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166 ANNUAL REGISTER

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the vessels likewise, and threw all those that were on board into the greatest danger. In the same manner also the rest of the machines, as often as the enemy approached under the cover of their blinds, and had secured themselves by that precaution against the darts that were discharged through the openings of the wall, let fall upon then stones of so large a size, that all the combatants upon the prow were forced to retire from their station.
He invented like wise a hand of iron, hanging by a chain from the beak of a machine. which was used in the following manner, The person, who like a pilot guided the beak, having let fall the hand, and catched hold of the prow of any vessel, drew down the opposite end of the machine that was on the inside of the walls. And when the vessel was thus railed erect upon its stern, the machine itself was held immoveable; but, the chain being suddenly loosened from the beak by the mean of pullies, some of the vessels were thrown upon their sides, others turned the bottom upwards, and the greatest part, as the prows were plunged from a considerable height into the sea, were filled with water, and all that were on board thrown into tumult and disorder.
Marcellus was in no small degree embarrassed, when he found himself encountered in every attempt by such resistance. He perceived that all his efforts were defeated with loss, an were even derided by the enemy. But, amidst all the anxiety that he suffered, he could not help jesting upon the inventions of Archimedes. This man, said he, employs our ships as buckets to draw water; and, boxing about

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our fackbuts as if they were unwor-thy to be affociated with him, drives them from his company with dif-grace. Such was the fuccefs of the fiege on the fide of the fea. 
Appius alfo on his part, having met with the fame obftacles in his approaches, was in like manner forced to abandon his defign. For, while he was yet at a confiderable diftance, great numbers of his army were deftroyed by the balliftae and the catapults. So wonderful was the quantity of ftones and darts, and fo aftonifhing the force with which they were thrown. The machines were indeed worthy of Hiero, who had furnifhed the ex-pence; and of Archimedes who defigned them, and by whofe di-rections they were made. If the troops advanced nearer to the city, they either were ftopped in their approach by the arrows that were difcharged through the openings in the walls, or, if they attempted to force their way under the cover of their bucklers, were deftroyed by ftones and beams that were let fall upon their heads. Great mifchief alfo was occafioned by thofe hands of iron that have been mentioned, which lifted men with their armour into the air, and dafhed them againft the ground.  Appius therefore was at laft conftrained to return back again to his camp.  And, when he had held a confultation with the tribunes, it was with one onfent determined by them, that every other method fhould be tried to obtain poffeffion of Syracufe, but that they would no more attempt to take it by affault.  Nor did they afterwards depart from this refolution. For, though they remained eight months before the city, and during that time invented various ftratgems, 

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gems, and carried into execution many bold defigns, they never had the courage to attack the place in the regular forms. So wonderful and of fuch importance, upon fome occafions, is the power of a fingle man, and the force of fcience properly employed. With fo great armies, both by land and fea, the Romans could fcarcely have failed to take the city, if one old man had been removed.  But, while he is prefent they dare not even to make the attempt, in the manner at leaft which Archimedes was able to appofe.  Being perfuaded therefore, that, as the city was crouded with inhabitants, it might at laft moft  eafily be reduced by famine, they refolved to have recourfe to this as their only hope, and to intercept by their fleet the provifions that fhould be brought by fea, while the army cut off all appraoch on the fide of the land.  And, that the time employed in the fiege might not pafs wholly without action, but be attended with advantage in fome other place, the confuls divided the army.  And, while Appius with two parts of the forces invefted the city, Marcellus with the reft, advancing through the country, wafted the lands of the Sicilians, who had joined the Carthaginians in the war.

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For the YEAR 1771.

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The profpect from (the eminence on which ftands Lincoln Cathedral and the ruins of its Caftle) is very extenfive, but very barren of objects, a vaft flat as far as the eye can reach, confifting of plains not the moft fertile, or of Fens* and Moors: the laft are far lefs extenfive than they were, many being drained, and will foon become the beft land in the country. But ftill much remains to be done; the Fens near Revefby-abbey, eight miles beyond Horncaftle, are of vaft extent; but ferve for little other purpofe than the rearing great numbers of geefe, which are the wealth of the Fenmen.
  During the breeding feafon, thefe birds are lodged in the fame houfes with the inhabitant, and even in their very bed-chambers: in every apartment are three rows of coarfe wicker pens, placed one above another; each bird has its feparate lodge divided from the other, which it keeps poffeffion of during the time of fitting.  A perfon attends the flock, and twice a day drives the whole to water; then brings them back to their habitations, helping thofe that live in the upper ftories to their nefts, without ever mifplacing a fingle bird.
  The geefe are plucked five times in the year, the firft plucking is at Lady-day, for feathers and quills, and the fame is renewed, for feathers only, four times more between that and Michaelmas.  The old geefe fubmit quietly to the operation,

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Account of the Fens in Lincolnfhire, and their Produce.  From Mr. Pennant's Tour to Scotland.

  * The Fens, naked as they now appear, were once well wooded; oaks have been found buried in them, which were fixteen yards long, and five in circumference; fir trees from thirty to thirty-five yards long, and a foot or eighteen inches fquare. Thefe tree had not the mark of the axe, but appeared as if burnt down by fire applied to their lower parts.  Acorns and fmall nuts have alfo been found in great quantities in the fame places.  Dugdale on embankment, 141.