J793' literary society, Newcoitle. ^35 



« VIII. The mention of our concern in (hipping na- 

 turally leads our thoughts to navigation, and its necefsary 

 auxiliary, the Mathematics. And here so wide a field o£ 

 important objects is opened to our view, as might lead a 

 projector into a boundlefs range of speculation. Suffice 

 it to say, that the improvement of naval architecture has 

 given rise to the recent estabUfhment of a society under no 

 lefs than royal patronage-, that the solution of various impor- 

 tant problems, still necefsary to the perfection of navi- 

 gation, has, for near a century, been considered as a na- 

 tional object, and a Board of Commifsioners been appom- 

 ted for this purpose alone ; that the MalhemalicaX Sci- 

 ences, \n their various branches, are capable of almost uai- 

 versa'l extent and application ; and that in these most 

 sublime of human investigations, the natives of that part 

 of the country which we inhabit, have particulary distin- 

 gui(hed themselves •, as a variety of important works, which 

 have been publifhed within the last twenty years, are 



sufficient to prove. 



" It might, further, be remarked, with what good 

 ground we may hope to look forward to the pleasure of 

 being favoured with various c/fl>ffl/ illustrations, inquiries 

 \^x.oantient manners, customs, &c. &c. j what a favoura- 

 ble prospect we may reasonably entertain of being rega- 

 led with specimens of eastern literature ; which is daily 

 becoming more and more important in a commercial view, 

 and which appears to be fraught with various beauties, 

 both of sentiment and diction : We might resume a for- 

 mer general argument, and ffiew the advantages which 

 may arise to our youth in particular, from any institu. 

 lion which may tend to obviate the many temptations 

 arising from the great degree of leisure which seems, from 

 whatever cause, to attend the trade of this por:. 



