It is not pleasure's flowery path alone that can bestow OMICRON. NORWICH MECHANICS' INSTITUTION. ON the 3rd and 17th ult. the Rev. R. F. Elwin favoured this institution with two successive lectures, being the commencement of a course on Mechanics. His first lecture embraced the "nature and properties of matter," which he illustrated in the most intelligible manner. He defined matter to be a substance, the object of our senses, always comprising the seven following properties, (namely) extension, figure, solidity, mobility, divisibility, gravity, and inactivity. He then proceeded to enlarge upon these properties, showing that extension (or size) consists of three dimensions, length, breadth, and thickness, or bulk—that figure (or shape) forms the boundary of extension-that the property of solidity, by which any portion of matter excludes another from the same space, is equally applicable to air and other fluids, as to what are commonly called solids-and that mobility, or the power of being moved, applies to objects of any size whatever. He next illustrated the infinite divisibility of matter, by the subdivision of gross masses into impalpable powders, their solution in liquids and gases, the wonderful discoveries of the microscope, and Dr. Wood's ingenious demonstration-also the property of gravity, whereby each particle of matter is attracted to its fellow, which attraction diminishes in proportion to their relative distance, yet extends to all parts of the universe, and is especially visible in our solar system; thus, the same principle which causes the cohesion of particles in actual contact with each other, causes also the attraction of bodies near the earth's surface to its centre, and the revolution of the planetary orbs round their centre, the force of gravity being in the latter case balanced by the centrifugal force generated by the rotatory motion of the Lastly, the lecturer laid particular stress on the property of inactivity, or vis inertia, whereby all matter resists any change from a state of rest to that of motion, and vice versâ; and ex sun. posed the fallacy of the very common expression, that the force by which a body is put in motion is spent, when in truth it is only overcome by antagonist forces, as that of gravity, friction, and the resistance of the air. In his second lecture, Mr. Elwin shortly recapitulated the foregoing definitions and illustrations; after which he proceeded to treat upon the "laws of motion." Motion, i. e. the act of a body changing its place, he described to be either absolute or relative; also to be either uniform, accelerated, or retarded. Velocity is the degree of swiftness or slowness, measured by the space through which a body uniformly moves in a given time, as one second, which is the ordinary measure of velocities. Momentum is the quantity of motion, and is measured by the quantity of matter combined with its velocity. Force is whatever changes, or tends to change, the state of rest into a state of motion, or to accelerate, retard, or change the direction of such motion; and is generated by impact (or a blow,) by gravity, or by pressure, which latter may be impulsive or constant, uniform or variable. Gravity always acts with equal force in the same latitudes, but is considerably less near the equator than in the polar regions, in consequence of the centrifugal force generated by the earth's motion on its axis; thus the force of gravity and the form of the earth have been accurately determined by the degrees of velocity at which the pendulum oscillates at different latitudes of the earth. The lecturer then proceeded to illustrate the first law of motion, (viz.) that "if a body be at rest, it will continue at rest, or if in motion will continue to move uniformly in the same direction, if not acted upon by an external force;" 1st, by a ball or other body projected in the air, which will always fly farthest when projected at an angle of 45 degrees (i.e. half way between the parallel and perpendicular to the horizon,) and is then only brought to the ground by the force of gravity and the resistance of the air, which cause it to describe a uniform curve; 2ndly, by a ball bowled along a rough pavement, which is impeded in, or diverted from its course by numerous obstacles; along a bowling green, where considerable friction must be encountered, or along a smooth surface of ice, where little more than the resistance of the air opposes its progress; 3rdly, by a wheel with fric tion rollers, which when set in motion under the receiver of an airpump, will so continue for a very long period of time. At this point Mr. Elwin concluded his present lecture, promising to continue the course on the next lecture evening, for which the audience expressed their respectful thanks. On the 24th ult. Mr. Robert Miller, Jun. delivered a most interesting lecture on Electricity, to a very numerous audience, which however had the unfortunate effect of so damping his valuable apparatus, as to cause the partial failure of many of his most beautiful experiments. On Thursday, the 5th ult. a debate was held on the following subject-"Are there any reasons for believing in spectral appearances?" Mr. Innes, Junr. opener-He stated it as his opinion, that although the majority of the current tales of ghost and goblins, are but the offspring of imagination or may be attributed to other natural causes, still we are warranted in believing that on certain occasions the spirits of the dead may be seen to "walk the earth by night," to hold converse with mankind—In this view he was supported by Messrs. Wiseman, and Barker, and opposed by Miss Jarvis, Messrs Newbegin, Wilson, Gaze, J. Kitton, Moonghee, and J. and F. Pigg. On the 12th the question under consideration was-"Who is the best man the world has ever produced, excluding those characters developed in sacred history?" Mr. Harrison, the opener, claimed that distinguished appellation for John Howard, the philanthropist. The following names were also mentioned as entitled to rank first in our estimation. Watt, the steam engine improver, Alfred the Great, John Elliott, the North American Evangelist, and Wm. Penn; but the palm of victory laid between Howard and the Saxon hero. On the 19th Mr. J. C. Burrage introduced the following question "What is a gentleman?" In his essay he maintained that wealth and rank were not essential to constitute that character, but that any individual in whom were united ease and elegance of manners, and a virtuous heart might with propriety be termed a "gentleman." In this he was opposed by some of the speakers, who affirmed that virtue and morality were not necessary to form the gentleman, but that it was a conventional term signifying, according to its general acceptation, a man of property and refined manners. We had prepared a more lengthened notice of these debates, but our limits have compelled us to abridge it. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, Norwich, January, 1835. Time of observation between 9 and 10 A.M.- -Thermometer in the shade, hanging on a north wall.-Rain gauge not more than three feet from the ground. PRINTED BY J. FLETCHER, UPPER HAYMARKET, NORWICH. It is said that the French have not, in the whole range of their language, an equivalent to the English word comfort. Whether or not this arises from the absence of the reality, I will not venture to determine. Perhaps our volatile and light-hearted neighbours adapting themselves with a happy facility to times and circumstances, never know what it is to be uncomfortable, and therefore have not invented a term significant of a state of feeling as common to them as their existence. Be this as it may, John Bull must have his comforts. Wheresoever he may be, he will assemble round him, at least for a season, all the agreeables, and banish from his presence, from his hearing, and his sight, every thing calculated to interfere with his quiet. "I am monarch of all I survey," is his favourite sentiment; and if his kingship be interrupted, he considers it his undoubted and constitutional privilege to grumble; for in the absence of all other comforts, John feels it a comfort to grumble. All alike, high and low, rich and poor, claim peculiar comforts; and however diversified and anomalous the various enjoyments they severally thus denominate, the word is so comprehensive and convenient, that it suits every imaginable case; and, in its multifarious applications, misapprehension is rarely the consequence of its use. Nothing exceeds (thinks John) the temporary comfort of a well regulated country inn. The very sign of the Blue Boar, the Red Lion, or the Black Swan, is to the weary traveller, a comfortable sight; and rosinante as sagacious as his master, in matters of this kind, pricks up his ears, and quickens his pace, when through the dim mist of a wintry day, he discovers in the |