Page images
PDF
EPUB

439

Chemical Essay.-Caloric.

could it have arisen from any chemical action of the atmospheric air, since ice is not acted on by air or any of its principles. In other experiments, caloric was evolved when the friction was excited in vacuo. From these experiments, Mr. Davy inferred, that caloric must be derived from the motion and vibration of the particles of bodies, since he conceived it impossible to account for its production in any other way.

The opinion which other chemists maintain, namely, that caloric is a material substance, is also supported by a number of facts; if, for example, caloric be applied to a body, whether solid, fluid, or aerial, the bulk of that body is very much enlarged: thus, when caloric is applied to water, it increases its volume 1800 times; and when it is applied to atmospheric air, or any gas, a very considerable expansion takes place: now upon the supposition that caloric is a mere vibratory motion, consisting of an alternate contraction and dilatation of the minute particles of bodies, it is impossible to account for the permanent increase of volume which takes place. Again, Pictet found that a thermometer introduced into the exhausted receiver of an air-pump, indicated both an increase and decrease of temperature; and Count Rumford shewed, that this takes place when the thermometer is introduced into the Torricellian vacuum. On immersing the apparatus with the thermometer into a quantity of warm water, an increase of temperature was indicated; when introduced into cold water, the temperature was decreased: these experiments are very much relied on by the advocates of the materiality of caloric; for in these cases there is no medium by which the vibratory motion can be produced.

The radiation of caloric is regarded as another proof of its materiality. Something is thrown out in straight lines from heated bodies, which can be reflected and condensed; and which falling upon other bodies, increases their temperature: now it is difficult to conceive of a vibratory motion obeying these laws, and producing these effects. Lastly, the rays of the sun, which are proved to contain caloric, apart from the rays of light, are in favour of the opinion, that caloric is a material substance. The only diffi

440

culty which remains, therefore, in establishing this opinion is, to account for the fact of caloric being produced by friction and percussion.

Independent of the conclusions which have been drawn by those who consider caloric to be a vibratory motion of the particles of bodies; those who have adopted the opposite opinion have come to different conclusions, by explaining, in a different manner, the experiments of their opponents: thus, for instance, they regard the caloric arising from percussion, as an effect of the condensation of the particles of that body which is submitted to percussion: the particles, they maintain, are forced into a more intimate union; and the caloric which they contain is evolved. Dr. Murray says, "It is far from being improbable, that the part of the body submitted to friction, and giving out the caloric in consequence of it, may receive caloric from the rest of the mass; owing to the elasticity of that agent, or its tendency to exist every where in a state of equilibrium. In the separation of the particles, caloric may flow from every side; the layer of matter immediately in contact with the surface, in a state of friction, may afford a quantity, which may be supplied from the matter contiguous to it; and thus a constant evolution may be kept up. Nor is it impossible, but that this may extend to a considerable distance from the surface to which the friction is applied; and even thro' different kinds of matter, if they are in contact." He conceives, that there is an analogy in these cases between caloric and electricity, as it regards their production, tending to establish his position. By friction, electricity is excited and forced out, while a new portion is received from the matter in contact with the electric substance, and ultimately from the earth itself. By this means a constant evolution is kept up.

In the same manner, he contends that caloric may follow the same laws.

There certainly appears to be an analogy in this instance; still, however, it may be very much doubted whether this can explain, in a satisfactory manner, the evolution and supply of caloric, which take place upon percussion. It is difficult to conceive in what way caloric is accumulated in such a large quantity, when

441

Poetry-Ode to the Genius of Collins.

442

a piece of iron is beat by a hammer | periments, with a view to determine for a length of time. whether caloric is subject to gravitation. The result of their experiments has been, that caloric produces no augmentation of weight in those bodies in which it is accumulated; on the contrary, some of their experiments seemed to indicate a diminution rather than an increase. We may suppose, however, that caloric, although it may be material, is such a subtile fluid, that its gravity cannot be ascertained by experiment. Its existence in a radiant state, in the solar beam, seems to be the only conclusive argument in favour of its materiality. A decided opinion, however, cannot be given; the presumption, perhaps, is in favour of its actual existence. (To be continued.)

Berthollet has shewn, by some experiments, that the caloric which is produced by percussion, is entirely owing to the reduction of volume, or condensation, which takes place. He subjected different metals, gold, silver, copper, and iron, of the same size, to the stroke of the press, by which the impression is made on coin, and ascertained the heat produced, by throwing the piece of metal into water, immediately after the percussion, having previously ascertained by experiment the relation existing between a certain temperature produced in the water, and the temperature of the metal plunged into it, so as to draw the conclusion to what temperature it was raised by percussion. At the first stroke, the greatest degree of heat was produced; at the second, less heat was evolved; and at the third, still less.

Berthollet farther discovered, that condensation takes place, when bodies are subjected to percussion, and this he was convinced of from the difference of specific gravity which occurs after bodies have been struck: the specific gravity of copper before it was struck was 8.8529, after the first stroke it was 8.8898, and after the second 8.9081: that of silver previous to percussion, was 10.4667; after being struck it was 10.4838. The different metals, too, gave more heat, as they suffered a greater condensation, copper having its temperature more raised than silver or gold, and its density being more increased by the operation. From these experiments, therefore, it is presumed that heat arises from condensation.

Some have attempted to discover whether caloric is material, by ascertaining whether there is any difference in the weight of those bodies which have been exposed to it. Buffon, and others, made experiments of this natare; and although the results were favourable to the opinion that caloric is material, inasmuch as bodies exposed to heat indicated an increase of their absolute weight; still it was observed, that the sources of fallacy were numerous, and that the trifling increase of gravity might be ascribed to other circumstances.

Dr. Fordyce, Count Rumford, and other chemists, have made several exNo. 27.-VOL. III.

Poetry.

ODE TO THE GENIUS OF COLLINS.
BY R. T.

HARK! I hear my breathing lyre,
A spirit mid thy sad and sullen strings!
A hand sweeps wildly thro' thy quiv'ring wire
As fancy o'er thee spreads her radiant wings!
No mortal touch awakes thee now;
I know that sad and pallid brow,
That starting step and restless eye,
And song of mourning ecstasy-

O shaded bard, and art thou near,
Who woke those wilder'd chords of fear?
Ruling the rapt and trembling soul,
That shrinks before thy dark and dread con-
trol!

Beyond the faint and shadowy forms
That haunt the earth, or fill the sky,
Thro' fancied realms, that lie

Above this mortal bound of calms and storms,
Ere spheres their radiant course began,
His bold enthusiast spirit ran,
And wander'd thro' those paths sublime,
Untrodden by the march of Time,
Where Fate unfolds no book of doom,
Nor Nature sighs o'er beauty's tomb;
But the immortal Sisters, there
For ever braid their golden hair,
And bind the Amaranth flowers that glow
On Phoebus' bright and sacred brow;
But startled at the vision bright,
His spirit bow'd, and sank in mental night.

[blocks in formation]

443

Poetry-Stanzas.---The Last Day."

The garb that veil'd their charms before!
And the throng'd passions stood confest,
And rais'd their throne within thy throbbing
breast.

And from the deep secluded shrine
Of holy feeling, known to few,
Burst the loud pealings of thy song divine;
And thrilling with ecstatic measures now
Thy wild harp rung; and first the Eastern muse
The sweet and solemn strain began;
Flowers on her brow and feathers in her hand;
And sang of Persian maids, how royal Abbas

WOOS

In shepherd guise; the ruthless Tartar band;
And Hassan mid the desart faint and wan.-

What angel spirit wakes thee now,
With distant shouts of joy and love,
And hangs enamour'd o'er thy trembling strings?
Forms of untold delight around her move,
And myrtles bind her brow;
And ever at each magic close
Spontaneous scenes of beauty rose,
And young Desire rejoicing flings
His purple light of love around,
And whisper'd it was Hope's enchanted ground.
Too soon she fled; for hark, in mingled strain,
Of love and hate sad murmurs rose;
Now strung to bitterness and pain,
And now the song in tenderest feeling flows.
O curst with love's excess;
And happier had'st thou lov'd her less,
Pale Jealousy! thee none shall aid,
"Still changing and of all afraid;"
Sad Melancholy, from her midnight cave,
Heard the voice, and reckless laid
Her hand amid the changeful strings;
But from the chords such plaintive sounds
she brings,

As well might suit the chambers of the grave.

Now comes a louder strain,

-In sounds of mild and varied flow;
Dark fleeting shadows haunt the plain;

Mid the pale mansions of the dead,
Hearing thy sounds of holy dread?
Or dost thou on some rocky steep
Thy melancholy vigils keep?

Or dress the sod where Freedom fell?
Or Pity's softest cadence swell?
Or bid the tide of music flow,

444

Whilst flowers of Amaranth round thee blow?
And angel forms delighted hear

Thy heaven-born strains to fancy dear?

STANZAS

GEORGE

TO THE MEMORY OF BENJAMIN WEST, ESQ.
P. R. A. AND HISTORICAL PAINTER TO HIS
LATE MAJESTY
III. MOST RE-
SPECTFULLY INSCRIBED TO HIS FAMILY,
BY MR. S. HUGHES.

THO' awful is the closing scene

When Wisdom, Worth, and Virtue die, Our bosoms feel the bitter pang,

And sorrow prompts th' incessant sigh.

Yet blessed is the closing scene,

Th' immortal part from dross relin'd
When life's vicissitudes are past;
Soars to those joys that ever last.
And happy is the closing scene,

When resignation marks the hour;
When peace and hope possess the breast,
The sting of Death has lost its pow'r.
Most happy is that closing scene,
Attendant angels hov'ring nigh,
Sent to conduct the righteous soul

To blissful realms beyond the sky.

This is the good man's closing scene,

And this, much honour'd WEST, was thine!
(Thy mild and tranquil spirit flown)
To mourn a friend, and patron mine.
The duteous sigh, the filial tear,
Thy offspring shed around thy urn;

Swift as the winds, Fear struck the chords of My humble Muse in gratitude,

woe,

And onward fled.

Hark, the dirges of the dead!
Panting for blood: lo! dark Revenge,
With desperate hand and eye of flame,
That told the work from whence he came,
Awoke the thunder of the lyre;

And struck with mingled horrors strange Dropt his uplifted hand, and quench'd his deadly ire.

Unrivall'd Bard! O Nature's son,
Too soon thy meed of fame was won;
O had the fatal Sisters spar'd,
What had not then thy genius dar'd!
For Nature rul'd with high control,
And flung her mantle o'er thy soul!
While Joy awakes his heart-strung lay,
And Pity weeps her soul away;
While Nature's wonders tow'r sublime
Above the flight of Fate and Time;
So long thy pictur'd truths shall live,
And hallow'd throbs of rapture give
To those whose spirits spurn the earth,
And stamp them of a nobler birth;
Whose deathless claims may none inherit,
But such as boast thy forceful spirit!
-Where breathes thy solemn music wild?
Are sad and sorrowing souls beguil'd

Records his name for whom I mourn.
Thy wondrous Works insuring fame,

To distant ages handed down;
The talents which thou didst possess
Will to posterity be known!

But we who knew thy private worth,-
The social virtues that adorn'd

The blameless tenor of thy life,

By us thou art sincerely mourn'd.

THE LAST DAY.

Tempus erit quo cuncta silent.—OVID. HARK! the tremendous trumpet shakes the skies:

Louder, and still more dreadful, is its sound!
As on its notes terrifically pour

Down from th' etherial realms of bliss, and roll
To earth's remotest confinesswell as they
fly,

And strike with dire dismay. The heart of

man,

Affrighted flies for refuge to the rocks,
T escape impending danger; but behold
The rocks partake the speedy devastation.
The lightnings flash, the thunders dismal roar,

445

Poetry-Egyptian Lotos.-The Cuckoo.

Planets, and stars, and comets too, are hurl'd
Down from the wide expansive blaze of light
To earth's convulsive regions; and the sun
Ceases to spread one vivifying ray

O'er the bewilder'd scene: Nor does the moon
Shoot forth her cheerful soul-reviving beams
Upon the bursting chaos. Hark! again
Does Gabriel's trumpet rend the air,-pro-
claims,

"That the imperial Judge of all mankind,
Sits on a fiery chariot in the clouds,

To judge the silent dead." The yawning earth
Obeys the dread command, and sighs and groans
Proclaim their swift departure from the grave.
The sea unfolds her liquid curtains now,
And yields her captur'd sons of Adam up,
To know their ever final destiny!

See! the great throne of Majesty appears,
Of purest white, and bears the King of kings:
At whose terrific presence earth and heav'n
Like lightning fly; but find no safe abode,
For "time (fleeting time) shall be no longer."
The dead are wafted thro' the bursting clouds,
And as they fly, look down upon the earth
To take a long farewell. The books are op'd
The candidates of earth are soon arrang'd
Around the pure white massy throne to hear
Their doom.

Each anxious eye is fix'd upon the Judge,
As he commands the blessed to appear
In you bright heav'nly regions; there to dwell
Throughout eternity. But the wicked
Soon are hurl'd into yon burning lake
Of fire and brimstone-unknown, unsolaced
wail!

There the tormented miserable throng,
Shall be the sport of devils and damn'd spirits;
Weep, wail, and gnash their teeth, with the
dread pain

Of the dark, dreary, endless fire of hell
Throughout eternity.

Lostwithiel, Oct. 24, 1820.

THE EGYPTIAN LOTOS.

R. L.

[blocks in formation]

446

When at their noontide height, his fervid rays
In a bright deluge burst on Cairo's spirea,
With what new lustre then thy beauties blaze,
Full of the god, and radiant with his fires!

To brave the Tropic's fiery beam is thine,
Till in the distant west his splendours fade;
With morn to rise with lovelier charms ar
Then, too, thy beauty and thy fire decline,
ray'd.

What mystic treasures in thy form conceal'd,
Perpetual transport to the sage supply!
Where Nature in her secret plans reveal'd,
Awes wond'ring man, and charms th' exploring

eye.

From thy prolific vase and fertile seeds
Are trac'd her grand regenerating pow'rs;
Life springing warm from loath'd putrescence
breeds,

And lovelier germs shoot forth, and brighter
flow'rs.

Thus, from Arabia borne, on golden wing,
The Phoenix on the sun's bright altar dies;
But from his flaming bed refulgent springs,
And cleaves with bolder plumes the sapphire
skies.

Nor food to th' enlighten'd mind alone,
Substantial nutriment thy root bestow'd;
In Famine's vulture-fangs did Egypt groan,
From thy rich bounteous horn abundance flow'd.
Hence th' immortal race in Thebes rever'd
Thy praise the theme of endless raptare made,
Thy image on an hundred columns rear'd,
And veil'd their altars with thine hallow'd
shade.

But far beyond the bounds of Afric borne,
Thy honours flourish'd 'mid Thibetian snows,
Thy flow'r the Lama's gilded shrine adorn,
And Brahme and Buddha on thy flow'rs repose.
Where'er fair Science dawn'd on Asia's shore,
Where'er her hallow'd voice Devotion rais'd,
We see thee graven on the glowing ore,
And on a thousand sparkling gems emblaz'd.
Four thousand summers have thy pride sur-
vey'd;

Thy Pharaohs moulder in their marble tombs;
Oblivion's wings the Pyramids shall shade,
But thy fair family unfading blooms!

Still 'mid these ruin'd towns, admir'd, rever'd,
Wave high thy foliage, and secure expand;
These vast, but crumbling piles by men were
But thou wert form'd by an immortal hand.
With Nature's charms alone thy charms shall

rear'd,

fade,

With being's self thy beauteous tribe decline;
Oh! living, may thy flow'rs my temples shade,
And decorate, when dead, my envied shrine !
T. M.

TO THE CUCKOO,

ON HEARING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
MAY 2, 1820.

AH! welcome Messenger of Spring,
I hear thy coarse, tho' well-known voice
With genuine joy, for thou dost bring
News that makes us all rejoice.

*447

NININ

A Fragment.---On the Atonement.

The peasant and the village swain,
Lightly trip it o'er the plain,
With the merry dance go round,
Stimulated by thy sound.

And hear thee hail the blest return of Spring,
Or requiems to departed Winter sing.

A double welcome, happy bird-
I give thee, tho' thou art so coy ;-
For long it is since last I heard

Thy notes, that with them bring such joy.
For now the fields in verdure clad,
The trees no more supinely sad,
But cover'd with a verdant green,
And blossoms lovely to be seen;
And all the feather'd tribe help thee to sing,
A happy welcome to returning Spring.

Why is it that thou wilt not stay
The year around till Spring again?
Do other Springs call thee away,
And tempt thee o'er the boisterous main?
Or is our Summer over-warm
Or does our Winter's cold alarm?
Or does thy fondness for the Spring,
Keep thee always on the wing?
As Fashion's sons seek happiness below,
And look for pleasure in delusive show.

Yes, bird of pleasure, thou dost seize
By far (to me) the happiest time
Of all the year, thyself to please,
In visiting our changeful clime;

Had I thy wings, I too would fly,
When Wint'ry clouds infest the sky;
And when the Summer's heat draws on,
With pleasure, that with thee I'd shun.
And joyfully along my way, I'd wing
From clime to clime, enjoying always Spring.
D. BROUGH.

66, Queen-street, Cheapside, London.

* The Cuckoo is rarely heard after June.

A FRAGMENT.

WHEN lost in thought my soul doth soar
Beyond where wandering comets fly,
Imagination hears the choir

That hymns the concert of the sky.

No superstition there doth dwell,
To check their wild seraphic lyres,
But all can join the song to swell,
And love their sweet-tun'd breast inspires.
There with their Saviour and their God,
Majestic in bright glory crown'd,
The saints adore redeeming blood,
And heaven's high arch repeats the sound.
Methinks I hear the concert break
Upon this raptur'd soul of mine;
But O my words are far too weak
To tell of music so divine.

Their instruments, we cannot know,
In sweet harmonic strains unite,
While angels and archangels blow
Such strains as yield to God delight.

But, hark! where can those notes be found?
These cannot be terrestrial strings,
Those chords must be an angel's sound,
That hovers o'er me with his wings.

Hark now the sounds more strongly rise,
And other instruments combine!
This must be music from the skies,
That charms this raptur'd soul of mine.

The sweet-ton'd trio now declines,
And silent rapture makes a pause,
Till all at once the choir begins,
And list'ning worlds return applause.
O thou great, wise, eternal King,
Inspire my soul, my passions raise,
Till borne on faith's triumphant wing,
I join that choir to sing thy praise.

On the Atonement.

MR. EDITOR.

448

J. N.

SIR, In the Imperial Magazine for March 1821, you profess it was your intention to publish that month an article you had received on the Atonement, had not your premises been destroyed by fire. And engaging it shall speedily appear, if another copy be sent you; and presuming that the allusion is to a little production of my pen, on that momentous subject, I now again send you my thoughts, as I think many of my brethren form erroneous views of this most important doctrine, when applied to the character our Lord delïneates, Mark xii. 30, 31. Ephesians iii. 17, 18, 19.; 1 Thess. v. 23. 1 John iii. 3, 6. and John iv. 13, 16.

The word atone, has two meanings given to it by the religious world; and strange as it may appear, those meanings seem to be in direct opposition to each other. The only sense in which the Scriptures use it, in its application to the above character, appears to be the following; At-One'; Union, Concord, Harmony, Agreement, involving in it the idea of two parties, formerly at variance, being now perfectly reconciled through some intervening medium, Rom. v. 11. And the idea attaching to this term, implies that a propitiatory offering has been made, whereby this reconciliation is effected; and that when this end is accomplished, the cause which induced the former separation is altogether annihilated; and the two par ties are as completely one, not only as though no enmity had ever subsisted between them, but as though they now formed one constituent indissoluble body. Agreeable to this, are our Saviour's declarations:-" As thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.—I in them, and

« PreviousContinue »