166 
cable, romartic, and little orthodex. But 
all things appear impracticable to those whio 
will not put them in practice, romantic to 
those who will not reason, and heretical to 
the ignorant and the interested.”” 
The speculation of this venerable 
statesman, is not less remarkable for not 
having been acted upon betiore the lapse 
of one hundred years, or because the 
circumstances, under which the transla- 
tion of, the royal family to Brazil has 
been effected, are widely different from 
the time, when he suggested the mea- 
sure. Portugal, no doubt, is now lost 
for ever to the house of Braganz: a a he 
powers, which in the Portuguese secre- 
tary’s time might have gi uaranteed that 
kingdom to its legitimate princess, can 
ho ‘longer obtain a guarantee for their 
own possessions. Their situation is as 
precarious as that of the Kings of Por- 
tugal in the beginming of the last ceu- 
tury. But the ceogranhi ical position, 
and the superior force of the Portuguese 
power in Seuth America, backed by the 
naval strength of the British empire, 
will enable it to annoy the French and 
the Spanish possessions in that quar- 
ter of the globe, and on that founda- 
tion, which is the ouly secure one in 
politics, it will find its safety. In En- 
rope it was at the mercy of its neigh- 
bours 5 in America its neighbours wall 
be atits mercy. Portugal had ouly one- 
seventh of the extent of Spain; its po- 
pulation did not exceed two millions 
and a half; its furces by sea and by 
land were incousiderable, and the ener- 
gies of the people sunk dundee the terrors 
of the most ridiculous superstition. Mr. 
Bourgoing, the editor of the Voyage du 
Duc du Chatelet en Portugal, justly ap- 
plies to Portugal what Veltaire makes 
Brutus say of Rome in Cesar’s time. 
&* Maitresse aux bords de Inde, esclave aux 
bords du Tibre.” 
And Mr. Southey relates two laugh- 
able instances of the ignorance of the 
Portuguese priests, and of the supersti- 
tion of the vulvar. 
« A pair of globes just arrived on 
Eneland were shewn to a friar. Ab! 
(said he) f know what this 3s very well, 
it is a camera obscura, and a very dan- 
gerous thing it is. A friend of mine 
was very neal rly killed in making some 
experiments with one.” 
«“ A servant asserted, and believed, 
that the nails, and hain, and beard, of 
the naage of St. Iago of Compostella, 
constantly grew, aud that a priest of high 
ecclesiastical rank was always appointed 
Ventilation of crowded Rooms: 
great caution. 
[ March 1, | 
to pare his nails and shave him. Once 2 
meaner priest was nominated to this 
important office. He approached the 
image, placed the bason under his chin, 
began to lather the saint, and was im- 
medi iately struck dead for his presump-. 
HOR. 4. 
Pimlico, Your’s, &c. 
6, Upper Eaton sireet, D. BorLteav. 
January 8, 1808. als 
Lo the Editor of the Monthly Magazine: 
SIR, 
I SHALL be much obliged to any of 
your numerous intelligent Correspon- 
dents who may be able to inform me, 
through the channel of your useful mis- 
cellany, whence arose the peculiar pro- 
nuiciation of Latin at Winchester school, 
very different, I believe, from any other 
English pronunciation of that language. 
They-pronuunce the letter a always broad, 
as the Etalians, and also as the Scofch do, 
I suppose they have some reason for 
thus differing from the rest of our schools, 
and that it is not merely accident. Q 
Your's, &c. 
October 19, 1807. dds 
a a 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. - 
SIR, 
N reply to the enquiry at page p. 2 
vol. xxiv. it should be understood 
Ventilation upon an extensive scale is the 
only mode ot preventing the air from be- 
coming impure in rooms where many 
people are crowded together, and where 
there is a constant consumption of air 
by respiration or combustion. In all 
schemes of ventilation, the most success- 
ful method seems to be that. ef carrying 
off the heated and foul air from the high- 
est part, and admitting the cool and fresh 
air by the lower part. 
Probably in some of the courts of law, 
or in some of the prisons, air might be 
introduced by pipes from without, which 
would afford a more secure and constant 
supply than can pass in through doors 
and windows, and in a more pure state. 
With regard to the use of acid vapours, 
_ they can only be efficacious where con- 
tagion is suspected, for they purify the 
air in no other way than_ by destroying 
specific contagious matters. Ina crowd- 
ed place the “nitrous vaporr, as recom=- 
mended by Dr. Carmichael, Smith, 
should consider as much superior to 
muriatic or oxymuriatic acids, 
particularly the last, are exceec 
feusive to the lungs, if not. 
T know of n 
iM 
4 
