1797-] Climate of India. mitigate the climate, by blowing over a cultivated country, and bring with them a conftant fucceffion of hazy or cloudy weather. It is in the northern circars, where the wefterly winds, in their progrefs, are expofed to the influence of more extenfive and parched lands, that the fevereft heats prevail. At Ellore, the thermometer, in the fhade, has rifen to the aftonishing height of 120°: when this occurs, it is always attended by a confiderable mortality, imputable rather to the peculiar malignity of the winds, than to the extreme of heat: for, in the Carnatic, during the hot months, every perfon expofes himself at noon to a much greater degree of heat, as the thermometer, in the fun, riles to 136°, and fometimes higher, yet this is not only compatible with life, but with the common functions of fociety. In India, the circumftances of the furrounding country feem to have a ftronger influence on the ftate of the circumambient atmosphere, than is obferved to take place in cold and temperate climates; for we often find clear and foggy fkies, dry and rainy weather, and a falubrious and malignant air, only feparated by the diftance of a very few miles. The abundance or fcantinefs of rains, produces cooler or hotter seasons here; and we feel a rife of 3o very fenfibly in a high temperature, as the fmalleft increate beyond what we can eafily bear, produces a moft difagreeable effect. It is extremely difficult to form a correct eftimate of the medium heat of the Coromandel coaft, as this fubject muft be examined abftractedly from the agency of hot winds, accidental ftorms, heavy dews, the monfoon rains, and the effects of reflection from a parched furface. To mark the lowest degree to which the mercury finks, or the higheft to which it rifes, is not the object here in queftion; but to afcertain the central point of temperature, which, after long confideration and experience, may be reckoned at 86°. Defirous to bring the matter to the teft of experience, the author determined to ascertain the temperature of deepfeated springs, as has been done in Europe. For this purpofe, he chofe a well at Warriore, 27 feet deep, and well fhaded by trees from the rays of the fun. On immerfing the thermometer in the water of this well, the mercury fettled at a quarter of a degree below 86. Ex 197 were made during two periments months, at morning, noon, and evening, and the refult was invariably the fame; thus, although perhaps of no great utility, it is certainly a matter of curious fpeculation to know, that at the distance of 27 feet below the furface of the carth, there prevails a temperature that never varies." From the refult of the above experiments and obfervations, compared with thofe that have been made at home, it appears, that the medium heat of this part of India rifes 40 degrees above the medium temperature of the British islands. The above obfervations appearing curious to Doctor Anderfon, he tranfmitted a copy of them to Mr.Chamier, a gentleman well known in India to have made a variety of experiments, and to have kept diaries of the weather for many years. I fhall here tranfmit you his note, and alfo the answer of his correfpondent: To JOHN CHAMIER, ESQ. You will oblige me by looking over the enclofed meteorological memoir, and making fuch remarks as your knowledge of the fubject suggests. Í am, fi, &c. Fort St. George, Oct. 18, 1795. JAMES ANDERSON, TO JAMES ANDERSON, ESQ. P.G. I have read, with much attention, the obfervations you have fent me, regarding the climate of the coaft; and can truly fay, that they correfpond entirely with those I have made during my refidence in India. The medium heat appears to be juftly placed at 86°. although, I believe, it might be fixed, with propriety, two degrees lower at fome places north of the Kiftna, such as Samaldive, Waltaire, and Ganjam. Although I did not keep a regular diary, I conftantly, during three years (1792, 1793, and 1794) obferved the tate of the thermometer at Waltaire, which, on comparifon with the diary kept at Madras, was always two or three degrees lower; in December, I have feen it at 600, and in June, at 950. but never higher, and then only for three or four hours. At Ganjam, I have feen the thermometer expofed to a northern afpect, ftand at 550, this was in the latter end of Dececember, 1792; and in January, 1793, faw the thermometer, in a room at Ba lafore, fo low as 50°. it rofe in the mid dle of the fame day, to 65°. Cc 2 At 198 American Coin, Currency, &c. THE following remarks on the funded debt. the commerce, coins, and currency of America, may probably at this time be acceptable to many of your readers. The exceeding great difference in the currency of the American Provinces, has occ fioned much mifappichenfion concerning the actual price of both labour and provifions; their refpective relative prices cannot be judged of by the noninal value of their provincial currency, but require to be calculated by the intrinfic value of the coin which it reprefents, and its relative value to the money of Eu urope. At New York, the dollar paffes for 8s. currency, yet when they pay England or the goods they import, they etimate the fame dollar at about 4s. 6d. ferling, or at the rate which Great Bri tain reckons it in exchange with America. In New York, a labourer receiv. ing half a dollar, or 4 s. currency, wages per day, must buy all the neceffaries for his fubfittence at the fame rate; whilft the labourer at North Carolina, where the fame dollar is current only at 4s. 8 d. receives equal wages at only 2 s. 4d. AMERICAN COINS [March, per day; but this by no means proves which of the two is able to command moft of the neceffaries of life; nor does it follow, that New York cannot afford to export her produce as cheap as North Carolina, provided there are no other local caufes, which operate to enhance their coft; for notwithstanding the vast difference in the value of their currency, it will only have a mere nominal operation upon either labour, provifions, or other produce. The prefent ftate of America, both in refpect of population and capital, is a greater impediment to the progress of her manufactures, than the price of labour. It is more to her intereft to employ the capital the draws from her credit (principally with this country) to promote her agriculture; for her, therefore, to undertake for many years to come to manufacture for herself, would hinder her increafing population, and deprive her of the capital the now profitably beftows upon the cultivation of her land, and raifing from her foil a vast variety of produce, to give in exchange for the commodities fhe wants. The impolicy of Europe, and of this country in particular, by purfuing a fyftem unavoidably calculated to increafe the population of America, and to diminith their own, to enhance the prices both of labour and provifions; will prebably oblige America to anticipate her manufactures, and by the dearnefs of the markets the ufed to be fupplied from, make it more practicable for her to attempt the introduction of fimilar manufactures. Dollars, containing Half, ditto Quarter, ditto Dilmes, ditto Half, ditto SILVER COINS. 37 pure filver or 1851 (about 2s. 3d. sterling) Cents, value Half Cents, dit to 200 Standard. 416 208 104 412 20 208grs. 104 South Carolina Georgia 4s. 8d. cur. 19s. fter. £10319 cash cur. COMPARATIVE New England 155. 1797-1 = American Currency and Stocks. COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE CURRENCIES. New York 205. S. Carolina Ster. New Jersey EXAMPLE OF DUTY ON GOODS IN EACH CURRENCY, AT 15 CENTS PER . CURRENCY. Sterling On £270 New England is £360 New York At 15 Cents, duty is Amount Currency 16 4 28 16 25 6 9 16 The proportion between £ Sterling and Dollars, in the four American Currencies, is, as 81 to 360, or 45. 6d. for a Dollar. To reduce . Sterling into American Dollars; multiply by 40, and divide by 9: TO REDUCE CURRENCY INTO STERLING. 1200 180,00 180 180 40 10 1020 408 229 10 238 And to reduce Sterling into Currency, make the faid multipliers, divifors; and the divifors, multipliers. 19 South Carolina to ditto 5-12ths. deduct 1-5th. add 1-15th add 2-7ths. ditto South Carolina (multiply by 28—and divide by 45) New England New York New Jerfey (multiply by 45-and divide by 28) 5-7ths. The application of the above directions to the former statements, are too obvious to require any operations to illuftrate them. The whole ftock is in dollars, at the rate of 4s. 6d. fterling per dollar. Befides the faid four funded ftocks, a national bank is established at Philadel phia, on the fame principle as the Bank of England, and confitis of twenty. y-five thoufand fhares of four hundred dollars each, or ninety pounds fterling-which, dividend of 81. per cent, yield an intear the price of 1021. and the average reft of 71. s. per cent. continue in favour of the payment of the The exchange is 8, will most likely intereft, to the holders of lock in this country. Y. Z. Feb. 15, 1797. " To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, BY the infertion of Anti-Sinboron's remarks on my former letter, you have given them an importance, which, elfewhere. I fhould not have thought they poffeffed. And as they include a challenge, which I do not feel myself at liberty to refufe, I beg you will indulge me with a few words in reply. With respect to the language in which my opponent couches his objections, I would, for his benefit, hint, that the frequent recurrence of contemptuous phrafes, are ever confidered, by thofe, whofe good opinion alone we are equally defirous to poffefs, as props to fupport feeble reafoning, not as aids to corroborate the Trong. The fum of Anti-Sinboron's objections to what I have advanced on comparatives, is contained in his affertion, that "there is no adjective which does not exprefs fome determinate and precife quality:" and on this we are fairly at ibue. But the burthen of proof lies neceffarily on my adverfary. Mathematicians have furnifhed us with definitions of thofe modes of figure fquare and round: now, if AntiSinboron will alfo define, or, in other words, inform us what is the "precife" and determinate" import of the terms long and fort, I will embrace the "dreadful alternative !!!" of univerfally expelling comparatives from language; or, fubmit to what I yet deem the incorrect language of daily ufe, and fay-" this ring is rounder than that-that glafs is more full this." Surely it is the extreme of abfurdity to affirm, that thofe quali ties (bigh and low, for instance) are " precife" and "determinate;" which must not only vary with every different kind of fubjects to which they are applied, but are even differently applied to the fame fubje&t, according to the infinite variety of opinions and taftes. The Welch mountains are esteemed fublimely lofty, by him who has lived only in the low lands of Suffolk. But the refident of the Alps would defpife them, as low and diminutive. The man-mountain in Lilliput, was a Lilliputian in Brobdignag. But, "Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?” Anti-Sinboron's remarks, however, are chiefly directed against the utility of verbal criticism, as a study. I respect your fheets too much to attempt anfwering his affertions in detail, for he has con trived to engraft palpable abfurdities words [March, upon obvious truifms. Whilst I admit that language is intended for general use, I cannot allow, that the meaning of was fuggefted by common fenfe," that is common perception, unlefs it was a fenfe miraculously imparted, like the tranflation of the Septuagint to the Seventy. On the contrary, I must confider language as purely artificial: and in its prefent state of refinement, to be governed, as other arts are, by rules fuggefted by thofe who have devoted their attention to the study of them. Phyfic is a benefit to all; yet all are not, there fore, physicians. My obfervations on comparatives were intended to be merely illuftrative of the important rule, that we should fcrupulously parfe every word we ufe, and if it add not to the fenfe, or be ufed in a fenfe different from its general fignification, that we fheuld then ceafe to employ it. Though I agree, therefore, with Anti-Sinboron, that it would be foolth for any one to employ the word good, where others ufe bad; yet, if, notwithstanding good and bad bore their prefent fignification, the abstract term goodness was, through fashionor accident, generally used as the fubftantive of bad, I fhould think it right to attempt the correction of this violation of analogy, hich muft tend to produce in all minds, a great confufion of ideas. Left it should be thought I have produced, by way of example, an error too extravagant to be tolerated, I will notice a fimilar abufe of the words fpecific, &c. The logical diftinctions of genus, fpecies, and individual, and their derivatives, general, fpecific, and particular, are certainly well known. Yet we hear, conftantly, at the fenate, fome honourable gentleman requeft his adversary, not to dwell in generals, but to bring fome pecific charges, or specify fome facts, &c. when it is certain, the orator does not with for the fpecies of the fact, but for the particular fact itself. However, for what " particular" lofes by the ufurpation of "Specific," it is more than compenfated by an encroachment, on its part, upon a word with which it has no obvious connection. The politician takes up the paper of the day, and findfriend, that it contains nothing “partiing the mail is not yet arrived, tells his cular," when he means, that it has nothing important. The claim which is often made, on the part of cufiom, to be fole regulator of language, is, like that of moft tyrants, very 1797-1 Tour of England.-Wakefield, Chapletown, &c. very vague and ill defined; it is her practice to produce her changes filently and gradually; and it fhould be atcertained, how long a period muft elapfc, after which, her admifli n must be allowed. We are accustomed to use the word TRIVIA, to exprefs fomething frivolou, trifling, unimportant; yet La Bruyere fays, fpeaking of pulpit difcourfes: "Il faut marcher par des chemins batius, dire ce qui a été dit,& ce que l'on prévoit que vous allez dire: les Matières (viz. the existence of God, and the profpects of futurity) font grandes, mais ufées & TRIVIALES." The epithets great and trivial appear incompatible, till we learn, that the trivials of the Latin, with which both the English and French are almost identical, is derived from trivium, a place where three roads met. The preceding obfervations prefent us with a glimpfe of the fource of that pernicious loctenefs and indefiniteness of fpeech, which prevail fo generally. In part, they appear to arife from the affociation of ideas in the mind; in which, diftinét qualities, having been confidered as refiding together in oae fubftance. are often afterwards blended and confounded by thofe loofe and carelefs fpeakers, who cannot fpeak correctly, because they cannot think precifely; but who, unfortunately, from their numbers and fituation, fix the language of a country.Thus, although there is no neceffary connection between the intrinfic value of a thing, and the manner in which it is ufed, or employed; yet most perfons, being in the habit of efteeming what is exclufively their own, and of defpifing what is common to others; and the connection being once formed between meannefs and frequency of ufe; the idea annexed to the word trivial has been fhifted from the attribute to which it originally belonged (and which is now expreffed by a term, faft finking to reproach, viz. barknied) to that of meannefs and infignificance. So, the word vulgar now implies fomething bafe and groveling in actions, though it originally indicated only the frequency of their being performed. And the word fine, from denoting what was wrought with extreme delicacy and ability, now fignifies, in common fpeech, what is gawdy and fhowy, though its ancient import ftill remains, when we fpeak of lace, &c. and in the metaphorical application of it to intellect, as when we speak of a refined fpeculation. 201 It is furely fair to afk, whether we ought not to ufe thefe terms in (what appears to be) their original, ftrict, and proper fenfe? Anti-Sinboron's fear, that we fhall want new terms, is groundless. In fact, our language contains a huge, but ill-forted, mafs of terms; which require only a little arrangement, to produce the defirable effects of perfpicuity, correctnefs, and energy. Jan. 9, 1797. SINBORON. TOUR OF ENGLAND, (CONTINUED). Journal of a Tour through almost every county in England, and part of Wales, by Mr. JOHN HOUSEMAN, of Corby, near Carlisle; who was engaged to make the Tour by a gentleman of diftinction, for the purpofe of collecting authentic information, relative to the state of the poor. This Journal com prifes an account of the general appearance of the country, of the foil, furface, buildings, &c. with obfervations agricultural, commercial, &c. APRIL 29, went from LEEDS to WAKEFIELD, in Yorkshire, eight miles and a half. The furface pretty level; foil principally clay: fields fmall much land in grafs; hedges quickfet; the buildings good; and the population great; the fabric of cloth and stuffs occu py the whole country. Near Wakefield, paffed over a pretty large tract of fine common, which is about to be inclofed. The country, upon the whole, has a very pleafing appearance. WAKEFIELD is a fmall, well-built town; the streets generally clean, with flagged walks on each fide. It is increafing in population and buildings. A few ftuff-pieces are brought to market here, but not much woollen cloth. The cloth manufactories in the neighbourhood are numerous; but the cloth is chiefly fold Huthersfield. The high fpire of Wakefield church, prefents itself to view at a confiderable diftance; a new one is now erecting. Canals fretch in va rious directions. The River Calder wathes one fide of the town. Coal is got in abundance in the neighbour. hood. April 30, went from WAKEFIELD to CHAPLETOWN, in Yorkshire, eighteen miles. The foil in general light, but in fome parts, fomewhat cold, wet, and fterile. The furface of the country, taken generally, is pretty level, yet rifes in numerous gentle fwells. The culture confifts of corn and grafs. The land appears to be pretty well cultivated, and |