who, from loss of character, or extreme indigence, cannot procure an honest maintenance though willing to work."

"When it is considered that thousands in this metropolis subsist by dishonest practices, whilst, some, it is much to be feared, perish from want, before parochial relief can be obtained; an undertaking, tending to remove such evils, cannot fail to receive the most general patronage and support," &c.

That thousands do suffer here, "though willing to work," and that some do "perish from want," there can be no doubt.

You will see these wretched beings sunk down in the streets-under the eves of the houses-on the steps of doors, or against the corners, apparently asleep, but there is much reason to believe, that they are, in some instances, finding a refuge for ever, from hunger, and the repulse of pride, pleasure and affluence; that refuge where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at

rest.

I am not insensible of the glorious pre-eminence which this country holds above all others, in the number and magnitude of its charitable institutions, nor am I ignorant of the unparalleled extent of private munificence; but, still, there is something wrong where things are thus, and these humane Englishmen who are founding the refuge for the destitute, have proved that they think so too.

Another considerable class of beggars in London, consists of those who have lost some of their organs.

There is an unfortunate man whom I pass frequently in Holborn, whose lower limbs have been amputated, close to his body, so that he has neither legs nor thighs. He sits

upon a little sled, to which he is fastened by straps, and moves himself by crutches, raising the sled with himself at every effort. But he is the most successful beggar in London, and that because he never begs. He merely sits upon his sled, with his hat in his hand, but never solicits charity even by a look. His case however speaks eloquently, and such has been his success that (as report says) he has lately given a daughter in marriage with a portion of several hundred pounds. His case is altogether singular, and has no analogy with those which are the subjects of these remarks.

It is a very common thing here to meet those who have lost a leg or an arm, and, at present, considerable numbers of soldiers who lost their eyes in the Egyptian expedition are begging their bread in the streets of London. This misfortune befel multitudes of them, in the burning deserts of Egypt and Syria, from the reflection of heat and light, and the blowing of the fine sand into their eyes by the hot winds; or from the Egyptian opthalmia. I know not why they are suffered to beg, for, surely, government ought to take care of them.

Sailors frequently hobble through the middle of the streets on crutches, singing in concert, to old England's glory, and soliciting, too often in vain, old England's charity.

There is a fellow who has taken his station in the street leading to the parliament house, and attracts attention by drawing curious figures on the flat stones, with red and white chalk, and inscribing there the story of his misfortunes, or some moving sentiment.

These things strike me with double force, when contrasted with the splendor, the voluptuousness, the ingen

ious luxury, and the unbounded profusion of the fashionable world, who might find nobler pleasures in relieving distress and providing for honest but suffering poverty.

July 4.-The thermometer stood to-day at 820, which is high in this climate; the heat was the more oppressive, because the prevailing weather this summer has been thus far, very cold, even for England.

No. XXVI.--LONDON.

Mlumination with inflammable gas-Its beauty-Nature of the contrivance-The royal society-A picture gallery-Denner's daughter-A hunting piece-Joseph and Potiphar's wife-Attempt to delineate Jehovah-Environs of London.

ILLUMINATION WITH GAS.

I had been with a companion into Hyde Park, to see the serpentine canal, and the flock of swans which are suffered to swim unmolested upon it, when, on our return, through Picadilly, we were induced to stop, near Albany house, by an object of some curiosity. An ingenious apothecary and chemist has contrived to light his shop in a very beautiful manner, by means of the inflammable gas obtained from fossil coal. It is the same thing with the thermo-lamp of which you have heard much in America. Every new thing by which money can be made, is of course kept secret in London, as well as every where else; I took the liberty however, of asking the owner of the shop to permit me to see his apparatus. He refused at first, but, on my assuring him that I was not a commercial

or trading man, and was actuated solely by curiosity, he consented, and took me down cellar.

The inflammable gas is extricated, simply by heating common fossil coal in a furnace, with a proper apparatus to prevent the escape of the gas, and to conduct it into a large vessel of water, which condenses the bituminous matter resembling tar, and several other products of the distillation, that are foreign to the principal object. The gas being thus washed and purified, is allowed to ascend through a main tube, and is then distributed, by means of other tubes concealed in the structure of the room, and branching off in every desired direction, till, at last, they communicate with sconces along the walls, and with chandeliers, depending from the roof, in such a manner that the gas issues in streams, from orifices situated where the candles are commonly placed. There it is set on fire, and forms very beautiful jets of flame, of great brilliancy, and from their being numerous, long, and pointed, and waving with every breath of air, they have an effect almost magical, and seem as if endowed with a kind of animation.

The gas is sometimes made to escape in revolving jets, when it forms circles of flame; and, in short, there is no end to the variety of forms which ingenuity and fancy may give to this brilliant invention.

I was assured that they found this mode of lighting the shop more economical than the common one with oil or candles. But, it is not well adapted to small and confined apartments, as there is an odour resembling that which arises from burning coal; this odour may be prevented by peculiar precautions, but it is apt to exist, and this renders ventilation necessary.

The expense of the apparatus, and its liability to accidents, forms another obstacle of magnitude, and, on the whole it is probable that it will not be generally adopted.*

THE ROYAL SOCIETY.

I was introduced here by the kindness of Sir Charles Blagden, to whom I had been indebted for other attentions and who had left my name with the door keeper, with proper directions for my admission. Sir Joseph Banks was in the chair; he wore a cocked hat and a star on his breast, and his seat was considerably elevated above the general level of the room. It appeared to be a full meeting. The apartment was ornamented with portraits of men distinguished as cultivators or patrons of science.

The Secretary, Dr. Wollaston, was reading a paper containing an account of the analysis of a new variety of the stone called zeolite. It was, of course, merely a recapitulation of chemical processes, no part of which would be interesting to you. This was the whole business of the evening, except the admission of some new members.The President then adjourned the Society, till the 7th of November next.

Although one may learn from their transactions every important and interesting fact which occurs in the royal society, still, it is a source of rational satisfaction to be

*

Aug. 1818. The instance mentioned in the text proved but the beginning in London. It is well known that that city is now extensively lighted by gas, and probably fifty miles of pipe have been laid down in London. It remains yet to be seen whether the thing will pay its way in the long run; probably it will, but there is no reason to believe it will ever answer to introduce it into private houses, unless they are so situated as to be supplied from a main establishment.