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' tience. ‘Iwas, however, most agreeably 
surprized when I. found the rules so plain- 
ly laid down, the letters:and arbitrations 
so simple and concise, yet by no means 
yunning into obscurity, and the plates so 
well adapted to put them in practice, that 
ina few days L was able to write and 
read it with tolerableease. Since which 
time I have invariably practised the 
hand; and if the merits of short-hand 
consist in perspicuity and expedition, 
Dr. Mavor’s is certainly notexcelled by 
any system that has appeared before tlie 
-public; and I think your correspondent 
ewill find it free from those faults which he 
complains of in those lie has learned. 
Your's, &c. 
October 30, 1808, W. Sarcoup. 
Normanton, near Derby. 
, a 
“To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
of YAVE seen enquiries in your Maga- 
zine relative to the mode of prevent- 
ahg ‘the tragical accidents which arise 
‘from the clothes of females catching fire, 
cand as the means of preventing such: ac- 
ccidents are very simple, and are founded 
ron the physical properues of fire, their 
efficacy will be apparent to the most_or- 
dinary understanding. 
It is;well known that fire always burns 
upwards; that its progress upwards on 
the stme combustible substance is to its 
progress downward in the ‘proportion cf 
five thousand to one, and to its progress 
sideways, at least as five hundred to one; 
and as the mischievous effects of the 
blaze of female clothes is produced 
chiefly about the head and breasts, the 
preventive becomes obvious. Let a 
female as soon as she discovers her clothes 
to be on fire, instantly throw herself along 
on the floor, the flames wil! then be at- 
tended with no danger to her life, and 
they may be extinguished by any cover- 
ing; she may even, if nothing else is at 
hand, extinguish-the part of her clothes 
of fire, by pressing them with the part 
not ‘on fire, taking care that the flames 
have no opportunity to run along up- 
- wards. 
The principle of prevention being un- 
derstood, other contrivances follow of 
course. As no danger arises from the 
scorching of the lower extremities, it 
would of course be more adviseable to 
raise the feet on a chait, and keep the 
head and breast downward, so that even 
in the worst event, nu danger would arise 
te the life of the sufferer. 
Accidents ‘by Fire—Handel’s Oratorios. 
and pleasure of the highest 
a 
[Dec. 1, 
By thus recurring to the known prin- 
ciple of the ascent of heat and fire, these 
accidents are rendered so harmless, that 
it would be well if some man in female 
attire, would practice this mode of ex~ 
tinguishing flames'on a public stage. He 
might set his muslins and gauzes on 
fire ten times during a_ public perfor- 
mance of this kind, under every variety 
of circumstances, and give octlar proof 
of the ease and certainty with which the 
flanes might be extinguished. 
London, Your's, &c. 
October 25, 1808. Common Srnse, 
ee 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
str, 
pace me for one, and I believe for 
A many, to express my regret thata 
continuation has notappeared in your Ma- 
gazine of the remarks of Dr. Calcot, on 
the Oratorios of Handel. From his 
hand information might have been hoped, 
such as can be received from few indeed ; 
kind, 
would have accompanied that informa- 
tion. Ido not hesitate to confess, thar I 
hold no production of any of the Fine 
Arts to have an higher interest in the 
feelings, imagination, and intellect, than 
such music as that of Handel; nor to 
obtain in-a superior degree either of dig 
nity, or utility, or delight. 
But till this wish can be gratified, any 
scattered rays of information that can 
be cauglit.and imparted, respecting this 
transcendently great composer will be 
truly desirable, 
1 have very lately understood that the 
sublime-air * Father of lights, from thy 
eternal throne,” was composed separate- 
ly, forthe Judas Maccabeus, after the 
representation. 
Intelligence when Handel added it 
would be very interesting; [ have lately 
heard it, and [ wish to see its excellence 
duly characterized. An airinthe Jephtha 
may I think be mentioned as one of 
many proofs ef the-astonishing fertility 
of invention possessed by Handel, the 
energy of his judgment and his sublime 
pathos. It is thus introduced, ‘ A Fa- 
ther sacrifice his only child,” &c. 
Comparive it with the so well known 
aud admired, “ Angels ever bright and 
fair,” from the Theodora, I think, it 
appears impossible not to feel that with 
great similarity of ideas, there is the 
mest striking, appropriate, and happy, 
modification. : 
With such simplicity and sweetness, 
such tenderness and delicacy, and bean- 
fYs 
4 
