi'ig nil hit former fit n itm iternnen, 61111(11
into 11 ilit.l.iiiiful luutfh j
Jlrr. *riivc?.?K?m-?i tlieo? ill, thou :.r( safe?tliou J
worm??
llfi-tr.im hath hut onv" fatal (<*? on c-trlh?
Ami lie .k here (Stuh* him elf. J
Prior. (Ituthri furwnrilJ lie d.?*?, lie ?lie^.
//-???. (ill llgting iriih the tignnict of itenlhJ
I know tlieo, holx I'rmr?I know ye, biediren.
I.,ft np your hoh Iruiil*. .r.eliar>ty.
( ?.eith tl t>tint of uihl exultation j
I died no It Ion ?!?-:.tli???
\ \\ arr.or'? wr -p'/n li-te I a warrior <? wnil? ?
/tiihiioini Compiler
TIIWEUS IN CII1I.I
Mr. Samuel Johnson, a lieut. of marines in
the I'iiitccl .Stale* service, formerly of thin cily
lins j tint published, at the borougli of Kric, a
volume entitled 4' l.elteis from Chili." This
I gentleman after residing more than two years in
j Chili, aud HUlVeriii^ from captivity, having ob
. tained a release, entered the ICssex fi iaate at I
i the invitation of capt. Porter, an acting fieut. of j
' mai incrt, a Hliort time previoun to the fcauguina
rv contest with Cajtt. Ilillvar. The work lie
has published consists of 'revolutionary docu-|
meutit, and various remarkH on the po|iulatioti
of Chili, the climate, futMltice, mannern and
('?jsIoiiih of the people, their commerce, manu
factures, amusements, 6u..?A*. fr. Columbian.
Dr. Mitchell's literary labors, Fays a corres
pondent of the Albany Aruus, are receiving'
distinguished attention IVom the learned men in
Kurope. Hy u letter just received in this city,
we learn that the doctor's history of Americun
earthquakes, and memoir of the fishes of New
\ork, are about to be turned into (ierman, by
professor (iilbert, of Leipzig : and that his en
?juiiy into the character of the Indigene Ameri
cans, showing those of the North to be of the
same race with the Polynesians of the i'acilic O
cean, will soon be translated into the saaie luii*
Sfiinjxo by the celebratetl prufessor Kbeling of
llambiirg.
MI8CKLLANY.
THAVKUM OK AM II VY,
In rfifo, Tr.|wli, f'yru.s, r.(?vpi Ar^lna, Sjria nml
i'liikn, IfUwrn tin- jcari ifco.J s>iui 1807, written .
I?v It
\VI? Imvc no hesitation in saving his narra
tive affords one of tlie most faithful ami lively J
pic much of Mus'elman inaiinerii, state of society
ami ideus tliat has been hitherto laid he In re the
;>iihlir. The author travelled a* a complete
Mahometan, and waaevery where roceiveil and
treated an micIi?hv this mean* 44 he \va? enabled
to identify himself with the hahitH and feeling*
nf the coiintrieH he visited;" and from this cir
cumstance his work possesses one peculiarity
that increases its interest.
We shall copy a chapter for the gratification ,
nf ihe public. It in expected allowance will Ik*
made tor the prejudice* of a Mussulman, when
>>pr tking of hi? Ifnligion (mil its Prophet. The
wiitiugs of Ali lb*y upon all other subjects,
declare him a man endowed with the* most lib
era! and enlightened sentiments.
j ? t/v/i'iwv/rtM Itrliffimi.?f/istor>, of tlic Prophet.
The Mahometan reliuion and the history of
if* I'rophet have Iw.en often described, both in a
a p:?per and in a sery improper manner, by
writers ?*f all nntiotni. 'Ihe good anil bad
wimrc?*? from which former author* have drawn
their materials and the prejudices, passions, en
thusiasm, and even philosophy through which
they hnvo felt inclined to pa*-*, have more or !
I|e?4 corrupted all their descriptions.?If I were
to write only for Mussulmen, 1 should suppress
the present article ; but as my lataniM have had
in view mankind in general and as I address
I myself to men of all nations and of aII religions,
I nave thought it proper And even necessary in
nuhlishing a description of Mahometan coun
tries, to give at least an idea of llieir religion,
and of the life of a Legislator who has draw n
into his system one.lifth of the populiition of the
globe. This sketch will at least spare the read*
er the trouble of referring toother authorities,
The great man Mouhhaiuincd wan born at
Mecca on the 10th of the month Hahiu1-Aonhl?
,n the 01033d year of the world, *ftcr Mt*
" H
I.omctan chronology, or in the year
Christian tero. '
Haying been an orphan from his infancy, he
was brought up bv one ol his uncle*. Hi* good
behavior gained tlie esteem of hi* fellow citizens,
and procured lor liiin a situation in tho tervice
of a rich widow Kudije, who, smitten with hi*
charming countenance, soon uftcrwuru* married
him.
Mouhhammed carried on a trade like other
Arabian*, that i*, at the head of his camels ami
of his people { by this kind of life he acquired
a knowledge of tho various nations who lived
round his country, llo had some talents, and
a sound judgment; hi* periodical travels of
coin se procured him knowledge which ripening
in the interval* of bin retire .ent, enabled him
to forui (he greatest conception*.
'I ke fir*t sheet of the kour'aun appeared in
the 40th year of his ago. Was it brought him
bv tlio Angel of the Lord ? Musnelmcti say,
Voa; others anstt or, No.-?Was it tho concep
tion of Id# own (genius inorcly? Tho faithliil
believer* deny this supposition j hi* enemies
affirm it. Hut it is not in this work that *uch
it question should be discussed.
1'his great man, placed in the rank of Pro
phots, only intrusted his lir?t revelations to
persons whom he most loved, and it was believed
on hi* word; lie afterwards mudu them public
in an assembly of the chief members of hi* tribe,
called Koureish the most illustrious of all
Mecca, the grace of faith was not be slowed on
them all, for a schism arose among his nearest
relations.
The Meckkaouii, or iuhabitanfs of Mecca,
were idolitcrs. It was not unnatural that a man
wl.o suggested to their reason the sublime idea
of one God, eternal, immense, almighty, tlic
only cause of a work formed on a. plan of the
most admirable harmony, should a-'track around
him a party, llut at the same time the Kaaba,
the temple of Mecca, wa* filled with idols,
which the surrounding nations came to worship,
and the Koureish, who were the priest* or min
isters of this temple, eared to lose the best part j
of their patrimony and riches, if the idol* were j
to be destroyed. This tribe was of course too ?
much interested ill maintaining the former wor-'
shin, and in opposing every new intrusion.
This actually occurred. The Prophet began
to preach publicly his new creed, and iu a short
time made a great number of prosylites.. The
Koureish then assembled, and resolved, on his
ruin. The Prophet, after sustaining many per
secutions, and seeing hi* life iu danger, was
obliged to leave his country secretly on the very
night that had been fixed upon for hi* assassi
nation: he was then fifty-three year* old. lie
quitted Mecca, taking with him his only friend
Abubekr, and another young idolater, called
Abdalla. From this famous night dates the n't a
of the Mahometans; the Arabians call it l&l llo
jera, and the christians llegiru, which signifies
(light. It corresponds with the year 031 of
Christ.
The prophet repaired to Mcdinn, where his
doctrine had spread already with the great
est enthusiasm, and w here his most intimate
disciples had assembled. He settled, there,
and vegan to sup|>ort his mission bv the force of
arms} and his enterprises succeeded.
, After many battles Mecca was subjected to
the dominion of the Prophet; and he made his
entry there as a conqueror, at the head of ten
thoUioml men, on Friday '20th Ramadan of the
year h of the lleigra (22 January 039.) He
threw flown all the idols and statues which were i
worshipped at Kl Kaaba, and cleansing it from 1
their fragments, he restored tho temple to the
object of its Dfimitivo institution, which tended
to the adoratTotf of the one and invisible lleity.
i After having made himself master of Mecca
the prophet extended his faith and his dominion
over tho neighboring countries ; but he made
the revelations dc*ceiid front henven at different
i period*} and accordingly the divine will was
coinmunicated by his mouth upon the occasions
on which he thought it necessary. In this man
j ner Maluunetisni w us diffused j it consolidated
itself with the power of tlie prophet to the time
of his death, which took place at Medina, on a
Monday of the mouth of Soflar, in the G3d
j year ot his age, 044 of Christ. Ilis body was
I buried in nn open grate in his own lioiibc, and
| covered with earth ) no coffin was used. The
house was afterwards converted into a temple.
As tho prophet left no male child, and
had not tlispoicd of the succession of hi*
supreme dignity, discussions arose among the I
believers who should be placed on the vacant ;
throne. This dispute was renewed at tlie death i
of every one of his successors, who adopted ;
the title of llhalipna, Kalmlifie, or I/ieutenarit (
of tli" prophet. After the first four Khaliilo* ;
vi/.: Abubekr, Omar, Othman and Ali, w ho are
looked upon as nosifMsing the r?-al universal
Khali Hate : this dominion successively pa*?ed
over to various dynasties, amongst wlurh thut of
Al>asi or Ahasides, sheriff's descending from A
boulabas, uncle to the prophet, are most distin
guished from tho length of their rei/n, and the
protection which some of these Klialiff* have
conferred on the art* and sciences. It was un
der their reign that the Mnhoin?*fi*m wart ex
tended from the frontiers of 4'hit.a to the .?tiait*
of Gibraltar* and w ith n ripidity m> astonishing
thut it cannot be compared t:? the progress of
anv known religion.
Notwithstanding thi* brilliant career. Mn
homatiKin, limmhin, experienced in it* nv. it bo
som, (lie %v?ititi?ls of tlio?o tr.liirnm which have
divided nil t Mill divide its (liscipl??4. The U7.it
imnc^r of the first Khaliftes was rejected b.y (lie
Persians, who looked upon them nt intruders.
The)' admit to the high dignity Alt alone, who
i* i* considered by them ns the real Klinliii', mid
AiicccRsor of Maldioumed. This opinion ha*
caused many hloodv warn, and bun occasioned
tin* Persians to be deemed heretics. A prodigi*
ouh number of fatal prophet* shewed themselves
afterward** w ith the sword in their hand to over*
throw this new religion, and the anti-khaliflVbe
Knn to interrupt the nence of tho bclicvcri.?
The Ambition of warring adventurer* succeeded
n tearing to pbccslhc colosinl empire t %num
b!rsf jUll miSta ?J3? Independent and
the Khalift'ate disappeared.
The Mahometan religion is extremely simple ;
it ha* no mysteries* no sacraments, no intci
mcaiate persons between Uod and man, known
by the name of priests or iniiiibtvr? ; no altars,
images or ornaments. Clod is inviidblo, the heart
o! linn i* the ?.tn and every mussel mun is hi;?h
priest. According to the hi llhaddij* or ti.?
canuonicul tradition, the prophet bus declared
the essunci- of hi* religion tn conaist in t!u: to!
lowing sentence: " Mahoinetism is est a! il i ?h>.< I
in Nvu fundamentals j viz. Tho profession ut
tins faith f Theioiit no iioit but one liod and
Mouhhammed is his messenger; tho saving of.
prayers, giving ol' alms, faffing on Ilamudati.
and making a pilgrimage to the bouse of Cml."
Notwithstaiidjg (hit simplicity, there is per
haps not a religion in the world which has hnd ??>
many commentators, expositor**, and writer?.
IIAI.OKS.
In the National Intelligencer of Oct. .theio
is ail u.vtav copied from the U. I. Kepoblirun.
on the subject of solar haloes. The writer 01
this article seems tu be. of opinion that holoe*
are generally precursors of rain or snow. Al
though this be a popular belief, yet ho f.u .i? owt
mvn observations inform lis, we have ne\er
found such celestial phenomina followed by
either remarkable rain, wind or snow. Wo
recollect to have seen a very large and beautiful '
halo round the sun, in tl;e summer of IBM,
which was neither precided, nor attended alter
wardi by rain.
Humboldt, in his travels in Booth America,
has tho following remarks opon haloes :
(<On the 1 nil of August, a I'nlo or luminous
circlo round the moon, fixed tho attention of the
inhabitants, who considered it as the jpresuge of
some violent earthquake ; for according to tho
physical notion of the people, all extraordiuarv
pheiioniina aro immediately connected with
each other. Colored circles round the moon,
are much more rare in the countries of the north,
than in Provence, Italy, and Spain. They are
seen particularly, and this fact is singular
enough, when the sky is clear, and the weather
seems to be most fair and settled. I.1oiler the
torrid zone, beautiful prismatic colours appear
alinost every nignt, c\cn at the time of the
greatest droughts : often in the space of a few
minutes, they disappear several times, because,
without doubt, the sii|?erior currents, change the
state of the floating vapours, by which ihu light
is refracted. 1 sometimes cvuii observed, be
tween the fifteenth degree of latitude ami the
eouatcr, small haloes round tho planet Venus.
Tlie purple, orange and violet, were distinctly
perceived ; but 1 never saw any colors round
Hirius, ('attopus or Acheruor.
44 While the halo was visible at Cuinana, tho
hygrometer noted grbat humidity ; nevertheless
the vapour? appeared so perfectly in solution,
or rather so clastic and uniformly disseminated,
that they did not alter the transparency of the
atmosphere. The tnoon arose after a storm of
rain, behind the castle ot Jit. Antonio. As soon
as she appeared in the horison, 'we distinguished
two circles?one largo and whitish, forty-four
degrees diameter?the other a small circle of t*?
43 displaying all the colours of the rainbow.
The space between the two circles was of the
deepest azure.? At four degrees height, they
disappeared while the metenrlogical instruments
indicated not the slightest change in the lower
regions of the air. i'his phenomenon had noth
ing extraordinary, except the great brilliancy of
the colours, added to the circumstance, that
according to t:.e measures taken Bamsden's
sextant, the lunar disk was not exactly in the
centre of tho haloes. Without this actual
measurement, we iniglit have thought, that the
eccentricity was the effect of the projection of
the circles on the apparent concavity of the
sky. The form of the haloes, nod the colours
of the atmosphere of the topics enlightened by
the moon, are worthy of new researched on the
itnrt of natural philosophers. At Mexico, in ex
reincly fine weather, I have seen large bands
having* all the colors of the rainbow, spread
along the vault of the sky, and converging to*
ward the lunar disk ; a curious meteor, which
reminds us of that described bv Mr. Cotes in
1710.~? /'ftf rilmt'K Intel I igr ne'er.
___ <Yiri<nTi/nj'in^
NI'.W MI'.lilODOP IMIKHKIIV IN<? PO'I A I OK*
Ily the llcv. A? Dow, I). 1). Front (lie Tram>?
ictioiis of the Culcihmian Horticultural Kociuty.
From Mime \c.irH, I hove bestowed much atten
jtion mi tt?? iimclc (if preserving the potati o. I
have tried many ways but have found none so
gnnd an tit*' following, which I have employed
I for two yearn with tin* best aiicccm*. That part
!of my potatom which I mean to keeri longest,
that'm lor Spring and Summer mo, oefore (lie
Micceding crop Ire ready, I put into small pits,
holding about' wo ?txi1l>? earn, heaped up and
covered in the usual mode with straw and earth.
In April or May, according to the heat of (ho
season, Ihene potatoes nre turned over into other
pil* ; after cnri'folly rubbing or picking out the
?boots or buds, and laying aside every one that
has any blemish or tendency to spoil. The eve
ning before,a ne?v pit in dug, or an old one clean*
etl oil, in ?oitic dry spot j mid, if poynible, under
|:*e ?h.nle of Mime tree, wall or stack of hay, &.c.
TIh? is ?ilb'i! nearly full ??f water ; which by next
I moi ntrivr i? nil flrditk in. and the earth well cooled
all round jn the pit. The potato^, carefully
pkke.l of all their Jioots* are put into the pit
ihttH iirepjiT.I ; and every quantity, of a furlot
or half bolt, is watered at it it put in, till the
potatoes aie level with the surface of Ihe ground ;
(hey are then covered w ith live tin f, (ho green
Hide m-vl ll.e potatoes, uml a hearty watering
given t when the whole in covered to Iho depth
of tw o feel, w ith earth, w atered, and w ell beaten
together w ith Ihe spade. Thi^ process in repeat
ed every time the notatne* are turned over, which
is about once in lliree weeks, less or more,accor
ding to the weather. When it in very hot, and
the pit* or heap* not in the shade, it is proper
sometime* <o cover the pit or heap with/ fiat,