496 Tea from Leaves, and Beer JSrom Prunings of Vines. [July ly 
frequent occurrence, in which the ad- 
jective great expresses the positive, and 
superior supplies thé comparative, as ap- 
plied to the same common term: * this 
man possesses great talents, but that man 
possesses talents superior to Aun, that is, 
greater than he. “This man isa great 
scholar, but that man is a much superior 
one,” that is, a much greater one, Infe- 
rior is likewise used in the same man- 
ner. 
Superior and inferior ‘may, it is true, 
be so constructed as to assume, in certain 
jistances, the signification of the posi- 
tives, high and /ow ; but the comparatives 
higher and lower, themselves do some- 
times the same thing: we say, for in- 
stance, “the Aigher and lower regions of | 
the atmosphere,” to denote merely “the 
high aud low regions of the atmosphere.” 
Johnson expounds them by adjectives 
of the comparative degree : “ SupERror, 
higher, greater in. dignity or excellence; 
upper, higher lacally :” “INFERIOR, lower 
an place, lower in station or rank of life, 
lower in value or exceliency;” whence 
it may be concluded that this great lex- 
icographer esteemed them comparatives, 
Mr. Grant produces instances of phra- 
seology, where these words are connected 
with others, in a way which seems to him 
imconsistent with the nature of compa- 
ratives. ‘So superior to,” and “ very 
inferior to,” are equivalent to, and may 
be supposed to stand for, “so much 
Superior to,” and “ very much inferior 
to,” either form of expression being used 
indifferently, and the latter being com- 
mon to comparatives in general, which 
evidently admit of intension and remis- 
Sion. The phrase “less inferior than,” 
is not, I think, in common use, and seems 
to be of doubtful propriety. 
~ These words, however, being anoma- 
Tous, are evidently involved in some am- 
«*biguity, which may have given occasion 
to a diversity of construction amongst 
~eritics and authors. While then I feel 
Gisposed to retain my former opinion, 
that they frequeitly possess the nature 
of comparatives, sirictly so .cailed, I 
Would, on no account, be considered as 
dictating to others; the preceding obser- 
vations meine made with all respect and 
submission te Mr. Grant, and merely as, 
ju some sort, a vindication of what I had 
previously advanced on the subject, — 
- Exterior aud interior have certainly 
degenerated ‘into mere positives; but 
they do not admit ro after them; and 
there appears to me a specific difference 
between them and the adjectives I have 
particularly adverted to. Your's, &c.. 
Hans!ope, W. SINGLETON, 
May 28, 1608. 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
On the PAINFUL DISEASE Of GLAZIERS. 
LAZIERS certainly are very hable 
to attacks resembling atonic gout ; 
which probably they suffer, not so much 
from being glaziers, as from beimg usu- 
ally, in the country at least, paimters in 
white lead and plumbers. 
The late Mr. Barber, a most ingenious 
man at Ixworth, was the victim of this 
torturing disease, after suffering by it 
many years. 
It would be well worthy of medical 
science and benevolence, to publish in 
your widely circulated Magazine some 
cautions and preventatives for persons 
in this business. 
THE TEA-TREE. .. 
In answer to your correspondent, E.N. 
the tea-tree, at least the green (thea 
viridis) 1s hardy. Jt has stood this most 
severe and long winter with us in Troston 
exceedingly well (though, prevented by 
it from flowering), much better indeed 
than many moderately hardy green-house 
plants. Under a south wall, and witha 
little occasional protection, I make no 
doubt it would well endure the open air 
as well as the Rosa semper florens of the 
same climate. 1 believe it was intro- 
duced into England about 1759. i 
Troston, May 8, 1808. Your’s, &c. 
| Carpet Lorrr. 
EELS 5 
Lo the Editor of the Monthly Mugazine. 
SIR, Oat 
ROM the experiments I have tried, 
I find that, on being dried, which 
sheuld be done in the shade, the leaves 
of the vine make an excellent and ex- 
tremely wholesome tea; though somes 
what different both m taste and flavour 
from that commonly used. I have also 
found that, besides being admirably cal- 
culated for making vinegar, the prun- 
ings of the vine, on being bruised and 
put into a vat, or mashing-tuh, and boll- 
ing water poured on them, in the same 
way as is done with malt, will  pro- 
duce a liquor of a fine vinous quality; 
which, being fermented, forms a sub- 
stitute for beer; and which, on being 
distilled, produces a very fine spirit of 
the nature of brandy. As this is the 
season for pruning the vine, many thous 
sand cart loads of which are, year after 
year, thrown -away as useless, where 
there are not goats to eat them; and the 
idea here suggested is not only new, but 
of high importance to the mhabitants of 
* this country, particularly at the present 
juncture; your inserting it in your useful 
aud widely circulating miscellany, will 
oblise, Your's, &e.. 
London, June 10,1808, James Hart. 
