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For the Monthly Magazine.

METEOROLOGICAL ABSTRACT for the last TWELVE MONTHS at CARLISLE.

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37 55.7 30.48 29.45 30.091 61 30 45.85 30.41 29.14 29.8 53 18 40.07 30.26 29.12 29.676 55 21 38.1 30.21 28.72 29.631

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December

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45.32 Ann. Mean 29.8763 27.56 156 179 186 Total. Tot.Tot. Tot.

General Remarks on the Weather, &c. observed at Carlisle during the year

1814.

January was remarkable for the intense frost and great falls of snow, which prevailed in every part of the United Kingdom. For a particular account of the temperature, and other phenomena of the weather experienced here, see Monthly Magazine for March, p. 121.

February.-During this month we had some mild and pleasant days, but the nights were generally frosty. On the morning of the 6th, about eight inches depth of snow fell, which, on the 9th, was nearly all dissolved in this neighbourhood; and the rivers here also cleared of the ice. The weather was very dry, and the latter half of the month was fair throughout.

March. From the beginning till the 21st, was an uninterrupted succession of severe frost: the average temperature from the 28th of last December, to this time, (three months,) is no higher than 32°, the freezing point, which is an ex treme of cold for the same period, probably unprecedented in this climate: the last ten days of this month were uniformly mild and pleasant.

April.--The weather continued mild and genial, and exceedingly favourable for the season, till the 23d, when a fail of rain commenced, which, without ceasing, continued for forty-eight hours:

4.92 15 16 15

during the remainder of the month we had some heavy rains, particularly on the 28th, which was wet throughout.

May was extremely cold and droughty, with strong parching easterly winds; the average temperature being 1o lower than that of the preceding month: white frosts were very prevalent, and we frequently saw strong ice; scarcely any rain fell, the 51 parts of an inch in the table was chiefly sleet, which fell on the 25d, and on the following morning all the mountains visible from this place were capped with snow.

June, excepting the 14th and 15th, which were very sultry, was a continuation of most unseasonable cold weather; in the former part of the month, the nights were frosty, when ice was often observed in the mornings; it was also very droughty, and the brisk parching easterly winds which prevailed were extremely injurious to vegetation.

July continued droughty and very cold for the season, till the 23d, when we experienced a sudden change to sultry and oppressive heat, which prevailed during the remainder of the month: in the night of the 25th we had some vivid lightning, and on the 28th and 29th an excessive quantity of rain, when nearly the whole 3,61 inches in the table fell on these two days.

August.-The first six and the last eight days of this month were very sul

try;

1815.]

Observations on the Grecian Tragic Drama.

try; the rest was uncommonly cold for the season; the weather was showery and rather unfavourable for the harvest. September was a succession of exceedingly fine weather; twenty-three days were brilliant aud serene, and the sky generally cloudless; the trifling quantity of rain (,96) fell in light showers between the 20th and 28th. On the evening of the 11th we were visited by a singularly beautiful and interesting aurora borealis; soon after twilight, two luminous arches appeared in the northern hemisphere; the altitude of the centre of the smaller one, from the horizon, about 12°; the other, which was very brilliant, extended across the heavens from the south west to the north-east, its centre at first about 5 north of the zenith; this rain-bow like arch was about 4o in breadth, it moved slowly over the zenith to the southward, and in three-quarters of an hour disappeared; during the receding of this arch to the southward, the smaller one increased in altitude by a uniform motion, keeping concentric to it till it became invisible; immediately after the disappearance of the arch, active stream ers darted from the north, and in a short time nearly the whole hemisphere was most beautifully illuminated; this phenomenon continued with uncomnion splendour till midnight, when it gradually disappeared. The luminous arches crossed the magnetic meridian at right angles. The last aurora borealis, previously observed here, was in Feb. 1807. October.-The first ten days were fair and brilliant; the remainder was chiefly wet, with intervals of serene and plea sant weather; the temperature of this month was remarkably variable: we frequently experienced a change of upwards of twenty degrees within the space of twelve hours. On the 16th we had some lightning and a peal of thunder, it being the only time thunder was heard in this city during this year: some smart frosty nights occurred, and on the 25th snow was observed on the neighbouring mountains.

November.-The greater part of this month was very wet and gloomy. The 20th, 21st, and 22d, were intense frost: on the 21st, the thermometer was as low as 180: the mountains were generally capped with snow.

December. During the former half of this month, we had some most unseasonable mild weather, accompanied with excessively heavy rains, which made the sivers here overflow their banks to a greater extent than we have witnessed MONTHLY MAG. No. 265.

25

for many years. The destructive hur
ricanes which occurred on the 16th,
17th, and 18th, and which prevailed all
over the kingdom, were felt here with
great severity; chimnies were blown
down, and the roofs of a great many
buildings considerably damaged, but
fortunately nothing very serious hap
pened. On the 20th, a frost commenced,
with a strong parching east wind, which
continued till the 29th; the two last
days of the year were mild and showery.
In the beginning of the month we had
some heavy falls of snow, which soon
dissolved, and the surrounding moun
tains were frequently observed to be
perfectly white.
W. PITT.

Carlisle; Jan. 2, 1815.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

I

SIR,

BEG to trouble you with one line as to pokers. I have for several years had all mine pierced below the bright part, and a round pin put through, extending about an inch on each side. When the poker is inserted in the grate the least turn of the wrist leaves it so secure that it cannot fall out; or a cross piece might answer still better. H.T. B.

For the Monthly Magazine. OBSERVATIONS on the GRECIAN TRAGIC DRAMA.

written seventy tragedies. Of SCHYLUS is supposed to have these only seven remain. If the number ascribed to him excites surprize, the improbability will be much diminished by considering that among them might be many short and occasional interludes.

1. The first in order is the "Prometheus Chained." Extravagant as the fable of this drama must now appear, it displays great force and sublimity of genius, blended with a wild and terrible magnificence. The poet composed three tragedies on the Story of Prometheus, of which, this alone, has survived the wreck of time. The first exhibited the crime of Prometheus, which seems to have been his endeavour to civilize the human race, and render them happy. The second, or that which is now extant, makes a tremendous display of the punishment of this great delinquent, who was doomed by Jupiter to be chained to a wild and desolate rock, frowning over the sea; exposed to a ravening eagle, or, as other authorities equally authentic state, a vulture, by which his liver, daily growing, was destined to be daily consumed.

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In these circumstances, he refuses with scorn to make the submission required of him; prescient that fate to which Jupiter himself was subject, ordained his deliverance; which was at length, according to the eternal and immutable decree, equally binding upon gods and men, effected by the hand of Hercules. This constituted the subject

of the third Promethean drama.

2. The second tragedy is styled, "The Sapplicants." These Supplicants were the fifty daughters of Danaus, who sought refuge on the coast of Argos, where Pelasgus then reigned, from the persegution of their uncle Egyptus, whose wicked purpose it was to marry them to his fifty sons. This tragedy is not without its beauties, and the character of Pelasgus is that of a monarch, just, wise, and beneficent; but, compared with the former, the Supplicants is a feeble drama, and the subject too nearly approaches to burlesque."

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This language awakens the heroic spirit
of his sister, Antigoné, who replies:
"And to these Theban rulers 1 declare,
If none besides dare bury him, myself
Will do that office; heedless of the danger;
And think no shame to disobey the state,
Paying the last sad duties to a brother."
This forms the subject of a drama, ren-
dered interesting by the genius of So-
phocles.

4. Agamemnon." This is a noble tragedy; the chef d'œuvre of schylus: the subject is grand, and the execution in all respects equal to it. The play opens with the long-expected appearance of that joyful sigual, which had been previously fixed upon to denote the fall of Troy :

3. "The Seven Chiefs against Thebes." This is a stately and dignified perform ance: and the story, so celebrated in antiquity, had its origin doubtless in traditionary facts. Such were the high ideas entertained of the virtue of patriotism, that Etcocles, though the originalThe fire that from the top of Ida sent aggressor, was venerated as the defender It's streaming light, blazed jocund to the of Thebes; and Polynices, the injured party, who brought a foreign army against the city which gave him birth, was held accursed. And, after the death of the two brothers, it was decreed by the rulers of the Theban state, that the former should be interred with honour, and the corpse of Polynices

"Cast out unburied to the dogs a prey." In this play, there is much more of description than of action. It is remark able, that Iocasta, equally wretched as queen, as mother, and as wife, is not introduced, named, or even alluded to in it. The most animated scene is that in which the Seven Chiefs, their persons, characters, and devices on their shields, are successively delineated. scription soon becomes tedious, and it is difficult not to acquiesce in the criticism of Pere Brumoy, who says, "Cette Scene est fort longue et n'a pu être inter. ressante que pour les Atheniens qui connoissent Thebes et les Chefs dont on va parler." We are at length informed, that

But de

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steep

Of Lemnos--Athos' sacred head receiv'd
The mighty splendor-It mounts the

summit

Of Arachné, which, with towering pride

looks down On Argos."

After an interval of gratulation and tri umph, Agamemnon appears in person, and the speech by which he announces himself, is worthy of the great and magnanimous leader of the Grecian host.

The King of King's beloved of Jove." "To Argos first, and to my country gods I bow with reverence, by whose holy guidance,

On Troy's prond walls I pour'd their righ

teous vengeance,

And now revisit sate my native soil," &c. Clytemnestra, the remorseless and aban. doned Clytemnestra, receives her lord with all the fascinating arts and wiles of female perfidy:

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At thy return,
The gushing fountains of my tears are
dried;
Welcome as land, which the tossed mariner
Beyond his hope descries. Welcome as
day,

After a night of storms, with fairer beams
Returning; welcome as the liquid lapse
Of fountain to the thirsty traveller."

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Againemnon

27

1815.J Observations on the Grecian Tragic Drama. -Agamemnon is accompanied by Cas sandra, daughter of Priam, the royal prophetess, whose fate it was ever to predict the truth, and never to be be lieved. This high-born virgin he recommends to the care of Clytemnestra, who affects to receive the illustrious captive with every mark of kindness. Agamem. fron and Clytemnestra having withdrawn themselves, Cassandra, who had hitherto remained silent, wholly unmoved by the soft words of Clytemnestra, being left alone with the chorus, is suddenly seized with the prophetic furor, and frantically exclaims :—"Wo! wo! O Earth! Apollo, O Apollo!" Upon the subsequent demand of explanation from the chorus, a scene ensues which must be classed among the chief efforts of tragedy; and the fate of Agamemnon, with the pre. ceding and succeeding calamities of the house of Atreus, is depictured and deplored in all the dark, but magnificent imagery of poetic enthusiasm. At the conclusion of this terrific scene, the voice of Agamemnon is heard within, exclaim ing, that he has received a deadly wound: and a second time, that he is basely murdered: immediately after which, Clytemnestra appears, and avows, with pride and exultation, the horrid deed :

grown up to man's estate, he secretly, and in disguise, returned to Argos, with the full purpose of vengeance on the murderers. But, in the first place, repairing to the tomb of his father, and according to the custom of ancient times, making thereon the offering of his hair, as indicatory of his grief and affection, he sees a train of females advancing from the palace, and bringing libations to the tomb; whence the tragedy derives its name: and it closes with the terrific and bloody sacrifice, not ouly of Egisthus, but of his mother, Clytemnestra, by the enraged and pitiless Orestes; an act of very doubtful moral rectitude. In this play, the murder of Ægisthus precedes that of Clytemnestra.

"Entangled in the gorgeous robe that

shone

Fatally rich; I struck him twice, and twice
He groan'd, then died.”

The character of Clytemnestra is ad-
mirably supported in the following
scenes; and Egisthus, her paramour and
accomplice in the murder, and the
sworn enemy of Agamemnon, also boasts
in the spirit of a Zanga:---

"All this plan of rain was mine, reckless
Of what ensues; e'en death were glorious
Now that he prostrate lies, caught in
My vengeance."

The sequel of this horrid story, occupies
the two next tragedies of this great poet;
and they contain likewise very great,
though, from the nature of the fable, not
equal beauties or equal interest with the
first part.

5. "The Choephora, on Bearers of Libations to the Tomb." The scene of this tragedy, as of the former, is at Argos, before the royal palace. Orestes, the only son of the slaughtered monarch, and as yet a child at the period of his assassination, was, in consequence of that event, conveyed to the court of Strophius, King of Phocis, his uncle; and, after the lapse of some years, being

6. "The Furies." This is the ter mination of the same story. Orestes had shed the blood of his mother by the express command of the oracle of Apollo; yet he is haunted by the furies and driven to distraction. His sufferings were regarded by the generality, as the just punishment of parricide: for no authority, it was supposed, could sanetion so direful an act. At length an ap peal being made to Minerva, that god. dess referred the cause to the court of Areopagus. The trial took place, and on counting the shells, they were found in favour of Orestes, who is consequently equal; Minerva, herself, giving her vote acquitted of moral guilt, and the Furies declare themselves appeased. Thus we though the act of Orestes might be vin are ingeniously given to understand, that dicated, on the ground of strict and ri gorous justice, it was too horrid in its nature to deserve the meed of pure and virtuous applause.

7. "The Persians." This fine drama represents the confusion and consternation of the court of Susa, on the intel. ligence of the battle of Salamis. Distracted by opposing counsels, the ghost of Darius, invoked by the assembled chiefs and satraps of the empire, arises, and with theatric dignity, not inferior to any other ghost, warns them not to con tinge the war against Greece, as perse verance will produce only a succession of disasters. A more refined piece of flattery, no poet ever offered on the altar of national vanity; and no people, perhaps, were ever more gratified by such incense, than the Athenians; nobly conscious of their own personal, puli. tical, and intellectual superiority.

On a general review of the existing dramas of this great poet, it is impossible to sum up his character better, the in

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the words of Quintilian:-Tragadius primus in lucem Eschylus protulit, sublimis, et gravis, et grandiloquus sæpe usque ad vitium; sed rudis in plerisque, et incompositus.—Quint. L. x. č. 1.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

As the tutors and elders are to receive no emolument for their instructions, so none are to be encouraged to become pupils, tutors, or elders, who have not the probable means of supporting themselves and families by their fortunes, professions, or trades.

The time the pupils are to devote to OU will much oblige a constant years. During the first three years they their studies, is two hours each day for six of your publication, own

if you would enquire, among your nu nerous correspondents, for a specific for the cure of sheep that are seized with a sort of vertigo, called by us "turn giddy." They are mostly subject to the disease when one year old; and, by a constant inclination to turn round, it causes them to waste in their flesh, and carries off great numbers in about two weeks after they are attacked with the disorder.

A HEREFORDSHIRE FARMER.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

I

SIR,

HEREWITH send you a copy of Dr. Spencer's plans for "A FREE GOSPEL." I am desired to observe on the words "and an elder of a Christian

Society," that this is not insisted upon as a condition of learning, but you are to understand that the object is to qua lify persons to become elders of Christian Societies. And again, with respect to the time mentioned, Mr. S. says, he finds that his pupils may begin to teach at the end of the first year; and that, consequently, their education may be completed in less than half the time he at first thought would be necessary. Bristol.

THOS. PHILIPPS.

A FREE GOSPEL.

To the Lovers of Divine Revelation, who are desirous of promoting the Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures throughout the whole World, the following Outline of a Plan for forming Christian Tutors, and Teaching Elders of Christian Societies, is respectfully submitted.

Every pupil is to be gratuitously taught to become a tutor of other pupils, and an elder of a Christian society. No pupil or tutor is to be withdrawn from his secular occupation for more than two hours cach day. Every pupil is to engage to instruct, when he shall be able, four other pupils, if they can be procured, upon the same free terms on which he is to receive instruction himself. No tutor or elder is to receive any emolument for his instruc tions. No person is to become a Christian elder of a congregation before he is about thirty years of age, and, therefore, not to become a pupil till he is about twenty.

matically, the Hebrew of the Old Testament, the Greek of the Septuagint translation, and of the New Testament. And, during the remaining three years, the pupils are, for their greater improvement, for one hour every day, to teach pupils English, Hebrew, and Greek. And for one hour they are to be taught what is further necessary to enable them to read well, and explain clearly, the New Testa ment in public: namely, the geography and natural history of the countries where the Scriptures were written-the history of the four great empires with which the Jews were connected-the customs of the Jews and other Eastern nations-Christian ecclesiastical history-the elements of natural philosophy, of logic, and of rhetoric. The pupils having, at the end of six years, completed their course of studies, are, what they themselves shall have learnt for three years more, to teach their papils daring the last three years of their own education.

The following calculation shews, that if one teacher complete the education of four pupils in six years, and the four pupils shall each of them have begum the education of four other pupils at the end of three years, the education of those pupils will be finished at the end of nine years; and they will have had in train sixty-four pupils, whose education will be completed at the end of twelve years, and so on, till all the world might soon be instructed in in the languages in which they were orithe knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures ginally written.

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