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value of numerical expressions, were so arbitrary, and often so minute, as to be likely to lead to confusion, a dot over a number indicating an increase ten-fold, and two dots a hundred-fold. The addition of a dot would therefore convert 1 into 10 or 100, or its omission reduce 100 to 10 or 1. In like manner, till the introduction of the Arabic notation, when numerals had a value increased by their station, counted from right to left -the more ancient and simple notation consisted in specifying the several items of the amount, and joining them together with the Hebrew dau, synonimous to the Arabic plus +.

Let us apply this reasoning to the ages of ADAM, given in GENESIS, Ch. 5. 3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness after his image; and called his name Seth.

4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years, and he begat sons and daughters.

5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.

I assume then, that Adam lived nine, and a hundred and thirty years, or one hundred and thirty-nine years; and not nine hundred and thirty years, as heretofore supposed; the difference arising solely from adding the Hebrew character between the nine and the hundred. That such omissions did take place is evident, and that its introduction was not absolutely necessary, is also evident, from the consideration that 900 expressed Hebraically would have been 9; and that 9 1 could never be mistaken for 9, by any person accustomed to Hebrew notation, although the sign of

addition were not inserted.

To prove my reasoning by analogy in the case of Adam, I conclude, that two dots have been inadvertently placed over the 1 in verse 3, I shall therefore have 1 instead of 100; and it will be one and thirty, instead of one hundred and thirty.

If then in verse 4, I read eight and one hundred, for eight hundred, it will be one hundred and eight, which, added to one and thirty, makes the age of Adam, at his death, 139. But by verse 5, if I introduce the plus sign between nine and a hundred, his age also by that verse, independently of the preceding result, will be nine+one hundred-thirty, or 139. Q. E. D.

Adam therefore had Seth in his thirty

first year, lived one hundred and eight years after, and died at the age of one hundred and thirty-nine.-This is so rational, and at the same time so probable, that, if adopted in our versions of the Bible, a stumbling-block at its very threshold would be removed, and the system could be defended without drawing so largely on credulity, as at present is necessary.

SETH then was born in the 31st year. of the world, that is, thirty-one years after the creation of Adam.

Further errors are evident, whenever unity is made to follow the denomination hundred. Hence it is difficult to reconcile the previous dates in the life of Seth, with the 9+100+12=121, his age at his death, according to verse 8. I suspect consequently the correctness of verse 6; of the seven in verse 7; and of the twelve in verse 8.

ENOS, on this hypothesis, lived 9+ 100+5 114 years, and conceiving verse 6 to mean 25, he was born in the 56th year of the world.

CAINAN was born perhaps in the 19th year of his father, or A.M. 75, and lived 119 years.

MAHALALEEL was born perhaps in the 27th year of his father, A. M. 102, and died at 8+100+9+10+5—132 years of age.

JARED was born perhaps in the twenty-first year of his father, A. M. 123; and died, reckoning as above, 9+100+6+10+2=127 years old.

ENOCH was born perhaps in the nineteenth year of his father, A. M. 142; and lived 3+100+6+10+5—124 years.

METHUSELAH was born perhaps in the twenty-first year of his father, A. M. 163; and died at the age of 9+100+6 +10+9=134 years,

LAMECH was born perhaps in the twenty-fifth year of his father, A. M. 188; and died at 7+100+7+10+7 131 years of age.

NOAH was born perhaps in the twentieth year of Lamech, A. M. 208; and the flood took place in the 6+100 106th year of Noah, or in the year of the

world 314.

Instead therefore of counting 2848 years before the flood, we find only 314; and, on these data, the world, according to the system and chronology of Moses, is 2000 years younger than it has hitherto been supposed to be.

The copies we now have of the ancient Scriptures are, the Hebrew, the Samaritan, and the Greek, versions of

the

the Septuagint; and these differ considerably from each other. I have exhibited the variations of the three copies in the following table, with the addition of the dates in Josephus, which may have been equally vitiated by transcribers. Ages at their sons' birth. Heb. Sam. Sept.

Adanı

105 205

Jos.

90

70

130 130 230

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65

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167 187

188

600 600

Methuselah

Lamech

182 53 Noah, at the flood, 600

1656 1307 2262

62

65

Whenever this shall be done, I have no doubt it will appear that the errors are analogous in their general principle; consequently, the general principle on which I have corrected them will be found to average the errors, and to have produced a result, not very remote from what may appear after a learned and laborious investigation.

130 105 It may perhaps be received as an indirect confirmation of this hypothesis, that the preternatural ages of the antediluvian patriarchs are no-where referred to in subsequent parts either of the Old or New Testament; and, although many deductions are made in various parts of the writings of the Apostles, from remarkable facts contained in the Old Testament, yet they have in no instance made any allusion to these wonderful instances of longevity. I infer, therefore, that in that age the text did not stand as it does at present.

182

600

1556

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These variations in several respects justify the reasonings, and at any rate they justify the position, that none of them are to be depended upon according to their present reading. Their variation, as well as their coincidence, prove some error in principle and conception of the early transcribers, and demonstrate that our only mode of correcting them is by correcting the false reasonings of those transcribers. The want of uniformity in disposing of the numbers in English translations of the Bible, and in the several copies of the ancient originals, whence it was translated, alone sufficiently demonstrates that the numbers, as they now stand, are altogether erroneous. There can be no doubt that the first value of each number is unity, though the denomination hundreds is given, yet it is contrary to the analogy that unity should follow over and over again in the same summation. Nor is it likely that the constant repetition of nine is correct, or that a single hundred should so generally precede the age at which the Patriarchs had their first children.

These, and many other points require to be accurately examined, by collating ancient copies of the Hebrew originals, for this special purpose; and by a careeful investigation of the modes of notation sed among the Jews at various periods,

If theologians can tolerate the meddling of mere reason, they will at least view with candour this attempt to explain a great difficulty, and will, I hope, cheerfully lend their peculiar resources of study and books to its perfect solution. Jun. 3, 1812. COMMON SENSE.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

HE account Mr. Richardson has

given of Abraham Taylor, the musical boy, appears to be very correct, except as to his having made himself master of several instruments, as he may rather be said to have made himself acquainted with the practice of them, in a manner that is very surprising, when we consider that, two years ago, he received, as a present, the first instrument he ever possessed, and that he now practises on for four.

When he called on me, the first and only time I have ever seen him, he brought his flute in his pocket, and played instantly, at sight, four airs that I am sure he could never have seen be fore. The first was one of Rousseau's, "J'avois pris mes pantouflettes." The second, an air from Carolans Irish melodies: the third, The Old Jew, a very irregular Scotch air; and, lastly, one of the Venetian airs, published by P. Urbani: all of which he played at first sight very accurately, and then perform ed his own melodies; afterwards, at my desire, copyed some music with a rapi dity and correctness that would have been creditable to a well-practised band.

The reason he gave me for first think

ing of composing airs, was, that they wanted a hymn tune, at the church of Iron Acton, for the children, and that he wanted tunes for himself, to practise on, and had none, or any money to buy them with. That he composed the Soldier's Dream, to satisfy Mr. Richardson, who was very kind to him, and that he showed him what expression meant, first of all. In this and every other question put to him, I thought he answered with candor, truth, and proper confidence. Mr. Ashe allowed him to go into the gallery at the last concert here, and the next day, his remarks proved his feeling, for the art he has selected, to be founded on a good ear.

white efflorescence appear, the spirit is to be applied with a camel's-hair brush, when it immediately and effectually destroys them; and, as it is of a thin and penetrating nature, it more completely follows them through any crevices in the bark, into which they may have insinuated themselves, than any of those more viscid applications which have hitherto been in use. It may be applied at any time of the day, or at any season of the year, when the insect may appear. The slightest injury to the bark of the tree has never been discovered from the use of it. Spirit of turpentine appeared to be the substance next in effect, in killing this destructive insect; but the I have spared no pains to introduce spirit of tar has not only the merit of his name where I thought it m be being still more effectual, but that also of serviceable to him; and we trust, he being as cheap again as spirit of turpen will somewhere find a teacher of talents tine. Where an orchard is much affectand humanity, who will assist him in his ed by this disease, if I may so term it, outset in life, by taking him apprentice perhaps, this mode of removing it, by without a fee. Should he not meet with touching every diseased part, may appear this fostering hand, instead of becoming, rather an Herculean task, but still it is by culture, eminent like a Crotch, he propable, that a good-sized brush would may, and, most probably will, go on enable a person to pass over a greater learning instruments without any fixed surface, with this thin fluid, in a short principles, and ultimately end as a po time, than might readily be imagined. polar performer at wakes and country. At any rate, however, this is an objec tion that cannot apply to its use in gardens, or other places where the surface to be touched is not excessively large.

faus.

For these strong propensities are marks of healthy seeds in the mind, that, under proper culture, will grow and be very productive, but neglected to be planted in due time, either desiccate or G. CUMBERLAND.

rot.

Bristol, Jan. 10, 1811.

CHRISTOPHER HEBB

Worcester, May 18, 1811.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

EADING, in your valuable

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. Rin mouth, page 221, on the

SIR,

CONVE

ONVERSING with my friend, Mr. John Mander, (an eminent Chymist of Wolverhampton,) on the subject of the insect which has of late years been so destructive to the apple-trees; he in formed me, that he had made cxperiments on a variety of substances, in the hope of finding one which would readily and effectually destroy this dangerous enemy of our gardens and orchards; and that, as far as the uniformly successful experience of two or three years could warrant the opinion, he believed he had succeeded. He also permitted me to make it known, if I wished it, through any medium I might think proper, and I know of none so well calculated to give it a general currency as your very valuable miscellany.

This useful remedy is the spirit of tar, The mode of using it is exceedingly simple and casy. Wherever the insects or

subject of a substitute recommended for oil and tallow.chandler, I am induced to express my opinion, that I should conceive some better general mode of lighting the streets of this great metropolis might be adopted. I observe that either the lamps give too little or too great a light; some plan between the two extremes might surely be hit upon by the ingenious, whereby the public benefit intended would be enjoyed; for, according to the present neglected state of these luminaries, my observation is, that they are either too dim and dull to afford light sufficiently to be of use, or else they blind you by their glare at different intervals as you walk along the streets.

I shall also take this opportunity of noticing my surprise, that several of the turnpike roads, very near the stones, have no lamps at all.

T. T. R.

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To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

S your very valuable Miscellany is

and B No. 12. The first example is as follows: the first pedal on the right would give D sharp No. 4. and A sharp

A open to the investigation of scien- No. 11. By comparing these two mal

tific improvements, will you allow me to trouble you with the subsequent statement of particulars relative to a transaction of mine with Mr. Loeschman, piano. forte maker, in Newman-street?

In October 1808, Mr. Loeschman requested that I would call and examine a piano-forte at his house, I went, and found the instrument had two pedals, one of which, by moving the keys to the right, brought on D sharp, A sharp, and E sharp; and the other, by moving the keys to the left, brought on A flat, D fat, and G flat. The D sharp and E sharp being brought on by one pedal, and the A flat and G flat being brought on by the other, it was impossible to have the extreme sharp sixth upon either Fnatural or A flat. The three additional sharps and flats made six more sounds within the octave than in the common instruments; and the eighteen strings were placed in the following order: C, D Hat, C sharp. D, E flat, D sharp. E, F, E sharp. G flat, F sharp, G. A flat, G sharp, A. B flat, A sharp, B.

bers with the same numbers in the general scale, it will be found, that this pedal must remove the hammers from the strings of E flat and B flat, unto those of D sharp and A sharp. The second example will be as follows: the first pedal on the left will give A flat No. 9, and D flat No. 2. By comparing these two with the same numbers in the general scale, it will be found that the hammers will be removed, from the strings of G sharp and C sharp, to those of à flat and D flat. The second pedal on the right will give E sharp No. 6, and B sharp No. 1, in addition to the two sharps in the first ped The third pedal will give F double sharp No. 8, and C double sharp No. 3, in addition to the four sharps of the second pedal. The second pedal on the left will give G flat No. 7, and C flat No. 12, in addition to the two flats in the first pedal. The third pedal will give F flat No. 5, and B double flat No. 10, in addition to the four flats in the second pedal.

I then informed him that I could give him such instructions as would enable him to produce an instrument far supenor to this, as it would have twelve more sounds within each octave than the common instruments; to effect which there must be six pedals, three on each side of the instrument. The first pedal on the right side would produce D sharp and A sharp, the second E sharp and B sharp, and the third F double sharp and C double sharp; the first pedal on the left A flat and D flat, the second G flat and C flat, and the third F flat, and B double flat. I also gave him the names of the twelve semitones, from C to B in the scale of each pedal, by which he would be enabled, on comparing the scale of each pedal with the general. scale of keyed instruments, to know which two hammers in every octave of the instrument would be changed by each pedal. To illustrate this I will give two examples; and for that purpose it will be necessary to give the names, with annexed numbers, of the twelve semitones from C to B, in the scale of the common keyed instruments: C No. 1. C sharp No. 2. D No. 3. E flat No. 4. E No. 5. F No. 6. F sharp No. 7. G No. 8. Gsbarp No. 9. A No. 10. B flat No. 11, MONTHLY MAG,, Ño, 223,

Thus, by comparing these other four pedals with the common scale, it will easily be found which hammers each pe dal will reinove.

This information, wholly scientific, was of such importance to Mr. Loeschman, that without it he could not possibly have produced the instrument for which he has lately obtained a patent.

The knowledge thus communicated was all that was necessary for Mr. Loeschman to receive from a professor; and there only remained for him to perform the mechanical part to produce an instrument far superior to any thing of the kind before invented; in effecting which he certainly has displayed gr- at ingenuity, and executed in a very mas terly manner the instructions which I afforded him.

This instrument is so superior to the common ones, that, instead of 9 perfect keys, it can be played upon in 33.

Should Mr. Loeschman deny that he received these instructions from me, I thus publicly call upon him to shew either that he possessed in himself the scientific knowledge, without which the instrument could never have been constructed, or to name the person from whom he derived the necessary information'; that such person and myself may assert our claim to the invention before B

any.

any impartial judge. But I think I may venture to affirm, that there is not any person who will say, before me, that he gave the least instruction with respect to the instrument for which Mr. Loesch man has obtained his patent.

THOMAS GRENVILLE. 13, Store-street, Bedford square, January 4, 1812.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine,

SIR,

AVING seen, in your Magazine for

Cappe, of York, in which a desire is expressed, that a more general circulation might be given to a paper which appeared in the Glasgow Herald of the 15th of December, 1809, on the best mode of making provision for funerals; I beg leave to annex a copy of that paper for insertion, if you think it worthy a place in your useful publication.

I have the more pleasure in complying with Mrs. Cappe's request, as it was reading her Treatise on Friendly Societies, which occasioned me to write the paper alluded to. The following note, page 110, convinced me of the error under which all the societies la houred that I was acquainted with, respecting this part of their schemes. "It were desirable that the sum required for this object should arise, rather from an annual additional subscription, than from the contribution of each member at the time, provided a calculation could be made suficiently accurate to be entirely depended upon. For, by this means, the additional expence would not only fall more equitably upon the whole body, but its pressure would also be felt more equally by each individual; and would not weigh heaviest, as it must do on the other plan, at a period when the additional expence can be least endured. And, moreover, the interest that would continually accumulate on the little sums annually contributed, would considerably lessen the total amount of the whole sum; which every member, in the long run, must necessarily pay."

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be such, that the original members should be able to support it, whether they received any augmentation of numbers or not; otherwise, they are evidently taking the advantage of their successors. Suppose a society to consist of eighty-one persons, and that the allowance for funeral-money is forty shillings; according to the present mode, nothing is contributed for this purpose till the death of the first member, when six-pence from each is requisite. It is evident, that, at every subsequent death, a heavier levy must be made upon the survivors; when they are reduced to forty, one shilling must be collected; to the survivor of the whole must be at the sole expence of the last funeral, without the prospect of his relations receiving any thing to defray the expence of his own! This statement I think sufficient to convince any person of the unfairness of such a plan; it seems to have originated with some society, which, on discovering that their funds were too much reduced to allow funeral-money, adopted this plan, and it has been followed by others, without due consideration.

The proper method for fixing a full or annual payment for this purpose, is to ascer how long all mankind will, upon an average, tain the expectation of human life, (that is, live) at any given age; and then to calculate what payments, either made at entry, or by instalments, will be necessary during this period to produce the sum required.

The following expectations of life are deduced by Dr. Price, from the Rev. Mr. Gorouch's observations for thirty years, in the parish of Holy Cross, near Shrewsbury. And the full and annual payments for the ages specified, entitling to forty shillings funeral-money, is calculated, reckoning compound interest at 5 per cent. during the expectation of the given lives.

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Should any society adopt this plan, the payments may be regulated proportionally, as their funeral-money is more or less than the sum mentioned above.

This method will do away the disagreeable idea of charity, which is certainly connected with the existing plan; and I would recommend the full payment, as the most equitable

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