1809,] 
may be the reason, the cousumption of 
fiesh-meat by no means equals that of 
fish, which constitutes a most essential 
part of their nourishment. In several 
districts of Holland, the ordinary diet of 
the people is fish,.with the addition of 
potatoes and flour. Animal food, in 
general, bears a very high price in Hol- 
fand,. 
Beer is the principal drink, but the 
consumption is much less since the in- 
troduction of tea and coifee. If the use 
of beer, however, has decreased, mead 
and other liquors made from honey anil 
sugar, have fallen mvre into disuse, since 
the Dutch. have found the means of 
procuring wines at a reasonable price, 
which they import from France, Spain, 
and Germany. 
They use great quantities of spirituous 
liquors, particular ly Geneva, which they 
look upon asa national liquor. 
a 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
“omy, 
BIOGRAPHER fulfils but half his 
£ duty, if he confines his relation to 
the public actions of the individual whom 
he commemorates, without following bin 
into the scenes of private life. We are 
all curious to ascertain the personal ha- 
bits and particularities of an illustrious 
character, and are even gratified ly dis- 
covering what the Marquis de l’Hépital 
enquired, respecting Sir Isaac Newton, 
whether he ate, drank, and slept, lige 
other men. re reason is obvious; an 
sequaintance of this sort with the per- 
son and manners, embodies our idea of 
the subject of the narrative, and brings 
the circumstances of tt more distinctly to 
our mind’s eye. I apprehend that no 
person can read the cescription of a bat- 
tle, without having a graphic representa- 
tion of the scene of action, and of the 
respective generals, present to his ima- 
gination; and the same effort of that 
power of the mind, less in degree, is ex- 
erted whilst tracing the life of an indi- 
vidual. Thus, whenever the name of 
Socrates is mentioned, we straightway 
perceive the prominent forehead, bald- 
ness, and csworys of the father of philo- 
sophy ; ; and our idea of Queen Elizabeth 
is inseparably connected with a large 
ruff and dinmond stomacher. J have 
prefixed the above observations as “ pro- 
legomena,” to an historical deduction, 
which in some measure tends to parti- 
cularize an individual of considerable im- 
portance, in the annals of the Roman 
empire. As Lapprove of a mathematical 
- 
> 
Electrical Observation, in Eustathius: 435 
forin of proof, wherever it cai conve- 
niently be introduced, I shall give an 
enuuciation of the fact, and then proceed 
to demonstrate. Balimer, the father of 
Theodoric, who conquered Italy, wore 
sik next his skin, and was net subject to 
much cutaneous moisture. 
Preof.—Pergens of dry skins, (and no 
other} upon pulling off stockings made of 
sik, (and no other matersals) “olten. ob- 
serve electric sparks proceeding from 
their legs. Now Balimer, observed this 
phosnomenon : therefore Balimer was a 
dry Wea und wore silk next his skin. 
Q. E. D. 
Eustathius, p. 513.4. Ed. Rom. Beadipeip 
6 Qevdpixov TLTHDy 0 Meranparhs es ItaAlac, 
paciy, amaons, rou ¢txelou Topaarog omivGipag 
Amemenne. Kaine os ooxpag mansids duos eps 
EcuToU, Tt EOucmavou wore Hat ex dyopeevoy dy 
Te, eT BES amenndwey eLaisiot, EoTW OTE xa? 
xrumouvres: bytote S8 ual proves Chas KaTEn 
AM fATEOY pact, 2) bpeariey pen xaboucct— 
This 1s curious, as being the first elec- 
trical observation, that Lam aware of, en 
record. As another instance, that thé 
notions of modern philosophers have is 
many cases heen anticipated by the an- 
cients, [ will observe, that an idea which ~ 
has been fa avourably received amongst 
geologists of late years, and which indeed 
appears a physical probability, was first 
suvgested by an author, of whom these 
theorists, I imagine, never heard the 
name. 
is, that the nucleus of the earth consists 
of water ; and certainly it solves the phe- 
nomena of subterraneouvs convulsions 
with great facility ; the author mentioned, 
is Gregorius Cyprics, Patriarch of Cou- 
stantinople, in a tract entitled, “ Maris 
meee p. 6. Ed. Morel. Paris. 
ai Bers Je abrn, co th TeV Elpnreévay clnd- 
ook, TO ere 
vis To pAeroy cimovevepanras 7 Seharcn: nae 
HsvOUVVEL TO AOYOry fan KEVTDOY THY yav dE bérus= 
Toy gives. B. J. G 
—— 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
Ly AV E, seldom, in my life, been more 
forciblystruck,than by that touching ars 
gument of Routes 5, in favour of making: ° 
children happy, during infancy, from the 
probability that they may never taste the 
happiness ef a remoter period, but thag 
accident or disease may bring them to an 
early, grave. Nothing can be more af- 
fecting than such a cansideration. This 
jell me to speculate upon the general 
happiness of the inhabitants of bom dings 
schoois, and upon the carelessness with 
inother- 
which many a naturally tender 
consigns 
The hy pothesis to which I allude _ 
~~ \ 2/ \ nt J 
aiTatoy TOU ee eds ELMWEp Kat ThE 
