the infusion of malt, of which beer is made. See Brewing. The uses of this infusion in common affairs are well known. By Dr M'Bride it has lately been found to have a strong antiseptic virtue, and to be useful in preventing the scurvy and other diseases to which sailors are liable; this was confirmed by Captain Cook in his voyages. See Means of Preserving the Health of Seamen.

It is of great importance to the manufacturer to be able to ascertain with facility and precision the real strength of worts, or the quantity of saccharine matter contained in the infusion. This is accomplished by determining the specific gravity by means of instruments, which, from the purpose to which they are applied, have obtained the name of saccharometers. But as these instruments, from the very nature of the material of which they are constructed, are liable to considerable change, the results which they afford cannot always be depended on. With the view of obviating these inconveniences, the patent areometrical beads have been invented by Mrs Lovi of Edinburgh. We have already noticed these beads on account of their accuracy, simplicity, and facility of application for ascertaining the specific gravity, or the real strength and value of spirituous liquors. See vol. xix. p. 599.; and we now recommend them with greater confidence, from having had opportunities of knowing that they are capable of a more extended application, as in the manufacture of acids, and salts of different kinds; to ascertain the strength of acids, or that of saline solutions in bleaching; to determine the strength of liquids employed in the different processes of calico printing and dyeing, and not only for the purpose of examining the strength of the acids employed, but also particularly to ascertain the density or specific gravity of the colouring matters which are used in these arts, so that the same degree of shade required may be always obtained. It has been suggested, that these beads might be conveniently employed in determining the strength of mineral waters, which, it is well known, vary considerably at different seasons of the year.

As the patent beads are constructed on the same principle from 800, the specific gravity of alcohol, to 2000, which is double the specific gravity of water; and as they are divided into different series, each of which includes a range of specific gravities applicable to the particular fluids, the density or strength of which is required, we have no hesitation in asserting that they will be found extremely convenient and useful to all manufacturers and dealers, who wish to ascertain with accuracy the real strength and value of liquids.

It has been objected to the use of these beads, that they require a longer time than other instruments in using them. The same objection has been made to the introduction of other new instruments, the application of which frequent use has afterwards rendered familiar and easy. We have had opportunities of knowing that this objection is completely obviated by those who have been accustomed to use the beads. They find that they can determine the specific gravity of a liquid by means of the beads with the same facility, and in as short a time, as with any other instrument.

Wotton, Sir Henry, an eminent writer, was the son of Thomas Wotton, Esq., and was born in 1568. He studied for some time at New-college, Oxford, whence he removed to Queen's-college, where he made a great progress in logic and philosophy; wrote a tragedy for the use of that college, called Tancredo; and afterwards received the degree of master of arts. After this, leaving the university, he travelled into France, Germany, and Italy; and having spent about nine years abroad, he returned to England, and became secretary to Robert earl of Essex, with whom he continued till that earl was apprehended for high treason. He then retired to Florence, where he became known to the grand duke of Tuscany, who sent him privately with letters to James VI. king of Scotland, under the name of Octavio Baldi, to inform that king of a design against his life. Some months after he went back to Florence; but King James coming to the possession of the crown of England, Mr Wotton returned home, was knighted by his majesty, and sent ambassador to the republic of Venice; and afterwards was employed in many other embassies to that and other courts; but the only reward he obtained for these services was his having the provostship of Eton conferred upon him about the year 1623, which he kept till his death, which happened in 1639. After his decease some of his manuscripts and printed tracts were published together in a volume, intitled Reliquiae Wottonianae.

Wotton, Dr William, a learned divine and writer, was the son of Mr Henry Wotton, B. D. rector of Wrentham in Suffolk, where he was born in 1666. He was educated by his father, a gentleman well skilled in the learned languages; under whom he made such amazing proficiency, that at five years of age it is said he could render several chapters of the gospels out of Latin and Greek, and many psalms in Hebrew, into his mother tongue. When he was very young, he remembered the whole of almost every discourse he had heard; and often surprised a preacher by repeating his sermon to him. He was admitted into Catharine-hall in Cambridge some months before he was ten years old; when the progress he made in learning in that university en- gaged Dr Duport, then master of Magdalen college, and dean of Peterborough, to write an elegant copy of Latin verses in his praise. In 1679 he took the degree of bachelor of arts when he was but twelve years and five months old; and the winter following he was invited to London by Dr Gilbert Burnet, then preacher at the Rolls, who introduced him to most of the learned men in that city, and particularly to Dr William Lloyd, bishop of St Asaph; to whom he recommended himself by repeating to him one of his sermons, as Dr Burnet had engaged he should. In 1691 he commenced bachelor of divinity. The same year Bishop Lloyd gave him the sinecure of Llandrillo, in Denbighshire. He was afterwards made chaplain to the earl of Nottingham, then secretary of state, who presented him to the rectory of Middleton Keynes, in Bucks, and to whom he dedicated his Reflections upon Ancient and Modern Learning. In 1725, Bishop Burnet gave him a prebend in the church of Salisbury; and in 1727, Archbishop Trench presented him with the degree of doctor of divinity; but in 1714, the difficulties he laboured under with respect to his private fortune obliged him to retire into South Wales, where he was treated with great kindness and humanity by the gentlemen of that country; and wrote there the "Memoirs of the Cathedral Churches of St David's and Landaff," and his "Miscellaneous Discourses relating to the Traditions and Usages of the Scribes and Pharisees;" which were afterwards printed. He died in 1726. This great man was remarkable for his humanity and friendliness of temper; the narrowness of a party spirit never broke in upon any of his friendships; and his time and abilities were at the service of any person who was making advances in real learning. He wrote, besides the above works, 1. A History of Rome. 2. A Defence of his Reflections upon Ancient and Modern Learning. 3. A Discourse concerning the Languages of Babel. 4. Advice to a young Student, with a Method of Study for the first four Years; and other learned pieces.