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Grease spots. Apply powder of white tobacco pipe clay, or French chalk, (that is, steatite or soap-stone,) put blotting paper over it, and apply a hot iron at a little distance. This will take out much of the grease, by repetition. Good ether, or hot oil of turpentine, will efface the remainder.

Where you can venture to wash the place, a good washing with hot soap and water will answer every purpose.

You may thus efface grease spots from paper; should any slight stain remain at the edges, brush it with a camel's hair pencil dipt in very strong spirit of wine, or ether.

The following remedy has been tried with success in England, and lately much recommended in France, for the Sciatica. Oil of turpentine, two gros; honey, four ounces. Divide it into three doses, and take one in the morning, one at noon, and one at night. Doubtless this would be much aided by a strong cathartic, abstinence, and friction externally with oil of turpentine.

The gros is 2 penny weights 6 grains troy.

Composition to secure the corks of wine bottles. Cut the cork off even: wipe the cork and neck of the bottle dry: dip it in a melted composition of wax 2 oz. rosin 4 ounces.

AR. VI.-Notoria; or Miscellaneous Articles of Philosophy, Literature,

We have received the third volume of the Memoirs of Franklin, from which we extract the following political squib, written shortly after his arrival in France, as Commissioner Plenipotentiary from the United States.

A Dialogue between Britain, France, Spain, Holland, Saxony and America.

Britain. Sister of Spain, I have a favor to ask of you. My subjects in America are disobedient, and I am about to chastise them; I beg you will not furnish them with any arms or ammunition.

Spain. Have you forgotten, then, that when my subjects in the low countries rebelled against me, you not only furnished them with military stores, but joined them with an army and a fleet? I wonder how you can have the impudence to ask such a favor of me, or the folly to expect it.

Britain. You, my dear sister of France, will surely not refuse me this favor.

France. Did you not assist my rebel Huguenots with a fleet and an army at Rochelle? And have you not lately aided privately and sneakingly my rebel

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subjects in Corsica? And do you not at this instant keep their chief,-pensioned, and ready to head a fresh revolt there, whenever you can find or make an opportunity? Dear sister, you must be a little silly!

Britain. Honest Holland! You see it is remembered that I was once your friend; you will therefore be mine on this occasion. I know indeed you are accustomed to smuggle with these rebels of mine. I will wink at that; sell them as much tea as you please to enervate the rascals, since they will not take it of me; but for God's sake don't supply them with any arms.

Holland. 'Tis true you assisted me against Philip, my tyrant of Spain, but have I not since assisted you against one of your tyrants; and enabled you to expel him? Surely that accompt, as we merchants say, is balanced, and I am nothing in your debt. I have indeed some complaints against you, for endeavoring to starve me by your navigation acts; but being peaccably disposed, I do not quarrel with you for that. I shall only go on quietly with my own business. Trade is my profession, 'tis all I have to subsist on. And let me

tell you, I should make no scruple, (on the prospect of a good market for that commodity) even to send my ships to Hell and supply the devil with brimstone. For you must know, I can insure in London against the burning of my sails.

America to Britain. Why, you old blood-thirsty bully! you who have been everywhere vaunting your own prowess, and defaming the Americans as poltroons! you who have boasted of being able to march over all their bellies with a single regiment! you who by fraud have possessed yourself of their strongest fortress, and all the arms they had stored up in it! you who have a disciplined army in their country, intrenched to the teeth, and provided with every thing! Do you run about begging all Europe not to supply those poor people with a little powder and shot? Do you mean, then, to fall upon them naked and unarmed, and butcher them in cold blood? Is this your courage? Is this your magnanimity?

Britain. Oh! you wicked-WhigPresbyterian-Serpent! Have you the impudence to appear before me after all your disobedience? Surrender immediately all your liberties and properties into my hands, or I will cut you to pieces. Was it for this that I planted your country at so great an expense? That I protected you in your infancy, and defended you against all your enemies?

America. I shall not surrender my liberty and property but with my life. It is not true that my country was planted at your expense. Your own records refute that falsehood to your face. Nor did you ever afford me a man or a shilling to defend me against the Indians, the only enemies I had upon my own account. But when you have quarrelled with all Europe, and drawn me with you into all your broils, then you value yourself upon protecting me from the enemies you have made for me. I have no natural cause of difference with Spain, France, or Holland, and yet by turns I have joined with you in wars against them all. You would not suffer me to make or keep a separate peace with any of them, though I might easily have done it, to great advantage. Does your protecting me in those wars give you a right to fleece me? If so, as I fought for you,

as well as you for me, it gives me a proportionable right to fleece you. What think you of an American law to make a monopoly of you and your commerce, as you have done by your laws of me and mine? Content yourself with that monopoly if you are wise, and learn justice if you would be respected.

Britain. You impudent bh! am not I your mother country? Is not that a sufficient title to your respect and obedience?

Saxony. Mother country! Hah, hah, hah! What respect have you the front to claim as a mother country? You know that I am your mother country, and yet you pay me none. Nay, it is but the other day, that you hired ruffians to rob me on the highway, and burn my house! For shame! Hide your face and hold your tongue. If you continue this conduct you will make yourself the contempt of Europe!

Britain. O Lord! where are my friends?

France, Spain, Holland, and Saxeny, altogether. Friends! Believe us you have none, nor ever will have any till you mend your manners. How can we, who are your neighbours, have any regard for you, or expect any equity from you, should your power increase, when we see how basely and unjustly you have used both your own mother and your own children.

From Hamilton's East India Gazetteer.

CALCUTTA.

The local situation of Calcutta is not fortunate, for it has extensive muddy lakes, and an immense forest close to it; and was at first deemed hardly less unhealthy than Batavia, which it resembled in being placed in a flat and marshy country. The English, it has been remarked, have been more inattentive to the natural advantages of situation than the French, who have always in India, selected better stations for founding their foreign settlements. The jungle has since been cleared away to a certain distance, the streets properly drained, and the ponds filled up; by which a vast surface of stagnant water has been removed, but the air of the town is still much affected by the vicinity of the Sunderbunds.

The city stands about 100 miles from the sea, on the east side of the western

branch of the Ganges, named by Europeans the Hooghly river, but by the natives the Bhagirathi or true Ganges, and considered by them peculiarly holy. At high water the river is here a full mile in breadth; but, during the ebb, the opposite side to Calcutta exposes a long range of dry sand banks. In approaching Calcutta from the sea, a stranger is much struck with its magnificent appearance; the elegant villas on each side of the river, the Company's botanic gardens, the spires of the churches, temples, and minarets, and the strong and regular citadel of fort William. It exhibited a very different appearance in 1717, of which the following is a correct description:

The present town was then a village appertaining to the district of Nuddea, the houses of which were scattered about in clusters, of 10 or 12 each, and the inhabitants chiefly husband

men.

The modern town and suburbs of Calcutta, extends along the east side of the river above six miles, but the breadth varies very much at different places. The esplanade between the town and fort William, leaves a grand opening, along the edge of which is placed the new government-house, erected by the marquis Wellesley; and continued on in a line with this edifice, is a range of magnificent houses, ornamented with spacious verandahs. Chowringhee, formerly a collection of native huts, is now an entire village of palaces, and extends for a considerable distance into the country. The architecture of the houses is Grecian, which does not appear the best adapted for the country or climate, as the pillars of the verandahs are too much elevated, to keep out the sun during the morning and evening, although at both these times the heat is excessive; and, in the wet season, the rain beats in. Perhaps a more confined Hindoo style of building, although less ornamental, might be found of more practical comfort.

CANTON.

This city stands on the eastern bank of the Pe-kiang river, which flows from the interior in a navigable stream of 300 miles to this town, where it is rather broader than the Thames at Lonon bridge, and from hence falls after

an additional course of 80 miles in the southern sea of China, near its junction, with which it takes among foreigners the name of Bocca Tigris. The town is surrounded by walls about five miles in circumference, on which a few cannon are mounted; but the whole of its fortifications, with a view to defence, are in every respect despicable, and only serve to prevent the intrusion of Europeans.

Although Canton is situated nearly in the same parallel of latitude with Calcutta, yet there is a considerable difference in their temperature; the former being much the coolest, and requiring fires during the winter months. The suburbs may be frequented by Europeans; but they are not permitted to enter the gates of the Tartar city, which, however, in its building and exterior appearance, entirely resembles the suburbs. The streets of Canton are very narrow, paved with little round stones, and flagged close to the sides of the houses. The front of every house is a shop, and those of particular streets are laid out for the supply of strangers; China-street (named by the seamen Hog-lanc) being appropriated to Europeans, and here the productions of almost every part of the globe are to be found. One of the shopkeepers is always to be seen sitting on the counter, writing with a camel's hair brush, or calculating with his swan-pan, on which instrument a Chinese will perform operations in numbers with as much celerity as the most expert European arithmetician. This part of Canton being much frequented by the seamen, every artifice is used by the Chinese retailers to attract heir attention, each of them having an English name for himself, painted on the outside of his shop, besides a number of advertisements, composed for them by the sailors in their peculiar idiom. The latter, it may be supposed, are often duped by their Chinese friends, who have, in general, picked up a few sea phrases, by which they are enticed to enter the shops; but they suit extremely well together, as the Chinese dealers possess a command of temper not to be provoked, and humour the seamen in all their sallies.

The foreign factories extend for a considerable way along the banks of the river, at the distance of about 100

yards. They are named by the Chinese, hongs, and resemble long courts, or closes, without a thoroughfare, which generally contain four or five separate houses. They are built on a fine quay, and have a broad parade in front. This promenade is railed in, and is generally called the respondentia walk; and here the European merchants, commanders, and officers of ships meet after dinner, and enjoy the cool of the evening. The English hong, or factory, far surpasses the others in elegance and extent, and before each the national flag is seen flying. The neighbourhood of the factories is occupied with warehouses for the reception of European goods, or of Chinese productions, until they are shipped.

For the space of four or five miles opposite to Canton, the river resembles an extensive floating city, consisting of boats and vessels ranged parallel to each other, leaving a narrow passage for vessels to pass and repass. In these the owners reside with their families, the latter of whom but seldom visit the shore. The Chinese junks that trade to Batavia and the Eastern Islands, lie in the centre of the river, moored head and stern, many of them exceeding 600 tons burthen. A Chinese ship, or junk, is seldom the property of one man. Sometimes 40 or 50, or even 100 different merchants purchase a vessel, and divide it into as many compartments as there are partners, so that each knows his own particular part in the ship, which he is at liberty to fit up and secure as he pleases. The bulk heads, by which these divisions are formed, consist of stout planks, so well caulked as to be completely water tight. A ship thus formed, may strike on a rock, and yet sustain no serious injury; a leak spring ing in one division of the bold, will not be attended with any damage to articles placed in another, and from her firmness she is qualified to resist a more than ordinary shock. A considerable loss in stowage is of course sustained; but the Chinese exports generally contain a considerable value in a small bulk. Some of these ships are not less than 1000 tons burthen, having a crew of 500 men, owners of goods and seamen, besides other passengers, who leave their country to better their fortunes at Batavia, Manilla, and

among the Eastern Islands. The Chinese coasting vessels are usually divided into 13 distinct compartments, well caulked and water-tight. In navigating these vessels, the same compass is used as in Europe; but in China, the south alone is considered as the attracting power, the Chinese compass is named ting-nan-ching, or the needle pointing to the south. The Chinese junks generally sail with one monsoon, and return with another. In the northeast monsoon they sail to Manilla, Banca, and Batavia, and return to Emoy and Canton, with that from the southwest. There are five junks annually from Emoy to Batavia, on board of which a considerable number of Chinese emigrate.

Canton is about 15 miles above Whampoa, and in this distance are five chop, or custom-houses, where boats are examined. The head tontiff, named by the mariners John Tuck, regulates the emperor's duties, respecting which the importer remains entirely ignorant, as they are paid by the purchaser of the goods, which are generally weighed and carried off immediately on landing. The cargoes are weighed with English weights of 50, instead of 56 pounds, and afterwards reduced to Chinese catties, by multiplying by three and dividing by four; and then converted to peculs, by dividing the product by 100. A pecul weighs 133 1-3 pounds English, and catty 1 1-3 pound; but the Chinese sale weights are generally inaccurate, and must be attended to. All goods in China are bought and sold by weight, even articles of food, such as milk, fowls, hogs, &c. The long measure is the cubit of about 14 3-4 inches. A tael is equal to 5798 decimal, troy weight; and in the East India Company's accounts, the tael of silver is reckoned at 6s. 8d. sterling.

The monopoly of all foreign trade is consigned, by the policy of the Chinese government, to a limited number of merchants, seldom exceeding eight, but occasionally more; in 1793 they were 12, and in 1808, 14. All foreign cargoes pass through the hands of these merchants, who are commonly men of large property, and by thern also the return cargoes are furnished. With them the East India Company's supercargoes transact the concerns of their

employers; they dispose of the goods imported, and purchase the commodities which compose the homewardbound cargo. At the close of the season, they are generally indebted to the Company above half a million sterling, and have, besides, property in their hands belonging to the Company and other British subjects, the aggregate of which has been estimated at two millions sterling.

The principal exports from Canton are tea, china ware, gold in bars, sugar, sugar candy, rhubarb, china root, snake root, sarsaparilla, leather, tutenague, japan, copper, varnished and lacquered ware, drugs, leaf gold, utensils made of white and red copper, cast iron, silk raw and wrought, thread, nankeens, mother-of-pearl, gamboge, quicksilver, allum, dammer, red lead, vermilion, furniture, toys, and a great variety of drugs.

Provisions and refreshments of all sorts are abundant at Canton, and, in general of an excellent quality, nor is the price exorbitant. Every description of them, dead or alive, is sold by weight. It is a curious fact, that the Chinese make no use of milk, either in its liquid state, or in the shape of curds, butter or cheese. Among the delicacies of the Chinese market, are to be seen horse flesh, dogs, cats, hawks, and owls. The country is well supplied with fish from the canals and numberless rivers that intersect the country, and the inhabitants breed also great numbers of gold and silver fish, which are kept, in large stock ponds, as well as in glass and china

vases.

The lower orders of Chinese, who engage as servants to Europeans at Canton, are extremely ready in acquiring a smattering of the English language, and fertile in inventions for making themselves intelligible to their employers. All the business at Canton with Europeans is transacted in a jargon of the English language. The sounds of such letters as B, D, R, and X, are utterly unknown in China. Instead of these, they substitute some other letter, such as L for R, which occasions a Chinese dealer in rice to offer for sale in English, a very unmarketable commodity. The common Chinese salutation is hou, poo hou,' the literal meaning of which is, well,

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not well.' The name mandarin is unknown among the Chinese, Cochin Chinese, and Tunquinese, the word used by all these nations for a person in authority, being quan. Mandarin is a Portuguese word, derived from the verb mandar, to command. No correct estimate of the population of Can ton has ever been formed, but it is known to be very great. Ibid.

MADRAS.

The approach to Madras from the sea is very striking. The low flat sandy shores extending to the north and south, and the small hills that are seen inland; the whole exhibiting an appearance of barrenness, which is much improved on closer inspection. The beach seems alive with the crowds that cover it. The public offices and store houses erected near to the beach are fine buildings, with colonnades to the upper stories, supported on arched bases, covered with the beautiful shell mortar of Madras-hard, smooth, and polished. Within a few yards of the sea, the fortifications of fort George present an interesting appearance, and at a distance, minarets and pagodas are seen mixed with trees and gar dens. With all these external advantages it would be difficult to find a worse place for a capital than Madras, situated as it is on the margin of a coast where runs a rapid current, and against which a tremendous surf breaks even in the mildest weather. The site of Pondicherry is in every respect superior, and is placed in a rich and fertile country, besides having the great advantage of being to windward, the loss of which was severely felt by the British settlers during the hard fought wars of the 18th century. Yet, however inconvenient, the expense of removal at this late period precludes all idea of a change.

Madras differs in appearance considerably from Calcutta, having no European town, except a few houses in the fort, the settlers residing entirely in their garden houses; repairing to the fort in the morning for the transaction of business, and returning in the afternoon.

The garden houses about Madras are generally only of one story, but of a pleasing style of architecture, hav ing their porticoes and verandahs sup

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