and afterwards they became gradually wet, one after another, from below."

Nothing can be more evident than it is from these experiments, that the falling of the dew is an improper phrase, and the generally-received opinion, which gave rise to it, a false one; the dew, in reality, ascends from the earth, in form of a thin vapour, and by the common laws of nature, which are invariable and unalterable, forms itself into the drops which we see hang on shrubs and plants, and which we have been used to suppose descended from the clouds.

If I imagined I should not be credited on my own assertion in this case, I could call in the testimony of Mr. Defay, under very parallel circumstances; but, as I am always punctual in relations of facts on these occasions, I claim the privilege of being believed, till I have been once found not to deserve it.

INSPECTOR, No. 18.

This account of the origin of dew is nearly correct, and will be found corroborated by the best systems of hygrology. Though the doctrines of heat, and the laws of evaporation, as established by the experiments of Black, De Luc, and De Saussure, have thrown great light on the modifications of evaporated water, and produced many important discoveries, yet will the process of Hill in this paper, and the inference which he has drawn, be considered, in no slight degree, ingenious and accurate.

No. LXIV.

Thrasius istis

Jurgatur verbis.

HORATIUS.

This war of words poor Thrasius must endure.

I WAS waked this morning by a very great noise, which, in my first confusion, I imagined to have been thunder; but, recollecting it was a season of the year when that rarely happens, I began to think the great guns were firing on some public solemnity; till at last I was very much surprised, and I believe the reader will be so too, to understand that this dreadful hurricane was nothing more than my wife Joan, who was laying about her with great vigour, and exercising her lungs on a maid-servant, for the benefit of the family.

This good woman is one of those notable house-wives whom the careless part of the world distinguish by the name of a scold; this musical talent of hers, when we were first married, did not so well agree with me. I have often thought myself in the cave of Æolus, or perhaps wished myself there on account of this wind-music; but it is now become so habitual

to me, that I am little more alarmed at it, than a garrison at the tattoo or reveille; indeed, I have, I thank God, for these thirty years last past, seldom laid myself down or rose up without it; all the capitulations I have made are, that she would keep the garrison hours, and not disturb my repose by such her performances.

It hath been remarked by some naturalists, that nature hath given all creatures some arms for their defence; some are armed with horns, some with tusks, some with claws, some with strength, others with swiftness; and the tongue may, I think, be properly said to be the arms which nature has bestowed on a woman.

This weapon, however harmless it may ap pear, is generally found sufficient, as well for all offensive as defensive purposes. I think it is the wisest of men that says, "Beware of an evil tongue." A scold is very often dreaded by her whole neighbourhood; and I much question whether my wife's tongue be not as great a terror to all her acquaintance as my cudgel

can be.

The wisdom of our legislature seems so sensible of the danger of this weapon when wantonly used, being, indeed, little less than a sword in a madman's hands; that, in certain districts, they

have erected over canals, a wooden stool, wherein the offender being placed, is to be very severely ducked; which kind of punishment, as it stops the mouth of the scold, so it also seems to intimate the violence of this weapon, whose force, like that of fire, can only be extinguished by water.

Dr. Plot, in his Natural History of Staffordshire, gives the following account of the method of curing scolds at Newcastle and Walsall; "which method (says he) so effectually, and so very safely does it, that I look upon it as much to be preferred to the ducking stool, which not only endangers the health of the party, but also gives the tongue liberty betwixt every dip; to neither of which this is at all liable it being such a bridle for the tongue, as not only quite deprives them of speech, but brings shame for the transgression, and humility thereupon, before it is taken off; which being an instrument scarce heard of, much less seen, I have here presented it to the reader's view, tab. 32, fig. 9, as it was taken from the original one, made of iron, at Newcastle-under-Lyme. Wherein the letter a, shews the jointed collar that comes round the neck; b, c, the loops and staples to let it out and in, according to the bigness and slenderness of the neck; d, the

jointed semi-circle that comes over the head, made forked at one end to let through the nose; and e, the plate of iron that is put into the mouth, and keeps down the tongue. Which being put upon the offender by order of the magistrate, and fastened with a padlock behind, she is led round the town by an officer, to her shame; nor is it taken off, till after the party begins to shew all external signs imaginable of humiliation and amendment." I am very sorry I have not an opportunity to give my fair readers, and particularly my own wife, a representation of the figure referred to in this paper, but shall advise all who may be any wise concerned, to consult it in the Doctor's book, as I apprehend it may tend very much to edification.

A certain ingenious and learned gentleman, some years since, published a very elaborate treatise on," The Art of Altercation, or Scolding;" wherein he proved, much to its honour, that the gods, goddesses, and heroes of the ancients, were great proficients therein, and produced several passages from Homer and others, where Juno, Venus, Pallas, &c. fight (to express myself in a proper language on this occasion) very handsome bouts thereat.

For my own part, I cannot help thinking, that several very good effects are produced from this