J 823.] 



p.S. I have no wish to occupy your 



pages to tlie exclusion of your mote scien- 

 tific communications ; but must beg to 

 observe, that I believe, if correct observa- 

 tions of tlie barometer, the attached and 

 external tlierraometer, were made in dif- 

 ferent parts of the country for one year, 

 or even for a much less period, and a mean 

 of their observations taken as above, and 

 compared, we might by that useful instru- 

 ment, the barometer, be enabled to ascer- 

 tain the exact elevation of most parts of 

 the country. It must be evident to every 

 one, that the mean altitudes of the baro- 

 meter, obtained from a great many observa- 

 tions, would so far reduce tlie errors arising 

 from unequal atmospheric pressure, as not 

 in the least to affect the results founded on 

 such observations ; for, though an equih- 

 brium of pressure may never take place 

 over the whole extent of this island, at any 

 given increment of time ; yet, nevertheles-, 

 any change in one place is generally fol- 

 lowed or preceded by a similar change in 

 others ; and therefore the means, in such 

 case, cannot be much atfected by this cir- 

 cumstance. But there is another source 

 from which errors may arise; and, if not 

 attended to, will in a great degree render 

 such comparative observations useless : I 

 mean the constant variation of the altitude 

 of the mercury in the basin ; this equation 

 can always be found when barometers, ex- 

 pressly constructed for the purpose of 

 measuring altitudes, are used ; but in our 

 common portable chamber barometers 

 there is no contrivance for that purpose. 

 To render the common barometers useful 

 for measuring altitudes, the exact point of 

 zero, with the ratio of the area of an hori- 

 zontal section of the mercury above the 

 orifice of the tube in tiie basin, to that of 

 the column itself, should be engraved on 

 tlie plate of the instrument, whence, by 

 this simple plan, the most common ob- 

 server will be able to find this equation ; 

 and which, being applied to the altitude 

 shown by the vernier, will always give the 

 exact height or length of the mercurial 

 column above the surface of the quicksil- 

 ver in the basin ; observing to add the 

 quantity thus found when the barometer is 

 above zero, and subtract the same when 

 it stands below the said point. The sim- 

 ple method here pointed nut would, if 

 adopted, completely establish the univer- 

 sality of this interesting and useful instru- 

 ment. T. S. 



To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 



SIR, 



A S the excellent wriler of your 

 J^L. Medical Hcports has liiis month 

 rccomnientk'd wasli-lcathcr waistcoats 

 as a preventive and cure of rheu- 

 matism, may 1 be allowed (in conlir- 

 uiation of the Doctor's rcconimcnUa. 



Remedy for Rheumatism. 29 



tion,) to state, thai I have been in the 

 habit of wearing; one for some conside- 

 rable time ; and that, in my case, it 

 has been attended with the most bene- 

 ficial effect. It is my usnftl practice 

 to take to it about the middle of No- 

 vember, and to cast it oil' some time in 

 the spring; the particular time depends 

 upon the season. My mode of » ear- 

 ing it is between my ihinnel waist- 

 coat and shirt; and I can assure your 

 readers, that, since my adoption of it, 

 I have been entirely free from rheu- 

 matic pains, to which I was previously 

 subject. 



May I be permitted, sir, to embraco 

 the present o|)portnnily of expressing 

 tiie satisfaction w.hich I alwa}S derive 

 from the perusal of Dr. L'wins' excel- 

 lent Reports: but I would beg to sug- 

 gest to the Doctor, with the greatest 

 deference, tlie propriety of abstaining 

 from technical words. Tiie Reports 

 are written for general readers, and I 

 am persuaded they generally interest ; 

 but 1 must confess that, for one, I fre- 

 quently feel disappointment at not be- 

 ing able fully to comprehend the writer's 

 meaning. I trust he will pardon my 

 animadversions, as I can assure him, 

 that no individual can have a higher 

 opinion of his medical talent and cor- 

 rectness of judgment in his profession 

 than myself; and, were I at any time 

 to require medical aid, I should feel it 

 an advantage to be able to consult Dr. 

 Uwins. li. Z. 



London; Dec. 1822. 



To the Editor of the Montlily Magazine. 



SIR, 



THE question relative lo the loca- 

 tion of the poor has ever been 

 attended with considerable dilliculty. 

 To locate is to shackle them with the 

 galling fetters of dependence ; but liow 

 to relieve them etlectually, without 

 appropriating some particular spot to 

 their reception, or place for their em- 

 ployment, is impossible, in the present 

 state of society, to suggest. 



The nature of man is susceptible of 

 improvement and expansion in moral 

 feeling only as conncctetl with llie 

 independence of the mind : to be free 

 is to be happy, and freedom only can 

 result from indepcndciii e. Liberty -of 

 action is tlie natural consequence of 

 moral independence. Moral inde- 

 pendence results from industry; and 

 industry from cmplnyiiicnt. To dimi- 

 nish the means of labour, is to depri\e 

 the poor of their natural rights. 'Jo 

 exclude 



