3,24 rNTXLLLIGENCE RESPECTING ARTS. Oft. I^^ 



could go as near the wind, be equally fteady, and fail quieter 

 than any other conrtruftion of a veflel that has been hitherto 

 adopted. 



He is alfo conftruQing tlie model for a device for fixing 

 firmly and at a fmall expence, a maft upon the Bell rock, fo 

 welt known between the Firth of Forth and Holy Ifland, in 

 fuch a manner as to remain jDerfeftly firm, and to ring a bell 

 contmually, from whatever quarter the wind (hall blow at the 

 time. But fome particulars of this contrivance he choofes 

 not to difcover at the prefent. 



He propofes likewlfe to communicate to the public foon, 

 through ths channel of the Bee, or otherwife, fome hints fijr 

 eafily exlinguifliing fires in vefiels, v/hich are alfo the refiilt 

 of praflice and experience, aided by accurate obfervation of 

 particulars. 



In {hort, Britain has reafon to be proud of poffeffing a per- 

 fon of fo great talents, public fplrit, and knowledge. But 

 will fhe properly avail herfeif of thefe talents? Time will dif- 

 cover. 



The Periods of the Sciences » 



The hiftory of human learning has periods which are marked 

 by the general prevalence of particular fcudies among the Li- 

 terati of the time. The philofophers of the early period of 

 Grecian literature attended chiefly to Mythological Morality. 

 Among the authors of the raofl: flourifhing periods of Grecian 

 and Roman literature, until the firft: Emperors, Poetry, Hiftory, 

 and Oratory, were the prevailing fubjefts of attention. Under 

 the latter Emperors, and for fome time after, the works of 

 the learned exhibit, for the mofl: part, the hiftory of Theological 

 Gontroverfies : to them fucceeded Metaphyficks and Metaphyfical 

 Theology. When thefe began to decline, the attention of the 

 learned awakened to Alchemy, Magicjudicial Aftrology, the doc- 

 trine of Signatures and Sympathies, the Myftick, Theofophick, 

 andRoficrucian Theology, and Phyfiognomy. — Then fucceeded 

 ClaflTick Philofophy. — This gave way to Modern Poetry and 

 Natural Philofophy, to which of late have been joined the ftu- 

 dies of Rational Theology, Chemiftry, the Philofophy of Hif- 

 tory, the Hiftory of Man, and the Science of Politics. 

 St Ja7ms's ChTonick. T. C. 



