SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS, WITH WELL-SELECTED LIBRARIES. MR. URBAN, TH May 1. HE establishment of Mechanic Institutes has been hailed as a measure likely to promote the interests and hap piness of the working classes in a remarkable degree, by infusing into their minds a taste for mental improvement, an active and strong desire to acquire knowledge, and to enjoy the gratifications arising from its possession, and consequently weakening their attachment to pleasures of a more sensual kind; but whether or not these bright expectations will be fulfilled, still remainsa very doubtful question. There indeed appears more reason to fear the result of the experiment than otherwise. Scientific instruction is indeed dispersed, but moral knowledge and religious truth are withheld. The mind is subjected tono wholesome and salutary discipline. The objects of these Institutions is to disseminate the principles and applications of Mechanics and Chemistry only; to search only the laws which regulate the material world. Whether it be wise to exclude what ought to be the primary objects of education, (namely, the inculcation of sound moral principles, and the enlarging and strengthening of the mental powers from these or from any similar establishment, whether it be called an Institute or an University,) will be seen at no great distance of time. The object, however, which I have more immediately in view, in this present communication, is to call the attention of those who wish for the general diffusion of all wholesome and useful knowledge to a plan by which that object may be considerably promoted, by providing for the establishment of Institutions possessed of well selected libraries, wherever circumstances may appear to call for their introduction. The manner in which I propose to accomplish this purpose, is by forming a society, consisting of such persons as may be willing to advance a certain sum [say 1001.] towards the object in view. For this sum the contributors should be entitled to receive the same amount of interest which they could derive from its investment in the public funds, or other eligible security; this interest to be derived from the different institutions themselves. The society should undertake to provide a library, together with the usual appendages of a Literary Institution, in any district of the metropolis, or in any country town, receiving a reasonable security that a sufficient number of persons would subscribe to repay them * Institutions of a scientific character are, we are happy to observe, forming, or are already formed, in nearly all the principal towns in England. The erection of a Mechanics' Institute, on a commodious and elegant scale, was lately determined on at Hull, a view of which appears in the Hull Advertiser of the 22d inst. The interior accommodations will be ample, comprising spacious rooms for the public meetings, lectures, or discussions of the Society, with appropriate rooms for the library, the museum, the committee, and the private instruction of the members. Upon the ground-floor will be, on one side of the entrance-hall, the committee-room, 14 feet by 10, and, on the other, a room for the drawing class, 20 feet by 143; and behind these, will be the principal lectureroom, 38 feet square, lighted by a dome in the centre. On the second story, to which an ascent is gained by a handsome flight of stone steps in a circular form, will be, in front, the reading room, 22 feet by 10, with the library, 20 feet by 144; and behind them a gallery over the lecture-room, capable of containing upwards of 100 persons. On the third story will be the room for the writing and arithmetic classes, 16 feet by 11; the museum, 22 feet by 13; and the modelling-room, 14 feet by 9.-The cost of the building, including the site, is estimated at 15004, of which sum, upwards of 600l. has been already raised,— partly by donations and subscriptions. The whole is to be finished in nine months. EDIT. 388 Scientific Institutions, with well-selected Libraries. the stipulated interest upon the sum they shoul dadvance. By this arrangement the two great obstacles to the establishment of libraries upon a respectable scale, (namely, the providing a suitable place for its reception, and the delay which must occur when the books have to be purchased from the annual or other contributions of the members,) would be entirely removed; for the Society would erect the library, and stock it with literary food, if they were protected from the loss of their stipulated interest; but perhaps this part of the plan will be better understood, when the particular items of expenditure come to be stated in detail. Suppose then in any district of London, or in any country town, a number of persons should wish to obtain the establishment of a Literary Institution, where instruction might be dispersed by books, by lectures, and by experiments. If they are willing to engage to pay a certain annual subscription for that purpose, the Society undertakes to fulfil their wishes, and to erect and support a library upon a scale proportionate to the annual sum they are to receive. Thus the delay of years is at once removed-a well-selected library is at once accessible, and other means of diffusing knowledge are at once brought into operation. If the amount of the annual subscription were 1007. the accounts between the Society and the Institution might be thus stated: Cost of erecting a suitable li brary, with appropriate ac- Providing a collection of 2000 £. 500 1000 50 20 10 10 [May, smaller Institutions. If we take one, books Interest upon the sum ad vanced Increase of library Attendance, fires, &c. 1500 £3000 £150 50 15 30 100 100 80 £525 Of course these details would be liable to considerable alteration. If the plan is ever carried into execution, in towns, for example, where it might be wished to form a more extensive library, the charges for lectures and experiments might be omitted, and some other items considerably reduced; so that if a subscription of 5001. were offered to the Society, a library of 10,000 volumes might be established in the first instance. Upon these points, the local committees must exercise their own discretion; if they are enabled to offer the general Society a certain annual sum, that general Society would expend a proportionate capital in gratifying their wishes. The Shareholders in the proposed Society are of course not expected to look upon it merely as a source of profit; they are to be secured a reasonable rate of interest for any sums they may advance, and if any additional 500 profit should arise, it ought to be applied towards increasing the libraries of the local institutions. Shares would only be held by those who are desirous of promoting the diffusion of knowledge of a really useful and unexceptionable character; and if 100 individuals entertaining these wishes were each to subscribe 1007. the proposed Society might immediately commence operations, as 10,000l. would be amply sufficient to try the experiment. If it succeeded, no limit could be put to the Society's exertions. Every new institution would more strongly demonstrate its usefulness, and encourage others to enrol their names among its members; and indeed arrangements might be made by which prosperous local institutions might, gradually redeem the debt due to the parent Society, and so enable it to extend its services still far 10 100 This estimate of what might be accomplished for a hundred pounds a year, will probably be objected to in some particulars; but from an attentive consideration of the subject, I am thoroughly convinced that it is founded in truth, and that a little impartial examination will convince every unprejudiced person, that it is so. Where the contributions are to a larger amount, the Society will be enabled to effect, com atively speaking, even more than in 1829.] Carew Castle, Pembrokeshire. ther, even without any increase of 389 House of Lancaster. On this nobleman's retiring from Court he made Carew his favourite residence; at which time the neighbouring palace of Llamphey was inhabited by the Bishop of St. David's, between whom and Sir Rhys there existed a most inviolable friendship. According to Lea land he greatly enlarged the castle, and gave it that magnificence as a palace, of which it now boasts even in ruins. In the second year of Henry the Eighth this castle was, on CAREW CASTLE stars of the fydd 1, the grandson of Sir Rhys ap the attainder of Sir Rhys ap Gryf Mr. URBAN, one May 1. noble haven of Milford. The period of its foundation is involved in consider able obscurity, but it is most probable that it was one of the numerous castles erected by the Normans in that part of the kingdom, during the reign of William Rufus. According to tradition (for we are not in possession of more certain authority), this castle was given by Rhiss ap Tewdwr, or Theodore, Prince of South Wales, to Gerard de Caerio, or Carew, as a marriage portion with his daughter Nest. From Gerald it descended to his eldest son William Fitzgerald, and continued in the family for several years, until Sir Edward Carew, the lineal descend ant, in order to raise supplies for a foreign expedition (in which he was killed) mortgaged it to Sir Rhys ap Thomas, the staunch supporter of the Gerald de Carrio, called by Giraldus Cambrensis (to whom he was related), Gerald de Windsore, and Fitzwalter, was appointed castellar of Pembroke castle under Arnulph de Montgomery. He married Nest, the daughter of Rhys ap Theodore, and sister of Rhys ap Gruffydd, Prince of South Wales. Nest had previously been a concubine of Henry the First, and the marriage was most probably brought about by that monarch, who created Gerald his lieutenant in these parts upon the outlawry of Arnulph de Montgomery. By Nest he had issue three sous, William Fitzgerald, eldest son and heir, whose son Odo de Carew married the daughter of Richard Fitz Tancred (castellar of the castle of Haverford-west under the Earl of Clare), from whom are descended the numerous family of the Carews; Maurice Fitzgerald, who accompanied Richard Strongbow to Ireland in 1170, and from whom are descended the Geralds, Geraldines, and Fitzgeralds in that country; his third and youngest son was David, created Bishop of St. David's in 1149, and died possessed of that See in 1176. * Thomas, forfeited to the Crown, and shortly afterwards granted to Sir John Perrot, a supposed natural son of Henry the Eighth, and a great favou rite of that monarch, who however shared the fate of most royal favourites ; for being attainted he died a prisoner in the Tower. It was afterwards purchased by Sir John Carew, the lineal descendant of the Sir Edmond who had mortgaged it to Sir Rhys ap Tho mas: he obtained the fee simple and inheritance of Charles the First. From him it descended to his great grandson Thomas Carew, Esq. who, dying in 1766, left it to his two daughters and co heiresses, one of whom married James Bernard, Esq. barrister-at-law, into whose family the whole estate finally came, her sister having died without issue. The ruins of this once magnificent castle are both interesting and majesticl The north-west and north-east sides are the most ancient part of the fabric, and probably coeval with its first * "And within a ii miles of Llanfeth on the right hond I saw the castel of Carew repaired or magnificently builded by Rhese ap Thomas. It stondith by a creke of Milford Haven."-Leland's Itinerary, vol. 5, p. 65, edit 1711. Sir Rhys ap Gryffydd, the grandson of Sir Rhys ap Thomas, married Katharine the daughter of Thomas Howard, second Duke of Norfolk, by whom he had issue Gryffydd ap Rhys. He was attainted of high treason on the alleged charge of quartering the arms of England, and beheaded on Towerhill in 1531. His body was interred in the church of the Fratres Sanctæ Crucis, or Crutched Friars, in London. His wife was afterwards married to Henry Daubeney, Earl of Bridgwater, and fell under the suspicion of being concerned in the intrigues of Queen Catharine Howard. She lies buried in Lambeth church. 390" Devonshire Topaz, Tourmaline, and Garnet. foundation. The north front, which is entirely of a different style of architecture, was erected by Sir Rhys ap Thomas; the windows, of a vast size, are particularly fine, and divided into rectangular compartments by a framework of free-stone. In one of the apartments at the east end, is an elegant sculptured chimney-piece, bearing the royal arms of France and England quarterly in the centre, and gothic pannelling on each side. This apart ment tradition assigns as the one occupied by Henry the Seventh, when he was entertained here by his staunch friend and supporter Sir Rhys ap Thomas. No mention however is made by any historian of a visit paid by that Sovereign to this castle. On his landing at Milford Haven, at which time it was most probable he would have lodged here, he "removed," says Stow (with whom all the old chronicles agree,)" to Hereforde West, where he was received of the people with great joy. From thence he removed to Cardigan." "Carew castle," says Malkin, might even now be reinstated, and form one of the most dignified antique residences in the kingdom; but the surrounding estate is alienated, with the exception of a meadow or two; and every year must contribute to efface the grandeur of this noble pile." 66 I must not however forget to mention an event connected with the history of Carew, while in the possession of Sir Rhys ap Thomas; which is remarkable as being the only celebration of the kind recorded to have taken place in the Principality. I allude to the tilt or tournament held in honour of St. George's day. At that time most of the distinguished families in the neighbourhood, as well as from distant parts, were here assembled, and lodged within the walls of the castle. It lasted for the space of five days, commencing on the eve of St. George's day. Those of your readers, who would wish to find a detailed account of this splendid exhibition, I refer to an old manuscript, published in the "Cambrian Register.' Yours, &c. J. B. S. Mr. URBAN, Exeter, May 7. N my researches for Devonshire minerals, I lately discovered the Topaz, Precious Tourmaline, and Yel [May, low Garnet, at the East of Dartmoor; and presume a brief account of them in your useful Miscellany may be acceptable to some of your readers, as I imagine these species have not heretofore been discovered in this Island; at least I find no record of them in any of the mineralogical works which I have consulted. Most writers on this subject have divided the Tourmaline into two classes; the black they name the common, and the coloured is distinguished by the precious. Bergman in his Essays represents it as a very choice stone, and says, it is "the rarest pro duction of the mineral kingdom;" no doubt it appeared so to him at the time he wrote, from the difficulty he had to procure a specimen*; for about that period the Tourmaline was procured chiefly from Asia, but afterwards found on the continents of Europe and America. I have in my collection upwards of 400 specimens, and some of the crystals more than two inches diameter: these large ones the late Mr. W. Phillips called the splendid crystals of Devon; they were discovered a few years since at Bovey, and are jet black. The coloured Tourmalines I have recently met with I found embedded in massivet black Tourmaline; some of the crystals are of a bright yellow, others a reddish orange colour, with a gradation of shades, and in different lights appear tinged with violet, purple, pink, or rose colour, have irregular pentagon faces, and some with tetrahedral summits. one of the black masses of 14 high and 1 diameter there are twelve small crystals, comprising all the colours mentioned; these beautiful transparent crystals are in size about a quarter of an inch diameter, more or less. Perhaps those of the reddish tint be considered of the rubellite speciest. I have one crystal of a light yellow, a hexahedral prism, translucent, about a quarter of an inch high, and rather less diameter, extremely perfect, and stands out prominently on its matrix; may On * In the year 1758 there was only one tourmaline-stone known in England, which was in the possession of Dr. Heberden. A scarce mineral, and Jameson observes" it occurs very seldom massive." These crystals approach much to the description given by Dr. Kidd of the Rubellite of Siberia. Vide "Outlines of Mineralogy." 1929.1 Derrick's Memoirs of the Royal Navy. Advice-boats... the black crystals on the mass are Surveying-vessels.. Yours, &c. SHIRLEY Woolmer. .... 391 7. 30. 12 10 2 4 17 6 2 ... 1 10 25 7 Hoys, lighters, and transports....108 Of 60 guns and under.. 656 15. The following are the Ships_and Vessels, on the Lakes in Canadà (Sept. 1818), including those building, viz., Guns. .112 60 54 42 32 Ship-sloops No. Rates. 58 7 2d. 110 .. 4 54 2 4th. 46 ..75 6th. 26.20 24 3 Guns not known 1 ships ......29 .114 4 Line 131 Sloops rigged as Briggs Manner of rigging not known Brigs (exclusive of the armed brig) 2 Bombs Schooners (exclusive of armed 6 1 3 1 3 10 25 25 These are on the Lakes in Canada, as mentioned futher on; and are, by special order, deemed only 2d rates. + See Mem. respecting these further on. Victualling-ship all which are included in the foregoing Abstract of the Navy. Mem.-The 60-gun ships in the Abstract have two flush decks, without a round-house; and so have two of the 58-gun ships; all which ships, therefore, are considered as frigates. All the other 58-gun ships (heretofore rated as fifties up to Nov. 1816) have two decks and a round-house. The ships in the Abstract, of 48 guns and under, have only one flush deck. We are now, Mr. Urban, arrived at that point of time to which it was purposed to carry these Memoirs, and be These are in want of much repair. There are also two which are (Sept. 1818) in good condition, and are therefore inc'uledi a their proper classes. |