KNOWLEDGE
FOR THE TIME:

A Manual

OF

READING, REFERENCE, AND CONVERSATION ON SUBJECTS OF LIVING INTEREST, USEFUL CURIOSITY, AND AMUSING RESEARCH:

HISTORICO-POLITICAL INFORMATION.
PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION.
DIGNITIES AND DISTINCTIONS.
CHANGES IN LAWS.
MEASURE AND VALUE.
PROGRESS OF SCIENCE.
LIFE AND HEALTH.
RELIGIOUS THOUGHT.

Illustrated from the best and latest Authorities.

By JOHN TIMBS, F.S.A.

AUTHOR OF CURIOSITIES OF LONDON, THINGS NOT GENERALLY KNOWN, ETC.

LONDON:

Lockwood and Co., 7 Stationers’-hall Court.

MDCCCLXIV.

TO THE READER.

It is, however, with the view of correcting the Past by the light of the Present, and directing attention to many salient points of Knowledge for the Time, that the present volume is offered to the public. Its aim may be considered great in proportion to the limited means employed; but, to extend what is, in homely phrase, termed a right understanding, the contents of the volume are of a mixed character, the Author having due respect for the emphatic words of Dr. Arnold: “Preserve proportion in your reading, keep your views of Men and Things extensive, and depend upon it a mixed knowledge is not a superficial one: as far as it goes, the views that it gives are true; but he who reads deeply in one class of writers only, gets views which are almost sure to be perverted, and which are not only narrow but false.”

Throughout the Work, the Author has endeavoured to avail himself of the most reliable views of leading writers on Events of the Day; and by seizing new points of Knowledge and sources of Information, to present, in a classified form, such an assemblage of Facts and Opinions as may be impressed with warmth and quickness upon the memory, and assist in the formation of a good general judgment, or direct still further a-field.

In this Manual of abstracts, abridgments, and summaries—considerably over Three Hundred in number—illustrations by way of Anecdote occur in every page. Wordiness has been avoided as unfitted for a book which has for its object not the waste but the economy of time and thought, and the diffusion of concise notions upon subjects of living Interest, useful Curiosity, and amusing Research.

The accompanying Table of Contents will, at a single glance, show the variety as well as the practical character of the subjects illustrated; the aim being to render the work alike serviceable to the reader of a journal of the day, as well as to the student who reads to “reject what is no longer essential.” The Author has endeavoured to keep pace with the progress of Information; and in the selection of new accessions, some have been inserted more to stimulate curiosity and promote investigation than as things to be taken for granted. The best and latest Authorities have been consulted, and the improved journalism of our time has been made available; for, “when a river of gold is running by your door, why not put out your hat, and take a dip?”[1]

The Author has already published several volumes of “Things not generally Known,” which he is anxious to supplement with the present Manual of Knowledge for the Time.

THE FRONTISPIECE.

Captain Coles contributed to the International Exhibition models of his ship; admitting (he states) from 7 to 8 degrees depression. In two this is obtained by the deck on each side of the turret sloping at the necessary angle, to admit of the required depression; in the other two it is obtained by the centre of the deck on which the turret is surmounted being raised sufficiently to enable the shot, when the gun is depressed, to pass clear of the outer edge of the deck. A drawing published in 1860, of the midship section from which these models were made, also gives a section of the Warrior, by which it will be seen that supposing the guns of each to be 10 feet out of water, and to have the usual depressions of guns in the Navy (7 degrees), the Warrior’s guns on the broadside will throw the shot 19 feet further from the side than the shield ship with her guns placed in the centre, that being the distance of the latter from the edge of the ship: thus, with the same depression, the shield ship will have a greater advantage, this being an important merit of the invention, which Captain Coles has already applied to the Royal Sovereign. The construction of these turrets, the guns, and the turn-tables on which they are placed, with the machinery to work them, is very interesting; but its details would occupy more space than is at our command. (See Times, Sept. 8, 1863.)

Captain Coles, in a communication to the Times, dated November 4, 1863, thus urges the application of the turret to sea-going vessels, and quotes the opinion of the present Contractor of the Navy on the advantages his (Captain Coles’) system must have over the old one, in strength, height out of water, and stability, and consequent adaptation for sea-going ships. The Captain states:

“I believe I have already shown that on my system of a revolving turret, a heavier broadside can be thrown than from ships armed on the broadside; but it possesses this further advantage, that my turrets can be adapted to the heaviest description of ordnance; indeed, no other plan has yet been put in practice, while it is impossible to adapt the broadside ships to them, without the enlargement of the ports, which would destructively weaken the ships, and leave the guns’ crew exposed to rifles, grape-shot or shells.” Captain Coles then quotes the armaments of the Prince Albert (now constructing at Millwall,) and the Warrior, and shows that although the broadside of the Prince Albert is nominally reduced to 1120 lbs. (still in excess of the Warrior’s if compared with tonnage); it still gives this great advantage, that whereas late experiments have demonstrated that 4½-inch plates can be made to resist 68-pounder and 110-pounder shot, they have also shown that the 300-pounder smashes them when formed into a “Warrior target” with the greatest ease. The Prince Albert, therefore, can smash the Warrior, though the Warrior carries no gun that can injure her; nor can she, as a broadside ship, be altered to carry heavier guns.

The Engraving represents Captain Coles’s Ship cleared for action, and the bulwarks down.

CONTENTS.

I.—Historico-Political Information, 1-56:

Politics not yet a Science, —The Philosopher and the Historian, 1. —Whig and Tory Ministries, 2. —Protectionists, —Rats, and Ratting, —The Heir to the British Throne always in Opposition, 4. —Legitimacy and Government, —“The Fourth Estate,” 5. —Writing for the Press, —Shorthand Writers, 7. —The Worth of Popular Opinion, 8. —Machiavelism, —Free-speaking, 9. —Speakers of the Houses of Parliament, 10. —The National Conscience, 11. —“The Nation of Shopkeepers,” 12. —Results of Revolutions, 13. —Worth of a Republic, —“Safe Men,” 14. —Church Preferment, —Peace Statesmanship, —The Burial of Sir John Moore, 15. —The Ancestors of Washington, 16. —The “Star-spangled Banner,” —Ancestry of President Adams, 18. —The Irish Union, 19. —The House of Bonaparte, 20. —Invasion of England projected by Napoleon I., 21. —Fate of the Duc d’Enghien, 24. —Last Moments of Mr. Pitt, 25. —What drove George III. mad, 27. —Predictions of the Downfal of Napoleon I., 29. —Wellington predicts the Peninsular Compaign, 30. —The Battle of Waterloo, 31. —Wellington’s Defence of the Waterloo Campaign, 32. —Lord Castlereagh at the Congress of Vienna, 33. —The Cato-street Conspiracy, 34. —Money Panic of 1832, 36. —A great Sufferer by Revolutions, —Origin of the Anti-Corn-Law League, 37. —Wellington’s Military Administration, 38. —Gustavus III. of Sweden, 39. —Fall of Louis Philippe, 40. —The Chartists in 1848, 41. —Revival of the French Emperorship, 43. —French Coup d’Etat Predictions, —Statesmanship of Lord Melbourne, 44. —Ungraceful Observance, 45. —The Partition of Poland, 46. —The Invasion of England, 47. —What a Militia can do, 48. —Whiteboys, 49. —Naval Heroes, —How Russia is bound to Germany, 50. —Count Cavour’s Estimate of Napoleon III., 51. —The Mutiny at the Nore, 52. —Catholic Emancipation and Sir Robert Peel, —The House of Coburg, 53. —A few Years of the World’s Changes, 55. —Noteworthy Pensions, 56.

II.—Progress of Civilization, 57-84:

How the Earth was peopled, 57. —Revelations of Geology, 58. —The Stone Age, 59. —What are Celtes? 60. —Roman Civilization of Britain, 61. —Roman Roads and British Railways, 62. —Domestic Life of the Saxons, 64. —Love of Freedom, 65. —The Despot deceived, —True Source of Civilization, 66. —The Lowest Civilization, —Why do we shake Hands? 67. —Various Modes of Salutation, 68. —What is Comfort? 69. —What is Luxury? —What do we know of Life? 70. —The truest Patriot the greatest Hero, —The old Philosophers, 71. —Glory of the Past, 72. —Wild Oats, —How Shyness spoils Enjoyment, 73. —“Custom, the Queen of the World,” 74. —Ancient Guilds and Modern Benefit Clubs, —The Oxford Man and the Cambridge Man, 75. —“Great Events from Little Causes spring,” 76. —Great Britain on the Map of the World, 80. —Ancient and Modern London, —Potatoes the national food of the Irish, 81. —Irish-speaking Population, —Our Colonial Empire, 82. —The English People, 84.

III.—Dignities and Distinctions, 85-102:

Worth of Heraldry, 85. —Heralds’ College, 86. —The Shamrock, —Irish Titles of Honour, 87. —The Scotch Thistle, 88. —King and Queen, 89. —Title of Majesty, and the Royal “We,” 90. —“Dieu et Mon Droit,” —Plume and Motto of the Prince of Wales, 91. —Victoria, 92. —English Crowns, —The Imperial State Crown, 93. —Queen’s Messengers, —Presents and Letters to the Queen, 95. —The Prince of Waterloo, —The See of London, 96. —Expense of Baronetcy and Knighthood, 97. —The Aristocracy, 98. —Precedence in Parliament, —Sale of Seats in Parliament, —Placemen in Parliament, 99. —New Peers, —The Russells, —Political Cunning, 100. —The Union-Jack, —Field-Marshal, 101. —Change of Surname, 102.

IV.—Changes in Laws, 104-144:

The Statute Law and the Common Law, 104. —Curiosities of the Statute Law, 105. —Secret of Success at the Bar, —Queen’s Serjeants, Queen’s Counsel, and Serjeants-at-Law, 107. —Do not make your Son an Attorney, —Appellate Jurisdiction of the House of Lords, 108. —Payment of an advocate, —Utter-Barristers, 109. —What was Special Pleading? —What is Evidence? 110. —What is Trial? —Trial by Jury, 111. —Attendance of Jurors, —The Law of Libel, 113. —Induction of a Rector, 115. —Benefit of Clergy, —The King’s Book, 116. —Compulsory Attendance at Church, 117. —The Mark of the Cross, —Marriage-Law of England, 118. —Marriage Fines, 119. —Irregular Marriages, 120. —Solemnization of Marriage, 123. —The Law of Copyright, 124. —Holding over after Lease, —Abolition of the Hop Duty, 125. —Customs of Gavelkind, —Treasure Trove, 126. —Principal and Agent, —Legal Hints, 129. —Vitiating a Sale, 130. —Law of Gardens, —Giving a Servant a Character, 131. —Deodands, 132. —Arrest of the Body after Death, —The Duty of making a Will, 133. —Don’t make your own Will, 134. —Bridewell, 135. —Cockfighting, 136. —Ignorance and Irresponsibility, —Ticket-of-Leave Men, 137. —Cupar and Jedburgh Justice, —What is to be done with our Convicts, 138. —The Game Laws, —The Pillory, 139. —Death-Warrants, —Pardons, 140. —Origin of the Judge’s Black Cap, —The Last English Gibbet, 141. —Public Executions, 142.

V.—Measure and Value, 146-169:

Numbers descriptive of Distance, —Precocious Mental Calculation, 146. —The Roman Foot, 147. —The Peruvian Quipus, 148. —Distances measured, —Uniformity of Weights and Measures, 149. —Trinity High-water Mark, —Origin of Rent, 150. —Curiosities of the Exchequer, 151. —What becomes of the Public Revenue, 153. —Queen Anne’s Bounty, 154. —Ecclesiastical Fees, —Burying Gold and Silver, 155. —Results of Gold-seeking, 157. —What becomes of the Precious Metals? 158. —Tribute-money, 159. —The First Lottery, —Coinage of a Sovereign, 160. —Wear and Tear of the Coinage, —Counterfeit Coin, 161. —Standard Gold, —Interest of Money, 162. —Interest of Money in India, —Origin of Insurance, 163. —Stockbrokers, 164. —Tampering with Public Credit, —Over-speculation, 165. —Value of Horses, —Friendly Societies, 166. —Wages heightened by Improvement in Machinery, 167. —Giving Employment, —Never sign an Accommodation Bill, 168. —A Year’s Wills, 169.

VI.—Progress of Science, 171-232:

What human Science has accomplished, —Changes in Social Science, 171. —Discoverers not Inventors, 172. —Science of Roger Bacon, 173. —The One Science, 174. —Sun-force, 175. —“The Seeds of Invention,” 176. —The Object of Patents, —Theory and Practice, —Watt and Telford, 177. —Practical Science, —Mechanical Arts, 178. —Force of Running Water, —Correlation of Physical Forces, —Oil on Waves, 180. —Spontaneous Generation, —Guano, —What is Perspective? 181. —The Stereoscope, —Burning Lenses, 182. —How to wear Spectacles, —Vicissitudes of Mining, 183. —Uses of Mineralogy, 185. —Our Coal Resources, —The Deepest Mine, 186. —Iron as a Building Material, 189. —Concrete, not new, —Sheathing Ships with Copper, 190. —Copper Smelting, —Antiquity of Brass, —Brilliancy of the Diamond, 191. —Philosophy of Gunpowder, —New Pear-flavouring, 192. —Methylated Spirit, 193. —What is Phosphate of Lime? —What is Wood? —How long will Wood last? 194. —The Safety Match, 195. —Pottery, —Wedgwood, 196. —Imposing Mechanical Effects, 197 —Horse-power, —The First Practical Steam-boat, 198. —Effect of Heavy Seas upon Large Vessels, 199. —The Railway, —Accidents on Railways, 200. —Railways and Invasions, 202. —What the English owe to naturalized Foreigners, 203. —Geological Growth, 204. —The Earth and Man compared, —Why the Earth is presumed to be Solid, —“Implements in the Drift,” 205. —The Centre of the Earth, 206. —The Cooling of the Earth, 207. —Identity of Heat and Motion, 208 —Universal Source of Heat, 209. —Inequalities of the Earth’s Surface, 210. —Chemistry of the Sea, 212. —The Sea: its Perils, 213. —Limitations of Astronomy, 214. —Distance of the Earth from the Sun, 215. —Blue Colour of the Sky, 216. —Beauty of the Sky, 217. —High Temperatures in Balloon Ascents, —Value of Meteorological Observations, Telegraph, and Forecasts, 218. —Weather Signs, 220. —Barometer for Farmers, 222. —Icebergs and the Weather, 223. —St. Swithun: his true History, 224. —Rainfall in London, 225. —The Force of Lightning, 226. —Effect of Moonlight, —Contemporary Inventions and Discoveries, 227. —The Bayonet, 228. —Loot, —Telegram, —Archæology and Manufactures, 229. —Good Art should be Cheap, 230. —Imitative Jewellery, 231. —French Enamel, 232.

VII.—Life and Health, 233-266:

Periods and Conditions of Life, —Age of the People, 233. —The Human Heart, —The Sense of Hearing, 234. —Care of the Teeth, —On Blindness, 235. —Sleeping and Dreaming, 236. —Position in Sleeping, —Hair suddenly changing Colour, 237. —Consumption not hopeless, 238. —Change of Climate, —Perfumes, 239. —Cure for Yellow Fever, —Nature’s Ventilation, 240. —Artificial Ventilation, —Worth of Fresh Air, 241. —Town and Country, 243. —Recreations of the People, —The Druids and their Healing Art, 244. —Remedies for Cancer, 245. —Improved Surgery, —Restoration of a Fractured Leg, 246. —The Original “Dr. Sangrado,” —False Arts advancing true, 247. —Brief History of Medicine, 248. —What has Science done for Medicine? 249. —Element of Physic in Medical Practice, 250. —Physicians’ Fees, —Prevention of Pitting in Small-pox, 251. —Underneath the Skin, 252. —Relations of Mind and Organization, 253. —Deville, the Phrenologist, 254. —“Seeing is believing,” 255. —Causes of Insanity, 256. —Brain-Disease, 257. —The Half-mad, 258. —Motives for Suicide, —Remedy for Poisoning, 259. —New Remedy for Wounds, —Compensation for Wounds, —The Best Physician, 260. —The Uncertainty of Human Life, 262.

VIII.—Religious Thought, 266-286:

Moveable Feasts, —Christmas, 266. —Doubt about Religion, 267. —Our Age of Doubt, 270. —A Hint to Sceptics, —What is Egyptology? 271. —Jerusalem and Nimroud, 272. —What is Rationalism? 273. —What is Theology? 274. —Religious Forebodings, 275. —Folly of Atheism, —The First Congregational Church in England, 276. —Innate Ideas, and Pre-existence of Souls, 277. —Sabbath of Professional Men, 278. —“In the Beginning,” 279. —The last Religious Martyrs in England, —Liberty of Conscience, 281. —Awful Judgments, —Christian Education, —The Book of Psalms, 283. —The Book of Job, 285.

Appendix.

KNOWLEDGE FOR THE TIME.