and, during cold nights, it will be advisable to cover the glasses with mats, in order to keep the bed warm.—In its properties, this species nearly resembles the preceding; but, partaking more of the nature of cucumbers, water-melons require a larger proportion of spice and wine; as otherwise they are apt to induce flatulency or diarrhœa.
MEMORANDUM, a term implying a note, or mark, made either on paper or otherwise, with a view to assist the memory.
In the present artificial state of society, the convenience of a memorandum-book is obvious to every person engaged in active pursuits. And, though the utility of such a measure be universally acknowledged, yet there is reason to believe that it is not so extensively practised as it justly deserves. Those, who reflect on the fleeting nature of human thought, and on the importance of remembering the train of ideas which lead to a certain conclusion, will readily admit, that annotations might be rendered equally interesting and useful, if they were extended to that department of human affairs, which more immediately relates to the operations of the human mind.—Thus, if every striking idea, whether of an economical or intellectual tendency, were duly registered, and digested, when a more favourable opportunity offers, incalculable benefit would thence result to society. Hence we presume to suggest to those who are accustomed fo reflect and attend to the progress of their reasoning (when in solitude, as well as in the common intercourse of life), to note and record in a particular journal, all such sentiments and opinions, as appear to be worthy of being preserved.—See also Journal.
MEMORY, a mental faculty, which consists in the power of reviving former impressions of our ideas, or the particular circumstances which occasioned and accompanied them.
Memory may be divided into two species; passive and active: the former is the remembering, or recalling of things or events to the mind with little or no effort; the latter is the recollection of remote circumstances, or objects, which do not immediately or spontaneously occur. This is a talent of infinite importance to its possessor; and many rules have been given for its direction, improvement, and preservation; but the principal, and indeed the only effectual method, consists in the strictest temperance in eating, drinking, and sleep. Excess of every kind clouds the brain, and stupefies the mind: hence we rarely find an intemperate person, whose memory is clear, quick, and tenacious.
Such, however, is the precarious basis of our mental powers, that notwithstanding every effort, it frequendy happens that those ideas, which appear to us the most interesting and desirable to be retained, insensibly and irrecoverably vanish from the mind. To assist this inherent weakness, various methods have been proposed; for instance, noting down in a memorandum-book, or journal, the substance of an essay we have perused; or extracting the most important passages from the best authors; or even registering such of our own ideas, as often intuitively or spontaneously occur, in consequence of sudden and unexpected events.
