1813.J

Account of the late Count Rumford.

body of troops, issued orders for seizing all the beggars of Munich, and, being determined to obviate the possibility of disgrace attaching to so salutary a measure, he began by arresting the first proper object with his en hand. No sooner had their commander done this, than the officers and soldiers instantly, and without making any difficulty whatever, cleared the 'streets with equal promptitude and success, but at the same time with all imaginable good-nature, so that in the course of a single day not a beg. gar was to be seen in the metropolis. But to sweep away the whole mendicant tribe from the streets of Munich would have been doing nothing effectual, had not houses of industry been opened, work and employment found, and wholesome and plentiful viands provided for them. In order to attain these valuable objects, he introduced new manufactures into the dominions of the Elector Palatine, and entertained hopes of realizing the seemingly romantic but not impracticable scheme of enabling the poor of Bavaria to live comfortably by manu facturing clothing for the poor of Italy. On his return to England, Count Rumford was received with open arms by his friends, and recognized as a new acquisition to this country by the literary and scientific world. His fame had already preceded him, and he did not long remain inactive. In Germany, as the climate is cold, fuel scarce, and consequently expensive, great part of the miseries of the poor proceeds from a deficiency in this article. It is obvious, that he who either increases the quantity, or diminishes the use, of this essential requi site of life, which the French have very properly included among the articles of the first necessity, becomes the benefactor of mankind. To create forests, which produce the only fuel commonly used on the continent, immence labour, prodigious wealth, and a lapse of many years, are all absolutely necessary; but, to enable families to economize this article, and to make one bundle of fire-wood go as far as four, is far more simple, easy, and practicable; and this has actually been done by the Count. To effect this, he made inquiries into the construction of chimnies, and expedients for increaseing the quantity of heat, which is tanta mount to decreasing the quantum of firewood. This great improvement, after being attempted and executed with success in Bavaria, was also introduced into England. The Count first began here with the mansions of two or three distinguished individuals; he then turned his attention towards the public establishments, and he must have reflected with satisfaction, that there was scarcely a house in England which was not better and more comfortably warm ed by his new and improved grates. Scot land and Ireland soon followed the example, and the Count repaired to the capitale of both these portions of the united empire,

79

with a view of giving effect to his benefi-
cial schemes. The Count was a member,
and had long been a correspondent, of the
Royal Society. So early as 1787, when
the scientific world was occupied about the
dispute concerning Dr. Priestley's green
filmy matter, he made a variety of interest-
ing experiments on this subject, and as-
serted its animality, which has since been
confirmed. His paper on this subject has
received the praise of the celebrated Dr.
Ingen-Housz, although at that period he did
not altogether agree in the result. He also
published, in the Philosophical Transac-
tions of the Royal Society for 1799 (part ii,
p. 179), " An Inquiry concerning the weight
ascribed to Heat," which was read May
2d of the same year. The experiments to
ascertain this question appear to have been
made at Munich during the winter of 1787,
by means of Florence Blasks filled with dis-
tilled water and hermetically sealed, and
an exquisitely correct balance. After de-
tailing the various experiments, which are
evidently the effect of much labour and
considerable ingenuity, the Count con-
cludes as follows:-"The capacity of water
to receive and retain heat, or what has
been called its specific quantity of latent
heat, has been found to be to that of gold
as 1000 to 50, or as 20 to 1; consequently
the heat which any given quantity of water
loses upon being frozen,-
-were it to ba
communicated to an equal weight of gold,
at the temperature of freezing, the gold in-
stead of being heated 162 degrees would
be heated 140 x 20 = 2800 degrees, or
would be raised to a bright red heat.-It
appears therefore to be clearly proved by
my experiments, that a quantity of heat
equal to that which 4214 grains (or about
9 oz.) of gold would require to heat it
from the temperature of freezing water to
be red hot, has no sensible effect upon a
balance capable of indicating so small a va
riation of weight as that of one-millionth
part of the body in question; and, if the
weight of gold is neither augmented nor
lessened by one-millionth part, upon being
heated from the point of freezing water to
that of a bright red heat, I think we may
very safely conclude that all attempts to
discover any effect of heat upon the appa-
rent wrights of bodies will be fruitless.”—In
1792, Count R.'s "Experiments on Hear"
were published in Part I. of the Philosophi
cal Transactions. From these, which were
very nice and enrious in their nature, he
was confirmed in his opinion," that, though
the particles of air individually, or each
for itself, are capable of receiving and trans-
porting heat, yet air in a quiescent state, or
as a fluid whose parts are at rest with re-
spect to each other, is not capable of con
ducting it or giving it a passage; in short,
that heat is incapable of passing through a
muss of air, penetrating from one particle
of it to another; and that it is to this cir-

cumstance

Account of the late Mr. Owen Jones Myfur.

cumstance that its non-conducting power is principally to be attributed. But England, as well as Bavaria, is greatly indebted in another point of view to the economical improvement, and patriotic exertions of Count Rumford, and, as these are intimately connected with his history, we shall notice them here. It is to his hints that we are indebted for the numerous soup societies so prevalent in this kingdom; and which with an unusual spread have extended from Cornwall to John-a-Groat's house, and multiplied to suck a degree in and around the metropolis, as to become emiHad Count Rumford nently beneficial. effected nothing else but this alone, he wonld be justly entitled to the thanks, and even to the remuneration of a grateful country. His chief separate publication was entitled, "Essays, Experimental, Political, Economical, and Philosophical." In this work, among a variety of other useful information, the Count fully developes the plan of reform successfully adopted and followed by him at Munich. He was a decided enemy to the injudicious distribution of alms," than which, nothing in his opinion contributes more powerfully to encourage idleness and immorality among the poor, and consequently to perpetuate all the evils to society, which arises from the prevalence of poverty and mendicity. According to him, and who will deny the position? the most certain and efficacions relief that can be given to the wretched, is that which wonld be afforded by forming a general establishment for giving them useful employment, and furnishing them with the necessaries of life at a cheap rate. For this purpose he thought an Asylum, or school of industry on a small scale, ought to be introduced in every parish, under the superintendance of such worthy, able, and respectable gentlemen as might be disposed to volunteer their service. Essay III. is occupied with dissertations on various kinds of food, and on the cheapest mode of feeding the poor. The Count was a munificent contributor to the Royal Society of Great Britain, as well as to the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, having presented each of them with a considerable sum to be expended in certain prize questions: of the former of these he was a vicepresident, and frequently occupied the chair in the absence of Sir Joseph Banks. It was also owing to his exertions that the Royal Institution in Albemarle-street, was first established; and, should any beneficial advantages arise from it, he, and he alone, ought undoubtedly to have the whole and sole merit. At the completion of this establishment, finding that his ideas of political justice did not accord with those of leading persons in Great Britain, he retired to Paris, where, and in its neighbourhood, he had re sided for many years past, pursuing his philosophical researches, and corresponding

[Feb. 1,

with the chief societies and men of science
throughout Europe. To recount those la
bours would be reprinting many valnabié
pages of the Monthly Magazine, to the Index
of which we inust refer our inquisitive read-
ers. CountRumford was a mau of profound
research, close application, and extensive
science. When he lived in England, his
house at Brompton was calculated to give
The uppermost
an idea of the owner.
story was converted into a laboratory for
chemical experiments; his chimnies were
contrived so as to economise fuel, prevent
smoke, and increase heat; while his double
windows, constructed in imitation of those
in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Russia,
excluded the frost during the winter, and
served as conservatories for such plants as
were incapable of being inured to bear
the rigours of our climate. The Count
received many special marks of favour, both
from his natural and his adopted sovereigns.
His Britannic Majesty conferred the honour
of knighthood on him, and he enjoyed till
his death the half-pay of a field-officer;
while the Elector Palatine created him
Count of Rumford, obtained for him the
order of St. Stanislaus from the late king
of Poland, made him a knight of the white
eagle, chamberlain, privy counsellor of
state, lieutenant-general in his service, as
Duke of Bavaria, colonel of his regiment
of artillery, and commander-in-chief of the
general staff of his army. He likewise was
much favoured by the Emperor Napoleon;
nor have the academies and literary socie
ties of this and other countries been sparing
of their approbation, as he was F.R.S,
F. Acad. R. Hib. Berol. Elec. Boica, Palat.
& Amer. Soc.-He had been once married,
but his wife died in America; a daughter
by that lady is still living.]

[Owen Jones Myfur, of Upper Thames.
street, London, furrier, whose late decease
has been noticed, and whose character has
heen represented as an eminent antiquary
and patron of Welch literature, in most of
the journals of the times, deserves a more
minute memoir. It is from this considera-
tion that the following sketch of his habits,
talents, and peculiarities, is submitted, by
a disinterested hand, to the perusal of the
numerous readers of the Monthly Maga
zine. An acquaintance, rather intimate
with Mr. Jones, and a conversancy with
the topics he endeavoured to promote, and
the productions he edited, will, in some
measure, atone for this presumption of a
free-will and unsolicited biographer. In
delineating the life, manners, and produc
tions of an individual, the most difficult
labour is to picture the person and tem-
perament: on this occasion there is no
effort required, a mere reference supplies
the desideratum; for, whoever has read
Mr. H. Siddon's treatise from the German,
"On Gesture and Action,” and noticed the
striking
print representing "Phlegm," has seen a

1815.] Account of the late Mr. Owen Jones Mufur.

striking likeness of Owen Jones, corresponding with such as he was, in height of body, proportion of limbs, and physiognomical appearance. The habits of Mr. Jones, in social life, may be in a great measure perceived by the reference made to his accidental portrait. His days, from eight to eight, were spent in scraping of skins in his warehouse, where high or low characters, who might give a passing call, met with the alike reception of inattention and short replies. His evenings, from eight to ten or twelve, he regularly pas sed at the Bull, at Wallbroke. The approach of this venerable man was always known by his giving a summoning hem or two: on his entering the room, the persons assembled made way, as if it were to the civic chief; and three chairs were immediately handed forward, one for him to sit upon, and one on each side, with their barks towards him, so as to form a grand and convenient arm chair. The luxury of the evening consisted of Welch-rabbits, porter, pipes, and mixed liquors; the conversation generally related to the Welch language and customs, and to the poet whose works he had last paid for transcribing. The company was heterogenons, consisting of bards, men of burden, harp ers, fidlers, and fifers; and the ultimate business of the evening was always very interesting, which was the discounting of a few good bills, at short dates, for friendly and deserving Welchmen. Such were the Incubrations of the parlour. The transactions in the club room, on the first floor, were more meritorious. In this apartment, on every Saturday, met, a society entitled the Caractacans, from Ca. ractacus, (Caradog, the beloved,) and which should have been written Caractacians; the object was debate: and it was the first scene of declamation to many characters who have since acquitted themselves honorably and eloquently in the senate and at the bar. Mr. J. always attended, and frequently presided, at those debates; but he never entered the lists as an orator: for, on most occasions, not having sufficient learning to comprehend the topics submitted in debate, it could not be expected that he would undertake in their discussion. In the Weleh society of Gwyneddigion, or Venedocians, who assembled, and continue to assemble, in the same room, on the first Monday evening in every month, Mr.Jones was in his proper Cambrian element. The object of this society is to promote Welch literature, more particularly bardism, by offering a medal, anually, for the best poetic production on a given subject. Owen Myfur, for so he was familiarly called, frequently gave, at his own expence, medals of from 21. to 51. value; and, on all occasions, subscribed in a generous manner. The different compositions of the competitors were referred to a committee of a few members, to receive their MONTHLY MAG. No. 265,

81

adjudication: Mr. Jones was always of such committee, and his opinion of merits always prevailed; but, it is to be regretted, that such prevalency was, in some instances, detrimental to superior talent; for his abilities were not equal to his zeal, and his decisions were not well tempered. The Gwyneddigion, like most Welch societies in London, sing impromlua to the harp, in rotation throughout the circle assembled: the verse composed usually runs in four lines, corresponding with the tume played; and, whilst the bard sings extemporaneously to the harp, the next man sings the burden, and thus gives him some little intervals for conception and arrangement. Most men of either education or poetic gift, can perform this little effort of bardism with great ease, and to a happy effect. The subject of this memoir had a good ear and tine voice, and was looked up to as the chief of the company; but there is no instance, within memory, of his accompanying the charms of music with any specimen of a glowing genius. In conversation Mr. Jones shewed a knowledge of the world, and what is termed good sense, and always expressed himself in a homely and abrupt manner; and this was sufficient for his gradation in intellect and society; for it is not requisite for a tradesman to be the fine gentleman, or to turn from his ledger and assume the high tone of a literary character. However seldom and unexpected such instances may be, Mr. J. was of the number. It was his pride to be thonght the oracle and patron of all that is curions or valuable in the literary remains of the Ancient Britons. Big with the idea of a distaut immortality as a man of letters, he resolved to publish the works of the Welch bards which remained in MS. in public and private libraries, and had never appeared in print. For this purpose he solicited the assistance of associates. He was to find money, and his associates were to prepare the MS. for the press; and, by this co-operation, a compilation entitled the Myfurian Archaiology, (so called from ́ Myfur, his paternal estate in Wales,) was extended to 3 vols. 8vo. under the editorial names of Owen Jones, Edward Williams, Edward Jones, and William Owen; and offered to the public at the price of one guinea per volume. The first volume is a very excellent Corpus Poeticum: the se◄ cond is a body of idle and foolish tales: and the third consists of good and wise maxims and proverbs, triads, laws, and Welch music in the notation of the middle ages. Mr. Edward Williams, the venerable bard of Glamorgan, author of Lyric Poems, &c. in English; Hymnau, &c. in Welch, and whose name is dear to Cambria, contributed very largely towards the Archaiology: he was even pressed upon to render every possible service under the promise of an adequate remuM nerations

the propriety of making a donation of the MSS. to the Antiquarian Society, is very questionable; for there is not a man who attends their meetings who can peruse the present; and it must be noticed, that it would be a hard case to impose upon the learned society the task of reading MSS. which the testator had merely paid for the transcribing, and in fact was not able to read them himself. Having thus stated the projects of Mr. Jones, which was no other than the common adventures of an enterprising bookseller; and that his pretensions to bardism and British antiquities, were not admissible within the outworks of even elementary knowledge; the writer has only to hope, that, in an enlightened age like the present, some of the natives of Wales possessing means and requisite abilities, will be found patriotic enough to carry into actual execution, the publication of the bardic remains, with such illustrations as will make traditionary systems intelligible to modern times. And until some work of the kind shall be made to appear, he must be allowed to withhold every expression of either approbation or praise. 12, Holborn-court. JOHN JONES, LL.D.]

ECCLESIASTICAL PROMOTIONS. The Rev. J. HAMMOND, B.A. to the rectory of Hannington, in the county of Southampton.

neration. But how that promise was performed is at present an ungracious inquiry. It would be a severe reflection on the dead, which his friends would not dare to parry, and no satisfaction to the feelings, no justice to the claims, of the distinguished and industrious bard of Glamorgan. Mr. William Owen contributed to a great extent, and corrected the press; the resources of Mr. O. as a collector of MSS. were very large. Indeed the Archaiology may be said to be the joint production of Edward Williams and William Owen, for it does not appear that the two Jones's were on friendly terms, and that the work did not receive any assistance from Mr. Edward Jones, Bard to the Prince, who is so well known as a respectable musical and literary character. Such was the manner in which the Myfurian Archaiology was sent to press. The sequel is well known: for this boasted attempt of preserving the bardic remains of Wales, under the munificent patronage of Owen Jones, and at his sole expence, turned out to be nothing short of a design to acquire literary honor from the labours of Edward Williams and William Owen, and a return of expenditures from an inquisitive public. The avarice of the projector however, was too great, and the scheme proved abortive: for, by advertising the work at one guinea per volume, a price too exorbitant to meet with purchasers, the eyes of the trade were opened, the antiquaries were not to be imposed upon, and with the exception of eight or ten copies, the whole of the impression was laid to rot in the warehouses. of Longman and Rees. It was in vain that the writer of this memoir intreated the deceased in conversation, and finally by letter, to get the Archaiology put in boards, and to canse it to be distributed gratuitously among the learned of the principality: Owen Myfur continued selfish to the last, and in consequence debarred himself of much reputation, and the Welsh public of gratifying information. But the intended reputation of Mr. Jones was not founded on republication; it was to rest on another pillar, namely, a collection of MS. transcripts of the Welsh bards, exceeding the collections of Dr. Davis, or Evan Evans. And for this purpose he employed Charles and Vaughan, when their time was unoccupied, to transcribe for him at so much per week, together with victuals. By this grand undertaking, Mr. Jones has left behind him two volumes in folio MSS. to be given to the Society of Antiquaries, of which he was a member; and from forty to fifty copy books of about a quire each for the use of his son, who is now an infant. The attempt of soaring above the high names of Dr. Davis and Evan Evans, as a more ample collector, has been successful to Mr. J., for they themselves transcribed, he hired the assist-ance of others to transcribe" for him; but ̈minor canon of St.George's chapel, Windsor.

Rev. J. C. PALMER, LL.D. to the rectories of Compton Pauncefoot, Sutton Montis, and Stowell, in the county of Somerset.

The Rev. Mr. CUTLER, to the rectory of Patney, in Wilts.

The Rev. WILLIAM PEARSE, to the rectory of Drayton and Hanwell, near Banbury. The Rev. S. Briscall, B.D. to the lectureship of Rodborough, Gloucester.

Rev. F. HOWES, M.A. to the perpetual curacy of St. George of Colegate, Norwich; and to the vicarage of Bawburgh, Norfolk. Rev. W. E. SIMs, M.A. to the rectory of West Tofts, in Norfolk.

The Rev. Mr. GEORGE HERON, to the church and parish of Terregles.

Rev. BENJAMIN NEWTON, to the rectory of Wath, in the county of York. The Rev. WILLIAM SKEY, to the vicarage of Little Bedwin.

The Rev. B. WILSON, to the vicarage of Great Bedwin, in the county of Wilts.

Rev. C. B. HENVILLE, M.A. to the vicarage of Portsmouth; and to the vicarage of Sydling St. Nicholas, Dorset,

Rev. C. Alford, of Bleadon, to the rectory of West Quatoxhead, Somersetshire.

The Rev. W. CURWEN, to the rectory of Harrington.

The Rev. J. WHITELOCK, to the vicarage of Deerham, Cumberland.

Rev. JouN SEAGRAM, M.A. to the rectory of Godmanston, Dorset. Řev. CHARLES CHAMPNESS, elected a

*Rev.

Northumberland and Durham.

PROVINCIAL OCCURRENCES, WITH ALL THE MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.