"A manufacturer of carmine, who was aware of the superiority of the French colour, went to Lyons for the purpose of improving his process, and bargained with the most celebrated manufacturer in that capital for the acquisition of his secret, for which he was to pay a thousand pounds. He was shown all the processes, and saw a beautiful colour produced, yet he found not the least difference in the French mode of fabrication and that which he had constantly adopted. He appealed to the manufacturer, and insisted that he must have concealed something. The manufacturer assured him that he had not, and invited him to see the process a second time. He minutely examined the water and the materials, which were the same as his own, and, very much surprised, said, 'I have lost my labour and my money, for the air of England does not permit us to make good carmine.'--'Stay,' says the Frenchman, 'do not deceive yourself; what kind of weather is it now?'--'A bright, sunny day,' said the Englishman.--'And such are the days,' said the Frenchman, 'on which I make my colour. Were I to attempt to manufacture it on a dark or cloudy day, my result would be the same as yours. Let me advise you, my friend, always to make carmine on bright and sunny days.'--'I will,' says the Englishman, 'but I fear I shall make very little in London.' "_Poietes._--Your anecdote is as much to the purpose as Physicus's; yet I am much obliged to you for the hint respecting the effect of shadow, for I have several times, in May and June, had to complain of too clear a sky, and wished, with Cotton, for 'A day with not too bright a beam; A warm, but not a scorching sun.'" A very amusing and philosophical conversation on those natural phenomena, which have been vulgarly viewed as prophetic of dry or wet weather, may be well adduced as illustrative of that genius which, by the aid of a light of its own, imparts to the most trite objects all the charms of novelty. "_Poietes._--I hope we shall have another good day to-morrow, for the clouds are red in the west. "_Physicus._--I have no doubt of it, for the red has a tint of purple. "_Halieus._--Do you know why this tint portends fine weather? "_Physicus._--The air when dry, I believe, refracts more red, or heat-making rays; and as dry air is not perfectly transparent, they are again reflected in the horizon. I have generally observed a coppery or yellow sunset to foretell rain; but, as an indication of wet weather approaching, nothing is more certain than a halo round the moon, which is produced by the precipitated water; and the larger the circle, the nearer the clouds, and consequently the more ready to fall. "_Halieus._--I have often observed, that the old proverb is correct-- 'A rainbow in the morning is the shepherd's warning; A rainbow at night is the shepherd's delight.' --Can you explain this omen?