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gliding brook, and all that is sublime and beautiful in nature. At such scenes, when no mortal eye has beheld, I have gazed in silent wonder, and my heart has swelled with the creature's involuntary tribute of praise and adoration to the Creator. The poet did not mean to repress our ardor in philosophical pursuits, to reprove him who would trace, in the heavens and the earth, evidence of the omnipresence and omnipotence of God. He wished to restrain only that arrogant presumption, which stretched forth a puny arm to grasp the attributes of Deity; which claimed to investigate and understand the inmost mysteries of creation--even the nature and decrees of the Creator. He wished to turn man's ambition from things too wonderful for him--things so high that he could not attain to them, to studies suited to his capacity, though not more grovelling than his

own nature.

Beings of superior intelligence regard man, as we look at the works of creation, animate and inanimate, by which we are surrounded. We may be only one of many races of rational creatures, which people a thousand worlds, rolling through the boundless universe, all objects of angelic observation and wonder. Doubtless the seraph's love may be warmed by admiration of God's skill, displayed in man's material frame and subtle spirit, just as the astronomer's devotion receives a new fire from the rays of every star which lights up the field of telescopic vision. But, to man, the study of his own species has a peculiar interest and importance. His success and happiness in the pursuits of life depend, essentially, upon a knowledge of himself and his fellow men-objects, which are one, in attainment, though separate in their application; for he who studies his own heart, at the same time, lays open the recesses of his neighbor's breast; while the examination of another's motives and springs of action may teach him, if he refuse not the lesson, the subtle workings of his own spirit. The observation of natural scenery-and of this we speak here rather than of scientific investigations-may tend to increase the fervor of piety; but a knowledge of human character, while it must bear witness to the truths of religion, fits us, pre-eminently, for the exigences of our present situation-for intercourse with our fellow men.

THE BUSY-BODY-No. II.

Saturday, April 21st.
He does nought

As others-always seeks an easier way;
Nor ever fails to think, at least, his own
The best and easiest. He wonders, oft,
That the sun still its olden orbit keeps,
Nor finds a cooler track.

Laziness is very frequently the mother of invention. Numerous modern contrivances, which pass under the general name of labor-saving machines, may properly be considered, as planned to save, not only the price, but, also, the exertion and fatigue of labor. A lazy boy is said to have contrived the common method of opening and closing the valves of the steam-engine, by connecting them with other parts of the machinery in motion. It had, before, been his business to turn these valves; but, by means of a few strings and some ingenuity, he managed to make the engine do his work, and to spend the time saved in play. A disinclination to labor is very sure to put the thoughts in operation, either to discover some method of abridging the necessary toil, or to invent a plausible excuse for idleness.

But often, according to the adage, "lazy folks take the most pains." And this, not only on account of the trouble in which they are involved, by crude and novel plans for diminishing labor, but sometimes, also, because of a habit of working, formed in the constant struggle to make work as light as possible. Give labor the name of play, and boys will toil as zealously, as if they were, in fact, only amusing themselves: and so the most indolent man will take great pains which do not result from a regular and necessary task, to avoid a job much less troublesome, but more formal in appearance. And some thus acquire a habit of laboring, cheerfully and with perseverance, in perfecting and employing their own labor-saving inventions, as they imagine them, however unproductive; and come to take a pleasure in contriving means to abridge even imaginary tasks. To illustrate, more fully, my meaning, I shall attempt to sketch the character of a gentleman with whom I have been long acquainted.

Henry Carlisle was my classmate and chum in college. He was noted only as "a clever fellow," and one Besides, few descriptions of natural scenery have of the worst scholars in the class. His low standing, ever conveyed a tolerable idea of the reality-none however, was not the consequence of small talent, or have ever aroused those tumultuous feelings, which an abstract contempt of scholarship. But, then, poor crowd upon the soul of the spectator. In order that fellow, he seemed constitutionally indolent, and though something more than mere listless, vacant wonder continually concocting plans for regulating his studies, should be excited, each one must look on nature, in its and making them more easy, he never arrived at any varied forms for himself. The mind may be affected by such satisfactory determination of the shortest route to bold, clear and animated description, but the heart re-learning, as would justify his commencing the journey mains unmoved, and can be touched through the me- thitherward. His pleasantest dreams and reveries dium, only, of the outward senses-the eye and ear Niagara's angry flood of waters and deafening roar, may be vividly presented to the imagination, by the pen of truth and poetry. Every reader may exclaim, beautiful! sublime! But the words scarcely warm the lips that utter them: no fire is kindled in the soul. For these reasons, then, and, furthermore, doubting my descriptive powers, I shall not attempt to describe many things, in nature, which have excited deep and varied emotions in my own breast; but shall be content to trace the progress of studies confined to man as their object.

were about royal roads to knowledge; and he loved to speculate on the happiness that would result from the Creator's endowing man with a mind fully developed at his birth. He was a constant patron of all who professed to teach any art or science "in half-a-dozen easy lessons, of an hour each, without any study at home," and had taken regular courses of instruction from six different writing masters of this class. Nor was his confidence in the validity of such pretensions at all shaken by the circumstance, that his scrawled autograph, which seemed to present the worst characteristics of all the different systems which he had attempt

ed to learn-of the angular and anti-angular, the round and the running, the billet-doux and the counting-house bands-was scarcely legible even by himself.

Our room presented some strange evidences of his inventive genius. Being in the habit of sitting before the fire, with his feet somewhat more elevated than his head and resting against the mantel, he became at length too lazy to hold them in that position, and, that he might enjoy the pleasure, without any muscular exertion, nailed up an old shoe, at the proper height, by which, one leg, bearing the other above it, might be supported. I can see him, even now, sitting in this posture, his foot resting in the shoe, and considerably higher than his head; his text-book spread open in his lap; his hands acting, occasionally, as a rear guard, to ward off the heat of the fire; and his eyes perfectly vacant, or watching the smoke that curled upward from his cigar. Thus he would remain, after the labors of the refectory were over, until the recitation bell roused him from his reverie, and reminded him of the book which, before, had lain scarcely noticed.

kept. At a loss to divine the cause of this change, I was led to observe, closely, at least the effect. On being shown into the room which he called his library, I found him sitting in a large arm-chair, surrounded by the greater part of his books, which were spread about the floor, many of them open, as if in immediate use. He rose to welcome me, and his frank, cordial manner was the same as always; but, then he appeared much more alert and active in his movements than ever before. I began, after a little general conversation, to rally him on having grown more brisk and youthful, but could not thus elicit anything that I wished to discover.

On glancing over the books, I found that, with few exceptions, they were on such practical subjects as machinery, manufactures, gardening and husbandry. A great number of little contrivances for various purposes, reminding me strongly of those that graced our college chamber, met my eyes in different parts of the room. But my attention was soon particularly directed to the stove, by its anomalous structure, the coldness of Sometimes he imagined that the reclining posture was the apartment, and its being an object of constant care most favorable to study; and, as it was tiresome to to my host. Every few minutes he left his seat, to turn hold anything before his eyes, while stretched upon the a valve, or open or shut some air-hole, or insert the bed, contrived a book-holder for this purpose, consist-poker, warily, between the bars of the grate, or to watch ing of a small wooden frame, suspended over his breast, the rise and fall of the mercury in a thermometer hangby a string from the ceiling. How often have I seening against the wall. The number of appliances for prepare this apparatus for use, get everything con-regulating the draft, and for other purposes, made the veniently fixed, spread his book open at the proper stove a most complicated apparatus. I might have page, lie down upon the bed, and compose himself-puzzled my head for hours, to discover the uses of the to sleep! various parts, with each of which he seemed perfectly familiar. At first, I supposed that he was anxious to raise the temperature of the room for my comfort; and, really, I was beginning to suffer from the cold. But his frequent proximity to the fire, and constant motion in regulating it, seemed to keep his own blood quite warm, and, at length he left it with his face flushed, and complaining of the heat: I was afraid he would propose to throw open a window.

him

We graduated, and parted after mutual promises to correspond. Both of us commenced the study of law; and he, finding that so long a probation was not required in the western states, generally, as in the eastern, set out, after spending twelve months in a lawyer's office, to seek his fortune in the former, and, finally, settled down, to practice as an attorney, in Mississippi. Alas! poor Carlisle could not overcome his idle habits. He did not succeed in business, and returned home disappointed, though, still, he had but a lazy way of showing his mortification. I have since conversed with a gentleman, who became quite intimate with him, while spending some months at the same house in Natchez, but had not discovered, in all this time, that he was a lawyer.

Soon after his return he luckily married a country heiress; and, though not acquiring a very large estate by the match, was thereby placed in easy circumstances, and thought little more about his profession. Though a tin sign, with "Henry Carlisle, Attorney at Law," printed upon it in large letters, still graced a front window-shutter, all the neighbors seemed to understand, perfectly, that it remained, as a memento of the practice which he had once pretended to, rather than as a present attraction to clients. In fact he was too lazy to take it down.

It had now been some years since I had seen Carlisle, when, not long ago, on passing through the village where he resides, I accepted his invitation, to dine and spend a part of the day at his house. But a few years had made a great alteration in himself and everything about him. The dwelling had been done up, and looked comfortable; the attorney's sign was gone from the shutter, and the grounds seemed to be tolerably well

I made some remark about the stove's novel appearance. He was, instantly, ready to explain its construction, and show its good points: it was his own invention. He had been so troubled with other stoves and grates, had found them all so worthless, and to require such continual attention, that he had set about planning an improvement; and he assured me, that the result answered his warmest hopes, appealing to my own observation, to bear witness, that I had never seen anything more complete and effectual. I gave a shivering assent, while my teeth were beginning to chatter, and my ears to feel like icicles.

Besides this main contrivance, there were several others in the library, all quite as convenient and no less complete. By pulling a cord, which hung within his reach, he could lock or unlock the door. Another might be used to throw it open; and, by similar means, he could raise and let down the window sashes, close the shutters, or draw the curtains. His very boot-jack, which lay in one corner, was a curious product of inventive genius.

The dining-room, into which I was soon ushered, exhibited very much the same appearance as the library, as to a multitude of happy contrivances. It was furnished with a stove, the exact counterpart of that just described, but the atmosphere was rather warmer,

perhaps, because this fire had been less meddled with. | the exhibition which I had just witnessed, that my My kind host, however, soon perceived, that the room friend's character for ingenuity rose several degrees in was as cold as a barn; was very much afraid I should my estimation. suffer; and declared that the servants were all too dumb, to be made to understand the management of the stove. His wife an amiable, submissive creature-said nothing; but, I thought, looked rather blank when he began to twist the valves, and ply the poker. At any rate, the fire soon began visibly to decline, though he left the table, very frequently, to watch its progress, and apply his restoratives.

After dinner, Mrs. Carlisle retired, while we remained to discuss a bottle of wine. A few glasses made my friend more communicative, and, without needing much encouragement, he began to explain the causes of the change which I had noticed. For some time after marriage, his habits of indolence had remained in full force, until the house and grounds had fallen into a deplorable state of dilapidation and waste. This mode of life had become, at last, insupportable, and, by a vigorous effort, he had set about reform. Now he had acquired a love for business, and everything about him was tolerably comfortable; his greatest annoyance being, that the neighbors sometimes made themselves merry at his expense, and spoke, rather slightingly, of his various "notions." I could not but agree that there had been a very great improvement in his circumstances; but, certainly, his labor was not of the most productive kind. He did everything after a new fashion; and, though all his inventions were intended to save labor, no man ever worked harder, to so little purpose.

A more curious contrivance than any which I had yet seen, was exhibited after we retired to the library. Carlisle begged me to be seated, remarking that, with my permission, he would change an article of dress, while I might occupy myself in turning over the books. Accordingly, I took up a volume, but could not avoid an occasional glance at his operations. Loosening his waistcoat, and a few buttons of his breeches, he inserted both hands beneath his outer garments, where they seemed busily employed, as if scratching for relief from some cutaneous disorder; which supposition the violent contortions of his body greatly favored. After a while, his uneasiness seemed to be gradually diminishing under this mode of treatment, and his hands were, apparently, working outward, as if there was some difficulty in withdrawing them; but, with them, at length, came out the mouse which had caused such mountain labors. From an unmentionable part of his unmentionables, he drew forth a flannel garment, or, rather, a large piece of flannel, provided with numberless strings, loops, button-holes and buttons. Then commenced an inverse system of operations, for putting on another article of the same construction; but suffice it to say, that, after a half hour's work, my friend rested from his exertions, and resumed his seat, when I perceived that, despite the coldness of the room, a dewy perspiration stood upon his forehead. He was kind enough to explain the wonderful construction of the flannel shirts. By a very simple and elegant contrivance-the skilful arrangement of a few strings and buttons only—a great desideratum had been obtained: he could put on and off these garments, without removing those above. The utility of his invention was so manifest, especially after

Carlisle soon proposed that I should walk out and look at his garden, and a few acres of land, which he called a farm. Anticipating a rich fund for amusement in his out-door arrangements, I consented, and was not disappointed. The same whimsical genius that gov erned within, was evidently ruler without. The stable, the pig sty, and the cow shed, all exhibited the fruits of my host's ready invention. Even a few lugubrious looking geese, that waddled about the barn-yard, had yolks of a new fashion, though the poor things did not seem fully to appreciate their advantages. Carlisle mentioned a plan which he had once tried of yolking them together by pairs, like oxen. This, he had thought, would correct habits of vagrancy, and strengthen the social principle. But the unlucky fate of a pair thus connected, which were discovered one morning after the night's rest of the whole family had been disturbed, by certain unearthly sounds, so alarming that none dared, at the time, to investigate their origin-were discovered fairly hung by their yolk, and dangling on either side the top rail of a fence near the house, perfect. ly lifeless, put an untimely end to his experiment. Whether the poor geese had been placed in that posi tion by some kindly disposed neighbor, or passer-by, in order to exhibit the merits of the invention, under trying circumstances; or whether, one of them having succeeded in getting over, the other remained behind, from want of strength to follow, or, as seemed more probable, from sheer obstinacy, had never been fully ascertained. A coroner's jury would undoubtedly have returned the mysterious verdict-" Found dead." But I must not detain the reader longer than to describe a very remarkable chicken coop, to which Carlisle directed my attention. It was divided into a number of small compartments, each of them intended for a single fowl— a sort of cell for solitary confinement. The plan had been found to work admirably. The chickens fattened better, when not allowed to jostle each other; and any inveterate disturbers of the public peace, among the breeding fowls, could here be subjected to a sort of prison discipline. Chickens were not just then in season; and the coop's empty cells testified to the excellent state of barn-yard morals.

I could not yield to my host's urgent solicitations, that I should spend another day with him: business hurried me forward. My reflections on his singular character need not be written: they, doubtless, were such as every reader has, already, made for himself.

THE MOCKINGBIRD.

Come, listen-oh hark! to that soft dying strain Of my Mockingbird, up on the house-top again; She comes every night to these old ruined walls, Where, soft as the moonlight, her melody falls. Oh, what can the bulbul or nightingale chant, In the climes which they love and the groves which they haunt,

More thrilling and wild, than the songs I have heard, In the stillness of night, from my sweet Mockingbird ?

I saw her to-day, on her favorite tree,

Where she constantly comes in her glory and glee,
Perch'd high on a limb, which was standing out far
Above all the rest, like a tall taper spar:

The wind, it was wafting that limb to and fro,

And she rode up and down, like a skiff in a blow,

service. After the expiration of her quarantine, which, coming as she did from Mahon, was of some four hours duration, several boats came hovering around, and among them we noticed that of rear admiral Sir Thomas Briggs, an officer well known, and much respected by every American, who has, during the past seven

When it sinks with the billow, and mounts with its years, been at this island, for the many civilities received swell ;

She knew I was watching-she knew it full well.
She folded her pinions, and swelled out her throat,
And mimick'd each bird in its own native note,—
The Thrush, and the Robin, the Redbird and all-
And the Partridge would whistle and answer her call;
Then stopping her carol, she seemed to prepare,
By the flirt of her wings, for a flight in the air,
When rising sheer upward, she wheeled down again,
And took up her song where she left off the strain.

Would you cage such a creature, and draggle
plumes-

Condemn her to prison, the worst of all dooms—
Take from her the pleasure of flying so free-
And deny her her ride on the wind-wafted tree?
Would you force her to droop within merciless bars,
When earth is all sunshine, or heaven all stars?
Forbid it, oh mercy! and grant her the boon
Of a sail in the sun and a song to the moon.

What a gift she possesses of throat and of lungs!
The gift apostolic-the gift of all tongues!
Ah! could she but utter the lessons of love,
To wean us from earth and to waft us above,
What siren could tempt us to wander again?
We'd seek but the siren, outpouring that strain-
Would listen to nought but her soft dying fall,
As she sat all alone on some old ruined wall.

her

NUGATOR.

FRIGATE CONSTITUTION.* Arrival of the U. S. Frigate Constitution at Malta-Sir T. Briggs-Anecdote of Sir Thomas Fellowes-Celebration of the 22d of February--Admiral Sir R. Stopford--Brigade Review--Departure of the Constitution.

Early on the morning of the third of February, which was one of the most gusty days of our past wintry season, a foreign frigate was observed, under her reefed

at his hands, both in a public and a private way. For the information of those who have met him here, I | would mention that his term of service as admiral of this port has recently expired-that he left only yesterday in Her Majesty's ship "Portland," for England, and has been succeeded by Sir John Louis, who has no very easy task to perform, if he expects to make himself so beloved by all classes of the Maltese, and as popular with all foreigners, as his late predecessor. This is but a passing, parting compliment, one to which I am satisfied all of our countrymen who have ever met admiral Briggs at Malta, will most willingly give their hearty response.

Sir Thomas Fellowes, of H. M. ship Vanguard, an | eighty-four-and of which ship commodore ****, after having witnessed the discipline on board, and the beautiful order in which every thing was arranged, not a long time ago, truly remarked, "if we shall ever have another war with England, our boys will have something to do to capture such a ship as this,"--was also present in the cabin of the Constitution, and marked in his attentions to commodore Elliott. The following anecdote of Sir Thomas Fellowes, as I heard him publicly narrate, may not be uninteresting to some of your American readers. In the year '94, or thereabouts, this officer was cast away in India, and the only chance of his getting away, which was likely to present itself for many months, was by a Philadelphia ship. He accepted the invitation tendered by Mr. Pringle, the supercargo, and during the voyage, was offered the situation of second mate, with a promise of promotion, should he remain in the employ. This was declined, as the then Mr. Fellowes preferred taking his chance in the service of his country. Sir Thomas, with some feeling, observed that most gladly would he again meet Mr. P. to thank him for his kindness, in having given him a passage, some forty odd years ago, from Madras to Bengal, when shipwrecked and friendless, he was cast ashore on one Captain Fellowes commanded a frigate at the battle of of the most unfrequented places of Indian navigation. Navarino, distinguished himself in the engagement, with despatches for the admiralty, and for this service was charged by the admiral, Sir Edward Codrington, was knighted on his arrival in England. This gentleman also commanded, within the last quarter of a cenhad his vessel hove down, and coppered there, and from tury, a merchantman at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, thence loaded a cargo of "notions" for the West Indies.

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topsails, sailing near our uneven and rocky shores, and making for the harbor of Valletto. She was only seen during the intervals of the heavy squalls of wind and rain, and an hour had elapsed from the time of her first being signalized, before the man at the observatory was enabled to make her out sufficiently well, as to telegraph to the admiral, Sir R. Stopford, "that she was an AmeDoes Mr. S***** remember him? Not a few instanrican ship, and bearing the flag of a commodore." Sure enough it was "Old Ironsides," of "Guerriere," "Java," within the circle of my observation. Need I name capces of this kind, have within the last few years come “Cyane” and “Levant" memory. In she came, entertain F., of the "Asia," 74; captain I., of the "Belleroing in a most masterly way-anchored off Burmola, phon," 80; captain McK., late of the “Vernon, all of with its many walls, and bristling fortifications-having whom have attained their rank by their own exertions, on one side the "Princess Charlotte" of one hundred and not by family patronage. and four guns, and on the other the razeed "Barham," one of the finest men of war, of her class, in the British

* From a Correspondent of the S. L. Messenger, at Malta.

look better than when riding at anchor in our waters, Never, may I venture to say, did the Constitution and amidst the beautiful ships of all classes of Her Ma

"The good old rule, the simple plan,
That they may take who have the power,
And they may keep who can."

jesty's present Mediterranean squadron. Her crew were | The policy of England-and many will not blame hera fine looking set of men, who had been upwards of three was once expressed in the following quaint lines of an years on board, appeared well content with their situa- old English poet; it is, tion, and perfectly at home when duty called them to their respective stations. As regards the officers, I would only say, that where such disciplinarians are, no American at home need ever blush at a want of neat-England has as much territory, and as many people on ness or discipline on board our men of war, when sta- her possessions, as she can now well govern, therefore tioned or cruising abroad. Every day brought with it all jealousy has ceased with us, and we are friends for them new acquaintances and new invitations, and again. The praiseworthy conduct of the American these were never received without also being repaid in government, with reference to the affairs of Canada, a most liberal and handsome manner. The best proof doubtless was one reason, why such attentions were is, that the longer "Old Ironsides" remained, the longer shown to commodore Elliot, and such honors paid to the officers wished her; and the more they became ac- our flag. quainted, the more by their English neighbors and friends was their absence regretted. It was not only with the navy, but also with the army, that intimacies were created; and on lieutenant Watson's dining with the fifty-ninth mess, they gave him "Hail Columbia !" and one of their oldest and most meritorious officers of the regiment, a captain Harward, rose and remarked, "that the corps to which he belonged was the first which fired a shot in the revolutionary war, on the plains of Lexington, and afterwards on the heights of Bunker Hill, and sincerely did he hope that if they were ever again called into action, it would be in defence, and never against their American brethren." This was not an isolated instance, but numerous anecdotes might be given of the general good feeling exhibited at all times, and even in instances where it was neither called for or expected.

The Constitution was known, on her arrival, for her deeds during the past war. She is now far more pleasantly remembered, by the urbanity, hospitality, and gentlemanly bearing of her officers.

Major-general Sir H. A. Bowverie, the present governor of this island, is of the Radnor family, a distinguished officer, having served throughout the Peninsular war, and also acted as principal aid de camp, to the duke of Wellington, at the battle of Waterloo.

The Constitution left us at break of day on the 8th of March. As she passed out, her band was playing "God save the Queen," while those of Her Majesty's ships, gave in return "Hail Columbia." This visit of commodore Elliott has been a fortunate one, and to quote general Bowverie's words "the oftener we meet, the better it will be for both.”

W.

SCIENTIA MISCELLANEA.

BY A. D. G.
No. I.

HAPPY ACCIDENTS.

"In speculating on the future prospects of physical science, we should not be justified in leaving out of consideration the probability, or rather certainty, of the occasional occurrence of those happy accidents which have had so powerful an influence on the past." Herschel's Int. Dis. page 267.

During my residence here, I have oftentimes seen crowned heads, and heirs to crowns, received as strangers, but never have I observed more marked honors paid to them, than has recently been shown to commodore Elliott, and through him to the American nation. Perhaps a brief account of some of these "happy On the twenty-second of February, it being the anni-accidents," as Herschel has termed them, may not be versary of the birth of Washington, the United States uninteresting. Hiero, king of Syracuse, ordered his flag was seen waving at the fore royal-mast-head of jeweller to make him a golden crown of a certain specievery man-of-war in our harbor. At twelve o'clock precisely, and at the moment when the Constitution had finished her firing, a national salute of one and twenty guns was given from each British ship, and I think they numbered fourteen in all, from the "104 flag" down to the two gun vapore Confiance." It was thought the salute would have been returned from the "Princess Charlotte," but never did any one dream that it would have been answered by all. Never has the memory of Washington been so deservedly honored before, on one day, from the “wooden walls” of old England. At sun-set when, with the merry sounds from the fife and the beat of the drums, the American flags were hauled down, that of England was happily, and handsomely run up by the orders of commodore Elliott, and saluted with an equal number of guns.ness, pursued his way homeward, crying out, "I have Thus closed the twenty-second of February at Malta. Sir Robert Stopford, by whose orders this compliment was paid, is the fifth on the navy list of the admirals of Great Britian, served on our coast during the war of our revolution, and was with admiral Digby when he attempted to relieve “Cornwallis and his army."

fied weight. The artist attempted a fraud, by substituting a portion of silver. In some manner the suspicions of the king were awakened, and he appointed Archimides, one of the most celebrated philosophers of antiquity, to examine the matter, and determine, if possible, the portion of silver which had been fraudulently introduced. For a long time Archimides could see no possible way of solving the question. At length, entering his bath one day, he is said to have caught the idea of specific gravities, and the method of determining them, by observing the water rise as his body was immersed in it. Perceiving at once the many impor tant uses to which this knowledge might be applied, he was so overcome with admiration and delight, that he leaped from the water, and unconscious of his naked

found it--I have found it." The doctrine of specific gravities, which he seems in this accidental manner to have become acquainted with, he afterwards developed more fully in his work "De Humido Insidentibus."

One of these "happy accidents" laid the foundation for our knowledge of galvanism. It occurred during

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