7806.] 
round, by which either fide may be pre- 
fented to the fire, one ef which only 
might be polifhed, and -the other japanned. 
Tn fome cafes, the patentee esnceives that 
it might be ufeful to make refleGiors with- 
out either fixing them to the fire.place or 
the ffove, in the manner of a fire-fkreen, 
to ftand upon legs, cr in any other way. 
The principal intent:on and advantages 
of the reflectors are, to augment the 
warmth of the rovm, without increafing 
the confumption of the fuel. They may 
be ufec on the firft kindling of a fire, by 
being drawn forward at iight angles, clofe 
to the flove or grate, on each fide; in 
wh ch fituation they will affift in produc- 
ing a ftrong draught, and caufe the {peedy 
inflammation of the fuel in the grate. 
‘They may then be puthed half-way back, 
that the heat fiom the fides of the fire 
may impinge againft them, and be re- 
Proceedings of Learned Societies. 749 
‘ fle&ed into the roomn 3 but when the fire 
has burnt elear, then thé reflectors fhou!d 
be thrown back, in order that the direét 
cays from both fides of the fire may pafs 
into the room, frem the front only, and 
thus raife the temperature of the air with 
out adding to the confumption of fuel, 
and at the fame time allow a more exten- 
five view and benefit of the fire than has 
been obtained by any other mode. . 
Another invention mentioned in this 
fpecification is that of an extinguifher, or 
metal cafe fo formed as completely to in 
clofe the ftove with the fire, which wall, 
when put on, exclude the air, and there. 
by put out the fire without removing the 
heated cinders, or creating any duft or 
trouble ; and it will fave the coals in the 
erate or ftove at the time of extinguiflia 
ing the fire. re ate 
a 
a 
PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES, - 
ene 
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF MAN- 
CHESTER. 
R. BARDSLEY |. has laid before 
this Society an elaborate paper on 
the Ufe and Abufe of Popular Sports and 
Exercifes, as a national Object, of which 
the following is an enalyfis.—It is affumed 
that human nature requires bodily and 
mental recréation; and that the {ports 
and amufements of mankind are diverfi- | 
fied by the influence of moral, political, 
and phyfical cavfes. The means of grati- 
fication are various and complex ; the end 
fimple and uniform. To efcape from un- 
pleafant fenfations, and to enjoy the plea- 
fure which fympathy extracts from the 
in‘ercourfe with fellow-man, gave rife to 
that fondnefs for public diverfions and 
fportive contefts, difplayed in the biftory 
of mankind. The influence of phyfical 
caufes, in regulating the nature of thefe 
diverGions, may be eafily conceived. The 
amufements of the inhabitants cf thetem- 
perate and frigid zones ould deprefs and 
exhault the refidents of a torrid clime. 
Hence the delight of the Afiatic confifis 
in the enjoyment of thofe pleafures which 
are purchafed with a {mall portion of ex- 
ertion. Phyfical caules have lefs con- 
tioul than thofe of a moral and political 
kind. Man isendued with a conititetion 
which can adapt itfelf to every diverfity 
of clime and change of temperature. 
According to the degree of civilization, 
will thé public fports and amufemente of 
MonTuty Maac., No. 140, 
a people partake, more or lefs, of the 
mixed character of corporeal and mental 
recreation. A difplay of the arts can 
only flourifl where the condition of man 
has been long meliorated by the enjoy- 
ment of moral and political advantages. 
In {peaking of the athletic gymnattics 
-among the flates of Greece, Dr. Bardfley 
fays the chief end of the inftitution was 
perfe&tion in the military charatter.. Their 
philofophers inculcated the doftrine by 
their precepts and example. Hence cous 
rage became affociated with every idea of 
patriotifm, henour, and virtue. An- 
_ other popular {pert among the Greeks des 
pended on the contefts of ferocious ani- 
mals, whofe natural antipathies. were 
made ufe of, and defignedly enflamed; to 
gratify a depraved and barbareus tafte: 
to the Greeks may be attributed fighting 
of cocks, and the diverfion of bull-fights. 
The former was introduced by Themifo- 
cles; as a religious feftival: ‘The latter 
had its rife in Theflaly, and was tran{port+ 
ed to Rome by Julins Czefar, 
The Romans carried every infitution 
of pepular fports toa height unknown — 
to their firt inventors; and the frequent 
{pr étacle of animals confl:\Ging with each 
other in the games of the amphitheatres 
gradually hardened the public mind, and 
begat a neceffity for diverfions of a more 
animated and dangerous tendency. Men 
were compelled te enter thie lifis with wild 
beats; yet this was not to be compared 
