576 BRANK. — A REMARKABLE FORGE. 
efforts for that purpose. If those who use the sea occasionally, and 
those who are obliged to be almost constantly there, were to have 
these waistcoats, it would be next to impossible that they should be 
drowned. It would also be of vast service to those who for the sake 
of health bathe in the sea ; and even the most delicate and timorous 
young lady might, by the help of one of those jackets, venture into a 
rough sea. Dr. Wilkinson of Woodford has improved this jacket, 
and rendered it much more accommodating to the rpotions of the body 
in swimming, by cutting the corks into small pieces, and quilting them 
between two waistcoats of canvass. A cork spencer has lately been 
invented, to save from drowning, in cases of shipwreck ; tvhich con- 
sists of a belt containing refuse pieces of cork, or old bottle corks, 
enclosed in a kind of light stuff, and fastened round the body with 
tapes. The use of the cork jacket has of late been revived in Liver- 
pool, and the newspapers of that large commercial town teem with 
eulogiums on its utility. We are not aware that the reviver of this 
preservative from drowming, claims what he recommends as an origi- 
nal invention, but we have no recollection that he acknowledges any 
obligation to predecessors. In some subordinate particulars, these 
cork jackets differ from each other, but in their essential principles, 
and the object they have in view, they bear so strong a resemblance 
as to suggest an idea approximating to identity. 
Brank. 
This is an instrument formerly used in Staffordshire for correcting 
scolding women. It is a sort of head-piece, which opens and encloses 
the head of the scold, while an iron, sharp as a chisel, opens the 
mouth, and siibdues the more dreadful weapon within. Thus harness- 
ed, the offender is led in triumph through the streets. 
Dr. Plott, in his History of Staffordshire, gives a minute descrip- 
tion and figure of the instrument, which is there called a scolding- 
bridle ; and tells us, he looks upon it as much to be preferred to the 
ducking-stool, which not only endangers the health of the party, but 
also gives the tongue liberty betwixt every dip, — to neither of which 
this is at all liable. 
But with all due deference to Dr. Plott, we would equally disapprove 
of both. The morals of the people will never be amended by hard- 
ening their feelings against the sufferings of others, however guilty or 
worthless. A good education will do more to reform the inferior 
classes, than all the ducking-stools and scolding-bridles, (we might 
add, bridewells and halters,) that ever were invented. 
A REMARKABLE FoRGE. 
^The specimens of art produced by the Bahamans discover a degree 
of perfection little to be expected from the rude simplicity of their 
tools. Their looms are the most awkward machines imaginable, yet 
they manufacture very pretty and durable cloths of cotton, which are 
held in great estimation among themselves, and are often purchased 
by the Europeans for counterpanes, at a high price. Their dyes stand 
