SIR, There is a tradition in the North of Ireland, that during the popish rebellion and massacre of the Protestants in that country, in the year 1641, a little bird, of the Wren species, by its cheerful note, awoke a certain Protestant, just at the critical moment when his bloody persecutors were approaching, to fulfil that portion of their duty to their Church, which enjoins them to "destroy and extirpate all heretics and schismatics, as enemies and rebels against their Sovereign Lord the Pope;"* in consequence of which, the intended victim of popish piety, effected his escape, and, by a seasonable alarm, preserved an entire district of country from the merciless fangs of these monsters in human shape. But mark the consequences! and while with horror and disgust we peruse the heart-sickening tale, let us bless the goodness of that God, who, in his merciful providence hath delivered the British dominions from the domination of a religion, which inculcates and cherishes such dispositions as this tale unfolds. Sir, it is a fact, well known in that part of the country, viz. in the county of Tyrone, and was related to me by an eye witness, of unquestionable veracity, that

Vide the Roman Catholic Bishop's consecration oath, described in the Imperial Magazine for February, 1820, col. 43, and still taken by the prelates of that church.

at the anniversary of this occurrence, the young papists make a practice of catching as many wrens as they can, and on these innocent victims they wreak their ferocious vengeance for the crime of their predecessor. But what species of punishment are these pretty songsters destined to suffer? Sir, they are wrapped up in a lock of tow, tied to the iron pot crook, and thus suspended over a slow fire, till they expire in indescribable agony!

This tale needs no comment; it speaks volumes to British hearts, concerning that religion, (if we must degrade the sacred term by so foul an application,) which could first give birth to, and which still continues to cherish and encourage, such diabolical dispositions. Does it not outstrip the barbarity of the savages of North America? Yes; for their cruelty is merely the ebullition of irritated human nature: but the above fact exhibits a spirit of infernal revenge.

I am, Sir, your's, &c.
S. T.

Belfast, 12th June, 1822.

AN EXTRAORDINARY DELIVERANCE.

THERE is no subject, perhaps, which the human mind can contemplate, accompanied with more difficulty than to reconcile the operation of natural causes, and the free agency of man, with the superintending providence of the all-seeing eye. That there is such a thing as free agency, that natural causes produce their own effects, and that he who gave both a being, rules and overrules them for his own glory, we have no reason whatever to doubt. The providence of the Almighty involves one connected and complete chain of events, without fettering the free agency of man. Every link of this would appear in its proper place, were we only possessed of penetration to discern it; but,

"Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his works in vain;
God is his own interpreter

And he will make it plain." here, but what bring forth events unThere are few days of our existence accountable to us, even when we duly attend to them. Their appearing so frequently on the stage of action, throws us into a kind of listlessness, and they recede from the eye without

commanding the attention. There are some singular and extraordinary cases, however, which arrest the mind, and excite us to reflect on the dangers, toils, and deaths, which await unthinking man. Among the many of this stamp, the following is deserving of notice.

A farm-house, in the county of Antrim, near Colerain, being at a considerable distance from water, the master determined to dig for it at the end of his own house. As the ground was sandy, the pit was 36 feet deep before water appeared. This being deemed too expensive for a pump, a windlass, rope, and bucket, were procured, and the water was obtained after a tedious operation. On a Saturday night, July 1819, the bucket slipped off the hook in the act of drawing up, and of course an exertion must be made to recover it. This was deferred till the next morning, when a boy of 16 years of age, was let down on a chair, fastened to the rope of the windlass. He had just arrived within ten feet of the surface of the water, when the sides of the pit gave way, and, awful to relate, he was literally buried alive, more than twenty feet below the surface of the ground. This produced a strong agitation in the neighbourhood, and every hand that could find room to work, was actively engaged in removing the earth, thinking to extricate him alive. This humane proceeding, however, was shortly abandoned, in consequence of a very heavy rain, which began to fall, and continued nearly till the evening. Every hope of his life now became extinct, and it was deemed unnecessary to resume the labour until after the sabbath had expired.

An individual, however, who had travelled better than six miles to worship, near the place, repaired to the spot as he returned home, being attracted by his curiosity. While he stood upon the place, he heard, or fancied that he heard, the voice of the lad proceeding out of the ground. His assertions immediately gave a stimulus to the neighbours, and again they set to work, and continued to labour hard until the shades of night constrained them to desist. This they would not have done, had they not lost faith in the possibility of his being alive, and in the declaration of the man who asserted that he heard him cry.

On Monday morning, the clamours of the boy's mother, a poor widow, alarmed the people again, and they recommenced the arduous task. They continued diligently to remove the earth, and in the evening, as it grew dark, they came to the body, which, to the astonishment of every one present, was still alive, and had sustained no particular injury, though upwards of thirty-six hours under the carth. The boy appeared to be deranged for a few hours after he was extricated; but both body and mind were as well as ever the next day. There are a few circumstances connected with this extraordinary event, which deserve our notice.

1. The arrival of the man after the rain, was particularly providential, inasmuch as he excited the people to renew their exertions, from his belief that he was still alive. 2. It appears not a little curious, that, though the lad shouted as loud as he possibly could, no one ever heard his voice but the individual mentioned, who, no doubt, was quicker in his hearing than the rest of the people, and yet the lad heard every word that was spoken above him. It was next to death itself to him, when he heard them despairing of his life, and going off from the spot, first on account of the rain, and then because it grew dark. He knew this was the case from the conversation of the people, which he could repeat after he reco vered. 3. We might be ready to imagine, that if nothing tended to deprive him of life, he might have died in consequence of the cold of the surrounding earth; but so far from this being the case, he was so extremely warm that suffocation nearly ensued. This produced an unconquerable thirst, and had his arms been at liberty, he would have taken his own life, if pos sible, rather than endure the painful sensation. 4. His preservation he ascribed, and that justly, to the rain which fell on Sunday in such a plentiful manner. Had there been no rain. in all probability he would have died before he could be dug out, as we see it took them so long to remove the earth; but the rain ran abundantly down the rope and tended to keep his frame cool, and supplied him with drink, as he sucked the rope in his mouth. I cannot forbear remarking here, that the basin which was formed

the evening around the rope, by the exertions of the people, served to accumulate the quantum of water, and | to supply the rope more abundantly for his use. Thus we discover a fellow creature liberated from a most deplorable state of fears and sufferings, by a striking combination of natural and providential causes.

ACCIDENTS have so frequently occurred from the substitution of oxalic acid, either through mistake or negligence, for more innocent preparations, that we presume the remarks we are about to offer require no apology. The daily, and other papers, have so often commented on this subject, and even so lately as since the last melancholy occurrence, that we should have considered any additional remarks superfluous; had any plausible and practicable plan been proposed, to prevent such catastrophes in future.

It has been proposed to banish this preparation from the shop of the chemist altogether; but by the same rule, every other deleterious agent should be subjected to similar prohibition:-a proposal too absurd to require refutation. The most plausible and effectual means yet proposed, for preventing accident, appear to be the colouring of the crystals; but we doubt much, if many of the uses to which Oxalic acid is applied, would admit of this. An instance, which occurred a short time since, affords sufficient evidence, that the precaution of marking poison on this substance will not always prove a sufficient protection, for if the parties cannot read, as in this case, no advantage can be anticiNo. 43-VOL. IV.

Arfila ranks this among the irritating poisons, and it certainly produces very severe inflammation, and erosion of the coats of the stomach. But that the remarks we shall offer may be more generally intelligible, we shall make a few observations on the leading characteristic properties of acids. Chemists recognize acids by general phenomena, which they exhibit on the application of tests or re-agents. They have a sharp sour taste; they affect vegetable blue colours, turning them to red, such as infusion of litmus, of red cabbage, syrup of violets, &c. And if these colours should have been previously rendered green by alkalies, a sufficient quantity of acid changes this green to red again, while with a less addition, the peculiar propertics of both alkali and acid are neutralized or suspended; the vegetable infusion, under a proper adjustment of these agents, acquiring its natural colour.

Now oxalic acid possesses these properties in an eminent degree; and it is upon them we would found the means of preventing accident. Our means rest solely with the person taking the medicine; previously to dissolving the presumed or supposed Epsom salts in water, let one or two of the minute crystals be laid on the tongue, when, if they be oxalic acid, the sour taste will be immediately recognized by any one who has ever tasted a sour liquor, as vinegar or lemon juice, and with which there is no danger of confounding the bitter taste of Epsom salts. To this we know it may be objected, that many persons cannot bear to taste medicine before swallowing it all off; and that should they once attempt this, they could not bring themselves to take the medicine afterwards. To remedy this inconvenience, and guard against mistake, even if a friend cannot be found to taste for them, we would suggest that every apothecary, chemist, and vender of medicine, be

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obliged to put a small piece of paper, stained blue with litmus, into every package, or dose, of Epsom salts, which he sells; and that the object for which the morsel of litmus paper is intended, be explained to every person so purchasing, namely, that if they have the proper medicine (Epsom salts) no effect will ensue on adding water to dissolve the salt; but if the crystals should be oxalic acid, immediately on solution the litmus will be reddened intensely. These means we think would be found fully sufficient to guard against the possibility of accident, and the person about to take Epsom salts, after having waited a minute or two for the solution of the crystals, and finding the litmus paper unaffected, may then remove this latter, and swallow the mixture, without any apprehension from the effects of oxalic acid.

We would also suggest the propriety of putting a similar bit of litmus paper into every package of oxalic acid, as thus the danger from its being left aside, and being taken by any onc who might meet with it accidentally, would be materially lessened; for though, from the great resemblance of its crystals to those of Epsom salts, any one might be mistaken, still we conceive the intensely red colour, which the litmus paper would assume on effecting the solution of the acid, would be sufficient, in most instances, to guard against deception.

Indeed, we believe the very first fatal accident occurred from a mistake of the nature we have just been mentioning: Some person had been carrying home a paper of the acid, but which the owner lost; another met with it, and, on inspecting it, the finder concluded it to be Epsom salts, and drank a quantity of it in solution. It is almost superfluous to state, that the consequences were fatal. Had litmus paper, as proposed, been put into this parcel, and these effects upon it been commonly known, it is manifest that even though it might not have prevented the result in this case, yet, generally speaking, it would have fended considerably to lessen the proLability of an accident.

ties also; therefore, when an individual has taken a dose of oxalic acid, neutralizing the acid, presents the most probable and effectual means of preventing the consequences to be apprehended. But in resorting to this, it must be recollected, that the acid, and the substance neutralizing it, form a new compound; and therefore care must be taken that the resulting compound be not equally, or even more, deleterious than the original poison.

Arfila, from a number of experiments, concluded that calcined magnesia was the best antidote or counter poison. An ounce of this, he says, should be mixed with a pint of water, and a wine glass full given every two minutes, so as to favour vomiting, and prevent the acid from acting. In administering this remedy, care should be taken to keep the magnesia suspended in the water, as unless it be constantly agitated on giving the dose, the magnesia will fall to the bottom, and the patient get little else than the water. In the event of magnesia not being at hand, or to be immediately obtained, the same author recom mends half an ounce of soap to be dissolved in a pint of water; —or even chalk, mixed with water, may be given, with a prospect of advantage. Clysters of the same should likewise be administered. But it would be right in all cases, to have medical advice as soon as possible; and these means should be tried in the interim, that no time may be lost. Mucilaginous drinks should be given during the whole of the time.

We shall now conclude these obser vations by stating, that we have insti tuted experiments, and have varied these, in every possible way, with a view to illustrate this matter, and put the correctness of our assertions and opinions beyond the possibility of doubt. It may here be necessary for our own credit, to state, that we were induced to make experiments upon this subject, in consequence of its being suggested by respectable chemi cal authority, that Epsom salts reddened syrup of violets and infusion of litmus, and that this proceeded from its being a supersalt, (that is, a salt with a very slight excess of acid

salts, the acid and base are perfectly neutralized; and even in the specimens which led to these experiments, the effect on the litmus paper could only be observed by an experienced eye. But although there was in this one specimen, a very faint reddish appearance produced upon the test paper, yet we are inclined to attribute this circumstance to some acid accidentally adhering in very minute quantities-as upon washing and recrystalizing the salt, it was found to produce no effect upon the test. We need scarcely remark, that all persons valuing their safety, should not fail to provide themselves with the means of detection we have suggested; and which can be done at a very trifling expense. Should these observations be instrumental, even in a single instance, in preventing an unfortunate Occurrence, we shall not consider our time or our pages misapplied in their promulgation.

POETRY.

Translation of the Latin Acrostic, which appeared in the Imperial Magazine for September, 1821.

JUDGMENT appears, earth's face shall sweat bedew,

E re men from heav'n a glorious King shall view;

S way o'er all worlds, his boundless power shall bold,

Unhappy deists shall with saints behold, Sublime in human flesh, the Godhead shine; Circled by saints, who'll judge the deeds of time.

Horrid with woody thorns shall earth grow drear,

Rejected golden gods shall disappear;
In torrents rushing from th' infernal night,
S hall squalid manes burst t'enjoy the light.
The good and bad the fire of truth must
try,

Unlock'd, their cavern'd hearts must open fly;

Speechless themselves, he'll all their thoughts declare,

Deep woe their doom; they'll wailing meet despair.

E arth, heaven, and the symphonious starry choir,

In gloom shall merge, and the bright moon expire.

From the shrunk main shall beauteous valleys leap;

In dark oblivion, lofty mounts shall sleep; Large open plains shall occupy their room, Inflaming lightnings shall the earth con

sume;

Upward exhaled, the burning sea shall fly, Shrill archangelic trumps shall rend the sky;

And

was clear

seen:

blue, and in the distance stars were In solitary mood I wander'd on; The scene was lovely:-'twas an April eve;And tender blossom on each tree was found, Thick, white, but ting'd with red, and spots, And beauty all:-'twas here I stay'd a time; Side of an aged apple tree I stood, That oft had seen the moon look on its leaves, And oft had given young and old its fruit. I stood in thought; two youthful forms approach'd;

Young lovers they; they were the children, too,

Of those I long had number'd with my friends. They slowly walk'd lock'd arm in arm, as close,

As though a fear of danger they had felt. The youth now grasp'd her hand, and thus he said,

"I will resign you to him,-have him,-have him,

Heav'n bless you with him :"-he could say