Part 5

The usual rate at which whales swim, even when they are on their passage from one situation to another, seldom exceeds four miles an hour; and though when urged by the sight of any enemy, or alarmed by the stroke of a harpoon, their extreme velocity may be at the rate of eight or nine miles an hour: yet we find this speed never continues longer than for a few minutes, before it relaxes almost to one-half. Hence, for the space of a few minutes, they are capable of darting through the water, with the velocity almost of the fastest ship under sail, and of ascending with such rapidity as to leap entirely out of the water. This feat they sometimes perform as an amusement apparently, to the high admiration of the distant spectator; but to the no small terror of the unexperienced fishers who, even under such circumstances, are often ordered, by the foolhardy harpooner, to "pull away" to the attack. Sometimes the whales throw themselves into a perpendicular posture, with their heads downward, and, rearing their tails on high in the air, beat the water with awful violence.--In both these cases, the sea is thrown into foam, and the air filled with vapours; the noise, in calm weather, is heard to a great distance; and the concentric waves produced by the concussions on the water, are communicated abroad to a considerable extent. Sometimes the whale shakes its tremendous tail in the air, which, cracking like a whip, resounds to the distance of two or three miles.

When it retires from the surface, it first lifts its head, then plunging it under water, elevates its back like the segment of a sphere, deliberately rounds it away towards the extremity, throws its tail out of the water, and then disappears.

In their usual conduct, whales remain at the surface to breathe, about two minutes, seldom longer; during which time, they "blow" eight or nine times, and then descend for an interval usually of five or ten minutes; but sometimes, when feeding, fifteen or twenty. The depth to which they commonly descend, is not known, though from the "eddy" occasionally observed on the water, it is evidently, at times, only trifling. But, when struck, the quantity of line they sometimes take out of the boats, in a perpendicular descent, affords a good measure of the depth. By this rule, they have been known to descend to the depth of an English mile; and with such velocity, that instances have occurred, in which whales have been drawn up by the line attached, from a depth of 700 or 800 fathoms, and have been found to have broken their jaw-bones, and sometimes crown-bone, by the blow struck against the bottom. Some persons are of opinion, that whales can remain under a field of ice, or at the bottom of the sea, in shallow water, when undisturbed, for many hours at a time.--Whales are seldom found sleeping: yet, in calm weather, among ice, instances occasionally occur.

The food of the whale consists of various species of actiniæ, cliones, sepiæ, medusæ, cancri, and helices; or at least some of these genera are always to be seen whenever any tribe of whales is found stationary and feeding. In the dead animals, however, in the very few instances in which I have been enabled to open their stomachs, squillæ or shrimps were the only substances discovered. In the mouth of a whale just killed, I once found a quantity of the same kind of insect.

When the whale feeds, it swims with considerable velocity below the surface of the sea, with its jaws widely extended. A stream of water consequently enters its capacious mouth, and along with it, large quantities of water insects; the water escapes again at the sides; but the food is entangled and sifted as it were, by the whalebone, which, from its compact arrangement, and the thick internal covering of hair, does not allow a particle the size of the smallest grain to escape.

SIR JOSEPH BANKS.

On Monday morning, June 19, 1820, at 8 o'clock, died, at his house, Spring Grove, near Hounslow, the venerable President of the Royal Society, the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, G. C. B. &c. &c. &c. The loss to science by the demise of this excellent man and liberal patron will be long and severely felt. It will be recollected, that when it was determined to send Captain Cook on his first voyage round the globe, Sir Joseph Banks, then a young man, whose ardent mind glowed with a love of science and of ingenious enterprise, determined to accompany him. His liberal spirit and generous curiosity were regarded with admiration, and every convenience from the government was readily supplied to render the circumstances of the voyage as comfortable as possible. Far, however, from soliciting any accommodation that might occasion expense to government, Mr. Banks was ready to contribute largely out of his own private fortune towards the general purposes of the expedition. He engaged as his director in natural history during the voyage, and as the companion of his researches, Dr. Solander, of the British museum, a Swede by birth, and one of the most eminent pupils of Linnæus, whose scientific merits had been his chief recommendation to patronage in England. He also took with him two draughtsmen, one to delineate views and figures, the other to paint subjects of natural history. A secretary and four servants formed the rest of his suite. He took care to provide likewise the necessary instruments for his intended observations, with convenience for preserving such specimens as he might collect of natural or artificial objects, and with stores to be distributed in the remote isles he was going to visit, for the improvement of the condition of savage life. In the course of the voyage dangers were encountered of no ordinary magnitude. On the coast of Terra del Fuego in an excursion to view the natural productions of the country, Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander had nearly perished in a storm of snow. After passing a night on land, amid the storm, they at last, and with much difficulty, made their way back to the beach, and were received on board the ship; but three of the persons who accompanied them were lost. Shortly after his return from this voyage, Sir Joseph, in company with his friend Dr. Solander, visited Iceland. A rich harvest of new knowledge and of specimens compensated for the toils and expense of this scientific adventure. They afterwards visited the Western Islands of Scotland: and among other things worthy of notice, they discovered the columna stratification of the rocks surrounding the caves of Staffa; a phenomenon till then unobserved by naturalists, but was no sooner made known in a description by Sir J. Banks, than it became famous among men of science throughout Europe. In 1777, when Sir John Pringle retired from the presidency of the Royal Society, Sir Joseph Banks was elected to fill the vacant chair; and never perhaps has it been filled with more honour to the individual, or more advantage to the interests of science. His time, his wealth, (which was a princely fortune,) his influence, his talents, an incomparable library of science and art; knowledge and judgment to advise; affability to conciliate and encourage; generosity to assist; all in short of which he possessed, and it was all something either of goodness or greatness, he made the patrimony of the studious and learned, not of his own country alone, but of the whole world.

CURIOUS FACTS IN NATURAL HISTORY.

The examination of flowers by the microscope opens a new field of wonder to the inquiring naturalist; by which we are enabled to perceive that the minutest works of Nature are adorned with the most consummate elegance and beauty. As one proof, from innumerable others that might be selected, I beg to subjoin Sir John Hill's interesting account of what appeared on examining a carnation;--first published in the Inspector, No. 109. "The principal flower in this _bouquet_, was a _carnation_; the fragrance of this led me to enjoy it frequently and nearly: the sense of smelling was not the only one affected on these occasions; while that was satiated with the powerful sweet, the ear was constantly attacked by an extremely soft but agreeable murmuring sound. It was easy to know that some animal, within the covert, must be the musician, and that the little noise must come from some little body suited to produce it. I instantly distended the lower part of the flower, and, placing it in a full light, could discover troops of little insects frisking and capering with wild jollity among the narrow pedestals that supported its leaves, and the little threads that occupied its centre! I was not cruel enough to pull out any one of them for examination: but adapting a microscope to take in at one view, the whole base of the flower, I gave myself an opportunity of contemplating what they were about, and this for many days together without giving them the least disturbance.--Thus could I discover their economy, their passions and their enjoyments. The microscope, on this occasion, had given what nature seemed to have denied to the objects of contemplation. The base of the flower extended itself under its influence to a vast plain; the slender stems of the leaves became trunks of so many stately cedars; the threads in the middle seemed columns of massy structure, supporting at the top their several ornaments; and the narrow spaces between were enlarged into walls, paterres, and terraces. On the polished bottom of these, brighter than Parian marble, walked in pairs, alone, or in larger companies, the winged inhabitants: these from little dusky flies (for such only the naked eye would have shown them,) were raised to glorious glittering animals, stained with living purple, and with a glossy gold that would have made all the labours of the loom contemptible in the comparison. I could, at leisure as they walked together, admire their elegant limbs, their velvet shoulders, and their silken wings; their backs vieing with the empyrean in its blue; and their eyes, each formed of a thousand others, out-glittering the little planes on a brilliant; above description, and too great almost for admiration. Here were the perfumed groves, the more than myrtle shades, of the poet's fancy, realized; here the little animals spent their days in joyful dalliance; or in the triumph of their little hearts, skipped after one another from stem to stem among the painted trees; or winged their short flight to the close shadow of some broader leaf, to revel undisturbed in the heights of all felicity."

ABSENCE OF MIND.

Among a number of instances of the celebrated Dr. Moncey's absence of mind, is one which he frequently mentioned, and laughed at heartily, when in good humour, at the same time observing that his brother was as bad as himself. The doctor being once on a visit to his brother, in Norfolk, in the beginning of winter, and intending to set off for London the next day, his brother proposed to go and shoot wild ducks early in the morning, that he might carry two or three couple fresh killed to London with him. The servant was ordered to clean the long fowling piece, get plenty of powder and shot, and to goose-grease their boots. Every thing being in readiness according to their desire, about an hour before day-light the doctor and his brother set off for the place where the ducks resort, in order to be there by the break of day, when they generally take wing to go to feed. They had walked nearly three miles, and it having rained in the night, the clay mud wall was very dirty and greasy, when they heard the cry of the ducks. They were now obliged to get over the wall and the gate, across a sluice into the marsh where the ducks were. The rain had raised the water about a foot. It was then proposed that one should go over, and the other remain behind. Says the doctor, "George, do you go over, for I have forgotten my boots." "So have I doctor," says his brother; "but we wont lose our sport, as we have come so far." So both waded through, and got over the gate into the marsh, and advancing along the fleet, they at length perceived the ducks. "You are near enough, George," said the doctor.--"Aye," replied George, "I think we are not above a hundred yards off." "Why then fire," says the doctor.--"Do you fire," returned George. "Why I hav'nt got the gun; do you fire." "I fire! why I have not got the gun," said his brother, "I thought you had it. What a fine opportunity is lost. Here are not less than thirty ducks within shot, and neither of us have got the gun."

LIFE-PRESERVER.

The following simple method of rescuing drowning persons from a watery grave, is contained in a long article on that subject, in a late Liverpool paper, and is deserving of attention. The writer says:

If any one estimate inventions in the inverse ratio of their simplicity, they will smile to hear that the life-preserver which I have so highly extolled, is no more than a _hat_ and _pocket handerchief_;[5] so that every man has, at all times, about his person an apparatus which may be the means of saving the life of his fellow creature.

[5] A large silk handkerchief is the best for the occasion.

With these simple means any man who can swim may safely venture into the water, with the certainty of rescuing a drowning person. All the preparation, which need not occupy ten seconds, is this: Spread the handkerchief out on the ground, and place the hat upon it in the centre, with the crown upwards, in the ordinary position of wearing; then gather up the four corners of the handerchief over the crown of the hat, giving it a few twists for the greater convenience of grasping with the hand. The hat must then be inverted, (the crown downwards.) In this position, it is confidently asserted, any person may safely enter the water, as the cavity of the hat contains, a much greater quantity of air than is requisite to sustain any man. I found that the hat with which I tried the experiment, would almost support me and another person clinging to me, neither of us making the least effort to float by any motion of the hands and feet. The mode I should adopt, however, in using the life-preserver, would be to give up the handkerchief to the person whose life was in danger, and immediately to disengage myself from him. He would soon discover that he was buoyed up, and would recover his presence of mind; but, whether he did or not, it would be of little consequence, as long as he retained his grasp of the handkerchief. Whilst he was thus supported, nothing could be more easy than to push him to the shore with one hand, swimming with the other.

JOHN O'GROAT'S HOUSE.

The place so denominated is still a land-mark, although the house has long fallen to decay; so totally so that not a vestige remains; but the scite is an object of curiosity to travellers, for the singularity of the building, which tradition has preserved the form of, and the motive for its erection. In the reign of James the VIth of Scotland, (James the Ist of England,) two brothers, named Malcomb Gavin, and John O'Groat, arrived in Caithness from Holland, and it is said brought letters from the King. They purchased or possessed themselves of the lands of Warse and Duningsbay, lying near the Portland Hills. They increased in course of time to eight families: here they lived peaceably and comfortably for many years, and held an annual feast to commemorate the landing of their ancestors. Could it be supposed that any petty distinctions should have a tendency to interrupt the family harmony? but so it was. Each head of the families contended for the seniority and chieftainship of the clan. The ingenuity of one (a John O'Groat) settled the dispute for precedency, which arose upon the importance of sitting at the head of the table, and the right of entering first in at the door! John occupied a ferry, and his daily intercourse with strangers had enlarged his ideas: he expostulated with his clan on the folly of their pretensions, and represented, that quarrels amongst themselves would render them obnoxious to the people where they had settled. John's reasoning prevailed, and they agreed to be guided by him: in due time he fulfilled his plan to reconcile their discordant ideas. He built a very large room in an octagon form, with eight doors and eight windows in it; in this room he placed a massy oak table with eight sides. At the next anniversary meeting, he requested each head of the families to enter at the door most convenient to their dwelling at the same moment; he then took the unoccupied seat. The scite, as has been observed, is still celebrated, and will be so, whilst good intentions, and a plain useful understanding, are considered estimable qualities. Fully to appreciate this, we should recollect the deadly feuds which frequently arose in Scotland in former days, even on less grounds than precedency.

HARTFORD FAIR.

From the Connecticut Mirror.

To the Executive Committee of the Hartford County Agricultural Society. The Committee appointed to examine Domestic Manufactures, and award premiums to those who in their opinion are entitled to them, respectfully report:

That notwithstanding the unpleasant weather, the articles they were called to inspect were greater in number, and in general much superior in quality to those exhibited last year.

There were some woollen cloths of a finer texture and finish, than that which obtained the premium, but a part of them were not of the requisite width, and others were dyed in the piece, while your committee felt it their duty to give the preference to cloth dyed in the wool. A piece inferior to the premium cloth sold for $2.50 per yard.

It was with much satisfaction that our committee remarked the improvement in the manufacture of Carpeting; last year but one piece offered for their inspection was filled with wool, while this year most of those exhibited were of that description. They were also gratified to learn that the premium carpets were all spun and dyed in the family.

The committee are of opinion that scarcely any thing submitted to their examination denotes so rapid an improvement in taste and domestic industry, as the hearth rugs--those which were this year exhibited displayed an elegance both in their design and execution, which in articles of that kind is rarely met with.

Many of the flannels were of a quality much superior to those exhibited last year. A large part of them sold at from eighty cents to one dollar; and the premium flannel brought $1.25 by the piece.

The premium blankets excited universal attention, and were equally admired for their beauty and for their more substantial qualities. We have never seen any superior to them imported from England; they measured nearly twelve quarters, and sold for $14.25.

The quantity of hosiery was much greater than at our former exhibition--many pairs of stockings sold at from 80 cents to $1.50.

Premiums were awarded to two very fine elegant finished grass bonnets, made by the Miss Woodhouses of Weathersfield, and which are rarely surpassed in beauty by the most costly Leghorns. One very little inferior was also exhibited, made by Miss Hanmer of the same place. They were made of the Poa Pratensis or spear grass, and those which received the premiums sold one for 27 dollars, the other 30 dollars. Another of a quality almost equal to those just mentioned was made by a young lady of Windsor, of the sweet-scented vernal grass, and one of split straw by Miss Capen of Hartford, was remarkable for its extraordinary delicacy of texture.

The linen diapers were equal to any of English fabric, and the linen shirting which obtained the premium sold for 4_s._ 6_d._ per yard. The committee would suggest to such as may hereafter be candidates for the premium on linen goods, the necessity of bleaching them, since after that process, their comparative merits can be more fairly ascertained.

The butter and cheese were excellent--the former sold for 16 cents, and a large quantity of the latter for 10 cents per pound.

Many articles were also exhibited for which no premiums were offered, yet which attracted the particular attention of the committee and the numerous spectators. Among these were some highly finished treble-gilt buttons, from the manufactory of Mr. Moses Cook. The carpeting ingeniously manufactured from bul-rushes and woollen yarn; white silk hose, white linen hose, white and coloured counterpanes; a vandyke remarkable for its softness and beauty, made from the silk that covers the seed of the milk-weed; an excellent imitation of the Scotch plaid; and some elegant paper-hangings from the manufactory of Mr. George Putnam. While the committee could not but regret that the state of our funds precluded the offering premiums for such meritorious articles, yet they were highly gratified to perceive that it is not the hope of gain alone which produces such a splendid collection of domestic manufactures, but that there exists among all classes of the community a patriotic wish to give interest to our exhibition.

Your committee cannot close their report, without congratulating you, gentlemen, and the public at large, on the brilliant prospects of our infant society.

The general superiority of the articles we this year inspected, to those offered at our former exhibition, together with that lively interest they excited in the candidates for premiums, and the thousands of spectators who assembled to witness the productions of their industry, clearly evince that domestic manufactures are rapidly gaining that importance in public estimation which they so richly deserve.

All which is respectfully submitted.

GEO. COWLES, _Chairman_.

ANECDOTE.

Catherine Shaw, daughter of John Shaw, of Bargarron, having acquired a remarkable degree of dexterity in spinning fine flax, conceived the idea of manufacturing it into thread. Her first attempts were necessarily on a small scale; she executed every part herself, and bleached her materials on a large slate, placed in a window. Succeeding, in her first essays, she engaged her family in the process, and Lady Blentyre carried a parcel of the thread to Bath, where she advantageously disposed of it to the lace manufacturers there. This was the first thread that crossed the Tweed. Subsequently a connection of the family went to Holland, and brought from thence the secret of the twisting and twining machines in use there, then carefully kept from public observation; also the art of numbering the threads, and packing them for distant sale. The young women of the neighbourhood engaged in it also, and it became an object of profit and interest to the place. What, it will be asked, became of the ingenious young woman who turned her talents to so great private advantage, and eventually to such public utility.[6] Surely she lived honoured, and died beloved. No! she was one of the last victims to the imputed crime of witchcraft in the south of Scotland! Amongst many others, she was accused of having evil agency with spirits, and is described, in the records of those unhappy times, as "young, handsome, and well-informed." Can it be possible that the superior activity of her mind, and the industrious efforts of her hands, could have involved her in the disgraceful and frantic measures, which terminated in herself and five others being _burned for witches_ in 1626? This unfortunate female was urged by her friends to put in a plea to delay her execution--she replied, with the dignity of a Roman matron. "No; my honour is already destroyed, and my life is not worth defending!"

[6] A Mr. Pollock, of Paisley, (where this unfortunate suffered death,) availed himself of the information of assistants in the business, and established a thread manufactory at that place, which is yet carried on to great extent.

MISCELLANY.