DEAR BROTHER,-I was no less delighted than surprised, on reading your very able letter in last Melange-delighted brother, that we should, in our poor dear neighbourhood, be honoured with a soul capable of writing such excellent imitations of Byron, and of criticising, with so much ease and indifference, the productions of a man to whom the greatest and wisest of the nation look up as the ne plus ultra of English poetry. I was inorcover astonished, brother, that this same person, who is capable of forming such exquisite ideas, should be so foolish as look down with so much contempt on poor Byron, merely because he is himself capable of rhyming so delightfully. As a very particular favour, I would, for myself and brethren's sake,' request he would, before taking up Moore, with whom I, and my foresaid brethren, are not so well acquainted, give us some few imitations of the beautics of Byron-yes, brother, beauties, for both you? and he must admit that Byron's works contain much that is beautiful, If he succeeds, as well with the beauties, as he has done with the defects, he may make as much noise in the world, as ever the Inchbelly road toll business did in our quarter. Should he ever get the length of publishing his productions, I, and my foresaid brethren, will readily become subscribers, even although the expense should oblige us to live on Muslin Kail for a month after. Wishing you and he much success in your next attempt, which I trust will be soon, I am, Dear Brother, Your sincere well-wisher, A DRYGATE WEAVAR." SCIENTIFIC. MATHEMATICAL PRIZE QUESTION. The following was proposed by the class of mathematics of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Prussia : To give a complete mathematical theory of the luminous or coloured circles which form around the Sun and Moon and such an one as will equally agree with the results of observations, and with the known properties of light and the atmosphere.' The possible influence of the inflection and polarization of light is to be considered. Memoirs must be sent in before the end of March, 1824. The prize is 50 ducats, IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC CASTING. Iron and metallic casts are said to be very much improved by subjecting the metal, when in the moulds, to pressure. This is done by making a part of the mould of such a form as to receive a piston, which, on the metal being introduced, is made to press on it with any required force. It is stated, that castings obtained in this way are not only fice from the common inperfections, but have a peculiar soundness of surface, and closeness of texture; qualities of the utmost importance in ordnance, flatting cylinders, &c. The improvement belongs to Mr. Hollingrake, who obtained a patent for it. TREAD-WHEEL APPLIED TO CANAL NAVIGATION. The object is to obviate the necessity of employing horses in drawing barges. on canals. The apparatus is made light, and separable from the barge; two men can propel a barge by it at the rate of five miles an hour. The saving in the expense of horses and towing-paths promises to make this an important, application of human power. M. Van Heythuysen is the person who has adopted this apparatus. 1 DAMP WALLS. The following method is recommended to prevent the effect of damp walls on paper in rooms-Line the damp part of the wall with sheet lead, rolled very thin, and fastened up with small copper nails. It may be immediately covered with paper. The lead is not to be thicker than that which lines tea chests. Query. Will damp walls, treated in this way, ever get dry? CRITIQUE-CIRCUS-ROBERT BRUCE-TREAD MILL SIRAs you were good enough, on some former occasions, to insert some of our loose remarks on the performances at the Circus, we have taken the liberty of sending you a few on the Melo-drama of Robert Bruce,' and the piece called the Tread Mill.' To give the Melo-drama unqualified praise (would be impossible, as the language is not fine, nor the plot regular, to speak Din a certain manner. It lacks dramatic unity, but it abounds with interesting situations, and affords great scope for the exercise of an actor's ability. Damnley, as Bruce, never appeared to greater advantage; his athletic figure corresponded with our ideas of the hero who gave liberty to the land of our sires. We said, on a former occasion, that he looked more like a Hercules than an Apollo,' and his figure in the Highland garb is certainly much more Gothic than Corinthian. The best character in the piece is that of the traitor Cumin, if justice had been done it, it would have been very interesting. It is entirely out of the line of Phillips; and did we say that he played it well, he would laugh at us for the compliment. Walter Ross, (Makeen) is another good character, well calculated to excite interest; but we think it was much overdone, outstripping nature far. In some places he is forced in, as it were, to fill up a vacuum; and there is far too much pantomimic display, which, on one or two occasions, cannot be relished. The rest of the male characters were performed en ordinare, and passed without creating much applause or disapprobation. Mrs. Makeen, as Alexandria, performed in her usual man ner. We would advise her, however, to pay a little more attention to the author, as we marked some very ungrammatical expressions. In disguise as the son of the Red Riever, she looked uncommonly well. Her dress was remarkably suitable and splendid. The Scenery is very beautiful; the Mill, by moonlight, was very effective; the conflagration, grand and appalling; the sea storm was also fine; this, in our opinion, is the most interesting scene in the piece, and was pretty well kept up till the close. We are sorry that we have had no opportunity of seeing Miss Enscoe in a character of any importance. We heard her sing in the extravaganza of the Bears; her voice is weak, but very sweet and plaintive. She also dances well, if not so well as Miss Newcombe, at least, with much more modesty and simplicity. Whatever be the reason of her being kept so much in the back ground is best known to the manager. From the opinion we have formed of some of the other actresses, we think she is overlooked. The piece called the Tread Mill,' is a severe satire on the gaming estab lishments in London; a kind of sequel to Tom and Jerry.' We are first introduced to the company of modern Turks or Nabmen, who are busily employed in consulting on the means of procuring an entrance to one of the gambling haunts. We are next introduced to Volatile, Sapskull, and another on the street at night, before the door of a celebrated temple of mischance. A kind of Masonic caution is used before they are allowed to enter. They are dogged by the Nabmen, who effect their entrance, sans ceremonie, by the assistance of a ladder, through a window. In the next scene, we see the votaries of fortune at work. Sapskull losing at every attempt, till all his money is gone. He is asked if he has any valuables about him. His watch, as a dernier resort, is sported. Set up by auction, and knocked down at a third of its real value. Sapskull sinks this also; loses just as the Nabmen make an imprudent entre into the gaming room. A scene of confusion ensues -Volatile hides below a table-Sapskull goes up a chimney-the rest are nabbed, and taken off by the officers. The next scene is the street-Volatile and Sapskull meet the latter in a sweet pickle with sooty honours his clothes torn, and half-frantic with his situation-Volatile consoles him, by promising to take him to see the tread mill at Brixton. Thither they go, and are introduced to this famous machine for improving morality, while the prisoners are at work. No skulking is possible here, or the shins must suffer. It is rare work indeed for humbling turbulent minds. The dull uniformity must be very galling to those who have been accustomed to live a busy life; but whether it is calculated to improve the vicious, we will not venture to assert. It must have cost a very large sum. We heard Mr. K. say to a gentleman in the lobby, that the model cost him five pounds. We will conclude our remarks, by giving a copy of a song sung by the prisoners while at work. We were favoured with this by a gentleman who procured it in London, as sung at one of the theatres there. TUNE-We're a' Noddin'. CHORUS. We're all treading, tread, tread, treading, SOLOS, BY A LOW THIEF.. I've got into good company, though much against my will; For we're all equal, equal, cqual, equal; BY A SWELL. The devil take the chance, that has brought me to this level ; For we're all fretting, fret, fret, freting; We're all fretting at this confounded mill. BY A BLACKLEG. Thus the world to the end of the chapter is improving; BY A HIGHWAYMAN. How hard is my fate, I that used to command, For we're all moving, moving, moving, moving; BY A FRENCHMAN. Sucrez mille tonnere, dis is von new kind of dance, 'Tis de ver diable dis confounded mill. OMNES. Were we once more but free from this peril and pain, For we've all caught it, caught it, caught it, caught it; Amicus must re-write his first page. Aliquispiam is received. N. and Publius Mercator are too long. winded. Nicholas Numskull has a very appropriate designation. If Philacterous will permit us to take out his two episodes we will give him a place. To Harmonicus we say, though music be the food of lave we will not sing on. As one good turn deserves another we put Tunotby Touchem's MS. in the fire. Mary as soon as we can, also Nector, The Greenwood, and Tittle Tattle. We hope the good-natured Philo will not lose his temper by our saying, that he is a Bore. Essay on nonsense is received have not made Phrenology our study, Bumpus will excuse us. We cannot insert B. He will find his papers at the office. If X Y. S. will send to the office he will find a letter for him. As we The 1st, 2d, 3d, 5th, and 7th Articles, as also the Poetry, of the present Number are Original. 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