The New-York Weekly Magazine, or Miscellaneous Repository Part 33

(_To be continued._)

OBSERVATIONS ON THE BOILING POINT OF WATER.

Water when exposed to a sufficient degree of heat, is gradually heated till it arrives at the 212th degree of Fahrenheit's thermometer, after which it resolves itself into vapour, and becomes incapable of growing hotter; supposing, however, that the gravity of the atmosphere remaining the same; for upon high mountains it will boil, or a.s.sume the form of vapour in a lower degree of heat; hence in a mean heat of the barometer, the heat of boiling water has been always considered as a fixed and invariable point, namely, equal to the 212th degree of the thermometer; but Mr. Achard, willing to examine the truth of this position, or, in other words, willing to observe whether the heat of boiling water was subject to be altered by any other circ.u.mstance, besides the variable pressure of the atmosphere, made many experiments, the summary of which is, that the aperture of the vessel in which the water is boiled, occasions a variation, amounting to nearly one degree; the heat being greater when the aperture is narrower; and the substance of the vessel is also the cause of considerable variation; for if the vessel be made of gla.s.s, porcelain or other substance, which is a bad conductor of heat, the boiling point of water will be a constant degree, but if the vessel be of metal, all other circ.u.mstances being alike, then the heat of boiling water will be fluctuating.

_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._

_TO TYRUNCULUS._

Your _elevated and most distinguished_ reflections on the _grand_ topic of segar smoaking, affords a charming field for speculation. It appears in the eye of reason to be truly self-partial, and the allusion to _bucks_ alone, leaves an undescribable scope for contemplation, such as must here lay dormant for want of a _palatable_ penetration to its merits or demerits.-----If, friend Tyrunculus, segar smoaking is found such a disagreeable and obnoxious weapon in your presence, does that sanction your divulging its bad effects to exist on the rest of mankind?

Has experience, the grand teacher of science, actuated you to a confirmation of its being a _poisonous twist?_ Or is its source derived from your physical knowledge and sound reasoning? If the former, it must be admitted, that your _t.i.tle_ is good for a public demonstration, if the latter, it must be concluded that you are a professed physician and a man of eminent learning, in which case your annunciation in respect to its bad or good effects might have had some weight, and at the same time would have been considered an act of great charity. There are people, who by nature cannot withstand the powerful effect of smoak, and there are others who, by reason of their faculties being much impaired, are not able to bear it, which of these ought to be attributed to you, is best known to yourself--I say, it is an amus.e.m.e.nt not altogether so _fas.h.i.+onable_ as beneficial, because it tends to support the const.i.tution, and is a bar against receiving the ill consequences arising from those disagreeable stenches, which reign almost in every part of the city, and therefore, is of immense utility to smoakers at large. "This, the learned doctors and physicians will prove."---To divert myself any longer on this _very interesting_ subject would only be expending time, too precious for me at present to let glide away, as such I have only to add, that in order to avoid being again _incommoded and insulted_ by _segar smoak_, it will not be amiss if you take a piece of good council from your _friend the subscriber_, that is, to refrain from imposing on any society either public or private, as, probably, the consequence may be attended with a piercing stroke of this woeful dagger.

Yours, &c.

SEGAR.

ACCOUNT OF A NEGRO-WOMAN WHO BECAME WHITE.

This woman was cook-maid to colonel Barnes of Maryland; she was born in Virginia, and is about forty years old, remarkably healthy and robust, and originally as black as the blackest African. About fifteen years ago, the skin next adjoining to the nails of the fingers became white, her mouth soon after suffered the same alteration, which gradually extended over the whole body, though not quite in an equal degree; four parts in five of her skin are as white, smooth, and transparent, as in a fair European; the neck and back along the vertebrae, are least changed; her face and neck, in which the change is complete, discover the veins under the skin; and are suffused with blushes, when any accident excites the pa.s.sions, either of anger or shame.

_NEW-YORK._

MARRIED,

On Sunday evening last, by the Rev. Dr. Moore, Mr. CORNELIUS KINGSLAND, to Miss ABIGAIL c.o.c.k, both of this city.

On Thursday evening the 11th inst. by the Rev. Mr. Totten, Mr. JOHN FOUNTAIN, of Maryland, (travelling minister of the Methodist order) to Miss ELIZABETH RICKHOW, of Staten-Island.

On Sat.u.r.day evening the 20th inst. by the Rev. Mr. Foster, Mr. SILAS B.

HAND, Printer, to Miss RHODA COOK, both of this city.

On Thursday evening last, by the Rev. Mr. Pilmore, Mr. WILLIAM PEAc.o.c.k, jun. of the state of Georgia, to Miss MARY MOORE, of this city.

_METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS._ _From the 21st to the 27th inst._

_Days of the Month._ _Thermometer observed at 8, A.M. 1, P.M. 6, P.M._ _Prevailing winds._ _OBSERVATIONS on the WEATHER._

deg. deg. deg. 8. 1. 6. 8. 1. 6.

100 100 100 Aug 21 74 80 78 se. do. do. cloudy, lt. wind, clear 22 76 82 78 se. do. do. cloudy, lt. wind, clear, 23 71 82 76 se. do. do. cloudy, lt. wind, clear.

24 73 80 75 80 se. do. do. clear, lt. wind, do. do.

25 70 50 79 78 50 se. do. do. cloudy, lt. wind rain 26 73 77 25 75 n. e. do. cloudy, lt. wd do. do.

27 70 76 75 75 e. s. do. cloudy, lt. wd. do.

MORNING DAWN.

Along the turfy heath cool blows the gale, And dewy odours scent the morning air; No sound I hear, save from the willow'd vale The tinkle of a brook, that murmurs there.

In lonely silence wrapt, yon little mill Looks pensive as the moulder'd pile below; Shades hide the forest, and the misty hill Still keeps retiring Night upon its brow.

O'er the chill earth all comfortless, I tread; The Eye of Nature beams in other skies: I'll seek yon bending mountain's lofty head, And peep upon his beauties ere he rise.

Forbear!--expiring stars proclaim him nigh, Faintly they wink, and lose their silver light; The streaky orient wears a deepen'd dye, Green looks the upland, and the river bright.

O'er the brown wood he sheds a trembling ray, And with his tresses wipes the tearful thorn; Shrill soars the lark to greet the early day, And herald to the world return of Morn.

_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._

LINES ON REVISITING A NATIVE PLACE.

Light blows the wavy breeze, and o'er the plain Pale twilight steals, in sober livery drest; All nature sinks beneath the pleasing reign Of silence---and in balmy slumbers rest.

Save where, with plaintive note, the bird of woe Proclaims approaching fate, while, trembling, near, Some mournful native wand'ring pensive, slow, Starts at the voice he oft' was taught to fear.*

Amid these wilds pale superst.i.tion reigns, Her influence e'en the hardy Indian owns; And ceaseless still prepares for man new pains, And, fiend-like, too, delights to hear his groans.

'Tis past----the last faint ray of light is gone, And darkness now pervades the ambient air; Here let me wander, pensive and alone, And sighing, think on fleeting joys that were.

That were--alas! that are no longer mine, Ah! days of happiness how swift ye flew; When erst I saw the sun of pleasure mine, And not a cloud its full effulgence knew.