# The New Art of Memory/Chapter 3

CHAP. III.
Geography.
In the application of the Art of Memory to Geography, this science will be considered under the following heads; (1.) Principles. (2. ) General Geography. (3.) Particular Geography. (4.) Statistics.
Sect. 1.—Principles.
Geographical charts represent the situation of cities, towns, seas, continents, etc. on the globe; but we will suppose that nothing of this kind has ever been fabricated; that there are no charts; if we wish to ascertain the relative situation of any places, the means must be invented to accomplish what is required, beginning with the first principles. Whenever the memory is to be treated with, we should employ the powers of reason. The charts must be drawn in our intellect, and we should proceed step by step; what is wanting in the memory, will be supplied by reason.
​The earth being a round body, it is represented by a globe; but as both sides of this globe cannot be seen at the same time, it must be divided into hemispheres or halves: there will then be an eastern and a western, or, a northern and a southern hemisphere.
Suppose a circle to be described, and a point placed within it; the situation of this point must be determined with relation to some other part of the circle. If a horizontal line be drawn across the circle and divide it equally, the line appears to us straight; but cannot, in reality, be so, because it is half the circumference of a globe. A perpendicular line is then drawn, and the hemisphere is divided into four equal quarters: each quarter containing 90° or one-fourth of 360°; every circle containg 360°. (See Plate I. fig. 3.) The horizontal line must be taken for the equator. The quarter then in which the dot or point appears, should be divided by 90 lines, but as this would completely conceal the surface of the diagram, and obliterate the little point itself, we will divide it into 9 parts. (See Plate I. fig. 4.)
The point is now evidently within the first stripe or line, and if these lines be named ladders, ​we shall say it is on the first ladder; but its situation is now only half determined. These ladders are divided into steps; and each has nine steps. This will be effected by drawing 8 horizontal lines across those already made. (See Plate I. fig. 5.) The point is still on the first ladder, but on what step? It is on the sixth step.
Two rooms should be provided, with four walls in each; in the upper room is to be placed the northern hemisphere, and the southern is to be supposed under the northern, in the lower room. We will begin with the northern hemisphere, dividing it into four equal parts or quarters; transferring one quarter to the first wall. (See Plate I. fig. 6.
The former division of a wall was thus:
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | 8 | 9 |
It will not, however, be more difficult to remember nine figures in one line, than in three. The floor of the upper room in which we stand is the equator; upon this we reckon the longitude. From the pole to the equator there are 90°, but we only place 60° on the wall, the remaining 30° being fixed in the ceiling. In each of these squares, there are 10° of longitude, and 10° of latitude.
​The horizontal lines are parallels of latitude, and the perpendicular lines are meridians or circles of longitude.
The series of walls in the first room will be as follows:
| I. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| II. | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| III. | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| IV. | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
Upon referring to the globe, it will be found that the whole hemisphere, north of the equator, has been transferred into the first or upper room; the southern hemisphere being reserved for the room beneath.
Before we proceed further, the meridian must be fixed. This, in English charts, is taken from London, or more correctly from Greenwich, counting the longitude east and west from that place. The French place their meridian in Paris, but they mark also in their maps the longitude from Ferro, from which island, all the other European nations commence theirs; by these means, the longitude which is laid down on a foreign map is comprehensible by them, and the Parisian mode is easily understood by any ​other continental geographer, but our maps are not intelligible any where but in England.
In making our calculation we shall adopt the meridian of Ferro, because it divides the globe into those two equal parts or hemispheres, which are usually represented on maps. Suppose a place to be in 254° of longitude, and 43° of latitude; on what ladder, on what step, and on what wall will it occur? We must take 254, (and as it will be remembered our hemisphere is divided only into tens of degrees) we must cut off the unit figure, thus 25, 4, and we have 25 left, but as the 25th ladder would include only those degrees under 250, and 254 being above that number, it is on the 26th ladder. To ascertain on what wall this 26th ladder is, and its numerical situation there, the figures 2 and 6 must be added together; the product gives the number of the ladder. By counting the difference between 6 and 8, thus 6, 7, 8, three, the number of the wall is given. In the latitude 43, the 3 is rejected, and 43 being past 40 it is on the fifth step. A place then in longitude 254 and latitude 43, will be found on the 26th ladder, fifth step; or on the third wall, eighth ladder, and fifth step.
If we read that an engagement had taken place between two ships in 324° longitude, 36° S. latitude, how shall we find on which wall this spot ​is situated? We know that south latitude must be in the lower room, and that 36 being more than 30, must be on the 4th ladder step. For the longitude, as in the foregoing example, we cut off the unit 32,4—324 is more than 320, therefore it must be on the 33rd ladder; these two figures are now added together; the product 6 gives the situation on the wall, and by counting from 3 to 6—3, 4, 5, 6, we get 4, which is the number of the wall. This event, therefore, took place near the mouth of the Rio de la Plata; on the 4th wall, 6th ladder, and 4th step, of the southern room.
Sect. 2.—General Geography.
We are now provided with a geographical net, with which all the different places may be taken, from the smallest to the largest. What we have learned in the common way on globes is soon forgotten, there being no connecting media to bring the different countries to our recollection. Supposing we are looking at a globe, and we fix our eyes upon England, we cannot see its antipodes; places can be seen only in one direction. The Chinese, when shown a map of the world, said, why put us up in a corner? we are in the centre. In fact, every where is the centre, and ​the centre is every where. The whole circumference is equally distant from us wherever we may be. The four quarters of the northern hemisphere being arranged on the four walls, when we are in the room, we can, in an instant, see every part of the hemisphere. (See Plate IV.)
On the first wall will be a part of the Atlantic Ocean, the whole of Europe and a great part of Africa and Asia.
On the second wall will be found the remainder of Asia, and a large proportion of the North Pacific Ocean.
On the third wall there is a continuance of the Northern Pacific Ocean, and a part of North America.
On the fourth wall there is the remainder of North America, part of South America, the American Islands or West Indies, and a great part of the Atlantic or great Western Ocean. This completes the northern hemisphere, and occupies the first or upper room.
In the second or lower room, (see Plate V.) on the first wall, we have a part of the Southern Atlantic Ocean, part of Africa, and the Indian Ocean.
The second wall is occupied by the remainder of the Indian Ocean, the Indian Archipelago, and by New Holland.
The fourth wall has nearly the whole of South America.
Thus there are in the northern Room the whole Continent of Europe and Asia, the greater part of Africa, the whole of North, and part of South America; the lower, or Southern Room containing the remainder of Africa and South America, the Asiatic Islands, Polynesia and Australasia.
Supposing the windows of our room to be on one side, if we stand with our back to them, the first wall is on the left; this wall is divided into nine ladders, which show the longitude, and each ladder into nine steps, giving the latitude.
On the first ladder, first step, there is almost entirely sea, being a part of the Atlantic Ocean; a small portion of Africa, however, is discovered. On this part Sierra Leone is situated. The square on which this fails is known by the number 11, (1st. ladder, 1st. step,)—here the symbol for 11 is, the Pillars of Hercules. These pillars are placed in the square; one pillar is fixed in the sea, the other on land. Leone will recal to mind the name of a Lion; a lion must be placed between the pillars, and the situation of this place will then be fixed in the memory.
On the second step there is a part of the At​lantic Ocean and of Africa; upon this part of Africa are Senegal, Cape Verde, and Goree; and the symbol for the 1, 2th place (1st ladder, 2d step,) is David with the lion; if it be said that David in tearing the sinews of the lion, is gored by the animal; and that he has a green cap in his hand, these three places will be fixed in this square. It is quite sufficient if the words given recal the names of the places to our memory.
On the third step are the Canary Islands; these are somewhat like a cluster of birds (Canary Birds) that must fly round the Pyramid, the symbol for 1, 3, (1st ladder, 3d step.).
On the fourth step, there is part of Portugal, and the island of Madeira. The symbol for 14 is Diogenes with the lantern. This man is the proprietor of the island, and has come to Madeira from Lisbon, on purpose to drink a bottle of his favourite beverage.
On the fifth step is Cape Finisterre. The symbol for 15 is Æsculapius with his serpent; a serpent then shall be placed at the extremity of the land, (Finis terræ.)
On the sixth step there is a small part of Ireland. The symbol for 16 is Ceres, or the gleaner; she shall have a garland upon her head; gar-land and Ire-land are too much alike in sound to be easily forgotten.
​On the seventh step is Iceland. The symbol for 17 is Archimedes, or the Carpenter; he is breaking up the ice, and that we may remember the name of the celebrated mountain, Hecla, we will say, that he acquits himself with very great eclat.
These illustrations seem amply sufficient to direct the pupil in the application of this art to geography, so far as it relates to the use of the symbols, and the connecting ideas to be associated with them.
While we count our meridians all east from Ferro, it must be remembered, that in English maps, London, or rather Greenwich, is taken for the first meridian, from which the degrees are counted 180° East, and 180° West. If a place be described in longitude 121° west of London; to reduce it to the meridian from Ferro, 121° must be subtracted from 180°, (the whole number of degrees west,) the remainder is 59, which added to 180, and the 18° difference between the calculation from London and Ferro, will give the product 275°. A place then which is 121° west of London, may be said to be 257° east of Ferro. The meridian of Paris is 20° east from Ferro, and 2 from the meridian of London. This process is at once simple and correct, and will allow us to use a general meridian which ​will be intelligible on all maps, and to all persons.
The best mode of learning the geography is to take a chart of Mercator's projection of the earth, in which the degrees of latitude and longitude are marked by tens, that it may coincide with the divisions on the walls, each of the squares there containing 100°; 10° both ways. All the squares in the map must be covered with a sheet of paper, except one, that is the first step on the first ladder; the space taken up by the land in this square should be noticed, and the outline of the land described in the map, and traced upon a drawing, or diagram, of the first wall, divided into ladders, and ladder-steps, as seen before. These squares should be sufficiently large to show some of the principal projections of the land, that the most remarkable places may be inserted; thus constructing a small chart.
In the lower room, which contains the southern hemisphere, we must count downward, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, etc. still beginning with the equator.
Every one of the small squares may be divided into degrees.
| 1 | 2 |
| 0 | |
| 9 | |
| 8 | |
| 7 | |
| 6 | |
| 5 | |
| 4 | |
| 3 | |
| 2 | • |
| 1 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
Suppose the point in this square to represent Madeira. This point is about one-fifth of the whole, therefore, it is in 2° of longitude, and a little less than one-fifth of the whole 10° of latitude, we see then 32°½ of latitude, and 2° of longitude; there is not an error of ¼ of a degree.
​To ascertain the relative situation of towns, some association must be formed between the towns and cities found in any one square. If a sort of narrative be invented, the memory will be materially assisted. We will take 25 for an example: in this are many towns, as Madrid, Barcelona, Bourdeaux, Rochelle, Brest, Rouen, and Paris. The symbol for 25 is Sancho Panza. Sancho then must set out on his travels; he departs from Madrid, and arrives at Barcelona, where he has to call for some parcels (Barcelona); he then goes to Bourdeaux, and is very fond of drinking a bumper of good Bourdeaux wine; thence he travels to Rochelle, where he rests on a rock: being pressed for time at Brest, he departs for Rouen; and by rowing down the Seine, arrives at last at Paris. To remove the apparent difficulty of fixing the names of so many squares, it must be observed that, the greater proportion of them is occupied by sea, where, of course, there is nothing to fix. It may also be supposed, that as there are no less than eight elevens, there will be much confusion in remembering the name of any particular place. An association has already been formed for the eleven in the first wall. In the eleven in the second wall is Ceylon: it is not likely that we shall ever commit so great an error as to place Ceylon on our ​first wall, or Sierra Leone, or Goree, on the second. The locality of each is so permanently fixed as to defy any thing like confusion.
Sect. 3.—Particular Geography.
In particular charts the divisions are different from those in general charts; being divided into much smaller parts.
The above is a chart with a series of figures. The figures which run along the bottom of this chart are the degrees of longitude; those which run up the sides are the degrees of latitude. The Latitude must be counted North or South of the Equator, and the Longitude, East or West of the first meridian. There is here a series of ladders ​and steps, but very differently numbered from those which have been seen before. The square in longitude 29°, and latitude 55°, if brought together will make 2955; the tens must be rejected, and the units only left. We know that the squares in longitude, from 20 to 30, are on the third ladder, and from 30 to 40 on the fourth; and that the latitude begins on the sixth ladder step. To remember this, some word must be formed from the two figures. Having cut off the tens, we find 2955 becomes 9 longitude, and 5 latitude. The minutes are next to be determined. The distance from line to line is 60 minutes, one half will of course be 30 minutes; ¼—15; ¾—45; ⅕—12; $\scriptstyle {\frac {1}{12}}$—5. When the geography of England is to be learned, we should commence from the bottom or South of the map, as England is above the equator: when any country is beneath the equator, we must of course count downwards. Although the floor is not used in geography, it will be convenient to suppose this chart of England placed upon the floor, that the different counties may be arranged in order; or it may be supposed to be on a table, &c. or on any other object.
England is generally divided into Circuits, each of which contains a certain number of counties.
Circuits in England and Wales.
| | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII |
| COUNTIES. | 1 | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— |
| COUNTIES. | 2 | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— |
| COUNTIES. | 3 | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— |
| COUNTIES. | 4 | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— |
| COUNTIES. | 5 | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— |
| COUNTIES. | 6 | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— |
| COUNTIES. | | | | —— | —— | | | |
| COUNTIES. | | | | | —— | | | |
| COUNTIES. | | | | | —— | | | |
The usual division of the Counties is into Home Circuits, etc. etc. but this will not be adopted here. The following is our arrangement of them.
I. South East. Sussex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Essex, Surrey.
II. South West. Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorsetshire, Somersetshire, Devonshire, Cornwall.
III. East. Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Buckinghamshire.
IV. West. Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Monmouthshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire.
V. Midland. Northamptonshire, Rutland​shire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire.
VI. North. Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, Lancashire, Westmoreland, Cumberland.
VII. North Wales. Montgomeryshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Merionethshire, Caernarvonshire, Anglesea.
VIII. South Wales. Glamorganshire, Brecknockshire, Radnorshire, Caermarthenshire, Cardiganshire, Pembrokeshire.
All these Circuits are numbered in a series as ladders, and the counties are the steps; therefore 4,4 will be 4th circuit, 4th county, and so of the rest. The symbol of 44 is a pianoforte; if it be said that the keys of the instrument are bound with worsted, Worcestershire will be immediately brought to our recollection. In the same manner we must proceed with the others, fixing each on a symbol, and connecting some strange and ludicrous idea with this symbol.
The student should be prepared with a small map of England which is not coloured; and colour the circuits, each with a separate colour, The first, for instance, blue; the second, yellow; the third, green; the fourth, red; the fifth, lilac; and when he comes to the sixth, begin again. When this is done, it must be ​remembered that the numerical order of the Circuits is represented by the different colours. The first colour will be blue, the second yellow.
When the counties are numbered, the pupil must count upwards, commencing with the lowest. The more effectually to distinguish their numerical order, we use the colours. The first county in the first circuit, must be bordered with blue; the second county with yellow; the third with green, etc. and the like with the other remaining counties in the circuit. The numerical order of the counties will thus be firmly impressed on the memory.
France contains one hundred and ten departments. These are to be divided into eleven Regions, containing ten departments in each. The regions should be arranged in geographical order, commencing from the equator, and counting upwards. The meridian is taken from Paris. West of this meridian we commence with O, the region of the Pyrenees. On the East is I the Region of the Meditterranean, II of Piedmont, III of Charente, IV of Lake Leman, V Central Region, VI Finisterre, VII Region of Jurat, VIII of the Seine, IX of the Rhone, X northern Region.
If we wish to know the thirty-fifth department, it will be found in the third region, fifth department. To distinguish the region there are ​five colours; one colour serves for I and VI, a second for II and VII, a third for III and VIII. In the same manner one department is distinguished from another.
Sect. 4.—Statistics.
It has been shewn that by the aid of the first principles of this science, it will not be difficult to find the situation of kingdoms, provinces, etc. and their respective longitude and latitude. There are, however, many other particulars which it is important to remember, as the number of inhabitants, the natural products, the military power, the extent in square miles, the form of government, the state of commerce, of the arts, etc. etc. These may be all fixed in the memory with equal facility. Suppose that there is before us, a table, and that all the kingdoms of Europe, are placed upon it, and arranged according to their relative importance. This is shewn in the following statistical table.
Statistical Table.
* Population.
* Natural Prod.
* Military Power.
* Extent in sq. М.
* Government.
* State of Com.
* Arts and Manuf.
* Sciences.
1. Population. The symbol for this square is the Tower of Babel. From the top of a tower, some idea may be formed of the population of a city, by the number of people walking in the streets.
2. Natural products. This square is represented by the swan. A swan is an animal. Animals may be reckoned among the natural products of a country.
3. Military power. A fortification may be supposed to be on a mountain; and, as this is ​the symbol for 3, the military power will immediately occur to us.
4. Extent in square miles. The looking-glass, which represents 4, will by its four-square figure, call to mind the square miles.
5. Government. It will not be difficult to connect the idea of a throne, with that of government, whether it be monarchial,' republican, or any other form of government. A throne is the symbol for 5.
6. State of commerce. Commerce, the source of plenty, may well be represented by the Horn of Plenty, the symbol for 6.
7. Arts and Manufactures. To remember these it will be only necessary to think of the Glass-blower, the symbol for 7.
8. The Sciences. The symbol for 8, Midas, or the man with long ears, is capacitated for the reception of all branches of science.
There is here again a series of ladders and ladder-steps, which must be denominated by their respective numbers. In the number 2,4 there is 2 for Spain, and 4 for the extent in square miles, or the second ladder, fourth step: 4,6 is the Commerce of Sweden; fourth ladder, sixth step.
In the statistical table may be placed every particular that it is necessary to know respecting ​anation. The manner of application for each square is now considered.
1. Population. This is changing every year; the thousands and hundreds must therefore be omitted, and the millions only preserved. The population for England will be the number 1, 1, first ladder, first step: this is represented by the pillars of Hercules. England contains 16 millions of Inhabitants. This number will be fixed in the memory by changing the figures into a word; t d will be the consonants giving the number;—it may be said then, that there is a Toad crawling up the pillars of Hercules.
2. Natural Products. If a country be remarkable for the excellence of its horses, a rude outline of this animal may be drawn in the square belonging to the natural products. If it contains extensive salt mines, a barrel or basket of salt may be placed by the horse; if good wine, two bottles of wine should be added; iron may be represented by bars, and sheep by an outline, as with the horse. To connect these circumstances together, some narrative should be invented, the more improbable and ludicrous the better. The horse being pressed by hunger, eats the salt, but becoming thirsty, in conse​quence, drinks the wine; the wine has an effect upon him, he becomes frantic, breaks the bars of iron, and endangers the safety of the sheep. The symbol for 12 is David with the Lion; David must hold the horse, and take especial care that the Lion does not devour the sheep.
In the course of our reading, if it be required to commit to memory any remarkable circumstance respecting a country, we should take a sheet of paper and divide it as our table is divided, placing in the appropriate squares a resemblance, or rude outline, of the object or circumstance to be remembered. This mode will assist the memory very materially, and excite a greater degree of attention than the mere idea which is presented to the mind by reading.
3. Military Power. The state of the military force, in time of peace as well as of war, must be considered, with the divisions into artillery, cavalry, and infantry; or, any other arrangement may be made which the nature of the military force, in any particular country, may demand. The square may be thus divided:
| Peace. | Navy | War. |
| Peace. | Artillery | War. |
| Peace. | Cavalry | War. |
| Peace. | Infantry | War. |
5. Government. If the government be monarchial, aking may be supposed sitting upon the throne, attended by princes; or, if of the mixed kind, he is supported by Lords and Commons.
6. Commerce. In this are arranged the principal exports and imports, and whatever relates to trade in general.
7. Arts and Manufactures. Those of England might be represented in many ways. It will be sufficient, perhaps, to place there the steam-engine and the cotton-mill, and there will be a visible remembrance of the arts and manufactures of our own country.
8. The Sciences. To this square belong the principal universities or foundations for the propagation and increase of knowledge, with the various literary and scientific Institutions, as also the philosophers, poets, etc. etc.
This general system of statistics is applicable, of course, to any particular country, and to its various subdivisions. In England, for instance, it might be applied to every county, in the same manner, as it is used for the whole kingdom.
* ↑ The earth is, as every one knows, an oblate spheroid, but it would be needless to descend to particulars, in a general illustration.
* ↑ According to the last Population Returns, 16,552,144