1800.] 
memoir which obtained the prize of ide- 
ology. It may be remembered, that the 
queftion to be unfolded was to determine 
the influence of figns upon the formation of 
ideas. The work to which it gave birth 
appears to be of confiderable importance, 
whether by its extent (it has more than 
four hundred pages iz folio, MS) or by 
the light it throws upon the interefting 
enquiry. The following is the manner 
in which the Inftitute diftributed the 
prizes, and announced the propofed new 
ones. 
‘The National Inftitute has awarded the 
prize propofed for the fecond time in the 
year 6, on the following queftion: 
“¢ To determine the influence of figns in 
the formation of ideas.” 
The memoir which has obtained the 
prize, is marked number 9,~-and has the 
following infcription from Quintilian : 
Deus ille princeps parenfque rerum, nulla 
miagis hominem diftinxit a ceteris aximal- 
bus, quam dicendi facultate. 
' The name of the author is Jofeph Ma- 
rie Dégerande. The note which includes 
his name makes ng mention of the place 
of his refidence. 
Among other memoirs prefented, the 
Inftitute diftinguifhed that marked number 
2, with the following words from Bacon 
for an infcription, Credunt homines ratio- 
xem [uam wverbis imperare ; fed fit etiam ut 
werba vim fuan fuper intellectum retor- 
gueant. ‘This memoir next to the one 
crowned, came the neareft to the point 
defired. 
The Inftitute thought the memoir mark- 
ed number 5, with the infcription Nzhi/ eff 
ia intelleétu quin prius fucrit in fenfu, enti- 
tled alfo to honourable mention. 
The motives of the judgements pro- 
nounced, were afligned, in the report read 


From the Port-Folio of a Man of Letters. " 
749 
at the fitting. The Inftitute divided the 
prize which was propofed in the year 6 
for the following fubjeét, * an Inquiry 
into the beft Means of fuccouring Perfons 
fhut up ina Houfe on Fire, efpecially in 
a creat City like that of Paris,” among 
four machines, one marked number 7, two 
15, and one 17; the one under 7, had an 
infcription in French fignifying, «« If I 
rife, it is to be ufeful ;” and is compofed of 
feveral ladders, which flide one over the 
other by means of ajack, in the way of the 
old Englith pot-hanger. The Citizen 
RaGNIeR, comptroler ofarms at Paris, in 
the houfe of the ci-devant Jacobins, is the 
inventor of this machine. The two ma- 
chines numbered 15, had the infcription 
Aut arte, aut marte; they form a combi-- 
nation of many ladders, which are raifed 
by pullies and cords, compofing an en» 
gine like that diftinguifhed by the name 
of acrab. In one of thefe machines. the 
ladders are difpofed in a manner fo that 
the fuperior one muft be fuftained againi 
fome fixed obftacle ; in the other all the 
parts counterbalance each other by an al- 
ternate pofition, and by the contrary fenfe 
of thofe afcending which ferve to fupport 
and unfold the ladders. Citizen IREMEL, 
at the National Palace of Arts and Sci- 
ences, is the projector of thefe two ma- 
chines. : 
The machine marked number 17 is alfe 
a fpecies of crab engine, of which the lad- 
ders in their extenfion ferve as a point 
of fupport to one another, as well asto the 
other parts of the machine. Its inventor 
is the Citizen Guyot, a lockfinith of 
Paris, in rue de Surenne. 
The object of all thefe machines is to 
raife hammocks, facks, or bafkets, &e. 
in which the perfons to be refcued may be 
placed and let down without danger, © 
oe 
From the Port-folio of a Man of Letters. 
cheers 
& GERMAN TRAVELLER’S ACCOUNT OF 
HIS INTERVJEW WITH DR. JOHNSON; 
AND SOME REMARKS ON HIS WRIT- 
INGS. 
[Bemg an Extra& of a Letter from London 
in the Year 1768.) 
AM juft returned from a vifit to 
Ji SamMvuet Jounson, the coloffus of 
Englith Literature, who combines pro- 
found knowledge with wit, and humour 
with ferious wifdom, and whofe exterior 
‘announces nothing of thefe qualities ; for 
MonTuHiy Mase. No. 56: 
in the proportions of his form are exaétly 
thofe of the flurdy drayman. To this he 
alludes in his delineation of the Idler: 
<¢ The diligence of an Idler is rapid and 
impetuous; as ponderous bodies, forced 
into velocity, move with violence propor- 
tionate to their weight.”” Idler, No. I. - 
His manners are boorifh; and his eye 
coid as his raillery ; never is ic animated 
with a glance that betrays archnefs or 
acutenefs ; he conftantly feems to be, and 
not feldom he really is, abfent and dif- 
~U tracted 
ee mE, 
CF mone 
apace ie 
