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should not only snatch you from the grave, but die herself in the attempt'; suppose likewise that she were to leave you a creditable maintenance upon the condition of your doing some particular act easily performed; Would you not do it? Would not your neglect appear the blackest ingratitude, whilst your folly would be the derision of children.

As to the matter which frightens some, it stands thus. St. Paul reminds us, that, as we have "houses to eat and drink in," we should not come to the house of God, and to the Lord's supper, not distinguishing a solemn act of religion from a common meal, which was the crime of some of the Corinthians. But what is this to the purpose of those childish and fantastical fears, which a great part of us entertain in relation to the celebration of this act of devotion? Solemn, indeed, it is, and awful, but, when we fall down on our knees before God, or send up our hearts to him in prayer, is not this also a solemn and awful duty? As well may we say, that we will never pray, because it requires thought and seriousness, as that we will not receive the sacrament, for fear of offending God. Believing it to be the command of Christ, we offend him most surely by not receiving. And if we are to come to the table of our Lord in charity with men, with an intention to lead a new life; do we not do just the same thing when we pray. If not, we are guilty of mockery, for we implore the mercies of heaven, upon the very terms and conditions of forgiving others.

In regard to the frequency of receiving the sacrament, there is no time exactly pointed out; but, for my own part, I see not how any Christian can decently turn his back on the Lord's table.

The Progress of Genius

FROM OBSCURE AND LOW SITUATIONS, TO EMINENCE AND CELEBRITY,

"Genius is that gift of God which learning cannot confer. which no disadvantages of birth er education can wholly obscure."

DAVID DALE,

FROM whose active and enterprising mind originated the well-known Cotton Mills and flourishing village of New Lanark, began his career of usefulness by herding cattle.

Having learned the weaving business at Paisley, and wrought as a journeyman in that profession at Hamilton, he removed afterwards to Glasgow, and served for some time in the capacity of clerk to a silk mercer.

With the assistance of some friends, he began and carried on business for many years in the linen yarn branch, and imported French yarns from Flanders; and at last en tered into an agreement with Sir RICHARD ARKWRIGHT to erect Cotton Mills on the Clyde; by which he not only found employment for great numbers both of old and young, but encouraged others to follow his example: so that many a monument of this patriotic gentleman's enterprising spirit continues to adorn his native land, while his religious, philanthropic, and benevolent virtues, render him a fit subject to be resumed by us, as an example for imitation, on another occasion.

DEMOSTHENES,

SAID to be the greatest orator of antiquity, was an amazing instance of the perseverance of genius in overcoming difficulties.

Having lost his father in his infancy, his education was neglected; but at the age of seventeen, he determined to study eloquence, though his lungs were weak, his pronunciation inarticulate, and his gestures awkward; but these impediments he conquered by perseverance, by declaiming as he walked up the sides of steep hills, by the sea shore

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when the weather was rough, and by putting pebbles into his mouth! To acquire a good gesture he used to practise before a mirror, and to correct a bad habit of shrugging up one of his shoulders, he placed a sharp pointed sword over it in the place where he stood.

A Village Library.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE CHEAP MAGAZINE.

GENTLEMEN,

AS you wish to have information respecting the rise, progress, and present state of parish Libraries, or Book Societies, in this country, it is with pleasure the writer of this sends you some account of one established in Tranent ; not doubting, but its example will be followed by every clergyman in Scotland, who shall see the good effects of such institutions on the state of society.

It was in the year 1792, when the late Rev. HUGH CUNNINGHAM judged it necessary to establish a Library in Tranent, for the use of his parish, and collected a number of books, consisting chiefly of Divinity and History :-He invited his parishioners to their perusal, by paying only one shilling a year, which was laid out on the purchase of new books.

In 1800, the Subscribers raised the entry money to 4s. and 2s. of yearly payments. The consequence has been the purchasing a considerable number of valuable books. The mode of getting books into the Library is by ballot; obviating, it is thought, the prejudice attending a decision by majorities. Every member may propose a book to be purchased, which are balloted for, and as many drawn as the money in the Treasurer's hands will purchase. The right of Entry to the Library since 1800 extends to any person out of the parish. The volumes at present on the Catalogue are above 200.

It is gratifying to see from small beginnings, institutions become so respectable. The Dalkeith Subscription Library commenced in 1798, with 40 trades people, subscribing only one shilling a piece, and 4s. 4d. yearly, and have now a col lection of books, in the various branches of literature, amounting to 1200 volumes; indeed, high subscriptions defeat the purpose of such establishments, making them inaccessible to the mechanic and the labourer.

TRANENT, July 3d,

1813.

H.

ECONOMICAL RECEIPTS.

Economy in planting Potatoes.

THE common mode of planting potatoes is, by setting the small roots entire; or, by cutting the larger ones to pieces, and reserving one eye or bud to each: it appears, however, that the rind may be employed with equal advantage; as crops have thus been produced, which fully equalled those obtained from seeds, sets, shoots, or by any other method.

Mr Millington's Method of preserving Potatoes.

CCORDING to his statement, three pounds of potatoes were peeled, rasped, and put in a coarse cloth between two boards, in a napkin press, till they were compressed into a very thin cake, that was placed on a shelf to dry. The roots yielded, on expression, about one quart of juice; which, being mixed with an equal quantity of cold water, deposited in the course of an hour, upwards of one dram of white flour or starch, in every respect fit for making fine pastry-Mr M. presented in 1799 to the "Society for increasing the Comforts, &e. of the Poor," a cake, which had been thus prepared in the year 1797: In bulk, it occupied only one-sixth part of the original roots; and lost about two-thirds in weight by the process; but he observes, that such cake, when dressed by steam, or otherwise, will afford nearly the same quantity and weight as three pounds and a half of potatoes, properly boiled. Some roots, that had been thoroughly frozen, have been managed in a similar manner; and the cake was perfectly sweet; whereas others of the same parcel, that were left unpressed, in a few days became rotten.

Another mode of keeping Potatoes

WAS lately and successfully tried, by the patriotic Bath and West of England Society. It consists simply in slicing potatoes without taking off the rind or skin, and afterwards drying them in an oven or kiln. The roots thus prepared will femain sweet for almost any length of time: the Society sent some to Jamaica in a barrel; which had been four years from Britain, and on their return, were found not to be in the least degree affected. 113

USEFUL INFORMATION.

CONDUCTORS FOR SECURING HOUSES AND SHIPS FROM THE BAD EFFECTS OF LIGHTNING.

AS Lightning strikes the highest and most pointed objects in its way, in preference to others, such as high hills, lofty trees, elevated spires, ships masts, chimney tops, &c. various expedients have been contrived in order to divert or break its force.

These efforts of human ingenuity were first published, or recommended to public notice by Dr FRANKLIN; and from their acknowledged utility, Conductors are now generally adopted.

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A conductor to guard a building, as it is now commonly used in consequence of several considerations, and experi ments, should consist of one iron rod about three quarters of an inch thick, fastened to the wall of the building, not by iron cramps, but by wooden ones.* If this conductor were quite detached from the building, and supported by wooden posts at the distance of one or two feet from the wall, it would be much better for common edifices, but it is more particularly advisable for powder magazines, powder mills, and all such buildings as contain combustibles ready to take fire. The upper end of the conductor should be terminated in a pyramidal form, with the edges, as well as the point, very sharp: and if the conductor be of iron, it should be gilt or painted, for the length of one or two feet. This sharp end should be elevated above the highest part of the building (as above a stack of chimnies, to which it may be fastened) at least five or six feet. The lower end of the conductor should be driven five or six feet into the ground, and in a direction leading from the foundations; or it would be better to connect it with the nearest piece of water, if any be at hand. If this conductor, on account of the difficulty of adapting it to the form of the building, cannot conveniently be made of one rod, then care should be taken, that where the pieces meet, they be made to come in as perfect a contact with one another as possible; for as

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* As wood becomes a better electric or non-conductor, in proportion to its being deprived of moisture, baked-wood would certainly be a considerable improvement; indeed, M. CAVALLO reckons more perfect electrie, than either wax or silk, in the list he has given in his Treatise on Electricity.

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