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system in Ireland, and in 1809, an irrigated crop amounted toupwards of eight tons one quarter per acre.' *

6th. USES.

The uses to which Fiorin may be applied, are both numerous and advantageous.

1. As hay, it produces a valuable crop, and that too, we are assured in any ground, so as to enable the farmer to apply his best soil to grain, and substitute this on his worst.

2. It is so eminently vivacious as to prosper in young plantations, provided they are carefully weeded; for this grass thrives even under trees, and until they close over head, so as to exclude both light and heat, continues to give large crops.

3. Fiorin will afford abundance of green food to the farmer during the six most desirable months in the year, from November to May, superior, as we are assured, in point of quality to any other, and also more accessible in winter.

4. In a green state, it is eagerly sought after by cows, and while the quantity of their milk is encreased in one hand, both its richness and flavour are improved.

5. The hay is devoured by stock of all kinds, particularly horses, who prefer it to every other species of food whatsoever.

7th. MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS.

It may be here necessary to remark, that Dr. Richardson hitherto has neither reaped fame nor profit from this very valuable discovery. His Fiorin has been stigmatized as a "troublesome weed," and a member of the † Linnæan Society, has attempted to expose it under the execrated name of quitch, couch, or quich, which is a corruption of quick, the ancient term for living, of which there are several kinds (Triticum Repens, Triticum Caninum, &c.) mentioned by Linnæus. Liberal men will, however, wait the result, and not precipitate their opinions, until a well regulated course of experiments shall have determined, whether the merits of this singular grass have been too much exaggerated on the one hand, or too much depreciated on the other. Meanwhile a new species of it is said to have been discovered at Llarfain, in North Wales, by Dr. Pring, so very luxuriant in respect to growth, that some of the roots transplanted by him, contain 27 stalks, six feet in height, bearing 277 ramifications.

Perhaps if Fiorin were transferred to our watered meadows, this very prolific grass may be so far softened by the direct appli

* On being weighed in the presence of the Right Hon. Isaac Corry, this enormous crop proved to be 8 tons 5 cwt. 2 qrs. and 24 lb. sound hay, from an English acre!

† Mr. Salisbury.

cation of a new element, as to lose that roughness and coarseness which have been objected to it. As it will prosper on high grounds, this quality alone would render it invaluable; and as Devonshire resembles Ireland in moisture, it might find a congenial climate in the West of England. In fine, although it might be too much to expect, that our agriculturists are to be enriched, and our wastes reclaimed by the Fiorin, yet, it evidently deserves a fair and impartial trial; and we are happy to learn, that from the many specimens recently planted in this country, we shall soon be enabled to pronounce decisively on the result.

MR. SADLER'S BALLOON.

Birmingham, Tuesday Evening.

At half past nine, Mr. Sadler and Mr. Burcham arrived in a post-chaise and four. The people greeted them with every demonstration of satisfaction. The bells rang merry peals, and the firing of guns, pistols, &c. announced the welcome intelligence. The populace afterwards drew the carriage with Mr. Sadler, jun. in charge of the balloon, through the principal streets; surrounded by lighted torches. In a few minutes the crowd before the residence of Mr. Sadler became so great, that to satisfy their impatient anxiety, the ærial voyagers exhibited themselves at the windows during a considerable time.

Wednesday Morning.

The inhabitants still continued to assemble in great numbers to testify their approbation of the adventurous æronauts. The following particulars of the voyage are from the most authentic source.

About twenty minutes past two, Mr. Sadler and Mr. Burcham took their seats, and all the necessary apparatus being placed in the car, with nearly 200lb. of ballast, the machine began to ascend in a gradual manner, steering N. E. by E. In about three minutes they were enveloped in a cloud, which they soon cleared, when the æronauts were at a sufficient height to have an extensive view of the surrounding country; Lichfield, Coventry, Tamworth, and Atherstone, appeared nearly under them. The shouts of the people, and the firing of guns, were distinctly audible.

At 45 minutes past two, the aerial voyagers perceived Leicester, bearing east. At half-past two the thermometer stood at 50, the barometer at 24; and successively varied till 14 minutes past three, when the thermometer was as low as 38, and the barome

ter at 18. When they arrived in the neighbourhood of Leicester, the wind shifted due-east, and in that direction they proceeded towards Market Deeping, in Lyncolnshire, when the æronauts where at the greatest elevation, (about two miles and a half): from thence they saw the towns of Petersborough, Stamford, Wisbeach, Crowland, &c. Mr. Sadler perceiving a current of air passing under him to the northward, deemed it prudent to descend, in order to avoid being carried towards the sea. The balloon being now quite distended, it became necessary to let out some of the gas, which was done at intervals till it descended into the current Mr. Sadler had previously noticed; and the adventurers were carried directly northwards.

Spalding was now on their right, and Bourn on their left, when they threw out all their ballast. The car first struck the earth to the southward of Heckington with extreme violence, the grappling irons being ineffectually thrown out; and on the second concussion, Mr. Sadler having hold of the valve line, was, by a sudden jerk, caused by the grapple taking hold for an instant, thrown violently out, and unfortunately, received several severe contusions on the head and body; but, notwithstanding, had sufficient presence of mind to call out to Mr. Burcham not to quit his seat. The balloon immediately arose above 100 yards; and, on again descending, the grappling-iron caught the ground, and the machine came in contact with a tree which stopped its progress, and Mr. Burcham was fortunately relieved from his perilous situation, and safely landed on terra firma with only a slight bruise. The ærial voyage was completed at forty minutes past three, being one hour and twenty minutes from the moment of ascension; having in that short space, traversed a distance of at least 112 miles. As the balloon made towards the earth, no assistance appeared at hand to secure the vehicle, which, unfortunately, was very much damaged; and from the place where the car first struck the earth till the balloon was finally secured, was carried above a mile and an half with Mr. Burcham alone.

Mr. Sadler, losing one of his shoes on his expulsion from the balloon, made towards a mill, and begged an old one, which the owner refused, under 7s. though it was not worth two-pence. He was however, recognised in the crowd, and forced to refund, amidst the execrations of all present.

The adventurers were much indebted to the hospitality of Mr. Robinson, of Heckington, where they were kindly received, and treated with every possible mark of attention.

FARTHER PARTICULARS.

Boston, Oct. 8.

The celebrated æronaut, Sadler, ascended in his balloon yesterday, at Birmingham, at 20 minutes past two o'clock in the after

noon; and, to the high gratification and wonder of the neighbourhood of Heckington, in this county, the balloon descended in a field of Mr. Godson's about a mile from the town, a few minutes before four o'clock. Mr. Sadler was accompanied by a young gentleman named Burcham. The balloon first struck the ground in the parish of Burton, a mile and an half from the place where it was secured; and by the concussion Mr. Sadler was thrown out of the car, and left on the ground. The balloon thus lightened, ascended with extreme velocity, to the great hazard of the gentleman who remained in it. At length he succeeded in pressing the bag of rarified air sufficiently to occasion the balloon to descend again; and, throwing out the anchor, it caught in the parish of Asgarby; and the silk of the balloon clung round an ashtree in a most extraordinary way, insinuating itself amongst the branches, and tearing into a thousand pieces. A number of persons ran to the assistance of Mr. Burcham, and he was speedily conducted to Mr. Godson's, where he met with the kindest reception. Mr. Sadler, on finding himself left in the field where the balloon first grounded, made his way to the house of a miller, where he borrowed a shoe (having lost one of his own); the miller taking care to have his quid pro quo, by receiving a pledge of some money, which the æronaut happily had about him. Mr. Sadler then went to Heckington, and in the street there first saw again his lost companion; each, the moment before, fancying the other killed. The interview was scarcely less than ludicrous. They flew into one another's arms, with such expressions of joy, as cannot be conceived by those who have not been in circumstances nearly similar! the two meant to reach Sleaford last night, and thence to proceed post on their return to Birmingham. The balloon was almost wholly destroyed, and pieces of it are now in the possession of persons at Heckington and the neighbourhood.

Since writing the above, we have been favoured with a letter from Heckington, which confirms all the material parts of the statement we have given. The distance travelled was upwards of 100 miles, in one hour and twenty minutes. Mr. Sadler lost. both his flags: the car of the balloon was taken to the crown Inn at Heckington. Both the æronauts supped with Mr. Edward Robinson, and stopped with him till nearly three o'clock this morning; when they set off direct for Birmingham, in a chaise and four. The balloon was seen by crowds of people returning from Sleaford market; some supposed it a large turnip floating in the air-others, that the comet was falling-and all were astonished beyond measure. The balloon was 40 feet high by 36 wide.

VOL. VII.

FROM THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

LETTERS OF ANNA SEWARD.

Written between the years 1784, and 1807.-In six volumes.

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IN other words, this work consists of the Life and opinions of Miss Seward, written by herself, in the novel form of letters to her friends. He who loves literature, and is not grateful to the authoress for this legacy, must have a cold heart and a fastidious judgment. For our parts we recollect no work, for some time past, which has afforded us equal pleasure. As compositions, these letters are elegant and spirited; in their opinions, they are generally liberal and always sensible; and their information is often as original and interesting as it is comprehensive and universal.

The form of biography which Miss Seward has thus ingeniously invented, has enabled her to incorporate her observations on current public events, with details of her course of reading and study, and with anecdotes of her private life. Her work, would, however, have been more approved of, if all strictures on living characters had been expunged; Miss Seward having, like other fallible censors, imbibed prejudices, by viewing some characters through false mediums. Miss Seward's praises of Mr. Hayley, Mr. Whalley, Mr. Southey, Mr. Coleridge, Mr. Scott, Mr. Park, and many other surviving literati are liberally and judiciously bestowed. Her just execration of Reviews, and of the principles and practices of anonymous criticism, will, however, draw upon her the denunciations of those who live by that species of FELONY, and probably tarnish the lustre, and diminish the immediate sale of her work.

JOHNSON'S LAST ILLNESS.

I have lately been in the almost daily habit of contemplating a very melancholy spectacle. The great Johnson is here, labouring under the paroxysms of a disease, which must speedily be fatal. He shrinks from the consciousness with the extremest horror. It is by his repeatedly expressed desire that I visit him often: yet I am sure he neither does, nor ever did feel much regard for me; but he would fain escape, for a time, in any society, from the terrible idea of his approaching dissolution. I never would be awed by his sarcasms, or his frowns, into acquiescence with his general injustice to the merits of other writers; with his national or party aversions; but I feel the truest compassion for his present sufferings, and fervently wish I had power to relieve them.

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