for the conveyance of salt and coals; and planned the Coventry navigation, which was for some time under his direction; but a dispute arising, he resigned his office. Some short time before his death, he began the Oxfordshire canal, which, uniting with the Coventry canal, serves as a continuation of the Grand Trunk navi gation to Oxford, and thence by the Thames to London.

Mr. Brindley's last undertaking was the canal from Chesterfield to the river Trent at Stockwith. He surveyed and planned the whole, and executed some miles of the navigation, which was finished five years after his death by his brother-inlaw, Mr. Henshall, in 1777. Such was Mr. Brindley's established reputation, that few works of this kind were undertaken without his advice. They are too numerous to be particularized, but it may be added that he gave the corporation of Liverpool a plan for clearing their docks of mud, which has been practised with success; and proposed a method, which has also succeeded, of building walls against the sea without mortar. The last of his inventions was an improved machine for drawing water out of mines, by a losing and gaining bucket, which he afterwards employed with advantage in raising coals.

When difficulties occurred in the execution of any of Mr. Brindley's works, he had no recourse to books, or to the labours of other persons. All his resources were in his own inventive mind. He generally retired to bed, and lay there one, two, or three days, till he had devised the expedients which he needed for the accomplishment of his objects; he then got up, and executed his design without any drawing or model, which he never used, except for the satisfaction of his employers. His memory was so tenacious, that he could remember and execute all the parts of the most complex machine, provided he had time, in his previous survey, to settle, in his mind, the several departments, and their relations to each other. In his calculations of the powers of any machine, he performed the requisite oper ation by a mental process, in a manner which none knew but himself, and which, perhaps, he was not able to communicate to others. After certain intervals of consideration, he noted down the result in figures; and then proceeded to operate upon that result, until at length the complete solution was obtained, which was

generally right. His want of literature, indeed, compelled him to cultivate, in an extraordinary degree, the art of memory; and in order to facilitate the revival, in his mind, of those visible objects and their properties, to which his attention was chiefly directed, he secluded himself from the external impressions of other objects, in the solitude of his bed.

Incessant attention to important and interesting objects, precluded Mr. Brindley from any of the ordinary amusements of life, and indeed, prevented his deriving from them any pleasure. He was once prevailed upon by his friends in London to see a play, but he found his ideas so much disturbed, and his mind rendered so unfit for business, as to induce him to declare, that he would not on any account go to another. It is not improbable, however, that by indulging an occasional relaxation, remitting his application, and varying his pursuits, his life might have been prolonged. The multiplicity of his engagements, and the constant attention which he bestowed on them, brought on a hectic fever, which continued, with little or no intermission, for some years, and at last terminated his useful and honourable career, in the 56th year of age. He was buried at New Chapel, in the same county.

Such was the enthusiasm with which this extraordinary man engaged in all schemes of inland navigation, that be seemed to regard all rivers with contempt, when compared with canals. It is said, that in an examination before the house of commons, when he was asked for what purpose he apprehended rivers were created, he replied, after some deliberation," to feed navigable canals." Those who knew him well, highly respected him "for the uniform and unshaken integrity of his conduct; for his steady attachment to the interest of the community; for the vast compass of his understanding, which seemed to have a natural affinity with ail grand objects; and, likewise, for many noble and beneficial designs, constantly generating in his mind, and which the multiplicity of his engagements, and the shortness of his life, prevented him from bringing to maturity."*

NATURALISTS' CALENDAR. Mean Temperature... 55. 50.

Rees's Cyclopædia. Biog. Brit.

September 28.

MADAME GENEVA LYING IN STATE.

On the 28th of September, 1736, when the "Gin Act," which was passed to pre vent the retailing of spirituous liquors in small quantities was about to be enforced, it was deemed necessary to send a detachment of sixty soldiers from Kensing ton to protect the house of sir Joseph Jekyl, the master of the rolls in Chancerylane, from the violence threatened by the populace against that eminent lawyer for his endeavours in procuring the obnoxious

statute.

The keepers of the gin-shops testified their feelings by a parade of mock ceremonies for "Madame Geneva lying-instre," which created a mob about their shops, and the justices thought proper to commit some of the chief mourners to prison. On this occasion, the signs of the punch-houses were put in mourning; and lest others should express the bitterness of their hearts by committing violences, the horse and foot-guards and trained bands were ordered to be properly stationed. Many of the distillers, instead of spending their time in empty lamentations, betook themselves to other branches of industry, Some to the brewing trade, which raised the price of barley and hops; some took taverns in the universities, which nobody could do before the "Gin Act," without leave of the vice-chancellor ; others set up apothecaries' shops. The only persons who took out fifty pound licenses were one Gordon, Mr. Ashley of the London punchhouse, and one more. Gordon, a punchseller in the Strand, devised a new punch made of strong Madeira wine, and called Sangre.*

COUNTY CUSTOMS.

It may be hoped that our readers who live in the apple districts will communicate the usages of their neighbourhoods to the Every-Day Book. For the present we must thank "an old correspondent." GRIGGLING.

To the Editor of the Every-Day Book. Dear Sir,-The more I read of your Every-Day Book, the stronger my recollection returns to my boyhood days. There is not a season wherein I felt greater delight than during the gathering in of the orchards' produce. The cider

• Gentleman's Magazine.

Let every tree in every garden own,
The redstreak as supreme, whose pulpous
fruit,

With gold irradiate, and vermillion shines.
Hail Herefordian plant! that dost disdain
All other fields.

The Herefordshire cider is so exquisite, that when the earl of Manchester was ambassador in France, he is said frequently to have passed this beverage on their nobility for a delicious wine.

Leasing in the corn-fields after the sheaves are borne to the garner, is performed by villagers of all ages, that are justly entitled to glean, like ants, the little store against a rainy day. But after the orchard is cleared, (and how delightful a shower-he shaking the Newton instructing apples down,) the village (not chimneysweepers) climbing boys collect in a posse, and with poles and bags, go into the orchard and commence griggling.

The small apples are called griggles. These, the farmers leave pretty abundantly on the trees, with an understanding that the urchins will have mercy on the boughs, which, if left entirely bare, would suffer. Suspended like monkeys, the best climbers are the ring-leaders; and less boys pick up and point out where an apple still remains. After the trees are cleared, a loud huzza crowns the exertion; and though a little bickering as to the quality and quantity ensues, they separate with their portion, praising or blaming the owner, proportionate to their success. If he requests it, which is often the case before they depart, the head boy stands before the house, and uncovered, he recites the well-known fable in the "Universal Spelling Book"-" A rude boy stealing apples." Then the hostess, or her daughter, brings a large jug of cider and a slice of bread and cheese, or twopence,

to the great pleasure of the laughing recipients of such generous bounty.

Down to the present month the custom of griggling is continued with variations in the western hamlets, though innovation, which is the abuse of privilege, has

chilling frosty nights, which are also generally very calm, condense into mists; differing from clouds only in remaining on the surface of the ground.

Now by the cool declining year condensed,
Descend the copious exhalations, check'd
As up the middle sky unseen they stole,
And roll the doubling fogs around the hill.
Thence expanding far,

The huge dusk gradual swallows up the plain
Vanish the woods; the dimseen river seems
Sullen and slow to roll the misty wave.
Even in the height of noon oppressed, the sun
Sheds weak and blunt his wide refracted ray;
Whence glaring oft, with many a broadened orb,
He frights the nations. Indistinct on earth,
Seen through the turbid air, beyond the life
Objects appear, and wildered o'er the waste,
The shepherd stalks gigantic.

"EXTRAORDINARY NEWS!"

To the Editor of the Every-Day Book. Sir, The character and manners of a

people may be often correctly ascertained by an attentive examination of their familiar customs and sayings. The investigation of these peculiarities, as they tend to enlarge the knowledge of human nature, and illustrate national history, as well as to mark the fluctuation of language, and to explain the usages of antiquity, is, therefore, deserving of high commendation; and, though occasionally, in the course of those inquiries, some whimsical stories are related, and some very homely phrases and authorities cited, they are the occurrences of every day, and no way seem to disqualify the position in which several amusing and popular customs are brought forward to general view. Under this impression, it will not be derogatory to the Every-Day Book, to observe that by such communications, it will become an assemblage of anecdotes, fragments, remarks, and vestiges, collected and recollected :-Various,-that the mind

Of desultory man, studious of change, And pleas'd with novelty, may be indulged. Cowper. Should the following extract, from a volume of Miscellaneous Poems, edited by Elijah Fenton, and printed by Bernard Lintot, without date, but anterior to 1720, in octavo, be deemed by you, from the foregoing observations, deserving of notice, it is at your service.

Old Bennet was an eccentric person, at the early part of the last century, who appears to have excited much noise in London.

On the Death of OLD BENNET, the Newes Cryer.

"One evening, when the sun was just gone down,

As I was walking thro' the noisy town,
A sudden silence through each street was
spread,

As if the soul of London had been fled.
Much I inquired the cause, but could not

hear,

Till fame, so frightened, that she did not dare
To raise her voice, thus whisper'd in my ear:
Bennet, the prince of hawkers, is no more,
Bennet, by whom, I own myself outdone,
Bennet, my Herald on the British shore ;
Tho' I a hundred mouths, he had but one.
He, when the list'ning town he would amuse,
Made echo tremble with his bloody news."
No more shall Echo, now his voice return,
Echo, for ever must in silence mourn.—
Lament, ye heroes, who frequent the wars,
The great proclaimer of your dreadful scars.
Thus wept the conqueror, who the world o'er-
came,

Homer, the first of hawkers that is known, Great news from Troy, cried up and down the

Homer was wanting to enlarge his fame

town.

None like him has there been for ages past,
Till our stentorian Bennet came at last.
Homer and Bennet were in this agreed.
Homer was blind, and Bennet could not
read."

"Bloody News!" "Great Victory!" or more frequently "Extraordinary Gazette!" were, till recently, the usual loud bellowings of fellows, with stentorian lungs, accompanied by a loud blast of a long tin-horn, which announced to the delighted populace of London, the martial achievements of the modern Marlborough. These itinerants, for the most part, were the link-men at the entrances to the theatres; and costermongers, or porters, assisting in various menial offices during the day. A copy of the "Gazette," or newspaper they were crying, was generally affixed under the hatband, in front, and their demand for a newspaper generally one shilling.

Those newscriers are spoken off in the past sense, as the further use of the horn is prohibited by the magistracy, subject to a penalty of ten shillings for a first offence, and twenty shillings on the conviction of repeating so heinous a crime. "Oh, dear !" as Crockery says, I think in these times of "modern improvement," every thing is changing, and in many instances, much for the worse.

I suspect that you, Mr. Editor, possess a fellow-feeling on the subject, and shall