182 
" /* 
government-house of Parramatta, which 
as called the Crescent; it is simple, ele- 
gant, and well laid out, though it de- 
Tives its principal importance from its 
situation, which overlooks the tewn, as 
well as from its meadows, its forest, and 
river. This mansiun is generally unin 
habited; through its capacity and in- 
ternal regulations are such, that when- 
ever the governor-genera! and heutenant- 
governor come to it for a few days, they 
can have every accommodation for theim- 
selves and their whole suite. 
; 
=a 
For the Monthly Magazine. - 
On MANGANESE in PLANTS, being the 
source Of RUST in WHEAT. 
N apamphlet just published, contain- 
ing an analysis of a carbonated chaly- 
heate, lately discovered near Stow, in 
» Giocestershire, said to be the most pow- 
rful. chalybeate yet analized, the 
author observes, page 24, that manga- 
nese, which is found in the ashes of ail 
vegetables, is, as often as iron, the co- 
Jouring matter of their leaves, biossoms, 
&c. that manganese has the power of 
absorbing ox}gen at a low temperature, 
and. giving it out at a higher; which is 
analogous to the power that plants have, 
of absorbing oxygen, during the absence 
of the san, and giving itout when the sun 
shines; that the bleached appearance of 
plants, not exposed to the light, bears an 
analogy to the effects produced by oxy- 
muriatic acid, in bleaching linens, &c. 
and that to this process in vegetation, he 
should attribute the rust in wheat, which 
generally happens when the straw is 
being changed from a green, toa straw ~ 
colour, and the process is interrupted by 
the peculiarity of the weather, or the si- 
tuation of the trees, &c. : 
This is a thought that deserves some 
attention, and if some of your chemical 
readers were to pay a little attention to 
the subject, during the present season, 
they might, perhaps, be able to ascertain 
whether this hypothesis is true or false, 
August 12, 1809. Your’s, &c. 
oP 
— ne 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, ’ 
j of educating the pour, permit me 
to address the following queries? 
First, whether, asall men are equal by 
av 
Queries relative to educating the Poor. 
O those who object to the principle. 
<i 
[Sept. 1, 
nature, (whatever their situations in life 
may be,) it is consigtent with reason that 
the same knowledge, which 1s thought 
essential to one class in society, should 
be withheld from the other; especially 
when that knowledge can be obtained 
without much expence, or inconvenience ? 
Secondly, whether it is not an asper- 
sion of knowledge to suppose that, if 
communicated to the poor, it would 
make them worse members of society ? 
Thirdly; if any inconvenience should 
ultimately arise from such a communi- 
cation, whether the fault will not be 
found in the order of civilization, rather 
than in the knowledge so imparted ; since 
every-well regulated state ought to be so 
founded in wisdom, asto be strengthened, 
rather than weakened, by the inhabitants 
of every description becoming more en- 
lightened ? y 
Fourthly, because the bodies of the 
poor are ill fed, and ill cloathed, does it 
follow of course that their minds must 
also be left destitute? Or 1s it abso- 
lutely necessary that their minds should 
be kept ina state of bondage, in order 
that their bodies may still continue so? 
Fifthly, whether, if the last queries 
are answered in the affirmative, the prin- 
ciples on which education is denied to 
the poor, are not similar to those which 
are urged in defence of the slave-trade ? 
Sixthly, and lastly, as it appears from 
the infonaation of Sir Richard Phillips, 
that the lower classes are sufficiently de- 
praved without learning, whether the 
experiment ought not to be tried, how 
they may be with it? 
Your's, &c. 
Woburn, 3 
W. Pirtcrim. 
Sieg 
To the Editor 
SL 
SIR, 
of the Monthly Magazine. 
THINK some further account should 
be given of Gaudentio di Lucca, and ~ 
its real author. It has been long ascribed 
to Bishop Berkeley. And a friend of | 
mine, who visited Cairo, many years 
ago, remembered to have heard some. _ 
merchants, who accompanied a caravan _ 
to that city, from a very remote part of 
the desart, describe a city, which in the 
form of its government, manners of the 
people, &c. bore a strong resemblance 
to that which we find described in the - 
romances in question. The story, there. _ 
fore, it may be presumed, is not totally — 
E. R. 
without foundation. 
Your’s, &c, 
— = ee T. 
eee 
