328 
pressure, is exactly the same as the 
resistance which a cubic fathom of water 
offers to the surrounding. millions of 
tons. The case in question is precisely 
the same as if there was no medium of 
flesh and bones ; because the interstices 
of these substances being filled with 
water or blood, there is as direct a con- 
tinuation of the fluid from the surface 
to the bottom of the ocean as if no- 
thing else intervened: and as fluids press 
not only perpendicularly downwards, 
but upwards, laterally, and in every 
direction, I maintain, without fear of 
contradiction, that the whale at* the sur- 
face of the water is as much pressed, as 
the whale at the bottom; so that, what- 
ever may be the cause of the extreme 
exhaustion perceived in a whale that 
has returned from the bottom of the 
sea, after having been pierced with a 
number of harpoons, the effect cannot 
be attributed to the ‘* almost incredible 
pressure to which the animal must have 
been exposed ;’’ nor, on the other hand, 
can it be maintained, that “a whale 
with a weight equal to sixty ships of 
the first rate in the British Navy, upon 
it, could not be drawn to the top by a 
harpoon line, not thicker than a man’s 
finger. Upon the whole, it appears 
that both Captain Scoresby and A.B. C., 
as well as D. E. F. and Mr. Farey, are 
correct in some respects, and most un- 
questionably wrong in others; and if 
this letter should be the mean of recon- 
ciling all parties, its trespass, on the 
valuable pages of the Monthly Magazine 
will not be a matter of regret, 
Your’s, &c. James Leicu. 
Chelsea, March 7, 1825. 
{It is not our business to decide upon 
every point of every controversy, of which 
our Scientific Correspondents may do us 
the honour of making our pages the vehicle ; 
though we may, occasionally, suggest a hint, 
where the facts, or premises they advance 
do not seem to support their arguments. 
We are no arbiters in the last resort, in the 
High Court of Universal Knowledge ; nor 
are we to be expected to have read every 
book which our correspondents may think 
fit to criticize: perhaps we go further than 
the generality of our more authoritative 
brethren, in always reading the books we 
criticize ourselves. Since the receipt of 
the above letter, howeyer, perceiving that 
the controversy about the quoted passage 
from Captain Scoresby still continues to 
excite so much interest, we have read his 
_ © Account of the Arctic Regions ;” that, 
-before such controversy went any further, 
$ Certainly not at the surface, whatever 
may be the case at a small distance below 
the surface.— Eprr. 
Axioms of the Religious Folity of Common Sense. 
[May 1, 
we might see whether he had been quoted 
fairly. Our labour has been fully com- 
pensated. We readily admit the great 
value of the publication, in every meditated 
point of view; and cheerfully add our 
suffrage to the general acknowledgment, 
both of the practical and scientific know- 
ledge it displays. Yet, finding, at the same 
time, that the passages, objected to, are fairly 
quoted, both in text and context, we are 
still of opinion, that they are open, at 
least, to animadversion and. inquiry;— 
especially in a miscellany, whose professed 
principle is to regard no doctrine incontro- 
vertible, however sanctioned by suffrage, or 
authority, against which a show of reason 
can be advanced. And were we disposed 
to play the gladiator, amidst such a host of 
dissentient antagonists, we think we could 
maintain some objections against every one 
of the combatants—against the statements 
of Capt. Scoresby (vol. ii, p. 249); the 
objections of A. B.C. (M. M., No. 406, 
p- 22—3); the answers of D.E.F. and 
Mr. Farey (M. M., No. 407, p. 103); 
and the reply of our present correspondent. 
Lest, however, our Editorial dignity (seeing 
that some of our correspondents can be a 
little warm upon the subject) might not 
protect us, either, from the humiliating 
charge of “ great nonsense,’ we deem it 
more consistent with the etiquette of state, 
to leave the mooted points to whoever may 
volunteer in the discussion, and preserve 
inviolate our function as moderators, not 
parties in the affray. } 
—=>-— Y 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
Axioms of Reticrous Porrry. 
EN, considered as body and soul, 
are social and spiritual: having, 
in their social relations, duties to per- 
form to their neighbours and_ their 
country; and, in their spiritual rela- 
tions, duties to God. 
These obligations spring from sources 
different as their objects. 
The one is the law of the state; and 
its object is, the conservation of society. 
The other is the law of God; and the 
object is, the government of a man’s 
own conscience, and his happiness in 
a future state. 
The source of the first is allegiance 
and submission to the law; and the 
source of the other is religious feel- 
ing under God’s grace. 
The one arises from temporal and 
reciprocal personal considerations; and. 
the other is the communion of every 
man’s own soul with his Maker. 
They are two powers exercised on 
the same being, entirely independent of 
each other, applicable to distinct func- 
tions of the person, not discordant, yet. 
wholly unconnected. ; 
Allegiance 
