1807.] 
of feveral days continuance, from what- 
ever quarter itcomes, providedit does not 
blow hard, thau when the wind is vari- 
able from one part of the compas to an- 
other ; and perhaps it is on this account, 
as well as from the direétion. of the wind, 
that the mercury ftauds higher within ae 
tropics, than, upon the average, it ap- 
pears to do in thofe parallels where the 
winds are variable, and oceafionally blow 
Ww ith, violence. 
‘The barometer,” fays Mr. Flinders, 
‘ oie capable of atfurding fo much 
affiftance to the commander of a {hip, in 
warning him of the approach and termi- 
nation of bad weather, and of changes in 
the direction of the wind, even im the 
prefent tiate of meteorologic al knowledge, 
that no officer, in a lone voyage, thould 
be without one.” F xperience is required 
to underfiand its language, and it is ne- 
ceflary to compare the ftate of the mer- 
cury with the appearance of the weather, 
before its prognofiucations will commonly 
be underitood ; for a rife may foretel an 
abatement of ‘wind, a change in its di- 
Literary aud Philosophical J atelligence. 
- evident: 
161 
ection, or a return of fine weather; or 
if the wind is light and variable, it may 
foretell its encreafe to a. tleady breeze, 
efpecially if there be any eafting im it; 
and a fall may prognotticate_a frong 
breeze. Mott feamen ave tolerably good 
judges of the weather, and this iieatis 
aililted by obfervation upoft the quick or 
flower rifing or falling of the mercur vi, 
and upon its relative height, will im moft 
cafes enable them to fix. upon winch of 
thefe changes are about to take place, 
aud to what extent, where there is only 
one; buta combination of changes will 
be found more difficult, efpecially where 
the effeét of one upon the barometer is 
counteracted by the other. ‘There are 
{ome combinations of changes, in which 
no alteration in the bar ometer could be 
expected, asa little experience will render 
the barometer alone therefore, 
is not of itfelf fuficient, but in afifting 
the judgment of the feamen, it is capable 
of rendering very important fervices to 
navigation. 
VARIETIES, Lirerary anp PHILOSOPHICAL, 
Including Notices of Works in Hand, Domeflic and Foreign, 
*.* Authentic Communications for this Article will always be thankfully received. 
N is already in the hands of every 
antiquary and admirer of Homer, will fhort- 
ly tavour the public with an account of the 
interefting land of Ithaca, its geogra- 
phy, antiquities, natural productions, 
mammners and cultoms of its prefent ie 
habitants, &c. &c. This work, which 
will form a quarto volume, is to con- 
tain a variety of maps, plans, and other 
engravings, reprefenting the ancient ci- 
tadel of Ithaca, the city of Bathi, the 
ports of Polis, Frichias, Maurona, the 
rock called Homer’s School : mith an 
accurate geographical furvey, ‘and a ge- 
neral map of this celebrated ifland. 
Le Sage’s novel of Gil Blas has, by 
the concurrent teftimony of.a century, 
been determined to be the belt produc- 
tion of its kind; and vet we have never 
potlefied any tranflation of it which has 
not created difeutt by its obfcenity and 
vulgarity. That which bears. the name 
of Dr. Sinollet is a ‘libel on his literary 
tame, and it is-more than siubiijle that 
he merely lent his name to it. A new 
trantlation has juft been finithed by Mr. 
i : 
ef Le Save have been caretally rendered, 
ae pany Mace. No, 154. 
R. Get, whofe Topography of Troy , 
ee é which the numerous idioms 
and in which the indelicacies of. the 
original have been foftened and adapted 
to the refined tafte of the Englih pub- 
lic. This new tranflation will {peedily 
appear, illuftrated by oNE HUNDRED ex- 
quifitely beautiful engravings ; and will 
confequently be one of the mot elegant 
books m our language. 
Sir Wrnutam Ocsetry is "preparing 
for the prets an Eaglifh tranflation of the 
celebrated Perfian work, intitled Noza- 
hat al Coloub, and quoted by Dr. Her- 
belot, M. de Sacy, and other learned 
Orientalitts, under ‘he name of the Per- 
fian Geographer. — Sir William had tranf 
lated, feveral years ago, different parts 
of this valuable work; but as none ia 
the ranuicripts which he pefleiied, « 
had an opportunity of mfpetting, were 
perfect : fume wanting the chapter on 
the rivers of Perha, others the part 
which saa the mountains and mines, 
others the fections on the roads and the 
fiages from one city to another, he was 
induced to defer the pu ublication until an 
accurate and perfect manufcript fhould 
be found. Having been fortunate 
enough to obtain one, he has co nplited 
his trarflation: fuppled ali ihe defects, 
x and 
~ 
