1808.] — Literary and Philosophical Inteliigence. 
ence upon the public opinion: The prose 
compositions of‘ Milton may, with insig- 
nificant exceptions, be distributed under 
. three general heads, according ds they 
relate:—1. To Ecclesiastical Law; 2, To 
Matrimonial Law; 3. To the Tenure of 
the Magistrate. All the pieces which 
have reference to either of these subjects 
respectively, the editor proposes to ar- 
. range together; though written at distant 
periods, and found in different parts of 
the author’s works. For the rest, ‘the 
several pieces will be printed in the or- 
der of their dates. The principle which 
he proposes ‘to observe relative to the 
parts rejected or retained is, to give the 
political pieces entire, or nearly so, and to 
abridge the others very considerably. 
The only prose productions of Milton of 
much consequence’ not included ‘in this 
intended collection are, his History of 
Britain, and his Brief History of Musco- 
via, and his State Letters, of which, 
however, a ‘specimen or two will be 
given, ' 
dina experienced Propagator of Trees, 
rubs, and Plants, has discovered a 
ip and efficacious’ method of propa- 
g, by*cuttings, all kinds of Fruit- 
trees, without the aid’ of artificial heat. 
this novel and advantageous ‘system, 
it appears that we are not only enabled 
with certainty to propogate any particu- 
lar species, but preserve, with the strict- 
est purity, the more valuable fruits, 
withoat liability to adulteration or dege- 
neracy, the certain consequence of bud- 
ding or grafting ‘upon ungerial’ and im- 
proper ite and avoid the common in+ 
convenience of receiving erroneous sorts 
fre lic nurseries, 
“Mr. Taunton, Surgeon to the City 
Finsbury Dispensaries, is about to 
% shia small work on Pathology, which 
will be illustrated with engravings. 
A wolume of Sermons, aud other Pub- 
lic Discourses, by the Rev. S. Lavrve= 
ton, of Bideford, is in the press, and 
will speedily be published. 
Mr. Jamts‘Arcner, engraver, has per- 
fected an invention, known only to himself, 
of the greatestim portance to the commer 
cial world, a mode of ‘engraving Bank 
Note Plates, which cannot tail to prove a 
gheck against forgery. The instrument by 
which they are produced is extremely in- 
tricate, and constructed on a plan entirely 
‘out of the common routine of mechanies, 
‘The note may be comprehended’ at one 
glance, consisting tnerely of straight and 
waved lines, curiously combined, and 
‘forming a variegated tint, at once simple 
whe as 
. 
-, 
465 
in appearance, and inimitablein execu- 
tion, reconciling two principles naturally 
in direct opposition to each other. ‘The 
mathematical ‘accuracy with which the 
Jines ave laid’ ayreevabiy to this ‘plan, as 
beyond the power of man: strictly ‘to’ im 
tate by the common method of ‘engrav= 
ing, even aliowing that the first rate ar- 
tists were ‘to empidy their'talents to that 
purpose. Specimens have’been submit- 
ted toa number of the most distinguished 
artists; —among others—to Messrs. Sharp, 
Fuller, W. Skelton, J. Skelton, Neatle; 
Milton, and Scott—and ‘have receive 
their decided approbation. 
An abundant supply of good wateris 
one of the most- indispensable requisites 
for the cleanlmess and health of the in 
habitants of large towns. Till lately, 
spring water has been preferréd’ for this 
purpose, from its supposed greater puritys » 
but experience and the ‘progress of sei 
ence have proved that it is far inferior to 
the water of rivers. The latter contains 
imputities visible to the eye, the former 
in a state of actual solution, and theres 
fore they are invisible. | From river-was 
ter the impurities -will separate them- 
selves ‘almost entirely by rest or filtra- 
tion; from that of springs, they cannot 
be separated’ by any means adapted to 
the demands df common'hte. London, 
which is extremely healthy’ for its size, 
has long been supplied with’ river-water, 
and to! this, more than to any other ecir- 
eummstance, are the inhabitants indebted 
for the tiealth they enjoy, though few of 
them ever take the trouble to filter the 
water they use, even for culinary pur 
poses. The city of Glasgow, wineb til 
lately-had no supply of water but frofa 
wells,’ has'at length the prospect of an 
inexhaustible ‘provision from’ the river 
Clyde; by means of pipes and‘steam-en- 
gines. ‘Two companies have embarked 
in similar undertakings, and the works of 
both are in considerable’ fotwardness. 
But the circumstance which demands 
most attention from the public, and 
which is'our principal reason for noticing 
these enterprizes, 1s the! filtration of the 
whole supply of water by means of reser- 
voirs constructed fur the purpose. This 
salutary process 1s effected by tnaking the 
water filter throuyh sand aud’ oravel trom 
the large ‘reservoir, into which it is first 
raised by the steam engine, into a second 
situated a httle lower, and’ froin whieh 
the couveying pipes ‘receive their supply. 
This is the first mstance, we believe, of 
water beiig filtered on so large & scale ; 
ond when its advantages, not only to thie 
health 
