1809.] 
the cases with cork jackets, to take toa 
crowded wreck; in going off to which 
the cases would not be.wanted for any 
Other purpose, and the jackets would not 
Aye an incumbrance. Every one niust be 
aware of the importance of the side ca- 
bins or cases, for stowing valuable goods, 
from a richly laden vesscl. «A boat of 
this kind, but somewhat smaller di- 
mensions, would be exceedingly useful 
to ships’ on voyages of discovery ; 
and, indeed, to any large vessels ; 
would not only answer for wooding and 
watering, but is peculiarly adapted for 
‘excursions up rivers or small inlets of the 
sea, or exploring clusters of islands. As 
a pleasure boat she answers extremely 
well; and with respect to her safety, I 
can say that I have sailed in her from 
Brighton, round the Cornish coast. to 
Conway, in North Wales, without any 
accident, though we experienced some 
very dreadful weather on the voyage.” 
Mr. Wa. Skrimsuire, jun. has disco- 
vered a vegetable product of British 
growth, which, by particular. manage- 
ment, may prove an excellent substitute 
tor foreign coffee.. This is the tris _pseudu- 
corus, flower de luce, or common yellow 
water flag, the seeds of which, being 
roasted in the same manner as coffee, 
very much resemble it in colour and fla- 
vour, but have something more of a sac- 
charine odour, approacning to that of 
extract of liquorice. When careiully 
prepared they possess much more of the 
aroma’ of coffee than is to be found in 
any of the leguminous and grammeous 
seeds that have been treated in the same 
manner. Coffee made of these seeds 1s 
the proportion of half an ounce 
ounce to a piitof boiling water. 
The slate quarry, tha property of the 
late Lord Penryn, situated on’ the side 
of alofty mountain, within half a mile of 
the great post .road from Capel Cerig, 
to Banger, 1s one of the greatest curiosi- 
ties of Carnarvonshive. Thie solid mas- 
ses of slate, dug from the summit to the 
base, are from 80 to 100. feet; and 
when the sun réflects his beams on. its 
sides, it gives. the finest prisniatic colors 
imaginable. The dividing of the strata 
of slate from the. main body, appears to 
the stranger beholding the workmen; a 
service of danger, particularity wien they 
are employed in splitting the reck from 
the suminit. This is effected by a small 
beam fastened to the top, with two ropes 
at each end, on which tour, five,. or six 
ane frequently stand, and with their 
avon crows, and sledge-hammers, flake 
extremely wholesome and. nutritious in, 
OF an 
Literary and Philosophical Intelligence. 
as it 
q1 
off the slate from the sides in pieces, 
from two to eight feet in thickness, and 
six to seven inlength, In other places, 
the siate rock is divided by blasts fron 
gunpowder. From the miners, the dif 
ferent pleces go to the persons who shape 
them. This 1s done on the spot, and 
when finished, they are put into small 
waggons that hold near half a ten each, 
and conveyed along an iron, railway, 
which runs on a gentle declivity for two 
miles and a half, to Port Penryn, where 
they are shipped to Ireland Scotland 
a aces ai a Up 
and many parts of England. The slate 
produced from this quarry, isof a remark. 
ot if 1 © iC ; 
ably fine quaiity, a close texture, verg 
lighe, and of a bright sea-green colour if 
general. It is broken into pieces of dif 
ferent sizes according to -the various pur- 
poses for ‘which they may be designed - 
such as grave-stones, chimney-pieces, and 
covering for houses, The first are phe. 
spared with a high polish, about six ine 
ches thick, and 4t for the sculptor’s liand: 
_these are generally sold by the ton weight. 
eB lnesaveie at half finishe 
thers are only half finished, to be 
used for stairs, horse-blocks, &e. They 
are left in that state to be formed. ag- 
i 
. cording to the purposes for which they 
are wanted, and are also sold by the ton, 
The first are. called imperial and are scld 
at about fili y-fve shillings, and the latter 
at thirty shillings per ton. For the roots 
of houses, are, made three sorts, known 
by the denominations of duchesses, conne 
tesses, and ladies. The first measure 
ae anches by twelve, and sei 
Or Six pounas per inousand; the second 
twenty inches by ten, and sell for foug 
pounds per thousands and ladies, sixteca 
inches by eizat, sell for two pounds per 
thousand. At the port of Penryn, schvol - 
slates are made and framed in a complete 
manner ior use, and Bre exported in 
considerable quauticies. : 
EAST. INDIES. 
To the various instances of spéntane- 
ous combastion, ‘which are probably 
much more numerous than could be supe 
posed, is to be added the followine,. The 
ship Albion, Captain James Robertson 
was burned: in December, 1307, at 
Whampva in China, under these circum 
stances:—-On the morning of ‘the 4th, 
the company’s treasure lety Cantoa, and 
Captain Robertson proceeded down the 
river with a quantity of money belonging 
to. the owners, but did not reach the 
ship till about six in the evening. In 
going over the gang-way he observed to 
the oificers employed in receiving the tress. 
sure, of which upwards of a million and 
a hulf 
