that through the ever-changing aspect of tidal action, and atmospheric influence, each year producing some singular discrepancies, a constant mean exists, from which the annual variation will probably prove eventually to be almost inappreciable.

Our records extend, in the three years under discussion, to the number of tides, as follows-in 1854, 663; in 1855, 678; in 1856 to 651 tides. An annual course complete would comprise about 706 tides. Taking, then, the records of these tides, and the level of the Old Dock Sill for a point of comparison, we obtain the following means

From the above, the mean level for ordinary spring tides, for the three years, is respectively, 5.187 feet, 5.097 feet, and 5.169 feet; and for neap tides, 5.152 feet, 5.945 feet, and 5.163 feet above the Old Dock Sill; giving as the mean of means 5.135.

The highest tidal level attained in each year occurred

in 1854-29th January, at 11-45 a.m., wind from W., and strong gale, 21 feet above O.D.S.;

in 1855-25th October, at 11-30 p.m., wind from W., and strong gale, 21 feet 9 inches;

in 1856-16th October, at 0-15 a.m., wind from W.N.W., and strong gale, 22 feet 11 inches;

and the lowest tidal level below the standard occurred

in 1854-8th Sept., at 6-45 a.m., wind Easterly and light, 10 ft. 8 in. in 1855-20th Jan., at 7-45 p.m., wind do. moderate, 10 ft. 8 in. in 1856-8th March, at 7-45 p.m., wind N.N.W. and light, 11 ft. 11 in. giving the extreme range for each year—

It will be observed that the highest tides by no means denote the greatest range of tide, since it appears as if on those occasions the extraordinary rise were due to a general elevation, from atmospheric or other causes, of the sea level over which the tidal wave traverses; thus the greatest range of a tidal wave occurred in each year as follows—

In 1854, on the 28th of February, 30 feet 7 inches from low to high water of the same tide, the high water at 0-15 a.m. attaining the level of only 20 feet 2 inches above O.D.S.

In 1855, on the 25th of October, the range was 29 feet from low to high water of the same tide, the high water at 11 a.m. 19 feet 10 inches above O.D.S., this being the tide preceding that which in the evening of the same day attained the highest level of the year; but the general elevation of the sea level having prevented the ensuing low water from receding to its previous level, the p.m. tide, though rising nearly two feet higher, did not attain the range of the morning tide.

In 1856, on the 6th of April, the range was 32 feet 5 inches from low to high water of the same tide, the high water at 0-10 p.m. 22 feet 5 inches above O.D.S.

The lowest high water levels in each year were-

in 1854, on 15th October, at 5-30 a.m., 9 feet 3 inches above O.D.S.

in 1855, on 25th April, at 6-30 p.m., 10

1

6 99

in 1856, on 15th March, at 6-15 a.m., 9 and the least range of the tidal wave was in 1854, on 15th October, coinciding, in this instance, with the lowest high water level, from high to low water, 7 feet 9 inches; in 1855, on the 27th March, from low to high water at 7-15 p.m., 8 feet 8 inches; and in 1856, on the 8th October, at 5 a.m., from high to low water, 10 feet 2 inches.

In conclusion, it may be useful to see how far the registered results coincide with the calculated and predicted heights of tides, taking for this purpose those tides when high water occurs between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., being those to which the calculation of Holden's Tables refer.

We have the actual height in excess of predicted height, in 1854, on 231 occasions; in 1855, on 244; and in 1856, on 264.

The height has been less than predicted, in 1854, on 112 occasions; in 1855, on 95; and in 1856, on 64.

And the actual and predicted heights have agreed, in 1854, on 22 occasions; in 1855, on 15; and in 1856, on 11.

The greatest differences between the registered and predicted heights occurred as follows:

HEIGHT IN EXCESS OF PREDICTION.

Feb. 17th, 1854-2 feet 8 inches, wind W.N.W. strong gale.

HEIGHT LESS THAN PREDICTED.

April 1st, 1854-2 feet 6 inches, wind S.W. moderate.

THE CHARACTERS OF MACBETH AND RICHARD THE THIRD, ACCORDING TO SHAKSPEARE, COMPARED.

By James Stonehouse, Esq.

(READ 21ST MAY, 1857.)

It is curious to observe, in analysing the persona of Shakspeare's works, how skilfully he has moulded them into shape, and how remarkably he maintains, throughout each play, their respective individuality. In examining the characters of Macbeth and Richard III., we find this to be most strongly exemplified. He places before us two men achieving the goal of their desires by treachery, violence, and fraud, standing as it were on the very hill-top of crime; with dispositions singularly opposite, yet succeeding alike, and dying alike, sword in hand, in the moment of defeat. They are both soldiers, statesmen, and of royal blood. Richard, the incarnation of wrong doing, is bold, crafty, and unscrupulous. Macbeth is the personification of vacillancy, fear, and boastfulness. Richard is innately wicked, while Macbeth cannot be said to be naturally so. One perpetrates acts of violence, impelled by daring and dauntless ambition, while the other is dragged, or rather drifted into crime, by temptation too potent for a weak and pliant mind to withstand. Here we have two men striving for power, pursuing the same ensanguined path, strewing it with acts of perfidy and violence. Both put aside all that stand between them and the glittering goal of their culpable designs,

"A crown, that bright reward of ever daring minds;"

yet, how unlike in their respective idiosyncrasies.

Let us see, first, of what "perilous stuff" Macbeth is made. He seems conscious of his moral poverty, and want of resolution. He says of himself, when compassing the destruction of Macduff and his race, that there must be

"No boasting like a fool,

This deed I'll do before the purpose cool."

Lady Macbeth, who may be supposed to know her husband well, thus strikes the key note of his character

Lady Macbeth taunts Macbeth with being "infirm of purpose," and he feels, himself, that he is wishful to mount the pinnacle of power, but needs sufficient resolution to tread the slippery rounds of the ladder that leads to it. He says,

"I have no spur

To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself,
And falls on the other side."

With the world generally Macbeth appears, in his early career, to have stood in good estimation, for he prides himself upon having "won golden opinions from all sorts of people." The wounded sergeant from the battlefield extols his bravery, while the good king Duncan styles him "our valiant cousin," and "noble Macbeth," calls him "a worthy gentleman," and praises him on all occasions, at the same time rewarding him for his faithful services. Macduff terms him "our gallant partner." These laudations of the man, it should be remembered, are all uttered previously to his first great crime, so that we may conclude that Macbeth, until it was committed, had shaken hands kindly with the fair world in all his doings.

Richard's character presents a widely different aspect. Richard says of himself, that he is "subtle, false, and treacherous," that he has "neither pity, love, nor fear," and that love "foreswore him in his mother's womb." But proud of his noble birth, he says—

"I was born so high

Our aiery buildeth in the cedars top

And dallies with the wind and scorns the sun."

Conscious of his strong will and determination, he exclaims,

"I'll climb betimes without remorse or dread."

His mother's description of his course of life from infancy presents a frightful picture. It is certainly deserving of remark that Shakspeare has assigned the task of exhibiting "the innermost man" of his two heroes to