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of a pound of fine gold, compared with the value of a pound of fine silver, was estimated as 12 to 1. They were ordered by proclaination, dated the 9th July in the same year, to be taken in payment only with the consent of those to whom they were offered; and by another proclamation, dated 20th August following, they were ordered to be no longer current. It is probable that they were generally brought to the mint, and recoined, for none of them have yet been found, except a quarter florin.

On the 9th July of the same year, this king issued three new sorts of gold money; one to be called the noble d'or, or noble, ordered to be the weight of 6 dwts. 14 gr. which was to pass at 6s 8d, or half a mark in tale. It was made of gold of the old

was to be coined into 45 nobles, and was to make in tale 151 of the money of that time.

In the 13th year of Henry IV, a Tower pound of gold of the old standard was to be coined into 50 nobles, and was to make in tale 161 13s 4d of the money of that time.

In the 4th year of the reign of Edward IV. he made a new gold coin, which he called an angel, because there as represented an angel on the face of it. He continued however the figure of a ship; but he placed it on the reverse of this coin. Each of these angels were to be current at 6s 8d, weighing 3 dwts. 13 grs. He made angelets, or half angels, in due proportion. A Tower pound of gold of old standard was to be coined into sixtyseven angels and a half, and was to make in tale 221 10s.

first introduced into the English mint,) and he called it a George noble. A troy pound of gold of the old standard was to be coined into eighty-one of these George nobles, and was to make in tale 271 of the money of that time.

In the 2d and 3d of James I. this monarch

found it necessary to diminish the weight of his gold coins.

The troy pound of gold of this standard was to be coined into 81 angels, and was to pass in tale at 401 10s of the money of that time. He reduced the sovereign, or piece of 4 grs. to 6 dwts. 10 grs, and the smaller gold. 20 shillings of the new standard, from 7 dwts. coins of this standard in proportion. This was a rise in the value of gold in the old standard of nearly 11 per cent. and in the new standard of 11 per cent.

standard. At the same time he coined half In the reign of Henry VIII. he made a nobles, sometimes called maille nobles, and new gold coin of the old standard, which was quarter nobles, sometimes called farthing to be current at 6s 8d, weighing 2 dwts. 23 nobles, in due proportion. The Towers. troy, (which weight was at this time pound of gold was to be coined into 39% of these nobles, and to pass in tale at 131 3s 4d of the money of that time; and as the Tower pound of silver was still coined into 22s 2d, the value of a pound of fine gold, compared with the value of a pound of fine silver, was now estimated as 11 to 1. This new gold coin was not at first acceptable to the people, and it was therefore ordered, that no one should be obliged to take it in payment for any sum less than twenty shillings. But as it probably became in a short tine more acceptable, it was soon afterwards ordered not to be refused in any payment whatsoever. In this manner coins of gold made at the English mint were at length introduced into general circulation among the people, though with some difficulty. At this time the commerce of the kingdoui began greatly to increase; and Edward III. had given security to it, by several naval victories lately obtained; particularly by one, in which he had destroyed the French navy, off the coast of Flanders. In commemoration of this great event, there was placed on the face of these nobles, the king, standing in the center of a ship, armed, with his sword drawn in his right hand, and shield in his left and gold coins, with nearly a similar device, continued to be made at the English mint, for more than two centuries and a half subsequent to this period.

In the 20th year of this king's reign, he reduced the weight of the nobles to 5 dwts. 8 4-7ths grs. A Tower pound of gold of the old standard was to be coined into 42 nobles, and was to make in tale 141 of the money of that time.

In the 27th year of this king's reign, these nobles were to pass, as before, at 6s 8d. A Tower pound of gold of the old standard VOL. IV. [Lit. Pan. May, 1808]

This king, in the 9th year of his reign, raised, by proclamation, all gold coins hitherto in circulation, two shillings in the pound, or 10 per cent. Which, added to the former rise in the 2d and 3d years of his reign, made a total rise, during the short space of seven years, in the value of gold, compared with that of silver, of nearly 21 per cent. in coins of the old standard, and of 21 per cent. in coins of the new standard.

In the 17th year of this king, he a third tinie raised the value of gold in his coins. And thereby further raised the value of gold compared with that of silver 1 per cent. in coins of the old standard, and 1-5th per cent. in coins of the new standard.

Charles II.the 3d year after the Restoration, reduced the quantity of gold, which he put. into his coins of the new standard. ·· The weight of the new piece of the same standard, which was intended in like manner to pass for 20s, was 5 dwts. 94 grs. This piece was afterwards called a guinea. He coined also N

pieces, which were to pass for 10 shillings, and were called half guineas. The troy pound of gold, of the new standard, was to be coined into 444 of these 20s pieces or guineas, which were intended to pass in tale for 441 10s. The rise in the value of gold, in the space of sixty years, was upon the whole 32 per cent and as it can hardly be doubted, that most other articles, as well as gold, increased in their price, compared with silver, during the whole of this period, those who were entitled to receipts from ancient fee-farm or other rents, as well as annuities, which had subsisted at the commencement of this period, must have lost in effect, by this diminution of the price of silver, nearly one third of the original value of such rents and annui

ties.

EDDYSTONE ROCKS AND LIGHT-HOUSE.

north and south direction, to the length of about one hundred fathoms, but also lie in a sloping manner towards the south-west quarter and this sloping, or stiving, of the Rocks, as it is technically termed, does not cease at low water, but still goes on pro gressively, so that at fifty fathoms westward, there is twelve fathoms water; nor do they terminate altogether at the distance of a mile. From this configuration, it happens that the seas coming uncontrolled from the deep water, and rather suddenly at last, though gradually meeting the slope of the rocky bottom, are swelled to that degree in storms, and hard gales of wind, as to break upon, the rocks with, the most dreadful violence,

The many fatal accidents which happened from ships running upon these dreadful rocks, either in the night, at high water, or in bad weather, occasioned a strong desire of contriving some method of warning mariners of their danger; and at length, in the year 1696, notwithstanding the insuperable difficulties which seemed to attend the plan, Mr. Henry Winstanley, of Littlebury, in Essex, engaged to erect a Light-house on spot.

The mention of pillar towers, as explained by the late Mr. King (in Panorama, Vol. IV. p. 143), and compared with that singular edifice the Eddystone Light-house, has led several of our friends to wish for further in-the formation on the subject of this building and, we willingly comply with their request, because we are of opinion that monuments of human ingenuity are honourable to our race, as well as to our country. which can accomplish its intentions, in spite

The power

of the violence of the ocean, is entitled to universal praise the humanity which seruples no expense, nor hesitates at exertion, however extraordinary, that tends to preserve the lives of our brave mariners, and the property with which they are entrusted, is entitled to the most extensive commemo. ration. We are pleased also with an oppor tunity of paying a tribute of respect to a departed genius, whom we well knew; at the same time as we hold out an example for the imitations of other countries;-an example peculiarly honourable to Britain.

The Eddystone Rocks are a congerics of irregular rocks, situated about twelve miles and a half from the middle of Plymouth Sound, and so exposed to the heavy swells from the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean, that the waves frequently break over them with incredible fury.

The particular form and position of the Eddystone Rocks is a circumstance that greatly tends to augment the force and height of the seas which break over them; and, previous to the erection of the Light-house, doomed many vessels to inevitable destruction. They not only stretch across the Channel, in a

The Light-house, thus finished, had more the resemblance of a Chinese pagoda, than of a structure intended to resist the impetuous shock of overwhelming seas.

This building remained till November, 1703, when some repairs being necessary, Mr. Winstanley went down to Plymouth to When on the superintend the workmen. eve of departure for the Rocks, some friends intimating the danger to which the Lighthouse was exposed in such tempestuous weather, he replied: He was so well assured of the strength of his building, that he should only wish to be there in the greatest storm that ever blew under the face of the Heavens, that he might see what effect it would have upon the structure. Most fatally for the architect, his favourite wish was too amply gratified.

While he was there with his workmen, and light-keepers, that dreadful storm began which raged most violently in the night of the twenty-sixth of the month, and appears to have been one of the most, tremendous ever experienced in Great Britain, for its vast and extensive devastation. The next morning, at day-break, the hurricane increased to a degree unparalleled, and the Light-house, no longer able to sustain its fury, was swept into the bosom of the deep, with all its ill-fated inmates.

Mr. John Rudyerd, then a silk-mercer on Ludgate-Hill, crected a second Lighthouse in a very masterly manner, so as perfectly to answer the end for which it was intended. He saw the errors of the former building, and avoided them. Instead of a polygon, he chose a circle for the outline of

his building, and carried up the elevation in that form. His principal aim appears to have been use and simplicity; and, indeed in a building so situated, the former could hardly have been acquired in its full extent, without the latter. He seems to have adopted ideas the very reverse of his predecessor; for all the unwieldy ornaments at top, the open gallery, projecting cranes, and other contrivances, more for ornament and pleasure than use, Mr. Rudyerd laid totally aside.

Mr. Rudyerd's building was commenced in July, 1706, and sufficiently completed to exhibit a light on the twenty-eighth of July, 1708: the succeeding year it was entirely finished; being, exclusive of its sloping foundation, twenty-two feet eight inches upon its largest circular base; sixtyone feet high above that circular base; and fourteen feet three inches in diameter at the top. The whole height from the lowest side of the foundation, to the top of the ball which terminated the building, was ninetytwo feet. The lantern was an octagon, the external diameter of which was ten feet six inches. The quantity of materials expended in its construction was 500 tons of stone; 1200 tons of timber: 80 tons of iron; 500 tons of lead; and of trenails, screws, and rack-bolts, 2500 each.

corporation of the Trinity House* was then expired, yet the matter being now in their hands, they should think themselves bound, for the sake of posterity, to do every thing that lay in their power to render the new building not only effectual for their own time, but as permanent as possible."

an idea of what the proper shape of a columu of the greatest stabilty ought to be, to resist the action of external violence, when the quantity of matter is given whereof it is to be composed.

The object from which Mr. Smeaton conceived his idea of rebuilding the Eddystone Light-house, was from the waist or bolt of a large spreading oak, which, though subject to a very great impulse from the agitation of violent winds, resists them all, partly from its elasticity, and partly from its natural strength, till the gradual decay of the substance diminishes the coherence of the parts. Considering the particular figure of the tree, as connected with its roots, which lie hid below ground, Mr. Smeaton observed, that it rose from the surfase with a large swelling base, which at the height of one diameter is generally reduced by an elegant curve, concave to the eye, to a diameter, less by at least one-third; and sometimes, to half its original base. From thence, its taper diminishing more slowly, its sides, by degrees, come into a perpendicular, and for some height form a cylinder: ater that a preparation of more circumference becomes necessary for the strong insertion and establishment of This building sustained the repeated attacks the principal boughs, which produce a swelof the sea, in all its fury, for upwards ofling of its diameter. Hence may be deduced forty-six years after its completion, but was at length destroyed by fire, August 22d, 1755. The third and present Light-house was erected by the late ingenious Mr. Smeaton. This gentleman was originally a philosophi cal instrument maker, and being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, as a compliment to his talents, was honoured with the steem of the Earl of Macclesfield, then President, who recommended him to Robert Weston, Esq. one of the proprietors of the I ease held under the Trinity House, as a person well qualified to construct a new edifice on the Eddystone Rocks. In doing this, he was naturally induced to reflect on the durability of a building entirely composed of stone. As this scheme involved the expenditure of a much larger sum than might have been appropriated for the purpose, he at once put the question, that, if any improvement could be made in the stability or durability of the structure, whether the proprietors would wish to adopt it; though it should incur a greater expense than the mere reerection of the last building?". To this Mr. Weston, with an emphasis, which at once redomded to the lasting honour both of himself and the other proprietors, replied: That if there was a possibility of rebuilding the Light-house in any better, or more durable manner than it had been, though almost half of the original lease from the

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The next object of consideration with Mr. Smeaton, was the manner in which the blocks of stone, of which he proposed to construct the edifice, could be bonded to the Rock, and to one another, in so firm an order, as that not only the whole together, but every individual piece, when connected with what preceded, should be proof against the greatest violence of the sea; he was induced to think, that if the blocks themselves were, both inside and out, all formed into large dovetails, they might be managed so as mutually to lock one another together, being primarily engrafted into the Rock: and in the round or entire courses, about the top of the Rock, the blocks might all proceed from, and be locked to, one large central stone.

To expedite the building of the Lighthouse, Mr. Smeaton resolved to have all his materials framed, and got re.dy, on shore.

The duties are one penny er ton spon all British ships, outward or homeward bound, on, or from, foreign voyages, one shilling per vessel on coasters; and double these sums on foreign ships, when they come into British ports. The King's ships are all free.

The first stone of the Light-house, with the date of the year inscribed in deep cha racters, was laid on the morning of the twelfth of June, 1757, embedded in mortar, trenailed down, and fixed. The work was now carried on with as much celerity as possible; and by the eleventh of August, the six basement courses, containing 123 pieces of stone, many of them weighing from a ton and a half to two tons and a half, were completely fixed, and the chief difficulties were now considered as surmounted.

When each piece of which the course was to consist was separately wrought, they were all brought to their exact places with respect to each other upon the platform in the workyard, and so marked, that, after being numbered and taken to pieces, they could again be restored to the same relative position. This was done upon the complete circular courses, by drawing lines from the centre to the circumference, passing through the middle of each set of stone; and likewise concentric circles, through the middle of each tier, or circle of stones, so as to indicate to the eye their relative position to each other. In a similar manner the stones of the base courses were marked by lines drawn parallel to the length of the steps, into which the sloping surface of the Rocks had been formed; and others perpendicular to the same. In the waist of each piece of stone two grooves were cut, from the top to the bottom of the course, of an inch in depth, and three inches in width; applicable to those grooves, were driven a number of oak wedges, somewhat less than three inches in breadth, about one inch thick at the head, nearly three-eighths thick at the point, and six inches long.

After a stone was thus fixed, we never, in fact, had an instance of its having been stirred by any action of the sea whatever; but, considering the unmeasured violence thereof, the further security by trenails was

suggested.

These trenails were of oak, one inch and three quarters in diameter, and were driven in a particular manner into the holes made in each pie e of stone. A proper quantity of beat mortar was then liquified; and the joints having been carefully pointed up to the apper surface, the grout so prepared was run in with iron ladles, and was brought to such a consistency as to occupy every void space; any vacancies left by the dry stones absorbing the water, were afterwards re-filled till all remained solid; the top was then pointed; and, when necessary, defended from the action of the sea-water by a coat of plaster.

By similar methods to the above, and taking every additional precaution to insure the stability of the structure, that the utmost attention to its situation and use could sug

gest, the whole was completed in the course of the years 1757, 1758, and 1759, In this period, several violent gales had been experienced, but without damaging any part of the work; and no accident had happened to any one concerned, during the progress of the building, by which the work could be said to be materially retarded. The last stone was set on the twenty-fifth of August, 1759; the height of the main column, containing forty-six courses, was now taken, and found to be seventy feet.

Between the latter end of August, and the middle of October, the lantern and cupola were erected, and the whole edifice surmounted by a gilt ball. The lantern is an octagon, the frame work being composed of case iron and copper. On the night of the sixteenth of October, when the light was exhibited in the new Light-house, a very great storm happened, and the light-keepers observed that they felt a sensible motion in the building; but, from their experience of its strength, they were neither agitated by fear nor surprise. The whole time from the commencement of the fire which destroyed the second Light-house to the re-kindling of the light, was three years, ten months, and sixteen days. The whole time of working pon the rock, during the building of the present Light-house, was one hundred and eleven days, ten hours.

The outside and basement of this edifice is formed of granite; that kind of stone being more durable than any other, and more competent to resist the action of the sea: the interior is chiefly of Portland-stone. Round the upper store room, upon the course of granite under the ceiling, is the following inscription, sunk with the point of a pick :

EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE,
THEY LABOUR IN VAIN THAT BUILD IT.
Psalm CXXVII,

Upon the last stone set up, being that over the door of the lantern on the cast side, are the words,

24th AUGUST, 1759.
LAUS DEO.

For a description of the new Light-house at Flamborough-Head, vide Panorama, Vol. I. P. 835.-Bell Rock Light-house, Vol. II. p. 649.-The Pharos at Alexandria, which was a light-house for the use of mariners, was enumerated among the wonders of the world: yet it was not exposed to storms and other dangers from the ocean at all comparable to those which agitate the waves of the British Channel. Smeaton's Pillar is a more wonderful structure than was that of Ptolemy.

tember, the Portuguese government began to PARTICULARS AND DETAILS OF LATE EVENTS take secret but energetic steps relative to the projected embarkation.

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IN PORTUGALI YA

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#: The following EXCERPTA are taken from a pamphlet lately published under the title of VINDICIE LUSITANE; by Edward James Lingham, Esq. We lay these statements before our readers in full confidence of their authenticity.

The late Sir Charles Stuart, K. B., whose premature loss this country will not easily repair, was often heard to declare, that he saw in the Portuguese army the materials, not raw, but well organized, of one of the most effective armies in Europe for its size. The common men which composed it were hardy, docile, and strongly attached to their commanders; and the officers, as high up as the rank of colonel, well versed in the details of military discipline.

The most remarkable defect was too great an attention to high birth, which occasioned young noblemen to be put over the heads of their superiors in knowledge as well as years.

So strongly was the Portuguese ariny attached to its government, and so steady in its principles of loyalty and patriotism, that after every method of seduction had been resorted | to by Gen. Junot, to induce it to enter in a mass into the service of France, he was foreed, together with the Marquis del Socorro, to issue a proclamation in January last, which virtually disbands the whole aray, regulars as well as militia. What a pity that the numerical strength of those brave men did not correspond to the honourable principles by which they were actuated!

The department of finance in Portugal as well as in almost every country of Europe, was the most complicated and ill executed branch of the public service.

While the war of cabinets was going on between the courts of the Thuilleries and Lisbon, the Portuguese government was trying every effort, and straining every nerve, to equip its fleet with all possible dispatch. These preparations, though carried on with as much secrecy as the case would admit of, did not escape the notice of the French government; the consequence was, fresh threats and more urgent demands from France, and the Prince Regent found himself reduced to the painful alternative, either of abandoning his favourite plan of emigration altogether, or of appearing, at least, to acquiesce in the barbarous proposal of the French government, to detain British subjects and seize British property.

M. de Lima, formerly Envoy from the afterwards filled the same post at that of Court of Portugal to this country, and who France, was dispatched by the latter government to the Prince Regent, to prevent, if possible, his departure to the Brazils. His Excellency, who had the reputation of being the votary of indolence and pleasure, stimulated no doubt by the importance of the mission with which he was entrusted, travelled day and night, and performed the journey from Paris to Lisbon with extraordinary rapidity. He threw himself at the feet of the Regent, conjured him not to take a step which would, at the same time, provoke the utmost wrath of the great Napoleon, and render him the victim of the perfidious coun sels of England, and assured his R. H., that the Emperor of the French had the highest respect for his personal virtues, that against him he had no hostile project, and that he would be amply and finally satisfied, to the exclusion of all further demands, if H. R. H. would but consent to the sequestration of British property, and the imprisonment of the few British subjects still remaining in his dominions!

The French army had already entered Spain, and was advancing towards Portugal with its accustomed celerity, when the impatience and anxiety of its master, dreading lest his prey should escape, made him issue orders that they should double, and, if possible, even treble their marches; adding, as a stimulus to their increased activity, that an extra allowance of two rials (Spanish) a day should be paid to those soldiers who most distinguished themselves by their contempt of fatigue, and zealous execution of his orders. Such extraordinary efforts well deserved to be crowned with success; and the troops, after one of the most laborious and exhausting marches ever performed even by the revolutionary French armies, arrived just time enough to witness the full accomplishment of what they had been ordered to prevent. So thought Monsieur Hermann, who in a moment of chagrin was heard to exclaim: "Nous avons manqué notre affaire," and so thought the French officers, who, unused to the melting mood," could not help expressing sentiments of pity for the wretched men, who, unable to keep up with the rapid progress of the main body, had been left behind, exposed to the vengeance of an infuriated peasantry.

albeit

Robbery and plunder generally accompany The first proposition, hostile to the inter most armies, but with French armies the ests of Great Britain, from France to Portn-point of precedence is settled in a different gal, was made on the 12th of August. An way, by the new regulations of revolutionary answer was given; and, on the 2d of Sep- etiquette. A French army, when anopposed,

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